Dull December.

I looked into his eyes and he looked into mine, and it seemed as though time had stopped.

***

I'm so sorry guys, I also wish that could happen.

Presently, I'm just looking at the elevator lights, and it's doing its job of taking us up.

Sorry for getting your hopes up.

Finally, the Elevator stopped and we got out.

I could see different people and rows of clothes on hangers.

There was also a long queue in front of the trial room.

"Isn't there any other floor? This floor seems crowded." I said, looking around at all the people.

"Every other floor is crowded." He said, without even looking at me.

I tried hard to catch up with his long strides, but he didn't even look as if he was intending to slow down.

"And how do you know that?" I asked, still trying to catch up with him.

"I come here every time and that's why we're not using this floor, we're using the VIP floor." He said, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Oh…" I said, marveling at his cool.

"What was it you wanted to tell me?" He said, and suddenly stopped, turning to me.

"Oh that? It… it was a lie to get you to walk." I said, as a little smile appeared at the corner of my lips.

"You're unbelievable." He said, and I didn't bother looking at him.

"I know right?" I replied, smiling like a fool.

"It's not a compliment." He added scathingly.

"It is." I insisted, and he rolled his eyes, and pressed the button of the elevator next to us.

We stepped in, and he looked at my shoes.

"Wow, I really love your shoes. You should give me tips on the new shoe trend." he said, sarcastically with a raised brow, and I shifted uncomfortably, trying to make my feet look smaller.

"Don't tease me." I said, clearing my throat, and he reviewed me.

"How could you dress this way? It's totally…"

"Cute." I interrupted, and he scoffed.

"If you say so. I'm really not about to argue with you. I just wonder who put the impression on you that whatever you do is cute." He said, rolling his eyes, and I turned to him.

"It's Chris." I replied, with my chin up.

"To Chris, every girl is cute." he said, without bothering to look at me.

"Not only Chris, Peter too." I said, dipping my hands in my pockets, so I would feel intimidated.

"I wouldn't say Peter's lying, but should I tell you the truth?" He asked, and turned to me with a lazy smile on his face.

"What truth?"

"You're not cute all the time. Some days you look so cute, and the guys can't stop smiling, but some other days, you look like the normal plain Jane.

"You know what I mean? Not ugly, but close to ugly?" He said, looking at me like it was something everyone knew.

The rude jerk!

"But you do know you have to watch the way you dress, uh? Archville's not ashamed to point out weirdos, and make fun of them.

"If you think you're cute… You should… dress cute… All the time." He said, pausing in his sentence to look at me from my head to my toes once more.

His words, and look, brutally killed me, but he was right.

People don't look pretty all the time.

Girls are pretty, but seem prettier on other days.

The only fault in his sentence was the word 'Ugly'

"When have I been super cute?" I asked, and he scoffed.

"Why ask me?" He asked, without looking at me.

"Because… Well, I want the truth, and you always say the truth." I said, moving to stand in front of him.

"I didn't say the other guys told you lies." He said, staring at me straight in the eye.

"I know, but they're not heartbreakers like you." I said, unable to keep the eye contact for long.

"Woah. All of them are bad heartbreakers."

"But you're the worst, aren't you?"

"Who told you that?"

"Someone…"

"I'm definitely not the worst but… You know, I can't say my way isn't brutal, it actually depends on the type of girl.

"I'm harshest when breaking up with a clingy girl." He said, with a slight smile that made me feel he was referring to me as clingy.

"That's harsh. Now tell me, when have I been super cute?"

"Hmm, yesterday in poppy's clothes." He said, flatly.

That was the wine gym shorts and cropped hoodie. I noted.

"The other day I took your head warmer."

What outfit was I on? I couldn't recall.

"Haven't you wondered if there was a time you looked beautiful instead of cute?" He asked, raising a brow, and I tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Which is better?" I asked, sheepishly.

"Beautiful of course." He said, like it was something even babies knew.

"Why?"

"Guys like to be around cute girls, it makes them feel cool, but being around beautiful girls, takes them off their rocker." He said, leaning against the walls of the elevator.

"Off their rocker. Harsh English. So, tell me. Has there been a time when I looked beautiful!?" I asked, and he bent to my height, close to my ear.

"Not telling you." He whispered, and I giggled.

