I have never really wanted to mix with anyone in school before. Actually, to be truthful to myself, it's actually the other way round. No one really wanted to mix with me in school. Maybe it's because everyone sees me as the 'just another girl who has a lot of friends' type of person.

But that's like the total opposite of me.

But, with the effort that I put in throughout the week to make some new friends, I managed to make two new friends with no one's help: Jason and Caryl Hope. They're siblings. One is my age, and the other is thirteen. They're not so bad, and Jason actually shares three classes with me.

I can't believe I never knew that!

He shares English Literature, Gym and Art with me. I guess I was too blinded by my work and by Gray to actually see anything else. Not that I mind though. It's a relaxing thought to know that I won't be all alone in every single class that I attend in school.

Just to put things straight, not everyone in Art paints, but we all do have the same topic. Everyone in Art does something... Well... Artsy! Like for example, some draws, some sketches, some paints – like me – some do handicrafts, while others use colour pencils.

Jason, for example, sketches. And his sketches are scary... In a good way. Scary as in so good, it's almost fake! It looks like a picture that's taken out of real life and put on paper.

However, he does tell me some of the things he does during his free time. Apparently, he loves sports. He draws only because he prefers Art over all the other electives left that he had to choose from. I keep telling him that he has a talent in Art, but he doesn't believe me.

He also told me that the main sport he plays is tennis, according to him, though I've never been to his training session once. He says that he'll bring me one day though.

He has a sandy shade of blonde, and falls messily all over the place. His eyes are a warm shade of olive green. He's quite tall, though don't ask me roughly how tall he is as I am terrible at estimation. He's quite a down-to-earth kind of guy...

And as for Caryl, however, she is almost the opposite of her brother. Character wise, I mean. She has casual, long, curly light brown hair and the same type of olive green eyes as her brother. She is also remarkably tall for a thirteen-year-old.

However, instead of the athletic type, Caryl is more of the academic type. She likes to read, though she doesn't wear glasses. She's quite stubborn, the total opposite of her sibling. She's simple yet fashionable. The only thing the two of them share in common is the fact that they are both very kind people.

Hanging out with them very often really wastes a lot of my free time back in the apartment. Not that I am complaining about that! Actually, I am really grateful for that. It gives me a lot less time to think about things... As I always seem to be thinking every time I am alone or when I have nothing to do.

And thank goodness they don't gossip!

I know that most guys do not gossip, but some do. And girls do most of the gossiping. But every time I am hanging out with them, they're always together. They seem very close, though they always argue with each other over the smallest thing. Siblings' quarrels!

Most of the time when we hang out, we would discuss about school work – which we rarely do as Caryl will get left out – draw – which we rarely do too because Caryl doesn't exactly like drawing – catch a movie, or just talk. There's nothing much to do after all. Most of the time we would just sit silently around and watch a movie.

The easiest thing to do to waste time.

The sudden ringing of my phone deliberately dragged me out of my thoughts and back into reality. For a second I thought that it was Gray who was calling me. But then, I immediately shook the thought out of my mind. You know why? Because it's impossible.

I fumbled around blindly and wildly for my phone on my bed. From an outsider's point of view, I probably look like some madman flailing around for no absolute or solid reason. My phone was right in front of me when I finally found it. I chuckled at my stupid attempt of trying to find my phone before picking up the call, not looking at the Caller ID.

"Hello...?"

There was no reply. Only someone shouting in the background which I couldn't quite make out what exactly they were shouting about.

"Hello?" I repeated, sounding very curious and unsure of myself this time.

I heard the phone being passed to someone.

"He—"

"Oh, hi Willow!" and all too familiar voice chirped.

I rolled my eyes and my lips curved up from a small scowl to a smile. Oh Caryl!

"Are you free now?" she asked.

"Yep," I replied, popping the 'p'.

"Want to come over?"

"Now?"

"No! Come over at three in the morning!" she replied sarcastically.

"Oh, so you want me to sleep over?"

I heard her sigh.

"So... I'm supposed to come over now?"

"If not?" she snapped.

At first, I was a little taken aback by her snapping at me.

"Sorry about that," she apologised. "Anyway... Want to come over now?"

"Sure! Any particular reason though?"

"Yes. You and my brother have some Literature project or something to do..."

Ah! And I almost forgot about that. "Why can't he just ask me himself?"

"I don't know..."

I chuckled. "It's okay... And sure! I'll come over!"

"Okay! Bye! See you when you come over!"

"Bye."

And with that, she hung up the phone.

