[CHARLOTTE EVANS' POV]

I shared a love/hate relationship with Fridays.

Every week my Mondays used to begin with the lingering sadness that marked the end of the weekends and a sense of longing for the next Friday to arrive. Filling up my spirit again with the strength of making out alive throughout an entire week spent at the school amidst over- competitive classmates with absolutely zero sense of compassion, and a bunch of unbearable classes, was quite a tough task. So, the only hope I had was to wait for the next Friday to come, that would mark the end of the exhausting week.

Just like every story has a villain, my relationship with Fridays had a 'But' too. Call it a coincidence or label it as a superstition, but everything bad happened to me on Fridays. I had a few examples to cite as well to support my argument, like, give years ago on a night Friday I fell down the stairs in front of all my friends, then, two years ago I scored less than half on a maths test. I finally got to know the truth behind Samuel Barconn on a Friday night too and lastly, who can forget that one encounter with Christian and his goons last week?

My head was getting heavier with each thought I gave in to the matter. Shaking my head a couple of times, I decided to move towards my first class for the day. I still had enough time on my hands but going in early didn't sound like a bad idea either, knowing that none of my friends were in the sight.

Is it just me or the hallway looks super packed today?

I thought.

My mind couldn't really register the reason behind the sudden chirrupings and muffled noises, when I heard the sound of the grumpy grey clouds colliding against eachother in rage. In no time, a strong scent of petrichor hit my nose, announcing the arrival of the clattering rainfall that followed soon after.

A frown found its way to my face.

As if I wasn't already paranoid today. I thought.

Fridays + Rainfall? Certainly the worst combination.
I found my feet following up the small cluster of people towards the entrance when-

"My lord!" I cried, startled by the sudden figure that emerged before me. "Jaxon River Hayes! You took away my soul!"

A huge grin crawled upon his lips as if I had just given him the compliment of the lifetime. "Dang it, Char! Soul wasn't what I was aiming for. I wanted to take away someone's heart."

"Too bad." I got up on my toes and picked on his ear, making him wince in pain. "You told me I'm your sister."

Finally leaving my grip on his ear, I was back in my feet. He scowled at me, scratching the back of his ear. "I'm not talking about you."

"Perfect!" Clapping my hands together, I said in excitement. "You can ask Eleanor out anytime. I thought Louis and her would be awesome together but my brother is an A grade jerk who doesn't value her and-"

"Eleanor Carter herself is a witch."

I squinted my eyes at him. "That was mean, Jax. Now, get aside, I want to see what's going on there." I said pointing an finger towards the entrance, just where his back was. He turned his head to look at the direction where my finger was pointed towards before looking back at me.

"Uh..um- Char, say Aaaaa."

"Wha-"

Before I could complete my sentence, he shoved a biscuit in my mouth, which was in fact too big, even for me. My eyes almost popped out in surprise.

"BOT ISH BISH?"

"A cookie. I baked it with my own hands." He said raising both his arms to the level of his  shoulders and wiggling his fingers, with a boyish grin still plastered on his face.

I failed to understand how did he even comprehend me through a mouth stuffed with food.

"I lobed ish." I say, still chewing the chocolate cookie.

"Now, let me move." Before he could protest, I dragged him through his arm and moved him away from my way.

I couldn't give an excuse because the rainfall warned me and in some way Jax did too.

My eyes fell on him before they could register Eleanor's presence. His blue-green eyes widened in alarm as they scanned my face. I immediately averted my gaze off him,  however I couldn't block the disappointment crossing his marble face, from my view.

My feet automatically picked up their pace as I started walking. Moving past him, I went to greet El.

"Eleanor Carter!" I say as my friend threw her slender arms around me, testing her head on my shoulder. "Where the heck were you since the past days?" I leaped away from her and smacked her shoulder. "How's your grandmother?"

That was right. Eleanor had gone out of the town with both her parents to see her grandma. She was a clumsy woman, not my words but El's, just like me, who had managed to slip down the flight of stairs that landed her in a hospital.

"Whoa, hold on tiger. She's good. Tell me what are you doing with this scum bag?" She said eying Jax.

