I peered my head out the window in my bedroom, pulling the curtains back. I'm extremely bored right now. I really don't have anything to do, so looking out the window on my bed was my entertainment. Until I saw this girl. Her black curly hair bounced when she hopped. She had skin the color of a latte. My favorite drink. She was wearing a plaid skirt with a white shirt. Her black flats where dangling in her fingers. I wanted to go run over to her and say hey. My face was squished against the window, me staring straight at her doing hopscotch. I was in heaven staring at this beautiful young angel outside my window. She was heavenly sent.

“Elijah,” I heard my older brother Miles say, making me sartle. He leaned on my door, noticing me looking at something. “What are you stalking so viguriously?”

“Nothing,” I say throwing the curtains back. I moved from my position to face Miles. “Why are you nagging me?”

He looked at me bewildered. “Wow, what is really going on, you're acting weird.” Than Miles came in my room. He sat in my desk chair. “Tell me.”

I sighed loudly. Miles is those brothers that wants to know all about your business. When I mean business, I mean every nick and cranny of your personal life. Than after he knows everything, he some what gives me advice. Which is absolute crap. He told one of his closest friends Daniel Jones, about my business. And was I heated. Daniel tried to be the older brother role. Sucked. Way worse than Miles.' Mom says he's just trying to help. I don't recall that help.

“Ugh, why do you have to ask such dumb questions?”

“Because I'm your brother. That's what I do.”

Just to let you know, he always says that. All the time. He tries so hard to be the perfect big brother. I'm not technically his real younger brother because I was adopted. You can tell the difference. His big black curly afro doesn't match my light brown curls. Miles was also born with these bright turquoise eyes, I was born with green.

I slipped off my bed, walked over to Miles, and tugged him off my desk chair. “Come on Miles, you're leaving.”

“Why? I was supposed to know what is bugging you.”

“Nothing is, I'm just tired. Let's go.”

What I say in my defense. Not that good but Miles is a little gullible.

“Fine.” Lucky, he stood up and dragged his behind out my door. He swirled around outside my door. “If you need me, I'll be in my room, over here.” He pointed down the hall.

“Yep, I know.” I put my thumbs up. “I'll holler.” Miles disappeared down the hallway. I bolted out my room racing to the front door, I reached for the knob.

“Elijah.” I respired quietly. This time it was mom. “Why are you running in the house?”

“ Uh, I was going outside, mom.”

“Is going outside so important than keeping house standards?” My mom was still watching her show on the living room couch. “Huh?”

My mom is really big on standards. Manners is very important too. So yes ma'am and yes sir is strongly recommended. Don't disrespect your parents, or break the standards. Trust me, I've had enough spankins to learn that.

“No ma'am.”

“Okay than, don't be out in the dark.” Another thing, never be outside when it's dark. Even if you're neighborhood is good. I mean that's just me. Safety.

“Yes Ma'am.” I continued my mission outside. The warm lucid sun greeting my face. Clouds where stretching across the blue sky. Than right over on the other sidewalk was her. She looked like she was drawing with chalk. I jogged across the street. Coming closer to her. She noticed me when my shadow covered her. She glanced up at me with a sweet smile.

“Hey,” I say, waving. Seriously blushing. “I'm Elijah.”

She grinned. “Hi! I'm Tommie, nice to meet you.” We shook hands. Tommie's hand was so delicate and soft. “Come draw with me.”

“Okay.” I sat on the sidewalk beside her. What she was drawing was amazing. “Wow, you're good. I mean I can draw but not as good as you.”

“Thanks, I think you can draw great, you have artist hands.” When she told me that, her deep brown eyes told me a story. "I'm honest."

“What no, I don't really draw. Honestly.” I looked away from her gaze shyly. Blushing at that.

“Nope you do have artist hands, I can tell because I'm an artist. Trust me on this.” Tommie handed me a piece of chalk. “Now draw.” I took the chalk and stared at the concrete. I thought what to sketch. But when I got started, it was like I couldn't stop. I kept sketching and sketching and sketching. After I finished, I stood up to see my masterpiece. So did Tommie. Than she smiled big.

“I should be the one saying wow, you're drawing skills are wonderful!”

“Thank you, I just started drawing because my juices where going.”

“Well, you know you're an artist now.”

“Yeah I guess.” I blushed at her flattering. When I glanced into her eyes I felt alighted. She was so gorgeous I couldn't stop looking. Stop it Elijah. Tommie is awesome.

We sat back down asking each other questions.

“So Elijah,” Tommie says, “I don't wanna sound races or anything but are you mixed with Asian?”

“Yes, I am. My dad was biracial and my mom Korean. I was adopted though so I don't really know much about them.”

“I was adopted too! But I know nothing about my birth parents at all. My mom says well my adopted mom told me it was better I didn't.”

“My mom says the same too!”

“Cool! We already have some things in common.” I watched her fix her skirt. “Um, so do you have siblings?”

“Yes!” I rolled my eyes at the answer. “My older brother Miles is so annoying!”

“I shouldn't have asked,” she giggled. “I have a older brother too. His name is Charles. He's the sweetest brother I've ever had. The girls at his school go gaga.” She picked up a piece of chalk. Than she started sketching.

“My brother is more like those dudes that stay in their room forever.”

“That's funny.” She still continued to draw. “Charles is more of the shy type.”

