Ian did not come back home that night.

I called him several times but he'd either cancel the call or won't pick up and then, he simply switched off his phone.

The Forbes' audition week 6 was to air that night but I didn't watch it. I had made up my mind to watch it with Ian and I was firm on my stand. I walked downstairs at almost one o' clock to drink water when the lock of the door clicked. My hope raised high up to the seventh sky but they fell down to the core of the earth when mum's face appeared. 'Hey sweetie.' She plastered a fake smile I internally hated.

'Hey mum.' I returned her the same smile —fake. I poured down water in the glass.

'Did Ian come home?' Mum asked.

'No.'

She merely nodded. 'You should go to sleep. It's late.' She patted me on the shoulder and went to her room.

I grabbed the glass and rushed up to my room too.

***

I entered in my house and threw the bag at the couch. 'Finally! No work. No school. I'm free!' I  stretched.

I rushed up to my room and changed into comfortable clothes that were oversized sweatpants and sweatshirt. I let my curly hair fall loosely on my shoulder as I wiped my make up off. This was my favourite part of my freedom routine.

Bell wailed in the house and a smile drew on my face. 'Ian, it should be you or I'll kill you.' I murmured and ran downstairs to open the door and when I did, I closed it right away seeing Ryan's face.

'Âme, I saw you. You can open the door now.' He said and I took a deep breath and opened it with a smile.

'Hey, Ryan. What are you doing here?' I kept my smile on for no reason at all.

'I was more thinking of you to invite me in.' Ryan pointed in the house. He was wearing a sleeveless white shirt and short with joggers on. His sunglasses were hanging by his shirt and my mind wondered why the heck was he dressed so casually.

'In? Oh, in. Yeah sure.' I told him.

Ryan keep on standing there. 'You have to give me the way or I can pick you up—

I instantly stepped aside. 'Please.'

'Thank you.' He nodded and looked around as if he came in here for the first time. 'What were you doing?'

'Nothing much.' I said casually and leant against the counter.

'Then I must assume you are free?' He arched his eyebrow and turned around to look at me.

My breath hitched right away. Something was surely up. 'Why?'

He sat on the sofa. 'I was just thinking to have a break this weekend.'

I sat on the couch positioned opposite to the one Ryan sat on. 'I'm listening.' I urged him to continue.

'Well, Yang's Dad and my Dad used to own a cottage a little far away from this town and we were thinking to spend the weekend there.' He halted then stared at me. 'Just you and me.'

I congealed and stared at Ryan with wide eyes. The little colour my face possessed abandoned me as soon as my body took in Ryan's words that simply rolled themselves in a melodious laughter Ryan lost himself in.

'Oh God.' He put his fist to his mouth. 'Oh Âme,' he laid on the couch of laughter. 'Your f-face,' he managed to speak a few words in his laughter while I just sat there. Watching Ryan laughing hard. 'Damn man.'

This was the moment I decided to dig myself a hole and bury myself in it. This was the moment when I decided to fly in the sky and then jump off of it. This was the moment I knew I was tomato red even though I don't blush.

'Idiot.' I rolled my eyes.

'Just kidding. Noah, Yang and Mia would be there too.'

'Mia? How come she agreed to go?'

'Well, Yang does sometime become useful.' He deliberately took a step forward.

'Oh, OK.' I said.

'So?' Ryan jerked his head at his side.

'So?' I posed the question.

'Are you coming?' He put on his -i'm-so-innocent-So-don't-you-dare-refuse-me face.

'Do I have to?'

Ryan answered. 'Yes Jane, you have to.'

'Isn't it is possible that I just stay at home. Warm and cozy?'

'I'll keep you warm and cozy there,' Ryan replied and my heartbeat picked up at the speed of light. 'I promise.' He winked.

'I—' I trailed off when the lock of the door clicked and mom's face appeared again.

Mom arched her eyebrows at me and Ryan. 'Aren't you the boy who dropped Jane home that night?' Mom asked him. I was glad she remembered.

'Yes Ma'am. I surely did,' Ryan moved forth and shook his hands with her. 'I'm Ryan if you perhaps remember?'

'Yes, I surely do.'

