I open my eyes and blink a few times. I roll over and my eyes went wide when I realised Axel wasn't laying where he said he would be. His side of the bed was messy, looks like he slept in it-- but where is he? Did something happen to him?

Suddenly all my thoughts are pushed away when he appears out of the bathroom. He heads to the window and draws open the large, heavy curtains letting the sunlight in.

"Ahhh! Noo!" I shrieked, shielding my eyes from the bright light. It's way too early for this.

"Oh! Good morning princess! How you feeling?" Axel asks, taking a seat on his side of the bed.

"Well, if you must know- I have a bad headache and I'm still not ready to get up" I said, throwing a pillow on top of my head.

Axel pulled the pillow away from my face and brushed the strands of hair, tucking them behind my ear.

"Don't you have classes to attend?" He asks curiously.

"I do, but I'm skipping" I said in a low tone.  Wow. I would have never said that if I were my old self. Alot has changed.

"Oh okay. Well I'm gonna head back home, you're cool to walk to campus right?" Axel said with a smirk.

I sat up and glared at him. This guy is unbelievable.

"Are you seriously gonna let me walk?" I asked him.

He looked at me seriously then a cheeky smile played across his lips. I picked up a pillow and threw it at him, aiming directly at his neatly combed hair.

"Oy! Watch the hair" He said, standing up from the bed.

"Then take back what you said about walking!" I threatened with another pillow in my hand, ready to be thrown. This time I was standing on the bed, as if ready to pounce.

Axel let out a loud laugh before nodding in agreement.

"Alright darling, you win. I'll drop you off at school" He said, raising his hands up in defeat.

"Good" I replied, obviously happy I won the argument.

"Now go take a shower. James left some clothes for you to change into" Axel said, throwing me a spare towel.

I pick up the towel and looked him in the eyes.

"Whose clothes am I gonna be wearing?" I asked curiously.

Axel smirked at me as if my question was dumb. It's not, right?

"Some random girl he was f--"

"Okayyyy that's enough! I get it!" I said, cutting him off and walking slowly towards the bathroom.

***

After I showered and got dressed, I walked into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Axel was on the phone. He ended the call soon after I had entered the room.

"What's up?" I asked. 

"Oh nothing much, just mum wondering where I am since I didn't come home last night" Axel said, taking a sip of his coffee. 

"Oh.. well we better head off now so you can get back to her" I suggested, finishing off my glass of water.

Axel sets his cup down in the sink before walking in the direction of James' room.

"Let me go let this clown know we're leaving" he said.

Axel returned about a minute later and stood in front of my face. 

"What's wrong now?" I asked with furrowed brows. This guy is weird.

"James wants to see you. .. don't worry, he's fully dressed and there's no gir--"

"Okay, okay! I think I get it" I said, walking over to James' room.

Axel just stood there and laughed at me. I swear this guy can be annoying sometimes.

I walked up few stairs to his room and knocked on the door. In a second, James calls me in. 

"Hey James, what's up?" I asked, taking a seat on his couch. 

James was sitting in front of his computer, with his camera plugged to it. I guess he was kind of busy. He turned to me and smiled. His blue eyes looked like the sea, blue and calm.

"Good morning, love. I wanted to ask you something" James said, fiddling with his fingers. 
He must be nervous with whatever he's going to ask me. 

"Um. .. Okay, go ahead" I said with a warm smile.

"Well, Kaia. ..I know we got off on the wrong foot, and we fixed things again-- but I'd like to go back to the beginning one more time". 

I looked at James, slightly puzzled. I had no idea what he was talking about or what he was trying to ask me, if that was even part of it. 

"You must be confused. What I'm trying to say is that I would be absolutely grateful if you'd model for me. Just a few times" he said, then looked down while waiting for my answer.

I stared at him for a while before speaking again.

"Is this the price for staying the night here?" I asked.

"Oh, no no. .. this has nothing to do with that. You and Axel and every one of my mates are welcome here, anytime" James said, standing up from his seat.

"Oh, alright" I said.

"It's just that I'm running low on fresh faces and darling you are stunning. I would love it if you could be the face of my website, or just be on my website, please?" James asks, taking a seat beside me on the couch.

I looked at him and thought about what he was saying. I'm not sure mom and dad would be happy about it. Unless I can get him to photograph me in a non-provocative way. That would be great.

"James, I'd love to but I don't think I can model for the type of pictures you're trying to produce" I said, glancing over at his work hung all over the walls of his room. 

"You don't have to Kaia, with that pretty face- no one will care about what you're wearing, the focus will be mostly on you" James said with a smile. 

"Well, alright. I'll call you with my answer by Saturday. I'm heading home for the break, I leave today" I said, standing up from the couch. 

"Yes! definitely! I'll be waiting for your call" James said.

"Okay, bye James, thanks again for everything" I said, giving him a hug.

"Take care Kaia, okay?" James says and I simply nod. 

****

Axel drops me just outside my room, it's after 10am now. 

"Thanks Axel, for taking care of me" I said, smiling at him.

"You're so welcome darling. Remember to call me if you need something" Axel said before leaving.

"I will" I answered and he gave me a wink. 

I unlocked my room and stepped inside. Dani wasn't here, I guess she went to class. I grab an overnight bag and start packing some stuff. Can't believe it's Wednesday and I'm already taking off. I've never skipped classes in my life. Oh well! 

I sent a quick text to Dani telling her that I'm leaving for the bus station, ready to go home for break. She replied a few minutes later telling me that she'll come see me on Saturday. I reply back to her saying that I can't wait. 

Just as I was about to leave, there was a knock on the door. I wonder who that could be, I hope it's not Ash. I'm not ready to face him just yet.

I slowly open the door and look up. Staring back at me with bright eyes and neatly pressed clothes was Todd. He smiled and gave me a big hug. 

"Todd! It feels like it's been forever" I said, hugging him.

"I know, I know. Sorry I haven't been in contact lately, Samantha was on break and she was staying with me. I had to accompany her everywhere. I'm so bloody glad she's gone back" Todd said. 

"I was just about to leave when you knocked. I'm leaving for home. Today" I said.

Todd looked at me with a disappointed look on his face. 

"And how exactly are you going home without your car? Don't tell me you're taking the bus! It's so unsafe, anything can happen on that bus" Todd said.

"I have to, I don't have any other choice right now" I shrugged.

Todd flung his arm around my shoulder and picked up my overnight bag.

"Don't worry my dear Kaia, Todd's here to save the day! I'll take you all the way to Eastbrook" he said with a smile. 

I looked at Todd with wide eyes. He can't be serious. 

"Todd no, it's totally okay. I can't ask you to do that" I said.

"Don't be silly Kaia, we're friends and I'm simply helping you out. Your job can be to keep us fueled for the trip" he said.

"Oh,so you want me to fill your tank?" I asked curiously. I'm sure I can atleast do that.

"Not the tank, silly. Your job is to fill our stomachs" Todd laughed.

On that note, we left in Todd's car and headed for Eastbrook.