My alarm went off half an hour ago yet here I am, laying in bed staring at the pale, boring ceiling. I just needed more time to myself. I wasn't ready to start my day just yet.

I had a quick shower and dressed casually, a pair of jeans and a t-shirt should do. I slipped on my converse and tied my hair in a ponytail, not even bothering to brush through it.

I have a few assignments due tomorrow and I'm almost done with them. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hand them in on time. ..unless of course I have a mental breakdown which I'm pretty sure I'm close to having right now.

Dani's not here so she's probably already gone to class. I text Todd and ask him to meet me at the Cafe in 10 minutes. I pack up my bag and make my way to meet him, locking the door behind me.

As I cross over to the carpark I hear someone coming up to me from behind. I quickly turn around and see Yvonne, smirking at me.

"Damn! I was going to give you a shock" she said, laughing at me.

"Um. ..why? I could practically hear you coming up to me" I replied, not interested in her antics.

"Ugh whatever Collins. Where you headed?" She asked.

Okay, why is she even talking to me? Last I checked she hated me and I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual.

"None of your business" I replied, crossing the carpark and heading towards the Cafe.

"Tell me about Ash's new girl" she called out.

I turned around and looked at her in suprise. Why on earth would she be asking me about Alexis and Ash. Is she crazy?

"I don't know anything about her so just leave me the hell alone" I said, before opening the door to the Café.

Yvonne gave me a nasty look before turning around and heading for the carpark. She got on her bike and left.

That was super weird. It's too early in the day for that kind of drama. I need some coffee to think straight.

After ordering my caramel coffee I sat down at a table by the corner and waited for Todd to arrive. About 5 minutes later, his SUV pulled up outside and I watched as he got off and made his way inside.

He looked around for a while before noticing me sitting in the corner. He gave me a wave before going to order his coffee.

"Good morning you!" He said chirpily as he pulled up a seat opposite me.

"Morning" I said, taking a sip of my coffee and looking through my classes for the day.

"How have you been?" Todd asks me while typing away on his phone. He glances up every few seconds to look at me.

"I've been. ..ugh don't ask right now. I'm currently trying to get back with Ash but Alexis is in the way and I don't know if he still feels the same way about me. We're friends now, by the way" I said.

"I'm sorry" Todd says, putting his phone down and giving me his full attention. "You're friends but you want more? Girl, he's wanted more since he met you, what makes you think he won't want you back? I'm telling you! Tell him Kaia, or you'll regret it. Don't let Alexis steal your man" Todd said, taking a huge bite out of his chocolate croissant.

"Every day you begin to sound more and more like Dani, it's freaking me out" I said, grinning at him. "But you're right though, if I'm really sure I wanna be with him- I have to tell him soon or I'll lose him to Alexis forever".

"True. So how have you been and did you get that message from Elena?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee and breaking off a piece of Todd's croissant.

"I've never been better. Just living life, that sorta thing. And yeah, I did get Elena's message. We should hit the mall next weekend, pick something out" Todd suggested.

"Ooooh! That sounds like fun. By the way, when are you going to introduce Dani and I to Samantha?" I asked curiously.

"Hmm. Very soon, don't worry!" He said, chuckling.

We spent the next 15 minutes or so just chatting about school stuff and how I'm so not ready for exams. Turns out Todd was just as nervous about it as I was. Todd glanced at his wrist watch and gasped loudly. Dramatically loud, I must say.

"Okaaay! I gotta get to class so bye bye blondy, I'll come by your room this afternoon" Todd said before standing up and heading for his car.

I waved at him from inside the Cafe and watched as he drove off to Block D. As I reached over to pick up a croissant, I spotted Todd's phone still on the table.

Oh crap! He must have forgotten it. Good thing he's coming over later, I'll give it to him then.

I picked up his phone and pressed the home button to check the time. It was 8:50am, I had to be in class by 9. I quickly shoved his phone and mine into my bag and made my way to class.

After business class was done I made my way to the Library to get some studying done. I felt my phone vibrating inside my bag so I pulled it out to check who it was. That's funny! There's no one calling me. Oh, it must be Todd's. I pulled out Todd's phone and saw that someone was calling him. Who's Greg?

I swiped to answer and placed the phone to my ear, not sure of what to say. I'll just explain that Todd forgot his phone with me, yeah.

"Good morning Toddy! How did you sleep?" The guy who I presume is Greg, said.

"Um ..Hi, Greg?"  I said in a high-pitched, nervous tone. I sounded like a squeaking rat.

"Yes, it's Greg. Who is this? And where's Todd?" He asked, growing suspicious as to why Todd didn't pick up the phone.

