❝ There was never a woman like her.

She was gentle as a dove and brave as a Lioness ❞

Weekend passed away like a blur. Friday party and Saturday hangovers, with Sunday movies on top. Time flew by fast.

It was Monday afternoon. After finally finishing with my tests and classes, I was free for the rest of the day.

Feeling the air of freedom, I wandered towards the Cafeteria, filled with loud students.

In the end, thankfully Ethan didn't talk about Friday night or about my nightmare. Though I wasn't sure if he knew it or not. But, I didn't want to take the risk. Everything went smooth and I hoped in future it would too.

Entering the Cafeteria, I ordered an Oreo shake and some fries and walked towards our table. Which looked like a conference hall of short tempered politicians.

"Why are you so rude?" Nate glared at Maria looking towards Maria. Who was busy on her phone.

"I am not rude. I just can't pretend to be nice to people, I can't stand" Maria snorted without looking up. Her left hand was twirling a strand of hair, between her fingers.

"You really are Winter's best friend" Finn chuckled under his breath. The two blondes Kate and Sharon were whispering to each other, heaven knows what.

"Well.. I am right here" I muttered flatly, presenting myself and took the empty seat beside Theo.

"Heeeyyy" Nate grinned at me and raised his hand towards me for a high five, sighing I raised my palm as it collided with his.

"What took you so long?" Maria asked, shoving her phone in her jeans pocket. And picked up some fries from my tray, before filling her mouth.

"Stuff" I mumbled tiredly, picking a fry for myself and nibbled on it.

"By the way, I didn't get the chance to ask you about some juicy details" She spoke up slyly, smirking at me, then quickly turned to wink at Finn. Something was Fishy.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw two guys caught in a heated argument with someone. I tilted my head, trying to look who they were. I instantly recognized the two guys, from the basketball team.

"Winter! Are you even listening?" Maria yelled making me quickly turn my head towards her, a sudden pain jolted through my neck just as I did.

"What?" I asked, irritated. My eyes went back to where the argument was taking place, suddenly my eyes widened when I saw the same silver coloured hair girl. The same girl I had always seen on campus.

Her?

"You stayed with Ethan in the same room for the whole night?" Maria asked slyly as Finn and Nathan smirked. Ethan who was sitting at the corner engaged in conversation with Theo, let out a chuckle.

Something told me that his attention was on our conversation more than his own.

"I got locked in a room with Ethan for the whole damn night? Yes" I nodded, taking a sip from my shake. I was trying my hardest but couldn't help it as I again glanced at them.

The silver coloured hair girl was standing there with a blank look, like she couldn't wait to finish whatever that was going on there.

I told myself that it was none of my business, so what if it looked like that two guys were yelling at her and that girl looked so distant..... Almost sad. But there was still a blank sheet coated on her face.

I took another sip of my shake, trying to listen to nonsense Maria was blabbering. My stomach was squirming, it just didn't feel right. Maybe it was just me.

Stop overthinking, damn

I glanced at their direction one more time and suddenly all of my doubts, worry left me. When I saw a guy pushed her roughly, causing her to stumble backwards and her DSLR fell on the floor.

My grip on the cup in my hand tightened and without caring a bit, I got up. Walking up towards them with anger and annoyance filled in my body. I heard someone calling me from behind but I ignored it.

I grabbed the collar of the guy that just pushed her and turned him around, I threw all of my shake on him.

"What the fuck!"

"How dare you to treat her like that? " My voice roared in the cafeteria making it pin drop silent. For a moment, it felt like no one even dared to breathe.

"Leave. It's not your problem" He warned glaring at me and then looked down at his Shirt, which was now covered in my Oreo shake. Rest in peace my precious.

"Oh hell! It is" I snapped back.

"Why are you trying to save that Hippie? Is she your friend of something?"

The girl picked her DSLR from the floor then looked at me. Her face blank, but there was something in her eyes. I didn't know what it was, but it was there.

"Stop fucking labelling people just because, they are not like you. And yes! She is my friend. You got a problem with that?" The words rolled out of my tongue as I turned my head to look towards the guy.

"You don't know, who you are messing with"

"Oh! Actually you don't know who you are messing with. You are on the basketball team, aren't you? So am I and clearly I won't hesitate to tell Coach about your little argument here. What do you think will happen then? Seems like a nice idea. Hmm?" I told him chuckling lowly. We both knew, Coach wouldn't mind kicking them out of the Team. He may act like a jerk sometimes, but he worshiped women like no else.

"Seriously? You are taking her side? She's such a fail!" Another guy who was standing there, suddenly spoke up. Making me tighten my fist.

"So was your Dad's condom. Asshat!" I spat harshly at him. Quite snickers ran through Cafeteria as he abruptly shut up. A shameful tint covering his face.

"You'll regret it" The first guy threatened, taking a step closer to me. Storm full of anger swirled in his grey eyes.

I didn't back up though and stayed at my spot. "Oh no! I won't. Watch me" I told him confidently. My voice was cold as ice and hard as steel, but unfortunately that wasn't enough to kill him.

We stood there staring in each other's eyes. Anger shone in his eyes and I assumed, mine too.

