"Wake up, sleepyhead." A voice said from behind me.

I groaned internally; hating to be woken up too early in the morning. I slowly opened my eyes, grabbing my phone as it brightly showed, 7:45 am and a bunch of notifications from my Mom.

The voice sighed, probably tired of trying to wake me up for the past 25 minutes. Geez, just give up already. "Breakfast is ready. Hurry your lazy butt up and let's eat while it's still warm... or I'll probably have to heat it up again for like the third time."

Tossing my phone to the side as I grabbed the big, fuzzy blankets over me and tried to zone off again. "I don't wanna eat..." I groaned, shutting my eyes again and threw a pillow at him. It was a pretty good shut when I heard an, 'oof' from him. Serves him just right!

"Fine." He finally gave up as he exited the room. Hearing his footsteps fade away, I snuggled back in the bed and tried to get more sleep.

I smiled and slept again but 10 minutes later, I heard his footsteps again. Probably thinking of waking me up again. Too bad. As soon as I tried to ignore him, a splash of cold water was spilled all over me! I gasped for air and suddenly leaping out of the now soaking bed. A fit of laughter was made as soon as I stood up; I was dripping and soaking wet. Looking over to the culprit, there was an idiot who had a stupid smirk on his face.

"Cato, seriously?!" I yelled furiously. Obviously in disbelief. You don't always see visitors splashing cold water on their sleeping host now, do we?

"You're cute when you're mad." He said and smirked, turning tomato red as he tried to hold back his laughter.

I rolled my eyes and ignored his flirty comment, scoffing at him and flipped my wet hair. "Shut up." I muttered and sent him the best death glare I could ever do.

"Hurry, breakfast is ready. It's the fifth time I've heated it up now." He said still chuckling and holding the bucket on his way out.

"You're an idiot." I muttered and huffed.

His head popped up the door frame and said, "I heard that."

"You were meant to." I replied, sticking my tongue out at him and tried throw a pillow at him.

His head popped up again, this time with a smirk on his face, "Oh, by the way. Loving the outfit."

"Right." I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes. What a flirty man.

He laughed and said, "I'd check myself in the mirror if I were you."

I rolled my eyes, still super annoyed and tried brushing away his comment. As I walked over to my closet passing by my full length mirror, I stopped dead in my tracks as the blood went to pool around my cheeks, looking almost a beetroot.

"Crap." I mumbled as I regretted my stupidity.

How would I even expect something like this would happen??? My embarrassment at this point made me want to scream my whole lungs out.

I hit my forehead lightly on the wall repeatedly, remembering how I probably looked like a lost puppy under the rain. How am I going to face him? Act natural, breathe...

Congratulations, Ari. You have bought a one way ticket to embarrassment and you ain't coming back.

--

After probably 10 minutes, which the 5 minutes I used up by staring at the wall and facepalming myself at the little incident that happened awhile ago; I changed into a pair of black shorts and just a plain ole' maroon shirt.

"Hey princess, come down and have breakfast. Food's still hot." Cato called out from downstairs.

Princess? More like damsel in distress.

"I'm coming!" I yelled back while I skipped down the stairs. Reaching the last step, I could smell the aroma coming from the kitchen. FOOD! Slowly walking in, Cato was putting up so much effort to actually prepare breakfast. Huh, unusual.

He looked around, giving me a smile and pointed at the table full of delicious food ready to be swimming in my stomach. "Eat." He pointed out.

"You know, you really didn't have to go through this mess. I could have cereals and I would be energetic as ever."

"I want you to gain more weight and I want you to be healthy, okay?" He said, grabbing my hand and showed me the way to my chair. That's sweet.

"But.." I said, but was cut off by him saying, "No buts. Now eat."

I was still full at this moment but I didn't want to offend him by not eating the foods he has prepared. Besides, looking at it was making me hungry.

"Oh, now do you want me to feed you, Princess?" He teased me in a baby voice as he lightly pinched my cheeks then sat across me.

"Shut up." I muttered, taking the fork and stuffing my mouth with food, "I can eat by myself, thank you very much."

"or.. you want me to keep reminding you about our little 'incident' this morning?" He smirked, holding back his laugh. Wow, this guy knows how to get me.

I gasped and felt my cheeks burn, throwing him a piece of lettuce in his face. "Don't you dare!"

It hasn't even passed 15 minutes and we had actually finished everything. Believe me, there was a lot of food and up until now, I still wonder how it actually fit in my stomach. I never really had a real breakfast as I'd only eat cereals or whatever I can find in our rather, empty fridge back home.