"Hey! Come on!" I said happily, then the elevator opened and two men in black suits stopped us.

"Your VIP card." One said, in a robotic voice.

"Butt out, it's at home." Freddie replied, and made to walk past, but the second man in a suit stopped him.

"Get your hands off me." He said, in a cold voice that seemed to creep up my spine, even though it wasn't directed at me.

The man took his hands off immediately, but still looker like he wasn't ready to let Freddie in.

Freddie, on the other hand, didn't seem to care about whatever the man thought.

"Oh jeez! Shouldn't you guys know Freddie by now?" A lady came smiling in a white suit with shoulder-length blonde hair.

She was beautiful!

"Oh come in darling." she said, and he hugged her.

"Hey Ruby." He said, with a little smile.

"It's been long since you came." She said, staring at him in admiration.

"You guys filled up my wardrobe already, so I'll have to throw some out before coming again, won't I?" He said, touching a pretty hairpin on her hair.

"Oh just buy another wardrobe." she said, and they laughed while I smiled.

"And who's this?" She said, with that pretty smile.

"Poppy's friend." He replied, and she raised a brow.

"No." he added, as though she had called me his mum.

Ruby smiled.

"She looks cute." she complimented, and I shifted trying to hide my shoes.

I noticed there were only a few people present, and most of them seemed to stare at Freddie a lot.

Then, three giggling girls went out with full shopping bags each. They stared at us, whispering, and I wondered what they had been saying.

I, and Freddie, followed Ruby towards the clothing racks.

"Pick your choice." Freddie said, and I moved round the rows of clothing racks with signs at intervals.

**GOWNS**

**LONG GOWNS**

**SHORT GOWNS**

I looked at the display of short gowns and decided to stop there.

I saw a pretty, armless, black gown that had a leather belt at the waist with a lovely gem at the middle.

Nah.

Then a mannequin in a short, tight gown that had only a long-sleeved arm.

Then I saw a hot pink hoodie gown.

I smiled, and took it… I couldn't let it go.

Then I continued to search until I came to the jeans section.

"Wow." I exclaimed softly as every jean took my eye.

I picked without stopping. The jean collection in my hands consisted of crazy jeans, bum shorts, studded jeans, overall shorts, jean jumpsuits….

It was a never-ending collection of jeans.

After picking jean clothing to my satisfaction, I found some extra-large tops that suited my style.

"Um, Pissie right?" Ruby asked, and I knew it was none other than Freddie who gave her the wrong name.

"Yeah?" I answered regardless.

"Freddie says you should try one out… he's bored." she said, with a smile.

"Why would I? Why would he?.." I started to say, but realized I liked the idea.

I took the clothes into the changing room, and met two girls, who were also trying out their outfits.

I looked into the large, full-sized mirror and took off my clothes.

"Which looks cooler?" I asked myself as I rummaged through the bundle of clothes I had picked.

I took out slightly ripped black bum shorts and a large, plain white T-shirt, and wore it with a side tuck instead of a full tuck.

I looked at myself in the mirror and then packed my hair into a rough doughnut.

"I think this looks classy." I said, trying out different poses in the mirror.

Then I went out to meet him.

"How's this?" I asked, holding up two fingers, and he checked me out, then gave a single nod.

What?

JUST A NOD!?

I stormed back to the trial room, and began picking clothes in a frenzy.

Although I knew he wasn't going to say anything, but I expected to see a thing in his eyes.

Maybe like… 'Wow. This looks really good on her.'

"Idiot!" I heard myself say, without intending to.

"Is the idiot supposed to be me?" I suddenly heard him say.

I turned around and saw him leaning against your door.

"Uh… nope." I said, picking up my bundle of clothes.

"Then who?" He probed, and I moistened my lips.

"A… a… a song." I said, as soon as I found the words. "What are you doing here, anyway? What if I was changing?" I asked, and he rolled his eyes.

"You just came in. I don't think you'd be capable of taking off your clothes that fast, and the other ladies left earlier." He said, and I walked past him out of the trial room.

He followed me as I walked through the columns of clothing racks, and stopped me in front of some cropped hoodies.

"Since you don't know how to dress. I'm letting you know these are trending." he said, throwing some of them onto my pile of clothes, without even asking.

