Love has no rules, no guidelines, no right or wrong, and no perfect formula that it follows. You can not control who you fall for. You can only control what you do with them feelings. In today's society we have become a bit more understanding of this fact, however there are still many judgemental people in the world. Ok maybe that's an understatement, but the fact remains. It doesn't matter what day and age we're in there will still be those who like to judge and bash others relationships. They're not the right age, color, or gender for you. They have no house, no job, no car, they are going nowhere, or they are no good for you. Any way you want to flip it there are always those who will want to break you apart whether mere acquaintances or the harder of the two someone close to you...

"Raina! ....Hey Raina!" a young man makes his way through the crowded hallways. His dark unruly hair slightly covering his hazel eyes. Raina turned in the direction of the voice she had become accustomed to hearing. It was Asher. Her bestfriend since preschool.

"Ash! There you are! I thought I was gonna have to walk alone" she said. He quickly slid in line and linked arms with her. "Only you would be late for graduation..." He gave her his usual sly smile and began to try to put his cap on.

"You know me Raina, the ladies can't get enough of me" Asher gave her a grin and a quick wink. Raina had grown impatient watching him fiddle with his cap and snatched it from him. She shook her head then placed the cap correctly on his head and let out a sigh.

"What on earth would you do without me?" she gave a smile as they relinked arms. The procession was finally moving. Asher took two of his fingers and pushed off of her forehead.

"Who knows? But what I'm really worried about is whether or not your boring ass is going to the party tonight?" he asked but finished in a whisper since there were teachers standing around. Raina quickly shook her head as they approached the door entering the gymnasium. The processional music had also grown louder and she was grateful for it. Since the sounds of the school band had drowned out Asher's scolding about her social life. He was the party animal of the two. Where as she was the home body. She didn't mind going out with friends in small groups but she just never liked cramped spaces.

Finally over an hour later, after the boring speeches, and the cliche slideshow of pictures from their early years to their final years of high school the graduates were able to toss their caps into the air. Then began the scramble to find loved ones to take pictures out in front of the school. Raina didn't know when she was separated from Asher, but she figured that it was due to some of his fan girls sweeping him away like usual or he was looking for his dad. So she began to search for her own parents. When suddenly she came across someone who she didn't expect to see there.

His tousled ginger hair barely moved in the breeze and his blue eyes were brighter then usual. Raina's heart seemed to skip a beat as she watched him smiling and laughing. It was if he was the only one standing there. She started to walk towards him but then stopped in her tracks. Slowly she began to turn around to head in the other direction. What would she even say anyway? She didn't have the slightest clue. It never mattered what the situation was, she always found that whenever she was around him she couldn't help herself and act in ways that were strange for her. Sometimes she would even act childish. Raina sighed in relief as she began to walk away. Thinking she had escaped his sight when suddenly an arm wrapped around her to her shoulder.

"Hey Raina, I'm sorry i forgot that you also graduated today. Congratulations!" Raina's eyes went wide and she quickly turned her head just to be met with his beautiful smile just an inch from her face.

"Leon.." she half whispered to herself. "What are you doing here? Your brother graduated last year right?" Her stomach became full of butterflies and her voice was very quiet. She almost couldn't tell if she had spoken at all. They began walking together still with his arm around her.

"Yeah, Luke graduated last year but I'm here for Ashley's little sister. You know Clarissa?" Leon spoke big heartedly. Raina couldn't help gritting her teeth a bit at hearing Ashley's name. And of course she knew Clarissa. Their graduating class only had 59 people in it. It was impossible to not know everyone. Though Raina was never close to her, they were always nice to each other. But that's just how Raina is. She could never truly hate anyone. Maybe it was just cause she was a good person or the bigger person. Or perhaps no one had truly hurt her enough for her to hate them. She didn't know.

"Yeah, I know Clarissa. We've been in the same classes multiple times. She's nice." Raina said with a half hearted smile. "It's nice of you to come see your girlfriend's little sister graduate." Leon gave her a puzzled look that she didn't quite understand.

"Ashley's just a good friend. We're not dating." Leon said pretty defensively. Raina took that as confirmation that he did have feelings for Ashley though. However she didn't push it and just nodded. "But anyways, I guess the big party is being held at Ashley's and Clarrisa's tonight to celebrate graduation. You gonna go?" he said staring at their feet as they came to a stop. He dropped his arm from her and put his hands in his pocket. Shaking his head and smiling a bit he added, "I guess there's gonna be alcohol and pizza..." he squinted one eye shut and looked at her for a response but before she could even open her mouth.

"Oh no, you've got the wrong girl Leon. Our sweet little Raina doesn't do house parties..." Raina turned as yet again an arm was around her shoulder. It was Asher. She rolled her eyes as she unwrapped his arm. Suddenly she heard the words pouring from her mouth like a faucet.

"Actually, I will be there." she said almost going into a defensive mode. Normally Asher's insults would just roll off of her and she wouldn't care. But for some reason it really got to her. Both the guys kind of stared at her in shock. Leon seemed to take a second then quickly covered whatever emotion he was feeling with a smile.

"Well that's awesome, cause I'll be there and it'll be cool to get to hang out some more." There it was again that bright smile. It was practically contagious and soon Raina was also smiling. "I guess I'll see ya tonight?"

"Yeah I'll see you tonight." she said beaming. Then Asher chirped in,

"Yeah we'll see you tonight!" Leon waved and began to walk away. Asher quickly turned to Raina. "Alright missy, what the hell was that? You never go to big parties! Let alone what are you going to tell your parents???" Raina just shrugged.

"Shouldn't you be happy? You're always on me about not going to big parties...besides I'll just tell my parents the truth...I'm gonna go hang out with you, Clarissa, and Leon."

"Don't forget Ashley..." Asher added. Raina rolled her eyes and began to walk away. Asher gently grabbed her by the wrist. She looked down at their hands. "Raina...please tell me you're over it? It's been years now...please tell me that it's sunk in that you two will never be together...you can't keep clinging to a teenage fantasy." Raina yanked her wrist away.

"Yeah Asher, I'm not some little kid." she quickly turned away. Rubbing her wrist where he had been holding it. He hadn't held it tight or try to not let her go, but for some reason...it burned. She couldn't tell if it was the actual fact that he had held it or if it was just the pain of lying to him. Raina prided herself on never lying. Of course she's human and had before but she really didn't like to. In fact, she despised it. Especially to Asher, if she couldn't be honest to him who could she be?