Anya's a total whirlwind. Her mind's always racing, and she just has to say everything she's thinking. It's both refreshing and kinda annoying, like she sees the world in HD and everyone else is stuck in standard def. She's brutally honest, which can be a good thing, but sometimes it feels like she's throwing punches without even realizing it.

I respect her for being herself, no matter what anyone thinks. She's fearless, and it's pretty cool. But man, she can be a lot to handle. She's like a tornado-powerful and unpredictable. She's gorgeous, too. Long, fiery red hair, those deep green eyes... she's like a model, but way cooler.

Three years ago
(They were thirteen at this point)

I used to catch myself staring at Anya in the cafeteria. She had this glow, you know? She was always laughing, always talking to someone, and she seemed to know everyone. I was more of a quiet guy, lost in books, but she was different. She was magnetic.

I was especially impressed by how she treated people. She was always kind and helpful, and she wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed in. I remember this one time she saw a bunch of guys picking on a new girl named Nyx. They were being total jerks, you know? Making fun of her clothes, tripping her in the hallway-the usual stuff. Probably because she looked different or something.

Anya didn't hesitate. She just stepped in and told them to knock it off. Her voice was firm, and she had this look in her eye that said, 'Don't mess with me.' And they backed off.

I'd never seen anyone stand up to them like that. It was like she had this superpower or something. She made me realize that I didn't have to be a total loser. Maybe I could be a little more like her, you know? A little less shy, a little more... confident.

End of flashback

I'm really glad we've become friends, she understands me. I've never met anyone like her. It's only been two weeks, but Anya's already turned my world upside down. One minute, she's cracking jokes; the next, she's deep in thought, pondering the meaning of life.

She's got this crazy energy, this insatiable curiosity. She's always asking questions, always wanting to know more. And she's got a way of making you feel like you're the only person in the world.

I still can't believe she's friends with me. I mean, I'm just a regular dude. I like reading books and staying indoors. She's the complete opposite. She's always outside, climbing trees, exploring the forest, making new friends, and who knows what else.

But even though we're different, we have something in common. We both crave adventure, we both want to break free from the ordinary. And we both see the world in a way that no one else does. And this is where most people would deny it, but I don't like playing that game. I like Anya, and I want her to know, but I don't know if she feels the same so I'm going to be her friend for a while longer. Then I'll tell her everything, the whole truth. How I'm... In love with her...

1 ½ months later

"I'm so excited for the play!" I tell Anya with a smile. "So am I," she says with a huge grin on her face, then looking hesitantly at the floor, stifling a nervous laugh. "I just hope I don't mess up," she admits, her voice barely a whisper. "What if I forget my lines? Or what if I trip on stage? Or what if I-"

"Hey," I say, my voice gentle as I take her hand and squeeze it reassuringly. "Don't worry about what anyone else thinks, okay? If not for yourself, for me?" "Okay," she says as she looks up and half-smiles again, but I can see the nervousness in her eyes.

"We've been planning this for weeks, you know all your lines, we wrote them together, Anya! You can do this! You look amazing." I tell her. "Plus, who else will play Cressida, our fearless adventurer?"

Anya's nervous half-smile finally breaks out into a huge grin that reaches her eyes, as we continued to help Mrs. Maude finish setting up for the play. "Thanks Ben, I... needed that." "No problem," I tell her as I put a crate of books and arrange them on the dusty shelves.

A/N: Sorry it's a shorter chapter! I wanted to give you certain information from Anya's perspective!