May, 2019

"Okay, Ollie. You can do this," I pepped myself up as I checked my outfit in the mirror for the millionth time. "You're just going to walk out there and be all, 'Hi! Long time no see, everyone' and they're all going to be nice and welcoming and—"

A groan escaped my mouth and I pivoted away from the mirror, hurrying over to my bed and flopping down onto it.

"Who am I kidding," I breathed as I stared at the ceiling. "I can't do this."

"You can," Ben insisted, laying down next to me on the bed.

I took a moment to grimace at him before sitting up and walking to the other side of the room, making a point of sitting at my desk there and staring out the window.

Either not taking the hint or choosing to ignore it, Ben got up and walked over to me, all the while saying, "It will be as easy as seeing Serena, Faye, and Jade again. They will all be really happy. And the two you're most scared of aren't coming."

I didn't want to acknowledge him. In fact, I had done my best over the past week to pretend he didn't exist at all since he dumped the, 'I sirened you into liking me to keep you apart from my best friend because I was jealous' bombshell on me.

But another part of me missed being able to talk through my worries with him... to the point that I wasn't sure what I'd do when he finally moved on. So I caved and replied, "If I do go out and see everyone though, Erica and Lukas will eventually find out I'm here. Someone will tell them and then... what if they want to see me?"

"You want to see them again though."

"Even if I do, what could I possibly say?"

"Just apologise. They'll—"

"Faye and Serena have made it pretty clear that Lukas would not be happy about my being here," I countered.

"They didn't exactly say that." Though his tone suggested that he had assumed the same. Heaving a sigh, he collapsed on the ground, back leaning against the wall as he stared up at me in despair. "Words will never explain how sorry I am for doing this to you, Olivia."

I gave him a shrug in response. As much as I wanted to shout at him again and ask how he could have done that to his best friend, let alone to me—taking the very news to his death—in the end he paid the ultimate price for his actions: his life. And even still, even a week on from knowing that all the fault I had pinned on Lukas for wiping my memory as being the sole cause of Ben's death had actually been Ben's own undoing, I still couldn't bring myself to agree with him that death was what he deserved. Even if we had to be bonded for the rest of our lives while I loved another, Ben shouldn't have died at my behest.

What does this regret matter, though? my mind whispered once again. We can't go back and stop Ben from dying. We can't go back and stop ourselves from falling for each other. We can't repair my broken bond with Lukas. And Lukas did still wipe my memory. Even if Ben insists it took a lot of work to override mine and Lukas's bond invitation, I still could have fallen for someone else.

But the regret of having fled London after Ben's death still haunted me in harrowing echoes. Lukas's last expression of despair burned into my brain came back in ghostly flashes as I wondered what Faye had meant when she said a couple of weeks ago that it was a nightmare for Lukas when I left...

Had he missed me just as long as I did him?

Did he long for a friend who understood him like I did?

Did—even now, even all these months on—he still think of me and wonder what could have been had I not ruined it?

"Olivia?" Ben whispered, his hand extending for me, but retracting as I looked at it with hatred. Composing his expression to hide the hurt, he asked with a softness, "Where'd you just go?"

"What if they find out," I breathed as I turned my gaze back out the window, "and they don't come to see me?"

"You know Erica will. She would never hold a grudge."

"And Lukas?" I murmured back, already feeling like I knew his answer considering he avoided mentioning him.

Though just as Ben opened his mouth to respond, the door to my room flew open.

Head whipping up, I watched Faye and Serena scurry in, closing the door quietly behind them as they hurried over to my side.

"Ollie... we have a problem," Serena whispered, glancing over her shoulder as though she had been followed... or perhaps could be overheard.

Taking the hint, I quietly said back, "What's the problem?"

Though, rather than answering me, Serena glanced to Faye for help.

Looking just as frantic, I watched Faye's mouth open and close, her eyebrows raise and lower, her muscles twitch and relax as she fumbled for her words.

"Spit it out, woman," I said a little too loudly, causing both sirens to flinch and glance behind them again.

Following their line of sight, I wondered what they were anxious about.

