Wake up," Blake playfully tapped Louis, urging him to wake up.
"Just five more minutes," Louis whined, holding onto his pillowcase tightly.
"We're going to be late for classes. We're seniors now, remember?" Blake said more seriously.
"Fine, you win," Louis grumbled, reluctantly getting out of bed.
****
"Please let today go well.
Favor me,"
Charlene muttered anxiously, pacing around the room. Hazel, watching from a corner, chuckled softly.
"She never listens," Hazel murmured, appearing in front of Charlene.
"Ouch," Charlene flinched, her eyes turning red.
"Charlene, calm down," Hazel screamed, but a glare from Charlene sent her flying into the wall, hurting her arms in the process.
"No," Charlene muttered, realizing what she had done.
"I'm sorry, Hazel," she muttered, running out of the room in tears.
****
"Let's go, we can't be late," Aiden said, fixing his collar. Thoughts of Charlene made him smile unconsciously.
"She's cute," he blurted out.
"Stay focused, bro. You've been grinning for the past five minutes," Midas, Aiden's friend, snapped him back to reality.
"Did you have to interrupt?" Aiden scoffed, leaving the room.
"Wait, I haven't even asked who she is," Midas called out, rushing after him.
****
Charlene sat in a garden, sobbing as she thought about what had just happened.
"I hurt her, just like I hurt Jace. Maybe I'm not meant to be around anyone," she mumbled.
"Dreame College isn't for the weak," Blake scoffed behind her, his face expressionless.
"It's you, from the garden the other day," she mumbled, not bothering to wipe her tears.
"Yes, and you should stop crying so easily. It's annoying," he said curtly.
"What is he really? One moment he's nice, the next he's cold," she thought, and Blake chuckled.
"I'm just me. Now hurry up and get to class," he said with an unreadable expression, walking away.
****
"Who is she? And why were they alone together in the garden?"
Ava, Layla's friend, asked, sitting beside Layla.
"How would I know?" Layla snapped, looking off into the distance.
"Aren't you
mad?"
Ava asked, surprised.
"Even if I am, what difference does it make?" Layla replied.
"It makes a big difference, Layla. You've liked Blake since the day you arrived here, and now you're just going to let some new girl take him away? Be smart," Ava spat.
"You have a point, but..." Layla trailed off, unsure of how to express herself.
"But what?... Damn, you're scared. I should have known a coward will always be a coward. Come on, you have nothing to be afraid of. It's not like you're going to harm her. You just need to let her know that Blake is yours. It's not a big deal," Ava replied persuasively.
"Fine, as long as we're not going to hurt her, then I'm in," Layla mumbled.
"That's the Layla I know," Ava grinned.
****
"Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you," Hazel asked as soon as Charlene entered the room.
"I hurt you. You shouldn't be worried about me," she muttered, slowly making her way to her bed.
"Don't be a baby, Charl. My cousin already healed my elbow, and besides, you're still learning. I understand. Get dressed, let's go to class," Hazel said, tying her shoes. With mixed emotions, Charlene walked alongside her.
****
"You're back," Louis mumbled as Blake joined him.
"No, I'm still in the garden," he snickered.
"Relax, it was just a question. But seriously, why do you always go to the garden?" Louis asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mind your own business, dummy," Blake replied emotionlessly, his thoughts drifting back to Charlene in the garden.
"Such a child," he scoffed, remembering her tears.
"Is she always like that? Crying over the smallest things," he thought to himself, frowning deeply as he realized he had been thinking about her.
"You need help, bro," Louis muttered, staring at Blake.
"Go away, dummy," he scoffed, trying to focus.
****
"I haven't seen her all morning,"
Aiden muttered, looking around.
"Looking for me?" Diamond grinned, sitting beside him.
"Um... hi," he stuttered awkwardly.
"Hmm, you weren't expecting me?" she asked, disappointed.
"I'll leave then,"
she muttered, starting to walk away slowly, hoping he would call her back or hold her hand like in the movies. But neither happened, and she walked away feeling let down.
****
Melanie walked slowly, humming a song as she made her way to class. She had a lot on her mind - her stepmother, her father, adjusting to a new world.
"It's going to be tough," she thought as she walked, not paying attention to where she was going and accidentally bumped into someone.
"Ouch,"
Charlene winced, almost falling, but Melanie caught her.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"It's okay. I guess I'm just clumsy," Charlene smiled.
"No, it's my fault, and I apologize," Melanie smiled.
"You have a cute smile," Charlene teased.
"Oh please... stop flattering me,"
Melanie replied, blushing slightly.
"Friends?"
Charlene asked, extending her hand. Melanie accepted with a light smile. She knew making another friend so easily was risky, but she felt a strong bond and connection with Charlene and couldn't resist.
"That's so sweet," Charlene grinned, unexpectedly hugging her.
"It's her. We found her, Melanie. You know what to do. Don't hesitate,"
a voice in her head said, only audible to Melanie, and she froze in place.
To be continued... ###