1 year later
--
Patricia's POV

Jasmine.

The color of purple, yellows and white decorate the engraved stone to remember her. Her. My best friend. She loved flowers, talked about it endlessly. Especially Jasmine, the flower she was named after. I watch the brightly colored petals scattered around her name and I felt nothing close to happiness. Flowers were used to express happiness and love, but in here, in this moment all I could feel was pain- and loss.

I run my fingers on the rough stone, carefully tracing her name. She had disappeared a year ago, on Valentine's Day. I bite back a bitter laugh that was edging its way out of my mouth, and blink back the sting in my eyes.

"Pat, let's go." A voice calls from behind me, I barely acknowledge it, staring at her name engraved in some rock that was supposed to represent her even though her body was not buried six feet under it. I still haven't accepted the fact that they gave up looking for her. They just- stopped. When I finally find the courage to stand up without my knees shaking, the sun had already set, casting a mixture of yellow and orange hues on the cemetery, making it seem less tragic looking than it really is. My eyes make their way to the person standing a few meters away from me, his dark hair reflecting the colors of the setting sun. He looks at me, puffs of smoke coming out of his mouth. It was a pretty darn cold day. I walk towards him slowly and he opens his arms instinctively to wrap them around me. I bury my face on his chest, grateful for the warmth his body and his layers of coat offered me.

"I still can't believe she's gone, Nathan." I mumble into his coat. He strokes my back gently, knowing fully well I didn't need an answer, or a reply. We start walking back to the entrance and pass by a familiar face. Anger rushes through me uncontrollably and I stomp across the path until I'm inches away from our new company.

"What are you doing here, Jasper?" I shout, barely controlling the tone of my voice. Nathan walks faster, placing his feet directly beside mine, his hands holding on to my own. I realized I was shaking.

"Pat, please." The guy in front of me begs. For a moment, looking at him so devastated and tired, I felt a little guilty but then a memory comes flooding into my mind and I continue staring him down until I felt Nathan grab my hand.

"Pat, let it go. Let him have this day. Come on." Nathans words echo through me and I exhale before letting him win. I turn away from Jasper, my hands still balls of fists between Nathans and walk begrudgingly away sparing him a glare before completely letting go of the subject.

When we were outside the cemetery, I felt a little relaxed, and ashamed. I peer over at Nathan who was taking his keys out his pocket, glancing over at me with his half-smile of understanding. It wasn't fair- what I was doing to him. We used to love Valentine's Day. We've been together for 2 years. I look at him, finally fishing out his keys from his jacket and unlocking his car and couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude, towards the guy who has been with me through everything, and has never left my side. I walk over to him and wrap both my hands round his free hand, he gives me a soft kiss on the forehead before opening the passenger seat for me. We didn't celebrate Valentine's this year.. I vowed to make it up to him, when I could finally let Jasmine go.

I don't remember falling asleep but was surprised when I woke up, Nathans hand was on my forehead. We were still in the car, parked outside my driveway. I stretch a little and look at him apologetically, feeling bad that I was such a sour puss on Valentine's Day. He smiles his smile again, that says everything is okay.

"I'll put it on the list of things you will make up for." He jokes and I smile at him while he kisses me, softly. Making me half regret not spending Valentine's with him. When he finally pulls apart I was already close to reconsidering the whole ordeal when I hear a familiar bark. I unfasten my seatbelt, aware of his eyes following my movements. I control the urge to laugh like a giddy school girl when I get out of the car kissing him one last time through the window before waving goodbye. I watch as his car disappears from view before turning my attention to the eccentric golden haired dog running around my feet.

"Hello, Spot. Did you miss me?" I kneel down to pet it remembering how Jasmine adored him. He was, after all, her dog. Spot follows me back inside the house, which was empty. Mom and Dad must be out on some date. I take out my phone from my pocket and laugh at the message Nathan had sent me just minutes before we said good bye.

Are you sure you don't want to go on a date?

We can always just hang out at your place.

For a moment, I considered his proposal but knew that I wouldn't be such good company. He lived just a few houses away from me, I could always reconsider. I throw my phone on the sofa, as Spot continued to jump around me. I take off my cardigan, making my way into the kitchen and placing it on a chair. What do I do tonight? Binge watch movies and eat everything I can find in the fridge.

I open the fridge, happy to see my parents had not forgotten their only daughter, and grab a plate of pasta and a bottle of coke. Kicking the fridge close behind me. I place it on the counter, feeding bits of it to Spot when the doorbell rings. Spot, as always, runs towards it. I on the other hand stare at the door for a while from the kitchen before deciding to check who it was. It couldn't be Nathan. To be sure, I grab my phone along the way checking to see if he messaged me. He didn't and my parent's had keys. I glance at the clock on the wall, it was still half past 5. Who on earth could it be? I check the peephole, like how my parents always told me to. Spot on the other hand was just completely excited.