But before I could ponder further or prompt them again, Faye finally said, "You know how we said you didn't have to worry about attending this party because the two people you were avoiding wouldn't be here?"

My heart started to pound in my chest at their words, my stomach weaving itself into a giant knot, and my mouth squeakily asked, "Yeah?"

"Well..." Faye glanced behind herself again then took a step closer. "Don't freak out," she whispered.

"I'm already freaking out," I replied, voice higher than before. Are both here, or just one?

"You see... I just saw Erica in the kitchen." But Serena and Faye glanced at each other strangely after, with Serena giving Faye a wide-eyed unimpressed look. Though as the blonde girl looked back at me, her lips tightened even more, as though she could no longer speak.

"You said she wouldn't be here!" I complained, glancing around the room for my way out.

Everyone's upstairs, so there's not much way to leave.

I could shrink down and try that way...

Or perhaps I could just hide in my room all night.

I could jump out the window... maybe no one would see that.

"There's... more," Faye then said, yanking me out of my thoughts.

"More?" I demanded.

But as she opened her mouth to speak, the door opened once more, and Jade stormed in.

"Why are we hiding in here?" she demanded.

"Because," Faye hissed, running back over to the door to close it once more before ushering Jade into the room. "I just saw Erica and..." Though once more she trailed off.

And the knot grew tighter.

"What about it?" Jade responded, seemingly unphased by the news.

"We told Ollie she wouldn't be here," Serena finally graced us with her voice. Though, for the first time ever, it was removed from all musicality, replaced with a hoarseness and fear that felt out of place on her. "Why did she suddenly just show up?"

And the air suddenly grew several degrees hotter.

Jade sighed. "She RSVPed a week ago."

"She what?" Faye bellowed. "You know there are two people in this house who could have done with the headsup about Eri—"

The witch rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, then took a seat on my bed as if she were bored of the conversation. "You're overreacting about this."

"You assured us she wouldn't come. That we'd ease Ollie back into seeing everyone—"

Though Jade had cocked her head to the side as Faye spoke. "Why do I feel like you are more bothered by this news than Ollie?"

"Oh, I'm very bothered," I interjected in my still-squeaky tone.

So Jade sighed again, turning her head towards me. "If I told you, then you wouldn't have come."

"Of course not. I need time to—"

"She was your best friend, Ollie. And she's missed you dearly," Jade cut me off, sincerity consuming her gaze.

My racing heart began to slow slightly as I whispered back, "Then... you don't think she'll be mad when she sees me?"

"I..." The witch was speechless for a moment. "I can't guarantee that."

My face fell. "Does she know I'm here? Or is she just as—"

"Just as clueless as you, I'm afraid."

Though Faye seemed to gain her composure. Jaw working over time, she stood in front of Jade and demanded, "Was the other one your plan too?"

"What other one?" Jade blinked innocently.

"Erica's guest tonight."

"She brought someone?" Her emerald eyes glanced from Faye to Serena, then finally to me—as if I'd have a clue. "Who?"

"Another who supposedly wasn't going to be here."

My heart picked up again.

No. They can't mean—

Jade's hand snapped to her mouth. "He didn't."

He?

"Uh-huh," Faye responded, eyes narrowing at the witch.

"He refused to come."

My eyes stung at that comment as my mind couldn't help but wonder, Did he know I'm here? Is that why? Even though I knew there was no way... If Erica didn't know, how could he?

"Well, Erica got him out."

"I haven't seen him."

"Last I saw, he took off to the pool."

Jade glanced my way then back at the sirens. "We can... get rid of him."

"But..." Serena finally piped up again. "He's finally out. It's not right to just chase him home after he's been a hermit the past week. If Ri got him to this stage... we should let him have his peace."

"This," another glance came my way from the witch, "Isn't exactly the peace he'd have in mind."

Sick of them talking in codes, I finally found my voice for long enough to ask, "Is Lukas here?"

The three girls turned to look at me. Jade grinned sheepishly as she gave me a shrug. But Serena and Faye... they nodded grimly.

The walls felt like they were closing in.

The air got even warmer.

And my heart began to accelerate to a speed I didn't think was possible. "I can't go out there," I then said.

