Tired lips let a yawn escape as the day had closed. Makeup was heavy but the blonde hair wasn't swaying. The two buns on the edge of her head kept it together. She looked like a two-year-old but she loved it. Not all that many people made comments but that was because her happy face kept them all distracted.

A key was inserted into 103 and the door was pushed open to reveal the dark and all too empty room. Aletheia picked up the box and a few letters that had been left in her letterbox. She only just fit it all in her bag to carry it all up. As she looked through her post, the box caught her eye as it wasn't addressed to her.

Sighing and leaving the flat whilst locking it just in case she didn't return. Unfortunately, the man who lived next door seemed to be on the go so they met. Nothing was said but the box was handed over.

"I am terribly sorry. Could you possibly tell me where 102 is?" A woman from down the hall asked. She was short and quite possibly in her seventies. Her hand held a walking stick and her face held a smile.

"I would love to." Aletheia walked past Jaren and to the woman. They walked arm in arm to the other side of the building.

"Evens are on the right and odds on the left of the building. Just so you know next time." A thanks was given as the door was knocked and then opened. A clearly glad face met the pair and more thanks were given.

By the time Aletheia was back to her home, there was a chance that Jaren had returned from wherever he had gone, so eyes trained down. For the two it was like the relationship had not happened. It went back to how it was before his friends asked her to hang out with them, only, they had stopped smiling at each other as they crossed paths. Smii7y had been back for a day and they kept seeing each other.

"Thia." A familiar voice spoke from behind as her door was almost opened. It was John and in an instant, Aletheia looked up and she began to walk straight up to him. It was a quick walk and her arms wrapped around his waist until he brought her arms onto his shoulders and her legs wrapped around the waist.

"JoJo," Aletheia whispered as they embraced leaving Smii7y to feel embarrassed and also awkward. John had always gotten along with Aletheia. Her voice seemed sad and far more downtrodden than the one she had used on the elderly woman.

"You sound all broken, what have you been up to the past few days?" Aletheia thought about it and sighed. Clearly thinking about another world.

"Working mainly. I managed to get a 50-year sentence down to 10 years and a small fine with three hours of community service. I am up to my usual tricks." John put her down and pushed Aletheia slightly in joke. "Must be off. Balls to break and friends to be meeting later." Aletheia didn't leave room for anything else to be said as she left the hall and headed into the flat she called home.

"You fucked up. So bad." John commented and Jaren nodded. Agreeing but not willing to back down. There was something not all that right. The pair walked into his flat and sat on their phones before John spoke.

"Tell me again why she isn't what you are interested in." Smii7y thought and let his hair cover his face a little. It always made a laugh escape Aletheia and she would have used her delicate hand to move it out of his face.

"She acts like she is young. I mean, she is all level headed but her sneezes sound like a pixie and she laughs like one. Her clothes make her look like a young adult trying too hard in the big world. Not to mention the way her hair exists." John began to laugh but he stopped eventually.

"She is 21. Literally, a couple of months younger than you are. Her sneezes and also laughs, you said, turn you on and do I really need to tell you that she is a young woman who is trying to make it into the big world? Her hair was also a massive plus for you. If you end it with her then that's on you but do it for a decent reason and not out of fear, man. You know, all of her texts tell me about how she feels like she isn't enough. Her parents brought her up to believe she wasn't enough and that dick before did not help. Will or whoever it was. Aletheia is as you put it 'a whole snack' so don't throw your snack away." John had spoken wise words though they were hard to swallow.

The pair decided that a walk would help it all clear in their minds but as they got out a rather attractive looking Aletheia stood at the door smiling with a few other people. To her it was life. She was going to have to do what she always had to do and act strong whilst being alone. This time Jaren wasn't there for her to lean on. This time she loved him, unlike the last time she had gotten out of a relationship. The three others all wore revealing and clubbing outfits but she covered up. That wasn't like her when it involved clubs. Aletheia wasn't acting like anything was different though.

"Hey, you two look like fun. Do you know Aletheia here?" Jaren was quick to nod but to his surprise, she kept busy by talking with the others. Her mind running at full speed hoping to just leave.

"Do you fancy joining?" John had agreed too quickly for Smii7y or Aletheia to disagree and so they did it. They all went clubbing in the usual place. As soon as they entered the group seemed to disperse and move to all the areas of the floor. Smii7y was pulled by John to the side. Right by Aletheia.

"So, John. Dare I ask why you are here? I am glad that you are but this is not normal." He hugged and kissed the top of her head as the pair spoke quietly with an awkward Jaren at their sides.

"Visiting Smii7y. He has been making a lot of mistakes." Aletheia nodded but looked all around awkwardly. Like that topic was only hoped to be avoided.

"I hear the two of you ended." Aletheia gave a nod and looked finally at Jaren. Still, not a word was spoken by him or to him.

"He did the right thing. I mean, stringing me along without love is useless. We may have been happy but a relationship was too much for us. To be honest I think friendship was too much for us. It's a bad idea to go from one serious relationship to the next. Maybe it was just a rebound." When she had finished a man walked over. He was patient but his eyes showed that he really wanted to be alone with Aletheia.

Aletheia drank down the glass and walked onto the floor with the stranger. They began to move and dance. Her long blonde hair in the usual place down her back but in a few seconds she tied it all up into a bun. She smiled flirtatiously as she did so.

The music seemed to pick up and all of the bodies merged. Aletheia was dancing but a glance was shot towards Jaren occasionally as she did so. Deep down she was hoping he would just join her.