I'm almost convinced that this last half of the term is going to be weird when I'm treated to the joyful sight of Simon and Nicki walking through the school gates, coming up the walkway towards the front doors. Together.I stop looking through my bag and stare, a smile breaking across my face.I was thinking I would have to play some reconciliatory role, but it appears I was wrong. I stop looking for my Math exercise book that I suspect I've left at home and wait for my two friends to get to me.The crowd of students going past me is decked out in warm clothing consisting of jackets, jumpers, and beanies. The sun hasn't graced the day with its presence yet, dark gloomy clouds spanning the sky instead. It's as if the weather itself is predicting the sort of trouble I'm going to find myself in if I turn up with no homework in Math."Oh my God, I love this one, how come I've never seen it before?" Nicki gushes the moment she gets to me, pulling

 “Wake up, Avery.” Jude says for possibly the tenth time, following it up with a poke to my side. I grumble, eyes still shut, and swat his hand away. “Stop,” I warn. I turn into my side, snuggling my face into my folded hands. “Jo is sooo lazy,” Cole sing songs from my right. I make a sound in my throat but otherwise ignore him. Can’t a girl get a little sleep around here? “Tickle her,” a voice, belonging to my traitorous friend Nicki, comes from the spot right beside me. I shoot up from my space against the wall immediately, and in time too because Jude is already reaching out. I glare at Nicki and flash her the middle finger. Jude chuckles, chewing on his bottom lip. “Oh, so that’s the trick.” “Don’t you ever dare, not even once,” I wa

 I can’t remember the last time I slept undisturbed all the way to morning. There’s always sleepless breaks in between, either due to waking up from dreams and nightmares, or as an effect of my irregular sleeping patterns. I wake up from the former, a dream that makes no sense at all. I don’t get to really think about it however, because my mind registers two things instantly. The lights are off and I’m on my bed. There’s warm breath hitting my face, breath that smells sweet. There are arms around me. Before I can despair, I hear Jude’s low voice. “Are you awake?” I try to move my hands that are trapped beneath his. He moves and I free them, but that’s all the movement he makes. “Sorry about the lights, couldn’t sleep with them on,” he explains, the same

After my second and last paper of the day on Monday, my mind is finally set on one thing.  Finding Jude and getting an explanation. I’m halfway towards his locker when I realise he’s not alone. Bethany Hill — his once upon a time girlfriend (the only one, too) — is with him, laughing, touching him as constantly as possible, and I can tell, even from a distance, flirting the hell out of him. I almost take a detour. Almost. Bethany’s presence is intimidating, and she has been throwing rude scorching glares my way any opportunity she gets. But she isn’t the one I want to talk to. I have exercised maximum patience waiting this long to confront Jude and I don’t think I can wait one more second, not with Maria practically breathing down my neck with all the self importance in the world.&nbs

His eyes switch between us. “Henry? What are you doing with Jude’s girl? He’s going to kick your ass.” Isaac sighs. “Not doing anything.” “Not Jude’s girl,” I mumble, shifting my eyes away from the perfect specimen in front of me. He’s in fitting dark jeans and a dark shirt. I’m reminded once again how much he looks like Jude… And I’m once again wondering whether Jude’s someplace around. “Could have fooled me,” he muses. “She’s my friend,” Isaac offers, letting go of my hand. He runs his fingers through his curls. “Oh.” “Yeah.” “Of course.” I look between them. Jared looks as if he’s searching Isaac’s face for something, while Isaac’s eyes are fixed on