"See, I told you she's a witch." Grunted Jaxon.

Eleanor rolled her eyes. Soon a creepy smile crawled up her face. "So, where is Blakey boy?"

"Hello, love, Jax!" The three of us stared back at the person to whom the voice belonged.

"Char?" Eleanor screamed, almost making me deaf. "What the hell is he doing here? And why isn't he blonde anymore?"

I pursed my lips, still not sure of how'd I reply.

She would've known if she hadn't left Olivia's party early.

"I avoid plague. I am gonna leave." Jaxon said before leaving, making my jaw drop onto the floor. He just avoided his best friend?

"Jaxon!" Finn rushed after him. "Jax, I'm sorry!"

Eleanor looked at me, as though asking me to explain but I ended up shrugging.

****

English was the first class I had that day. As usual I sat down at the first seat from the left, just where the blackboard was. It was a habit of mine to always pick that seat. However, because of two main and the only reasons to ever exist- first one being the fact that I always felt that I could concentrate better being just in front, under the teacher's gaze and second, my eye sight permitted a good vision just till this place.

But still, I never really wore spectacles.

"Move aside." Two words and a stern voice, that my conscience knew whom it belonged to, stole my attention. A frown framed my face, however, I was still not sure whether it was because of his presence or the sterness his voice held.

"Sorry?" Absent mindedly, I spoke. As much as the Charlotte Evans from the last week wanted to tease this guy in front of her, the person I was, after hearing his hurtful words didn't even want to waste an effort.

"Just move aside, alright?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, with my skepticism visible.

"What?" He said, "I want to sit here. Why else would I want you to shift?"

Involuntarily blinking a couple of times, I nodded. A smug expression faltered over his face for just a fraction of a second before disappearing forever. I got up from my seat, throwing the bag over over my shoulder and clenching my opened books between my arm and the side of my waist and moved.

I was in no state to fight to be honest. My mood was considerably fine, well, thanks to Jaxon whose cookie still had the magic of its sweetness in my mouth, untill Finn Walker showed up.

Unexpectedly enough, I felt his grip on my wrist as I intended to move, making me super sensitive to his touch. You know the feeling when you're about to go down a rollercoaster? And there you have a hammering heart beneath your chest and a tingling sensation at the pit of your stomach? That's what it felt like.

My head snapped to look at his face that had uncertainty and dubiousness painted all over it. I sharply glanced at his hold over me, letting him know how much I hated it, because he immediately withdrew his hand away from mine.

"What do you think I'll do with an empty seat?"

"Uh, I don't know. Let's guess what can one do with an empty seat, maybe, sit?"

He rolled his eyes at my remark.

"Yeah, no. I am sitting with you, no matter where you're headed to."

Just when I finally thought of a suitable reply, our English teacher, Mr Watson who had been teaching me since last year, entered the room. The students stood up and greeted him before falling back to their places.

"Oh, Finn?" Surprisingly Mr. Watson called. "Nice to see you back. Finally the class average is going to shoot up."

"Yes sir." He replied pressing his lips together, making the teacher nod.

"Who is it you're sitting with anyway?" Mr. Watson finally noticed me. "Oh, it's Charlotte. As good as you both individually are, I can't allow nuisance in my class, again, and of course I don't want to give either of you detention. So, you two need to sit in two separate corners of the class."

Finn gave me one last disappointed look before throwing his own bag over his shoulder and marching off to the other direction grumpily like an angry five year old, just like Kevin when he's not given what he wants.

Who is he and what has he done to the infamous Finn Alex Walker?

*****

"Evans, wait up!"

I sensed his footsteps matching with my own as he called out for me behind, pretending to have not heard a single word that came out of his mouth and kept walking. A part of me, a very tiny, irresponsible and insignificant one wanted to have him beside me and maybe that's why my pace retarded.

It had been a few minutes since our last class ended.

"Char! Stop ignoring me, okay!" His words brought me to a halt.

Turning towards him, I opened my mouth to say something when his words back from the other day came rushing back to me. He thought I didn't have any self respect, right? I'd show him what it's like having one.

