"I'll see you later Ann!" Elle yells as she races for the front door, late for work, again.

"Yeah, see you later!" I call after her, piling my books neatly before standing up as she slams the door closed. I've always been organised, but after my Dad died I became even more so. Our Father was a compulsive tidier, nothing could ever be left out of place. In the weeks that followed their death I spent my time tidying every surface, making sure every picture frame was straight, every sock was paired up before it was placed away. I had to do it, it was what he would have wanted and as I got older the habit was embedded into me.

Walking to the kitchen I grab a cloth, wiping the surfaces down and placing the boxes of cereal and pasta back in the cupboard where they belong.

I love my sister. But she's without a doubt the messiest person I've ever met. She doesn't mean to be, she's as ditsy as Mom was. Working shifts all the time exhausts her, and I know that cleaning the apartment doesn't even cross her mind.

I pick up the old magazine that she's had lying around for five weeks and chuck it into the recycling before washing up the pans left over from last night's dinner. Looking out of the window above the sink, I watch as the trees blow in the gentle breeze, the sun shining brightly. It's been a good Summer this year, and I've been so lucky to spend my free time with my three best friends. I smile, brushing off my hands as I move on to wipe the dust. I clean the table and the chest of drawers before picking up a photo and carefully wiping the frame. 

It's my all time favorite photo - the family photo of my dreams. My parents stand behind Elle and I, all of us grinning at the camera, Elle and I dressed as Ariel and Ursula. I remember that I was the most excited of all of us, clinging on to my parents' hands as the photo was taken.

I'm mildly disturbed by a knock at the front door, ignoring it as I trace the outline of my Mom with my finger.

"You should lock this." Brett's voice calls out, hearing his footsteps as he approaches.

"I knew I was going out." I reply, turning to see him enter the room. He's wearing a plain navy T-shirt, wildly different from the usual red Letterman jacket.

"Nice place."

"Don't mock me." I scoff, shaking my head as he looks around.

"I'm not," He defends before his eyes fall to my hands, "Is that them?" I bite my lip as I look back down at the picture.

"Yeah." I reply, as he walks over. "It's my favorite picture of all of us." I smile, running my finger over the glass once more.

"You look happy." He says softly, wrapping his arm around and covering my fingers with his own. I feel my heart jump at the sudden touch.

"We'd just been to Disneyland." I mumble, leaning back onto his chest.

"Every kids dream."

"Every kids dream." I echo.

"It's a lovely picture." He places his hand over mine as I grip onto the frame. "Are you the villain?"

"Ursula was my favorite character." I smile sadly, pulling away from his touch, and placing the frame back down.

"Hey, are you okay?" He questions, his eyebrows furrowing at my glum expression.

"Yeah." I manage a small smile. "It's just hard sometimes."

"I know." He replies softly, "But it's okay that it's hard."

"If they were still alive it would be so different." I exclaim, a single tear escaping down my cheek. He steps forward, placing one hand on my waist and using his other to gently wipe my cheek.

"I know." He agrees as he smiles, his ocean colored eyes sparkling, "But you're the strongest girl I know."

"I'm not."

"You are." He counters, grabbing hold of my waist, "Strong and caring."

"Stop!"

"Look at you blushing!" He teases as I wrench myself away, grabbing hold of my bag from the couch.

"Shut up Winters."

"Are you ready?" He asks, walking back towards the door.

"Sure," I follow, grabbing my keys on the way, "Where are we going?"

"Nowhere in particular." He shrugs, opening the door. I stop mid step.

"So it's just anywhere we end up?"

"Yeah." He grins before turning and walking out of the apartment.

"How is that even going to work?" I call after him, grabbing the door and slamming it behind me as he stops on the stairs.

"Tell me... right now, what do you want to do more than anything?" Brett asks.

"To do?"

"If you could do anything, what would it be?" He asks again and I shrug.

"Eat a tub of ice cream."

"We'll do that later." He lets out a small laugh that causes my stomach to flutter, "Where would you visit? If you could visit one place for a day?"

"Stanford," I answer without thinking.

"Stanford?" He cocks his head, questioningly. I shift my feet and bite my lip.

"It's where I want to go after high school." I say quietly and his smile widens.

"Stanford it is." He grins, turning away and walking down the stairs. My eyes widen and I race to keep up with him, his long, fast strides a struggle for my short legs.

"You can't be serious!"

"Why not?" He asks, calling over his shoulder.

"It's nearly three hours away!"

"So?" 

"You're crazy." I shake my head, a hint of a smile on my lips.

