Tossing and turning, tossing and turning, tossing and turning. Ugh, that's just what I'd been doing up to then! It was 2 a.m., and Ms. Sleep was nowhere to be seen. After each failed attempt at sleeping, I sat on my bed with my face between my palms. Mr. Ogling Owl from the Alley seemed to have a profound effect on me. Darn you, Mr. Ogling Owl!

Ivy, on the other hand, was softly snoring, her mouth slightly apart. She was all wrapped up in her blanket and pillow, like a small girl. In her tight embrace, her little bunny was crumpled up. Seeing her sleeping peacefully brought a smile to my face. Despite the fact that she was a complete nut, she was always a dear friend of mine!

Ms. Sleep was running late, and I wanted to kill some time. So, I took my phone off the charger and went straight to Instagram. What an ideal time I found for responding to their messages! They'd most probably think I was suffering from insomnia.

I opened his text with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. The guy really messed with my head!

"When you're surviving for others, neutrality is what you get. Healing yourself is of no use. "

So, Senior Poker Face, was that the case?

"Mr. Perspective matters! It was you, who chose this life, and neutrality. Moreover, to heal others, you need to cure yourself first. Mr. Façade once said to me, 'I don't last long.' "

I sighed and buried my face in my pillow. Senior Poker Face, you perplex me like no one else on the planet. I was about to put my phone down when a message popped up. Shit, double shit, triple shit! I read it while biting my lower lip:

"Few facades are worth lasting. Still the truth remains, 'Fragments of a flower without fragrance cannot explain the originality of the flower.' "

I read it, then read it again, and then again. Was he a major in English? As a freaking piano note, his words played in my head. They were absolutely genuine, pure, realistic, and natural. It wasn't the line he wrote that made me smile; it was the way he mingled his own perspective in those few lines.

Those fragments were his pieces, his façade, which he displayed to the whole world, devoid of all emotions or feelings. There was no denying that underneath his tough exterior lurked a man whose uniqueness and soulfulness could not be described. He never failed to amaze me; I must say! That was the aspect that drew me to him. He wasn't sulking his story in front of me, nor was he shielding his real self from me. He was just being honest, purely-utterly honest. I wondered if he knew who I was!? Shaking these thoughts, I typed:

"Then it's best to burn those fragments and wait for fresh flowers whose fragrance can be coveted."

That was the last thing I remembered before darkness engulfed me.

Groaning, I stretched my arms with a yawn. It was Saturday, which meant I had to catch up with Faith to talk about joining the student council. My hands combed my bed for my phone, which had been concealed under my sheet. Since when did phones start to play hide and seek?

His last message left me shell-shocked. That was not what I expected him to text. Actually, I did, but not at that moment. I assumed he wouldn't respond the first time, and if he did, it would be more along the lines of 'Who are you?' 'Do I know you? ' 'It's none of your concern,' or anything along those lines.

What made him ask me that after we'd been chatting for a few days?

"Who are you? "

He didn't know who I was, that was certain. He had no idea I was the same girl he'd met three times in the span of a week. I was not sure whether I should be happy or upset about it. I brushed it aside and opted not to reply because I wasn't ready to reveal my real identity to him just yet.

"Excuse me?" I politely asked a blonde in a cheerleader costume, her back to me. She was chatting and joking with a group of boys and girls.

She smiled as she turned to face me. Why did it have to always be the people I least expected to see? Aria Romano stood there with all her splendor.

"Yes?" Her eyebrow raised as she twirled her dangling locks.

"Can you please tell me the way to the Office of Student's club? " I caught a few of the boys checking me out while the girls were talking among themselves or whatever. I wasn't a werewolf or vampire, all blessed with sharp listening powers. I wasn't dressed in a super chic, sizzling hot dress that invited attention. I wore a simple white shirt with black high-waisted jeans and black boots. My hair was in a messy bun with a few curls out, as always.

