a cool breeze hit meilanis face. she walked down the dimly lit street, the council could really afford to get new streetlights but then again it would never be worth it for the cut.

thoughts flooded her mind. she thought having cayman back would be amazing, she imagined it as this incredible dream for her and her family in her head. she thought since he came back things would be way better at home and that her mental health would improve but to her it seemed like it was only getting worse.

she was also angry. why did her dad show up with cayman as cool as a breeze as if the recent encounter between him and his daughter had never happened, it was like he were constantly putting on this mask, an act to be this perfect father figure for everyone else and then behind closed doors it was another story.

meilani saw a tall, dark figure coming towards her. she composed herself, "its nothing, its just another lonely teen on a walk like you" she thought.

as the figure got closer she recognised the face, she definitely was getting nervous now.

she went to walk straight past him but he reached for her wrist and gained grip on her. "meilani haywood" the girl looked up at the drunken boy. "topper thornton" she breathed, tears brimming in her eyes at the stinging pain in her wrist under the boys grip. "no need to be scared, i'm just an innocent teen out on a late night stroll" he looked down at her as if she were just a ant on the floor.

she pulled her wrist from him. "don't touch me again" she spat. he sat down on the kerb, patting the spot next to him, "cmon haywood, sit" she ignored him, instead walking out onto the road, slightly in front of him. "what do you want from me?" she sighed. "oh what do i want? i want absolutely nothing from you" he was looking up at her now, still intimidating.

"great, i'll be on my way then" she began to walk away from the boy. "meilani, wait." she snapped around to face topper. "i'm-i'm sorry" he slurred. meilani scoffed. "you, thornton, sorry?" she said as sarcastically as she could. "meilani please don't make this any harder than it already is" she saw the sadness and guilt in his eyes. she took her bag off of her shoulder and sat next to the tall blonde. she looked at him, she never noticed it before but he had a fresh black eye. "jesus topper what happened to you?" he brushed it off, "nah nothing" she decided not to question any further.

the cool air made goosebumps go down her spine and all over her arms. "here" topper outstretched his hand with his hoodie in her face. she accepted it. "thanks" she said placing it over her head. "yknow i didn't mean anything by the comment" "you mean the slut comment?" meilani visibly rolled her eyes. "yeah, i uhm i think it was because i was jealous" topper spoke quietly. "jealous?" she said surprised. he went red in the face.

"i mean you live the perfect life, boys drooling over you non-stop, everyone jealous of your looks, how you look effortlessly gorgeous every fucking day and-" he rambled. "topper you're drunk" she looked at the boy in utter confusion. "but drunk words are sober thoughts" he meant what he was saying and meilani didn't know how to comprehend that.

"i'm just sorry meilani, i never meant to hurt you and jj had every right to punch me and john b had every right to join in, my life's a mess and i'm sorry, so very sorry" he began to sob. the girl looked at the vulnerable boy sat beside her. she wrapped an arm around him and he melted into her embrace. she rubbed his back as he sobbed into her shoulder.

-

-

the girl eventually arrived at work. her plan to go to kiaras last night had failed as she stayed out in the streets until sunrise. "morning beautiful girl" mike called from behind the counter. "morning mr. carrera" she called back. "please just call me mike, you've earned it by now" his laugh boomed out from the kitchen. "it doesn't seem right" she smiled grabbing her t-shirt from the kitchen.

meilani walked into the bathroom and changed into the work shirt. she reappeared and found her best friend out in the front taking orders. "hey pretty girl" she smiled at kiara. "hey, i went by your house this morning to give you a ride, where were you?" kie joined the girl behind the counter. "uhm...long story" kiara gave meilani a quizzical look. "i'll explain later, i think we should head down to the boneyard" meilani replies, "no kegger though."