17

Kárri found herself sitting at the tables outside the cafeteria during her free hour. The September wind was picking up and she shivered against little breeze. She chose to sit at the far back because it gave her some sense of privacy and a little bit of warmth. Some students were busy typing what she could only assume were assignments, while some seemed relaxed, waiting for their next class the same way she was.

She was texting her brother talking about a test he had written when suddenly the chair alongside her was pulled back and a familiar girl with black braids sank in, her head immediately falling on the table. Kárri was visibly taken aback but remained quiet, finishing her text.

Just as she was contemplating whether she should ignore or ask what the matter is, the chair opposite her was pulled back in the same manner, but this time a masculine body sank in. He and Kárri locked eyes and she wondered if she should greet him first.

"Cut it out, Sage," he said suddenly, breaking the staring contest as he shot a glare to the girl.

"Let me be sad and miserable," her muffled voice responded.

"Fine. Five more minutes of self-pity." His eyes went back to Kárri and she wondered how he was under her nose this entire time. They stared at each other for the longest time, aware of the tension between them.

"That lecturer hates me," Sage finally said, lifting her head up and tossing her braids back.

Thank goodness, Kárri thought as she could finally focus her attention on Sage. He seemed to have been looking right into her soul. She'd be damned if she admitted she liked it.

"Learn to take your Ls gracefully," he said, smirking while his eyes raked over Kárri's chest. She immediately regretted wearing a fishnet halter tank top.

"I would if they were just," Sage protested.

"What are you guys going on about?" Kárri finally broke her silence, looking from him to the girl as she took a drink of her water.

"Bro, the Calculus lecturer gave me a 48 percent for my test."

Kárri nodded understandingly. It was an unscheduled test and they all performed weakly, their lecturer had remarked, saying 97% of the class got below 50%. Meaning only 6 out of 200 students in their class passed the test.

"If it makes you feel any better, I got 49."

"And she's taking it like a champ," he said, pointing a finger at Sage.

"And how much did you get?" Kárri asked, turning to face him.

"Sixty-nine."

Kárri's nose creased up at how nonchalantly he said it. "Perhaps if you had performed like most of us, you'd have understood that it was not easy."

"I took the module in high school, sweetheart," he said briefly.

"I think what he meant to say it that he took an introduction class to the module in high school. It was offered as a means to prepare students for their first year."

If she seemed to know about what he took in high school, then chances are that they could be from the same high school. If they are from the same high school, then she could have also taken those classes. "And you didn't take it?" Kárri asked curiously.

She saw Sage's face fall and she hesitated to give an answer. But before Kárri could say anything, Sage changed the topic. "My goodness, silly me. I didn't introduce you two!" She facepalmed, chuckling lightly.

No need to, Kárri resisted the urge to comment.

"Max, meet Kárri, my friend from Calculus, Computer Generated Images, Computer Aided Drafting and Visualisation, and Integrated Landscape Design Studio," she said, slightly touching Kárri's shoulder as she spoke, making Kárri briefly glance on the hand. She had to appreciate Sage's matte black manicured nails.

"Oh, we also have Introduction to Linguistics together," Sage beamed, making Kárri nod while wondering how she hadn't paid much attention to which classes she shared with Sage.

"Kárri, meet Max, my supposed best friend," she said, before making a whispering gesture, "although he's a headache incarnate." Kárri giggled, shaking Max's hand which was outstretched for her to take. It was cold and firm. They all feel into an easy conversation, and Kárri was even pleased to find out that the two lived in the same dorm room.

"How did you guys manage to pull that off?"

"Well, the female dorms were full and the room I got assigned to was the last of the guys'," he said, expecting Kárri to put two and two.

"You should come over to our room some time," Sage said, again resting her hand on Kárri's arm. Kárri noticed it but didn't say anything. She was probably a very touchy and affectionate person. Sage glanced at Max and saw that his pupils had dilated, much to Kárri's oblivion.

"I don't think that would be such a good idea," Max said, narrowing his eyes at Sage.

"And why not?" Sage questioned, acting oblivious.

"I really do not want to cause any trouble," Kárri said, looking between the two who seemed to have an argument with just their eyes. Her hand instinctively reached for her water bottle and she took another big gulp. She was feeling more dehydrated than ever even though she was constantly taking in liquids.

Sage turned to her, her smile wide. "You won't be. You'll be on my side of the room."

Max grunted, intending on kicking Sage's chin underneath the table. Kárri yelped, immediately rubbing the spot he kicked her with his boots. When he realized he kicked the wrong person, he immediately rushed to her side.

"I'm so sorry. I intended to kick Sage," he said quickly, rubbing the bump on her leg.

"It's okay," she chuckled weakly as she tried to pry his hands off her leg, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. It was already turning pink.