" I think…" I was saying, but he didn't even listen.

"For someone like you who has such low tastes in fashion…" He said, throwing short jean skirts onto the pile in my hands.

He didn't stop there. He kept on throwing different types of skirts ad though he was trying to tell me to wear more skirts.

But I didn't stop him because he didn't know he was picking the kind of clothes that attracted him to girls.

Maybe if I wore them, then…

After that, he picked shoes, pushing all sorts on me.

Sneakers, heels, flat shoes…

It was a never-ending saga of him dumping things on me.

It got to a time that I had to tilt my head to the side to see what he was doing.

"Excuse me! Why wasn't I given a cart!?" I asked, in frustration.

"You never asked." He said, simply, and reached out to a cart, sending it my way.

I dumped the hangers of clothes in and sighed, only for him to pick out large-sized shirts.

"My dad doesn't accept gifts." I said, wondering why he'd buy shirts for my dad.

"They're not for your dad, they're for you." He said, and I choked on my spit.

"Me?" I asked.

There was something about the way he said, 'They're for you.'

It sounded lovely.

"What should I wear them on? Aren't they too big?" I asked, and he turned to me, staring at me like I was an alien.

"High-waisted jeans. You can't tie them at your navel or do French tucks, and side tucks. They also look good on denim shorts. They're also great for photoshoots."

He said, and I nodded in exhaustion.

After picking countless clothes that took up Nine shopping bags, I changed back into my light gray hoodie and boyfriend jeans.

It was then I remembered I was still wearing those horrible mismatched shoes.

I searched for my head warmer but couldn't find it, and gave up because Freddie, who seemed to like head warmers could have taken it.

I walked sluggishly to the sofa, sat on it, and waited as he made payments.

Then all of a sudden, I saw him walking fast towards me with my lost head warmer in his hands.

He picked up white sneakers on the shoe rack and ran to me.

What was wrong with him?

Then he bent in front of me.

"You know how to act right?" He asked, and I immediately closed my open mouth.

"Y… yeah… Yeah, why?" I asked, still staring at him.

"Just go with the flow. Do me a favor will you? I think I've been really nice to you today." He said, and I nodded.

"Okay." I replied, still uncertain of what he was going on about.

He looked at my shoes for a long time before he finally looked up at me and smiled.

Woah.

It was a warm smile, that made me feel like jelly.

He took off my mismatched shoes gently, and brought out white fluffy socks.

He helped me wear the socks, and his hands were warm compared to my cold feet.

Then he put on the chunky white sneakers, and they felt so warm. I hadn't even realized how cold I was.

"Is it nice?" He asked, in a gentle way that was so unlike him.

I nodded and blushed.

Then he took off the scarf around his neck, and slowly wrapped it around mine in a loving way.

I kept on staring at him, unable to take my eyes off.

I could smell his hair already, and fell in love with the cream he used for it.

Then he let my hair down and placed the head warmer on my head nicely, making sure my ears were covered.

All the while, I remained frozen in shock at his sudden gentleness. I liked it so much, I didn't want it to stop…

Him being that way made my heart grow wings and flutter like a butterfly.

He smoothened my hair, then bent and placed a light peck on my cheek.

I was shocked at that.

My face went hot despite the cold, and I was lost in space as he held my hand, tugging gently.

I stood up, and he took all the shopping bags from me with his other hand.

I liked the way he held my hand gently, and I followed him, sure I already looked like a tomato.

He took the stairs this time, and I wondered why.

We went down the stairs and after reaching the bottom floor, which felt like only minutes to me, he walked quickly and we exited Desires.

Cold air washed over my face, then he took the left and stopped at a corner.

He stood in front of me, cornering me, and all I could see was his chest.

I looked up and saw his lips, though he wasn't looking at me, then when I tried to look, I saw a girl in all white wearing glasses.

And when she pulled them off, she was unmistakably the girl in the picture on the wall of Freddie's room.

The moment she entered a car, and drove away, Freddie sighed and looked at me.

He seemed shocked by my dazed expression, and clicked his tongue.

Then, he dumped all the bags on me, and I had to act real fast to grab them all before his hands left them.

"Hey! You can't do that!" I said, still trying to hold on to them properly.

"Yeah I can." he said, walking away, with his hands in his pockets.