'It's nice to know. It's sometimes quite a privilege to be remembered by beautiful people.' He winked at her too. Seriously?

Mom chuckled and it was the longest time I saw her smile, or anything nearer to it. 'Oh my, you're such a nice boy. Did Jane offer you anything to drink?'

'Not quite.' Ryan answered and I glared daggers at him. 'But I'd love to drink a warm cup of coffee if perhaps you make it for me?' Ryan asked her with his dimpled smile.

'I don't make coffees but Jane can.'

I opened my mouth and closed it, having lost for words. I gave Ryan a suspicious look but he looked away. I went in the kitchen and made him coffee.

As I came out, I was surprised I didn't hear any shouting from mom. Did he persuade mom? Did she allow?

I placed my cup in front of Ryan who gave me a dimpled smile. 'Go pack.'

***

When I placed just my slipper in the bag, a knock sounded and then, Ryan was in. 'Have you packed?'

'Did mom allow?'

'Yes.'

I huffed my cheeks but began putting in my things. I turned around to pick up my hairbrush that Ryan whistled. I spun and saw Ryan looking down at my bras laid down on the bed. 'Nice collection.' he commented.

'GET THE FUCK OUT!' I yelled at the top of my lungs.

***

'How long?' I groaned. 'You know you can just tell me.'

'And you could just stay shut up.'

'Ryan O'Neil, we have been travelling for two hours.' I exclaimed.

'Janelle Faye Margot, just wait a little.'

I gasped. 'How did you know my middle name?'

He shrugged. 'I just know.'

'Oh come on! I can't wait without knowing how much I have to wait.'

Ryan smiled. 'Hold your gears sweetheart. We'll be there in ten.'

'Okay.' I squirmed in my seat.

Apparently, I was the only one Ryan had to take to the place without my knowledge. The rest( Mia, Noah and Yang) already had made the plan, heck they were even on the spot before us.

Ryan's car halted in front of a forest and my eyebrows shot up. 'Ok, but seriously?' I threw a sharp and confused look at Ryan. 'A forest?'

'Yes. A forest.' He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out but I didn't. A forest? He said a cottage.

Ryan knocked on my window and opened the door. 'Don't worry. I'm not gonna throw you to bears.'

'I still don't trust you.' Ryan shook his head and unbuckled the seatbelt for me and as he did so, his cologne hit me and I actually inhaled it.

'You'll start to.' He outstretched his hand and I grasped it to get out of the car. He removed my bag from the trunk of his car. Without any warning, he clutched my hand and dragged me into the forest. 'They're waiting.' Was all he said.

I followed him, or he dragged me.

Same thing.

After a fifteen minutes of endless walking, I finally began to see two faints outline of persons. 'Finally.' I threw my head back.

Ryan smiled as we walked up to them. 'Jenny!' Noah gave me a tight hug. 'You came.'

'Yeah,' I pulled back. 'Someone succeeded to bring me here.' I casted a look at Ryan.

I hugged Mia who seemed more happy and relaxed and shook hands with Yang. He was not a hug-type person. 'You took so long.' Yang said while we all moved with him, leading to the cottage in front of us.

'I know. I'm sorry.'

Yang shook his head. 'No sorries. We're here for fun.' And he threw open the front door. I gasped as I took in the inside of the cottage.

It was all covered in wood, from head to toe. The ceiling had panels hanging from top with balls of wood hanging down. Two comfy couch were placed at the the wall with rug beneath them and a large, rectangular table was positioned right in front of them. A spiral of stairs lead to the top floor and immediately to the right of the spiral, was a door of a room and one on the left of the room.

Right in front of the house was a lake consisting of water so clear as if no human being ever stepped here. 'Do you like it?' Ryan asked me.

I twisted my neck to look at him. 'I love it.'

***

Before starting the fun, we all decided to take rest from a long tiring journey.

I took a room that was upstairs cause it had a beautiful view of the whole beautiful area around us specially because it had a tree and there laid a nest with eggs in it and I silently prayed to watch the eggs crack till in the time span of me being here.

And guess what?

Ryan took the one right next to mine and Noah took the one next to Ryan's while Mia and Yang took the ones downstairs.

