Chapter 5 - V

Our school is about to start soon, so we tried our best to have fun if we could.

However, this fun isn't gonna last long.. not right now.

As I was lying on my bed watching random things at night, a notification popped on my phone.

It was on our friend group chat.

Ethan messaged us, saying he wanted to tell us something.

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The 7 idiots' Group Chat

Ethan: Hey guys? I have something to say.

Lyf: What is it?

everyone wondered since he pretty much didn't message that much in our group chat unless it was something important.

Ethan: I'm coming back to Australia for a while. But I'll come back here after a few months for college.<3

Allan: You're leaving already? I wanted to spend more time with you. 😔

Erich: We probably won't even have time to go out since we have an exam right after our school year continues. And it's literally after 3 days.

Karli: We had an exam!? Why didn't anyone tell me!? I still haven't reviewed😭

Hailey: Don't worry, Karli. I'll help you study for the exam!

Aerielle: I'll probably help you too since we have a math exam. In the first week, we have math... *insert subjects*

Erich: How did you know? Our teachers didn't even announce anything. I only knew about what exams we're gonna be having because I was eavesdropping on our teacher's conversations 😶

Aerielle: Uhm, student president council thingz🤪

Ethan: Man, you guys forgot about me😒 I'm done with ya'll. 👨‍🦯

Karli: Excuse me? You ain't leaving without saying goodbye to your beautiful cousin in person🥺

Ethan: Mhm, of course, I'll say goodbye to my "beautiful" cousin🙄 anyways, im only gonna give money to auntie, not you.

Karli: *gasps in uwu* why would you do that to me, my dear cousin.. you are like a brother to me why would you do this!?

Lyf: Can you both not make a family drama in here😭

Aerielle: Don't listen to her.. go on.. I'm writing things down.

Hailey: Why are you even taking down notes?

Aerielle: It's for stuff. You'll know soon enough.

Allan: The fact that they forgot the two of us here☹️ @erich

Erich: At least we aren't included in this family drama or whatever this is.

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After that, they forgot about the fact that Ethan is literally gonna leave for months and just began to talk about the most random things ever and even started to insult each other (in a friendly way which probably doesn't exist at all) the whole night.

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It's finally the day, the day when my cousin, who was probably the only one that cares about my mother and I, will leave us.

Before leaving, he visited me and my mother to say goodbye and to give my mother some money to be able to pay our rent and our daily lives.

Ethan came from a rich family. His mom and dad owned tons of companies and are also one of the richest people in Australia. However, he isn't like those typical "son of the CEO" who was rude and all, instead, he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met. My mother and I were grateful to have someone like him to help us despite the fact that most of our relatives accused us of the murder of my father, while the others were too busy abroad that they forgot about us. Some of them don't even care anymore.

Before he left, he hugged my mother and I and smiled at me as he drove away from our house.

'It's okay Karli. He'll come back after a few months! Besides, when he comes back, he can spend more time with us because he'll go to the same college as me! S-so there's no n-need to c-cry, right? There really was no need but why did still do it? Why was still bawling my eyes out like a child?' I couldn't stop the tears from falling and ended up crying like a mess.

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After that day, we all decided to come over to Erich's house at 2 pm to study for our upcoming exams. We then finally came to her house and of course, we decided to study first before talking about the most random things ever. Out of all of us, Allan was the one who was struggling the most. I swear Aerielle was about to slap him when we were studying mathematics. To be honest, Aerielle isn't even studying with us anymore, she's pretty much teaching us better than our teacher who barely even helps us understand our lesson.

'I wonder what it feels like to be smart' I thought to myself.

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5 hours later.

While in the middle of studying, I turned my face towards the window and noticed that it was so dark already. I looked at my phone to see that it was already 8 pm.

"Hey uh, guys? I think we should go home. It's already 8 pm."

"Wait what? My mom is gonna kill me after I get home!" said Hailey who looked like she was about to pass out from nervousness.

"I think we should stay over at Erich's house. It's pretty dark and I heard there was a lot of kidnapping that is happening here lately. Is it okay, Erich? I do have a pocket knife with me just in case so we wouldn't bother you anymore." said Aerielle.

"Oh don't worry it's fine! We have a guest room here anyway. And, why do you even have a pocket knife with you?" said Erich.

"It's better to be safe than sorry. And my mom forced me to bring one just in case I'll need it. Let's just text our parents. I'm sure they'll understand why we can't come home right now." said Aerielle

And so, we all did what she said and fortunately, Erich's parents gave us food so that we won't starve to death.

After we ate, we decided to watch movies for a bit because none of us didn't want to sleep at all and kind of wanted to watch a scary movie since it was pretty dark. However, after the movie just started, the electricity went off.