"Let's go, Dean" The second finally said, recovering from his sudden embarrassment.

Grabbing his arm, he abruptly pulled him towards him as they silently walked towards the exit. I smirked and called out "You are forgetting something"

They quickly stopped in their way, then that Dean guy dared to look over his shoulder.

"The trash gets picked up tomorrow. Be ready you both"

And just like that, the silence that covered the Cafeteria faded away and Howling laughter took its place. I saw Finn clutching his stomach and laughing loudly and Nate was being extra as fuck. Like always.

The expression on their faces was priceless as they got the hell out of there. I felt oddly satisfied with myself. Twirling around, I faced the girl who was still standing there, checking Her DSLR.

She looked at me, but before I could say anything. Pushing past me, she quickly ran out of the cafeteria. Leaving me stunned.

Am I that scary? I thought to myself confused, walking back towards our table.

"That wa-" Ethan smirked and began to say but stopped in between, when I threw him a cold expression.

"Do not utter a word"

~~~

Replaying the events from the earlier, I walked through the hallways aimlessly. I was thinking about going back to my dorm room. But, that would've been really dangerous.

I didn't like to be alone. Because whenever I would be alone, it's like my soul would come out of it's chambers of my body and sit beside me. Recalling those torturing memories, it would always burst out crying loudly, I couldn't hear it or see it. But, I could feel it.

I could feel my Soul falling apart as all I could do was just sit there in silence. Helpless and hopeless.

I shook my head clearing my thoughts and walked pushing past students. However, I stopped in my tracks when I saw the girl from before, in the courtyard. She was sitting on the bench, under a tree. It seemed like that, she was trying to be as far as possible from people's eyes.

Without thinking straight, my feet worked their way towards her. Camera lense in front of her eyes, she looked around.

She stopped, when she saw me coming close. Her eyes visibly widened as she quickly looked down at her lap. Her silver hair falling over her face, like silky curtains. Hiding it from the world.

"It's Unfair. Isn't it?" My voice came out so gentle, that I didn't even recognize it for a second as I took small and calm steps towards her.

"What?" Her voice came out so low, like a feeble whisper. The wind tried to carry it away from me, like a soft feather. But I snatched it and kept it to myself.

"They say, just be yourself. But, then they judge you. They say nobody is perfect and then expect perfection." I voiced out my thoughts and stopped at the small space beside her, on the bench. Asking her to sit there, wordlessly.

She nodded slowly as I silently took a seat beside her. She turned her head in the opposite direction, so that I couldn't see her face. "You shouldn't be here"

Her voice was so quiet and slightly shy. I furrowed eyebrows at her statement and asked "Why?"

"That's just how it is. You should care about your image here" She spoke quietly. As nonchalant she was trying to begin, there was a little disappointment in her voice. Maybe even hurt?

Realization dawn upon me, hitting me like a truck. She was always alone. Not because she didn't want to be with someone, but because no one wanted to be with her. Why? I didn't know.

My fists tighten as I recalled the earlier memory of that guy, calling her a hippie. Damn it! It felt like High School all over again. Beside, my high school--

Do not even go there! I scolded myself and slowly shook my head to erase the memories.

"It's fine. Only people who are fake have an image to maintain. People who don't have anything to hide just don't care" I shrugged and it was true. I didn't care at all, about anything in fact.

She jerked her head towards me so quickly, that I was amazed she didn't get whiplash. Then, she slowly cautiously smiled, causing me to let out a chuckle.

"I shouldn't have ran away like that before" She admitted, nodding to herself.

"It's alright"

"No. It's not and I am sorry. It's just that I am not very good at interacting with people" She mumbled looking down at her DSLR, which was resting on her lap.

I rolled my eyes, leaning back against the bench and spoke "It's not that, you are not good at interacting with people. It's just that, no on ever tried to interact with you"

She looked at me and grinned, a full big grin. Which looked so beautiful on her face, like a full moon in dark night, embellished with countless stars.

"How did you become such an amazing person that you are now?" She joked, turning towards me, her whole attention was on me. Any doubt, worry or shyness she had was long gone.

"Trust me, I've been through madness to find me" I murmured quietly. And it wasn't even worth it.

I quickly glanced at her, hoping she wouldn't hear it. Thankfully, She didn't.

"What's your name though?"

" Sieve" She told me after a pause, hesitantly putting out her hand, for me to shake.

"Nice name. I am Winter" I chuckled, shaking her hand and welcoming the beautiful smile she offered me.

We sat there talking and sometimes just covered in silence. Just enjoying each other's company and watching the rush of students around us. The wind let out the softest sigh, clearly happy with the peaceful atmosphere.

Sieve was gleaming as she talked about her passion for photography and music. Meanwhile, I just sat there listening and wondering, if anyone ever tried to do the same.

It's funny how small little things you do or say can make someone so happy, but the tragic thing is that those small things can wreck someone too. After all, words aren't the most powerful weapon used by Humans for nothing.

Stayed up really late, writing it. Now, I am feeling sleepy af.

I have so much to say, but my bed is calling me, so I have to go. Hope you like this chapter.

Don't forget to vote and comment what you think.

Bye, Take care. Keep smiling, and if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours :)

Love, Zee..