September, 1993
A boy and a girl walked into the kindergarten classroom, hand-in-hand. Their parents walked behind them, smiling at the sight of their hands clutched tightly, swinging between the pair.
Zack and Leah had been friends since birth. Their mothers had known each other since high school, and the children were born on the same day, in the same hospital, in neighboring rooms. They were then brought home to grow up right next door to each other.
Zack and Leah.
Leah and Zack.
That's the way it always was. That's the way it always should be.
September, 1999.
This time, it was the first day of sixth grade, the start of their middle school career.
Zack and Leah walked in together again, although they did not hold hands. Zack did sling his arm around Leah's shoulders, drawing her in closer, as if to protect her from any harm that could be done in this scary new environment.
Zack and Leah.
Leah and Zack.
That's the way it always was. That's the way it always should be.
September, 2002.
Yet again, the start of a new school year. Freshman year at Towson High School. They walked in together again, but barely grazing skin, afraid to start any kind of rumors, to stir the waters in this new pond.
Zack and Leah.
Leah and Zack.
That's the way it always was. That's the way it always should be.
September, 2005.
The start of senior year, perhaps their last year together. However, this school year did not start with them walking in together. This year started out with Zack hanging around with his new friends, and Leah walking in alone. She had waited for Zack for twenty minutes on her step, the way they had always done it, until she saw a car pull up in front of the Merrick's residence. Ashley Green was the driver, the most popular girl in school. Zack walked out and got in the car, without even a glance in Leah's direction. Broken-hearted, Leah gathered her books and broken pride, and made the mile-long walk alone, arriving with seconds to spare.
Zack and Leah.
Leah and Zack.
That's the way it always was. That's the way it always should be.
But never again.
