It's time to cool it down.

Lucy has insisted may times____ whatever that means. Everything is going to be alright, eventually. She'd say.

Now days, my dormroom feels empty. I'm used to returning there with James waiting for me. And we'd fill the walls with sounds of our laughter, talks and pleasure. But now, there is none of that.

Comfortable silence is so overated.

I walked into a coffee shop near NYU campus and waited for Will to show up.

We haven't had time to catch up lately and I really miss him. I ordered tea and then took out a novel to read. That's a better way to pass time. Considering I'm actually thirty minutes early.

William arrived minutes later high spirited. He spotted me by the window seat, waiting. I noticed Will carrying his guitarcase over his shoulder as he approached me. The red eye that James left on his face was gone. He looked much better than when I saw him last.

"You're late." I scolded.

He smiled.

"Hey Lisa."

William gave me a kiss on the cheek and sat next to me.

"Hey_" I gave him a tight hug.

"I see you're back to music." I glanced at the case by the table. Will gave me a wide grin then said, "I feel motivated again."

He looked around the coffee shop for the waiter. "This place is packed. It's a good thing you saved us a seat." Will patted my shoulder.

This particular coffee shop is always crowded. It's the nearest to the east wing of campus where most lecture halls are located and they make the best coffee here. It's not a surprise that students always flock around here.

I haven't used the gift card James gave me to my favorite cafeteria yet. It hurts just looking at it.

I put •The stars are beautiful• back in my bag as Will orders a Latté. The guy has a sweet tooth.

"How's your foot?" He asked sipping on his drink.

I remember the night I called William, sobbing because my foot hurt so bad. He had to drive to the hospital at three AM because I couldn't take the pain. I wasn't taking good care of my ankle, it eventually got worse due to lack of diligence in medication. Let's just say my doctor was displeased. He literally scolded me for being reckless.

"Much better now. Doctor Philip took out the band aid." I replied as Will glanced at my now unbandaged foot. "Good as new."

"That's great. Next time don't run in six inch heels." He said. "If you need a ride, call me instead of trying to catch the train in shoes like those."

I haven't told William about the break up. I don't wish to feel worse than I already do.

"That won't be happening again, I've learned my lesson."

Will puts down his mug and wraps his arm around my shoulder.

"So_how's Lucy doing?" He asked with a grin as if truly interested.

If I didn't know any better I would assume he's asking because he genuinely cares about her. But this is Will we're talking about. He and Lucy are like water and oil. They don't mix and won't ever mix.

"Don't even try to bug the girl William. She has alot going on now and she is trying to be at her best behaviour." I warned seriously.

Lucy's mum is coming around soon and the last thing she needs is a mischievous William fixing her mood into one that is not so pleasant.

He only wants to pester Lucy and frustrate her.

"Hey hey hey...I wasn't even planning on being a hindrance to her. I just want to know how she's doing." He tried to sound honest.

However, I see right through him.

"She's perfectly fine. Please don't ruin this for me. I'm getting along with her now and if you disturb her she'll start being mean to me again." I said seriously crossing my arms.

The biggest reason to why Lucy and I started off in the wrong foot was because William had an argument with her on the very first day of college. This happened at the student lounge. And it was pretty bad.

And the very next day William showed up in our dormroom and the moment Lucy realized that Will and I are friends, she wanted nothing to do with me too.

"I'm seriously planning nothing against her mood. Her mood is twisted already, she doesn't need me to do it for her. I only asked because I kinda miss her." He rubbed my back while putting up a serious face.

"Don't joke about this." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Who said I was joking?" He said. "Infact you should know, that Lucy and I are talking peacefully now."

Impossible!

I try not to laugh.

"I'm not kidding. She was the one who helped me clean up my black eye."

No way!

"I don't believe you." I drunk my coffee.

"Think whatever you want." He smirked. "You might find us doing it at your dorm room one day. Don't say I didn't warn you."

The second he said that, my mind began picturing Lucy and Will tangled in bed sheets having sex. Gross. I can't unsee it now.

"Don't ever joke about that either." I shake my head in disapproval. "I'm pretty sure Lucy is repulsed by you."

"Ouch. You wound me Lisa." He held his chest with a fake frown.

"Deal with it."

We then had small talk for a while until..

"How's the strip club job working out for you?" He asked me, putting all jokes aside.

"I can't wait to quit." I blunted honestly.

Will gave me a worried look.

"Did something happen?"

"Not at all. I just don't like it there and I can't get things right." I rubbed my temple.

"So are you finally accepting my help?" He said hopefully.

"No William. I'm having this job interview on friday, it's promising." I play with my fingers. I tend to do that when over thinking.

"What kind of job?" He seemed surprised. "I pray it's not like the old one."

"Of course it's not."

I'm not even sure what kind of job it is. However, I know James wouldn't get me something that can cause trouble for me. I still can not believe he did this for me. Despite what has happened, he's still trying to look out for me. It means alot to me and it will mean alot to my mother.

"What type of job?" He asked again.

