❝They watched as she danced in the flames and they wondered, why she wasn't burnt?

And she would glance at them and ponder, How they coped with the cold ❞

"So, are you and Ethan hooking up?"

I choked on my saliva as soon as those horrible and poisonous words left Kate's mouth. I didn't even want to know how she got that idea.

"What the fuck? Is this for real? Dude! You never told me" Maria yelled in bewilderment, looking at me wide eyed. Those girls really knew how to make a big deal out of nothing.

"No!" I coughed, wiping my mouth. "What the hell? We are not hooking up"

"Really?" Maria asked, visible disappointment flashing on her face.

"Yes"

"But, Theo said that he had seen you guys yesterday; together" Kate explained. God damn! Where the fuck he saw us? It's not like we went somewhere or something.

"Oh.. trust me, that was nothing. Forget it" I muttered dismissively in a cold tone and hoped she wouldn't start the conversation again.

It was Thursday afternoon. After we finished our classes and tests, me and the girls were walking to the cafeteria. Where the rest of the gang was waiting, no doubt.

"I am in the mood for some Liquor" Maria groaned, dragging her slow feet lazily.

She was right though, in such warm weather like that, nothing sounded better than some icy - cold drinks.

"You are always in the mood for liquor" Kate snorted, bumping her shoulder with Maria and grinned.

Shaking my head at my two best friends, I entered the cafeteria, approaching our table, with probably a tired and done look.

"A B C D E F G. Gummy bears are chasing me. One is red, one is blue, one is peeing on my shoe. Now, I am running for my life, cause the red one's got a knife" Nate sang loudly as he took out some gummy bears from the big packet and filled his mouth.

"What the hell are you doing? Do you even know, how bad is that for your health?" Finn asked, rolling his eyes and snatching the gummy bear's packet from Nate's hand.

"Not really, but I love them, so it's fine" He spoke up, mouth full of soft and colorful candies and took the packet from Finn.

He let out a tired sigh looking at him "Why did I even bother? Remind me, why am I friends with you again?"

"Because you love how amazing I am,"Nate countered with a cheeky grin, fishing out a hand full of gummy bears.

"Funniest joke, I've heard today. Next please" Finn snorted and again snatched the packed from his hand, roughly. What are they? primary school kids?

"Hey! Give it back, it's mine" Nate argued childishly. Finn chuckled, pushing his face away, with his palm.

"God! you guys stop it. Act like mature fucking person that you are" Alex cursed slumping in his seat and rested his head on Sharon's shoulder, who was sitting beside him, busy in her phone.

"Being mature is kinda boring" Theo remarked, taking a big bite of his burger, spilling the sauce on the table, messily.

"Aww! These are so cute" Sharon cooed, practically shoving her phone in Alex's face.

"What is it?" Finn asked, raising an eyebrow and nudged his way towards them, completely forgetting about his sweet tooth friend.

"Koalas. She's obsessed with them" Alex rolled his eyes as Sharon typed something on her phone, giggling.

Nate turned towards Ethan with excitement, which I didn't realize was sitting there too and asked "Do you think koala gets angry?" Is he high?

"How am I supposed to know? I ain't no national geographic" Ethan answered chuckling and ran a hand through his smooth hair, giving him a devilish tousled look.

Sighing I walked towards the table, soon joined by Maria and Kate.

"Hey chicas!" Theo greeted and Finn grinned at us showing his pearly whites as we took our seats.

"Not today, Satan" I muttered under my breath and slumped on my chair, observing and listening to everyone talk.

"God! I have a really important test on Monday."

"Good for you. I am not allowed to attend that class for two weeks"

"Why?"

"Maybe Because, I did some hilarious prank on our professor, in my drunken state?"

"And?"

"Let's just say, she didn't find it funny"

I watched the brief conversation between Alex and Theo with a bored expression as they laughed on god knows what. The noises around me buzzed, silencing the voices inside me.

"Not much of a talker, are you?" I heard Ethan's velvety voice asked, making me tilt my head to look at him as he shot me a smirk and took a long sip from his sprite can.

Rolling my eyes, I muttered under my breathe, coldly "I hope you choke on that"

"I fucking hate you" He narrowed his eyes, giving me a displeased look. I hate myself too.

"and I don't care"

I shrugged and leaned against the chair. He didn't know that, that bitchiness was just a way to cover myself and hid from this world. That attitude was a mask to hide my flaws, to hide my insecurities behind it.

"You want some?" I turned my head and saw Nate, his hand extended towards me, offering me gummy bears. That guy and his obsession.

I shook my head signaling a 'No' and took out my phone, I was about to put my ear plugs in, when Finn spoke up "So, Winter?"

"What?"

"Are you coming to my party, tomorrow?"

I opened my mouth to say something when Maria yelled "Babe! Think before you speak, because whether you like it or not, we all are going and especially me. God! What wouldn't I do for some free firewater"

I rolled my eyes, when Finn chuckled and spoke up "Not really. I don't think, am coming"

"What do you mean by you are not coming? You cannot just not come. How can you not come? I mean, is it even legal not to come?" He dramatically exasperated, waving his hand in the air.

"What are you on about?" I asked blankly, giving him a void expression. No.

