You spent sophomore year hating life.

like, seriously. It couldn't get any worse for you. Your family was falling apart at the seams. You watched your mother lose herself to addiction.

but then you met Rue.

cliche, yes, but you were walking down the hall, gaze on the floor, trying to avoid everyone.

because that's what you do. You keep your head down. Walk the opposite direction of a problem.

she bumped hard into you. Knocked all your books out of your hands. And then stared at you awkwardly while you exclaimed in dismay.

things were tense between you. They still are sometimes. You're different people. It shows.

but you're falling in love with her.

maybe it started from her always leaving her window open a crack so that you can get in at night.

or letting you ride on the back of her bike.

or always standing closest to you in rooms, where you could smell her conditioner and musky scented lotion.

or staying up until mornings, waiting for you to accompany you in her bed.

life was just easier with her around.

she was easygoing. She didn't yell, she didn't hurt your feelings constantly. Rue sat back and let things happen.

She biked, too. She didn't have a car. She's a junkie. Last night, you watched her fall off her bike into a bush after drinking a little too much.

but she is so in love with you. So much so that she gave up cocaine. Cold turkey. She hasn't touched it ever since you found out. You cried. She hated when you cried.

And she'll do anything to keep you from being unhappy.

she loves when you do come accompany her at night. She holds you tight. And she loves how your eyes glow whenever the sun hits your face just right.

and of course, people talk.

"It's not gonna last," they tell you.

"High schoolers don't know what love is," your mom said with a small smile, then left the room.

but you were pretty sure that your mom was wrong.

because with Rue, you felt safer with her then in your own house.

and she took care of you. She gave you everything she could.