"Sure, it's in Greenwich Hall, the one directly across from here; just walk straight from the hall, turn left next to the Art room, and the very first door is the Office," she said, motioning to the area with her hands.

"Thank you!"

"Anytime!" She flipped her blonde locks, flashing me a smile before returning to her group. After all, she wasn't that bad, right?

The aroma of roses, lavender, and orchids hit my nostrils as I walked through the gates of Greenwich Hall, but it was the unique, earthy fragrance of the damp garden soil that completely invaded my senses. I was anxious about meeting Faith and other club members earlier, but the musky, fresh, and pleasant scent of wet earth was soul soothing and relaxing. In front of the hall, there was a large garden with various flowering plants and potted plants. Sprinklers were being used to water them. The lush green leaves were dangling with water droplets on them. The grasses were neatly trimmed and well-maintained. I smiled as a wave of euphoria washed through me.

It was my first time stepping into that area. Though Ivy had given me a campus tour, still I had forgotten about a few locations. My dorm was in Brittany Hall, and I had to walk to University Hall, which was not far away, for dining. As a result, there was no point in visiting this hall. I assumed Ivy was aware about this whole club thing, but she wasn't, much to my dismay. She just knew how to exaggerate true stories to the point of absurdity. Jeez!

So, I had to gather the details myself. Saphy kind of gave me a lot of details about it including the fact that Greenwich Hall was a hub of numerous clubs, including Dance Clubs, Music Clubs, Drama Clubs, Art Clubs, Literature Clubs, Science Clubs, and the list went on and on. Your clubs were chosen based on a variety of factors, including your preferences, the number of participants in the club, advice from senior members and professors, and, most notably, your ability to work together in that particular club. Being a member of a club could be both exhausting and exciting, depending on the club you join. It was then that I realized how much work the Presidents would have to do.

Like other halls, Greenwich Hall was too painted with light-modern colors. At each equivalent distance, a white craved cylindrical pillar stood at the hallway's boundaries. The club rooms, unlike my classes, were painted with diverse patterns and wallpapers depicting various activities. While walking down the corridor, I caught a glimpse of the few classrooms. Every room was jam-packed with students who were putting on a show. The hallway seemed to be a bustling thoroughfare, with students passing by on their way to and from classes. A few boys carried boxes stuffed with ribbons, sprinklers, paints, and other art supplies. Another group was bringing along their musical instruments, such as a guitar and a Casio keyboard. I saw two girls wearing ballet flats. Many students were lined up in front of their respective clubs.

At long last, I arrived at the office. I pushed open the large glass-encased black wooden door. The room was spacious and tastefully decorated. It had a black and white theme to it. A few artificial flower pots were organized in a queue at each corner of the room, enhancing the beauty of the place. On the wall, there were a few university-related paintings and photos. It represented a variety of events and activities that occurred at the institution.

I heard a few voices coming from inside. My attention was instantly drawn to a familiar bronze head. I approached her and saw that there were quite a few people around, including Claire. Wasn't she a cheerleader?

"You're about five minutes late." Faith sighed and flashed her wristwatch to me. "I wasn't sure of the location, to be honest." She smiled as she nodded.

"Come on, fill it out." She gave me a form that included information about entering the clubs, adhering to their rules and regulations, and other guidelines. I took the form from her and sat down in one of the nearby chairs to fill it while cautiously reading it.

I gave it over to Faith after filling it, and she directed me to follow her. She marched to where the majority of the students were congregated. She summoned Ken, and the two of them ordered them to form a line. As they started to line up, my gaze clashed with those dark oceanic orbs

"No, no, not again! Ugh, how can I forget! He'll undoubtedly be here. He is the president, after all. " I cursed quietly under my breath.

It seemed like my lucky stars weren't on my side that day, because the next minute, Senior Chase waved in my direction, shouting, "Hazel Eyes?" I was stumped as to what I should do next! The most of the attention was focused on me, but that was not my concern. Those alluring stormy orbs, which were busy examining papers at the time, were suddenly, gazing at me. Darn you, Mr. Lucky Star!

