"You said you would stay but you didn't. The world came crashing down in thirty seconds flat, but you can't give me up like a bad habit, You can't give me up like that." —XYLO.

••

"Sleep tight in my arms, I am not going anywhere."

Those were the gratifying words that Blaze whispered against my ear last night, but when I woke up this morning, he was nowhere beside me.

I won't whine about it. He has classes so it is only right that he returns to his dorm in the morning. I would love to know if he is fine though. I have his number, but I don't want to text him first—quite silly, I know.

Geometry is almost over, and I can't wait to leave the lecture hall because three hours of sitting and listening to a boring monologue is equivalent to painfully plucking your nails off your fingers.

I hastily grab my bag as soon as Mr. Roster turns around to clear the board, stuffing my books into the small carrier while hastily getting up from my seat. My butt feels sore from the hardwood chair, and I grimace as I speedily plod toward the exit, beating everyone else to it.

The hallway is overcrowded as I attempt to zip my bag up while I walk, frowning at my laptop that refuses to tuck itself into the largest compartment. I puff air from cheeks as I force the edge of the silver device into the sack, sticking my tongue out at the corner of my mouth in the utmost struggle. I should have bought a bigger bag.

I finally manage to get it in when I bump headway into someone. I step back while offering a speedy apology. "Oh, I am so sorry, I didn't—"

My words cut off at the sight of Blaze, who's smiling while massaging the corner of his mouth with his tongue.

He looks handsome as usual, sporting a black T-shirt and grey jeans, his hair tangled on his head with just a single strand escaping over his forehead. He is such a work of art.

And my morning has just begun. Suddenly, I am no longer feeling crabby.

His beams are like a daily dose of caffeine—exactly what I need at the start of every morning—every day. But maybe that is too much to ask for, right?

I don't want to get my hopes up, but after what happened between us last night, I would like to believe that maybe he feels the same way about me. I am not sure if it was a meaningful experience for him, but it was for me. It was a huge step, and though I am trying hard not to read into it, I did feel a connection between us. He must have felt it too.

"Hi, Harmony."

"Hey, you vanished like the wind this morning." I purse my lips, and he scratches his forehead before gently gripping my arm and pulling me forward so people wouldn't bump into me.

"Um yeah... I didn't bring my toothbrush."

The first night we slept together, I didn't feel bad when I woke up the next morning and he wasn't there, but I don't know if it's because of what happened between us last night why I feel this uneasy about him having promised to stay but didn't. Maybe I am exaggerating, but it kind of feels like a one-night-stand of some sort? Okay, I am beside myself, it's not like we slept together or something.

I bring forth a smile as we begin to tread down the crowded corridor. "As usual." I finally respond to his alibi, and he chuckles lightly at the soft retort.

"Someone sounds disappointed. What? Were you hoping to shower with me?"

My eyes grow nervously wide. "What? N-no way."

He smirks at the crack in my tone, bobbing his head. "Uh-huh, right. I have learned from last night that you're a really bad liar."

My cheeks heat up at this and I look over at him to find him staring at me boldly, causing familiar feelings to resurface. He's giving me the same look he gave me last night. Just before we...did whatever.

"Oh my God, hey!"

A female's voice sounds from in front of us, and we turn our heads in the direction to see a brunette standing in our pathway. She's grinning ecstatically, her big grey eyes lighting up with mirth. I must admit that she's quite pretty.

"Hey, do you remember me?" She is looking in Blaze's direction and my forehead pleats in confusion. I look from her to him, discerning that he has the same look of oblivion engraved on his face.

The girl realizes that he's clueless and frowns openly. "I gave you the hairpins."

Hairpins?

Realization dawns on Blaze's countenance in a matter of seconds as he snaps his fingers and points at her. "Ah yeah! Right. I didn't remember you at all."

She laughs. "I can see that."

A small ounce of jealously rises within me and I gulp it down, but it only settles into my stomach and grows even more. The way she's smiling at him tells a lot. As a girl, it's not hard to spot gazes of endearment from my own species.

Even I look at Blaze that way... when he is not looking though.

"I don't know if you have also forgotten this but the last time I asked you if you wanted my number, you said next time. So, I think fate allowed us to meet again so we can exchange numbers, don't you think?"

I dig my teeth into my lip. Do girls hit on guys? I didn't know that was even possible. My mom always taught me that guys normally make the first move. But it's the 21st century so a lot of things have changed.