"Who is it boy?" I whisper, the fear in my voice clearly showing through the cracks. Spot only reacted that way to certain people. Me and Jasmine. My hands goes up to my chest, clutching the soft fabric of my shirt trying to stop itself from shaking. I walk closer to the door sucking all the oxygen around me and place my eye on the peep hole. I breathe out a sigh of relief when I see nobody on the doorway, but my heart still hadn't calm down. Spot was still wagging his tail, scratching the door, asking me to open it. My hand hovers the doorknob in a moment of hesitation before it finally turns it and the cold night air welcomes me back into its embrace. I step out, Spot running ahead of me towards the driveway. My eyes follow him, jumping around and around until he eventually runs back up the porch and into the house. I take a quick look around the porch to make sure before finally deciding it was probably just some kids playing a prank. I let out a sigh, running my hands through my face and my hair. I was so worked up about nothing. I smile to myself and think that maybe I should reconsider Nathans self-invitation to our house. I text him before getting back inside the house.

My heart falls. I didn't know how I missed it but now there it was, undeniably set on the floor in front of our door. A small bouquet of white flowers. Jasmine. I stare at it for how long, I don't know. I just stare with the front door wide open, the cold air making the chill up my spine even colder. At first I feel nothing, then the anger comes. If this was some kind of sick joke, I didn't find it funny at all.

"If this is some kind of sick joke, you people are the worst kinds!" I shout, to no one in particular. But whoever thought of this prank must have stayed close to see his or her brilliant plan in action. I look around for any signs that a person had been here, a person had dropped this on my door on purpose. There was no way this single flower got here without anyone bringing it. I didn't realize I was crying. Hot tears ran down my cheeks and I could feel the heat inside of me wanting to burst, if I ever found out who did this they are going to wish they had never met me. I wipe the tears away harshly, and pick up the flower, ripping it apart and throwing them as hard as I can away from me. Away from our house. The wind carries the petals away and I sit down on the porch watching them fly away. I cry for a long time, pulling my knees together until I hear the familiar sound of Nathan's car pulling up our driveway. Without a minute's hesitation he was beside me, asking me what was wrong. What was wrong? I didn't know. Why was I so mad?

He helps me to my feet and practically drags me inside our house locking the door behind him. He sits me on the couch where Spot had been lying down since he got back in minutes ago. I stare at the floor, the bouquet of jasmine flowers pictured in my head. Chunky licks my hands in comfort and I stroke his golden fur.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Nathan asks as he sits beside me, a glass of water in hand. He offers it to me which I gladly accepted, chugging it all down.

"Someone rang the doorbell." I start, remembering my left over pasta that was probably still on the counter. "When I went to check it out, no one was there." I continue, looking at the now empty glass in my hand. Nathan remained quiet, gently stroking my back. "But- but there was a bouquet." I look at him now, his face was painted with worry. Eyebrows furrowed. "A bouquet of Jasmine, Nate." My voice cracks at the word Jasmine. And I cry again, he pulls me closer to him his arms a warm blanket, easily enveloping my thin frame.

"Shh..." He soothes, rubbing my back gently. I bury my face in his chest when Spoy starts barking at the door again. I look over to him, my heart beating out of my chest. Nathan lets go of me as he walks over to Spot, giving him a pat on the head before opening the door. I watch as he bends down, retrieving something from the ground. It was a piece of paper, tied in a ribbon.

"What is it?" I ask, my voice faltering. He opens the small piece of paper and reads the contents before his eyes flicked over to me. He shakes his head before keeping the paper in his pocket.

"What is it?" I ask again and he looks at me hesitantly before coming over to hand the piece of paper. I take it from him, hands shaking and open it.

11- 24-2011 Do you wanna play a game?

My heart drops. I stare at the letter and read it again and again. My heart clenching every time I did.

November 24,2011, the day we met.

I swallow as I realized my mouth had gone completely dry.

----

November 24, 2011

My hand braces the side of the bowl and I groan in disgust as my dinner, along with maybe bits of my lunch, flow out of my mouth. This was not supposed to happen. I was not supposed to get this drunk. My throat burned and I needed a glass of water, badly. If only I could stop throwing up. My hands clasp the bowl again as I puked, my hair getting in the way. This was just disgusting. So much for college freshmen initiation.

"Are you okay?"

I force myself to look at the blurry figure that had just entered the door. I let out a moan that could be comparable to a whale as I threw up again. I felt warm hands on my back as my hair is brushed off my face.

"Oh wow. Are all parties this messy?" Her voice came again and it reminded me of one of those disney princesses. I close my eyes as the pounding in my head got more aggressive. I smiled at her, at least I think I did as her hands wrapped around my waist.

"Do you still need to puke?" She asks and I wait for a moment to be sure before I shook my head. She helps me up, barely carrying my weight as she grunts and drags me half way out the bathroom. A stranger is actually helping me, where are those good for nothing bitches that call themselves my friends. I was thrown off and landed on a soft mattress. Where was I? Whose house was this again? I hear the door close and I wait before someone turns me over and adjusts me so that I could sit up properly. A glass was placed on my lips and I drank it graciously.

"Thank you." I mutter to the walking red head. I could just barely make out her face, but one thing is for sure- she is a red head. I let out a sigh of relief when I finally laid down on the bed. I feel a damp cloth on my face. It moves around as I realized she was cleaning me. I must remember to thank her. Red head.