Thank goodness for the project! At least now I have something more important to do than just to think random thoughts and depressing myself more than I already am by thinking about both Gray's 'disappearance' and the accident –

Stop it mind! Now, just shut up while I go and grab my stuff to go over to the Hopes.

I forced myself to stop thinking and to get off the comfortable spot on my bed which I probably won't be able to find anymore. I sighed as I went to get changed from my hot pink tank top and shorts to a sky blue blouse and a pair of dark washed jeans.

I went over to the Art room to grab my bag – the one which was filled with all my essential art stuff – and slung it over my shoulder.

Then, I went back to my bedroom and rummaged through my school bag and took my English Literature file which held all my papers and books that are related to Lit. I slipped it into my brown leather sling bag.

After grabbing a light jacket and putting on my converse, I exited my apartment, and out of the building. It's a good and lucky thing, I suppose, that Jason's and Caryl's house is just a couple blocks down from apartment building, which is just perfectly in walking distance.

~~~ ♥ ~~ ♥ ~~ ♥ ~~~

"So... Let me ask the question that I have been meaning to ask in a long time – the straightforward one I mean – what?"

I sighed, trying to explain to him yet again about the plot of Pride and Prejudice for the-who knows-how-many times already.

But I don't blame him. It took me so long myself to try and figure out the plot!

"Well –"

"Don't even start on it..."

Now, it was Jason's turn to sigh.

I chuckled. "It's okay, Jason. I'll just do the project by myself. It's cool."

A sheepish smile crept onto his face. "But I don't want to weigh you down... After all, this is supposed to be group project. I'd feel guilty if I didn't do anything..."

"It's fine. I'm very free at home after all."

"You sure?"

"Of course I'm sure."

I know how he feels. It feels so bad to pass your entire job to another person just because you don't understand it. Especially in a group project. You'd feel very bad for just sitting around, doing nothing, and you will still get the marks from your hardworking teammates.

"Hey! I know what!"

"What?" Jason replied, chuckling a little.

"Why don't you do the comic for our project!"

"The comic? But I barely even understand the text."

"It's fine. I'll coach you through it then you can understand better."

"Good idea! Thanks!"

We had two choices to choose from for this Lit project: do a drama and present it in front of the class in about an eight to ten people group or produce two of these three – a comic, an essay and a PowerPoint presentation – and present it in front of the class in a two to three people group.

We chose doing a comic and a PowerPoint presentation because both of us were feeling too lazy to write an essay, what more present it in front of the class.

"Hey guys! I'm bored here!"

The pair of us turned our attention towards the voice. Poor Caryl. She can't join in our conversation because she is in a totally different class and grade than us.

"Caryl, why don't you go upstairs to your room and do something else? Willow and I have to finish our Literature project and it's not exactly the easiest task to do around here. Especially with you whining like that..."

Caryl opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off. "Come on Caryl. Just listen to your brother. We'll come and talk to you after we're done okay?"

She sighed, but nodded, and stalked off to her room.

"So... Shall we start on the draft of the comic?" Jason asked after Caryl had slammed the door of her room shut.

I shrugged. "Whatever works."

I pulled out my sketch book and my pencil case. I managed to fish out a 2H pencil out of my huge pile of stationaries in my pencil case. I gestured for Jason to sit beside me and I handed him the book and the pencil.

I started slowly telling him the plot of the story, summarising it a lot but making sure to add in all the important points, as he sketched out the plot. A draft, of course. We can't hand in a sketch book, can we?

By the time we were done with all that, it was already about 7.45 pm. I told Jason to keep the sketch book and to draw the real one when he was done, and I stuffed my pencil case back into my bag, along with my Literature stuff.

I started to get up to leave, but Jason stopped me.

"Willow. Stay for dinner."

But I shook my head to refuse his offer. "No thanks. It's okay."

"Anyway, just so you know, if you're ever feeling too lonely, you're always welcomed over for dinner."

I smiled in acknowledgement. "Okay, thanks for the offer!"

I started to walk towards the door, with Jason walking beside me. He pushed the door open for me and waited for me as I stepped out onto the pavement.

"See you tomorrow."

"Bye," he replied.

I exited the house and watched as Jason closed the door behind me.

I hurried home as fast as my legs could take me. I rushed down the streets and towards home. Not wanting to wait. Hurried to get started on the PowerPoint presentation. Wanting to keep my mind busy and get it off the thoughts that have been haunting me these past few days.

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Hey! Want to know more about Jason's and Caryl's story? Head on over to my story 'The Game of Love (GL)'! You'll find out and learn more about them there! Story in the external link! :D