"So, girl care to explain where you were yesterday and also, nowadays, you aren't spending time with us?" Lola asked with her arms crossed.

"Right, our little miss is busy," Poppy spoke, standing beside Lola.

"Are you going to speak, princess? We were waiting for you yesterday and you never showed up," Lola says.

"Why were you waiting for me?" I asked, pausing the movie.

"We were waiting for you because we wanted you to help us with the project." I rolled my lips into my mouth and bit my upper lip.

"That isn't a group project, Lola."

"I know but I needed your help." She shared a look with Poppy. "Auden and I wanted to go out for dinner and this project was making me anxious. I wanted you to do my project..."

I raised my brow. "Lola, you always go out with Auden. You could've just sat back and worked on the project. I was busy."

"Busy? Why were you busy? And you could've just answered my call." I tried not to snap at her, knowing that she was frustrated that Ms Harper called her to her cabin and gave her a lecture. As I sat quiet, she went on and on.

"Shut up, Lola! I never complained when you were both busy with your boyfriends. I was alone in this room. Now I'm spending that time alone doing some work," I said, which made them shut their mouths. Guilt can be seen through their eyes. I turned away as I didn't want to see those emotions.

I exhaled. "Lola, I know you were anxious about the marks and also wanted to go out with Auden. But you need to understand that grades are important. I won't be available all the time. Even I will be stepping out to enjoy my leisure."

Lola stayed quiet before leaving the room. Poppy and I shared a look before Poppy wandered over and took her seat beside me. "Do you want to watch the movie?" I didn't know what to say. If I stayed quiet, surely Poppy would be saying something and I'm not in the mood to speak something.

"Yes." I resumed the movie and silence fell upon us. Lola didn't return, Poppy and I decided to watch another movie.

"Where did you go last night?" Poppy asked.

"To finish some work."

"Hmm, is it Brad's apartment work?" Poppy asked carefully.

"Yeah..." They already know about Brad and his apartment. I couldn't hide it from them for long and they are my close friends. I didn't feel right hiding it.

"So... How is Brad? How is he when he is home?" I turned my head to see her. She is excited as she asks me about Brad.

"He is good, he is having his training. I hardly see him in the apartment."

"Ah? You go to his apartment and you don't see him?"

"I visit his place because I'm decorating the whole place in his absence. We―don't see each other, we just text about me visiting and leaving the apartment," I said, watching the TV, my mind was somewhere else.

I didn't see Brad for almost one week. I will be completing the work in four days. I want to see his reaction but he won't be there. I'm not ready to ask him if I could meet him. I would sound desperate and he clearly thinks of me as a sister. I hate that thought. I don't want my crush to think or treat me as a sister.

"When will you be done with the whole makeover?"

"Another four days and I will be done," I said, picking up the popcorn bowl. Poppy hums and stands up from the sofa. She goes over to get the nail paint Lola has placed on the dresser table.

She comes back and starts painting her nails. I cringe when I see the nail paint she is holding.

"You know his match― I mean knock-on is going to begin from 3rd, which means four days from now on. He must be busy training," Poppy says.

"That colour looks horrible," I commented.

"Ugh, I thought the same."

"Do nail art, it will be okay. I mean that dark colour won't be showing if you draw those white flowers," I suggested to her, even though I don't paint my nails. I have a habit of biting my nails.

My attention goes back to the screen. Poppy and I didn't talk for the next thirty minutes. I finished the popcorn and turned to look at Poppy. That's when I realised she had been thinking about something.

"Poppy, what happened?" I asked, knowing Poppy.

"Nothing."

"Poppy, you can tell me if something is bothering you." I placed the bowl down and turned my whole body towards her. I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Did something happen?" She shook her head and sighed.

"Everything feels dull, Ava."

"Like?" I raised my brow.

"I feel distant from Max. It's like he is there but his mind is somewhere else, he doesn't smile like he used to. I don't know what's happening and slowly I feel him walking away. That shit really scars me," she said, hanging her head back on the chair.

"Lately, he has been trying to create space between us. I mean, I understand that projects and exams are worrisome. But this is making me anxious, Ava. Him trying to create space and constantly trying to run away..."

"Give him some space. Maybe he is bothered about the results. Did you ask him about his behaviour or what's bothering him?"

"No..." she whispered slowly.

"That's the problem. You don't ask your partner what's wrong and feel like drifting away. If you don't ask what's bothering him, what do you expect in return? If you don't understand and help each other, how are you guys gonna survive in a relationship?"

"Maybe he is feeling pressured. Max, trying to have some space, might look like he is trying to run away. You guys must try to understand each other. If you didn't ask him, why would he share his problems and issues? You didn't ask him about anything and came to a conclusion. Maybe, on the other hand, he must've tried to talk about it in some way but he couldn't."

"We all know Max. You know about him better than anyone of us. Communicate and try to put it out open..." I placed my hand on hers and caressed her hand.