"We understand," Faye said.

Though, quickly after, Jade hopped to her feet. "Sooner or later you will run into someone else and they will tell him and Erica. Do you really want everyone else finding out you're here and them being the last to know? You've already been here for three weeks, Ollie. There are lots of people who will be mad that we've withheld this from them and that you didn't bother to say hi."

"But I don't want anyone to be mad at me," I whispered. "I don't know what I'll do if they see me again and... look at me like they hate me."

"No one here hates you."

"Everyone's made it out like Lukas does," I mumbled back, turning to look at the ground before her eyes revealed the truth to my statement.

And Jade paused for a moment, not saying a word.

Though it didn't take long until she crossed the room and knelt in front of me, her face filling my vision.

"Hey," she said softly, emerald green peering up at me with warmth as her hand clasped mine. "Even if he's mad at you... he will get over it. Believe me when I say none of us hold grudges."

"I don't... I don't know how to deal with an angry Lukas. He's always been... Mostly always been nothing but kind."

A few memories flashed through my mind of times he's been distant or disappointed. Times I always hated. Though they were from small disputes... or from what I had now deduced as pain from seeing me with Ben and not him... when I was really supposed to be waiting in that library for him to come back to me.

And those moments never lasted long. We'd fight. We'd make up.

But this time it had been months and our bond had broken. What if the rifts I had caused this time  were irreparable?

"I know an... upset Lukas is difficult to stomach. We've unfortunately seen him too often over the past few years. But if he and Erica have become great friends again after ending a two-year relationship, you two can be friends again. It will just take time. And apologies. From both sides."

"He didn't do anything," I mumbled back, still feeling the guilt for leaving. Still not redirecting that hatred at Ben.

"You left for a reason."

"I was wrong."

Jade shrugged though. "Then he will have to apologise if he's mad at you when you run into each other again. But sooner or later you have to see him. You will see him. Because London is actually really small despite how large it is. And the sooner you get it over with, the lesser a length of time you will have to worry about how he's going to look at you when he sees you again."

Pressing my lips together, I nodded as I took in her words.

And when she realised I wasn't going to speak, she stood up. Though not without holding her hand out to me. "So come up and enjoy my birthday."

Glancing up to her, then to the mermaids still standing in the corner, biting at their lips or worrying their hands together, I said, "Give me a moment to compose myself. I'll follow you up soon."

Jade sighed and retracted her hand. "Very well. But you have half an hour before I start blabbing that you're here."

And before I could whine, she took off with a giggle, the sirens not far behind her—ensuring they sent me an apologetic look before closing the door behind them.

Once alone, Ben finally piped up. "Well... I guess you could say the shit hit the fan."

Brows raised, I turned to look at him in bewilderment.

All the while Ben blinked back at me in confusion. "What?"

"That... is not a phrase I ever thought I'd hear you say."

Throwing me a grin, he replied, "Guess death really changes people, huh?" Then his face softened before he said, "Figured you'd need a distraction."

Though just as quickly as I was consumed with amusement, the crippling despair caught up and I was already shaking my head. "I can't go out there."

"I mean... You will go out there."

"I can't."

"Jade said either you come out or she tells people you're here. And the moment they know you're here, they will come looking for you."

"Then I'll shrink to tiny fairy form and hide under my bed."

"The vampires will definitely sniff you out. Or a witch will cast a finding spell."

"Why do you guys have a solution for everything?"

"Not everything." Though the smile he returned to my exasperated expression was clouded with sadness. Because he was right. We couldn't repair bonds. We couldn't bring people back from the dead. And the Mades...

I heaved a sigh as I remembered the reason I came back to London. Sooner or later, I'd have to see them all. And the sooner the better because we could put our heads together and figure out a way to get rid of these Mades. Plus, if Emma was disappearing for now before I had made my first kill, I'd need backup the next time I went out. I was in no way confident enough to take on a Made on my own without proper training.

"Fine. I'll go up," I grumbled, walking over to the door.

And Ben was barely a step behind me, a slight jump to his step as he finally achieved his victory of almost getting me back to where he wanted me.

