"ou have exactly fifteen minutes to solve the test," Mr. Harris says firmly. "You may start now."

I'm absolutely surprised. Actually, surprised is an understatement, I'm baffled. I had no idea that I had a Geography test today, mainly because I was day-and night-dreaming about Alex.

Usually, I would have been like 'Screw it' and fail the test, but I'm already failing the subject. I'm not gonna fail a stupid test. So, I decided to use my senses to answer the test. After all, it's true or false.

"Okay, so...Asia's lines of latitude extend from 34.0479° N to 100.6197° E," I read to myself, quietly.

What in the flip-flop world is this? Who the heck did that test?

"Um...true?" I whisper nervously, writing a T between the brackets.

I give up. I'll just fail that test like every single one else I did. I look around the class room, trying to gather information by looking around. Colette is busy, nailing the test and solving it like Ptolemy with red hair and fishnets.

Mr. Harris notices me looking around and eyes me with suspicion. "Miss Falls, is there something wrong?"

Lots of people turn their attention to me. "Um, no. I'm just...adapting to the atmosphere," I wave my hands around.

Somebody shoot me right now.

"Well, stop adapting and get back to the test because you have exactly ten minutes left and I'm not giving extra," he states.

"Awesome," I sigh.

Colette notices me, struggling and she gives me a look asking if I need help. Normally, I would have gave her my paper and tell her to give it back when she's done, but I shake my head and mouth to her that it's fine.

I answer the rest of the questions using my so-called senses and once I'm done, I flip the paper on its front and lay my head back on the wall. I look around the class in boredom until I see Luke who is sitting a few columns away.

He is sitting lazily with his head resting back on the wall, just like I'm sitting, only I'm crossing my arms and he has his hands in his pockets.

What a coincidence. It's like we're meant to be or something. Maybe this is a sign from the universe.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I get it out, making sure Mr. Harris isn't watching me or anything.

New text message from Lottie.

I look up from my phone and give Colette a confused look. 'Just read it,' she mouths.

I roll my eyes at her, before typing back a reply.

I turn off my phone and slip it back in my pocket.

| | | |

"Miss Falls, may I talk to you for a minute?" Mr, Harris asks, as I put my Geography text book in my backpack.

"Yeah, sure," I reply, slinging the backpack over my shoulder and walking over to his desk.

"I'll wait for you outside," Colette tells me and I nod at her.

"I've noticed that your grades have been going down for awhile," he states.

I sigh. "I know. It's just that I'm not really a fan of Geography and it's really hard studying it."

"Do you think a tutor can maybe help you?" He questions.

"Yeah, I guess," I reply.

"How about...Mr. Dickinson? He's quite good at Geography," Mr. Harris offers.

"Seth?" I sputter.

"Yes."

"Um, we're not really on good terms. Is there anyone else available?" I ask, "What about Colette?"

"I'm afraid Miss Evrémonde is already tutoring Mr. Thompson," he replies.

That's new.

"Mr. Carter is available though," he continues.

Oh.

"I guess that's alright."

"Perfect," he says. "I'll inform him and get back to you."

Up until now, my whole life is kind of unbelievable.

| | | |

"Honey!" I snap out of my daze at mum's voice and look up from my plate.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm just tired from school," I tell her. I'm not really lying though. School consumes lots of my energy.

"Do you want me to make you some Salabat after dinner?" She offers, smiling. I absolutely love mum's tea because she uses our family recipe to make it and it calms every nerve in my body. I know that it's just tea and there's no other way for it than the classical tea bag/tea powder and hot water recipe, but my great-grandma Mahalia made her own Filipino version of it.

"That would be great," I smile back at her.

I notice that Luke isn't actually here and I frown, "Mum, where's Luke?" I ask. We may not be friends, but I'm not a heartless female sheltie, I still care about him.

"He said he's going to hang out with his friends at some party," she answers.

"Yeah, Zach's throwing a huge party at his house," Cameron says.

"Why?" I ask. I honestly don't get the purpose of parties.

"Don't know," he shrugs.

"How come you didn't go to the party, honey?" Mum asks Cameron.

Cameron perks an eyebrow at her, "Do you want me to come home vomiting all over your freshly-cleaned carpet?"

"Gross," I grimace.

"On second thought, never mind," mum waves her hand dismissively.

After I finish dinner and drink mum's tea, I head upstairs and flop on my bed face first. My hair flies everywhere and I take my hair tie off of my wrist and wrap my straight hair in a ponytail. It doesn't take me that long until I fall in a deep slumber and the darkness swallowes my vision.

