"ou need to talk to him," Riley insists.

"No. I can't do that," I say, closing my locker.

"Sure you can. It's easy. You just need to walk over there, open your mouth and TALK," Sophie explains.

"I've got zero confidence. How am I supposed to do that?"

"Anna, just go talk to him. I'm sure it will go well," Colette tells me.

"Nope. I can't do it," I shake my head.

"Yes, you can. You just need a push," Riley says and pushes me, making me stumble forward and crash into Alexander's back. He turns around with a startled look on his face, before he notices it's me and he gives me his 100 watt smile. Oh lord.

"I'm so sorry. I tripped and that happened," I apologize in a rushed out tone, flailing my hands around. If there's an accurate description of how I look like, it would be a duck that just started learning how to swim.

"It's fine," He chuckles, "Anna, right?" I nod in response, unable to talk.

"How are you doing?" He questions. I open my mouth to talk, but nothing comes out. Speak, Anna. Speak!

"I'm..doing great. How are you doing?" I say, smiling.

Wow, that went better than I imagined.

"Pretty good, actually," he replies.

"Alex. You are coming?" Someone asks him and I find Luke waiting for him. He notices me and gives me a devilish smirk. I tilt my head to the side with confusion. Is he planning my death or something?

"Yeah," I turn my head back to Alexander as I hear his voice. "I'll talk to you later. Alright?"

"Sounds good," I reply.

"Cool. Bye," he smiles at me, and then he turns around and walks away.

"Bye," I whisper breathlessly.

"That went fabulous," Sophie grins, excitedly as the three of them approach me.

"Yeah. It would have gone even better, if you didn't PUSH ME!" I snap at the three of them, although Riley was the one who pushed me.

"I had to or else you would have stood there like a love struck puppy and you would have never had that fabulous conversation with Alexander," she points out and I have to admit, she kind of has a point.

"So, what do you want me to say exactly?"

"Thank you," Colette replies

"Thank you!" I throw my hands in the air.

"You're welcome," Riley smiles.

| | | |

*Ring*

"Lunch, finally!" Sophie and I shout, running out of the classroom. We run down the hallway, passing by Luke's group.

"Anna!" I hear a familiar voice call me and Sophie and I stop in our tracks. I sigh, not wanting to deal with him right now. Sophie shoots me a look and we both turn around.

"Seth," I say his name bitterly like it's poison on my tongue.

"Uh, how are you doing?" He scratched the back of his neck. Is he serious right now?

"Better than ever," I reply.

"That's great," he says. I'm expecting him to say 'goodbye' and leave, but he just stays in his place.

"Do you want anything else?" I ask, through gritted teeth.

"I was hoping we could talk."

"That's exactly what we're doing right now."

"In private," he says, glancing at Sophie.

"I'll go to the cafeteria," Sophie says and I nod. Sophie sends me a 'are you going to be okay?' look and I give her a quick nod. She sends Seth a glare and he actually flinches, then she turns around and walks to the cafeteria, disappearing in the crowd.

"So what did you want to talk about?" I ask, crossing my arms.

"I know it may stupid and you probably won't believe me, but I miss you. I really miss you, Anna. And I just wish we could be together again," Seth says.

You've got to be kidding me.

"Well, I don't miss you and I don't want anything to do with you," I say bluntly.

"You're really fine with not giving me another chance?"

"You cheated on me. Two times. If anything, I'm more than fine with not giving you another chance," I tell him in a cold tone. "If you think I'm the same naïve fifteen-year-old girl that you used to know, then you're wrong because the biggest mistake I could ever do is believing you."

"Look, I know what I did was wrong and I know cheating on you with Fiona is the shittiest thing I've ever done, but if you could just give me another chance..."

"I'm glad you know your mistake, you should. I already gave you another chance and you blew it with cheating on me again. Only a few people deserve a third chance and hint: you're not one of them."

"Anna..."

"Don't 'Anna' me. You did your mistake. That's alright. You're a human; you do mistakes, but I'm not going to forgive you," I tell him. "Excuse me," I excuse myself, before I walk away and make my way to the cafeteria.

I push through the double doors of the large-sized room and walk to my table where the girls are sitting.

"Hey," Riley says.

"What happened?" Sophie asks.

"He told me that he misses me and all that crap," I reply.

"What did you say?" Riley asks.

"That we're not getting back together, no matter what," I respond, putting my chin up in determination.

"You go, girl!" Riley cheers and I smile.

"So..." Sophie starts and I could already feel the trouble radiating in waves.

"Oh God," I mumble.

"There's a party at Julian's house tonight," Sophie continues.

"I'm not going," Colette and I say.

"I saw that coming," Sophie says.

"Why not?" Riley questions.