I finally took hold of the bags properly, and went after him.

"You picked all these, not me. Shouldn't the least you could do is at least hold some?" I said, as I caught up with him.

"They're for you. Why should I care?" He asked, without even stopping to glance at me.

"I just did you a favor!" I exclaimed, as the bags felt too heavy for me.

"In exchange for letting you stare at me all you want." He said, and I scoffed.

"I'm hungry!" I replied, since I couldn't find something else to counter his words.

"Do I look like food?" He said, with a chuckle.

"The credit card… I'm hungry." I said, pouting.

"The only restaurant around here is a Korean restaurant, and they…"

"I'm fine with that." I said, cutting him off.

<<<

We ended up ordering, and eating spicy Korean noodles, and I almost regretted ordering it.

"Freddie…" I called, and paused with my mouth open to get cool air.

"Seems like it's the first time you're calling my name, I haven't heard it from you." He said, using his fork to play around with the noodles.

"Well… Probably. But hey, I was about to say… Let's play a little game. The first to finish these noodles without drinking water gets a wish."

"A wish. What would I do with a wish?" He asked, rolling his eyes, as was his usual habit.

"I could be your slave for a week." I said immediately, and he looked at me with a glow in his eyes.

"That sounds cool. You'll hold my bag around, and tell nobody about this. You'll also write my notes and assignments…"

*I haven't even finished mine yet.* I thought.

I had to win so as not to fall into my trap.

"Isn't that too easy?" He said, looking at the noodles.

"Try it first." I replied, and gripped my fork hard.

" 3… 2… 1... start!" I said, and took a forkful.

I had taken a spoonful of the soup earlier, and it was hellish.

The hot billowing steam did nothing to assure me of it being less spicy.

I looked at him, and saw he had taken only a little quantity of the noodles on his fork.

I wondered how he wanted to win, if he was going to eat as slow as that.

We both put it in our mouths, and I danced on my chair. It was more than peppery… it was too spicy!

I wondered how Asians put up with such spiciness.

I looked at him and almost laughed.

He was clearly trying to pretend he was fine, then he looked around…

"No water." I reminded him with a smile.

"What? No water? Well… it's fine." He said, with his gaze going back to the devilishly red noodles.

"It's too spicy?" I teased, and he scoffed.

"No it's not… it's just fine." He said, rolling the noodles with his fork.

He put the fork into his mouth, and sucked in air.

I laughed, and took another big forkful into my mouth.

I didn't stop, I kept on eating without stopping until it really felt like my tongue was going to cut into two.

My gaze went to Freddie, who was trying to eat quickly. He noticed me watching, and looked up at me.

Oh, my! His eyes were watering already.

I bubbled up in laughter, and Yikes! The pepper ran up my nose, and I'm pretty sure it went the wrong way down my throat too.

I closed my eyes tight, and started to cough.

"Pass the bottle!" I croaked, as water filled my eyes.

"You said no water." He said, and I was shocked at how he could still insist on that rule even with me coughing non-stop.

I coughed some more, but Freddie didn't hand me any water, he just sat there trying to finish his noodles while I continued to cough.

After the tough round of coughing, I looked at the noodles.

My tongue was being fried. I couldn't take it anymore, but still, I took another forkful and my eyes watered until the extent water spilled from them.

He looked at me and his laughter was so sudden.

He hit the table, still laughing, and pointed to my face.

I was shocked. Freddie had never laughed with me before. He only smirked, but laugh like this?

Aaaaaah!

A smile lit my face as I watched him.

"Regretting your idea?" He asked, and I shook my head.

"N…no!" I said, and pushed another forkful of noodles into my mouth.

So hot, they burnt my lips.

"I'm almost done." he said, with a smile.

"Hmm?" I looked into his bowl, and saw it was still half filled.

Although mine was nowhere near half, his couldn't be considered 'almost done.'

"You're not almost done." I retorted, pointing at his bowl.

"Oh? I'll show you." He said, and started taking rapid forkfuls.

After a minute of watching him eat, he looked up, and sucked in air.

A tear fell unexpectedly out of his eyes, and it was my turn to giggle.

"When last did you cry?" I asked, him still giggling.

"That should be last year." he said and sighed.

Then he looked at the noodles and stood to his feet, pacing.