"So Tommie, why did your mom call you Tommie?" My phone buzzed in my pocket.

Miles

Brother

: Where u at?

Me: Outside. Why, u having a heart attack?

Miles

Brother

: No, but I see u. Who that chick?

I looked up at my window and saw the curtains open. Meddling behind.

Me: Geez always gotta start stuff.

Me: GET OUTTA MY BUSINESS!!!!!

Miles

Brother

: Dang, just tryna see who my lil bro with.

Miles

Brother

: Daniel gonna love this!!

Me: COME ON!!!!!

"I'm named after my auntie Tommie. She passed from cancer. She meant a lot to my mom so that why I was called Tommie. I remind my mom a lot of my aunt."

"Oh, thats cool, I'm sorry though."

“No, it's okay,” Tommie says. She gave a puzzled look.“I should be worrying about you. You look depressed.”

“Nah, I'm fine,” I say, “It's just Miles acting annoying.” she laughed making me smile. “Yeah he can act weirdo sometimes.”

“I understand, lots of people think I'm weird because my name is Tommie.” She shrugs. “I don't really care.”

Wow. Tommie is courageous. Talk about cool, she's amazing. Her attitude is super chill, even if shes been bullied. I love that about her.

“Yeah, I don't have to worry being called weird by peers really because I am homeschooled.” I say, sketching something too alongside Tommie. “You know what time it is?”

I am absolutely homeschooled, no lie about that. My mom believes the best school is at home. I believe too. And I love it. No peers to pressure you, or dramatic relationships with petty girls. Just relaxation.

“Um, eight o'clock.”

“Eight! Oh no, I gotta go.” I pulled myself up off the sidewalk. “It's good meeting you. Wait, let me get your cell number.”

Like I told you earlier, me and the dark don't mix. I will have a nervous breakdown because mom said be back before dark. Probation is calling my name right now. Ugh, than I won't see her ever again. I'll never let that happen. Ever.

“Okay,” she took her phone out her skirts back pocket. “Hold on.” Tommie picked up her backpack, digging in it for something I guess. Tommie's pulled out has a pen shaped like a cat and a sticky note. I watched as she wrote down her number on the paper. “Here. Text me later.”

“Ok, I will.” We waved bye as we walked our opposite ways. After I made it back in the house, I put Tommie's number in.

Me: Heyy, just testing

Tommie

new acquaintance

: lol, hiiii!!!!!!

Me: We can meet up tomorrow?

Tommie

new acquaintance

: Sure! Same place tomorrow?

Me: Appsolutely!!!

Tommie

new acquaintance

: Night!!

Me: Night

I smiled at the thought of me seeing her tomorrow. I skipped into the kitchen and opened the fridge. I decided to eat some leftover rice. When I flopped in one of our kitchen chairs, Miles popped in. He was talking on the phone. Probably Daniel as usual. I'm not ready to hear his dumbness right now, I just want to eat in peace.

“Yep, oh he's right here.” Miles stole a bite of my rice with a spoon. Than covered the phone with his hand. “Danny says you're growing up on him.” Typical.

“Well tell Danny that I'm not his child.”

He scoffed. “Elijah said the same thing he said yesterday. Yep, he's been sarcastic the past days, you know hormones kick in.” That's it. I skirted my chair back, picked up my bowl, and stormed upstairs.

I locked my door. Miles can just get super annoying. See what I said earlier, he told Daniel everything that happened. I know this is not a really normal beginning, but this is reality. My life. I'm used to it. Normally. I heard his footsteps outside my door. Miles shadow moved under my door Than it stopped.

“Elijah?” Miles asks, knocking on my door softly. ”You still filled with rage?”

“Leave me alone,” I say, placing my bowl on my desk. “Let me be, okay?”

“Alright, if you need me. I'm one door away.”

“Yep, got it. Bye."

"I'm not playing. I mean for real."

"Bye, Miles."

His shadow disappeared from under my door. I threw myself on my bed sinking in my huge blue comforter. I rolled myself in the big comforter. My phone buzzed. I jerked my head up. I crawled hastly to reach my phone off my nightstand. Maybe it's Tommie.

Miles

brother

: Heyy I apologize!!

Me: What do u want now?

Miles

brother

: Uh, nothing. I'm saying sorry

Miles

brother

: Why should I ask for anything?

Me: I don't know, u always ask for something

Miles

brother

: NO I DON'T!!!!

Me: Lying

Miles

brother

: Believe what u want 2 believe

Me: Okie

I put my phone back on the nightstand. But than I picked it up again. Because I had to do something. I went to my contacts and saw her name. This warm feeling made it's way in my stomach and other places. My face felt hot too. Weirdness.

Me: Heyy, u up?

Tommie

new acquaintance

: Yea. Wut u doin?

Me: Nothing much, just laying on my bed.

Tommie

new acquaintance

: Lol!! I'm watching Americas Got Talent

Me: Wow. I forgot about that show. Lol

Tommie

new acquaintance

: Well it's still an interesting show

Me: Got it.

Me: Can't wait till tomorrow. Night

for real this time

Tommie

new acquaintance

: Lol night

4 real

I laid back down on my bed. Staring at the white ceiling. My life is going pretty good right now. Things are going right. Not backwards or forwards. Normally it would but it never did. I closed my eyes imaging what will happen tomorrow. With her.