"One: it's a high school party," I hold up one finger.

"Two: we're not the party kind," Colette holds up two fingers.

"Three: it's a high school party," I hold up three fingers this time.

"You guys are no fun," Sophie pouts, crossing her arms.

"No, we're just trying to survive our last year in school," Colette tells her.

"Okay, then," Riley says, "I guess we're not going to the party." It falls silent for a few moments, when Sophie breaks the ice.

"I can't believe Christmas is in three weeks. I'm so excited," Sophie grins.

"Same," I agree.

"I've heard that we should be expecting two or three feet of snow on Sunday," Colette says.

"I hope they give us Monday a day-off," Riley says and we all nod in agreement.

"What are you guys doing tomorrow?" Sophie asks.

"Grandma is visiting us, so mom is making me clean up with her," Riley answers.

"Mum says there's a special guest that's staying with us for the next couple of weeks, so we have to clean up," I reply.

Mum is actually making me clean my room and I told her that I didn't know they were staying in my room, but mum got in an argument with me about how my room is basically an animal barn and I should care about it more, since I'm a 'lady' and I'm not supposed to have such a messy room.

Okay, I have to admit: my room is really messy, but I barely have any time to clean up, so that's why my room resembles a farm.

"I'm supposed to go visit mum, but I'm not going," Colette says.

"She's still your mother after all, Lottie," Riley tells her.

"I know, but when I told her that I'm visiting, she barely gave two craps, why would I care then?" She shrugs, but I know she's bothered by it.

"Well," Sophie starts, "We're having a sleepover tomorrow in my house," she decides.

"I could use a sleepover," Riley says.

"I kind of want a small break from home, so I'm in," Colette tells her.

"Anna?" Sophie asks and the three of them turn to me.

"I'm in," I confirm as if I'm so confident of the fact that my mum is gonna agree.

I hope.

| | | |

2:23 PM

Two minutes, just two minutes and I can get out of this place. Come on, come on, come on.

*Ring*

Everyone quickly shoots up and throw everything in their bags, before dashing out of the classroom, including me. As soon as I get out of the classroom, I bump my shoulder with Jennie's by accident and my backpack falls on the floor

"Watch where you're going, freak," she scoffs, pushing her straightened black hair behind her shoulder and marching down the hallway.

"Sorry," I mutter, reaching down to grab my bag, but someone already grabs it first and I look up, finding Zach Thompson with my bag in his hand.

"Thanks," I say, tucking my hair behind my ear and taking it from him.

"No problem," he smiles at me, before walking away.

I guess not all of them are that bad.

I fix the bag over my shoulder and walk out of the double doors of the exit of the school. I see the girls and I join them, before the four of us start walking home.

Riley, Colette, Sophie and I actually live on the same street, so that's why we walk home with each other. Colette actually has a driver's license and a car, but she prefers walking with us.

We make it home and I wave at the three of them and they all wave back, with Sophie reminding us of the sleepover tomorrow. I use my house keys, inserting it in the keyhole and walking inside the house.

"Your favourite sister is home!" I yell, closing the door with my foot.

"Shut up, Anna! We're trying to sleep!" Cole shouts from upstairs.

"Lazy butts," I comment, taking off my shoes and walking to the kitchen.

I open the fridge and get the first thing I see, which is...nothing. The fridge has nothing in it, except mum's cooking ingredients. I open the cupboard and I find at least five bags of potato chips. Bingo. I get one, open it and start stuffing my mouth with chips as I stroll out of the kitchen and go upstairs to my room.

I trudge inside the room, humming to myself then I throw the empty potato chips bag in the trash bin in the corner of the room. I quickly change in my hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, before I flop down on the bed face first. I'm so worn out that I pass out after a couple of seconds.

| | | |

"Anna," I feel someone shaking me, but I ignore it.

"Anna."

"Anna."

"Annalyn Adora Falls!"

"What?!" I scream, shooting up.

"What?" She echoes my words with a slight raise of her eyebrow. "Ako ang inyong ina, hindi isa sa inyong mga kaibigan! Hindi mo ako kinakausap!"

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just really tired, okay?" I explain, dropping my head on the pillow.

She sighs. "Get up. It's time for dinner."

"Can't I just eat later?"

"It's family dinner. You better get downstairs right now or else," she threatens.

"Fine. Fine," I say, stuffing my face with my pillow. She lets out another sigh, before walking out of the room, mumbling in Tagalog about how we don't respect her anymore and how it feels like we hate her.

I feel myself going back to sleep and it doesn't even last five seconds till I hear mum yelling at me, "Annalyn! Tumayo!"

"Guess, I'm not sleeping," I say in an annoyed tone, then I get up and stomp downstairs.

| | | |

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