Dedicated to AnnabellaLewisSue

WEDNESDAY

At the front seat of Winter's car, Crystal was smirking at me and Summer as he stopped in front of Summer's place to pick us up.

Crystal was wearing the Liverpool Jersey like all of us but Summer snorted in disapproval.

We didn't plan for her to come along with us to watch the match.

Alexander gave me only four tickets meaning one of us had to forfeit sitting in the special seats. And that person would definitely not be me nor Summer. Maybe Cole might be considerate enough.

"Hey Aura, Hey Summer!" Crystal's nasally voice distracted me.

Me and Summer ignored her and climbed into the back seat to seat with Cole who hadn't noticed us yet. Summer yanked off his headphone and seized his phone. While they struggled, I looked at Winter, through the side mirror and narrowed my eyes at him.

He averted his eyes and started the car. "I hope you girls don't mind Crystal coming along."

Crystal sharp gaze settled on him as if asking why we wouldn't mind her coming along.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Summer bluntly asked. Escaping from the tension rising in Winter's car right now would be a good option.

Crystal seemed hurt but Winter responded. "You don't have to be rude, Summer."

Summer flipped her hair over her shoulder and removed her aviator glasses, hooking them on the top of her jersey. "Look, I'm not against Crystal coming but I remember telling you about the four tickets... four tickets, Win. What are we going to do about her-" She snuck Crystal a look. "Split the ticket into two? One piece for her and another for you?"

Winter's eyes hardened. "Don't be ridiculous. You can-" Crystal stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"It's fine, I could just sit at home and wait for you to come back." Her fingers were already on the inside handle close to her.

I felt really sorry being a part of all this. If I'm not a hypocrite, I actually wanted Winter to kick Crystal out.

Like me, Cole's eyes were alternating between my friends. What was there to say?

"No." Winter said sternly, sending me a chilly glance like he was expecting me to defend Crystal. "I forfeit my ticket."

Oh.

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

"This is exactly what I said she would do. Pull us apart. It's already happening!" Summer lamented for the hundredth time since we split seats with Winter and Crystal.

Here in Anfield, the twenty-two players on the pitch awaited the referees whistle for the start of the second-half. Liverpool was losing to the Manchester United side that scored two goals in the second half. Because of Summer's continuous flow of words, I was unable to focus on the game and neither did Cole. His annoyance materialized as a scowl on his face.

"Not to take sides or anything but wasn't it you girls that introduced her into our group? Deal with your actions and stop disturbing my ears."

I didn't blame him for putting it so crudely. Personally, I was at fault too. If only Summer could stop-

"Hey-" Summer's protest died on her lips when Cole offered her his bowl of ice cream.

Meeting his gaze, I discretely nodded in appreciation for pacifying our disgruntled friend.

The deafening yell of the crowd resonated in the air when Alexander scored a goal at the sixty-seventh minute.

Some girl seated behind me almost fell forward because of the excitement. She apologized to me, and we both laughed at her clumsiness.

Summer and Cole bounced on their feet joining in the uproar. I just sat there sporting a dreamy smile on my face as I saw Alexander's team mates celebrate the goal.

Three more goals were scored before the match ended, and my happiness sky- rocketed together with the screams and wild cheers that decorated the atmosphere in the stadium.

Alexander was speaking to the Manchester goal keeper, and while he did that, Summer forced us to take some pictures with Cole's phone, then they continued one of their numerous arguments.

When I returned my gaze, Alexander was standing close to where we sat, his eyes roaming across the crowd of people cheering so loud for him.

My heart was drawn to a stop when our gazes held. He waved. I assumed the wave was meant for the photographers in a clutter nearby, but he pointed at me. I grinned and he gave me a thumbs up.

"OH MY GOODNESS! HE'S SMILING AT ME!" A fangirl yelled.

Summer who I assumed didn't see a thing scoffed. "In your dumbest dreams."

"Excuse me-"

"Aura, he's asking you to come over." Cole said, shutting off the girl who got bored and resumed her daydreaming. Ignoring his confused stare, Summer grabbed my hand and seized his arm, pulling us down to the bottom. The officials there has already created a little space for us to go through as the area was jammed with crazy fans wishing to get an audience with the footballers.

Alexander's grin widened and his gaze went to my friends. "Hey guys."

How could the sound of someone's voice be so enchanting?

Summer was losing her shit and Cole was gaping like a fish at the young man.

I rolled my eyes. "Hi. Don't mind my friends-"

Cole shoved me aside so I almost fell. "It's a pleasure meeting you in person, Alex."

My glare did nothing to stop him. Summer was no better as she stuck out her pale white hand to him. "My name's Summer Wilson, he's Cole Johnson-" Alexander shook her hand gently. "-I'm assuming Aura did not tell you about us." She shot me a dirty look. I maintained a straight face but internally, I just wanted to tackle her to the ground. Or better still the earth could open and suck us all into hell, well, just me and my friends.

