Today, I remember a shock of dark hair and the bluest eyes I've ever seen, but back then I just remember looking at this new specimen of a neighbor and thinking that we were not going to be friends. He tracked dirt and grass into the house from his soccer cleats, took a cookie off the plate without washing his hands, and only stopped talking long enough to flash me a smile already lacking a few teeth. "Riley will be so happy to have someone to play with," said my mom, smoothing down my curls with one hand. "There aren't too many kids on this street." "Do you play soccer?" demanded the boy, his mouth all chocolatey. "I'm the best player on my team, and I'm gonna be a pro when I grow up! I bet I'm way better than you! Can you even score a goal?" That was the day I met Connor Kjellan. ~*~ Follow the life of Riley and Connor from kindergarten through high school graduation, a story of ordinary friendship and growing up.