"Wouldn't it be easier to buy a new bike?" I wondered but that only earned me a glare from Vickie.

"Nop." and taking the piece of tape I'd cut she plastered another pink pamphlet against the lampost and moved to the next one.

"Vickie... you know I'm all into creative ways of revenge, and I'm proud of you-"

"Thanks."

"-But you're asking for trouble." I warned her for umpteenth time today, and for umpteenth time she rolled her eyes. "Can't you tell his parents or something?"

"Like a five year old? Hell no." she scoffed, irked and taking the new piece of tape from me, moving to repeat it all over. "Besides, what would I tell them? I had no proofs!"

"And search in his garage? Maybe he had it there."

"Come on, Hails, Bear isn't stupid. He's gotten rid of it by now."

I wanted to ask her how was she so sure he's the one that took it from her, but considering their historial, them being neighbours -perse an easy access- and his smug looks when she banged his door earlier that day for explanations... I was pretty sure myself Bear was the one behind her bike's disappearance.

Why? Just for the skake of it. Because he was Bear and he had this thing about Vickie that keeps him messing with her non-stop. It was obvious Vickie wouldn't take it all without protesting and his stupid smirk spike her bloodlust.

I glanced down at the pile of filled she's printed in her rage.

Learn to do the perfect Cupcake. YUMMY!

$10 an hour.

Call here for more information:

And she'd put Bear's number under it, surrounded in draws of desserts kawaii.

I mean, it was hillarious just thinking of his face when he start getting calls from people asking for his cupcake lessons, but at the same time, messing with Bear was like playing with fire. It was bound to burn at some point, and the player wasn't someone you want to have against you.

"And haven't you thought of, I don't know, borrowing his skate instead? Eye for eye and all that."

"And what would I do with that?" she scoffed as we reached the next lampost. So far we'd successfully wallpapered the mall and a couple more streets but the redheaded was relentless. I was hoping as soon as we run out of papers she'd drop it, but there was also the chance she dragged me to the nearest copy center to print another round. "I don't need his skate... I don't even miss my crappy bike that much, but he had no right to take it and get away with it. Besides, it was your idea."

"But I didn't think you'd follow through it!"

"Why no? It's brilliant."

I pursed my lips, not that sure. As funny as it seemed when we joked in her room, the perspective of Bear's rage got more and more unattractive the more papers she hanged.

"Look," she sighed sensing my heasitation. "I know your boyfriend is his friend, but he's a dick and he deserves it." I hold in the grimace at the taboo word but she kept going, not noticing. "It's not like it's that bad. Just a little joke."

"Are you sure he's gonna see it that way?" I asked hesitantly and her malicious grin told me all the answers I needed. I sighed, torn between amusement and worry for her well-being. Instead of once more voicing my concern I focused on the other part of her sentence. "I'm not that sure they're friends..."

"Who, Bear and Nate?" we reached the end of the street and with that the last copy I had. "They look like a solid group to me."

"I don't know... they're not exactly comfortable the times I'd seen them together." I confessed. With Seth, Kimberly, even Olly and the guys we play catches in the park; with them you can sense their chillness. They soft mood and all. The friendship. But whenever Bear is in the picture as much as they keep on that cool façade there's a hint lingering there that shifted. Something that isn't quite as suitable. But then again, maybe that was just me. Or how they act when I'm around.

"What I wonder is how he manage to have people that can stand him around long enough." huffed Vickie sticking the last pamphlet in the lampost, over a couple more advertisements and turned to look at me. "By the way, how is Nate?"

My heart hammered harder at that, aching in impotence with him. "Kinda the same." I muttered, hating how powerless I felt in this.

