*Laurel's P.O.V*
April 17th

"Laurel, I'm glad that you are still here" Jim stops in front of me, out of breath. It looks like he just ran a marathon. "Professor Evans wants to talk to you."

"About what?"

"She decided you would need another colleague to help you with your project and I told her about a girl at UNCC, who you worked with... What was her name again? McKinley?"

"Riley McKinley?" My jaw drops. "Can I seriously invite Riley to work with us?!"

Jim chuckles.

"You can and you must, unless you've got someone else in mind."

I shake my head, joyful.

"No, she's the best option! But turns out, she's 20. She needs to finish her studies."

"No problem. She gets a scholarship like you"

I don't even wait to get to my apartment; after I leave Professor Evans' office I instantly call Riley to tell her the news.

Needless to say that she nearly had a heart attack.

"Laurel, this is incredible!" She cheers. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You deserve it, Riley" I giggle. "We need you here as fast as possible"

"But I need somewhere to live! Its not that simple!"

"We can share an apartment" I shrug. "We rent a bigger one for both of us. What do you say?"

May 9th

Riley and I already found a new home, also in Diamond Heights. I've missed her like crazy and she didn't know about the accident even though she told me a lot of people talked about it back at UNCC.

I'm waiting for her classes to finish and I decide to call Luke. I haven't heard his voice in about three days, and even though he does text me it's like twice a day.

Mailbox.

I sigh. I'm getting this close of calling Calum. Or Michael. Or Ashton.

Ever since Luke came back to LA I haven't touched a single magazine, nor listened to any radio stations or visited gossiping websites, he asked me to. Riley thinks it's because he's going to take me as his official girlfriend but he wants to make it a surprise. He's been acting so weird lately, like he's hiding something. He's either going to do that or he's causing trouble.

In all my honesty, I prefer thinking it's the first option.

It's our 5th month anniversary - if you disregard our break - in a week, and I really want to do something with him.

My phone rings five minutes later.

"Hi, babe!" I pick up, all smiley. "I thought you'd lost your phone!"

"Sorry" He chuckles. "I've been really busy with the promo and stuff, you know how it is. How are you, my angel?"

"I'm good, just waiting for Riley so we can head back home together. What about you?"

"I'm on my way to the airport, we are going to Denver."

"This is cool! And then you're going back to LA?"

"Not really, then we're landing in" Luke coughs. "In San Fran"

I gasp.

"What?! Are you coming to San Francisco?! That's even better than I could plan! Listen, our anniversary is coming and I know you're not much of a dates guy - believe me, neither am I - but I thought maybe we could do something together--"

"Laurel..."

"Wait, let me finish. There are some really incredible restaurants here, we could go out for dinner. Will you be here on the 16th? Because that's our date!"

"Laurel!" He interrupts me more firmly.

"Yeah?"

Luke sighs.

"I don't think I-we can..." He stutters, trying to find the words. "I'm not sure we can meet while I'm in San Francisco."

I feel like someone just stabbed me.

"What...?" I whine.

"It's just that I'm staying for two days only, I've got three interviews and I'm afraid I'll get too tired... So I think it would be better if we didn't set anything this time."

I remain silent as the information sank in.

Did Luke really just say what I think I heard?

"I hope you don't mind" He continues. "But I do know that someone's birthday is coming..."

I roll my eyes.

"Are you saying that we're seeing each other only on my birthday?"

"I think so... I'm sorry honey, but it's in less than a month. We'll soon be together. It's just that I'm super busy, but don't worry. I didn't forget our anniversary and I won't, okay? I promise."

I sigh.

"It's fine if you do, I don't care about it anyway..."

"Are you sad? Laurel, I--"

"Riley is coming. I hope you have a nice time in Denver. Bye"

I hang up without waiting for his answer. I hold my head in my hands, trying to breathe deeply and calm myself down. Things are getting harder for Luke and I, it doesn't even look like we are valentines.

"Laurel?" Someone calls me, and I look up to a very concerned Riley. "What's wrong? Is it your wound?"

"Not really. Not a physical one, I mean" I joke, sadly. She tilts her head to analyze me, sitting by my side.

"What happened?"

"He dumped me, again." I roll my eyes. "He's going to be here in San Fran soon and he can't take 20 minutes of his day to see me. Even when he knows it's our 5 month anniversary."

Riley frowns.

"You don't look the kind of person that cares about dates like these"

"I'm not" I admit. "But things with him are just so... cold, you know? In the beginning of our relationship he'd call me all the time and when he didn't, I would. We used to have really long conversations and I felt like he didn't care about anything else when he was around me. Now everything seems to be a barrier between us, everything else matters the most, you know?"

Riley nods.

"It's tough. But maybe it's just a phase, it happens a lot. People get used to being in a relationship and they forget that they need to always keep the sparkle"

"That's what I was trying to do; I thought that if we went out for dinner like we used to do we'd go back to how it was..."

Riley wraps her arm around my shoulder, getting close to me to hug.

"I know you're sad, but try not thinking like this. Your birthday is coming, isn't it? I'm sure he's showing up."

"He said so" I smile.

"You see? He cares, I know he does. Let's just make your anniversary a girls day, uh?" She nudges me. "What do you think?"

I giggle.

"That sounds fun. Thanks, Riley."

"My pleasure. You're my friend, I'll always be here for you. Now, let's go. I want ice cream!"

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