The walk to the nearby restaurants was relatively quiet, Serena trailing slightly behind after a rather stubborn Shauna simply refused to take no as an answer. Tentatively looking down at her wristwatch, her nerves crept on her, but she remained calm as to not let the others see. She didn't want to be late for an errand and if the moment arose, she contemplated leaving the two completely, in the hope they wouldn't notice. She observed them, Ash leaning down somewhat to converse with the girl. His hair fluttered in the cool breeze, and thankfully for her it wasn't as cold as before, a few of the sun's rays penetrating the blanket of overcast clouds. Yet still her thin and worn hoodie provided little warmth. He lazily had his bag on his shoulders, hands deep in his pockets. Ironically, she did the same, doubting that his hands were nearly as cold as hers though.

Cursing herself for not bringing a jacket, she gazed upon the female to his right. She had to admit that she found her to be quite attractive, her features highlighting the innocent but playful nature she possessed. Her jacket enveloped her in warmth, a small tinge of jealousy arising in Serena's mind upon the observation, but she ignored the thought. Not one to wallow in self-pity, she recalled her first interaction with Shauna. They had only met recently, for she had just recently transferred to the university.

Initially being shocked at even being offered a place, Serena felt a little out of her depth, having been accepted with her grades. Albeit by a hair or two. However, she insisted on declining the offer, the journey from her abode being more than an hour long wasn't something she wanted to burden her mother with. Her responsibilities at home always took priority for her, but just this once even she couldn't just decline. This university was her opportunity to properly be able to support her family in the future.

Finally agreeing, her nervousness kicked in on the bus ride onto campus. Her attendance being fully funded by the scholarship she was receiving did nothing to quell the anxiety fluttering in her stomach. Although she knew she didn't compare to some of the more affluent students, she only had to endure two more years of her degree. She grew accustomed to working hard for her rewards, and simply being able to ask her mother for money was something she promised herself to never do. Hence, her job at a local supermarket allowed for enough funds for her books and travelcards, yet her overtime shifts left her swept off her feet on more than one occasion.

The first class she had was a drama seminar and being paired with Shauna of all people was comparable to a blessing in disguise. Her bubbly and infectious personality quickly made Serena feel more accepted, yet this did very little to deter the stares she received from some other students. Priding herself for not being a shallow person, the looks on the outside weren't nearly as important for her as the nature on the inside, so she let people cast their judgements. Initially taking a liking to her new professor, their assigned task was easy enough to complete and left time for gentle conversation with Shauna. Being the more talkative one of the two, Serena listened to stories and adventures her partner encountered. A small part of her vicariously lived in the words, wishing she were as endowed and fortunate. Regardless, she was happy for her friend and intently listened to her ramble on.

Feeling lucky about being on the same course, she made a mental note to stick to Shauna in the hopes of becoming good friends. Their contact time increased, and so their friendship solidified, something which Serena appreciated. But she knew that even Shauna may be disinterested in her after getting to know more about her. Though her thoughts were interrupted by small sounds emanating from up ahead. Ash kept pace next to Shauna, whom of which began whispering something tentatively in his ear. Ever-curious, Serena picked up her own pace to see if she was the topic of conversation; her uncomfortable shoes strongly disagreeing on the idea. However, she saw another boy waiting at the large steel gates, waving his slender hand for a moment, breaking their conversation up.

His dishevelled mahogany brown hair covered his forehead while his blue trousers and green hoodie completed the look. Like Ash he refused to adorn both straps of his bag onto his shoulders, slowly walking towards the three. Greeting Shauna with a small hug and Ash with a fist-bump, Serena immediately felt like she was intruding, still standing a few steps behind the three. "And this is Serena" Shauna's hand allowed a perfect introduction of the girl, her voice calming somewhat. Surprised at the action, she could do nothing but smile and wave, hoping the random boy wouldn't be displeased. Rather sceptically, he nodded back, introducing himself as Gary, before sharing a look at Ash who only nodded affirmatively.

"I'm not intruding, or anything am I?" Serena finally decided to enter the conversation, earning the attention of the three. Gary adorned an embarrassed smile; an apologetic expression while Shauna clasped her hand onto Serena's wrist, forcefully bringing her closer.

