I dream. For the first time, I'm not inside the lighthouse where it's dark and my heart is racing a thousand miles per hour or I'm scared because Mommy could want to play one of her games and I won't win. I never win. It's outside. I'm outside. On the shore next to the sea. I can hear the waves crashing and I can tell I'm me but not me. My body is on the sand, it's warm and the air smells nice. There's an umbrella over my head and Dad's next to me, trying to make a seashell necklace. Staring at him now, through my eyes after so manu years, I realize I'd almost forgotten what he looked like. He was blond like me and yet not quite. His hair looked like golden silk, the type that makes you wonder if the sun decided to try it's luck with another creature that wasn't Rapunzel and also about gold chains and wristwatches and other shiny things. And he has green eyes, too. Emerald green eyes that I'd wondered why I never had. There was nothing remarkably similar about Dad and I, except

Kai stares at us, his dark eyes flipping through different emotions as he tries to understand what's going on.Why I'm being with them like that.My body moves, wanting to wrap him into a hug so I can explain but someone's rough hand clamps around my arm, and I turn, a snarl already appearing on my lips as Ber studies me.There's amusement in his eyes but it fades away to his usual scowl as he says "You're going in with Mel""Get your hands off me" I snap, jerking my hand away from his and without waiting for a reply from him or any of them, grab Caramel's.I don't wait for Mel to try getting himself together or ask what's going on either before I start tugging him behind me. I feel him stumble a bit, and I want to turn around and apologize about the way I'm pulling him along like he's my five year old son I can't wait to go home and shout at, but my eyes don't leave Kai who seems to look at us like his worst nightmares were walking directly to him and he wanted to bolt but wasn't su

Who the fuck is she??Okay, guys, I just had this mind-blowing idea! What if, dun dun dun! Stradella and Channing were fighting in the locker room because they both like her?Carl is cute and all but he's soooooo-I repeat, WHO THE FUCK IS SHE??!!On a scale of one to a thousand, my woman intolerance number would be a minus zero because how the fuck is this any of their businesses?!You see something pretty, you like it, you fucking appreciate. That's the fucking problem with women. They don't appreciate. They think everything is a fucking competition.It's one reason I see them all as idiots."Twelve thousand likes, Mel!" I say, shoving my phone into his face "That's more than what even I have gotten!"It's his account, which for the first time since we opened it, is actively gaining something but he doesn't even bother to look at the screen "C-Cool"I pout, taking my phone away from him before turning to Cream and shoving it to his face "What do you think?"He doesn't answer.Fine.

The drive is silent, her scent that reminds me of the boys and me wafting all through the car. Her eyes don't turn to me and maybe, just maybe, I wanted her to smile at me so I say "I got asked if I'd like to join an advanced placement class. Advanced Calculus, that is" "That's wonderful, Vanilla" She says, sparing me a smile "What did you say?" I smile too "I said yes" "Immediately?" I look at her now "Was that a bad idea?" "No, of course not, dear." She says, looking back to the road "It's a good thing that you agreed since it helps you get in colleges easier but I thought you might like to consider it before actually agreeing. Advanced classes aren't just advanced for anything. Not that I don't think you can't handle it, I'm wondering how you'd be able to squeeze time for Coach Ace" I facepalm "Oh, Jesus. I forgot about that" "Well, don't. He'd he very happy to see you on Friday" "He told you that?" She nods "Yes" I sink more into the leather seat. "Why?" She looks at

We leave the building and walk to the lot lot before he suddenly grabs my arm and pulls me back. I whip my head around to face him as he says "You're one of them, aren't you?" He's squeezing too tight and it hurts "What the fuck are you talking about?" "One of the patients staying at her house" He says, with disgust in her voice "Troubling her with your stupid problems and existence" "What—" "You have no idea who she is, do you? Her worth. You all make use of her kindness and give her nothing in return but suffering. You useless pieces of—" "Take your hands off the Lady, Damon" I turn, surprised to see Alex now next to us. I also notice that I've never heard him sound so— Cold. Damon stares at him, recognition in his eyes before he shoves me into Alex and storms back into the building. I move away from him as I hold my arm, Alex staring at me "Are you okay, Lady Vanilla?" His voice is back to it's usual tone as I nod "Yeah, but don't tell Doc" He blinks at me. "I don't