"Whenever you're ready, can we surrender?" —Natalie Taylor.

••

"Harmony."

"Harmony."

A gentle shake of my arm tugs me from the deep slumber I had sunken into. I open heavy eyes, glancing around in disorientation until my gaze lands on Blaze, who is silently staring at me from behind the wheels. I pull my focus from him and look around the dark and empty vicinity, realizing that we are back at Homewood and I had fallen asleep in his car.

"We are here," he announces the obvious.

I am still feeling a bit tipsy, but I am more clear-headed than how I was earlier at the party. Getting a little rest sure helps a lot when you're wasted. My muscles feel as if they had fallen asleep as well, and as I try to sit upright, I scrunch my face up at the slight pounding in my head. I make a mental vow never to drink again or attend another party, rather.

Now that my senses have returned, flashes, and memories of the previous events raid my thoughts. I am very much embarrassed by my earlier actions, which include dancing on Kite—a guy I had only met for half of an hour and then saying things I should not have to Blaze. To say I am humiliated would be an understatement.

Sensing his eyes on me, I hang my head in shame and unlatch my seatbelt. "You didn't have to take me back." I thrust the door open and step out into the piercingly cold air of the night. The climate is humid and windy, and I sheathe an arm around myself, recalling that I have left my purse and sweater at the party. I had given Yuna my belongings to keep for me while I went to use the restroom, and I forgot to take them back when I had returned.

I hear as Blaze gets out of his car and walks around to where I am standing.

"Are you cold?"

I look away from him. "No, I am fine."

"Yeah, but your teeth are clenching so hard." He coils his fingers under his sweater and pulls it over his head in a fast motion. He's now wearing a white tank top as he steps closer to me, motioning to put it over my head.

I step back. "I am fine."

"Don't be so stubborn," he hisses.

I oblige but avert my eyes to my feet, refusing to look at him as he slips his brown hoodie over my head.

"Put your arms in," he instructs.

I do as told, but quite reluctantly. Instantly, the well-known scent of his encompasses me, forcing me to breathe it in. The cotton material feels soft and warm against my skin, and my hands are hidden inside the clothing due to how large it is.

Blaze's lips twitch in a smile. "You look cute."

My face reddens at that, and I quickly turn away. "I am going to my room."

He pushes the passenger's door up then locks his car doors with his key and chases behind me."Let me walk you to your door."

"I am fine; I don't want you at my dorm."

"I didn't say your dorm, Harmony. I meant your door, just to ensure you're back safe and alright."

"I'll be fine; no one will hurt me on the school grounds."

"Yeah, you can't convince me when Mr. Jones almost molested you in his office the other day."

I stop in my tracks and turn my head to look at him. "I really will be fine, Blaze. I want to be alone tonight."

He stares at me for a while, the brisk wind swiveling through his hair, and then he nods his head, complying. "Alright... Goodnight then, Harmony."

He turns away and walks off in the direction of Ainsley Hall, and I draw a breath in and tuck my hair behind my ear as I move in the opposite direction.

I arrive at my dorm room, and the dumbest revelation comes home to me.

God, I really am drunk. I don't have my purse with me, so how on earth will I have my room key?

You are such a klutz Harmony, goddamit man.

I sigh and fork my fingers through my now messy hair. I really should have just stayed home and watched Netflix.

Told ya! My subconscious adds, and I try to ignore her. She has no idea how worse she makes me feel. I am already so fed-up with myself; self-reprimanding isn't something I can handle at this moment.

April will not be back anytime soon, and I have nowhere to stay. Everyone is now locked in, and the cafeteria and lounges are all closed at this time of the night. I come to the acceptance that the only option I have left is to crash with Blaze until she gets back.

I don't want to, but it's a lot optional than sitting out into the blistering cold, so I reluctantly begin to make my way over to Ainsley Hall.

Luckily, the weird boys aren't congregating on the corridor this time; I guess they took Blaze's warning seriously. After witnessing him crushing that lad's wrist to nothing but jelly, they would be unwise not to take heed. Blaze isn't right in the head. I am sure they noticed that too.

I take a deep breath before knocking. I feel so stupid for winding up here when I said that I wanted to be alone tonight.

He swings it open in no time, now dressed in a pair of white shorts and a beige tank top. When he notices my awkward frame, he leans against his door jamb with a smile plastered on his face. "What brings you here, lost kitten?"

I roll my eyes, suddenly feeling like a kid begging for candy. "I don't have my key; can I stay with you until April gets back?"

He nods and shifts to the side, opening his door widely to grant me access. "Make yourself at home."

I step in, and he closes his door after me.

"Where do I sit?" I awkwardly ask.

"Anywhere you want to."

I opt for his bed since the couch is currently occupied by piles of clothes.