I smiled at him, pretending to be unconcerned with the looks I was receiving. Ken too noticed me, and here goes nothing! "Hello, Pepsi Cola! Didn't expect you to be here! " Feeling was mutual, Ken, feeling was mutual! I so damn badly wanted to say it, but being the good kid that I was, I held back and just said, "Well, now I'm here, am I not?" He let out a low chuckle.

Pepsi Cola was his nickname for me because I always had a coke with me whenever we met, which led him to believe that I was completely obsessed with coke. Three different voices interrupted him before he could say anything else.

"Ken, babe, are you done? We need to leave. We're already quite late. " Claire stood by his side, her arms coiled around his hand in a possessive way. Geez girl, chill! I wasn't making a move on him or anything. I rolled my eyes at her with a huff. Ken walked along with her, passing me an apologetic smile.

"Well, I think you guys should focus on the work you came here for." That was when I realized that Senior Kyla was sitting beside Senior Aylwin. She was fiddling with her pen, a look of confusion, and annoyance plastered on her face. They all returned to their respective tasks. Well, let's just say, joining the council club wasn't going to be uneventful!

"How did you end up here, Hazel eyes?" Senior Chase approached me out of nowhere. With a raised brow, he stood next to me. "Yeah, I had intended to open a fish market. So I came to inquire about your personal favorites. Tell me then, what's your go-to meal? " My words were dripping with sarcasm. He laughed and shook his head.

"Hey, bro, take a look at who we've got here?" His tone was mischievous, which screamed danger for me. My breath caught in my throat as he spoke.

'Was he always like this, or was today a rare occasion? ' I thought.

With his signature poker face on, Senior Aylwin slyly lifted a brow at him. His gaze darted to me for a few moments before returning to his dear friend, who reciprocated with a chuckle. Shaking his head at us, he returned back to reading the papers.

I exhaled deeply, my gaze accidentally fell on Senior Kyla, who was watching me curiously. I shrugged and walked over to Faith, who was conversing with a group of girls.

"Faith, hey! What do I do next?"

"Yo-ho girl, you are quite popular here. " She smirked, before chuckling. I simply shrugged with a smile.

"Well, you need the sign of Presidents at the last. " She showed me the place on the sheet. Sign of Presidents? As if, Senior Poker Face? Seriously, not again!

I was just a few feet away from them. They were in the middle of doing some paperwork. The majority of the students had left. Senior Chase exchanged puzzled looks with me, which I returned with a friendly smile.

"Are you going to say something or just stand there like a statue, fresher?" His eyes were focused on the papers.

Senior Chase, suddenly started coughing. "Oh, my God, did I hear that correctly? Fresher? " He wiggled his brows at Senior Poker Face, who rolled his eyes in response.

"For the first time, the Aylwin Eldred referred to a girl with a nickname. My cause for living has finally come to an end today, O sweet Jesus. Damn, something is fishy! Tell me, what am I missing? " I was reminded of Ivy by his melodrama. They were perfect for each other.

I wasn't sure if I should be flattered or terrified. I ignored him and got both of their signatures. Senior Chase stopped me just before I was about to leave.

"Huh? "

"How's that 'sexy' friend of yours's? " He said, air quoting the word sexy. At first, I frowned, and then realization dawned upon me. Shit, he was well aware of it!

"Gossips travels fast, beautiful young lady. " He mocked once again. Ugh, Ivy! It was the point at which I desperately wanted to knock Ivy's sorry arse and send her to a hellhole where she could narrate her exaggerating tales to rats and mice.

"Well, Senior Chase, you know, Ivy can be a little naughty sometimes," I nervously chuckled, mindful of the scrutiny we were receiving. Saying that, I dashed away without looking back. God, at long last!