"No not at all. Truth is, I've been meaning to find you for some time. Professor Juniper's orders." Adding the last fragment quickly upon seeing her face grow into one of suspicion. Serena sceptical now herself nodded at the statement, curious once more. Annoyed at his paraphrasing, Ash who was now slightly embarrassed ushered the group to proceed for lunch. "I'm Ash by the way, sorry about earlier in the art room." Gary began showing his phone to Shauna, intently talking about someone Serena had never heard of as she saw the pair walk ahead slightly. Not knowing the area well, she was glad Ash had broken from the two, now stepping in sync with her.

"That's okay. You guys really don't mind me tagging along right?" She expectantly looked at the boy, her irises directing up slightly. Despite being taller than Shauna, she only came up to Ash's chin and so she craned her neck upwards, awaiting his reply. Smiling softly Ash responded in a playful manner.

"Nah, any friend of hers is a friend of mine. By the way I've never seen you around before, did you transfer in or something?" Their small talk ensued, Serena briefly telling him how she gained acceptance into the university a year into her course. She was surprised he was so engrossed in her words, not adding much but allowing her to relax a little as they conversed. The two up ahead were now more distanced, Shauna every so often looking back, smiling at their interaction. She liked Serena from their first introduction. She was calm and pure, never once judging her like she assumed others had done, but she did also observe certain aspects of the blonde girl. But it wasn't her place to say, so she carried on listening to Gary talk about their old friends.

Keeping in touch regularly, the group still tried to communicate in tandem with their hectic schedules. Photos and videos kept everyone up to date, of which Gary was showing Shauna, animatedly moving his arms thus earning a few giggles from the teen. Ash snickered as well at his childish movements, before focusing intently on Serena. Immediately he grew fond of the girl, for similar reasons as Shauna. Her gentle voice, the way she moved her hands to explain her points, the small expression she made when she was in thought. Ash couldn't help but melt into their interaction. They walked for a short distance, crossing bridge over a river. Serena's eyes danced with the current, dark blue meeting sapphire. She loved the way running water created a soothing symphony, like water trickling down a fountain.

Leaning over the edge slightly; her hands glided across the railings, a quaint smile forming between her lips. Ash himself was amused at her reaction; he had seen this spot various times beforehand. Therefore, it was nothing to him, but it looked like everything to her. He took the effort to identify this new girl more closely, the first point of order that he did find her somewhat attractive. Her hair was shoulder length, elegantly cupping her face, highlighting her cheekbones. Her eyes were like constellations in the night sky. Hopes, dreams, and ambitions all plentiful in her own river of blue. However, he decided to stop staring at her, acknowledging that she was in her own world of bliss.

The weather worsened slightly; the intoxicating sunshine being overlapped by the icy winds. Brown leaves littered the pathways, the skeletons of trees baring the harsh conditions. Serena shivered slightly, goose bumps running up her arms. Pulling her large hoodie into her, she stuffed her pale hands into her pockets, fingers a little numb. She was so intent on finding the restaurant so she could get someplace warm that she didn't notice Ash shuffling with his jacket. Only realising when extra weight was placed on her shoulders, the warmth of his fur coat melted into her skin. Immediately looking to meet his chocolate orbs, his eyes compelled her heart to flutter at the gesture. Foreign to romantic behaviour, her cheeks tinted into a shade of pink, her lips mimed a thank you for her lungs were frozen in surprise to usher any words.

Although he was now cold himself, Ash felt better knowing his friend was no longer succumbing to the environment, and soon they arrived at a dainty shop. There were a few customers behind the windows, sipping on coffees and teas, Serena immediately feeling a tinge of jealousy. Gary and Shauna now entered the glass door, no longer conversing but looking around inside. Keeping Ash's blue jacket on by her shoulders, she was about to do the same until an arm extended in front of her, keeping the door ajar. Twice her emotions couldn't handle romantic gestures, her mind telling her repeatedly to calm down. Her childhood was riddled with fairy tales, yet her heart still beat a little faster at the experience.

Sitting down next to Ash, the four took a seat with Shauna and Gary facing Ash and Serena. Ash mused the menu, while Gary initiated the first conversation for a while. "So how did the trials go Ash?"

