Chapter 1.

Returning back to Everton Silver high Academy was not part of the plan. We'd talked, my father and I, agreeing that I needed to be back home, yet somehow I found myself travelling back, this time, after such a long time.

My father taking me.

The travel alone was silent and neither one of us had much to say to each other, being lost in thought.

It had been a couple of months after she passed, my stepmom that is and until now, it still pained me. She had surely filled the void of not having my mom around and she created new memories for us. A year they'd been married and suddenly we lost her due to a car accident, devastatingly so, it left both my dad and I shattered.

She's left us to find the pieces and piece them back together again. My father has found more reason to be busy and distance himself from me. I can almost forgive him for that, because admittedly I can say that I'll never understand, the immense pain of losing a partner.

A second mother yes, for she was my friend, someone I could share everything with and that's why, she's the only other person who knew my reason, for not wanting to go back there. I vowed to never return, my last time being there serving as a painful reminder, of what I went through.

I've never had a lot of friends growing up, the only well trusted, a confidant, was Roman. An only friend I cherished and held close to my heart, him being in my life made so much sense, for I considered him my other half. He earned the right to be called the most important person in my life, right after my parents. My heart easily let him in yet all too soon, that same heart was left bleeding and lost when he abandoned me.

We always seemed to work things out, he was my best friend of course and it only took one day for him, to break everything I've built to know. Him leaving left a crack, an opening for every other thing I've been oblivious to, now to enter into my life.

I've tried to make myself happy and that didn't work out, I then moved on to try find some sort of balance and for a while, I took a breath of ease till what happened on that fateful night. I don't know where I am now but keeping my head down, for my last year is the plan.

Thank God I've never been popular, so my arrival won't be much of a buzz for most, though the ones who were present that night and those who heard, might cast a glance or two my way.

Ignore them. My consciousness told me.

I cast a glance at my father once he pulled over at the hostel parking lot. He looked ahead, seeming to be thinking and took a minute or so, to realize that I'm looking at him.

It had been quite a while since I'd seen a real smile from him, I longed to see it again.

"Dad?" He looks at me.

Him looking at me now, makes my words to get stuck in my throat.

I look away, a small sigh releasing from my lips as I reach out my hand, to open the door and get out. Before I could open the door, his hand shot out and held my wrist .

" The weekend. You'll visit on the weekends." I nod my head in relief, getting out of the car.

We don't speak the whole way to my assigned room and I make sure, to not let my eyes linger on anyone passing by.

I've been assigned a new roommate and I hope, that we stay out of each other's way. I've learned the hard way, the consequences of letting a roommate have free reign over your business, I don't want to make the same mistake again.

Being back here just reminds me that I made the right decision of not involving my dad. I wouldn't want it to be a burden on him, when he's dealing with his own stuff.

Making it into my room, I mentally sigh in relief when I see that Avery is my roommate.

Avery Marshall is one of the good ones from what I've gathered, in all our school years. We've passed a few words here and there when needed and shared a couple of laughs, nothing major, but she's cool and most importantly she wasn't a witness to what happened that night.

" Hazel, you're my roommate?" That's the first thing to come out of her mouth.

"Guess I am." I mumble.

I watch her straighten up when her eyes glance to my dad, who places a box on top of my bed.

"Dad this is Avery Marshall, Avery, dad." I introduce them, ending it there as I walk over to the window, after placing my suitcase down.

What's nice about Everton is that you get two options on accommodation. You either get a flat or apartment near by, or stay in the hostel. With the hostel, it's separated with the guys and girls and curfew is at eight. With the exception of the weekend, which is at ten pm.

I don't know why dad has been reluctant about me having my own place to stay. I am going to be an adult soon, so it's better to be prepared now then later.

" Hazel?" I glance over my shoulder, only realising that we are alone.

Was I too much in my thoughts to not hear Avery leave?

" Where's Avery?"

" She was just called." I nod, looking back at the window.

" I know you have to leave." I tell him.

" Yes, but I just want to say something." He says, now joining me.

" What?"

"If in about a month or so, living here does not work out for you, then we'll look elsewhere." My head snaps to him.

He knows. How does he know?

" Nicole had told me that something had happened. She told me to talk to you about it." I look away.

I can't tell you. It's too embarrassing .