"I'm adventurous." He counters, backing towards the door. "You in or out?" He questions, pulling the door open.

I look outside at the sunny weather, the sky a clear blue. What a day to visit Stanford...

"Okay. I'm in." I grin, walking towards him. He holds the door open as I leave, following behind me. I make my way to his car, quickly sliding into the passenger seat, him sliding in beside me, smirking at my impatience.

"Let's go." He turns the car on, pulling away. I can't help but smile, stretching out on the seat to get comfy as I look around his car, not noticing any music. I look over at him, desperate to make this road trip the best it can be.

"What music do you have?"

*~*~*

"Here we are!" Brett announces, parking the car. I quickly sit up, startled and ashamed to admit I've been asleep for the last half hour. I look around, taking in the big green trees, the masses of students walking into the university as I get out of the car.

"It's so busy."

"A little different from back home." Brett agrees, grabbing hold of my hand. "I think they're running some courses during the Summer. Come on!" He pulls my arm, yanking me out of my daydream as I stumble behind him.

"It's so nice."

"Nice?" He scoffs as I walk beside him, my heart fluttering at my hand being held by his, "That's how you describe a gift from your Nan." He scoffs, "Come on Hurst. What do you really think?"

"It's good." I try, looking around at the beautiful campus, trying to keep my voice low as students walk past.

"You can do better than that."

"It's..." I try and he raises his eyebrows in anticipation, "It's... fucking amazing." I grin and he laughs at my response, pulling us further onto the campus.

"Come on."

"Where are you going?" I exclaim, grabbing hold of his sleeve and attempting to pull him back as he continues to walk, dragging me along behind him.

"Act like you belong Hurst. You're making us stick out." He grins, looking down at me as we walk through the crowds of students.

"We don't belong." I hiss and he chuckles.

"Pretend you do."

"But..."

"Come on." He grins, grabbing hold of my hand and pulling me into a building.

"Where the hell are you going?" I yell quietly, "We need to get a pass or something to be here!"

"How will you get a feel for the place if you don't test it?"

"I.. uh..." I stutter as he smirks, turning away, continuing down the corridor, past the bustling students.

"Keep up." He calls, letting go of my hand to shuffle past the hoards of people. I struggle to keep up, desperate to stick with him as he ducks into a room, quickly following him and abruptly slamming into his back.

"What are you doing?" I snap and he grins in amusement.

"What do you think?" He gestures and I take a look, my mouth dropping open. It's a lecture theater, the first one I've ever been in, and it's massive, the podium for the lecturer large and grand and I soon find myself staring in awe at the vaulted ceiling.

"It's huge."

"Were you expecting a classroom?"

"Of course not!" I retort, "It's amazing." I confirm. I'm so in awe that when Brett tugs on my arm I jump out of my skin before realizing that students are pouring in, the lecturer making her way to the front. I gulp, looking up at Brett, my eyes wide with terror and he laughs at my expression, dragging me back out into the hall.

"Someone might notice us!" I hiss at him and he laughs.

"Sixteen thousand students go here and you're worried they might spot us!" He teases and I roll my eyes. 

We walk back outside and trail around the outside of the buildings, my eyes never leaving the impressive architecture. I follow him like a puppy, Brett dragging me across the campus, pointing out various buildings to me; the Green Library, the Post Office and bookstore. He'd undoubtedly been here before, knowing where to go and what to look for. He was the best tour guide I could have ever hoped for, pointing out the best place for ice cream, the best coffee stop.

Finally he drags me into the dorms. They're relatively busy and I don't know why, the majority of students having surely gone home for the Summer. I grimace as we walk through the entrance way, a lad shoving into me and I fall back against Brett, him instantly grabbing hold of the boy.

"Watch it." Brett growls. The boy looks fearfully up at him before turning and running off. I can't help the amusement that washes over me, after all, Brett is younger than most of the boys here. 

Brett pulls me up the stairs, away from the crowd and heads for the first door on the right. I shoot him a quizzical look as he lets go of my hand, wiggling the door knob slightly, before turning it and throwing the door open. 

"What are you doing?" I yell quietly as he walks into the room.

"Checking out the rooms." He shrugs.

"You can't do that!" I snap, "What if they come back?"

"They won't."

"They might."

"Come on Hurst." Brett challenges, backing further into the room. "Live a little."