I understood the burning sensation his tongue was probably dealing with, and he couldn't sacrifice his pride by admitting defeat.

I stood up and led him to a standing fan close to us.

"Say ah." I said, and he stared at me like I was insane.

"Why would I do that?" He asked, jerking his hand out of mine.

I put out my tongue and let the fan blow on it.

It wasn't helping at all, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Freddie doing it.

He didn't stick out his tongue, but left his mouth open a little, and he looked so cute, and I did something I'd never have done in a million years.

I pecked him! I pecked Freddie!

Immediately, I did so, I turned back, and went back to our seat as though I weren't the girl who just pecked him.

When he sat in front of me, he stared at me with those fiery green eyes, but I didn't bother looking at him.

"Don't talk about it." I said, putting more noodles into my mouth.

"Why shouldn't I talk about it when my cheeks are burning?"

"Why would… Oh, my! You're blushing!?" I asked, in shock, and gave me that same look that let me know he was thinking I had gone crazy.

"You're eating something, hot and spicy, yet you pecked my cheek. They're bound to burn. Even an elementary schooler knows that."

" Oh… well, you pecked me first, so I returned it." I said, acting like it didn't matter.

"Don't expect me to believe that

" he said, looking at his noodles.

"I'm almost done." He added, and I looked at his noodles.

He was truly almost done.

Then he smiled.

"Don't you worry, my assignments aren't too hard. You'll only get smarter." he said, with that teasing smile.

"I'm going to win. You just watch." I retorted, then raised my noodle bowl to my lips and gulped down the water.

My tongue cried for help, but I didn't stop until I was done.

I saw him trying to eat quickly and aww, he looked so cute, but my noodles had lost all their water, and they were less hot.

I gobbled up the whole thing, in minutes, and dropped the bowl, sniffing with my face wet, and sticky from my tears.

"I… I… I won, you idiot! I won!" I exclaimed, tapping my table lightly with my bowl while flashing my best smile at him.

"What?" He took my bowl and stared at it non-stop.

"How…" He asked, and I looked at his noodles still swimming in water.

"You owe me one wish." I said, smiling.

"What's it?" He asked, pushing away his bowl of noodles, and wiping his lips with the serviette.

"I don't know yet. I'll have to think of it." I said, trying to think of what I wanted from him.

"Okay." He said, taking the bottle of water.

When we left the restaurant, it was evening already, and the wind was blowing gently.

I liked the feeling it gave me.

The both of us, hands in our pockets, walking slowly.

After walking for a while, a black car drove up to us.

"I was wondering where my sweet driver went." He said, dusting his clothes.

The backseat door opened, and the girl on Freddie's wall came out wearing a short black skirt and a black top with a furry jacket over it.

The wind blew her hair across her face gently, and Freddie's expression changed to something I couldn't fathom.

"Freddie." She called, and I could tell they had history.

"Hey summer." he said, taking my hand, as he turned to leave.

"Wait! Please! Just wait…" She called with desperation in her voice.

He stopped, and I couldn't explain, but I wished he didn't.

He turned to her, and so did I.

"Can I talk to you?" She asked, softly.

"No…" He said, and she looked at me.

I blinked uncomfortably, and tears shone in her eyes.

"I'm coming to Archville next year." She said, and Freddie scoffed.

"Don't come back. I don't want you near me." He replied, coldly.

I looked at the girl's feet.

She was wearing heels and her toes were all red from the cold.

"Freddie…" She called, in a hurt voice.

"You shouldn't let her misunderstand." he said, pointing to me.

"She's not going to misunderstand anything." She said, then turned to me.

"Hi, I'm Summer, and I'm Freddie's…"

"Shut the hell up." Freddie said, cutting her sentence short.

"Don't be this way. Don't treat me like you treat other girls!" She suddenly said, and tears fell down her cheeks.

She looked like she really wanted to break down and cry out, but I guessed she was holding the bit she could.

She looked innocent. Nothing like those other girls, and I became jealous.

"Why shouldn't I? I shouldn't be talking to you right now because you make me sick. Stop being so clingy Summer, it's so unlike you." he said, and tugged on my arm as he turned away.

Then, when we got to the bus stop, I sat him on the bench.

"Wait here." I said, and he didn't say a word.