But as I paused at the door, hand on the doorhandle, Ben said, "What are we waiting for?"

"I... I don't know where Erica and Lukas are. I need to... I need to see how someone else reacts before I run into them."

The vampire nodded as though what I said made sense.

But then I turned to him in despair. "How do I know they won't be at the top of the stairs?"

Finally seeing where I was going, he sighed. "I wish I could go up ahead and scope it out for you, but this ghost thing just doesn't work like that."

Heaving a groan, I wrenched the door open and took a step into the hallway. "Then I'll try plan B," I muttered under my breath.

And, before Ben could ask, I shifted down into tiny form.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

I had only ten minutes left to show myself before Jade would blab to everyone. And I knew she hadn't forgotten based on the fact that she kept glancing around for me. But so far I felt comfortable sitting on the mantelpiece, tucked behind a large white vase full of pink petunias.

A few people had wandered close to my hiding spot, though they didn't seem to notice me. Because who would be looking for a person behind a bouquet of flowers? And, to my luck, I hadn't spotted Erica or Lukas so far.

So my heart was finally calming down as my eyes continued to scan the room of familiar faces.

A part of me was even tempted to remain here all night, because how would they find me here? Besides, I could just slip out the door the moment Jade made her attempt to announce my presence.

But as my eyes swept the room once more, I couldn't help but feel a certain dark-haired vampire had locked eyes with me.

I glanced away at others around the room, trying to tell myself I had seen things. But I couldn't help but flicker my gaze back to him after a few seconds to see if he had looked away.

Though his eyes were still fixated on me.

Skin a ghostly white, eyes almost onyx, and hair an icy blonde, the vampire was now grinning at me as his eyes narrowed and his head cocked to the side.

He surely hasn't seen me, I wondered.

But when I glanced at Ben—who was looking the very same direction as me and smiling in the exact same manner as him—I began to doubt that thought.

And when the vampire finally looked away, taking in the rest of the room, Ben whispered, "Trust the bat to pick you up."

"Please tell me he hasn't seen me," I mumbled as softly as I could.

Though as Ivan started to take steps towards me, every now and then glancing my way as he tried to meander over—as though he hadn't noticed me hiding behind a vase—Ben said, "Oh, he's seen you."

"Fuck," I breathed.

And when he stopped by the mantelpiece, back leaning against the structure, his eyes flickered my way once more as he gave me a cocky grin. "I was standing over there, thinking to myself," he said in a low voice, as if also wary of listening ears, "Did the sirens miss our fairy friend so much they somehow made a statue that looks just like her? Or am I really seeing a miniature Ollie?"

"Shh," I hissed. "Don't say my name."

He chuckled under his breath before saying, "So who knows you're here?"

"Just the Sirens... and Jade. For now."

"For now?" He moved back a little to look me over—which didn't take long. "Are we planning on doing a grand reveal soon?"

"I was supposed to," I muttered, explaining Jade's threat right after. But then I said, "Though I'm also considering making a run for it."

"And why would we do that? Don't you know how many would be so excited to see you again? Myself included, by the way."

"I... I heard some people came who weren't going to."

To my dismay, the smile dropped from Ivan's face. "Ah, yes. Mr Doom and Gloom and the female Twitch."

"Twitch?" I countered, eyes narrowed. "Are you making a Twitches reference or a livestreaming platform reference?"

Rolling his eyes, he replied with, "Obviously I'm referring to the Disney Channel classic."

"Classic?" I countered.

"Pff. Look who's trying to act grown up."

"I'm not... Wait. Did you just refer to Lukas as Mr Doom and Gloom?"

The smile dropped from the Slavic man's face once more as he nodded, glancing back out at the party.

"Why?" I pressed when I realised he wasn't going to explain. So many people had been saying he wasn't well. That he hadn't been well. Was this all still my fault? Just how angry would he be once he saw I had returned?

"That's... a long story. I'd leave him for now until he's gotten his mopes out. But he's outside anyway, so you won't run into him. Erica, on the other hand, is in the dining room playing some strange witchy drinking game with her twin and some of the other magic folk. You should at least show your face to her."

