Ash POV

I got through the morning by sleeping through most of my classes- luckily, I don't snore and the teacher didn't even bother to give me detention. Wow, lucky me. Usually I do get it in most lessons.

Now, I started on Mission; Apologise to Serena.

Easier said than done but I couldn't even find the girl, let alone apologize to her.

So I checked everywhere around; She wasn't in the canteen. She wasn't in the library. She wasn't in the gym. She wasn't even under the bleachers.

Back to reality. Walking across the school hallway after paying a freshman 5 note to check in the girl's locker room which she wasn't there even. Waste of money, she has own me for that one.

I spotted Misty, Calem and Miette strolling towards me up the school hallway with few students walking around us, entering random rooms on each side.

"Hey, daddy's little princess!" Calem greeted me as he stop by, slapping my back. "You get a wide with daddy deawest today?" He mocked.

Miette snorted and step beside me, planting a kiss on my cheek, her sweet blueberry-scent hair sliding across my face. "Don't listen to him, he's hung-over," she advised me, putting an arm around my waist.

I did the same, draping around her waist, but a bit lower. Yep, I know what your thinking. I'm a bad boy, so deal with it.

"I never listen to him. And he's always hung-over." I smiled down at Miette as she placed her head on my shoulder, breathing on my neck.

Calem grinned, shrugging casually. "Just because you decided to quit doesn't mean I should too. I love booze too much," he admitted. Of course he likes it because he's addicted.

"If your mama only knew," Misty said in a warning tone, swifting her head except for her ginger hair which was short and tied.

"She would straight up kill me," he said cheerfully.

Miette linked her arm in mine, looking up at me. "I'm having a pool party at my place tonight." She winked at me, managing to look deliciously sexy and evil all at once. "Clothing optional."

"Is your boyfriend invited?" I asked, leaning my head, bringing my lips closer to her ear so that I could nibble it. When I talked, My warm Breath flowed to her neck. Didn't care if anyone was watching us which there weren't any since its now lunch time.

She giggled naughtily.

"No. but what he doesn't know can't hurt him," she said teasingly.

For a fact. Miette is my ex and even though we broke up about a month ago, we still hook up whenever we feel like it.

No strings attached. It works well for both of us, but I didn't see her boyfriend liking the fact that I was her  'Buddy'.

The guy already hated me, how much more would he hate me if he found out that I occasionally slept with his girlfriend? On second thought. I rephrase that.

I looked up away from my friends and groaned mentally as I saw Him already striding towards us across the hallway.

"Speak of the devil," I told Miette, immediately letting go of her without getting caught. She straightened her dress and turned to her boyfriend, who was flexing.

"Hi, baby," he said before giving her a big kiss. I wasn't jealous. It's not like I was in love with her or anything.

I turned to Calem, ignoring the moment between the two. Suddenly remembering my mission and also remembering that his friends were with Serena.

"Hey, dude, you know Serena's friends are? Where do they have lunch? I asked as casually as I could, scratching my nose.

Calem gave me a quizzical stare. "Why? You planning to hit on them? Coz if you get them pregnant, you are tied for life," he said in a mock threatening voice.

"Dude. No way would I hit on them. That's sacred ground, man," I protested lightly. Even though, given the chance, I'd tap that.

"Yeah right. You're still hitting that," Calem said, cocking his thumb in Miette's direction who was still making out. "I don't trust you so. No sale."

Rolling eyes, Misty punched him so hard in the stomach and he doubled over, groaning in pain on floor with his hand placed at where she punched him.

"He's all talk," she said to me, grinning as a plan came up. She grabbed his arm, lying Calem on floor and twisted it behind his back. "Tell Ash where they are, or I'll break it."

Never cross Misty. Ever. She's a black belt in every martial art you can think of and a baseball captain of the school.

"They are in the canteen, dude. Just tell Misty to-ouch! Tell her to stop twisting my arm!" He painfully said. Giving me  answer.

I grinned to myself as I turned my back on a yelling Calem and Misty with my feet dragging to the canteen. It was easy to tell who wore the pants in that relationship.

------

I entered the canteen through swinging door as scent was waving through my nostrils. Glancing around the area where I see lots of students getting their own lunch and sit down with packed friends, placing trays on table. I wasn't hungry for sure but if I find her. I'll probably get one last meal of the day.

There at corner, I spotted May sitting down with a tray in front but she wasn't alone, sitting opposite was Dawn Berlitz. They were more like chatting away.

I groaned in frustration. Serena was nowhere to be seen. Why was this so difficult?