I woke up with the worst hangover of my life. I pushed myself off the bed and quickly assessed the situation but none of my memories came as I leave the room. People were sprawled on the floor. It was probably the best house party ever thrown. It was moments when I remembered whose house it was. My friend, Sasha. I sway around the halls, looking for her and went to her room. I pushed the door open and held back my surprise. Sasha was there, naked and asleep but that was not the thing that surprised me, it was rather the 'bed' she was lying on top on. My current boyfriend, Mark. Fuck.

I waited for a couple of minutes, crushing the unreasonable pain I felt in my heart. I walk over and pull the blanket off them. Sasha screams in horror and tries to cover herself as Mark rubs sleep off his eyes. I take out my phone and snap a picture of them. A growing smirk on my face. Mark suddenly realizes who I was and tries to apologize.

"Oh do shut up, Mark. I'll announce our break up for us." I say with a sweet smile. They should know better than to mess with me. The horror on Sashas face was pure delight. I turned to them before I left the room, holding the picture out.

"You think I'll get banned from posting this?" I ask kindly. Their faces could very well be used in a horror ad. I give a soft laugh as I kept my phone in my pocket.

"You wouldn't." Sasha threatens as she wraps a blanket over her, Mark still seemed to be in a daze. I watch her, my smile never faltering.

"Oh Sasha. You very well know, I would." The anger in my voice was masked by my incredible ability to hide emotions. I turn away from them as she tries to get up and I bolt out the door, almost tempted to laugh. My threats were never empty but even I had a heart. I ran out of the house, turning a corner to where my street was and bump into someone. We both scream as I felt hot liquid spill over me.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry!" She stammers, already trying to wipe off the coffee. I slap her hand away.

"Fuck." I curse and she moves a step back but doesn't run away. "Watch where you're going!" I scream as I felt hot tears sting my eyes.

"Are you okay?" She asks and the voice sounded familiar. I look up and her hair almost blinded me. Red head. I wipe the tears away from my eyes and started apologizing.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scream at you. Its just that, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." I explain sheepishly and was surprised by the genuine smile in her face. She had freckles all over her cheeks and nose and the greenest eyes I ever saw.

"Its okay. I was actually on my way back to bring you that coffee." She said as she stared at the spilled coffee on the ground. My guilt grew and I swear I must have blushed 50 shades of red.

"Oh god. I'm so sorry." I apologize again and she shakes it off. The smile unfaltering as she gives me a shrug. Wait, why was she being so kind?

"Uhm. Why are you?.." I ask and it was her turn to be embarrassed.

"Oh. Well, I cleaned you up last night and you sort of told me that you would need your coffee tomorrow. And seeing the state you were in, I decided to do it." She explains. She could very well be a saint.

"You didn't have to. I was drunk." I start and she laughs it off, I found myself laughing with her.

"All the more reason, don't you think? Besides we live near each other. Your mom has always been kind to me." She explains and I swear to god I was the worst possible neighbor ever for I never knew of her existence.

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry but I don't know your name." I say and she gives me one of her smiles again before reaching out to shake my hand.

"Jasmine."

"Patricia." I reply, shaking her hand.

"Why were you running?" She asks suddenly and my eyes grow wide.

"Patricia!" I hear someone scream and with no hesitation I grab Jasmines hand and run, pulling her with me.

"Well, if we stay here you are sure to find out." I say as we ran and I let out a loud laugh, Jasmine would probably think I was crazy but she ran with me anyway.

When we arrived at the coffee shop we were breathless and I could not contain my laughter. I offered to pay for her drink for the drink I spilled earlier and with a little persuasion and maybe blocking her way to the counter, she finally agreed.

We sat near the open windows, my mind pounding slightly as I placed a hand on it to rub my temples.

"Hang over?" She asked, I looked over to her as she sipped her coffee. Why was she so familiar? I give her a brief nod before taking my cup to my lips.

"Whats your story? Why were you at the party, you neither look like you drank or even went out to parties." I say as I sip my coffee.

"My cousin forced me to come with her. She always wanted to be part of the crowd. I agreed because her mom wouldn't let her go without me." She starts, as her fingers gently tapped the table.

"So you say we live near each other? How come I have never seen you?" I really did find it odd. I almost knew everyone on our block and most of their parents think I should not be friends with their children.

"Oh, it's a couple of houses away. I live with my grandma. She's old and your mom visits her sometimes. I rarely go out, so that may be one of the reasons."

"We should do something about that then." I say mischievously and she offers me a smile. I check my watch and see that I was already late for my make up class.

"Fuck."

She looks up at me almost suddenly, a worried look on her face. Wow, she probably was a saint.

"Sorry." I apologized, looking at my watch again. "I'm supposed to be taking a make up class for math right now. I'm already an hour late so I probably wont bother." I shrug as her worried look didn't seem to disperse.

"So, Jasmine. We still got the whole day ahead of us. And I am bored!" I say cheerily after a moment of silence. She smiles at this, making me think of a child at a candy store.

"Do you wanna play a game?" She suggests and I knew this was going to be quite a friendship, and its just the beginning of college.

**