"Then why bring me here?"

" I didn't want your last memory of this place to be a painful one. Call me optimistic but a second chance here might just be what you need."

He places a hand on my shoulder, earning my eyes once again.

" I'll miss you." He tells me and I nod, closing the distance for a side hug.

He kisses the top of my head before pulling back. Him glancing at his watch tells me, that it's time for him to go.

A last check of everything I'll need and a goodbye smile later, dad leaves and reality sinks in.

I'm really back here.

                             ******

Avery has been gone for quite some time now and I took the time, to get settled. Thank God it's just us two in the room, while some are four in a room and we are separated from the guys.

Drama, I want to steer away from, like I've always done. It's just so unfortunate on how things ended for me last time.

I already miss home and maybe it would have been a good thing, if I'd begged to stay somewhere else. Then again, it'll only be for a month here and then I get to make a decision.

Nothing bad or regretful has happened so far, so I'm in the clear.

A knock on the door knocks me out of my thoughts, my eyes meeting the figure at the doorway and I freeze for a moment. I slowly rise from the bed, getting on my feet with my eyes not straying away from him.

6ft tall with dirty blonde hair, green eyes, almost pale skin and looking as hot as ever, he stands. Danny Carter. My boyfriend, or not.  I'm not clear about where we stand now, after our break.

"Can I come in?" He asks and I nod.

He enters and almost closes the door, but he leaves it slightly ajar and I breathe out in relief.

If you were to ask me why, I wouldn't be able to answer now.

He takes easy steps towards me, only for me to take one back when little space remains, making him to stop. He takes a few seconds frowning, before nodding and taking another step back.

" You could have told me that you  were here." He speaks up.

" I didn't think I was coming back." I tell him honestly.

" You were committed on your decision weren't you?" He asks.

I don't say anything, walking past him to sit back down on my bed.

He too follows suit, settling down on my bed, right next to me. It's not the first time he's done so, I mean he's my boyfriend and he's never had a reason to ask to sit beside me, yet I move a bit, creating space between us.

He seems to notice but doesn't say anything.

"You're here now."

" I'm here." Unfortunately.

I sigh.

"I waited for your call." He tells me.

I turn to look at him, his eyes already on me." I thought that was part of the break. No communication." I say.

"But I still wanted to know how you were doing this whole time."

" I wasn't ready to talk to you." I peer at him from under my lashes.

" And now?"

" I don't know." I mumble, honesty dripping off my voice.

"And us?" I don't answer.

My head is tilted up for me to look at him. " You're not giving me much here baby." He groans.

" I don't know what to say."

My feelings are conflicted right now and I'm not in the right head space.

I feel him lean in and that's when panic kicks in, my mind taking me back to that night. I jump up off the bed and out of reach. I avert my eyes everywhere but at him, not wanting to see his reaction.

" Too soon?" I nod.

He sighs, getting up off the bed.

" I'm sorry. "

What are you really sorry for? I want to ask.

" Are you coming tonight?"

I look at him in question.

"There'll be a bonfire later on and you know as seniors, they ease up on us a bit." He smirks at that and my lips twitch into a small smile.

" I'm pretty sure you've got this whole year planned out."I arch my brow.

" Well...." He trails off.

" I'm afraid to even ask." He chuckles at that.

He surprises me by pulling me close by hand. Before I can react, his other hand rests on my waist. He leans in close and I hold my breath, thinking he's going to kiss me, only for him to hug me and bury his head at the crook of my neck.

I tense up before reminding myself that this is Danny, letting my body ease up a bit.

" I miss you." He says in my ear.

"Me too, but that doesn't change anything."

He leans back, bringing his hand up to rest against my cheek.

"You're right, it doesn't. We still are together and I'll be damned if I let you go." He says with determination in his eyes.

My mouth opens and closes, words not coming out.

" Hazel I - ," Avery says , bursting through the door, making us to break apart. " Oh uh - I didn't know you had company, I'll just -," she starts to back out.

" Uh it's okay, I was just leaving." Danny tells her before turning to me." I'll see you later."

I give him a look, his shoulders sagging a bit." Hopefully."

With that he walks out.

"Is he even aloud this side?" I don't answer, walking over to stand by the window again, crossing my arms.

" So......" I glance at her.

" We are going out later, right?"