F I V E
a comet: a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust.

dedicated to kolsmikaelson

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ARE YOU COMING in today? xx I typed as the car jerked whilst Kaya did her best to prevent the vehicle from crashing into the curb. Cole hadn't been in school for the past four days, and the school week had abruptly arrived at Friday. Despite the lack of physical communication, our conversations had kept the both us up until midnight repeatedly.

"How the fuck did you pass your driving test first time?" I murmured, gripping the side of the faux leather chair to avoid sliding off the smooth material.

Kaya straightened her back to glance at the traffic ahead of us. "I'm just an incredibly talented driver, Blake," she retorted and pulled her eyes into two ebony slits. "Like you can talk, anyway. You've failed your test twice."

I gritted my teeth. "I told you not to bring-"

My phone abruptly buzzed in my hand, cutting off my words. The vibrations shot through my bones as though they were empty.

Believe it or not, yeah xx

omg aBOUT FUCKING TIME NICOLANA

"Is that your boy?" Kaya murmured. Her shoulder playfully nudged mine as she turned into the school parking lot, crystal azure irises scouring for a free space.

I bit my lip, accidentally drawing blood. "Maybe."

Kaya slapped my thigh. "Don't you dare give me that shit! I know it's him. What'd he say last night?" Kaya and I had spoken about Cole every lunch time, and she had scraped every single detail about the conversation we had had the night before out of me before the short hour period was up. After all, Kaya was the only person I had ever fully trusted in my life, and given my long list of friendships that had ended due to my trust issues, I was glad to find someone who finally understood my introverted personality.

I rolled my eyes subtly so that the platinum blonde wouldn't notice. "You know, the good old 'doesn't want a relationship' crap."

"Seriously? Has he not realised how lucky he is to even be talking to you?" Kaya puckered her lips as she parked her car forwards. Quickly unclipping her seatbelt and shutting off the car engine and music from the radio, she turned to face me. Her makeup-covered nose was inches away from mine, smothering the eyebags that had been carved from endless nights of crying. "He can't say that to you."

"Well, he did," I said, the ache in my voice evident. "And I guess I can sort of understand why. He has a lot going on. But I don't know. I can't help how I feel."

But what do you feel? I asked myself. My thoughts didn't reply.

Kaya's knuckles turned white around the steering wheel as she clasped in with all her strength. "I swear to god, if he even hurts you, I'll rip off-"

"That won't be necessary," I laughed. I glared at my best friend to stop her curious eyes from prying. My hands found the rough strap of my rucksack, and pulled it around my arm as I exited Kaya's Toyota Aygo. "It's fine." I reiterated as Kaya slid out the other side and locked the rusting blue car with a defiant click of her car keys. "Honestly."

"I don't believe you."

"You don't have a choice to not believe me," I chuckled as my white reebok trainers sank into the spongy grass beneath my feet. The summer had infiltrated spring in a matter of days, sun beaming down on my tanned skin in waves of concentrated heat.

The school was already bustling with students, swamping the grey corridors. With only two weeks left until the summer holidays, students had resorted to denim shorts and crop tops despite the school uniform regulations. As Kaya and I promenaded into Ash Hill Preparatory, the disgusting stench of sweat was the first thing that could be smelt woven in among the polluted air. The clothes suffocating me were in a vibrant array of pigments. With summer drawing near, many of the seniors had decided to shield their eyes – and in turn – their identities with reflective glasses.

I made my way precariously to my locker, holding onto Kaya's wrist as she pulled me through the hoard of bodies. In two minutes, these halls would grow silent.

Keeping my head down, I was relieved to reach my rusting locker. The red metal had exploded into a plume of orange, blemishing the edges like a star in the night sky.

"Ugh, I genuinely hate that girl," Kaya scowled, her eyes following something moving behind me. I turned around, only to see Ana with roots almost as white as Kaya's platinum locks. The only difference was Ana looked terrible – her eyes were hollowed out, and her outfit appeared to have been thrown together in a rush. "They didn't do a good job re-dying their hair, did they?" Kaya bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

"I feel kind of bad for her," I muttered. My cheeks heated to a pale shade of crimson. What Cole had done was taking revenge way too far, but he had had every right to do so when she cheated on him with one of his best friends. Yet, my stomach had already decided to produce a flock of butterflies. Making fun someone was not in my nature, given my past of bullying.

"Come on, Nova," Kaya growled, yanking the stiff door of her locker open. "Remember everything she's done to our friends. That girl has a heart of ice."

I exhaled profusely, slipping my kilogram chemistry textbook into my bag as graciously as I could – which, as it turned out, was not gracious at all. My feelings towards Ana were mutual. I stood by my friends no matter what, and anyone who so much as looked at any of them in the wrong way was lucky not to come away bruised. But Ana wasn't the guilty one. Her friends were. Peer pressure was one of her many driving forces, and it was what made her so repulsive.

"I know," I stated, glancing down at my shoes. I Slammed my locker door shut in frustration, only to reveal a familiar face waiting behind it. My heart jumped to my throat as the mocha irises lit up at my shock. "Oh my fucking god, Cole! I swear, if I die early because of a heart attack, you'll be the cause of death on my death certificate."

Cole chuckled, resting up against the locker next to mine. He was so close, I could hear the sound of air exit his lungs with every rise and fall of his chest. The scent of smoke wasn't pleasant, but his beaming smile and straight teeth made up for it.

"Stop laughing at me," I groaned. I tried to stifle a smile, but it broke across my face like rays of morning light hitting the earth's surface at dawn. "Please."

"Why?" Cole enquired. He reached out to stroke my hair from my eyes. He brushed his finger against my cheek as he tucked the wavy brunette strands behind my large ears. His touch felt like a livewire. "It's cute when you smile."

I rolled my eyes, and refused to take the compliment. "Why are you here, Nicola?"

Cole shrugged his shoulders. Today he was wearing a white shirt with a Vans logo, and black jeans. He had a bandana tied around his wrist, and black aviator sunglasses on his head to keep his hair from falling into his face. "Good point, I didn't want to see you ever again, chica." He turned around in a swift movement, pretending to storm down the corridor in the opposite direction.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him back before he could retreat. "Hey, you're the one who came up to me," I squinted. "Anyway, what do you want? At least try to answer the question this time."

"I was wondering," Cole muttered, fiddling with his fingers as his eyes searched the emptying hallway. "Whether you wanted to come to Aiden's party tomorrow night? I know it's short notice, but-"

I interjected as excitement filled my body, swelling into my lungs like an inflammatory response. "I'd love to," I tried to state calmly, but the words come out as a jumble of syllables. "As long as I can bring some friends."

"Of course," Cole replied majestically. His huge smile split his face in half. "I've got to skip Physics, so I'll see you at lunch, maybe? Oh, and I'll forward the address to you." He winked.

My heart fluttered; breath hitching, eyelashes fluttering. He left without saying another word, leaving only the aroma of bitter smoke and his tainted presence. My face felt numb where he had touched it, and I inwardly smiled to myself. Trying to mask the happiness on my face was impossible.

"So, what was that about?" Kaya enquired. She clutched my hand in hers tightly - so tightly I was afraid she wouldn't let go.

I shook my head in a bid to feel less lightheaded, but it only made the feeling of euphoria worse. "He invited me to a party. Tomorrow."

"And?"

I scrunched my nose. "I might need a certain taxi driver."

"As long as I can come too," Kaya replied with her broad smile.

"I wouldn't go without you."

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awwww I love them so much!! hope you do too! cova for the ship name or nole??

who's your favourite character so far, and why?

thank you so freaking much for reading and 1kkk views! lots and lots of infinite love,

lotte xx