Hi. I'm Alfie. And oh boy, do I have some stories to tell you.
The moment I turned 15 in 1999, life threw me a pretty wild curveball.
I wasn't sure if it was just hormones kicking in or if I was finally starting to see the world through a different lens.
Around this time, the life I had grown up with started fading into a distant memory. My parents were going through a brutal divorce, and I ended up living with just my mom, my older sister, and my six-year-old little brother.
To make matters worse, my sister was dealing with everything in her own chaotic way. She had always been hot-headed and rebellious, but now she fully embraced the Chola lifestyle and went by "Pebbles"—like the baby from The Flintstones. Don't let the name fool you. I once saw her knock out someone twice her size just for giving her a dirty look.
She was fiercely protective… but also my biggest bully. I did my best to steer clear of her.
School had become my escape. I was falling behind in class and no longer felt like my house was a home. But my friends—and our little group—were my sanctuary.
We called ourselves The Island of Misfit, after that old stop-motion Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special. None of us fit into just one clique. We were all over the place—and yet, we somehow got along with everyone.
There was Victor, the cool artistic one. Boss, our star athlete. Then the nerdy and studious bunch (which included everyone—especially me). We had punks, goths, rockers, even a few thugs and troublemakers like Nate. It was a weird mix, but it worked.
At our age, everyone around me was dating, kissing, hooking up—getting their hearts broken and doing it all over again. Me? I was too shy. I didn't even know what love was supposed to be. After watching so many people get crushed, I figured I'd just avoid the whole mess. Maybe become a monk or a hermit or something.
But that summer, something changed.
-Summer School, 1999-
Because I'd fallen behind during my freshman year, I had no choice but to attend summer school and retake a few classes. At the time, it felt like a punishment—but really, it was a blessing in disguise. It gave me a reason to avoid home for a few extra hours each day.
The only downside? None of my friends were there. I felt like a lone wolf, just keeping my head down.
The teacher looked as bored as we felt. As he opened the door and motioned for us to enter, he muttered:
"Okay, everyone. Find your name on a desk. If you don't like the arrangement… too bad."
Some kids groaned immediately, but I didn't care. I found my seat and pulled out my drawing pad, the one I'd been doodling in for over a year. Lately, I'd gotten really into that anime art style that was becoming super popular.
"Oh, that's cute!"
A sweet voice chimed in beside me. I glanced over and noticed a plastic lunch pail on the desk—it had characters from Disney's Gargoyles on it.
Curious, I looked up.
And that's when I saw her.
My heart may have skipped a beat. "Thank you," I giggled awkwardly. "I'm just messing around, really."
Who was this girl?
She had a gothic style that was oddly charming—jet-black nails, shiny silver rings, bracelets stacked around her wrists. But what really caught my attention were her eyes. Even with dramatic eyeliner making them look catlike, there was something unique I couldn't quite place.
"I have to ask," I said, mustering up a bit of courage, "what's with the lunchbox?"
"Oh, this?" She pulled it closer and opened it up. "It's my purse." She'd attached a braided cord to the handle to turn it into a shoulder bag.
I blinked, then laughed. Inside, she had makeup, a few personal items… and a classic Game Boy.
"Did you seriously bring a Game Boy to school?"
She giggled and nodded. "What else am I supposed to do while I wait for my ride after school?"
She had a sharp wit, and I already liked the way she thought. Sweet, but with an edge.
"Since we're stuck sharing this desk all summer, I figure I should introduce myself. I'm Alfie."
"Yeah, I saw that on your name card," she teased. She quickly covered her own with her hand. "I'm Cerulia. But I go by my middle name."
"Cerulia? Like cerulean?" I leaned to peek at her card, but she slid it away.
"Your last name's cool though. Kane. Like the wrestler."
"I get that a lot lately," she said flatly—just in time for the teacher to call out names for attendance.
"Candi Kane?"
"Here." She raised her hand and hid her face behind it. "I go by C.C."
I leaned closer, trying not to laugh. "Candi? Your parents seriously named you Candi Kane?"
She groaned. "Yeah. Thought it was cute. That's why I go by C.C."
Then she smirked. "Now I know why you go by Alfie. Your name makes me think of Chicken Alfredo."
"Haha. Never heard that one before," I replied with full sarcasm.
The class went on, but we kept teasing each other the whole time. Afterward, we waited outside for our rides. C.C. had her Game Boy ready but chose to chat instead.
The sunlight hit her face just right—and that's when I noticed it.
One of her eyes was green. The other, a warm brown.
In that moment, I knew.
I was completely smitten.