CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Somehow, Hannah found her feet automatically making their way to Rayne's room every day as soon as the two classes had retired back to the hotel. And so, it became somewhat of a temporary routine for her whenever she needed to escape Ashlyn.

The two formed a friendship so strong over the few nights that Hannah could scarcely believe she'd even considered Ashlyn to be her best friend for so many years. That façade could never compare to the genuine bond she had built with Rayne over such a short period of time, throughout the past few months. She found it easy to talk to him; something about him made confessions slip off her lips as though it took no effort at all, despite the many years Hannah had spent perfecting the walls around her.

During the days she spent the time with her class, wandering around the beautiful city and making notes for her English class on every bit of scrap paper she could find, camera consistently around her neck. Her bedroom wall back in London was still empty from where she had ripped every old photo off and she was determined to fill it with new photos of moments that mattered. And most of all, people that mattered.

In the evenings she avoided Ashlyn by talking to Rayne in his hotel room, their voices rising as the time passed by and the stars danced in the night sky above. After everything that had happened throughout the year, Hannah found herself entirely comfortable around him, and so, conversation flowed freely. They spoke about their families, about school, their futures and he even told her about Diellza, who Hannah had been right in guessing she was his ex-girlfriend.

Hannah only returned to her own room when her eyes grew tired and she was sure Ashlyn would be sleeping, her feet padding softly on the plush carpets. It was always a bit of a slap in the face whenever she saw Ash asleep, long blonde locks spread across the satin pillowcase and simplicity painted across her face. How so much malice could be hidden behind such an innocent expression was beyond her but she tried not to think about it as she crept back to her own bed, not wanting to wake the girl beside her.

In these moments in the wee hours of the almost-but-not-quite morning state, she always fell into a deep slumber with the late night conversations in Rayne's room on her mind and an honest-to-God real smile painted on her lips.

It was currently the last day in Rome and both Mr Daniels and Mrs DePalma had allowed their respective classes to enjoy the entire day whilst they had the free time before having to board the plane the following morning. The two classes squeezed in some final sightseeing before retreating for the evening in a local bar, laughter spilling from their bodies as music vibrated the dancefloor beneath them.

Hannah was a little tired, eyes threatening to drift shut but she forced them open, staring at the closest light in hopes it would help. She had gone to bed even later than usual the previous night, annoyed after a snide comment Ashlyn had made about Hannah slumming it with 'the fuckin' scholarship kid.' She'd managed to contain herself by some miracle and had ignored the insulting way her former friend's lip curled up with disgust at the thought of Hannah downgrading by choosing Rayne, or more specifically, his family income.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by a shuffling from beside her as Mohammad shifted in his seat, the only outward sign that he was uncomfortable in the dimly lit bar. Hannah nudged him with her knee from where she sat on the bar stool, trying to speak over the pounding music and the chattering from her classmates. "You alright?"

He nodded and gave her a carefully crafted smirk, as if to say of course but Hannah had always been the master of pretence and could see through it immediately. And clearly, she wasn't the only one, as Becky jumped up from her stool with a frown. She tugged at the leather mini skirt hugging her bronze skin and leaned forward until she was standing in the middle of the two boys. "Do you lot wanna get out of here?" Becky asked, eyes darting to Mohammad and the way his lips were pressed tight together every time the bartender sloshed another glass of alcohol their way.

The four of them stared at each other with blank looks, Rayne's fingers still wrapped around the glass he had barely drank from. The majority of their class was drinking and dancing, bodies swaying with no inhibitions against the flashing lights but they'd all had enough.

Hannah wasn't one to take much of a liking to alcohol however, preferring to remain in control of her actions and words at all times. Reputation had always been drilled into her, a remainder from her days as one of The Elite. "What should we do instead?"

Rayne pushed his glass forward and slid off the stool, stretching his tired limbs in the navy t-shirt he was wearing. "Wanna go back and check the hotel out, properly this time?"

Becky nodded before the other two could get a word in, her braids fluttering against the bronze of her bare shoulders. "Let's go swimming! We've still not had a chance to check the pool out so let's do that while everyone else gets piss drunk."

Mohammad nodded, standing up and pulling his jacket closer around him, as though to shield his body from the wild atmosphere. "I'm in."

The four of them made their way outside, walking along cobbled pavements with the sunset painting streaks of orange and gold against their skin. The swimming pool of the hotel was fairly empty, barely a handful of people out due to the slight chill of the air. But Hannah liked it; she liked the way the soft pink sky reflected in the clear water, the way the air hummed with a slight breeze against her hair and the way the smell of chlorine rose.

Once they had all gotten their swimming costumes and towels from their respective rooms, Hannah grateful that her roommate wasn't there for a change, they sat on the pool chairs and chattered away.

Rayne tried not to look at Hannah, he really did but it was difficult. All he could think about was her hair glistening beneath the slowly setting sun, her stark white bikini contrasting against the glowing brown of her skin, at the way her legs seemed to go on forever. He shook his head at the thought, pushing it all away as they all spoke amongst each other about everything under the sun.

Hannah laughed suddenly, hands curling up to tie her hair high to avoid getting the ends wet as she lingered by the poolside. Becky had already jumped in the pool, her bright yellow bikini gleaming beneath the water despite the slowly setting sun. Mohammad was sitting on the edge of the pool, his legs wet and his feet kicking water towards Becky who only rolled her eyes in reply.