The football fan laughed at their attempts at shooing me away. "Of course she did, right Aura?"

"Right." I deadpanned.

Alexander walked off towards the changing rooms and my friends choked him with questions about his career on the way. He patiently answered all of their questions and when we got to where the changing rooms are, he asked us to wait outside for him.

"What the fuck, Aura!" Cole whispered hardly, swatting my head with the back of his hand. Summer snickered.

I thought you were my friend, Summer

"What?"

"When did this happen? You and Alexander, and you didn't tell us-" He faced Summer with narrowed eyes. "-wait, you knew about this didn't you?"

Summer grinned weakly, scratching the back of her neck. "I can explain-"

She didn't need to because Alexander emerged from the room with some of his team mates who walked past us.

"Is everything alright?" Alexander asked, concern visible on his face. I examined his black round-neck long sleeved shirt and his pair of black joggers and casual footwear.

Cole nodded rather like an agama lizard. I laughed at my own thought, swallowing hard when Alexander's gaze dropped on me. "We were just having a friendly argument, right Summer?" I prodded her with my elbow indicating that she should not say anything out of line.

She gritted her teeth. "Of course."

Alexander shrugged and asked us to follow him. Cole wanted to ask where but we left him behind and soon, he jogged up to us, breathing laboriously.

I raised a brow and offered him his inhaler.

"Aurora told me you play basketball. How do you manage with that?" Alexander asked.

Cole shrugged, dragging quick measures of air from the inhaler. "There's nothing that cannot be managed."

"Try managing a nasty case of diarrhoea." Summer added wickedly, referring to the last time he accidentally pooped himself.

Alexander laughed when Cole's cheeks turned a startling shade of red. "I need to know that story." He said, still struggling with laughter.

"Oh no, you don't." Cole glared at me for snickering and then at Summer.

We stopped in front of the big Liverpool bus into which most of the players were in. Some had their eyes on us from above, others were just minding their businesses.

"So you see, I spoke to my team mates about this party we'll have after the Champion's League-"

"-we're winning right?" Cole's eyes were bright with excitement.

Alexander grinned, not minding the impolite interruption. "Of course. So, as I was saying-"

"Are you-"

This time, it was me that interrupted Cole by stepping hard on his toes. He shut up.

Alexander sighed, running his left fingers through his hair. "My team mates said I could invite you guys to the party after the game." He dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out three VIP invitation tickets. The gold emboss on them found a way to glitter in the dull evening light.

"The time is eight in the evening. I'll send a car over before then. Don't be late." He advised before climbing into the bus, leaving us three idiots staring. Summer pocketed the invitation cards in her little brown purse.

"This is the best f*cking news ever!" Cole yelled, ignoring the woman who slapped her hands over her little boy's ears, shooting us a dirty look.

Summer and I laughed, pulling him away. "Maybe I don't care!" He sang wildly.

⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜

Summer, Cole and I tumbled into my house, me casually burying my teeth into the sandwich I forced Cole into buying on our way back.

We stopped half-way into the living room upon spotting my mother leisurely watching T.V whilst seated on her favourite sofa chewing some chicken nuggets, wearing a baggy blue cashmere sweater above a pair of blue jeans trousers. Her brown hair up in a messy ponytail. Since that day I spoke rudely to her, we haven't been in good terms, not as if we were talking much before then.

"Back from the game?"

How did she know?

Me and my friends looked at each other.

"A friend of yours visited to say hello, Crystal is it?"

The girl herself emerged from the direction of our kitchen. She had changed out of her jersey and was wearing a plain grey T-shirt instead.

"Hello." She said in her usual breezy voice.

"What the f*ck are you doing here?" I demanded, brushing off mum's glare. Summer was minutes away from attacking her and Cole held her arm.

"No one told me it's a crime to greet my friends." She smiled sweetly.

I grinned, passing a conspiratory wink to Cole and Summer. "Of course we are friends, and good friends talk right?"

Crystal nodded, unaware of what was going on in my twisted mind. "Correct."

Mum wondered what I was up to but I moved up and seized Crystal's right arm. "Summer had a nasty case of diarrhoea, why don't we all help her in my room." A wicked glint strolled into Cole's face and Summer's scorching glare hit me.

My friends followed behind as I pulled Crystal into my room and securely locked the door.

"What did I do?" Crystal shrugged out of my grip.

Summer leaned against the door. "We don't like you and we'll love for you to leave Winter alone."

Crystal paled. "B-But everyone loves me. What did I do to make you guys hate me?"

I snorted. "Playing the innocent card, are you?"

