The Space Between Us

Ch. 1

Back then life was simpler. I only had to worry about what games to play during break time and what I wanted to eat for lunch. That was until I met some other kids who I thought were my friends. They pushed me into lockers, took my things and said mean things about the clothes I wore. It's not like my family was poor, I just wasn't as rich as the other students I attended school with. That was until a new student transferred to our school, Caleb. He protected me from those mean kids.

He ran back to me with my stolen shoes that the other kids took from me. I was sitting on a bench under the tree, shielding me away from the bright sun. My vision was still blurry from my tears.

"Here, I got your shoes." He knelt down on one knee and put my feet on his knee as he put my pretty pink shoes back on my feet. I didn't say anything and just watched him, I still felt very sad. "Don't play with those mean kids anymore, friends shouldn't steal your shoes like that. Okay?" Even though we were only eight then, Caleb always seemed more mature and knowledgeable in life than I ever was. And even now when we are seventeen he still always knew more.

Ever since then, Caleb was my best friend. Actually, he was my only friend.

"Y/N? Are you listening?" I must've been day dreaming about the first day we met, I didn't hear whatever he was saying for the past 5 minutes as I pushed my food around on my tray.

"Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?" He laughs and ruffles my hair.

"Nothing, it's not important. What were you thinking that you weren't listening to me anyways?" I shook my head not wanting to explain. He understood and didn't push me further. He always understood. "Did you hear we were getting a transfer student from Korea? I heard she comes from a well off family." Maybe that's why Caleb and I always got along so well, our backgrounds were very similar. He grew up with his grandmother and they didn't always have the best money. Although I can't complain about my situation, I still have both my parents and they make enough to provide for us. But still, other kids' situations were always better, making us fall below them.

"Korea?"

"Yeah, Korea. I think her dad is like a CEO or something, it must be nice coming from a family like that. I wonder why they wanna come to China though."

"For business.. I'm assuming."

Caleb pops a chip into his mouth. "Oh! You're so right. Y/N, you're always so smart." But I never felt like I was although Caleb has been saying so since we were eight. In my eyes, Caleb was always the most knowledgeable one between the both of us. "Are you still coming over tonight? Grandma keeps asking me, she wants you over for dinner." I nod. I'd never say no to Grandma's cooking.

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The walk to school the next day was painful. I slept late and woke up early, but no one's to blame but me. As I reached the gate I saw Caleb's bright face. How can one be so energetic in the mornings?

"Y/N! Quickly!" I saw him wave over to me. I rubbed my eyes and walked to him. "You walk so slow, did you sleep late again?" I didn't have to answer, he already knew. He ruffled my hair and walked alongside me to class.

As we take our usual seats in the back, I look out the window. Fall was approaching fast, my thoughts drifted to all my fall clothes and how I'm going to have to dig through all of them and pick what I wanted to wear.

"Fall is coming quickly huh? I have to find all my fall clothes again." I snapped my head to Caleb, how did he know what I was thinking? "Hm? Don't you think so, Y/N?"

"Yeah... fall is approaching quickly." I look back out the window. Just then Mr.Li enters the classroom with a female student. She's short, long dark brown hair with bangs. She was a different type of pretty that was hard to explain. That immediately brings students to their seats and quiet down.

"Good morning everyone, as you all must have heard the rumours already, we have a transfer student from South Korea, please be nice to her, she can speak a little Chinese but not fluently so please help her around. Please introduce yourself."

"Hi everyone, I'm Lee Jiwoo, nice to meet you, please treat me well." she smiled brightly. I looked around the class and noticed the girls admiring her beauty while all the boys were starstruck. I don't blame them. I looked at Caleb and he looked... nervous?

"Very well, let's see, we are short desks so please take the single desk behind Y/N and Caleb for now. Y/N, Caleb, can you raise your hands?" We both raised our hands and Jiwoo walked by. As she passed by she smiled politely at us. I noticed Caleb stiffening up a bit and he fixed his collar. I didn't think too much.

As class finished up, we had a study period. I opened my books but felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned around and it was Jiwoo.

"Y/N, right?" I nod. "I'm Jiwoo, but I'm pretty sure you know that already, I hope we can be good friends!"

Caleb turned around. "Nice to meet you Jiwoo, I'm Caleb. So, South Korea huh?" They started talking about Jiwoo's life in Korea and it seemed like I was forgotten about for a bit. But I didn't mind, I had to study anyway. But I couldn't help but notice how Caleb smiles and looks at her. It's different from the way he looks at me.

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After school Caleb walked me home as I was on his way home as usual.

"Jiwoo is so interesting, did you know that she owned a tiny puppy in Korea? But they had to give it to her aunt to take care of because they moved here. And you were right her dad did move because of business, he owns one of the biggest ones in Korea and they hoped to expand their business here in China." I walked and listened as he talked about Jiwoo the whole time. I didn't talk to her much so I had nothing to say. "Oh we're here already, see you tomorrow Y/N." He waved and walked away. I watched his back as he made his way down the street. It was hard not to notice how he didn't ruffle my hair this time.

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Authors note:

Hiiii everyoneeeee

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I haven't really written anything since like gosh 2018 >_< so I really hope you enjoyed this! Please let me know your thoughts and opinions as that would be very helpful!

I have a lot of ideas for this plot so please bare with me as I try my best to write it all out (I'll try not to make it so cliche lolll)

Thank you for making it this far! Have a good rest of your day.