"Will she be mad?" I whispered, hoping someone would assure me.

But even Ivan pressed his lips together as he glanced at me. "Who knows how Erica will react. But I do know she will be upset if she finds out from me or Jade later that you were here and never showed yourself."

Heaving a sigh, I nodded as I began to realise I couldn't make the runner I had planned. Not if I really wanted to make amends.

"So how about you make your grand reveal by coming out from behind there and showing us that gorgeous dress in its normally sized form?"

With a roll of my eyes, I stepped out from behind the plant and sat myself down on the ledge. "In a second."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Well... How've you been, Ivan?" I asked, gaze sweeping over him as though I'd be able to see it in how he held himself. Though I felt something wasn't quite right based on the bags underlining his eyes.

"Never better," he grinned at me, but I could see the lie behind his forced expression.

We never had a close relationship, but I had lived with the guy for half a year. So I pressed him on it. "You sure?"

"Do I look like shit or something?"

"Just... tired."

Heaving a sigh, he shrugged and leaned against the mantel again. "Drake is never impressed by what I do."

"Drake is capable of being impressed?" I countered.

He released a deflated chuckle. One that almost sounded forced. "I guess that's also the point. I keep hoping I'll see him come alive at some point. But he's such a..."

"A typical stoic vampire?"

Brows raised as though shocked I read his mind, he nodded as he said, "Yes. Exactly that."

"And... you haven't been sleeping well because of it?"

He shook his head. "I'd like to say we've been fighting every night lately, but... he just doesn't even go there with me. So I'm alone pondering our fate."

"Have you spoken to anyone about it?"

"Everyone is currently... preoccupied."

"By?"

He smiled at me for a moment, though with no joy. "Mr Doom and Gloom," he explained, though never went further.

Pursing my lips, I knew he wouldn't elaborate if I pressed, so I didn't. "Maybe you and I will have to get a drink sometime while I'm here then," I said. "I'll be an ear."

"Thanks, Ollie," he sighed, as though he actually had already lifted some weight from his chest. But then he straightened. "Wait. What do you mean 'while you're here'. Are you not back?"

I shook my head. "It's temporary."

His face fell for a moment, as though he hadn't been expecting it.

"Thinking I should just run for it then? Not upset anyone when I leave again?" I asked, trying to read the shift in his expression.

He seemed to think about it for a moment before he shook his head. "No. That also won't go well."

"Righto," I sighed, pushing myself closer to the edge. "Guess it's time to do this then."

I had only one minute left on Jade's timer. And I could see her gaze getting narrower across the room as she looked for me.

So I jumped off the fireplace ledge and, as I fell, shifted into my full form.

Just as my feet hit the floor, Ivan pulled me in for a quick hug, not giving me any time to control my shocks. "Great to see you again, Ollie," he said before stepping back. "Though I did not miss those zaps."

Chuckling, I opened my mouth to apologise, but, before I could...

"Ahhhh!" Alexis (a cat shifter who I had little to do with in my time in London) almost screamed. "Oh my gosh! Ollie! You're back!"

The chatter immediately fell silent around the room as everyone turned to look at me.

Jade's face washed with a smug smile as Loren—next to her—stared at me dumbfounded. I was shocked myself to see him looking at me in such surprise. Because I had thought for sure Jade would have said something. Nonetheless, he, like everyone else, rushed to my side to greet me.

And everyone was happy.

Everyone welcomed me 'home'.

And the fear I had about showing my face quickly disappeared.

But the commotion everyone had caused seemed to sweep through the house as others started to pop in—Oran, Eric, Kaedan... then finally Jayce.

"No way," he exclaimed from the otherside of the room, the most expression I had ever seen adorning the witch's face.

I gave him a small wave, now basing how Erica would react off him.

But as Jayce gave me a hesitant smile and glanced over his shoulder, my stomach began to knot.

Then I heard her voice.

"Where did everyone go?" Erica's familiar soft voice questioned as her footsteps sounded closer.

And the whole room fell silent once more... as if they too weren't sure how she'd react when she saw me.

Then, once she rounded the corner, midnight eyes sweeping the crowd until they fell on me, the whole world felt like it had slowed down.