"You are coming to my party. That's all"

"Are not"

"So are"

"Are not"

"So are"

"Oh! Come on you guys. Shut up!" Maria scoffed annoyed, leaning against her chair and rolled her eyes.

"You should really come, Winter. It would be fun" Kate said pleadingly, beside her Ethan chuckled as I narrowed my eyes at him.

Letting out a huff, I muttered quietly "Fine, I'll think about it"

"What do you mean by you're goin-"

"I said, I'll think about it" I gave Finn a murderous glare, silently telling him to not to argue with me or something cruel would happen. Thankfully, he got the message and didn't try to push the matter further.

~~~

"Since Cameron is leaving the team, we need a replacement for him" I informed walking beside the Coach as we both made our way towards the Gym.

"I am not sure about that, he was our best player"

"Was Sir, was" I muttered entering the gym. It was a wild rush, the smell of sweat in the air mixed with the smell of various types of cologne those guys wore. Enough to give a sane person nausea.

Aside from that, being a team manager wasn't a tough job. I just had to take care of the Team's schedules, upcoming matches and practices. Which was really easy, if you ask me.

"Winter?" Coach asked coming by my side.

"Yeah?"

"Will you give it to Ethan?" He asked, taking out his hand, with a white envelope in it. Oh hell! I would.

"Sure" I nodded and took the envelope. I was this close to open it and see what's inside, but controlled myself. So what? If I was a curious person.

Walking towards Ethan, who was busy doing push ups, his both hands rested on a ball and feet on ground. His muscles flexed every time he moved. Little beads of sweat like shining pearls trickling on his forehead. Talk about distractions at the workplace.

"Here you go" I mumbled coldly, handing out the envelope. He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, then quickly sat up letting go of the ball.

"What's this?" He asked, raising an eyebrow as he checked the envelope from every angle, like if it's something from the Alien world.

"I wrote you a 'Get well soon' card, so that you can recover from your shitty personality"

"As if, I am the only one with a shitty personality" He snorted tearing the envelope from the top.

"Did you say something?" I asked challengingly, my voice daring him to repeat the words.

"I said.. as if, I am the only one with a shitty personality" He repeated looking at me with an annoyed expression.

I sighed and said "You are right. Trump has also a shitty personality, maybe I should give him one too. But, again a card wouldn't make much difference"

He looked at me amused, then took out a paper from the envelope and groaned. My curiosity got the best of me as I tried to peek slightly.

"What is it?"

He just shook his head and let out under his breathe "Nothing important"

I rolled my eyes at him and walked away, letting him continue his exercise.

~~~

Feeling tired as hell, I entered the Dormitory. The sun was setting, making the sky look vivid orange with a slight pale tint of red.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw the same silver haired girl with her DSLR leaving the building, like always she was alone, I tilted my head and saw her getting in the car.

Doesn't she feel alone, all the time by herself? Having some friends around is nice... I guess, it's better than being alone.

What about you? You are constantly surrounded by your friends, then why do you still feel so lonely?

I sighed and walked towards my dorm room, ignoring the battle going on inside me. My heart felt so heavy as remorse started making its way to my brain, forcing me to think about what I am desperately running from.

" You deserve it "

I gulped against the lump in my throat and took out the room key from my jeans pocket. Pushing the door open I walked in and switched on the lights and in another instant I fell on my bed with a thud. Control. Breathe.

I closed my eyes as the images flashed through my mind, like an endless movie. Suddenly my phone started ringing, breaking me out from my torturing thoughts.

I took out my phone and saw my screen lightening with an unknown number. Picking up the phone, I pressed it against my right ear, staring at the ceiling above.

"Hey, it's me. You know who? Yeah me. ME" I heard someone greeting cheerfully. I wouldn't have recognized the caller, if it wasn't for his annoying voice.

"What do you want?" I demanded coldly.

"Any guesses?" He chimed from the other side, making me clench my jaw, irritated.

"Just fucking tell me what do you want or else" I threatened.

"Fine! Are you coming to my party?" He asked again, in a sickly sweet innocent voice.

"No" I stated straightly.

"What? but why? Come on, It will be fun. Everybody is going to be there. I swear to god, you have to come! I'll kidnap you and drag you there, without caring about anything. Come on, say yes!" He ranted endlessly, making me let out a sigh, tiredly.

"Depends, are you going to stop calling me, If I say yes? You are kind of annoying me" I muttered

"You are rude, you know that? But fine! I won't call you, if you say yes. happy?" I heard him mumbling quietly.

"Very. Okay then, I'll come to your party. You better not make me regret it" I told him in a firm tone.

"Oh trust me, you'll regret nothing. Bye!" He yelled loudly, making me wince as I cut the call.

After, I switched off my phone and laid there. Letting silence do the talking with my brain and provoking my heart.

Well looks like, I have a party to attend. I thought aimless, staring at the ceiling as if it had all the answers to my questions.

Hell yes! An early update! You guys better show me some love for this :P

I am really excited for upcoming chapters because, the fun is about to begin!

I hope you like this chap. My mind was a fucking mess, yet I tried to do some writing.. welp whatever

Don't forget to vote if you like this chapter and give some feedbacks :) I'll see you guys soon with new chapter.

Bye, Take care y'all. Keep smiling and brighten someone's day :)

Love, Zee....