"Ah not great I'll be honest. I'll be lucky to make the team." He chuckled his last statement, clearly not disappointed by the prospect of missing out. Huffing, Gary who was slightly annoyed rested his chin on his arms moaning childishly. Shauna playfully pushed his arm, before turning to Ash. She desperately wanted him to find his feet again after their incident but agreed that it would not be an immediate turnaround. Serena however remained relatively quiet, not knowing the topic of conversation, but was glad she was amongst friends who shared their honest opinions. Recognising her silence Ash intended on including her in the conversation, briefly summarising the events, skipping the part where he attacked a brick wall. He didn't need her to see him as a psychopath of sorts.

A waitress approached their table, her white apron covering her black shirt with her hair carefully tied back into a ponytail. Appearing to only be a little older than them, she gave the group a couple of menus before walking off to another table. "Hey Serena, what are you getting?" Ash turned to his right, her sapphire eyes meeting auburn, a small, panicked expression on her face.

"Actually, I already had lunch on the way here, before class I mean. I might just get a tea or something" The slight worried tone in her voice wasn't missed by the other three, who stole worried glances at each other. However, they simply nodded, not wanting to push the issue, before Gary took their order to the counter.  "So how long have you guys known each other?" Deciding to be the one to initiate the conversation, Serena felt glad that the previous moment passed relatively quickly, the three responding as normal with a few jokes slipping in from time to time.

Serena had to admit that being amongst such people felt warming. It was a while since she seized a moment for herself without worrying about someone else or financial troubles, so she let her body sink into Ash's coat. The waitress returned with their orders, Gary almost scoffing himself on an overly sized burger while Shauna nursed a coke with some nachos on the side. Ash slowly ate his fries, pushing the plate towards Serena, motioning her to eat some. Internally she desperately wanted to take a few, but she knew it wouldn't look appropriate to steal of his plate. After much insisting, she took one into her mouth, earning a small grin from the boy adjacent. The meal was a quiet affair, the four teens basking in the warmth of the shop, watching new customers come and go.

Serena tentatively looked at her wristwatch, its leather strap worn slightly, the glass face scratched around the edges. It was a present from her mother a long-time ago. While the intrinsic value wouldn't exceed more than fifteen pounds, Serena would never sell the piece. It was just too valuable to just give away. It was almost two in the afternoon, thus leading Serena to depart first. "Sorry guys I have to go". She got up, digging her purse out of the crevice of her bag, an action stopped firmly by Ash. His hand covered her bag, stopping her fingers from retracting the object.

"It's on me. We usually take turns so don't even think about it." His eyes bore a steely look, intent on forcing her to agree. She remained stunned for a second or two, and watched Ash walked around her. Approaching the counter, he fished into his back pocket sliding a note to the woman who returned with a receipt. Haphazardly scrunching it into his side pocket, the group made their way out of the shop, back into the cold. The warmth of the shop dissipated from Serena's system, the toes curling at the exposure. Being promoted to designated driver now, Ash turned to Serena who was engulfed by his jacket hanging from her small shoulders. Delia usually didn't need her car for work, opting to use the train to save time, leading Ash to put himself down on the insurance form. "Need a ride?"

He flashed his key as to suggest his intent, Serena quickly catching on. "I need to pick up my sister from school so I'm going the other way." Despite his best protests, Serena remained firm not wanting to further trouble the boy and began taking his jacket off.

"Hey if you won't accept the lift, then at least keep the jacket. The bus is cold enough and I won't need it." Her eyes remained glued to the boy, amazed at his words. Rendered speechless, she saw Gary let out a small laugh before blindly nodding to the raven-haired boy in disbelief. Thanking him dearly, she walked the other way towards the bus stop, watching her friends disappear in the darkening skies. Her heart suddenly feeling a little colder being on her own again, but her new jacket told her otherwise. Patiently waiting for the bus, she watched the seconds tick by on her wrist, tapping her foot gently. She stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets, feeling the sensation of a packet of tissues and some gloves.