"I can't see anything."

"Does it look like any of us can?"

"Wait let me find my phone." said Erich.

After Erich found her phone, she turned on the flashlight to be able to see.

"Let me take our solar outside so can save our phone batteries."

(A/N: to those who don't know what solar is, it's some kind of light that is powered by the sun.)

"What do we do know? Stare at each other?" said Allan as he just randomly started fidgeting with his fingers.

"Maybe we can play some kind of game?"

"And what game? Please not truth or dare, that game is literally for kids."

"What else can we even play aside from that?" said Erich

"We can pla-" said Allan who tried to suggest a game that is actually fun but unfortunately got interrupted by Erich.

"Shut your mouth, we're gonna play truth or dare. My house, my rules." said Erich as he grabbed Allan's collar.

"That's a rather rude way to speak to guests." he exclaimed.

"Who's going first?" Lyf sighed as she tried to stop others from fighting

"Can i-" said Allan who again tried to speak but got interrupted for the 2nd time.

"Can I go first?" said Aerielle who didn't even notice Allan speaking.

And so, after almost everyone's turn is finished it was time for Hailey's turn.

"Hailey, it's your turn! Truth or dare?" said Lyf.

"Uhm, truth. I'm honestly scared about that look you're giving me."

"Who's your crush?"

"Never mind, dare."

"I dare you to tell your crush's name."

"Wow, I really don't have a choice, do I?"

"You really don't." said all of us except Hailey of course.

"Well it's..."

I sweat-dropped, thinking what her answer would be. Besides, I might have a chance because of the fact she acts like we've been friends with each other for years.

"It's Ethan."

And that is when my heart shattered into pieces.

I should've just expected it. Someone as pretty and nice as her would definitely like someone handsome like Ethan. I wasn't even jealous of it. Even if she did like girls, there's no way she would like someone as worthless as me. I should probably just act like I'm happy for her and all.

"Omg, you like my cousin? I'm very sure that he likes you back!" I said, acting like I'm happy for her.

"You really think so?" She smiled happily at me.

Suddenly, the lights turned on and now we can finally sleep properly.

"Seems like the electricity is back. We better go to sleep. We'll need to leave quite early to not bother Erich anymore." said Lyf.

"Sure! Hey uhm, Erich? Can I go to your bathroom for a while? I really need to poop." I said.

"Sure, go on."

And so, I ran to the bathroom to "poop".

3rd person POV

Allan and Hailey then began to go to the guest room to sleep since they were pretty tired from all that studying however, on the other hand, Lyf, Erich, and Aerielle seemed to be talking about something.

"There's definitely something wrong with Karli. I'll try to talk to her." said Lyf.

"No, go to the guest room. Erich and I will handle this." said Aerielle.

"Okay then. I'll tell the others that you are trying to find your phone so that they won't find you." said Lyf while closing the door.

"I've handled this quite a lot of time. Go to bed. Leave this to me, okay?"

Erich nodded in response.

Karli's POV

As I entered the bathroom, I immediately locked the door and turned my back against it. I tried to hold back my tears but only did nothing but failed. Tears were running down my face and my nose was about to get stuffed. I couldn't stop crying so I tried to be as quiet as possible until someone knocked on the door.

"Hey, Karli? Are you okay? Actually no. Don't even answer. You aren't okay at all. Karli, I've seen you went through this a long time ago and I don't want you to get through it again so please.. let me in, will you? We are friends, right? And friends are always here for each other." said Aerielle.

I was touched by her words but I didn't want her to see me like this. However, Aerielle suddenly punched the door as I trembled in fear.

"Come on, Karli. Open the door and no one will get hurt."

My heart was racing and I didn't know what to do at all.

Meanwhile outside the bathroom

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Aerielle's POV

"Hey, Aerielle? I know you're just trying to scare her but aren't you going a bit too far?"

"I don't have a choice. The nicer I talk, the more she doesn't care about what I'm saying at all."

Suddenly, I noticed the door unlocking and I immediately tried to open it.

"Karli?"

And there I saw her sitting on the ground with tears all over her face. I immediately ran up to her and hugged her.

"I'm sorry that I scared you. I had to do it for you to open the door."

"It's fine. I understand that you did it for me." said Karli.

"Come on, stand up. Maybe Hailey doesn't like you back but I'm sure there's someone else for you. They just haven't arrived in your life yet. Or maybe you are already close with them but you just don't know it."

"Maybe there is someone.. but I don't think I can already move on."

"Take all the time you need. And if something is bothering you, don't be afraid to tell us about it. Remember, we are always here for you no matter what."

And so, I wiped her tears and offered my hand to her to help her stand up. We waved goodbye to Erich as Karli and I walked to the guest room together and closed the door.