I ran back to the girl who was still standing there, staring at us.

"Hey." she said, softly.

"Hi." I said, then took off my shoes, and bent down in front of her.

"Aren't those the shoes Freddie bought for you?" She asked, looking at them.

"They are. But your feet are cold. They'll go numb." I said, looking up at her.

"Oh never mind. I'm… I'm fine." She said, glancing at the bench on which Freddie sat, not too far from us.

"I insist." I said, and she looked down at me, for a while.

"Thank you. I'm… I'm accepting them not because I'm cold, but because they would remind me of Freddie." She said, with a sad look.

"You really like him, don't you?" I said, with no idea as to why I said it.

"Yeah." she said, then added. "Do you like him too?"

"Yeah, but I'm not resenting you for it." I said, and she sat in her car, and pulled off her heels.

Jeez, her feet were cold.

Had she been walking around all day with those?

I fitted the sneakers into her feet, and luckily, they were the right size.

"Wow… They're comfy and so warm." she said, smiling, as she studied them.

"Don't wear heels when it's cold outside. It's not okay." I said, rising to my feet, and left.

"Hey!" She called, and I turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, and what's your name?"

"Pris… Priscilla." I said, and she smiled.

"Nice name. I'm Summer." She replied, and I smiled in return.

"Nice name too, Summer" I said, and ran back to Freddie, barefoot.

Luckily, he hadn't decided to leave without me.

He stood up, and I picked up all the bags.

"Where did you put my mismatched shoes?" I asked, a little ashamed at my thoughtlessness.

"What do you need them for?"

"Um…" I said, but saw him look down at my feet.

"You gave her those shoes??" He asked, in alarm.

"Uh… yeah." I said, starting to hate the change in the atmosphere.

"Do you know how much they cost?" He attacked, and I blinked.

"But it's your mum's credit card."

"Why would you give them to her? Why would you talk to her? Do you know her? Why do you have to meddle? Why do you have to be so annoying? It's not…" He was saying, but I hugged him.

My face was already squeezed up since I was about to cry.

"Don't shout at me. Don't get mad. You were already so nice today, don't change that." I said with a little sniff.

He tried to push me away, but I didn't let go.

"Get your hands off me." He said, still trying to push me away, but I was rather firm.

"No! I don't like it when people get mad at me!" I said, and Summer's car passed by.

I was sure she'd have looked and seen us, but that didn't matter.

I stood there for some minutes, refusing to leave Freddie, and it seemed like his temper abated minutes after Summer's car went past.

Then, I heard him sigh.

"Aren't you cold?" He asked, flatly.

"Uh?" I asked, finally releasing him.

"Your feet." He said, looking at my bare feet.

"Not cold, it's icy." I said, and he stared at me.

"Do you cry whenever someone yells at you? Tsk, I don't think I could ever like you." he said, giving me a flat look.

Then he turned around, and bent.

"What?" I asked, and he sighed.

"The shoes are far too deep in the bag, and the sky's dark already, so get on. Your house is the next block, right?"

"Yes." I said, with a smile.

I got on his back, and he lifted me up.

A little sigh escaped me as it was so warm, and I was exhausted.

He took some shopping bags from me, and started to walk.

Freddie was caring.

He just didn't' like to show it.

*Don't be this way. Don't treat me like you treat other girls.* I remembered when Summer said that.

It meant there was a time he treated her specially, and let her in his inner space.

I sighed again as I really wanted to be close to him, just like she probably was.

I rested my head on his shoulder, and I felt safe and happy.

Who knew how things would turn out? He was most likely going to be my first boyfriend.

At my doorstep, he dropped all the bags abruptly, and turned away, waving without looking at me.

"Thanks for making my day." I said, with a smile, as I watched him leave.

"You're not welcome." he replied, taking out his phone.

I giggled, and watched until he was out of sight before walking into the house.

The moment I got to the living room, Mera left the window side.

"Are you seeing Freddie?" Mera asked, with awe on her face.

"Nope." I said, immediately, dropping the bags.

"He piggybacked you home." She said, with a teasing smile.

"That was because I gave my shoes out." I said, immediately, and her gaze went to the shopping bags I had placed on the floor.

"Woah, you guys also went shopping?" She asked with large eyes.