For some odd reason that I probably would've figured out long ago if that guy wasn't so complex, he had been following me. I would've put my finger on apologizing but Finn Walker rarely spoke nicely to someone, let alone asking for an apology which just left one option: he wanted something from me.

It was like I took an oath in my mind to avoid him at all the costs. I couldn't have myself being treated like nothing by him. If I had to stay away from this particular human, I had to come up with an idea that would make him stop trying and for that I needed to think like him because Finn Walker didn't really flared the white flag to mark his defeat.

So, I decided on ignoring him.

"You can't do this to me!" He let out a frustrated groan as I looked at him blankly.

Oh yes, I can. And I will!

"I just wanted to talk to you and it's important and I think I'll die if I don't, not my words but dad's but anyway-"

You're still talking dumbass.

"I know I'm still talking." Confusion washed over me. What? he was Edward Cullen now? "But I want you to respond."

And I did. By walking away from him.

*****

As ridiculous as it might sound but an year ago Finn Barconn and I had every class together and it was the same when he came back. I knew all of it was a well knitted plan.

"Char come on! I need to tell you something." His voice sounded urgent as he followed me. Yes, he'd been after me since the morning, burning every single brain cell I had.

You could've said it a long time ago, idiot and left me alone. I thought.

I told you Fridays and rainfalls wasn't the best combo.

"You see, I'm too bad at talking. Let's just say it's not my strongest point. You're the one who's a talker among the two of us. You've always been the better-"

I had no clue what he was talking about, I was the walking absent-mindedly. The day had proven to be ten times weirder than I thought it to be. It was still raining cats and dogs, my friends were no where in the sight since the morning and on the top of it Finn Walker was following me like a wagging tail behind a dog.

I was lost deep in my thoughts when I finally noticed a girl, who had happened to be assigned as my partner for a chemistry assignment, approaching me.

"Hey, Charlotte!" Anastasia or Anna she preferred to be called, greeted. I didn't call her Anna though. It reminded me of Rihanna, Kevin's mom because that name was reserved for her in my life.

"Who do you have there?" Her eyes lit up when they fell on the six feet something guy standing behind me. I never realised that my back was brushing against his chest, so I detached myself from him as soon as I knew.

Let's just say I wasn't a big fan of Anastasia Wilde.

If she thought she could have Mr. W
Walker, she was out of her mind.

What the-

Finn walker was surprisingly quiet for being the talkative person he had been few seconds ago. Where did all the blabbering suddenly disappeared?

"Is that the infamous Finn Barconn? Minus the blonde?" She squealed.

"No it's Finn Walker actually. Minus the Barconn. None for you actually." I stared at him, as if not appealed by his sudden rudeness towards her, which was obviously fake on my side, as that tiny insignificant part of me which still sided with him wanted to laugh.

He just shrugged.

"Anastasia, by the way." She said introducing herself to him.

He didn't reply. Oh boy.

"Anyway, have you completed the assignment, Char?"

"Uh, sorry." I said squeezing my eyes shut remembering. "Yes. Yes, I have I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"Expected." She mumbled. I swear I would've smacked her across the face. She extended her hand as if to ask for something.

"What?" I asked.

She frowned. "Where's my copy?"

"Copy of what? I e-mailed you the work yesterday. You had to bring your own copy." I replied, trying to maintain the calm. The found persisting on Finn's face didn't go unnoticed by me.

"I e-mailed you yesterday at midnight! My printer was not working! You checked you're mail right?"

"I am sorry, Anastasia." I said.

Why? Finn mouthed.

"Will your sorry save my grades?"

I fell quiet.

Biting my lower lip, I turned to face the boy standing by my side who just calmly blinked once, asking me to relax.

"I swear you're such an A grade bitch, Evans. I knew you didn't like me. You just don't want me to score-"

"I told you that I'm sorry, okay? You don't need to blame it all on me when you weren't the one who did all the work? You expect me to brink prints for you as well? Last time I checked, I had no mails in my inbox which means that either you have mailed me past my bed time or you're lying. You should just be-"

"Shut up, alright? I am not here to listen to your speech. What about my grades? I won't be able to submit my papers just because you decided to be a selfish bitc-"

"You call her that once again and I'll punch a girl first time in my life." He spoke, pulling me aside by my arm, jumping in between me and her.