Glad he was nowhere to see her, Serena adorned her hands with Ash's gloves, her fingertips a couple of inches too small but the warmth was enough. A couple of minutes later the bus arrived, Serena jumping on and climbing the stairs to the top, clutching her bag in her hand. Leaning her head against the glass, she glanced at the other passengers. An assortment of kids and adults occupied the seats, the sounds of chatter spreading throughout the upper deck. Through the now foggy glass, her eyes were drawn to a small boy and man getting off, the latter holding the boy's hand as they crossed the road. Her eyes stared intently, a feeling of longing emerging in the pits of her stomach.

Said stomach now rumbled, an embarrassed Serena muffling the sounds as best she could with her thick jacket. Sighing, she reached into her purple bag, it's worn condition only still deteriorating. The zip would often hitch onto the material, the straps close to breaking under any substantial weight. Its colour was more than faded but the girl prolonged its usefulness as best she could. Rummaging around she felt a small plastic bottle, and a rectangular box. Hiding the box within the jacket, she opened the contents, putting a capsule in her hand and into her mouth. Unscrewing the bottle cap, she took a quick swig of water, made difficult by the movement of the bus. Regardless, she drank the water and swallowed, a bitter aftertaste originating at the back of her mouth. Thankfully, she filled her bottle on campus before leaving, so she took a few extra sips to sooth her dry mouth.

She hated the taste but was desperate to economise on her spending and so was only left with this final option. The journey took just over an hour, the different stops being announced though the speakers. Passengers rotated whilst Serena sat in the same spot, her body resting on the less than comfortable seats. Soon enough though she departed, beginning a small walk towards the primary school. She deeply held Ash in her graces, his coat making the walk much less painful and a lot more bearable. Her fingers were no longer numb, but her feet were a different story altogether. Fairly sure she couldn't feel her small toe, she approached her destination; loud screams and other parents present being a hallmark indication.

She approached a small huddle of little kids, each running around, screaming, or playing, some telling their respective parents about what new math sum they did today. Needless to say, that some parents didn't give much thought that one plus one was actually two, faking a surprised expression. Still, a sombre expression adorned her face, leading to her subconsciously chewing on her inside lip. Wiping it off and replacing it with a caring smile, her eyes darted to different classes, searching for one in particular. Admittedly, she was a little late, so it was significantly easier to find the right one. Within a few minutes, her eyes scanned the groups and she delicately tapped a small girl on the shoulder who turned around, running into her legs. "Serena!!" The child broke the hug off, her infectious smile spreading to the Serena, replacing her smile with a bigger one. Notifying the teacher, who seemed swamped and frankly exhausted, they made their way through the gates, journeying home.

"So Riley, how was school?" Her gloved hands firmly grasped the child's, her jacket done up to the top, the small beanie placed on her small head just barely sitting above her eyes. Riley animatedly used her free hand to explain how they did some painting tasks, seemingly talking about an incident with spilt blue paint but severely downplaying it. Serena immediately knew her little sister was involved, her hands clearly not washed thoroughly enough. She was caught blue handed if you were to so speak. However, Serena wasn't at all bothered by the matter, her smile was just too infectious to subdue with a scolding.

"Huh I like your new coat!" She squealed in a high pitch tone, examining it on Serena's shoulders. Politely saying thank you, they navigated home, sharing stories. She was the only bright spark in Serena's life at times, and she did all she could to protect her from the world, hoping she would see her dreams come true. Turning a few blocks and crossing some streets, they arrived at their building. It was a couple storeys high, Serena putting the pin code into the main door; a monotone buzzing noise emanating from the electronic system. Everyday Serena would look to see if someone from the city had come to fix the lift, only to see disappointment every time. She counted two months now, her hope dwindling like an ember in the sea.

Climbing the stairs to the fourth floor, Serena unlocked their front door, hearing voices from the neighbours through the thinly plastered walls. Riley ran into the flat, seemingly towards her room. Riley and Serena shared a room, while their mother had her own. Something Serena didn't mind at all, often finding solace sleeping with an enthusiastic girl. Plus, it allowed their mother to get some much-deserved relaxation alone. Their front room was connected to the kitchen, the bedrooms tucked at the back. Apart from a small television stand and some of Serena's drawings, the room looked solitary and austere. The small oak coffee table scattered with colouring pens and children's books provided a much-needed display of colour. The cream walls had little dents and scratches, some of the plaster crumbling around the edges. The doorframes were old and worn, the varnish thinning each year.

