"So, now what?" I inquired Ivy, as we waited for the boys to change in the cabins. "Hey Mysie, now what?" she yelled instead of responding. Damn you, girl! I face palmedmyself.

"Let the boys come," Mysie yelled back.

"Let the boys come," Ivy said as she turned to face me. She walked away singing some tunes after that.

Seriously girl, you can't be much more stupid than this! Ugh God, why are there so many weirdoes in my life?

"What about movie night or something? "

"Nah, let's go to some restaurant. "

"How about clubbing? "

"That's too boring! Something new. "

Everyone was preoccupied with making plans for the day. After all, it was the weekend, and they were bound to have a good time. I smiled at them, but my gaze was drawn to Austin, who seemed uninterested in the discussions. He was spaced off and stood near the cabin, his arm crossed. It had gotten close to midday. The sun was at its peak. It was hot in there. I approached him and stood next to him.

"Hey!" I spoke out softly, taking care not to startle him.

"Hi!" He replied, a small smile crept on his lips.

"Are you alright? "

"Um... Yeah, I guess so! Why do you ask? " He returned his gaze to the sky.

I wonder, what's so special this noon?

"Nothing, only that everyone is preparing something there, and you're here by yourself. Wanna share? " I received no response from him. "Fine," I sighed, "join us when you feel like." He reacted with a hum.

I joined them, sipping my coke, and believe me when I say, that wasn't a wise decision. Senior Aylwin stood in front of me, dressed in black jeans and a white shirt with a few buttons undone and rolled-up sleeves.

"So, it's fixed now! We'll go to Water Park first, then McDonald's."

"Catch it, bro!" Senior Chase tossed him a bottle of water, which he easily snagged. The sun shone down on his sculpted figure and silken locks. His golden-brown and black hair glittered even brighter. Every part of his form seemed to emanate a luscious, beguiling shimmer. He opened the cap, and began gulping down. Cold water droplets trickled down his pink plump lips and along his chiseled jaw line, but they didn't stop there. They traced his contours, sliding deeper till they reached his Adam's Apple, which bobbed, forcing me to swallow harder. Those tiny droplets slid down his velvety neck in slow motion, taking their time in devouring his every cell before ultimately disappearing beneath his shirt. Lucky drops!

He set the bottle down, tenderly wiped his lips with the back of his palm. My throat became dry all of a sudden. Why was I suddenly hot despite the fact that New York was nowhere near the equator? The ticklish sensation was back, trailing with fuzziness.

I guess I'll have to grab two more cans now.

I had a long swig of coke in an attempt to cool myself from the blistering heat. That's when I realized my friends were staring at me strangely. My brows wrinkled in befuddlement.

"Are you all right?" I nodded.

"If that's the case, why are you fanning yourself?" Saphy made a motion with her hand to my face, which was being fanned. I was completely unaware that my hands were fanning. I swiftly retracted my hand, feeling a smidgen of embarrassment that I quickly concealed with a faux chuckle.

"Erm... It's just too hot in here, you know. I guess I need a shower, but a chilled drink would suffice. " I attempted to come up with an excuse, and it was obvious that they would buy it. But Ivy, being Ivy, had to open her big blunt mouth and say something. "Girl, haven't you already had two baths and three cans of coke? How much hot you feel? " I threw daggers from my eyes as I glared at her with all my might.

Control Soph, control. Don't kill her, don't kill her!

I inhaled sharply and smiled bitterly at her, "It happens sometimes, Ivy. Now, pass me a cold drink. " I was extremely grateful that the boys had brought a cooler with them.

"Yeah, Ivy, It happens sometimes. After all, it's not every day that you get a good shot of a hot hunk drinking water, isn't it Soph?"

"This is heaven, guys," Damien said as he bit into his double cheeseburger. We were at McDonald's, savoring our food. Our trip to the Water Park had left everyone too fatigued and drained. We had a lot of fun there, except for the time where Senior Aylwin left. He left to take a call and never showed up. Senior Chase later informed us that he needed to run some errands. Everyone was having a good time, joking and laughing, and a deep sense of serenity and bliss washed over me.

"Soph?" I was startled by the sound of Mysie calling to me. "Yeah?"

"If it's okay with you, could you accompany me to the restroom?" I nodded, as we walked towards it.

"I'll stay here and wait." I waited outside, my sight falling on my open-laced sneaker.

Argh, what a timing!

Nearby, there was a settee. I rested my leg on top of it and began tying my shoelaces.

"Fresher?" Involuntarily, my hands came to a halt. I shifted my gaze to him, who was leaning against the wall, his gaze riveted on mine.

When did he show up? Where did he come from?

"Yes? "

"Come with me." That wasn't a request or an order; it was just a simple remark, one that managed to hitch my goddamn breath. I reluctantly nodded due to the fiery determination in those stormy oceanic orbs. A part of me was even interested in seeing where he wanted to take me.

A clearing of the throat jolted me out of my reverie. "Um... Am I intruding something?"

I swiftly straightened up, a slight smile on my face, "No, not at all. Well, let's go. They must be expecting us."

The sly glitter in Mysie's eyes didn't go unnoticed as she gazed between us, grinning. All of us returned to our seats at the table.

"When did you arrive, bro?" Senior Chase inquired as soon as we arrived at our table.

"Fresher and I are on our way out. You guys, carry on. "

"Fresher?" They all stared back and forth between me and him, trying to figure out if they had heard correctly. "Um... Senior Aylwin, I guess we both are from freshman year too. " Felix interjected, motioning towards him and Ivy, who was wiggling her brows in my direction. It was difficult to cope with all of the unexpected attention. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I puffed the air out of my cheeks and avoided looking at anyone's mischievous glints.

