(A/N: My other currently running story's sequel, Beautiful Dreamer, will show Alex again... so I suggest reading Secret Stalker along with this. Okay, I'll hand it over to Alex now!)

She’s gone. She really is gone- and there’s absolutely nothing that I can do to change that. But I changed- she changed me. This is what happened...

Alex’s POV

Chapter 1

It was because of the fact that she was the school chatterbox that we ever spoke in the first place. The teacher had moved her because she would never stop talking. Because of this, she was moved next to me- a guy who never talked. It was a good choice. But we spoke anyway.

“You’re Alex Faure, right?”

I was astounded that she knew my name. I hardly spoke. No one really talked to me. I was a quiet person. I didn’t mind talking- I just preferred not to.

“Yeah. And you’re Katelyn Ross,” I remembered.

“Call me Kitty. Everyone does, after all.”

She was new this year. She had been kicked out of her old private school for slacking. The girl had a very honest face. It was easy to see why she was popular- what a personality! Kitty was fair-haired with baby-blue eyes. She seemed slightly immature, but not in an annoying way.

I, on the other hand, have lived in tiny Blessed, Kentucky for my whole life. Although Kitty was new, groups had easily allowed her in. it wasn’t as easy for everyone else. All our parents here know each other, so it’s difficult being new.

“Okay. I’ll call you Kitty.”

This made Katelyn (Kitty, I reminded myself) smile. “And I’ll call you Alex. Does anyone call you Alexander?”

“No, but that’s my full name.”

“What, Alexander Faure, no middle name?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t have a middle name either! That’s pretty cool!”

She was very enthusiastic. I wasn’t sure how much I liked that, but I didn’t exactly dislike it either.

“Hey, Alex, you should smile more.”

The comment was so random that I felt my eyes widen in surprise. “Why?”

“It’s a little creepy if you don’t smile.” She grinned apologetically. “And you’re pretty cute. Nice hair, by the way.”

“I bleached it.”

“I can tell.”

I ran a hand through my hair. It was supposed to be black, but now it’s blond on top and brown on the bottom. Without consciously thinking, I glanced up at the clock. Class was about to start.

“Alex? Do you want to sit with me at lunch today?”

I looked into her eyes- the polite thing to do. She seemed to genuinely want me at her table.

“Where do you sit?”

“Section three.”

I frowned. “Mellodi Harris sits there.”

“And?”

“And she hates me?”

Kitty’s face fell. “Aw, come on, Alex! Please?”

“I-”

“Please for me?” She pleaded additionally with her eyes. No one should be allowed to look that innocent- it just wasn’t fair! But that was how, for the first time, I had someone to sit next to at lunch.

I had three classes with Kitty- English and History in the morning, Science in the afternoon. She sat next to me in History…

Get Kitty out of your head. She only talked to you because no one was around! Just go to lunch today and get out of the way!

Lunch came around. I bought my food and stood there for a moment. I saw her (Kitty, I mean) talk to Mellodi, who scowled in annoyance. When Mellodi left, I went over to Kitty.

“Hey, Alex! Do you know everyone sitting here?”

They were all staring at me like I was insane. They were probably all wondering, “Who is this kid?” But I knew all of them- somewhat- from elementary school.

“Yeah- Crystahl, Em, Alene, Jess, and Izzy.”

“Uh, how do we know you?” Alene asked.

“We went to the same elementary school for six years.”

“Who are you?” It was Jess that asked this.

“Alex Faure.”

“Oh! I didn’t recognize you with the dyed hair!” Em exclaimed.

“Bleached,” I corrected instinctively, not sure why I bothered.

“What’s the difference?” It was Izzy who squinted as she inquired this.

“I-”

“You guys, like Alex sit down!” Kitty chided. The only empty space was between Kitty and Crystahl, so I sat there. It was very awkward. I mostly ate in silence while the girls conversed. Kitty did talk to me, however- I remember that clearly.

“So, Alex, is middle school to your liking?” she inquired, sounding very much like she was my mother.

I shrugged. “It’s okay.” That was my standard answer.

“I kind of like it, but at the same time I don’t,” she gushed. “It really gives you the opportunity to make friends!”

“I guess.”

The other girls kept talking, but Kitty lightly grabbed my arm. Startled, I turned toward her.

“Alex, are you okay?”

“This isn’t something I normally do. I’m not anti-social, it’s just… I’m not much of a talker.”

“That’s fine, Alex, but I’ll be your friend.”

Somehow, she had guessed what I had been searching for for so long. I smiled for the first time since I had sat down.

“See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I realized that she was right. “Yeah. I guess not.”