Andrew and Zen became friends. For the first time in his life, Andrew felt what he thought making friends would feel like. He started to go to school more often, and Caroline was very happy with his improved attendance. He always had lunch with Zen, and sometimes they would talk for a while after school before going their separate ways. It wasn't a lot, but it was a start.

One day, during lunch break, Andrew found Zen by himself at a corner of the school grounds, crouched by a sleeping cat. He prodded it with his finger and it angrily opened its eyes. Big mistake, Andrew thought. His cats always hated being prematurely woken. However, the cat stretched and stared quietly at Zen. It made no effort to lunge at him and bite his finger off. Andrew came to the conclusion that his cats were jerks.

As Zen lovingly petted the cat, Andrew understood that Zen was just one of those good-with-animals kind of people that he, himself, claimed to be. What he didn't understand was why people avoided Zen. Andrew walked over to him and crouched down beside him. "So when are you showing me the glowing stars at night?" Zen asked.

Andrew was taken by surprise. He had thought that Zen's silence when he'd mentioned it meant that he was politely declining the offer. "How about tonight? You can come over to my place."

"Cool, where do you live?"

Andrew told him but upon hearing the address, Zen fell into deep thought. "It's really really far from my place so night is not a great time for me to-" Zen started. "You could stay over!" Andrew said abruptly.

Zen looked as surprised as Andrew felt. For the longest time, he was a social nobody and now suddenly he was sharing his entire identity and having slumber parties with someone he'd met a week ago? He made no sense even to himself. Zen's surprise faded to a warm smile in an instant and he seemed like he would take up the offer.

"Oh but..." he fell back into thought "clothes..." he muttered. "You can borrow mine!" Andrew said. He felt utterly embarrassed, as though he sounded like he was desperate to make friends, which, maybe, he was, but it didn't help to realize that.

"But Coin..." Zen faltered. Andrew had forgotten about Coin. "Hmmm," He put a hand over his chin as he thought. Zen looked at him silently, then asked if it were okay if he brought Coin along.

"Oh, sure!" Andrew exclaimed. "We can introduce him to my cats!" He said and immediately regretted it. He thought he sounded like those soccer moms that meet in their yoga classes and decide to introduce their grubby little kids to each other.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Yeah sure," Zen said, laughing lightly. He had a pleasant and lively laugh. If Andrew hadn't felt like he were making a joke out of himself with every word he uttered, he might have joined him.

-------

Andrew pulled out his notebook for the next class. He actually had only one school notebook that he used for all of his classes. "Can you PLEASE get a few more?" Caroline seemed to materialize behind him in an instant.

"Nope." Andrew told her for what he thought might have been the twentieth time that month. "Now go back to your desk. Class is gonna start. Shoo."

"You know I can give you one, I-" Caroline started but then stopped. Andrew followed her eyes to the door where he saw Zen waving at him. Andrew got up and walked over to him. "I forgot to tell you to meet up at the usual place after school. Wanna get dinner? We can pick up Coin afterwards." Andrew just nodded, painfully aware of the eyes burning into his back. "Cool!" Zen said cheerily and went on his merry way.

"So you're still hanging out with him." Caroline tried to keep her voice steady. "Even after I asked you not to."

"Yeah," Andrew shrugged, a bit irritated.

"He's dangerous!" She slammed a palm down on his desk. "Why do you have to go make friends with him of all people, Andrew?!"

"Listen." Andrew stood up to pin her down with his glare, utilizing the one or two centimeters he had on her. "You don't even know him."

"And you do?" she glared right back, her ever intimidating eyes burning.

Andrew didn't really have an answer for that. He realized how stupid it would be to continue arguing since he had nothing to defend himself with. He'd only spoken to the guy a couple times his entire life and the only reason he had to believe Zen to be a good guy is that a dog liked him. 'No bad guy can lovingly pet a tiny dog like that,' he thought to himself.

Andrew couldn't believe his own baseless defense of the guy. All the same, he refused to give in to Caroline's demanding eyes. "You don't have a say in who I become friends with or don't," and with that Andrew sat back down. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, more students filed in followed by the teacher and Caroline promptly sat down at her own desk a few rows ahead of Andrew's. She turned back to scowl at him once more before turning her attention to math.

After school, Caroline caught up with Andrew again. "I have plans with Zen." He casually informed her. She raised her eyebrows in genuine surprise. "I didn't know you two were that close," she said, her voice devoid of expression. He shrugged in response.

She didn't speak much, seemingly deep in thought as she twirled strands of a ponytail around her finger. As they neared their usual spot, they found Zen propped against a wall, skimming through a notebook. When he noticed Andrew, his eyes lit up and he smiled.

"Hey!" he made his way over. "I know where we can grab some food-" his voice faltered as he registered the girl standing haughtily beside Andrew, arms crossed.

As much as he didn't want to, Andrew hastily brought the introductions in order. "Line, Zen. Zen, Caroline." Andrew mumbled indifferently.

Zen smiled and offered her a hand and she sourly shook it. "Will Caroline be joining us?" Zen asked.

"If it's alright with you two." Caroline forced a smile. Her tone of voice suggested that she was going to do whatever she pleased regardless.

"I don't mind," Zen said politely. "Me neither," Andrew shrugged.