Sherlyn groaned in her sleep as her phone ringtone blared somewhere under the blankets.

"Hello..." Sherlyn said sleepily.

"Sherry." Nick's panicked voice made Sherlyn's eyes snap open.

"Nick? What happened?" Sherlyn asked sitting straight on her bed.

"Collin said that Ardeth's name was dropped from the players list of upcoming tournament, and Ardeth left the home furious, he hasn't returned yet, and his phone is turned off." Nick rambled.

"How long has it been since he left?" Sherlyn asked her heart thudding against her chest.

"It's been over half an hour."

"Did you call and enquire with the guys at the ring?"

"No one's taking the calls." Nick said, "I am thinking to go out and search..."

"Nick, wait a minute." Sherlyn said as she heard some shuffling near her balcony.

Sherlyn took some careful steps towards her balcony.

"Let me go you shit fucking bitch." Ardeth growled holding the railing.

"Ardeth?" Sherlyn furrowed her brows.

"Hey Sherlyn." Ardeth greeted as he kicked the wayward branch of the neighborhood tree that was holding his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Sherlyn whisper yelled.

"As you can see I am trying to climb this motherfucking wall, and this bitch of a branch is behaving like a cheap roadside whore, not getting it's hands off me." Ardeth complained kicking the branch.

"Let me help you." Sherlyn said as she helped him climb the railing.

"Thank you." Ardeth said jumping inside her room.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" Sherlyn asked looking at Ardeth.

"You made me promise that I wouldn't visit the ring, and I didn't know where else to go." Ardeth shrugged.

"Sherry? Are you there?" Nick asked from the other side of the phone.

"It's Nick, he was worried about you." Sherlyn informed.

"Hey Roy." Ardeth answered the call taking the phone from Sherlyn. "I am at Sherlyn's home."

"Ardeth?" Nick asked, "Stop scaring the shit out of me you bastard." He shouted.

"I am sorry." Ardeth apologized.

"You better be." Nick huffed. "Are you crashing at Sherlyn's home?"

"Yes."

"Fine, Collin is coming over don't ruin the party for me walking over half way." Nick informed and disconnected the call.

"You scared us." Sherlyn huffed.

"I am sorry." Ardeth said pulling Sherlyn closer to him by her hand, "Johan informed me that selectors dropped my name from the finalists list and I was furious, I didn't know where to go, I was driving along the roads, and found myself infront of your home."

"I thought you went to ring." Sherlyn mumbled.

"I promised you I wouldn't go there, I don't want to break the promise." Ardeth reminded.

"Thank you, for not going there and coming here." Sherlyn smiled. "Did you have your dinner?"

"I drank some beer, and smoked cigarettes apart from that I didn't' have anything." Ardeth answered.

"I will go and make some food for you." Sherlyn said stepping away from Ardeth.

"What about your father?"

"Pa is a sound sleeper, he won't be up till morning." Sherlyn assured. "Make yourself comfortable, I will be back in a few minutes." She informed and walked outside the room.

"I made some sandwiches for you, is it ok?" Sherlyn asked walking inside the room with the tray.

"Sounds great." Ardeth said as he checked out the photographs hanging on the wall.

"That's Ma." Sherlyn said standing behind Ardeth.

"She has your eyes." Ardeth smiled.

"She was a great human, I miss her." Sherlyn said looking at the picture.

"I am sorry." Ardeth said turning around to face Sherlyn.

"It was hard at first but atleast I have Pa, Marcie and the Jones." Sherlyn smiled, "And now I have you too."

"Always." Ardeth smiled. "The sandwiches look delicious."

"Since they are quick and easy food, I made them." Sherlyn said placing the tray infront of Ardeth.

"They taste delicious too." Ardeth said as he took a bite.

"Do you need anything else?"

"No, I am good."

"I have a spare tooth brush and toiletries in the bathroom, you can use them." Sherlyn said arranging the bed.

"But I don't have any clothes to wear. Is it okay, if I sleep in my boxers?" Ardeth asked and continued, "actually there isn't anything you haven't seen, so it should be ok." He winked walking towards the bathroom.

"I love this, laying in your bed, beside you, looking at the mountains." Ardeth said as Sherlyn cuddled closer to him, on the bed.

"I love this too." Sherlyn kissed his cheek.

"Do you want to speak about what happened today?" Sherlyn asked Ardeth after a few minutes.

Ardeth sighed, "I don't know, I am giving my best, still I am failing in the game. Coach says to rest for few games, I don't know what to do, it's happening for the first time."

"Everyone knows your potential Ardeth, resting for few days will not cause any damage to your career. Instead you can take rest and bounce back feeling rejuvenated."

"I feel crushed, it never happened to me."

"Don't go hard on yourself." Sherlyn rubbed her palm against his jaw. "No matter what happens, I will always love you, through your victories and failures."

"What good I have done to get you." Ardeth said looking at Sherlyn, and kissed her.

