as i walk through the forest i make sure to leave flags on the floor like i was told. i've been taking pictures the whole time, i love nature with all my heart. i hear a stream of water so i try to follow it, planting flags as i walk.

it takes a minute but i found it. it was so beautiful. i watched the water flow down the rocks and i feel so calm. i could definitely fall asleep to the sound of this.

i put the flags in my backpack and i slowly walk to the top of the stream. there was a log by it so i tried to sit on it. i stepped on it to test its sturdiness then i sat down on it. my legs dangle above the rocks and water. i close my eyes and relax, taking deep breaths.

i needed a moment of peace and quiet in the midst of this chaos.

the peace only lasts for a minute. "it's calming isn't it." a girls voice interrupts my quiet environment. i look around me until i see a girl standing across the stream by one of my flags. "yeah, it is." i adjust my glasses. she starts to walk over here, i guess i'm about to make a new friend.

"something tells me that you're not from around here." she stands by the log. the closer she gets, the more i can see her face. wow she's pretty. "you're correct, i'm not from here." i say. she sits down next to me. "well i hope i'm the first person you meet here in olympia. i'm mae, mae flowers." she puts her hand out. "mae flowers? interesting name." i shake her hand totally amused. it's definitely different, but unique and it has a cool ring to it.

"my parents are interesting people." she laughs. i realize i haven't given her my name. i wondered if i should say my real name or make one up. hannah montana's name is hannah montana and not miley cyrus for a reason! "marie." i put my hand out. ugh why marie? i hate my middle name.

"so marie, if you're not from here then where are you from?" mae asks. "bellevue." i sighed. "interesting. what brings you here? if you don't mind me asking." mae actually looked interested. i pause thinking of what to say. i can't lie anymore, i already lied about my name. "i wish i could say something cool like, i'm here to tour the capitol building or something like that but i'm actually here because of my parents divorce." i look at the stream.

"oh," she simply says. "don't worry, the capitol building isn't as cool as you think." she smiles. for some reason i smile too. i feel the start of something about to form. "did you come with someone or are you by yourself?" she asks. "i'm here with my dad and idiot brother. i just wanted to explore by myself." i roll my eyes when i think of noah. "i can't stand my brother." mae groans.

"same!" we both end up laughing. "i like you marie. i can tell we're going to be good friends." mae stands up. i do the same but slowly so i don't fall. "come on, you're going to like where i'm about to take you." she starts to walk away.

at first i'm hesitant. "okay but don't try anything, i have pepper spray in my bag." i warn her. "oh god, i'm so scared. relax, i'm not going to kill you." i enjoy her sarcasm. i follow her and continue to mark the ground. we get to another stream but instead it's almost flat and it has a bridge over it. i take a picture. "you were right, i do like it." i assure her.

we walk on the bridge and stop in the middle. we both lean on the bridge and just watch the stream. "have you lived here all your life?" i ask. "yup." mae also starts taking pictures but with a professional camera. "how do you like it? what school do you go to? do you like it there?" i ask trying to figure something out. "i love it. i mean it's all i know i guess. my family and i travel but this is where we stay,"

"i go to olympia high and i love it there. everyone's cool. why do you ask?" i bite the inside of my cheek. "i think i want to move out here with my dad."

"you don't want to live with your mom?" mae questioned. "it's not that, i just... i want to spend more time with my dad. i want something new too i guess. this could be a fresh start for me." i think of how my life would be out here. "did something bad happen back home?"

"nothing other than my parents divorce. i don't know, i'm confused. i want to live here but i don't want to leave my friends and other life." i didn't think mae and i's first conversations would be this deep.

"why not live the best of best worlds? stay here and go back to your mom. it'll be a routine." she says. "what if i don't want it to be a routine? it shouldn't be like this, my parents should be together, they should be living together." a wave of sadness passes through me. why can't i just enjoy the time i have now here with my dad? why can't i get my mind off of their stupid divorce?

"mae!" a yell breaks me out of my thoughts. "mae!" the yell is closer. i watch her put her hand on her forehead as if she's annoyed. "i think someone's calling your name." i smile and she puts her hand down. "oh really? i didn't notice." she smiles back. oh yeah we are definitely going to be best friends. i watch her turn around with her arms crossed. i look at where she turned around and i see someone coming our way.

"so you're just not going to respond?" a tall guy walks towards us. i assumed this was her brother. "you found me didn't you?" i just stand there watching them. "i did but i found something or should i say someone better," the guy looks at me and i feel embarrassed. "who's this beautiful woman?" he says and my mouth drops.

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