"You'll find out once I get it. I could end up jinxing it by telling someone."

William chuckled. "You don't actually believe in that?"

"I do." I assured. "Jinxing stuff can happen. Plus I don't want to get my hopes up and get dissappointed when It doesn't come through."

"Well I hope it's something more appropriate this time."

"It is." I encouraged.

I held his hand that was on the table. William is beginning to worry again.

He does that often when it comes to me.

"Now Meghan can be out our lifes." He said.

"She isn't a bad person."

"That's why she was in prison, right? Cause she was such a good person. If Meghan wasn't shadey, then she wouldn't have gone to jail." Will reminded. "People go to jail for a reason. And it's usually nothing good."

"Meghan is still my Aunt."

"Doesn't mean you have to get involved with her."

"I know that." I said.

"Good, because I promised Aunt Brianna I'd take care of you here. I won't let your mother down."

And William never breaks a promise.

"Do you have anything planned this weekend. We could go out. I discovered this really interesting place." He suggested, obviously changing the subject.

"I would really love to spend time with you Will, but I got plans." I informed.

"What plans?" William gave me a curious eye. "Aside from that interview on Friday."

"Someone is taking me somewhere on Saturday night."

"Please don't tell me it's James." He frowned. He really hates the guy. He probably hates him ten times more now after their fight. I never got a chance to confront James about it. No point in doing so now anyway.

"You'll be glad to know it's not James. There's this guy called Callum. I met him recently and he wants to hang out."

Callum texted this morning asking me out and I agreed. There's no point staying in my room and dwelling on my misery.

"You're not messing with me are you?" William gave me a huge smile. As if that's the best news he's heard all day.

"Nope." I confirmed. "I'm not with him anymore. We ended it, for good."

William stared at me shocked. "Are you serious about that?"

I frowned. "We're history."

"Finally. I've been waiting for you to meet someone different for a while now. I will never forgive that douchebag for the red eye he left on my face for no apparent reason."

The happiness on William's face made me sadder. He was never going to accept James.

"I'm sorry about the fight between you two. At least you don't have to worry about seeing him around anymore." I held his shoulder.

"That's the only reason I'm smiling today." He smirked. "So it's a date right? You and this other dude?"

"I'm not sure. I don't think so. We're just friends." I bit my lip.

"I pray to whatever force out there that he asks you out."

What?

"Don't you think thats moving way too fast? We just met and I'm trying to get over James."

William scoffed, "How did you and James break up? Did you leave him?"

I sighed. "I can't talk about that, besides, It was bound to happen anyways."

"Did he hurt you? Because then he's in serious trouble."

"It wasn't like that." I retorted. "We talked it out, that's all."

"Then good luck on your date with___" he trailed. "What's his name again?"

"You haven't even met him yet. How are you sure he's good for me?. For all we know, he could be worse than James."

"Nah. This guy actually had the decency to ask you out like a proper human being would. Not taking you to secret places like that jerk you're with." He defended.

"I'm no longer with James now." I choked out. "You happy now?"

He stayed silent for a while. Something heavy was forming at my throat by just saying that. I swallowed hard.

"When did this happen?" I could see the smile he was trying to hide on his face. He obviously didn't want to hurt my feelings. Failed.

"A few days ago. But everything was already going wrong before that. It was a breakup in progress." I tried to sound unaffected.

"Why?"

I sighed.

"We realized it wasn't working out. I got feed up of being the girl in the corner and he couldn't offer more that this affair." I breathed. "So we ended it."

I refrained from telling him the whole story. I can't even talk about that mess without crying. If William found out about how Adrian humiliated me, he may fail to contain his anger. Who knows how many people he showed that picture to. Adrian's whole group of friends probably know about it. So I shut up.

"I'm just glad you eventually realised that wasn't how you were to be treated. You deserve to be more than just a hidden package." He spoke truthfully. "James was a mistake. And I'm happy you're correcting it. It's about damn time."

"Then why am I so miserable?" I held back the tears.

"You where much more miserable before." He stated. "You just never wanted to admit it to yourself."

Seeing James and Merissa in campus was hell on earth, but I rather that than losing him all together.

I know he's right. Everyday waking up side by side with James only for him to leave to someone else was pure torture.

"It will get better than this. I promise." He placed his arm around me.

"You'll get through all that. And who knows, may be this guy Callum could show you more than just a good time. You may end up finding reciprocated love and not just a one end invisible string."

I placed my head on his shoulder.

"So how did you and Callum meet?"

I rather not say.

"In campus. He's a sophomore here."

He turned to look at me.

"What's his last name?"

If I let William that Callum is infact Callum Stevenson who so happens to be James's childhood friend that everyone knows about, then he will surely discourage this before getting to know Callum. And Callum is a really nice guy.

"I think it's Callum Harper." I lied. "Yap, that's his last name."

"Oh! Okay. Then have fun on you're little date." He grinned at me seeming to really love the idea of me hanging out with someone other than "the one who shall not be named"

"It not a date." I reminded. "We're friends."

"Not for long." He winked at me.

____________