Cole stepped up close to her, eyes boring into hers in an intimidating way. "Winter has been our friend before your tiny ass came along-" He gazed at me for a quick second. I grimaced at the sore reminder of my mistake."-and he still will be after we get rid of you."

Crystal appeared close to fainting. I held her shirt. She tried to brush me off but my grip was strong. "Get rid of me? You're kidding."

I flicked open a pen knife and held it to her neck. She gasped in utter shock. "Do we look like we're joking? Stay away from Winter or we're going to f*cking kill you, chop your body into pieces and burn you to ashes. No one's ever going to f*cking find you."

"A-Aurora, that wasn't part of the-" Cole's stammering ended when Summer roughly nudged him.

Crystal lifted her arms, displaying surrender. "Okay fine. I'm going to break up with Winter, if that's what you want, please, don't kill me, I plan to visit Venice before I die, please, I'm begging for my life." She dropped to her knees, making pleading gestures with her hands.

Summer and Cole laughed wildly at her while I pocketed my pen knife and walked to my bed.

"You failed the test." Cole announced to Crystal. She remained on the floor.

"Wait, you guys f*cking pranked me?" She rose, cursing herself for being stupid. Cole chuckled and settled on my bed too. Summer remained at the door, aiming a death glare at me.

"Wait... Where did you get that knife? Are you really a killer?" Crystal asked.

Yawning, I pressed a button and my curtains shut on their own. It was dark already and I hate nosy neighbours stealing peeks into my room.

"Just shut up already." With a wider yawn, I fell back on my bed, accidentally knocking my head into Cole's. A wave of pain drifted up my spine.

"Ow?" He rubbed his head while I flashed him a sheepish smile and glanced at Crystal pacing around my room.

"Diarrhoe, really? I'm going to kill you!" Summer screeched, pouncing on me.

Grunting, I held back her face when she grabbed my hair. "Get your crazy skinny ass off me! Cole, help!"

The boy chuckled. "No, thanks. I haven't watched you guys fight in a long time. The view is good... Maybe a little girl on girl action."

Summer growled and dived onto Cole, almost clawing his eyes out. Crystal was trembling with laughter when I glanced her way.

Rolling my eyes, I put on my T.V. The Science Documentary I watched every Wednesday hadn't started yet.

Summer pulled me back on the bed. "Think you can escape, huh?" She grinned.

What did she do to Cole?

Groaning, I stuck my finger in my mouth and rubbed saliva on Summer's left cheek. She flew off the bed, utterly terrorised.

"Gross! Aura, that's nasty! You've got your stupid microorganisms on me!!!" Freaking out, she fled into my bathroom.

My germaphobe of a friend.

"Your friendship is enviable." Crystal commented.

"Who said you could talk?" Cole asked, his voice low. There were scratch marks all over his face. Summer's doing. That girl was a cat in her past life, I swear.

Crystal mumbled some words under her breath and then sank into one of my grey sofas. "What schools do you attend?"

"Fairy High. All four of us go to the same school." I pinched Cole to let go of his annoyance with Crystal.

Summer emerged out of the bathroom with a wide shit-eating grin. Her eyes went to the television. "Isn't it time for that stupid science show you watch every evening, Aura."

"It isn't stupid if you remembered it." Cole replied.

Summer ignored him. After capturing her brown strands with a plastic hair loop stolen from my dressing drawers, she came to lie down in between Cole and I.

"Halloween-"

Summer aimed a dirty look at Crystal. "Why is she still here?"

I sighed, lacing my fingers with Summer's. "I think we've had enough drama for tonight. Let's just be quiet-"

The jarring of my phone knocked out words from me. Summer smirked at me before turning to Crystal and starting a conversation with her. Cole busied himself with my phone, occasionally reaching out to tug at Summer's hair.

My phone insisted I answer whoever was calling. Winter.

Unwilling to drag any attention from Crystal, I parted my curtains and climbed out to my balcony which I snuck out from sometimes with my friends.

"Hey pretty face."

His husky voice brought forth a smile from me. "Big head. I'm still angry at what you did today."

"I'm sorry, Aurora. I'll apologize to my friends with a-

"-big, giant bowl of ice- cream..."

Wait for it....

"Aurora-" He began with a sigh. "-you do not use giant and big in the same sentence."

"Okay teacher."

He asked what I was doing and I explained everything that took place this evening. Then, he handed his phone over to Lauren who invited me to her best friend's bake sale tomorrow. I accepted her offer but when Winter hung up, a certain sad feeling overcame me when I remembered how his mum and mine used to be friends before their fallout.

Comments and votes are highly encouraged. I've been indoors since yesterday as it's been raining. I only hope my community doesn't get flooded.

Tell me what you think about this chapter. 😊