Serena walked into the kitchen, opening the small fridge. They made do with leftovers when Serena's mother, Grace, couldn't cook for the day. So, with plating the rice on the plate, she inserted it into the microwave watching it spin inside. Telling Riley to put an extra jumper on, Serena began to make some dinner for their mother with the little ingredients they had. The heating in their whole flat was not nearly as powerful as they needed it to be, and so to save money they were all made to wear extra clothes on particularly cold days. Quickly making her mother's sandwich and placing it in the fridge, the young girl gave her sister the plate of steaming rice.

Complaints about the food were in abundance when Riley was made to eat leftovers, but Serena could only plead for her to eat it. "Why don't you have to eat mucky rice?" Folding her arms, Riley furrowed her eyebrows at her big sister, annoyed at the revelation of there only being one plate.

"I already had my share of rice before I picked you up." Every time she would lie to her sister was another time she chided herself in her mind. There was only enough rice for one person, and with their situation, Riley was always priority. Watching her slowly empty the plate, Serena walked into her room, adorning her uniform for work. With no one to look after Riley, she almost always had to wait for Grace to return, a situation that was no one's fault and yet Serena blamed everyone. She wished her mother didn't have to work long hours, she wished that there was always enough food in the fridge and cupboards, she wished that they wouldn't go hungry from time to time just to pay rent.

She had been wishing for seven years now, and it was becoming evident that they weren't being answered. Pacing around in her uniform under Ash's jacket, she watched Riley stare innocently at a cartoon on the television, the clock ticking by. Subsequently, a small shuffling noise was heard outside, followed by a woman unlocking the door. She had a blue apron on with flats and a plain long dress underneath. Her hair was wavy and uncombed, her hands full of bags. "Serena I'm back, quickly leave, or you'll be late!" Her tone was tired and fatigued, her feet screaming at her to sit down. Riley went and hugged her mother, doing her best to carry the items. She worked in a local laundrette, and so bringing the extra clothes home was a regular occurrence.

Nodding rather reluctantly, she walked out of the building and back down the four flights of stairs. Her feet almost running down, clutching onto the metal bannister for support. Exiting her building, she ran to the local bus stop, watching her bus approach her from behind. Her feet moving as fast as they possibly could, but her worn soles made every small stone feel like a nail piercing her skin. Enduring the pain, she managed to board the bus, thanking her bursary for coming through in time to purchase her travelcard. A few stops later she disembarked and following a small walk away she entered a large supermarket. The regular beeping noise of scanners and the hums of push trolleys invaded the atmosphere.

Walking to her cashier seat, she sat down and placed her name badge on her shirt. Adorning her smile, her shift started, and the customers rolled in. Her shift dragged on slightly towards the end, closing time approaching so customer numbers fizzled into a couple until no one was left. Reaching into her locker for her bag and phone, she saw it was almost ten at night. Her phone was a very old-second hand model, therefore it already had scratches and dents, but it served its required purpose, so it was satisfactory in her book. It was the time of the month where the employees would get their pay, and so taking a small envelope from the shelving unit Serena inspected it with wistful thinking. Secretly she hoped a few extra pounds slipped in there, but alas, it was the right amount which was fair enough.

Stuffing her earnings deep into the jacket's inside pocket, she double checked to see if it was zipped before leaving the security of the shop. The lights dimmed and the owner drove off into the night, leaving Serena to carry herself back to the bus stop. Initially she hated working so late, the feeling of her safety being compromised went against every fibre of her being. Yet bills and rent needed addressing, not to mention things for Riley and food. Sighing she boarded the bus, thanking the skies that it came relatively quickly, and soon got off and walked back to her flat. The air was cool, and the street was quiet. Almost refreshing if not for the fact that this part of town didn't feel safe at night with the dimmer than usual streetlamps and lack of CCTV around each corner.

Walking at a faster pace, Serena approached her building, spotting a black car parked just outside. A registration plate she loathed the sight of. Bursting into a sprint, she tapped furiously on the door's keypad, cursing the slow system for not opening quick enough. Manually pushing the door open, she slipped through the gap and bolted up the stairs. The pains of her heels a distant memory for now her anxiety surged through her system. Reaching her flat, she unlocked the door, observing a man in a crisp suit slowly turn around to address her presence. "Ah Serena, for a moment I thought you weren't coming." His voice was far too relaxed, his friendly smile being met with steely eyes of pure hatred.