"You gettin' in?" Hannah asked Rayne, the only one still dressed.

He stared at her, barely retaining her words before quickly coming back to his senses. "Huh? Oh. Yeah, 'course," he finally mumbled, trying to look anywhere but at her almost-bare body.

He kicked his shoes off against the pile of towels and clothes that had built up before tugging his t-shirt off, pulling it over his head. Becky and Mohammad wolf-whistled simultaneously to embarrass him, laughter rising from their throats as Rayne blushed scarlet at the attention. Trust them to always try to make things awkward!

"Hey, I didn't know you had a tattoo," Hannah exclaimed, in between giggles as she stepped closer to examine the black on his chest, her flip flops bouncing against the poolside.

Rayne nodded, one hand rubbing the back of his neck as she stepped close; so close he could smell the chlorine wafting off her damp hair, so close he could see every pore on her even skin. "Yeah," he answered, as they slowly descended the steps into the warm water and he tried to avert his eyes from her body. "They're two doves. Got them as soon as I turned eighteen, for my sisters, y'know?"

The black ink detailing the two birds were curled towards each other, almost like a ying and yang symbol. It was beautiful.

"I've always wanted a tattoo," Hannah thought out loud, her mind drifting off as she swam a few laps without paying much attention. Mohammad had jumped in from where he had been sitting at the edge of the pool and was kicking water towards Becky, beaming innocently when she glared daggers at him and proceeded to throw one of her sandals at his bare chest. Hannah and Rayne were waist deep in, torsos soaked and hair slightly damp as they simultaneously rolled their eyes at their friends.

Mohammad did a few more laps, sticking his tongue out childishly when Hannah kicked some water towards his face in an attempt to distract him. His dark hair began to curl, falling in front of his eyes as he swam back to them. "How you doing?" He asked Hannah, his voice the only sound apart from the soft coursing of the water beneath them. The other hotel residents had left the pool by now, leaving the group of teenagers twisting and turning the water alone. "I mean, with the whole sharing a room with Ashlyn thing. Is she still being a slag as always, a bitch with a capital B, a dragon with them eyes that look like she's about to murder you every five seconds?"

Hannah only laughed, fingers running through the tangles of her wet hair. "Yeah but nothing I didn't expect. The past few nights me and Rayne ended up talking until late and then by the time I got back, Ash was asleep, thank God. Or at least, she pretended to be, whatevs, I don't care anyway."

Becky giggled, adjusting the straps on her neon bikini as she did so. "Just talking, eh?" Her eyebrows wriggled suggestively and Hannah could feel the tips of her ears burning.

"Of course," she nodded, pursing her lips to try to contain a blush. It was true after all, they had only sat and talked as the nights seemed to blur past. She had learned more about him in those two nights than ever before and vice versa, both steadily growing closer than either of them could have ever imagined. "Just talking."

Mohammad groaned as Becky nudged his bare chest with her shoulder, a triumphant look painted across her face. "You owe me a tenner, mate!"

Rayne looked between the two with horror painting his face, the reddish tips of his hair darkening as it lay flat against his head. "Did you... did you two idiots really bet on us?"

His best friend nodded with no shame at all, dancing a little in the water as she beamed at him. "Duh. This loser here thought you two would have done the deed by now but I figured that you're still way too intimidated by Hannah and it'll take a bit longer. So hold on with the hanky panky so I can get my money, eh?"

Hannah spluttered, chloride slipping between her lips as she realised what they were talking about. "What?!" She yelped, trying not to choke on the pool water as Rayne's eyes widened, a mortified expression painted across his crimson cheeks.

"We're friends," he finally managed to say, with a strong urge to drown his best friend if she snorted at his comment any louder. "We didn't... we wouldn't... I mean... oh God, shut up!" He buried his face in his hands as Mohammad sniggered, the cool water thankfully not allowing his body to heat up too much.

"You wouldn't, my arse," was Mohammad's only answer, grinning as he embarrassed the two further. Hannah had been one of his closest friends for years and now that her and Rayne had a thing going on, he revelled in the joy of being able to tease them both. "You haven't taken your eyes off her all day and I'm pretty sure you almost dropped dead when you saw her get in the pool. Just get on with it so I save a tenner, alright? Cheers, bro."

Rayne only rolled his eyes at that, trying to control the embarrassment that swept over him. He knew it wasn't true; he had avoided looking at her as much as possible in case he ogled her half naked body enough for her to notice. And thankfully she hadn't seemed to, instead chattering away to them all with the confidence of a girl who hadn't been as hurt as she had.

It was amazing really, he couldn't help thinking to himself, that she had managed to stay afloat for so long. He couldn't imagine how it must have been for her as a toddler, knowing her mother didn't want to even look at her. Something inside him ached at that, thinking of all the things she had to teach herself and all the roles Cameron had taken it on himself to fulfil despite being the same age. He thought about Ashlyn and Gabriel, and mostly how the two had done everything they could to hurt her. And yet, she was still standing strong, shaking slightly but standing all the same.

Incredible. She was incredible.

"Oh shut up," she answered, forcefully swaying her arms and splashing them both with water before they could have a chance to react. There was silence for a minute as droplets dripped down their faces until they registered what she had done, limbs flailing as they threw water towards her in response, causing their own waves.

And so, the four of them proceeded to have a water fight, bathed in soft moonlight, each grateful to have each other.