I don't know how long I slept, but I'm awaken by my phone ringing. I ignore it and grasp the pillow to cover my head with it. The phone keeps ringing and I groan, snatching it from the top of the night stand.

Unknown.

Just craptastic.

"Hello?" I answer the call in a groggy voice.

"Hey, Cherries," he says, slurring a bit.

"Luke? How did you get my phone number?" Is the first thing I ask him. I wanted to know if I was the only stalker in this household.

"Your brother gave it to me," he says in an annoyed voice.

"Which one?"

"Is that really all you care about right now?" He snaps.

"Well, you freaking woke me up at 12 AM. Do you think I'll be all sunshine and rainbows and offer you virtual cookies?" I hiss.

"Cherries, I don't feel like dealing with your sarcasm right now," he sighs.

"What do you want, Carter?" I ask.

"I'm at Zach's house and I was wondering if you could come and pick me up. I don't really feel like staying here," he says with a hint of plea.

Darn my niceness.

"Fine," I say. "And have you been drinking?"

"Yeah," he answers.

"Great," I mumble.

"Will you stop mumbling and get the hell over here?" He groans.

I roll my eyes at his mood. "What's the address, you idiot?"

"27 Castro Street," he replies before hanging up.

I look at the phone with disbelief, starting to contemplate my decision. "Okay, rude," I comment, before shoving the phone in my hoodie's pocket. I get out of bed and take a look at myself.

I'm wearing a black hoodie, a pair of grey sweatpants and a pair of fluffy slippers, 'cause they have this unicorn stitch on them. My hair is like an animal barn and my glasses are resting on the bridge of my nose loosely. I look like I got run over by a car.

"Eh," I shrug, before heading downstairs.

I grab mum's car's keys and open the front door, walking out of the house. I take a deep breath. Don't freak out. Don't freak out. I tell myself. I feel my palms getting sweaty and my breathing getting faster, but I manage to control my breathing.

I get inside the car, insert the key in the ignition and turn the car on. The first thing I do is open all the windows so I could breathe properly, then I put the car on reverse and pull out of the driveway, but I accidentally crash into the silver trash bins behind me.

"Whoops," I say, pursing my lips.

I put the car on drive and press on the gas pedal, driving to Zach's house. On the way there, I crash in six trash bins, almost run over two mailboxes and run two red lights, which I guess is good for a seventeen year-old who doesn't have her driver's license yet and has panic attacks whenever she feels something bad is about to happen.

I pull in front of Zach's house. I notice Luke standing outside the house and smoking. I press the horn to signal for him that I'm here and he notices me then puts out the cigarette.

"Hey," he says as soon as he gets in the car and lays his head back on the seat.

He has bags under his eyes and his face is paler than usual. His usually tousled hair is in a mess and sticking up everywhere. He looks like...crap. He looks like absolute crap, but I'm going to keep that comment to myself.

"Hey," I reply back. "Um...can you put the seatbelt on?"

"Alright...?" He hesitates, but he puts the seatbelt on anyway.

I start driving back home really carefully, so I wouldn't end up running over someone or something. We finally make it back home and I park the car in our driveway, before turning it off.

Luke and I get out of the car, but Luke stumbles a bit and I run over to him to hold him before he falls face first on the pavement. He groans and his face falls in the crook of my neck and I actually have to hold my breath as I walk us over to the front door.

After we get inside the house, I help him upstairs to his room and he gets in his bed. I rush to the kitchen and bring him a glass of water, before going back upstairs and pushing it in his direction to take it.

"No," he refuses, shaking his head like a child.

"What do you mean 'no'? You have to drink it, so you can fully sober up," I push it once again towards him.

"I don't want to," he whines and I consider pinning him down and forcing the water down his throat for a moment.

"Can you please drink it?" He huffs in response. Drunk Luke is childish Luke. Good to know. "Please?"

"Fine," he grumbles before taking the cup from my hand.

He gulps down the water and places the empty glass on the nightstand. I get worried that he might do something and hurt himself, so I drag the chair in front of the end of his bed and I grab a book and start reading it until he falls asleep.

Last thing I want is him accidentally falling out of the window and dying, then my mum will probably blame me for it and ground me for the next ten years or so and Mrs Carter will just announce war against my mother.

"Cherries?" Luke mumbles.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"No problem."

| | | |

❀