"Let's go to my room, I have some ice," he said, taking her bag and holding her chair . She got up at the same time Sage did.

"Where are we going?" Sage asked with a stifled giggle. Max just rolled his eyes at her. The place has quickly become filled with students and she was bumping a few shoulders on her way out.

She didn't see the blonde girl with a sizzling hot cup of coffee walk in her direction since she was focused on catching up with the other two. It hurt badly but she didn't want to seem weak so she told him it was okay. She saw their heads turned to each other as they bickered over something.

"Oh, sorry," she said, turning around to apologize to someone she bumped shoulders with when she walked out the door. Just as she turned back around to seek for Max and Sage, she walked right into the girl, causing her cup to spill over and burn them both. They both shrieked when the liquid burned their skin.

"Oh. My. Goodness!" the girl dramatically yelled, stomping her foot and immediately started searching for tissues in her bag.

"What happened?" Sage asked when she came to stand between them, also going through her bag and giving Kárri wet wipes.

"This girl walked right into me and I dropped my coffee," the girl whined, wiping her blue crop top and chest area with tissues while Kárri silently cleaned her arms. She was already feeling sticky.

"I'm sorry. I should have looked where I was going," Kárri said with an eye roll. The girl was being unnecessary.

They both looked up at the same time and the girl froze, her eyes narrowing. Kárri didn't know what to say to her because she was staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable. Her face had gone from pink with frustration, which matched her rose gold hair, to pale like she has seen a ghost. Then she clenched her jaw and walked away without a word. Sage took Kárri's bag from Max before he went after the girl.

"Who is she?" Kárri asked, watching Max jog to catch up to her.

Sage shook her head, giving Kárri a small smile. "Come, let's get you clean."

***

"Thanks for letting me shower," Kárri said. Sage was on her bed typing on her phone and looked up when Kárri walked out in a fresh set of clothes.

"No problem," she smirked, playing around with her lip ring.

"And your shower is so huge," Kárri gushed, thinking of her own back home.

"You're always welcome to come shower here," Sage said, twisting a strand that got loose.

"Yeah, right," a bored voice said, catching Kárri's attention. It was the dramatic girl again, laying on Max's bed in a fresh set of clothes that looked like a guy's.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there," Kárri said. She had a feeling this girl didn't like her at all. It was starting to feel mutual.

"I'm starting to get used to that," she said snarkily, not even looking up from her phone.

Kárri bit the inside of her cheek and looked at Sage, who tilted her head at the blonde and whispered, 'She's usually nice'. Kárri smiled as she continued to dry her hair with the towel.

"So, Kárri, what brings you here?" the girl spoke after a while, interrupting the whisper conversation Kárri and Sage were having.

Kárri raised an eyebrow, wondering who she was and how she knew her name. But she quickly dismissed it, assuming that Sage told her. "I came here to shower."

"Duh, I know that. This school, isn't it far from home? Or is there a real reason why you searched for a school so far away? Not because you're running from certain responsibilities?" she spoke, her voice accusatory.

Kárri was caught off-guard by the strong accusatory tone. It's almost as if she was hinting at what happened the previous year. "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?" Kárri asked. She'd be dammed if she came from St. Martin's as well. Sure she didn't know everyone, but she would have at least remembered that face.

"Britney."

"Last name?"

"That's not important," she said with a smile that made Kárri feel like she knew something Kárri tried so hard to forget on a daily basis. Suddenly, spattered blood and red and blue lights flashed before her eyes and her eyes stung with fresh tears.

"I have to go," Kárri said to Sage, quickly picking up her bag and giving Sage a hug.

"Hey, are you fine?" Sage asked, concerned. Kárri nodded her head, already heading for the door.

"Yeah, I just realised I have something to get to," she chuckled lightly. "I'll text you," she offered. She didn't stop to hear what Sage said. She needed to put as much space between her and Britney as possible. Especially with the images of Gio that flooded her mind.

She reached for her phone as she walked out of the building and into the street. She dialled a number and waited for someone to pick up.

"Hey, where are you?"

"I'm home, why?"

"Are you busy?"

"No, not really. Wh-"

"May I come over?" she asked, her lip trembling. She blinked to stop the tears.

"Yeah, let me pin you the address, okay?" She nodded, cutting the call and sitting by the bus stop. She looked down when she got a new notification and hailed a cab to the place he sent. She could easily walk but she wasn't up for it.

When she got there, she knocked on the door and someone let her in. She looked around and saw that the house had a couple of guys hanging around minding their own business. "Who are you looking for?" the one who opened the door asked nonchalantly.

She sniffed and wiped her face with the sleeve of her jersey, feeling more tears fall down her cheeks. Just then, Zeke came down the stairs shirtless and in some sweatpants. He froze when he saw her there. She ran into his arms as soon as she saw him and broke down in tears.