"I'm Kaia, a friend. And Todd forgot his phone while having coffee with me this morning"

"Oh. I see, alright. Please return it to him by the end of the day- I have plans with him tomorrow night. Take care doll" Greg said cheerfully.

"I will. You take care too" I said before ending the call.

Alright, now I'm suspicious. Who is Greg and why hasn't Todd mentioned him once? I wonder if Dani knows who he is. It's really not like Todd to keep secrets, especially from his best friends.

I shrugged it off and walked into the library, determined to get some studying done. I wanted to make mom proud, especially now that she has been going through a rough patch. I grabbed a seat by the window and placed my books on the table. I switched both phones on silent and began my study session.

***

It's after 5pm and I'm waltzing back to my room sipping on a chocolate milkshake. I swear I have to stop having junk food instead of real food. Soon James wouldn't want me as a model. I'd laugh if it ever came to that, I'd totally know why.

"And the reason is you Mr. Milkshake!" I said out loud to the large plastic cup of milkshake I had clutched in my left hand.

"Still talking to yourself, huh?" A voice said from behind me.

I turned around curiously to see who it was.

"Ash" I said in suprise. I knew the voice was familiar.

"Kaia" He replied with a big smile on his face. How I've missed that smile. Dammit.

"Um. ..what's up?" I said, continuing to walk on, sipping my shake.

"Just came from the park. Working on an assignment. Had no inspiration so I figured I'd find some there" He said, pressing some buttons on his camera.

"Did you find it?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Nah" Ash said, chuckling.

"Anyway, what was up with you last night? It looked important" He said, looking at me.

I tried to avoid contact as much as I could but I had to look at him. It feels so long since we've had a decent conversation and laughed together.

"Oh it was nothing. I've actually forgotten why I came up there" I said shakily. Hope he doesn't realise I'm ly--

"You're lying" He said, interrupting my thoughts.

"No I'm not!" I said, giggling. Crap, I suck at this.

"You so are! You're the worst liar I've ever seen. You probably don't even tell much lies" He said, laughing to himself.

"Um. No!" I said, trying to act like I'm a pro at lying.

"Um. Yes" He said, clearly being annoying.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed at him. My insides are doing somersaults everytime he smiles at me. Why am I like this?

"Alrighty then. Let's see who's the better liar" Ash said, challenging me.

"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you" I said, making him laugh out loud.

"The rule is, you have to say two sentences and I'll have to guess which one is the truth and which one is the lie".

"Okay then, that's easy. You go first though" I said, chuckling at Ash.

"I'd love to" he laughed. "So, first one is kinda shocking yeah, but Alexis asked me to move in with her. She has a massive place and she's all alone so I said yes"

"Okay. ..and second?"

Ash looked around then cleared his throat. He looked back at me and smirked.

"Second is that I can't stop thinking about why you came up to see me last night".

I swallowed hard and struggled to decide which one was the lie. He said both sentences perfectly smooth, as if they were both the truth. Urghh! I can't decide.

"So which one is the lie?" Ash asked, waiting for my answer.

"Well. ..I think it's. ..Um, the--"

"Ashton! Let's go!" A man's voice called out loudly, cutting me off.

We both turned towards the voice. It was coming from a black Mercedes parked across from us, just by the benches.

"Oh shit, it's my dad. I have to go" Ash said, slowly walking away.

"Bye" I said, trying not to sound so disappointed.

I watched as Ash walked swiftly towards his dad's car. Then he suddenly turned around and looked back at me.

"Hey! Which one was the lie?" He called out while crossing over to his dad.

"The first one!" I shouted back.

Ash gave me the biggest smile and two thumbs up before getting in the car.

"You're right, Collins!" He shouted and I swear I giggled like a giddy teen.

**

"There you are!" Todd said, walking towards me.

"Oh, hi. I have your phone by the way" I said, pulling out his phone from my bag.

"Thank you. I knew you'd have it" He said, going through it.

We walked in silence back to my room. I want to bring up Greg but I'm nervous about his reaction. I wish he would just tell me something. ..anything.

We both kicked off our shoes and dived on the bed.

"Today wasn't the best day" Todd said, grabbing a pillow for his head.

"Same here" I said, thinking about my conversation with Ash.

"I'm so tired. I wish this silly exams would just disappear, I feel like I'm buried under heaps of books" Todd complained.

"Yep, and it just gets heavier day by day" I added.

Todd and I were both about to fall asleep when his phone rang loudly. I opened my eyes and glanced at his phone. I saw Greg's name flash on the screen.

"Oh, looks like I'll have to head home now. I'll see you tomorrow, K" Todd said, getting up.

"Okay. Take care" I said, walking him out.

I shut the door and thought about how Todd acted. Soon as Greg called he took off. There's something going on. Most definitely.