"No, it was a competition I won with his mum, so the reward was to have her credit card for a day. That was why we went shopping." I said, and she stared at me for a while, before nodding.

"Well, I'll believe you." She said.

"I'll be going off to bed." Val yawned, and stretched as she stood from the sofa.

"Oh, my project!" I said, suddenly remembering it.

Even though the sky had gotten dark, I still dashed out of the house to take a cab to Freddie's house even after dumping the clothes in my room, and putting on new sneakers.

<<<

But, I was disappointed…

Freddie wasn't home and when I asked Poppy, she said he called, telling her he was going to stay at Shawn's.

Even Bianca wasn't around. It was just another boring session with Poppy and Carrie.

<<<

The next day at school, I sat in the library doing my assignments, which wasn't so smooth as I was trying hard to concentrate unsuccessfully.

The shopping with Freddie was still on my mind.

I had just realized that Summer was the reason he had suddenly become so nice, and caring, wearing me shoes and doing all that.

He had seen her at the boutique.

I looked at my outfit once more, and wondered if it looked cool.

Ripped jeans, a white T-shirt, a brown jacket with furry collars, and one of the sneakers I had gotten the previous day.

Was it dashing enough? Or the colors were too dull?

I wanted to look dashing every time I met with Freddie.

Finally, my hard work paid off because my essay of 1000 words was staring right at me in the face with extra large handwriting.

I still had some minutes left in the break hour, so I went to the high school to see Mike.

I called him out to the bench where we always sat, then I sat waiting for him, and not long, he was with me.

"Hey." He said, and I smiled.

"Hi, how was Whitney's cute acting yesterday?" I asked him.

"Weird, and too annoying." He said, and I let out a little gasp.

"Why?" I asked, in surprise.

"She was too clingy… and too… I don't know. I ran away." He said, casually.

"What!?" I asked, wondering how Whitney would have felt.

"I told her my teacher called for me because I got a D in my project." he said, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"She took your clothes, right?" He asked, and I nodded sheepishly.

"Yeah." I replied, and giggled.

"Don't do that again." He said, and I smiled.

"Alright I won't. By the way, you seem dull today." I said, noticing he wasn't as bubbly as he was on other days.

"Yeah, I'm not really in a good mood." He said, and I raised my brows.

"Why?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"I just don't feel the urge to talk, I don't feel like coming to school. I… I just don't want to do anything." He said, looking at his hands.

"Is it your mum?" I asked, in a softer tone.

"I don't think so… I think I'm just getting tired of it all. Last night, I thought of running away." He said, and there was so much sadness in his voice that it felt like a weight on my chest.

"Don't do that, Mike!" I said, and he gave a little smile.

"Have you experienced been so empty, you don't know what to do, and you just wished everyone around you would just buzz off?" He asked, still staring at his fingers.

"No." I said, softly.

"It started when I got home, I just got sick of everything."

"Why didn't you call? I told you if you ever felt that way or if you felt depressed, you should put a call through to me." I said, feeling a bit guilty that I had been having fun not knowing he had been seriously down.

"I'm sorry." He said, and I took his hand.

"Do you want to go somewhere more quiet?" I asked, and he nodded, so I took him to the library.

"Are you still feeling blue?" I asked, after a while of sitting.

"A little... I think I'll just fall asleep here, okay?" He said, laying his head on the carrel desk.

"Okay… I'll be here." I said, watching him.

<<<

Mike's mood didn't improve over the following weeks.

Freddie had not been going to his house, and I managed a twenty-four in my homework with the rabbit.

Carrie got really fat, but I couldn't write a fully detailed essay on how I nursed her back to health.

For her being back to good health, I got twenty marks and for my essay, I got four.

Mike started skipping school, and I wondered what was really up with him.

Twice, I saw his eyes watering, but he wouldn't tell me what was wrong with him, and I was slowly getting busier.

I had finished all the knitting for Peter, and he was grateful.

He wanted to spend some time with me, but I had to turn him down because I had become too busy.

The dance team also called me back to dance practice because they couldn't afford to be one member short, and I tried to be on my best behavior even though I didn't want to.

Val had also been having mood swings, and Mera had been going out a lot lately.

When I asked Chris, he said she probably got a new boyfriend.