"Max loves you, Poppy. Talk with him."

"Thank you so much, Ava. I will go and talk to him now," she said, standing up. I smiled brightly and gave her a thumbs up. As soon as she leaves, I start thinking of Vincent and Valerie.

Vincent and Valerie were so close to each other. I believe there were misunderstandings. That's the reason they parted away. It's been six years... Six years went by and they hadn't tried to contact each other.

Valarie is the one I always wanted my brother to get with. They really hated each other so much that they would try to kill each other if they were in the same room. But things changed and feelings changed. They were inseparable and so deep in love. They thought I didn't know about them, but I knew about them from the beginning.

One morning my headphones were not working so I walked into Vincent's room to borrow his. I mean more like steal his. Come on, who would give their headphones to you?

Back to the story... I walked in and I was going through his vanity table where he keeps his mobile and earphones. When I didn't find them, I turned towards his bedside. That's when I found Valerie cuddling Vincent. They were both sleeping in each other's arms.

I was startled to see that, I was happy.... Very happy that my wish came true and a part of me was also scared. We never thought of the future and how it would break them... Break all of us...

"Ava!" I blinked my eyes and looked at Lola. When did she come?

"Your phone is ringing," she said, showing me my blaring phone. I took it from the nightstand and it was Poppy.

"Hello."

"Hey! Thanks, girl. He told me what's bothering him and we are going to have dinner together."

"Enjoy the night! Make out for the backup," I said and she laughed.

"Yes ma'am."

"Be safe," I said, ending the call. I looked at Lola who is standing before the television. "Lola?"

"I'm sorry, Ava. I― I snapped my anger at you. I shouldn't have done that. I was not thinking straight and-"

"Lola... I understand that you were under pressure but try to calm down or walk away if you feel like snapping. It is not right or okay to throw your anger at someone. Just don't repeat it."

"I'm sorry, I will never do that again."

"Sorry accepted." We both shared a laugh.

"I'm hungry," I said.

"Me too."

"You want to have dinner outside or shall we go to the mess?"

"I don't want to waste my money. I have already spent half of it. Will go to the mess food. The menu is good actually," She said while I rolled my eyes.

"Because they have fish which you like the most." She winked at me. It's not that I don't like cafeteria food, I always eat in the mess when I'm not with the gang. The quality of the food is good and healthy.

"Let's go before you run out of fish," I said, which made her walk fast.

We filled our plates with food and sat down. The whole mess is empty. Only a few girls were there.

"I forget how good our mess food is," Lola said.

"You will remember when you stay in your dorm room."

"True."

"So what is the latest gossip about our college?" I asked her. Lola is known for her gossip talks. Whatever happens at the college, she will have the whole information with her.

"Many! People started dating, some got caught cheating and someone trashed the music room."

"Music room?"

"Yeah, someone or a group. No one knows, they broke the instruments and wires are cut down," she says, eating her fish.

"Woah! CCTV cameras are there in every room, right?"

"There isn't any footage before they walked into the music room. They turned off the main electricity. That's the reason we didn't have power in our rooms."

"Someone is troubling our management," I said, laughing.

"Good thing that they are troubled. If they get caught, then they will be removed from the college for sure."

"For that reason?" I asked.

"Not only that, but they also stole money from students."

"Woah! Woah! How come I don't know about all this?" I asked confusedly.

"No one actually knows about this whole thing. Only a few people who were there on the club grounds knew," she said.

"What were you doing there? You aren't there in any club, right?" she gave me a sheepish grin.

"I went to meet Auden."

"You guys don't feel bored? You are both together in college and when you get back to the dorm you sneak out to meet him."

"Ava, when you are in love you don't feel bored. Even though there is nothing to talk about between you, you both sit together. Sitting together matters though there is silence. When I get back to the dorm I start missing him, it's like I can't stay away," she explains.

"Dumb."

"It's not dumb when you fall in love, you will know. We are actually waiting, you know, to see if you will fall for someone or not," she says, getting interested in that topic.

"Haha." I looked at the juniors who entered the mess room.

"Seriously speaking, even Julian is meeting girls. Ron is going out with a girl from class. And when will you start going out?" she nudged my arm when I didn't answer her question.

"I don't know, I'm not interested in our college guys or anyone," I answered her.

"Haha... Tell me what's going on between you and Brad hottie?"

"Nothing is happening."

"If you say nothing, then there is something for sure." I rolled my eyes.

"Take your time darling! Tell us when you are ready. We aren't going anywhere and we are all ears when you say," Lola said.

"Shut up but Julian and Ron are seeing others?" I asked, as I hadn't seen them in a while.

"Yeah, Ron is kinda serious about this girl whom he met in the language class. I don't know about Julian, I just know he went on a couple of dates."

"Then we need to ask for a party from Ron," I said.

"Yeah!!" she squealed and the other girls who were present looked at us.

*