"Oh yeah, I did say that didn't I?" Blaze looks a bit uncomfortable, and I look up at him, silently dreading that he'll give her his number. That bothers me.

"The thing is..." He stuffs his palms into his pockets as he raises his shoulders. "I have a girlfriend."

The girl is equally as gobsmacked as I am. Girlfriend? When did he—?

"You do?" Her voice sounds so let-down that I start to feel sympathetic toward her. She's quite a good-looking girl. But what does Blaze mean by having a girlfriend?

"Yeah, here she is actually." He pulls me into a side hug, and my eyes grow to the size of melons.

Wow. Okay.

She looks at me for the first time since she has crossed our path and I offer a faint and awkward smile. Her glare is not one of hatred toward me but more of grave disappointment.

"Oh...." She sighs. "Alright. I guess I am a bit too late. See you around."

She purses her lips and walks away, and I can tell that she is indeed very hurt.

As soon as she vanishes, Blaze unwraps his arm from around me way too quickly and pushes his hands back into his pockets.

I look up at him. I had no idea that after last night, I became his girlfriend. The thought is thrilling but rather than getting ahead of myself, I choose to ask him what he meant by the statement.

"Why'd you tell her I am your girlfriend?"

Right now, I am actually hoping and wishing that Blaze and I could possibly start something. Something deeper than just a friendship. His words earlier gave me hope, but I don't know if hope is a safe feeling to harbor inside.

He chuckles and looks at me as if I just asked if birds could fly. "Because I didn't want her number, green eyes. So I had to pretend I have a girlfriend."

Pretend.

Okay. Ouch. That hurts, I would be lying if I said it didn't. He used me to blow a girl off. Used me.

"You pretended...I was your girlfriend." I am trying to see if the concept sounds less harsh from my lips and needless to say, it sounds just as awful. Or worse.

"Yeah... I hope that was fine with you."

I swallow.

How can it be?

I force out a smile while deep inside, my poor heart is currently at a funeral. "Yeah, I guess that's fine." It isn't.

"April wants us to meet her at the Caf."

He switches the topic so swiftly as if he has no idea that his earlier words are tearing at my arteries.

I knew better than to think him calling me his girlfriend meant anything at all. Especially after waking up to seeing an empty space beside me this morning and not a text or a note.

He did say last night that he wouldn't leave right?

But I feel like the minute I closed my eyes, he left me.

It's painful to admit that right now I sort of see where Blaze Xander may emotionally destroy me because maybe he's not feeling the same emotions toward me after all.

••

We enter the Cafeteria together and walk over to our usual spot where everyone is already seated and having their lunch.

When April sees us together, she seems displeased but doesn't bother to say anything.

"Hey, my dearest cousin." Blaze reaches over to place a kiss on her forehead before crashing in an empty chair while stealing one of Yuna's fries off her plate. The action misses her eyes as she's busy smiling up at me as I find a spot between her and Tia.

"Hey, guys." I greet them with the best fake beam I can muster.

"You two sure hang out a lot." James comments, referring to Blaze and me. I just keep quiet but I swear I see him subtly winks his eye at Blaze who just pretends not to see the gesture and look away with a weird expression.

"Yeah, it's the second time you two come to lunch together." Yuna agrees as she sips some of her coke.

April's eyes are narrowed as she looks from Blaze to me. Neither of us says anything and I am hoping they drop this topic.

"Harmony, my cousin is having a party tonight and we all are going; you should come," Tia suggests as she bites into her burger.

I can't understand how they find enjoyment in going to a party on a school night. It just doesn't work for me.

"Harmony doesn't like parties." Blaze chimes in. "She prefers staying at the dorm and lately I have been preferring that as well. You two can go without us."

James clears his throat with a smirk and once again, that pulls my attention. It's as if he is hinting something at Blaze, but he pretends not to see or hear his friend for the second time.

If I don't attend the party, then Blaze won't either and he will just end up at my dorm. After what happened last night and the incident earlier with him pretending that I was his girlfriend, I think it's better if Blaze and I do not stay together without the group.

"I will come," I say.

April and the girls all look at me in alarm.

"You will?" Yuna is super excited and it makes me smile.

"Yeah, I haven't had fun in a while."

"Awesome!" April beams. "It's gonna be so cool."

Blaze is probably confused as to why I chose to attend the party. Maybe he was hoping we would be alone again like last night. I can tell that he is looking at me, but I don't look in his direction. Instead, I stick my straw in my boxed milk and attempt to drink away my sorrows.