"Guys, here our Senior Aylwin has a moniker for.... " Senior Chase was unable to continue as his friend cut him off, "We're leaving. "

"Wait, wait, wait! At least tell us, where're you going? " He interrupted again, twitched his brows and smirked. Ivy mouthed me, 'Details'. I stifled a chuckle.

"Hellhole! Wanna join? " Senior Aylwin retorted, before walking away. I dashed behind him, not wanting to get caught up in any further interrogations with my friends.

"Enjoy, but no funny business!" I heard Senior Chase shouting, followed by guffaws and giggles from the crowd. Damn it! Darn you, Senior Chase!

"It feels like After scene. You aren't taking me to one of those After-type scene areas, are you? " While walking through the copse, I mumbled under my breath. I was completely oblivious to where he was leading me. There was a lot of darkness in there. Like the lost puppy I was, I kept following him. Ugh, I hate him! Not that I ever loved him.

"Come on, or I'll have to show you a scene from Fifty Shades." My lips curved into a wicked grin. I kept up my pace and caught up to him.

"I dare you, you won't." He came to a standstill in front of me. Those orbs appeared irresistibly dangerous in the dim light, and a ticklish sensation again surged in my tummy. With amusement in his eyes, he merely shook his head. I blew the air out of my cheeks, fanning myself, and trailed behind him.

Tch, wrong move Soph, wrong move!

"How did you come across this place?"

"Coincidence."

We both sat on the cliff's edge, admiring its beauty. He took me to a breathtaking cliff, surrounded by lush greenery and wildflowers. The sea flowed elegantly in its brilliant blue color. The waves continued to crash on the shoreline. The moonlight shone on the water, making it more glistening and sprinkler-like. Cool breezes blew over my face, urging me to untangle my ponytail and let my hair down freely. The entire scene was both exotic and soothing. My smile never faded. Senior Aylwin was resting alongside me, with a comfortable distance between us. His eyes were closed, and his hands were tucked underneath his neck. Slowly, I laid, gazing at the stars and savoring the serenity and tranquility.

"When I was younger, I used to think that these twinkling stars were actually winking at me, and the bizarre part is... I used to wink back at them. Stupid one, I know! " I chuckled as I remembered my childhood. "However, things were so much better back then." I muttered weakly, unsure if he heard me or not.

"One, two, three, four, five,... Um... Where was I? Ugh, not again! One, two, three, four,.... " On her tiny fingers, the little girl continued to count. Poor girl, her fingers were fewer than the stars in the vast sky. The stars were twinkling and shimmering while the moonlight shone on her innocent face. She was annoyed because she only had ten fingers and stars were a lot. How would she count them?

"Hey Puffball! Whatcha doin'? " She was so relieved to hear her Cherry-merry's voice. Her face lighted up with joy right away. He sat by her side, his arms wrapped around her tiny stature, while she nestled closer into his soothing embrace.

"Cherry-merry! Thank God you came. Can you help me count the stars? I only have ten fingers, and these stars? SO MANY! How can a little girl like me, count them? God is so cruel. He shouldn't do such injustice to cute-little children like me, right? " He couldn't help but chuckle at her Puffball's adorableness and naivety.

"Um... May I know, why is my little Puffball counting stars? " He inquired, his gaze falling on those shimmery-glittery things that clung in the sky as if their lives depended on them, and he couldn't blame them.

"Today, Teacher Sandy taught us that stars twinkle, just like in the song 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,'" He listened attentively to her explanation.

"Yep, she did teach you correctly."

"Oh-ho, cherry-merry, even I'm smarter than you. Stars don't just twinkle; they actually wink at us. Look at them. See there... That one also..." He laughed at her innocence, and soon they were pointing out each winking star until they were exhausted.

He faced her after a moment's contemplation. "Then, my beloved Puffball, you should wink back at them."

She was bewildered "But why? I'm not a star. " She was a human, after all, and a cute little girl, so why would she wink at them? She didn't even twinkle.

"Who says you're not a star? You're my little-tittle star," he added, tickling her belly and making childish noises. They sat there for hours and hours, accomplishing their 'Mission Counting Stars,' or, as she preferred, 'Mission Winking At Stars.'

"Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood."

"Wonderful childhood?" I chuckled bitterly, my voice low, venomous, and dubious. I sighed, slowly whispering, "Indeed, a wonderful childhood!"

"Life is an echo, isn't it?" He abruptly spoke out. I responded with a hum. I realized what he was attempting to convey.

I chuckled, "Well, for the good part, I don't deserve. " My eyes remained close, and I made no move to open them. "And the bad part, that's the only thing that has the power to make me shudder. " I felt his penetrating stare on me, but didn't attempt to face it.

We remained silent, with no one uttering anymore since we were buried in our thoughts. We were enveloped in a serene stillness. A few fireflies and the sound of crickets passed us by. That's when I had an epiphany about something; something that had the capability to ruin me internally. Even though it was a plain fact, a truth to be spoken, it sounded ludicrous. I, Sophronia Jasper had piqued Aylwin Eldred's intrigue, but that didn't mean I'd sated my thirst.

I was captivated by his rough-tough façade, which always managed to churn my insides and make me jittery. At the same time, he was the only person who had ignited an insatiable curiosity in me, and I was willing to quench my thirst even if it meant being burnt by his blazing flames. I wanted to give it a go, to give myself a chance to take the initiative and see where it would lead me. I wanted to play his game and get the answers I'd been seeking for. Perhaps it was time for me to break out of my shell and experience new things. It was all part of the cycle of time, and I was terrified, knowing that everything would eventually come back to me. My sins would never leave me alone, and tragedies would inevitably follow; surely they would.