I sighed, blocking away all the past memories I had. I didn't want to tell Cato how much it was affecting me. I needed to be strong.

"Cato, thank you so much for cooking. I'm really stuffed." I said with so much sincerity it surprised me. For all I know, I was hating on this guy so much but honestly, I have no idea what in the world is happening. Must this be a trap? Ugh. Overthinking.

"You're very welcome, Princess."

Cato and I were able to spend the whole day together; watching movies, annoy the hell out of each other, pigging out with junk foods, and played board games that by the way, he lost 12 out of 13 games. Ha. The afternoon went pretty quickly and before we knew it, the day ended.

--

Do you ever just not want to wake up because of a good dream? I was at that very moment until... I heard a buzzing from the side of my table. Way to ruin, huh?

Getting clearly annoyed, I ignored it and went back to sleep... for 5 minutes. Hey, small things matter, okay? Until, someone barged in, completely waking me up now.

"Hey," Cato said as he shook me.

"Ever heard of knocking first?" I muttered, stuffing my face on the pillow and wrapped myself tightly under my comfy sheets.

"Well, yes, I did. it's just that I've been knocking for the past 10 minutes and you seemed to be unbothered so I barged in instead." He explained, in a duh tone.

Whoops, my bad!

"Not to mention, if you don't hurry up in the next 20 minutes, Mrs. Dally would be whooping our asses for being late."

My eyes widened as I realised it was Friday and we still had school! sadly. As much as I want to stay home all day, I'd rather get myself ready rather than get late and receive a lecture from the devil's wife. I cringed, thinking about it.

"Well, it's time for school! Let's get our brains fried!" He said jokingly.

I didn't take it as a joke though. Every time I enter in that classroom feels as if one by one, my brain cells die. Okay, I might be a little overreacting.

"Give me at least 10 minutes to get ready. I'll be quick." I groggily said while dragging my lazy body off my warm sheets. As soon as I left the bed, a cold breeze passed by making me cringe.

"Fine, but hurry up."

I ran to my bathroom and took a quick shower -- Urgh! I forgot to turn on the heater.

As I was done, I ran over to my closet and chose a denim skirt, that stopped 2 inches above my knees and then matched it with a grey shirt along with a cardigan. Just in case it gets chilly tonight.

Yes! I finished right on time. In their faces.

As I was downstairs, I didn't bother eating breakfast at all as it was still quite early for my liking. Instead, I waited near the door and wore my brown timbs.

"Cato? Let's go!" I called out, opening the door as the chilly air greeted me. Told you it was gonna get chilly. I just didn't expect it to be this early.

"That was fast." He suddenly popped up out of no where, his backpack hanging on his left shoulder and his hair was all over.

"Ahh!" I shouted and held my chest, "You scared me there."

"Sorry, Princess." He said and grinned while fixing up his unbuttoned polo shirt up.

"Like what you see?" He interrupted me as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"huh, you wish." I muttered. Opening the door halfway and walked to the car first.

liar. you loved it. my mind said, betraying me.

--

-School

Walking down the hallways and having all eyes on us was something I wasn't getting used to just yet. I am not used to this kind of attention at all.

"Just ignore it." Cato whispered in my ear; sending tingles down my spine.

"Well, well. Look who we have here." That familiar irritating voice said behind us.

Ugh, her voice makes me want to grab her throat out.

Keep chill, chill...

"What do you want?" I said boringly.

"Hm.. I want my boyfriend back, you b-tch." She hissed bitterly, shoving my left shoulder hard.

"Oh hun, that's not my decision to make, sorry. It's his. and his decision is for your sorry plastic-surgery butt to leave us alone. Got it?" I said every word with venom. Making sure she was getting it right.

She scoffed and obviously looked taken aback. It was my first time confront

Yeah, The 'lame' girl the whole school is talking about got tough, problem?

She swung her hand, aiming my cheek as she slapped me hard.

I groaned and held my cheek tightly and glared at her.

"Cato, babe. Come on. I know you don't want to be with this filthy trash." She said as she batted her eyelashes.

"She's not a filthy trash. You are. Now, Get your filthy face away from me, Chanelle. I don't love you anymore." Cato growled as she lightly pushed Chanelle off of him.

She laughed and said, "Seriously? You're choosing her.." and pointed a finger at my face.

"..over me? You can't do that!" She continued with disbelief.

"Yes and, Oops, Just did." said Cato.

He extended his hand out for me to reach and help me stand up - then wrapper his left arm around my waist.

"Ari is beautiful and gorgeous to me, Unlike you." He spat angrily, shoving her backwards as he led me out that chaotic room.

--

Much love,

Clau