"December. Why'd you come with so much gloom?" I asked myself as I watched it snow from the class.

The snow was always heavy, and each time I went to school, my knee-high boots were always white while my head warmers were always coated in snow.

My nose wasn't left out, it was always pink and my lips hurt.

Anytime anyone spoke, a cloud of white mist came out from their mouths. It was really a cold month, and I made sure I always had thick coats around me to keep me warm.

<<<

Dance class had just finished and I, Whitney, Yvonne, and Zenith were walking down the field.

"I don't like Maine, she's gives partial treatment." Yvonne said, with a pout.

"Kinda." Zenith supported as she rubbed her fingers repeatedly.

"And she attaches her feelings to dance. When she's angry, she dances with it." Whitney added as she chewed on a chocolate bar.

"I didn't know she did that… I thought she was just strict." I said, innocently, staring at them.

"So, you'll tell me you didn't know Maine kicked you out because she thought you were going out with Peter?" Yvonne asked, my eyes became twice their size.

"Peter?" I asked, wondering if it was the Peter I knew.

"Yeah. You guys did a shoot for a book cover, and she saw the book. She got really jealous, and tried to find stuff she could use against you but failed, so that day was her chance." Whitney explained, as she continued to chew.

"What the…?" I exclaimed, as I found it hard to believe she was as immature as that.

<<<

Dance practice became more intense.

Our outfit had been given to us, and it was quite fancy.

I consisted of green overall shorts with white stars fixed all around it, then a red hoodie with only one long-sleeved arm.

We were to wear long net stockings, and jewelry with red, and green.

It was going to be the first time I would be performing on stage, and I was excited.

December seemed really dull.

All the guys around me seemed to have vanished, and I saw Freddie only twice a week if I was lucky.

That was whenever we went to the high school for Biology. Occasionally, I'd get lucky to see him passing by.

Peter seemed to have travelled again, Chris was spending more time in his room, and Mike was becoming gloomier…

They had all left…

<<<

On Christmas Eve, we all went to school at night to decorate the school.

I was to decorate the teacher's office.

I had everything with me. The tree, balls, Christmas lights, holly, mistletoe and every other thing, and was putting it up when Peter came in.

"Hey." he said.

"Hi… Want to help?" I asked, as it seemed like he had come to stay.

"Yeah sure." He answered, and came to my side.

"Do you know what's going on with Mike?" I asked, trying to hand the Christmas lights on the wall, and he laughed.

"I bet he's about to do something stupid, and can't bring himself to do it, so he's going back into his shell." he said, casually, and I stopped.

"Is that how he does?" I asked, forgetting about the Christmas lights I was trying to hang.

"Yeah. I still remember when he ran away while we were still in middle school. He behaved exactly like this." He sang, taking more Christmas lights to hang on the other side of the wall.

"What??" I asked, in shock, and he turned to me.

Mike had run away before?

What if he tried to do it again?

"Do you know the way to his house?" I asked, and he paused.

"You want to go there?"

"Sure. Yes, I have to check on him." I said, and he dropped the Christmas lights.

"Should I take you?" He asked, and I nodded, jumping down from the chair I had climbed.

"I'll come back for the decorations." I said, and we walked out of the office.

"You guys seem really close." He commented as I closed the door behind us.

"We're really close." I said, and could see he wanted to say something but decided not to.

Instead, he said. "Let's hurry, so we can be back in time."

<<<

We got to Mike's house and I marveled at the mansion.

Was every guy in Archville that rich. None of them seemed to live in normal houses.

"I'll wait here." Peter said, and I nodded.

I went to the security man, and explained who I was to Mike. I also showed him a photo of us together, and the large gates were swung open, and I was directed to the front door.

I rang the doorbell, and his sister opened it.

"Oh!" She said, in recognition. She had probably seen me on Mike's phone because I didn't know where she could have recognized me from.

"Here for Michael?" She asked, and I nodded.

"Come in." She said, and I stepped in.

His house was gorgeous, but I was too worried to look around.

She led me to his door, and left.

I knocked, but there was no reply, and after a few knocks, I opened it, and saw it was empty.

I walked in, and looked around. It was quiet, and didn't look like someone occupied it.

I opened his wardrobe, but his clothes were gone… everything was empty.

"Has… has… has he gone???"