Smiling in a friendly manner, I walk toward them in line by going past each student along the way, as I came close and slid into a seat next to Dawn. Plastering a wide smile on my face that every girl would fall for. Hoping they would too.

"Hey, ladies," I said, trying to muster up enough charm to win them over.

Nothing was feeling right anymore. I felt like a bit actor in someone else's dream. I just didn't have the energy for anything.

Dawn was giving me a distrustful look. however, May was glaring at me like she wanted to dip me in hot lava and feed me to fire ants.

Obviously they stood by their friend, which meant that Serena wasn't just a pity friend and Calem was just being stupid, as usual.

"What do you want?" May asked shortly. Sitting on the opposite of me, stabbing her steel fork into a French fry. I bet you anything she was imagining that was my own eye.

"I was actually looking for Serena," I said cautiously. Ignoring her glare and act smart.

If I can be like this throughout the whole m conversation.  I'm sure they will fall.

Instantly I mentioned Serena, both of the girls glared at me. I was beginning to feel like Public Enemy Number One.

"She wants nothing to do with you, so leave her alone," May said, pursing up her pretty lips.

I sighed. "Look, I know I messed up bad yesterday, okay? I just want a chance to apologize to her, that's all. Then our paths never have to cross again," I explained.

Dawn melted first. I guess she fell for it. Well for my charm at least.

"She's in the-," she started, running a hand through her blue long hair until May gave her a warning look and I focused my attentions on her. She was a very hard nut to crack.

"You expect me to tell you where she is after you called her, 'you know what'?" May asked me incredulously.

I nodded in response. "That's why I want to say sorry to her. I feel really bad about it," I said, my voice sounding as contrite as I felt my wrong doings.

I know I did a terrible thing to her yesterday which I'm guilty for, but I need to make amends. I thought, could of said this out to her.

"You should feel bad," May said then closed her mouth like a trap, chomping down the fried.

I waited, my eyes flicking from Dawn to May, in anticipation that one of them would say something.

None of them did.

Finally, I cleared my throat. "So- can you tell me where she is?" I asked nervously hoping they would agree.

May crossed her arms over her chest, glowering at me from under her brows. "She's in the music studio," she said grudgingly.

"Yeah, she goes there whenever she's upset," Dawn piped up, making me feel guiltier than ever.

I gave one last nod and stood up from my seat, ready to find Serena and make peace with her. Or try, at any rate.

"Thanks, you two," I said, grinning at them as I backed away from their crowded table. Heading out cafeteria to reach my destination.

Until May pointed her sharp fork threateningly at me. "Insult her again and you'll have me to deal with. Okay?"

Oh, that wouldn't be good.

--------

Wondering what the hell Serena could be doing in the music studio and wondering why I hadn't bothered looking there before.

I walked down the hallway, holding fake conversations with her in my head.

I hoped it would go well. I mean, I had searched my room for hours till I found her lucky pencil in a pair of jeans at the bottom of my laundry. It was in my pocket now.

If that didn't show her that I meant what I said, I didn't know what would.

I reached the music studio after walking past each student along the way, and started peeking in each room, looking any signs for Serena without being spotted.

In one, a couple was making out. Which I didn't want to interrupt their moment so I moved on.

In another, a short kid was playing a violin very scratchily that made my ears hurt.

And finally, in the last one-

Piano music? Serena playing the piano? I wonder why she goes there? I question to myself. Wanting to know more facts about her inside and out.

I poked my head around the creak opened door, not wanting to disturb her as she sat down alone in a couple of distance away from me, hunched over the keys while her face was in concentration.

To my surprise. She played beautifully in rhythm. I wasn't much of a piano and classic music lover, but even I knew that she had great talent.

I waited for couple minute till she was finished to speak, noiselessly stepping into the room without been spotted from her till I was standing right behind her.

She didn't even notice me one bit; she was so intent on her music. I took a peek at her eyes that were fully closed and she had a serene smile on her pale face like she was enjoying it. Although, I don't know what I felt as I gaze at her face. My head wanted to speak out to interrupt while my gut didn't want to.

Music as therapy? Maybe I should get into that. At least I wouldn't have to deal with my real therapist anymore.

"Wow. That was amazing. You're really good," I said honestly when she finished playing and instantly opened her eyes.

Her reaction - not expected.

With a loud shriek that made an echo in the room, she jerked so violently that she fallen back off the piano chair, landing hard on the laminate floor on her back. Her scared sapphire eyes met mine and she froze.

"Will you stop creeping up behind me?!" she yelled out loud across the room with a cherry blush formed on her cheeks.