I could've handled it on my own, my way.

"Stay away from this, Finn. We all know you hate her too." She said rolling her eyes.

"Just thank the god for being a girl." He muttered through his gritted teeth and clenched jaw, making his jaw line even more significant than before.

"Actually no, thank him that I'm a guy, otherwise you wouldn't have recognised yourself in the mirror after using the stupid term for her." He spat, eyeing me. "Get lost from here, Anesthesia. We know you're nauseating and the papers would be delivered to you before the Chemistry class ends."

Oh, I could've laughed so hard at the last part where he called him anesthesia but he looked so intimidating that I decided to keep my mouth shut and watch her stomping away.

However, I still had no idea how he was going to bring her the papers.

"And you!" He spat turning towards me as his eyes bore into mine. His eyes were actually my most favourite feature of him, electric blue with little specs of green in them. They gave in all about how he felt from inside.

And at the moment his irises darkened which meant that he was clearly mad at me.

"What the hell do you think a sorry means, huh?" I was perplexed. What was he saying?

"It's still the morning and you've literally apologized to every person you came across. You've apologized to this stupid girl for something she did! Do you even know you're just reducing the importance that the word beholds!" He looked away.

"Why are you so keen on reducing your worth for someone who doesn't even deserves it? Why couldn't you just slap her across the face for talking to you like that or you're just saving the efforts for hitting me? Why do you do this?"

"Look who's talking." I dared to mumbled. However, it didn't go unheard. "You think you know what does a sorry means then, Mr. Walker?"

"Have you ever even tried apologizing to someone?" I snapped.

"No." He said quietly. "But yes, I have tried and I have been putting in all the efforts I could muster up so that I can stand in front of you and look you in the eyes and tell you that I'm sorry for letting out those words out of my mouth. I knew that you were just looking after me. That you you just care for me but out of all the people, Char, you know the best that how stubborn I am. I am more of a cynic than anything. I don't easily trust people."

I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. I just waited for him to go on.
"You waste your efforts on people who don't deserve you." His voice was heavy but no angry. "You wasted yourself on me! And that was the reason why I wanted you to stay away."

He was quiet and so was his voice. "I am an idiot. I shouldn't have challenged your dignity when you were just keeping up with me. Because that's what friends do, right? Look out for eachother."

"Who said we were friends?"

Shit. Out of all the things, I chose to say the worst words possible. His face hardened and the his Adam's apple bobbled as he tried to gulp and I immediately wanted to take them back.

The expression that crossed his face made me sick. It hurt. I didn't want to see him hitting because of me ever again but I couldn't forgive him either.

When he told me that was wasting my time with him, constantly trying to change who he, as in individual was, it broke my heart. I wanted to cry as if it would lighten the weight on my chest but it only grew heavier.

And so when I said that I wished he never came back, I meant it. If I couldn't see him hurt, I couldn't see myself hurting after someone else either.

"I am sorry-"

"Give up, already, Finn. I gave you space, you give me some too-"

"I am sorry-" His sudden interruption took me of guard."-I am sorry but I am not giving up, because if I break the bridge and give you some space now, I know we would never be able to walk over the water and get over ourselves again."

A/N

Hello everyone! I'm back with a new chapter. I know I'm late but it really takes me a lot of time to type on phone :(

Anyway, hope you liked this chapter. It will be divided into two or maybe three parts.

Here are some questions if you like to answer.

1. Jax is ignoring Finn. Do you think their friendship would eventually mend or will it get strained?

2. Charlotte is in no mood to forgive or forget. Who are y'all with? Finn or Char?

3. Anyone liking this new and improved beta version of Finn Walker?

4. Anastasia or Anesthesia? Did Finn do good?

5. Do you agree with Finn when he said that Char didn't lash out enough on her but hits him for no reason?

6. What do you think, should Finn give her some space of her own or he's right by constantly persisting her.

Thank you so so much for reading, supporting and voting.

I love you all. Just throw a little love on my other book Hell Bent too. I like writing it but there's no point if no one's reading :(

Stay healthy and happy !