It was September 2003. I was packing up my supplies for my first araw of high school, which was the susunod day. I was dreading the susunod araw because Terra was going to be attending the same school, Fairfax High School. I really had my hopes up when I thought that I would start high school with her as my girlfriend. She dumped me for Jake Shepherd, the bad boy. He’s a bully, a jerk wad, and a lot of other things that shouldn’t be said. On the radio, “Scar Tissue” sa pamamagitan ng Red Hot Chili Peppers was playing. Suddenly, I heard my father calling. “John Anthony Smart,” he barked. “Get your butt down here! It’s time for dinner!” I shook my head. “Coming,” I said, and I walked down the stairs. I hated being called sa pamamagitan ng my full name. I prefer to be called Anthony, not John Anthony Smart. At dinner, my mom said, “You’re a big high school student, now. I can’t believe it.” I sighed. She asked, “Is anything the matter?” I said, “It’s just that I won’t have any friends, and I will have to put up with Jake Shepherd, the bad boy.” She said, “Don’t worry, Honey. I’m sure you’ll make mga kaibigan in time.” I smiled. “Thanks, Mom,” I said. My mom was a college drop-out, but she was the smartest woman I knew. She always knew how to make me feel better. I took my dishes to the sink to be washed and helped my mom wash dishes. “Real men don’t wash dishes,” sinabi my dad. My mom was furious. “Back off, John,” she snapped. “At least he’s helpful.” My dad laughed and walked away. My brothers weren’t much better. Alan and Adam were always mean to me. Adam was the worst. When I was in my bedroom, playing my guitar, Adam said, “Hey, Anthony, I can tell you a secret on how to be cool in school.” I looked at him curiously and asked, “What’s that?” He said, “Five words: Get a haircut, you hippie.” I looked at him and said, “Maybe I want to be a hippie, did you think of that?!” He laughed and said, “Pathetic.” Then, he left the room. I said, “At least I don’t have a full-length mirror on my soft tail.” He came back and flipped the bird. I grinned and continued playing my guitar. Adam is three years older than I am, while Alan is six years older than I am. However, I didn’t have to put up with Alan because he was gone to college to study writing. When I was done playing my guitar, I fed my dog, Killer, and then I went to bed. I stared at the ceiling for a while, and then I fell asleep. The susunod morning, I walked to school. I saw the big sign with the words, Fairfax High School. “This is it,” I sinabi to myself. Suddenly, I heard a voice saying “Ain’t that beautiful?” I turned around. Sure enough, it was Jake Shepherd. He said, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Terra’s old boyfriend. I’m sure you want her back. I bet you wanna go.” I said, “Shepherd, I don’t want to fight.” He called to his buddies, “Hey, guys, Smart is a weenie!” They laughed. I said, “You want a piece of me; come and get it!” Jake laughed and said, “You can’t fool me with that pitiful disguise. Me and my gang will rip it off of you!” Suddenly, his buddies ran away in fear. I was confused. Then, a tall, muscular guy was standing beside me. He said, “Back off! What did he ever do to you?” Jake said, “Come on, man! We were just joking around, right Anthony?” I said, “Wrong!” The student walked up to him. “Go away,” he said. Jake ran a few feet away, but then he looked back. The student added, “And don’t come back!” I looked to my hero and said, “Thank you for standing up for me. No one else would've dared to do that.” He said, “Stick with me, Anthony. Oh, I’m Charles, sa pamamagitan ng the way.” I said, “It’s nice to meet you, Charles.” He asked, “Are you new here?” I said, “I moved here in L.A. in January. So, you could say I’m new.” He said, “I’m a sophomore who was born and raised here.” Just then, the kampanilya rang, and I walked into the building with Charles. I felt that we could become good friends. For once in my life, I would have friends. I was happy to have met someone who would take up for me. In the past, I didn't have anyone to take up for me. I had to take up for myself. That was the first time anyone has ever taken up for me.
Anthony finished telling his story. Simon said, "You should write a book, Anthony." Anthony said, "Really?" Simon said, "Yeah. I bet it would be a best seller!" Anthony said, "No." The two talked about the great times they had through high school and where they were at that point. Grace then said, "I don't know what will happen to you in the years to come, but I hope that you two will still be the best of friends." Anthony said, "I think so." Simon said, "I think so, too." Anthony said, "Come on! Let's go sing some karaoke before we turn in, buddy!" Simon said, "Right behind you, my main man!" Grace smiled. "Simon and Anthony," she said, "Best mga kaibigan 'til death do them part."
It was June 25, 2007. It was Anthony's eighteenth birthday. He had invited his friends, Charles, Simon, Ron, and sherry to celebrate with him. After the party, Simon stayed behind. Since Simon and Anthony were best friends, Anthony's mother allowed the two to have a sleepover. The two talked for a really long time. Then, Simon finally said, "Anthony, I've heard many stories about you, but I never heard the story of your years in Montana." Anthony said, "That's right. You haven't." Grace said, "You've known him for almost four years now, Anthony. I think it's time you tell him." Anthony paused for a moment. He never opened up about his past to, well anyone. He didn't really like talking about the past, but Simon had been such a good friend. "All right," sinabi Anthony. He asked his mother to tell Simon the first part of the story, the story that began eighteen years before.