"When I look at you, I see forgiveness, I see the truth. You love me for who I am." —Miley Cyrus.

••

"What promise did you make?" April asks as she walks over to sit next to me on the bed.

Maddie finally left after I reassured her five times that I would speak to Blaze on her behalf.

I suspire heavily, having used up all my physical and mental energy. "She asked me to ask Blaze if they could be friends."

April's eyes widen at this. "Oh damn...so you agreed?"

"Uh...yeah." I rub my arm, and her eyes are even larger now if that is even possible. She shakes her head repeatedly.

"Oh no, Harmony. Sweetie, you have no idea what you are doing. She will take your man, dear. Listen, she doesn't want to be 'just friends' with him, okay? Maddie is obsessed. She's kind of 'coo-coo' in the head." She rotates her finger at the side of her head, and I resist the urge to smile.

"She's not sane. I think when Blaze took her v-card, he also took her sanity."

I tilt my head to the side. "Blaze took her v-card?"

She nods. "Yeah...she was a virgin when he had sex with her. I mean, virgin girls can be hard work when you don't commit to them. Blaze was wrong to have done that, but he did make it clear from the start that he does not do relationships, but she still dove in." Her shoulders drop in a sigh. "Poor girl. I feel bad for her...I always warn girls to stay away from my sex-machine of a cousin, but they never listen."

Like me.

"So what do I do?"

She shoves hair away from her face, blowing her cheeks out. "Well...just tell her Blaze doesn't want to be friends with her. The truth is what matters."

"She'll freak out. Like earlier."

She shrugs. "Yeah, but at least she'll leave you alone from then on...I hope."

I nod my head slowly. "Okay."

"And Harmony, don't ever help chicks to become friends with the guy you like, okay? That's just something we girls don't do. Especially chicks who act that desperate. Maddie is obsessed. She's not looking for friendship."

"Yeah..." I smile a bit. "Thanks for the advice."

She gets up and stretches her limbs. "You're welcome, and I don't want to see madam Medusa in my dorm room again." She sashays toward the bathroom, and I chuckle.

"You call her Medusa too?"

"Um, yeah...she's not normal." She shrugs as she closes the door.

I shake my head and lay onto my back, staring up at the cream blankness of my ceiling. I will tell her the truth tomorrow and keep my distance from there.

••

"Excuse me, first-year!"

A familiar voice sounds from behind me and I halt my strides, turning around to find Justine Meyers advancing toward me.

I haven't seen her since our little confrontation in the music room some weeks ago. I haven't been back to the club since then, mainly because I didn't feel comfortable knowing the President didn't like my guts.

"Hi." She smiles, and it creeps me out because I was expecting a cocky smirk with an attitude.

"Um. Hey?" I say it like a question, gripping the straps of my bag.

"Okay, I know you're wondering why I am talking to you. And I know you are still upset about what I said in the music room the other day, but I hope you can forgive me. It was so rude for a sophomore like me to have spoken to you that way. I am truly sorry."

Okay...

After a few seconds of me staring at her wordlessly, she expectantly lifts her brows.

I snap out of my daze and nod my head. "Yeah, you're forgiven, I guess."

She smiles again, seeming genuinely relieved. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about this music concert coming up next month. I heard how awesome you sang your first day at the meeting and your voice is phenomenal. I just...I was just wondering if you could be our lead singer?"

My eyes grow wide, and I shake my head so fast it almost falls off my neck.

"No, no. I am so sorry; I can't sing in front of people."

She frowns. "Really? But you sang in front of the group?"

"Yeah but...but I just really suck when it's like a wide mass of—"

"She's lying." A voice interjects, then an arm comes around my neck, a well-known scent filling my senses. I gaze up to see a smirking Blaze, and he winks down at me, the lopsided tilting of his lips melting my heart.

My cheeks flush and I look away.

"She doesn't suck; at all. She's like an angel from the choir of heaven." He exaggerates, and Justine smiles.

"Well, there you have it, you'd be amazing."

"No, no look I can't—"

"She can."