It's been over almost a week and he still mourning his cat, Freckles. It hurt me to see him so down, in ways I'd never expected to fill over other's misery. Even I cried over that dangerous beast. Not amount of smoothies could cheer him up. I need to step up my game if I wanted him to get better. The first days were the worst, like something in him had been shattered; but now he at least seemed a bit better. Still sad, but functioning again.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Vickie sighed. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know..." I stressed, brushing my hair and kicking a mount of fresh snow on the side of the road in frustration. "I would ask him to come over the night so he could take off his mind from there, but Matt's been extra bitchy since he found out."

I knew Nate didn't exactly felt at ease at his place... the other night at the view-point he mentioned her mother and her boyfriend not having the best attitudes and I noticed how often he tried to stay out the night. I didn't want to dig but I got some ideas non to pleasant about it, and whatever it was that made him uncomfortable there I was sure wasn't helping his mourning, but Matt had been like a drill sergeant ever since that day at the ice-cream shop.

He'd always been protective and watch over me. I always had counted on him and indeed I was grateful to have him to. He too was the one that picked me up from the side of the road that awful night last summer and heard me weep over Nate's mean words, so I couldn't exactly say he had no valid point in no trusting him... but it was as if he was blind to anything else! No matter what I say, what I told him, he wouldn't budge. Nate wasn't even my boyfriend and still I felt like I needed for him to have my family's approval. It was maddening!

How was I supposed to cheer Nate up with a constant eye on my comes and goes?

Huffing in frustration my vagant eyes suddenly caught the advertisement hanging under Vickie's, and it was as if light had been poured in my judgement.

"That's it."

"What?" she frowned consfused as I snatched one of the little papers with the phone number writted immediately dialling it and dragging her after me.

"Let's go."

Nate

I hang up on Seth and immediately the deafening silence of the flat drawned me in. It was pin-dropping, almost mystical... and I hated it. Losing Freckles was something I had coming for some time now, but even prepared as I was, I never expected it to be this painful. Not only her absence, but also how lonely this suddenly felt. Usually this days when Harold was out late, and I got the place for myself were moments of relax, of chill... now I only felt the loneliness wrapping on each wall and threatening to choke me.

I hate being this alone, feeling this alone. I'd tried convincing Seth to come over or to hang out a bit but he had the cience project to finish and wasn't available. Bear had invited me earlier to hang out with him and his cousin that's been here since Thanksgiving, and as awful that plan sounded at first, the longer the afternoon stretched the more attractive it looked.

You're gonna regret it, reminded me the voice at the back of my head as I unlocked the phone again and scroll through my contacts. But what else was I suposed to do on a week's evening? People wasn't up to plans much longer than this. My fingers hesitated over his contact. I wasn't exactly in the mood of enduring his cocky, narsissistic self; but wasn't either gonna sit there and let this walls engulfed me.

There were knocks on my window, snapping me out my daze and I blinked. Confused when I saw... Hailey? on the metal stairs attatched to the side of the building. Waving me and gesturing for me to open the window.

What was she doing there? Have we agreed to met? I couldn't remember but found myself walking there and sliding the window up as far as it allowed me, enough for her to dip her head and cowered inside along with freezing waves of glacial air. I shivered, shutting it as soon as she was safe inside.

"Thanks."

"Won't your brother freak out that you're here?" I joked half bitterly, still not over that; but immediately covered the bitterness with a cough and a joke. "And what about using doors? Too out of style?"

"Ha ha, aren't you hilarious?" she rolled her eyes. Her nose and cheeks were red from the cold but she still looked the cutests with that grin. "I didn't want to bother your mother."

"She isn't here." My head choked intrigued and the hem of my mouth couldn't but twisted at the cute redness on her face. "Why don't you want her to know?"

"Shut up, not for that." she blushed profousely now, regaining her breath after sliding in and then I noticed the paper box in her hands. "Here." she handed it carefully between us, confusing me further.

"What's this?" As soon as I held it she let go and I almost drop it when something inside moved. I could hear faint noises through the small holes all over the lid. Air vents. "Hailey?"