Catching her breath slightly, she walked over to her mother checking to see if Riley had been put to sleep already, not daring to take her eyes off the man for more than a moment or two. The door was closed, and so it was safe to converse openly with the man. "Well, it's the twenty-third today, so I'll just be taking my rent if you would so please." His arm extended outwards, purposely showing off his glistening watch and cuffs. There and then, Serena contemplated lunging at the man, his eyes scrutinising their home and demeaning their possessions.

"Well, you see we might need a bit more t-" Grace abruptly stopped by Serena walking towards the table; a small envelope sitting open. Carefully reaching into her jacket, she counted out a few notes and placed them in the envelope, sliding it towards the man. His sinister smile only growing as he flicked through to check the amount, the disrespect emanating from his very soul.

"Ah very good. I'll leave you to it then." His polished black shoes tapped lightly against the worn floorboards, his hands running through his perfectly combed hair. Serena's teeth seethed in anger, wishing he would just go already. Carefully opening the door, he stopped to turn around and address the teenager. "Oh, I almost forgot to congratulate you for getting into London's top university, maybe you could help my son out. His grades are a little.... poor." With this revelation, Serena's eyes widened slightly but she was determined not to be baited into his games. His tongue standing on the word 'poor' far too long for her liking. Finally leaving the small flat, the two women finally relaxed, Grace turning to her daughter in relief.

Before she could usher her words out of her mouth, Serena spoke, her tone softer now. "I didn't realise it was the twenty-third today, I would've come sooner." The guilt of almost missing the interaction left her feeling sorrowful of making her mother worry. Instead, however she was pulled into an embrace by tired arms. The energy of both females was low, an exhausted Serena not wanting to admit this, however. She knew Grace intended of asking about the extra money, her mind quickly turning to formulate an excuse. Work was getting harder to find and so Serena needed to step up, and with her mother doing as much as she could, some sacrifices were a given.

Giving the rest of her money to Grace, they pulled two chairs out and seated at the dining table. Serena's fingernails running along some of the many scratches on the thin table, her mind focused on the notes on the table. "We have just under £120 for the rest of the month after bills. It's much more than last month so we should be fine." The older woman sighed, hating herself for putting so much responsibility on her daughter. A sense of pride manifested in her though, thankful to have someone so willing to support her during harsh times. She did however wonder where the extra money had come from, and so stopped a now standing Serena from walking away.

"Honey where did you get the extra money? I don't recall you telling me about any extra shifts. And that jacket? It's not yours." Her hand ran up and down the blue coat, clearly stating her intentions. Stopping before her mother, Serena gazed upon her drained eyes. Her fingers and skin were coarse from all the folding and ironing, the pay at the laundrette a little less than enough. Her feet were fatigued and so rested on the floor, her back sinking into her chair from standing up for long periods. If someone deserved some good news, it was Grace. Raising a family on your own is difficult enough, especially when people like Mr Swanson revelled in taking their money for a less than adequate flat.

"Oh, I sold one of my paintings to the university for some collection, and the coat was from a friend. It's just for today though, he insisted." Grace was sceptical but simply too tired to question Serena further, slightly reluctant on believing her coat being a gift from a friend. A male one at that. She eyed the blue material, its soft texture looking expensive to say the least, but she was glad Serena had made friends. Yet she still worried mentally. Excusing herself, Serena quietly made her way to her room, pulling a blanked over Riley for extra warmth. She looked at the time, a little past half ten.

Hearing her mother's bed creak and no other sounds in the house afterwards, everyone was asleep. Turning on a small lamp she gently placed her bag on her withered mattress. Digging out her textbook and picking out a pen off her makeshift desk, she lay herself on her bed. The girl stayed up for a few hours, eyes losing focus with each passing minute, but her assignments wouldn't wait. Soon enough however her head dropped onto her book, eyes now fully closed. She didn't have much to eat all day, work was tiring, and university was stressful. But it was for her family.

Which was all that mattered.