We arrived in school five minutes late and when I was supposed to run off to my first class, Paula stops me.

"Let's ditch the first class," she says, smacking a gum.

"I just skipped last class yesterday," I argue but then she just shushes me.

"I need to talk to you about something," she says, her voice stern. We go around the back of the school and sat on the ground. She grabs a box of cigarettes from her pocket and lights one.

"I didn't know you smoke," I say and she just sucks from the cigarette. She blows off smoke before speaking.

"I wanted to ask you about whatever happened to Chelsea," she says, looking away. She continues to blow smoke and I just stop breathing. I can't breathe properly when there's smoke from any kind of substance, but most of all from cigarettes.

"It was an accident," I softly say and she just nods. "I can't bring myself to tell you the whole story, though. I'm sorry," I add.

"I know, it's fine," she says. "Can I at least tell you about my experience?" she asks, looking at me.

"Sure, go ahead," I say and she sighs deeply.

"I was such a goody-two-shoes back then," she starts, blowing off more smoke. "But then my mom fell ill and I knew about my dad's other family."

I stay silent, fumbling with my sneaker's shoelaces. For some reason, I want to get out of here. For some reason, I'm feeling so much grief in the area around both of us. I feel like someone's trying to strangle me. It's probably just the smoke.

"I started going to different parties," she says, rubbing the end of her cigarette against the ground before bringing it back to her lips. "I started hooking up with different guys and getting wasted every single night."

The Paula I knew just a month ago soon disappeared and I realized how much the Paula who was seated across me was so much different than her. I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and how thin she was.

"I even started doing drugs," she says, her voice cracking. "Then, soon my mom passed away because of her fucking illness," she spat. She suddenly starts crying and I don't know what to do. I just stare at her. When I tried to come closer, she holds out her hand to stop me.

"I'm sorry to hear all of this," I say and she just nods.

"Whatever," she says before wiping her tears. "I just wanted to vent out all the shit that I've been going through and I'm sorry if it had to be you. I know that you're also going through some shit but I just can't find anyone else to trust," she adds.

"It's fine. I can listen," I say, coming closer. I put my arms around her and she just places her forehead on my shoulder.

"I want to help you, too," she whispers and I just shake my head.

"I'm fine, Paula," I assure her. I smooth down her hair as she continues sobbing. "I'm fine," I repeat the lie.

Of course, I'm not fine.

How the hell can I be fine?

"So, how's the second day of being 18 like?" Cole says, adjusting the strap of his backpack while walking out of school. "Wait, why didn't I see you in our first class earlier?" he asks.

"Paula and I arrived late," I say and he just frowns.

"I told you I'd give you everyday rides," he says and I just wave my finger against his face.

"No, thank you," I say.

"Want to start with making the scrapbook project thing-y?" he suggests and I give this a thought.

"Sure, why not?" I just say because I had a feeling that he won't allow me to say no.

We both ride inside his car. He opens the radio and listens to 80's music.

"Are you seriously listening to that?" I scoff and he just shoots me a look. "Just joking. Listen to whatever you want," I say and he just huffs.

We arrived at his house and I can't help but gasp at how big his house was.

"What?" he says and I just shake my head.

He escorts me inside and the instant we got inside, a woman who exactly looks like him greets us.

"Hello, dear, who might you be?" she says, embracing me.

"Amelia, ma'am," I say.

"She's a schoolmate," Cole says and her mom just beams at me. She touches my cheek lightly and I can feel the warmness of her palm.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," I say and she removes her hand away from my face.

"Oh, please, call me Riza," she says and I just force a smile at her. "Do you guys want some snacks?" she asks and Cole looks at me. I just widen my eyes at him to tell that there's no need.

"We just got some food on the way here," Cole lies and I just flash him an appreciative look.

I don't want to bother his mom after all.

"Alright. Where are you guys going to hang out?" she asks and I can feel my whole body go rigid.

"At my room," Cole casually answers and his mom just takes it casually as well.

I shoot him a look and he just winks at me when her mom turns for the kitchen.

"I won't allow you to not have any food, though," her mom insists. I heard her prepare something in the kitchen and that's when I pinched Cole on his arm.

"Ouch, what's that for?" he yelps.

"Why are we doing it in your room?" I ask, my voice hushed. At this, he smirks and I just pinch him one more time. He yelps once again.

"Where else do you want?" he says, his voice lowered down as well.

"Anywhere else but there?" I say but he just shakes his head.

"I got all the stationery shit in my room," he objects and I just roll my eyes at him. His mom returns from the kitchen and hands Cole a tray with two glasses of what seems like grape juice and two sandwiches.

"Thanks, mom," he says before beckoning me to follow him. I follow him upstairs and saw how many rooms the second floor has.

"I didn't know you were this rich," I comment and he just chuckles.

"My old man's a successful businessman after all," he boasts. He gets inside the room and I realized that I needed to take a piss.

"Wait, where's your restroom?" I ask as he turns the doorknob of his room.

"You could use my restroom," he suggests and I decline right away. "What's wrong with that?" he asks.

"I just don't want to, okay?" I say and he just nods slowly.

"Go straight, it's the last door," he says and I walk away as he gets inside his room. "Don't get lost," he teases and I turn back to narrow my eyes at him. He laughs before shutting the door of his room close.

I continue walking and suddenly the door that I was about to pass through opened. A small boy comes out of the room and I can't help but notice the strong resemblance between Cole and him.

"Who are you?" he asks, his expression not changing at all.

"Hi, I'm Cole's friend," I say and he just nods.

"Friend or a girlfriend?" he points out and I just let out an awkward laugh.

"Friend," I clarify and he just nods once again.

"My name is Ash," he introduces, sticking out his hand.

"I'm Amelia," I say, taking his hand and shaking it.

"Did someone—," he mumbles but stops right away. He looks away but doesn't let go of my hand.

"Hmm?" I say and he looks up to me. "What did you say?"

He stares into me and I noticed that his eyes were like a replica of his brother's.

"Was someone special taken away from you?" he asks, his face blank.

"What do you mean?" I say, consciously pulling my hand away from him but then his grip tightens.

"Did someone special to you die?" he says, blinking hard.

"N-no," I lie and he finally let go of my hand.

"If you say so," he says before turning back to his room.

"Why did you ask?" I say before he could close the door. He looks at me with the same blank expression but his lips were curled to one side.

"I can feel your grief, Amelia. It's really strong."