"My early christmas present for you." she grinned taking off her gloves and scarf. Her coat followed suit as I wondered what was she plotting. Christmas present?

"But..."

"Come on." she urged me waving it off as if it was nothing and sat crosslegged on my bed, by her coat and stuff, eying me excitedly. "Open it."

The box moved again and I frowned, baffled about this but went to sit too back on the rolling chair, curiosity beaming in my chest by now. I gave her one last glance before settling the paper box on my thigh and gingerly slid the lid up... only to have my heart melting.

"What..." on the side of the box there was the smallest kitten ever. Fluffy and white, looking up at me carefully with it's ears bended backwards and let out the cuttest snarl. "Oh my God." carefully not to startle it I lowered one hand close to it. The kitten watched attentively, sniffling and when deciding I wasn't any harm he pressed the head and back into my palm, purring and looking for me to pet it. I smiled without realizing.

"You like it?" Hailey's voice brought me back and I looked up at her, absently playing with the kitty.

"What is this?"

"I told you. Your early Christmas present."

"It's mine?" I breathed out, not able to wrap my head around it and looked back to the white ball of fur playfully bitting on my fingers.

"Mhm, only if you want it."

"Hailey I-" My throat dried, the bridge between my mind and mouth suddenly felt befuddled. "I can't accept-"

"Of course you can!" interrupted Hailey quickly and my chest fluttered further, more and more enamoured by the kitten the more it searched for my attention and caresses. "It didn't cost me anything. You know, I've seen this advertisement and there was a woman across the town whose cat got pregnant but and she was looking for people adopting the kittens so I though..." she shook her head, her cheeks flustered and for some reason she refuse to meet my gaze as she rambled. "It's one month old, and it has been vaccinated and taken care of everything. It's sane and all, only that you still have to train it to fully learn about what is and what isn't a toilet for it." she gulped, unsure of my sudden muteness, processing that sudden turn of events. The kitten was mine? "I-I've called Kimberly, too. And she said it would be okay, in case you didn't wanted it or you mother wasn't okay with it, she'll keep it."

Instinctibly I pulled the box closer, as if they were to take it from me at any moment and my brows knitted together. "Kimmy?" every word falling out her mouth kept baffling me further and further. Now Kimmy and her were on phoning level? They were together on Trish party now that I think about it. And she was always taking Hailey's side on our disagreements. " You two get along, uh?"

"Well, yeah... Kinda." now she looked at me, bitting her lip. "Does it bothers you?"

"Absolutely not." I corrected rushed my. It was a shock, but in a good way. Especially with how things were going lately with the black haired girl. Having another kinda-friend might come useful to her. Not being able to stop smiling I took the kitten carefully and it whined and writhed in my hand. "So about this little-" I glanced at it. "-guy. Does he have a name?"

"Hmm, yeah, about that." she giggled nervously tucking a strand behind her ear. "The protector demanded me to name him for the papers and all but you can always change it."

I hummed, petting his tummy with my thumb, feeling it purr and loving how soft and delicate it was. I'd never get to see Freckles as a kitten, which was a totall miss. They were the cutest thing ever. "So what is his name?"

"Spot."

"Spot?" I pursed my brows and glanced up in shock. "Why would you call him that?"

"W-well, considering you named yours Freckles I'd guessed it would be fitting. And since this is s-small, and white-" she stuttered nervously and for the first time in ten days her mention didn't made my chest squeez and constrict in pain.

"White?"

"Like pus?"

My eyes widened, not having expected that out come at all. "You-" a sudden chuckle poured out my chest as I look down at the small cute fur ball snuzzling in my lap and back at her flustered face, my lips stretched in a wide smile as my stomach curled the more this went on. "Hailey..." noticing her embarrasment I brushed my mouth wiping the ramaining laugh for her sake and tilted my head, eying her carefully. "You really don't like cats, uh?"