I didn't think of sleeping rather I sat on the window and felt the breeze dancing with my hair and relaxing my body.

Someone knocked softly and Noah emerged. 'Hey Jenny, come downstairs.'

I nodded and followed him downstairs only to laugh my head off when I saw Yang and Ryan fishing in the pond. Noah soon joined them while I sat with Mia who was putting the fire. 'Hey,' I said.

'Hey.' She chirped.

'Did you know about this?' I directed my question at the trip.

'Yeah, I did. Ryan had been planning from previous week since he suspected how tired you have been,' I looked up at Ryan who just threw the thread in the pond. He wore a fishermen hat and a printed shirt that completely went with the occasion. Did he thought this deep of me? 'He had been eating my head off since last week asking whether you had any event coming up or something.'

'Really?'

'Yes,' the fire finally lit up. 'He—' she trailed off. 'He quite take care of you you know.'

I bit my lip and my heart thumped. 'I heard he just looks after everyone.'

Mia rolled her eyes. 'Look at those losers.' I did, with a smile on my face that turned into a laugh as Noah caught a fish but it simply slapped its tail on Noah's face and jumped in the pond again while Noah spat the taste out of his mouth.

Ryan and Yang were no luck either so we ended up toasting Marshmallows and eating sandwiches Mia and I made. 'Woah man, it's great.'

'It would be more fun if you guys succeeded to catch a fish.'

Noah raised up his finger. 'Actually you know what, I was at the nearest point of catching it. I just didn't want to kill it.'

'Noah.' Yang called him.

'Yes?'

'Shut your hole.'

'OK.' I didn't know why but I laughed so hard at this and soon everyone joined me too. Noah was the first one to get up and stretched his body. 'Alright ladies and gentleman, it's time to dream about some chicks kissing me.'

'—and spitting on your face after tasting your saliva.' Ryan added and I began laughing. Ryan and Yang looked at me and then at each other. They gave each other the look, 'the game is on'.

'—and washing their hands with anti-bacterial soap after touching you.' Yang added further more. 'No actually, taking a shower with it.'

'—thrice.' Ryan completed for Noah. I laughed. It was the laughter I could feel in my lungs not really caring about the depletion of oxygen.

'Guys, it's not like I'll never get one.' Noah argued.

'We know, you'll never get one.' Ryan assured. 'Cause no one can stand the smell of your hair.'

'Hey, they smell pretty well.'

'Oi! They smell like onions boiled with burnt mashed potatoes with a dip of mustard in it.' Mia said and then after a minute, she said, 'Ew.'

'Hey, have you ever smelled your own hair?' Noah spat back. 'It's like you wash them with the liquid of rotten meat.'

We all bursted into a strong laughter that I fell off the log and onto the ground. Seeing my fall, everyone began to laugh more. I didn't feel this much free until this time. Not caring of anyone noticing me, or judging my moves. I was flying in my own universe.

***

At night time, I tried Ian's phone again. I stepped out of the cottage and sat at the bank of the pond and tried his phone one more time. I called mom's mobile but it was she wasn't picking up either.

'You didn't sleep yet?' Ryan's voice sounded in my ears and a small smile automatically stretched on my face. He came and sat beside me, dipping his feet to calves in the water of the pond.

'No.' I answered. 'I can ask the same thing from you.'

'I just got up to grab some water and saw the door's open so I came outside and found you.' Ryan explained.

'Oh,' I voiced. 'You really don't have to accompany me. You could go to your sleep.'

'Nah, I like it here.' Ryan said. I looked down at the pond and began folding my pyjama to dip my calves in the water too. 'With you.' I whipped my head up in his direction and found him staring intensely in my eyes.

I cleared my throat to bring him out of his staring. 'Did anyone tell you how beautiful your eyes are?' He queried.

'I don't quite remember.' I pondered over it but it was true. No one ever told me if my eyes were beautiful or not. Except for Ian, who even bought me a blue dress saying that that would go perfectly with my ocean eyes.

'Then they were blind.' He commented. 'Cause no one can help but fall in the ocean of your eyes you know. They are just so deep that each and every emotion is crystal clear,' he looked down at the water of the pond. 'And now, it's clear that you are worried Âme. What's wrong?'