I shoot Blaze a hard glare, and he smiles brightly.

"Justine, I will not be able—"

"She will be."

"Blaze!" I frown at him, and he laughs and pulls me closer to his torso, wrapping his arms around me. "Relax, green eyes. I will be there to watch you so you won't be afraid." He dips his head to catch sight of my face. "Okay?"

Justine's face displays a quick flash of what resembles jealously, but it erases as fast it came. I understand why she would feel weird. They did have a fling in the past.

"I'd really love it if you could be our lead singer, Harmony. The chairman and music teachers will be there to watch us, and I don't want it to suck."

I sigh. She's giving me puppy eyes and pouting lips. It's barely persuasive, but I appreciate her effort in trying.

"Come on Harmony, spread your amazing voice to the world." Blaze adds, opening his arms dramatically, and I feel like poking him in the ribcage.

Truthfully, I can't have this stupid fear of singing in front of people all my life now, can I? I need to get over this anxiety issue and move on with my life. Maybe, this is the first step in that direction. Plus, my dad would not be pleased to know that I have given up on singing like this. I'll do it, for both him and Blaze.

I throw a hand up, finally agreeing. "Well, I guess I could try—"

"YES!" They both exclaim at the same time.

Wow, okay, That's startling.

"Thank you so so much! See you in the music room this evening at four, alright? Please be there!" She says before flashing me another smile and walking away.

I reel to Blaze, who's giving me a toothy smile while dancing his eyebrows playfully. That's cute, but I still want to poke him in the stomach for influencing me to join this stupid music concert thing. I just hope I don't end up dying on the stage from a panic attack.

"That's the best choice, green eyes" He smiles.

"Blaze, if I get a heart attack up there, my ghost will be back to haunt you." I scowl and cross my arms.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind though. If your ghost comes back, I will love it just the same." And he chuckles.

I turn my face to look at him. Did he just say...'love it just the same?' Does that mean he loves me then? I have never pressured him to profess those words because I know he struggles with his emotions. I have been patiently waiting for the moment he becomes certain to utter them. But that statement just now...it was deep.

I swallow. "Blaze...did you just say—"

"Monie!" A cheerful tone interrupts my speech, and we both focus our eyes to see an elated Maddie approaching us.

Blaze's jaw clenches and he looks away.

"Hey..." I say awkwardly, and she smiles. "Hey."

Her eyes shift to Blaze. "Hey, Blaze."

He hisses and walks off, and I feel embarrassed for her. Yeah, she might be obsessive as everyone says, but his reactions to her are just heartless.

Her face falls, and I sigh. "He's just having a bad morning."

"What did he say...about us being friends?"

I recall April's advice and figure it is best to tell her the truth.

"I am sorry Maddie, but he said he doesn't want to be friends..."

I hold my breath.

She stares at me for a while, taking a moment to soak it all in. And then her lips begin to tremble as she lowers her head. She doesn't cry though, and instead, the disturbing narrowed eyes she gave me last night returns.

"Can I ask you something, though?"

I nod. "Ye-yeah, sure."

"Is there something going on between you two?"

The question causes me to freeze for a second while she waits for a reply, a deranged look in her eyes.

"Is there?" She presses.

My mouth opens. "Uh, well actually we—"

"Maddie!" Mal comes onto the scene, interrupting the conversation and saving me from his terrifying sister. I've never been this much relieved in my entire life.

Thank God. She scares me.

"Are you bothering Harmony about Blaze again, Maddie?"

She smiles. "I'm not Mal; we were just talking."

Oh. So she's an effortless liar too...okay.

"Well Harmony has Literature with me now so I'll have to take her away," he says.

Maddie nods. "Okay, see you later, Harmony."

I force a smile as she walks away down the hall, her long black hair bouncing behind her at each step.

Mal draws in a breath. "Please don't listen to my sister, okay? She just doesn't listen to my instructions. I told her to stay away from Blaze, but she just won't listen."

He sounds madly frustrated, and I sigh. "I guess she can't get over him...she must really love him."

And that's not only horrifying...but dangerous.

•

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