The seconds felt like hours as our gazes locked, her expression unreadable as she stared me up and down.

Until she was bounding across the room.

Heart fluttering in anticipation, I wondered if she was about to jump at me for a hug. If she was ever going to let me go after.

And then—

SLAP!

My head whipped to the side, the living room whooshing past as I stumbled back at the impact.

Just as the pain caught up, my cheek throbbing from the blow, she bellowed, "How dare you."

All joy I had accumulated from the others greeting me with kindness drained from me like my body had turned into a sieve. And I slowly turned my gaze to meet her livid expression.

"How dare you show up here," she said again. "You take off in the middle of the fucking night without one word and disappear from the face of the planet. Do you know how much you hurt me? How much you broke Lukas? And you just rock up here like everything is okay? How dare you."

"Erica," I whispered. "I'm so—"

But before I could get the apology out, suddenly her arms were around me.

Pulling me close, her head rested on my shoulder as her arms gripped me tightly in their embrace. And it didn't take long for her body to shake and a wet warmth to meet my shoulder.

"But fuck I missed you, Ollie," she sobbed into me.

Feeling the whiplash in her sudden turn of feelings, I tried to not think about it. Because the anger was already over. It was worse than I could imagine, but... it was already gone.

So I wrapped my arms around her and breathed into her ear, "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

As she continued to cry and my own eyes began to sting with repressed tears, the others cleared from around us, chatter once more filling the room as we gained our privacy—well, with Jayce still hovering nearby.

Erica didn't release me for what felt like an eternity, but when she did, she gripped my arms and looked me over. "You still seem to be in one piece."

"I am. It took a while to put the pieces back together, but... I'm doing much better now."

She nodded, but her eyes lacked conviction.

"What?"

Her teeth bit her bottom lip. "I found where you were in Australia," she said as though it were one of her deepest confessions. "Lukas said I had to leave you alone, but... You didn't look okay."

"Did you come to—"

"It was a photo. Your grad ball?"

"Ah," I sighed, remembering the night I fought with Ben. Remembering the early hours of the next day when my bond snapped with Lukas. How could I forget that night? Its pain was still burned into my heart. "I'm better now."

"Are you?" she asked.

I nodded and shrugged at the same time as I gave her a smile. "Full of regret? Yes. Hating myself for what I did? You bet. Blaming myself for Ben's death? Not anymore."

A myriad of emotions flickered across Erica's face until she settled on a hesitant smile. "It wasn't your fault."

"I know."

"You don't..." though she trailed off.

"What?"

"You don't blame Lukas, though, do you?"

Heaving a sigh, I didn't take long to shake my head. "I never should have. I have many questions for him about how things ended up the way they did, but... I also have a lot of apologising to do."

"You really hurt him, Ollie," she then said, as if this hadn't been made clear to me already.

"I know," I breathed. "And I plan to apologise. But first," I took a deep breath and glanced around the room, wondering if perhaps he had strolled in without my noticing, "I need to find him."

"Tonight?" Erica countered.

Nodding, I looked back at her, wary of the fearful tone I thought I had heard.

Suspicions correct, she had puckered her lips as a crease worried into her forehead.

"What?" I asked.

Though this time Jayce interjected. "Right now isn't a great time to see Lukas."

I looked between the twins in shock, surprised even they held the same sentiments as Ivan. "Why?"

"He..." Erica started, but trailed off. Sharing a glance with her brother, she looked back at me afterwards and 'explained', "He's got a lot going on and will need some time to warm up to it."

Narrowing my eyes at her very non-answer answer, I said, "Isn't he just going to be mad if he finds out everyone else knew I was here but him?"

Once again, the twins shared a look. Then Jayce replied, "Probably. But... he's sensitive right now."

"I really don't get why everyone is so worried about Lukas. It's been months since I left. Our bond is long broken. I get he'd be mad at me as a friend, but he's not as weak as everyone—"

"It's not you he's upset about," Erica interrupted my spiel.

"Then?" I pressed, slightly worried for her response.

But, once again, all I got was, "It's... complicated," from Jayce.

