C H A P T E R - I I I

My peaceful and deep slumber was disturbed when I felt a continuous poke on my arms and face. I furrowed my eyebrows and heard a loud shriek. Eh, it was nice till it lasted.

Yawning, I rubbed my eyes and stretched my arms a little behind my back. This was the best sleep I've ever had.

I opened up my eyes and jumped when I found a face too close for my liking. My eyes widen and I crawled backward picking up a pillow and putting it in front of me as a shield.

The energetic boy that resembled a puppy stared at me with wide blue eyes and an open mouth and I saw Elijah staring off into space laying on his bed crossing his arms behind his head.

"Is-is- t-that...i-is that a Giiiiirrrrlll?" The puppy boy stumbled upon his words screeching and he said the word 'girl' like it was some sort of disease. I blinked up at him and he broke out in a wide teeth-splitting grin.

"I can't believe we're having a girl over here for the first time in forever! Oh my gosh! You look like a girl!!!" The boy exclaimed excitedly as he continued to spew stuff out of his mouth that didn't make quite a sense. Omg, am I being mean?

He slapped his forehead and chuckled, "Oh, where are my manners?" Murmuring to himself, he flipped his imaginary hair and sat on my bed bouncing in excitement.

"I'm the one and only, that grumpy's bestest friend, the most handsome and dashing, the most smartest, intelligent, intellectual, and all the good words that exist-"

"He's Nate" Elijah grumbled interrupting Nate's introduction who clutched his heart and looked at Elijah with a look of betrayal and scowl on his face.

"You can't digest me being happy, CAN YOU?" He screamed at Elijah's face who scrunched up his face in disgust when Nate's spit landed on his face, making me laugh slightly.

They both paused their 'bromance' or whatever and looked at me with blank faces. Nate's face broke out in a charming smile and he came over to me again and plopped his butt proudly on my bed.

"My name is Alara" I whispered shyly playing with my fingers looking at him from the corner of my eye when I suddenly felt myself being engulfed in a warm hug. My heart skipped a beat as I came to a realization. This is the first time I'm ever being hugged. My cheeks heat up and I wrapped my hands around Nate's back and cherished the feeling of warmth and contentment. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.

"Aww, look at her Eli, she's blushing" Nate pinched my cheeks and ruffled up my hair making me scowl up at him. Why the heck in dunkin donuts were the both of them so tall? I need answers.

I lightly slapped his arm, "No, I'm not". I grumbled and he chuckled loudly.

"Ok, whatever you say, Lara bear," He said with a content smile and I smile back at him while Elijah just stared in the back with a blank face.

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Nate left after bidding me 'goodbye', he hugged me several times, and kissed my forehead, and left after me promising him to not forget him in the morning. He had to go and run some errands to the principal office. I felt....happy. He was my second friend ever! I smiled giddily and happily.

Elijah still laid on his bed staring off into space, I wonder what he's thinking. Shrugging my shoulders, I looked out the window and the sun was just setting. Woah, I slept for so long!

I should probably set my things up. I put my suitcase inside the closet, not feeling the need to empty it, and hang up my clothes. What if Elijah thinks I'm annoying and decides to kick me out? I should be prepared for anything.

Oh, I'm forgetting something. I took out my pillow from the suitcase and there were extra blankets in the closet so I picked them up as well, when I heard a light chuckle behind my back.

"You brought a pillow with you?" Elijah said, his eyes filled with amusement and his lips curving up in a minuscule smile. A complete opposite of his attitude a couple of hours ago.

"Oh, um, yeah, it is very comfortable like clouds" I replied to him, smiling. Progress.

"Is your pillow soft?" I blurted out before I could stop myself and cringed. Is that a question to ask someone? "I mean, everyone should have a soft pillow, y'know? Hard pillows hurt your neck and....stuff"

He raised his brow and chuckled again shaking his head. He picked up his pillow and threw it at me, and I, using my cat-like reflexes easily caught it with one hand. I felt his pillow and gosh, it was even softer than my own.

"Woah, your pillow is even softer than mine, it feels like a feather!" I gushed at him and brought his pillow to him handing it in his hand. I looked up at Elijah to see him looking at me with a tiny smile. I gave him a shy smile in return and went back to what I was doing. I set up my books on the table and put the flower I plucked from the garden here.

I realized, I was sticky and a little sweaty so it'd be best to shower, but I don't know where in the holy cow it was.

"Um..Elijah?" I called out his name in a soft voice and he hummed in response.

"Do..you perhaps know where the bathrooms are?" He thought for a moment and stood up to his feet, snatching his large blanket off the bed, and nodded at me. What was he doing?

"Take your towel, and clothes and whatever shi- stuff you need, I'll take you there" My eyes brighten up and I gave him a grateful smile and immediately went to pick my things up.

That is so nice of him!

Grabbing my things in my arms, I nodded at Elijah who opened the door and started walking, me trailing behind him. I didn't like the silence so my mouth decided to make its presence known.

"How long have you been studying here?" I asked him trying to make short conversations.

"6 years" He replied curtly, his hands in his pocket as he occasionally kicked a pebble here and there.

"How old are you?"

"I'm about to turn 18 soon, and I'm a senior, you?"

"I'm 17 and I'm a senior as well" I beamed up at him and he looked at me softly. I carefully stepped down the stairs hoping not to trip and fall making a fool out of myself.

"How'd you...how'd you get here?" He asked curiously and I gulped a little trying to think of a perfect response.

"My mom....couldn't afford me....so she put me in boarding system but she made mistakes in the form and there were no placements in the girls one....so I landed here," I said in one breath and smiled nervously hoping he didn't ask further.

He gave me a strong gaze and nodded. "You?" I wasn't going to ask him but it was only fair I asked him as well.

"I came here willingly" He shrugged and I was about to inquire more when the bathrooms came in sight.

Looks like that was a story for another time.

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