"How unfair, it's just our luck, found something real that's out of touch but if you'd searched the whole wide world, would you dare to let it go?"—Birdy.

••

Blaze tries to unwrap the girl's slender arms, but she only tightens them around his waists, squeezing him close to her body—so much that it appears almost painful. She shuts her golden eyes as tears cascade down her face, sobbing relentlessly into his T-shirt.

"I thought I was over you. I thought I moved on, but the moment I saw you...I am back to square one."

Blaze rolls his eyes. "Get off me, please."

"No. I won't let you go." She shakes her head frantically as she snuggles closer to him, and a surge of jealousy rushes over me. "I won't let you go. Not again. I don't care what my brother or anyone says, I won't—"

"Maddie!"

I look to see an angry Malcolm storming over to us. My lips part in a daze as I take in the scene unfolding in front of me.

He grabs her hand and pulls her away from Blaze and over to his side. "Seriously? He hurt you enough!"

She looks down at the ground, embarrassed, as she continues to cry softly.

My inquisitive eyes fall to where the two people's hands are intertwined, and I notice several black, slim lines across her wrist, circling her hand as a bracelet would. But only it isn't intended to beautify, but more of a symbol of self-suffering.

Has she been cutting herself? Hold on, is she—?

Blaze's sigh breaks through my thoughts. "This is exactly why I hate Homewood. I just got back a second ago and I am greeted already with such sheer annoyance. Seriously, I should just switch Universities."

His prior sweet countenance has drastically changed in a blink.

"Stay away from her, Blaze. She won't be hospitalized again because of you." Mal spits, and my speculations are immediately confirmed.

Malcolm's sister.

"Mal, please," she begs. "Do not talk to him like that." She turns her gaze to an aggravated Blaze, who looks disgusted at their presence.

"I am sorry, Blaze. What happened wasn't your fault at all. Please don't be upset about it. I don't blame you; I will never blame you. Please don't listen to Malcolm." Her voice cracks, and she presses a hand over her face, mewling unrestrainedly.

Blaze hisses. "Psycho..." He mutters to himself, but it doesn't miss my hearing.

That was harsh, although it doesn't strike me as a surprise. I know how mean Blaze can be. But why would he refer to her as a psycho? Something tells me it is stemming from far more than the fact that she tried committing suicide.

He seems to genuinely not care about her, and despite it all, she still loves him. I guess I am not the only one with an undying love for Blaze Xander.

"My sister was diagnosed with PTSD and Depression." Mal states. "She can easily relapse, please; all I ask of you is just to stay far away from her, Blaze."

He sighs. "Trust me; you don't have to worry about me being close to her Malcolm, you should warn her about that."

"I don't want to be away from you, Blaze. At least can we be friends?" She has hopeful eyes, and it breaks my heart for her.

She's so pretty, and to think she almost killed herself is disheartening. I cannot help feeling jealous about how open she is about her feelings for him, but she is just too cute and looks too innocent that it is hard to see myself hating her.

"No, Maddie." Mal rolls his eyes. "You can't be friends with him. Just let him go, will you; he already hurt you enough!"

"You don't understand!" She screams at her brother, and I wince at the sudden rise in her tone. "I love him, okay?! I love him and I can't be away from him!"

I am shocked. My eyes are wide open, and my mouth is hung apart at her loud confession. A few heads are now looking in our direction, but she doesn't seem to mind the attention she just drew to us as she glowers at Malcolm with red, menacing eyes.

Blaze rubs his forehead in annoyance and frustration, all wrapped in one. "We are back to this again. See? You should warn her, Malcolm, not me. You guys are giving me a headache."

He walks away, and Maddie tries to follow him, but Mal grasps her arm and drags her back. "Maddie, don't."

She closes her eyes, and tears slip from beneath her eyelids.

Mal finally looks over at me and offers a half-smile, but his eyes show his distress. "Hey, haven't seen you in a while."

I smile. "Well, I've been here, are you alright?"

"Something like that."

Maddie wipes her eyes with the back of her hand as she turns to me. "Are you friends with Blaze?"

I look from Mal to her, not sure how to respond to the question. Blaze and I are certainly not 'just friends.'

"Um, actually we—"

She grabs my hands in hers, and her brother rolls his eyes and blows his cheeks out from behind.

"Please, talk to him for me?" She begs desperately as fresh tears squeeze through her wild eyes. "Please? I just want to be friends with him, that's all. Talk to him for me, will you?"

I glance at Mal, who just sighs and looks away, obviously out of strength to deal with her. She grips my hands tighter while she waits for my response. She looks so sad, and it's so painful. My heart moves beyond my control.

I smile a little. "Alright. I will see what I can do."

She smiles brightly and suddenly pulls me into a hug. Okay. She's affectionate. I stiffen at the contact, and my hands come up and freeze mid-air, not sure what to do with them.

"Thank you..." She sobs into my shoulder. "Thank you so much."

I smile and pat her back gently while Mal is looking at me from over her shoulders with a worried facial expression.

I offer him a gaze of encouragement, and he smiles just a little. He knows his sister won't listen to him.

I am always this hopeless Samaritan, always feeling the need to help everyone.

But being too kind and wanting to save the world tends to backfire sometimes, doesn't it?

~

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