"There is nothing wrong with living on the safe side." I retort, staying in the doorway. He smiles, leaning back against the far wall as I roll my eyes at him, shifting on my feet in the doorway. Slowly my eyes drift around the room, taking in the large beds, one side decorated in blues, the other a pale pink. Pictures decorate the walls, stacks of books piled up on the desks. Unknowingly, I venture further into the room, gazing around at the college life that the two roommates seem to be living.

"You like?" Brett asks and I nod, taking a step closer to him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Thank you for bringing me here." I whisper, leaning up on my tiptoes and moving my face as close to his as possible. He takes the hint, smiling as he leans down, his lips meeting mine.

I'm hungry for this kiss, desperate to show him how grateful I am for today, for showing me this, for being here with me. I never thought I'd experience this with Brett, but now I can't imagine being with anyone else.

He pulls me closer and I open my mouth, allowing him more access. I want to deepen the kiss, I want it to continue and never end. Moaning, I trail my fingers through his hair as his grip tightens around my waist, holding me tightly against his own body.

"Excuse me?" We jump apart at the shriek, turning wide eyed to find one of the pictured girls in the doorway, her expression extremely angry.

"Uh..." I stutter.

"Sorry." Brett manages before grabbing my hand, wrenching me away from there, past the disgruntled girl and down the hallway. We laugh the whole way, pushing past the students, our hands interlinked as we pour out of the building, back out into the sunshine. He stops, whirling me around to face him before tucking some of hair away from my face, a smile adorning my face. His expression is relaxed, his smile genuine, and I can honestly say that I don't think I have seen him this happy before.

"I'm hungry." I smile, stepping back slightly.

"Me too." He agrees, nodding. "Fancy that?" He points at the closest stand to us, a hot-dog vendor.

"Sure." I grin, and we walk over towards the gorgeous smell.

"Two hot-dogs please." Brett orders and the guy nods, quickly preparing and handing two over.

"I can pay." I offer.

"No need." Brett shakes his head. "I have enough to cover us." He hands over the money as I smile in gratitude. Walking away through the rustling trees, I take in the sight of the students sprawled across the grass, reading, chatting and laughing. 

"So have your parents never been around?" I ask before taking a bite of the hot-dog.

"Not really." He replies.

"Even when you were younger?"

"No. They have more important things to worry about." He retorts.

"I'm sure that's not true." I exclaim, seeing the anguish behind his eyes.

"Savannah the longest they've ever stayed with me was when I was five. I broke my leg and wouldn't stop crying every time they walked away." He shrugs, "They stayed for a month."

"What are they doing?" I ask, shaking my head at the idea of such absent parents.

"Working." He grimaces, "Apparently."

"They care." I assure him, smiling, "They just don't know how to show it."

"Interesting conclusion." He smirks, finishing his hot-dog.

"It's true." I argue as he speeds up, "Every parent cares. They're programmed to." I struggle to keep up with his long legs.

"Savannah you think too much of people." He shakes his head, turning to face me.

"I do not!"

"You think everyone is caring."

"As if." I scoff, "I know Ashley is one of the worst people on earth."

"That's a bit harsh." He argues, a frown appearing on his face.

"I beg to differ."

"Come on now. I know she's been harsh with you but it's just because she's jealous of you."

"Jealous?"

"Yeah, you're naturally gorgeous. But if you got to know her you might find that she's alright." He argues and I shrug.

"Then why did you break up with her?" I challenge, crossing my arms as we stand in the middle of the path, students bustling past us.

"I wanted to be single before I went to college." He shrugs, running his hand through his hair. 

There it is, a sharp knife slices straight down the center of my heart as my stomach lurches.

"I think we should go back now." I respond, my voice flat as I turn back in the direction of the car.

"Sav..."

"It's getting late," I call over my shoulder as I hear him follow, "I should be back before my sister." I finish.

"Okay."

I walk in silence, ahead of him as I hurriedly attempt to get back to the car, making my way through the students and ignoring the tears pricking my eyes. It's my own fault, I've always known that he doesn't want anything from me. We're just friends with a couple of benefits...

I should never have allowed myself to fall for him.

"Do you want to choose the music?" He asks when he starts up the car. I shoot him a blank expression.

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay." He smiles slightly before pulling off.

What an absolute disaster of a day.

*~*~*

"Ann?" Elle's voice startles me and I look up from the floor where I've curled up, tears streaming down my face. "What is it?" She asks, eyes wide with worry as she perches down in front of me.

"Why do I fall for it every time, Elle?" I manage, staring up at her. 

"Anna?" 

"Why do I keep falling for him?" I get out before I begin to cry once more, her expression morphing in realization before she pulls me into her arms.

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