"Well, I-I don't know. I was just trying to be helpful. But never mind. Tomorrow we'll go to the protector and-"

"No. Spot is fine. I like Spot."

She huffed. "Do you now?"

"Mhm... Spoty." as if responding to his baptism, he lifted his head, making a soft noise of approval. Taking tiny Spoty once more I got up and went to move towards Hailey but I hadn't even made a step and she was already on her feet, hanging one hand before her and eyes wide.

"Please, d-don't bring it close."

Oh right. Her animal phobia. I was surprise it extended to something as harmless and innocent as the small kitten, but whatever. Bitting back an amused grin I pet him one last time and carefully placed him on the floor at my feet. He meowed and glanced around, his ears back again as settling there was no imminent danger, and looked up at me. "Go," I encouraged him. "Explore a bit."

Spoty meowed once more and clumsily went to do just that. It was both funny and endearing watching his uncoordinated strides. Hailey, tho, didn't take her eyes off him, tensed all over. Which was amusing as well, I'm not gonna lie. My fingers wrapped aroud her still hanging wrist and tugged her closer. She gasped, tripping and allowing me to pull her with me. Her arm held on over my shoulders for support as I sat in the mattres with her on one thigh as her legs leaned under my other. Her sweet scent engufled me and my chest warmed at the feeling of her this close again.

"You didn't have to do it." I muttered, touched she went and got me Spoty. More considering how little she liked animals in general. I'd never expected her to and for sure wouldn't had guess she would. Yet, it was probably the best thing anyone could' get me at the moment.

Her wide eyes finally left the curious, wandering kitten and met mine, softening into a smile. "I wanted to." My heart ragged when Hailey leaned her forehead on mine, sending a shudder down my body and to the pit of my stomach. "I wanted to cheer you up."

My chest roared in a weird warm feeling that clenched my whole being and I was kissing her before knowing. Lately it had became something just natural, something I crave and need almost like breathing itself. But this time it wasn't like our other kisses. This felt different. Slow and soft, yet somehow more intimate. I felt like I was pouring something else in it, something I couldn't quiet pinpoint but wanted her to know.

"Thank you."

My pulse drummed in my ears when she smile against my lips before sliding her hand from my shoulder to my hair, tangling there and kissed back; responding with that same whatever and making me swell in glee and liquid euphoria.

Before I would had liked it her hold on me clenched and she pulled away, breathing franticaly. "I-its coming" I opened my eyes to see the white kitten stumbling his way here. "Nate!" Hailey struggled in my hold but I wasn't quiet sure if she wanted to get off or even closer in her frenesi. "Nate Nate Nate-"

If she wasn't this panicked it would be hilarious, but seeing her breath ragging forced me to keep my laugh down and held her tighter. "Shh, it's okay." I picket him up when he reached my anckle, bitting the hem of my trousers. He was so tiny I could held him in one hand as it writhed. Hailey stopped breathing all together and pressed her lids forcefully. "Baby." I kissed her cheek, smiling when she exhaled shakily, then her jaw while brushing her side reassuringly with my free hand as she shuddered. "He won't do anything. It so little..."

"J-just keep it away."

"How did you even manage to get him?"

"They did it for me. I didn't had to touch it. Please."

I let go and she immediately slid off me and behind, kneeling on the mattress and holding on my shoulders, keeping an eye on Spoty but using me as a barrier. I smiled at her behavior. As if he could do any damage.

I lifted him to my eye level. "You'll have to warm up to her, buddy." he meowed cutely as I slid from the bed to the floor settling Spoty down to play with him. "I know. But she'll like you soon enough."

I smiled as she laughed behind me. "That's wishful thinking."

If only she knew what wishful thinking was for me whenever she was around. I could only hope for the best as she slowly became someone I rely on maybe a bit too much for my own comfort, depriving me from that sense of independence I yearned for not so long ago. Whenever I felt like falling she seemed to know a way to 'cheer me up', succeding everytime, and that was utterly scary.