Through The Glass.

"Hey, Ally!" Chris called from the other side of the cafeteria. Chris and I had been friends since our childhood. We had met each other in Kindergarten, when we were line buddies. From then on we had always been close. Chris was my only friend, the only person I really bothered to talk to. Chris was a social butterfly. He had a ton of friends and always knew the latest school gossip. But after all the change our lives had gone through over the years, me being an extroverted little girl turned loner, him into a shy boy turned popular, he had always made time to hang out with me. He had always defended me. He always ran to me when I called.

When we were thirteen, we shared our first kiss. I was too young and not ready for a relationship then, and I told him so. And since then, I always knew deep down that he had never really stopped liking me. But I just hadn't had any romantic feelings for anyone. Ever.

"Happy birthday!" He came over and hugged me, pulling a small wrapped box from his pocket.

"Thanks," I said, slightly embarrassed, and rolled my eyes.

"Are you going to open it?" He smiled at me. He always had the most beautiful smile.

"What is it?" I asked, curious. I had never asked him for anything but every year he always picked out the perfect gift for me. When his birthday came, finding him a gift was always a struggle. I've bought him probably the worst gifts anyone's ever received in history, but he always 'loved it.' Or so he said.

I unwrapped the box carefully, throwing the wrapping paper aside and lifting the top. Inside of the box sat a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. They were small studs, but they gleamed so beautifully in the light. Sometimes, I wish he didn't try so hard. It made me feel horrible inside for never feeling anything back.

"Wow, Chris. It's a beautiful gift. Thanks!" I said, leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek. I saw him turn bright read and sighed inwardly.

"I have another surprise for you!" Chris practically squealed with excitement. I took it as a warning sign.

I groaned. "Why, Chris? You know I loathe surprises."

"Allison," he sighed. "I'm trying to do something nice for your birthday. Okay?"

I sighed, slowly, sitting down at our usual table. He sat across from me. "What surprise?"

"I want you to go home and dress in your best party clothes."

"No. No, no Chris. No way."

He reached across the table for my hand. "Come on, Al, its no big deal. Just a little party at my place in your honor. It'll be fun. It's worth a shot! And if you don't have a good time, we can send everyone home and watch a movie, you and I."

I sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time in this conversation. I hated crowd of people. I hated parties. Why throw me a party? Any more of a wallflower than me, you couldn't find. I knew it was a nice gesture, him trying to get me acquainted with some new people. He always worried that I spent too much time on my own. But I was happy alone. He was just trying to do a nice deed.

"Fine. As long as you promise that I can call it off if I want to."

He nodded emphatically. "Of course."

It was just a party. A good deed. But as they say, no good deed goes unpunished. And I would be the one to find that out first hand.