'It's just some family problems.' I tried to lighten the mood.

'Humph.' He hummed and looked up at the sky while I dipped my legs in the water. 'If you have any problem, you can share it with me you know. I'm always here.'

I involuntarily smiled. 'I know.' I said as I remembered how he had been planning this vacation for me.

'And might you know we had a deal.' My phone slipped out of my lap and into the water. I stretched my leg to catch it but it floated  further away. Shit!

'Er ... ' I gave him a tense smile. Did he have to bring up the kiss just now? I looked down in the water and braced myself to slip in the water.

'Hey,' Ryan called me. 'It's cold.' He said as he took off his shirt. 'I'll go get it.' I heard my heart's pounding as Ryan bare chest came into my view.

'No, it's fine.' I tried to stop him by his bicep but the momentum pushed me in the water too with a loud splash. I slapped my feet in the water and balanced on my feet to stand in the water. The water level was just beneath my collar bone.

Ryan dived away for my phone. Something touched the fingers of my feet and with a shriek, I lifted off my foot but lost my balance and was about to fall, but Ryan's strong arms came around my waist and balanced me.

He swam and helped me suck up some oxygen for my lungs as I put my face out of the water while Ryan placed my phone on the ground. He ran hand through his hair and I tried not to look at his biceps that contracted just as he lifted up his arm.

His one hand was still on my waist and even in the cold water, my that part was warm. My heart beat at a high rate as I was just mere inches apart from a shirtless-Ryan.

'You know, I haven't slept nice since I passed the first round.' Ryan said in a low voice. The shine in his eyes moulded into something else.

'Why?' I wantonly took a step back by just looking at his face.

'Cause you promised me something Âme.' He breathed on Âme and ran his thumb over my lip. 'And it's been haunting my nights.' He leant in. 'I can't wait anymore.' His thumb on my lip moved back as his hand cupped my neck. He leant in, so close that I felt his breath on my chin and then slowly, it lifted up to my mouth. Just when I was to experience something I never thought I'd do, someone yelled.

'WHO THE HECK IS PLAYING IN THE WATER WHILE KEEPING THE FUCKING DOOR OPEN?!' Noah yelled on top of his lungs bringing us back to reality. I immediately whipped my neck at Noah's direction who was standing at the door.

Seeing us in this position, all the colours drained away from his face. 'Oh God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb your,' he made a weird gesture with his hands. 'I was just passing by and heard the noise and saw the door open so I just,' he scratched the back of his neck as Ryan gave him a death glare. 'You know what, just continue your,' he again made the weird gesture. 'I'll just go die.' He turned around while murmuring. 'Stupid fucking shitty Noah, can't even let others kiss. Dumbass, brainless...' his voice faded to none as he was in the cottage.

'I'm gonna kill that dumbass.' Ryan hissed.

I shook my head as I moved away from Ryan. 'Can we continue?' He pulled me back to him. 'Don't let Noah kill the mood.'

I kissed him on his cheek. 'It has already.'

***

*DO NOT KILL ME. I REPEAT, DO NOT KILL ME*

OK Afarthers, I get that you guys want to rip my neck off my body or worse but, if you'd do, I won't be able to write more.

So here's the deal. I was thinking to NOT make them kiss before but then I changed my mind and decide to make them kiss but as I was writing, I decided again NOT to make them kiss.

Ironic.

So now that you have read this far, I want to give you a good news.

This is the last chapter of this week. I know I've been extra enthusiastic about Afar as I've been posting chapters after a day but guys, I need a damn break and I have to study.

Despite them not kissing, tell me how was the chapter? I swear I can't even write more cause my typing hand is about to suicide. Wait what?

Don't know. I guess this is what happen when you are writing at HALF PAST THREE AND YOUR EYES CAN BAREKY OPEN.

well, this is it.

At the last, I'd ask you for a simple request. Vote and comment. Seriously guys, I write this chapter with my blood. Appreciate it man, come on. I know you can do it.

I'll see ya after a week guys. Remember I love you all.

Bye.

Love, 💕 huz