"James made that mess." Blaze says while I look to see that the TV is playing an episode of 'FRIENDS.'

"You watch these movies?" I ask as he stretches with a grunt and walks over to his bed, crashing onto it but not close to where I am seated. Seems he's trying to keep his distance.

He leans his back against his headboard and grabs a sketch pad. "Nope. Comedies aren't really my thing. I could never get the jokes."

I smile softly. But yet he laughs while watching horror and thriller movies. He's...strange.

"I was about to draw."

His response sparks my interest instantly, and I turn to face him on the bed. "Draw what?"

My mind goes back to the box of sketches I found in his room the other day, and it worsens my curiosity. Was he about to draw something just as painful again?

He catches my absorbed eyes that are transfixed on the black page of his sketch pad, and he smiles.

"No. I won't be drawing creepy images again."

I stiffen with wide eyes because I have no idea how he knew that that was exactly what I had been thinking.

He chuckles and puts the sketchpad aside to draw closer to me, coiling a leg underneath him. "Yeah, Harmony, I know what you did."

I blink at him. I am totally confused and at a loss for words, but I try to speak so that I won't give myself away.

"Wh-what did I do?"

He reclines back onto his palms as his gaze stays steady on my anxious one. "Well, that day I took you to my home, I knew you were upstairs looking through my things."

Oh. My. God.

My cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

Okay, how on earth did he even-

"You know how I know?" He taps his finger against his bed, and I haul my eyes to the action. Why does he always do that? "Because I left my box open and when we were about to leave, it was closed and under my bed. My dad never goes into my room; ever. It's a thing he doesn't do. Plus, you stayed upstairs for quite a long time, Harmony."

There is no use denying it now. I got caught.

"I guess you could say I have the instincts of a serial killer, and I tend to photograph how I leave things in my memory. So, when it's not the same as how I left it, I know."

I press a palm over my eyes; this is just too embarrassing. "I am so sorry."

He laughs. "For what?"

I remove my hand, revealing a face red with guilt and humiliation. "I shouldn't have done that."

"It's okay. But it makes me wonder a lot about you. Even after you saw all those weird things, you didn't run away."

I sigh. "Well... why would I? They're just drawings."

He shakes his head. "It's not for me, though. I have problems with feeling emotions sometimes. Just like that drawing, sometimes when I am supposed to be happy, I don't feel the full feeling of joy like what everyone feels. And then there are times when I can't feel anything at all."

I stare at him. What does he really mean? I don't think I understand.

"Why's that?" I ask skeptically. I hope I am not pushing too much.

He swallows and averts his eyes to the ground. "I can't, no matter how much I may want to... I can't feel anything. But with you..."

He looks at me again, and I feel my heart skip a beat."With you, I feel something."

I search his eyes. They are so fervent and filled with so many emotions. How can he say he can't feel anything when right now, I can feel so much passion and intensity emanating from him?

No. No, I see what he's doing. This is just a trick. A trick to let him touch me again. I won't fall under his charm. I have to keep in control.

I look away. "I don't believe that..."

"You don't have to," he answers softly.

I bite my lip and look back at him "Why wouldn't you want to visit your mom's grave?"

"Because she did things to me that I can't forgive her for," he answers simply—to my surprise.

"Things like what?"

He ruffles his hair and intakes a deep breath. The topic seems to be too much for him to speak on. I consider telling him nevermind, but he speaks first.

"I can't tell you. Not because I don't want to but because I need to feel safe."

Safe? What does he mean?

"What do you mean by that?"

"People come and people go, Harmony. And I don't want to give you a piece of me to leave with."

"You think I will leave?" I ask softly.

"I don't think; I know you will," he answers. "You will go away eventually, you know why? Because no-one stays with anyone. They all eventually leave when they get tired or bored."

Why does he think I will leave? I would never leave him behind. I am already so attached to him—more than he knows.

"I won't leave, Blaze," I say. "I really won't."

"Yeah, but the way you ground on Kite tonight told me otherwise, Harmony."

Is he being jealous right now? The thought is comforting. I never thought that would ever be possible.

"I was drunk, Blaze."

"It doesn't matter, okay? It fucks me up to see you grinding on someone else."

I stare at him. He looks so angry, so infuriated. It makes me smile a little. This has to mean he cares about me, right? It has to mean that he feels the same. My heart swells with new feelings for him, and I shift closer to him on the bed.

"You can confide in me, Blaze. I won't judge you."

He looks at me, and his eyes are soft and serene. I love how relaxed and comforted they seem right now. I wish I could snap a picture of them and keep this moment with me for a lifetime.

Before I am even aware of my actions, my lips are pressed up against his in a gentle kiss. He is shocked at first, but eventually, his body relaxes as he pulls me in closer to him.