"Every time you hold me close, I feel you're trying to save a broken soul." —Declan J Donovan.

••

"Woah, that was amazing!" Mal compliments as he walks over to me. The music meeting has ended, and everyone is gradually filing out of the room.

Maddie is behind him, and she's looking from me to Blaze with the same frown engraved on her face.

"Thanks, Mal." I smile.

"That was awesome, Harmony!" Justine inputs as she joins us, smiling from ear to ear. "I enjoyed it."

"Thanks, I am happy you did. It means a lot to know that you guys found it entertaining."

"Oh, the whole club did." She chuckles. "The way you were staring at Blaze so passionately, I think the whole school knows you both are in love now."

Heat spreads to my cheeks in a matter of seconds, and I glance over at Blaze, whose face is now abnormally red. Is he blushing?

Maddie tenses visibly then force a smile as she clears her throat. Everyone pulls their regard to her, and Mal seems to have forgotten that his sister was standing there.

"Oh, Maddie, ready to head out?"

"Yeah." She nods; her eyes are focused on me as her lips form a tight smile. "That was lovely, Harmony."

I smile. "Thank you, Maddie."

"Well, see you around. My sister needs to get checked into her dorm room."

"Oh, I didn't know you were boarding here, Mal," I say truthfully, and he shrugs.

"Well, a day ago, I wasn't. It's my first day. Maddie asked our parents to let her board here yesterday, so I just decided to board as well so she wouldn't be alone."

I nod understandingly, and Maddie simpers. "Yeah, so we will see each other quite often...Harmony."

She smirks, and my lips pull awkwardly. "Well...that'd be nice, I guess."

"Oh, it will be." She crosses her arms against her chest as she glares at me—a deep gaze into my eyes that gives me immediate chills. It creeps the living being out of me, so I tear my gaze away and look at Mal. "See you around then Mal."

He smiles at me again, then awkwardly glance at Blaze as if he isn't sure whether to give him a farewell. He decides against it and just walks away with his sister.

"Well, remember to practice the music sheet I gave you, alright?" Justine reminds me.

"I will."

She touches my shoulder. "Thanks for being a part of this; I owe you big time."

"Don't mention it."

She smiles at us again before leaving the room. Justine is not so bad, even though we started on the wrong foot. I am curious as to what made her change her mind about Blaze. Maybe she realized that it is pointless to be in love with him because he will never reciprocate her feelings. I know he is hard work when it comes to emotions, but I am brave enough to try with him.

"Did you see how Maddie just looked at you?" Blaze asks as we begin to move toward the exit.

"How?" I question. He pushes the door open for me and shifts aside as I step out into the hallway.

"She just looked at you like a fucking psycho; you're telling me you didn't see that?" He ruffles his hair as a habit while we begin to walk down the corridor. The evening sun is setting, illuminating the university grounds with an orange glow.

"Well, she was looking at me and it did seem a little creepy..."

"A little? She feels like a fucking horror film."

I chuckle.

"It's not funny, damn. She's creepy."

I cross my arms against my chest as I gaze up at him. "Mhm. I thought you loved horror films and found them so hilarious and amusing? What happened to: 'Yeah! This is a whole lot better than people pretending to love each other on-screen! This real-life stuff! Yeah!'"

I attempt to mimic his voice, but I just sound like a premature fourteen-year-old who's trying too hard.

He laughs hysterically, throwing his head back. "Wow, you sound like a teenage boy just then. Fuck, do I sound like that?"

I giggle. "No way, no you don't, you sound a lot sexier..."

My eyes widen, and I want to slap myself on the lips.

Did I just say, 'you sound a lot sexier'? Why would I say that?!

"Woah." Blaze is grinning. "I had no idea you found my voice sexy."

"That was just a slip of the tongue."

"A slip of the tongue, alright." He bites his lower lip, and I realize that not only is his voice sexy, but everything about him is.

"Anyway, obvious change of topic, did you like my song earlier?" I shyly gaze at the tiles while we walk, feeling embarrassed for asking that.

"Nope...I didn't like it."

My head shoots up fast, and my heart breaks into a million pieces. I frown. "You didn't?"

"Nope." He shakes his head.

"Oh..." I want to cry.

He steps in my path, and I stop abruptly and stare up at him. I am very much aware that I look like a spoilt puppy who wants her owner to pat her on the head right now.

"I didn't like it, Harmony," he says, pushing his hands in his pockets. "I loved it...from my heart."

My lips spread in a smile, and my once dead heart has now been revived, pumping harder than before.

That's the best pat on the head I have ever gotten.

"Thank you...I am glad you did."

He salivates his lips. "April and the girls are going out tonight, so...do you want me to come over? We can talk and watch some movies?"

Yes!

I try to suppress the elation currently bursting through my veins. "Okay...I would love that."

"Great." He grins. "Then I will get to my dorm, take a shower and then head over when I know April is gone."

I giggle. "Okay. I will be waiting then."

He smiles and grips my hand in his as we continue our journey down the hallway.

••

I return to my dorm and find that April isn't present, so I assume she has already left for her outing with the girls.

I slump tiredly on my bed and begin searching through my suitcase for a clean pair of clothes to wear. I recall that Blaze will be over, and I don't want to look like an unattractive grandmother, so I settle with an oversize shirt and a pair of floral shorts that are not too skimpy but don't look like something from an elderly lady's closet either.

I quickly hit the shower and take a hot water bath, equipped with new energy the minute I step out. I dry myself off with a towel then get dressed in my selected bed-wear.

I think of all the possible things that can happen here tonight with Blaze and it makes me a little excited, admittedly. Being alone with him has often proved to produce a dangerous result, but if I say the dangers haven't always been sweet, then I would be lying.

I guess he was right then. I am addicted to danger. Perhaps he knows me a lot more than I know myself.

I am in the bathroom, tying my wet hair up into a quick bun. Suddenly, I hear a noise resonating from inside the room, and my heart instantly races. I figure that it must be Blaze. I am stunned that he is here so early, but maybe he is just as eager as I am.

I smile to myself and apply some skin lotion before stepping out of the bathroom, grinning wildly.

"Hey, you're here early Blaze, I just took a..."

I trail off and come to an abrupt halt when my eyes grace Maddie's instead.

What is she doing here?

I tilt my head to the side. "Maddie?"

The door swings close behind her, and her lips spread in a wide grin. "Surprise."