Sherlyn kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"We should sleep, it's late." Sherlyn said breaking the kiss, "Not to forget, you have to leave before my father wakes up."

"I hate this." Ardeth groaned hugging Sherlyn, spooning her.

"You have no choice here." Sherlyn laughed, snuggling closer.

"I hate this." Ardeth groaned as he scribbled down the notes.

"Feeling happy to be back in the class, Sky?" Nick asked from behind. "Because I am having fun seeing you in the class, taking down the notes like a good boy."

"Go fuck yourself, asshole." Ardeth growled.

"I have a boyfriend for that." Nick laughed.

"Shut up guys." Sherlyn scolded, without taking her eyes off the board.

"It isn't me, it's poor Sky, who is being grumpy." Nick whispered. "Grumpy bear, grumpy bear...what are you doing?"

"Planning your murder." Ardeth answered. "Professor Luciana, Nicholas has some doubt regarding the topic your are teaching."

"What's your doubt, Mr.Roy?" Professor Luciana asked Nick.

"Nothing, professor, I figured it out, thank you." Nick shook his head and sat down silently.

"Pussy cat, pussy cat, what got your tongue?" Ardeth smiled sweetly at Nick.

"I hate your boyfriend." Nick said to Sherlyn.

"But I love you Nicky baby." Ardeth purred.

"Enough of you two, let me listen the class." Sherlyn shot a reprimanding look to Nick and Ardeth which made them sit back silently.

"I don't want to attend any more classes." Ardeth huffed slapping his books on the table, in cafeteria.

"It was fun today, isn't it?" Nick asked.

"Fuck off."

"You can go to the Soccer court, the boys would be happy to have you there." Sherlyn said sitting beside Ardeth.

"No, I don't want to sit there while they practice the game."

"What else do you want to do then?" Sherlyn asked Ardeth.

"Let's go on a vacation."

"Vacation?"

"Yes, that would be a good change." Ardeth informed. "Please, spend this weekend with me."

"I will check whether Marcie or Amelia, would be able to cover for me."

"I am going to the Soccer court to meet Collin." Nick said standing from his seat.

"We are going home." Ardeth said taking his and Sherlyn's bag.

"Let's go to my apartment." Ardeth said to Sherlyn, as they got into his car.

"Umm... I got my periods today, I don't think we can..." Sherlyn said awkwardly.

"Sherlyn, do you think I am with you just for sex?" Ardeth questioned.

Sherlyn shook her head in No.

"I want to spend time with you, sex isn't important, but you are. If I have you by my side, I feel happy and peaceful." Ardeth said, "Let me take care of you." He said and drove his car towards his apartment.

"Umm...this flavour is good." Sherlyn said as she digged into the icecream bowl in her lap, leaning against Ardeth, as they watched the movie in his room.

"Let me try it." Ardeth said scooping up a spoon from her bowl, "Yes, it's good, I will remember to buy one the next time I visit the supermarket."

"You still have the box in your refrigerator."

"That isn't mine, it's Nick, it was his icecream."

"Oh! I hope Nick won't mind."

"He won't mind until it's you, who eats the icecream." Ardeth chuckled.

"You both fight like kids." Sherlyn laughed. "Ouch..."

"What happened?" Ardeth asked pausing the movie.

"Nothing, just some period cramps." Sherlyn said as she adjusted the pillow to settle back.

"What do you do? When you get the cramps?" Ardeth asked rubbing his neck, "I never had women around me, to tell how this stuff works."

"Usually they are tolerable, sometimes they can be worse, in that case I use hot water packs to get relief."

"How is the cramps now? Painful or Tolerable?" Ardeth questioned.

"A bit painful but I can manage." Sherlyn assured.

"Wait, give me a minute." Ardeth walked out if the room, and walked back with a water bottle.

"What's that?" Sherlyn laughed.

"Well, I don't have a heating pad handy, so I poured some hot water in the bottle, thinking that it would help you." Ardeth scratched his head.

"Thank you." Sherlyn kissed his cheek as he got on the bed.

"I will order some heating pads for you." Ardeth said as he placed the water bottle against Sherlyn's abdomen.

"It's okay, there's no need for it."

"Why? I want to take care of you." Ardeth frowned. "And see because I don't have a heating pad, we have to look for alternatives, I don't think that's comfortable."

"It's comfortable and good." Sherlyn frowned adjusting the pillow behind her.

"Come here." Ardeth said pulling Sherlyn towards him.

"What are you doing?" Sherlyn asked as he started lifting up her blouse.

"I am not doing anything, I know you are on your period." Ardeth rolled his eyes, as he unbuttoned his shirt. "Lean in." He said pressing Sherlyn's back to his front.

Sherlyn looked at him puzzled.

"I am trying to be your human heating pad, by transferring you some body heat." Ardeth grinned, as he placed his hand on her abdomen.

"I think I will ditch my heating pads for this personal heating pad." Sherlyn smiled as she snuggled closer to him.

"I would be glad to help you." Ardeth smiled, resuming the movie.