"And it's his business to explain," Erica added.

Heaving a sigh, I stepped back from the pair. "Well, then he can explain. But whatever he is going through, I'm sure seeing me will be a distraction from it."

"Ollie," Erica said, hand reaching out to stop me as I walked past her.

But just as I thought this was going to turn into a scuffle of me trying to escape, Jayce grabbed her arm. "Ollie knows him better than all of us, you know that," he whispered into her ear.

"That's the old her though," she said back, as though I wasn't still here. "She doesn't have those memories."

Jayce's midnight eyes looked over me once more before glancing back at his sister. "That Ollie is in there somewhere. And seeing her might be the very distraction Lukas needs right now."

Oh, so now they're listening to me? I couldn't help but think.

Erica heaved a sigh before turning to me once more. "Just... be prepared for a worse reaction than me, Ollie. He will probably be very hostile."

"Is he that mad at me?" I countered.

Though both witches grimly nodded.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out into the hallway as I muttered, "Well... here goes nothing."

Every step I took down the hallway had my heart in my chest thudding harder in anticipation as my mind began to race with questions.

What expression will he wear?

Will it be like Erica's?

What is worse than Erica?

Will... will he look at me like he looked at his uncle? Is that what Erica meant?

My knees started to shake as I reached the back door. Hand trembling as I turned the handle, I took a deep breath before the fresh breeze hit me.

A heavy warmth clung to the air as I stepped out into the cloudless night. I couldn't help but think, A heatwave is coming... it's now or never. Otherwise I might be waiting for a while until I see him.

A figure in the distance, illuminated by the pool light, caught my attention as I locked my sights on where I had to go.

The sound of the party behind me grew eerily quiet as I stepped down from the porch to the backyard, following the path to the pool area with hesitant footsteps.

He didn't seem to hear me approaching.

But the air grew even more warm as I neared him. In fact, it got so thick, I almost felt like I had been consumed by static.

As quietly as I could, I unlatched the gate and entered the pool area.

But he was still unphased.

Legs dipped in the water, I watched his hand clasp a bottle and flick the cap off, before he downed it in one gulp.

"Fuck," Ben breathed beside me. "What happened to him?"

Though I barely heard his remarks as I took in his outline. Because he vaguely resembled Lukas. Same shoulders. Same height. Hair a little longer than last I saw. But rarely did I see him drink... And he had at least ten emptied bottles rolling around his left side with more clustered to his right, yet to be drunk.

He should have heard me approach.

Surely my heart sounded like a marching band to his ears.

But as my eyes continued to wander over the alcohol all the while he uncapped yet another bottle, it was easy to understand why he wasn't present in his surroundings.

Why is he like this? I begged in my mind, as though the answers would just appear before me.

But I knew there was only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, I took another step closer to him before I, waveringly, called out, "Hi, stranger."

His body went rigid, as though he recognised my voice instantly.

The unfinished drink in his hand gently settled on the pavement.

And, ever so slowly, his head craned around to look at me.

Though as he turned...

As his body and head twisted...

As the breeze blew his cheek-length, wavy, toffee-blonde hair, the world almost paused.

The pool, the garden, the night sky above, disappeared, and, instead, Lukas and I were transported to a lecture theatre.

He was a couple of rows down from me.

My eyes just shifted from the lecturer who proudly smiled at me as I felt the growing sense that someone else was staring at me.

And then my gaze met his.

Topaz and warm, like all the answers to life were hidden in his expression, I felt my heart flutter as the boy, whose name I didn't know yet, looked back at me in a similar awe.

And just as the memory entered my head, just as everything made sense, suddenly the pool came back.

The dazed Lukas was in front of me, blinking like he couldn't believe his clouded, drunken gaze.

And I could finally hear the music from the house gently humming in the background once more, pulling me out of that flashback... or memory... or hallucination... and back to reality.

Eyes blinking several more times, he cocked his head to the side as he dumbfoundedly whispered, "Olivia?"

End of Part 2

How did we like this part?

How will Lukas react to seeing Ollie again?

What do we think Part 3 has in store for the pair?

Part 3 will be returning next month (February). Stay tuned...