Part of me felt stupid for sending away the boys two nights ago, but another part of me didn't give one.

But currently, I was in a mood.

To my suprise, I'd found a 20 dollar note this morning just lying on the floor in the dust. I couldn't believe my luck. So naturally, I picked it up, but rather than doing the smart thing and buying some much needed oxygen cannisters with it, I'd headed straight to 7 eleven and bought three tubs of Ben and Jerry's cookie dough ice cream and two packs of Hershey's strawberries 'n' cream candy bars.

I was wallowing in my misery, as they say. Bingeing on chocolate and ice cream because I wasn't bothered to face reality. I check my monitor instinctively, it reads 4%.

Normally I would be panicking at this point, I only had a few hours left. But rather, a thought plays in my head; what if I just, didn't top it up? What if I just waited for my oxygen to run out and agonisingly suffocated to death? I mean, we're all going to die eventually. This planet is no longer viable for the human race and we're no steps closer to getting to Mars like we'd intended. Why don't I just let nature run it's course and just. . .stop breathing. . .

*knock knock knock*

The sound of someone at the door pulls me out of my thought spiral. I get up from the sofa and use some tissue to wipe the melted chocolate stains off my hands and mouth. Then I notice a large ice-cream smear on my black t-shirt.

"Shit." I curse under my breath, but the more I try to wipe it off, the more it rubs in.

*knock knock knock knock knock*

"I'm coming!" I call out, abandoning my efforts and walking to the door.

I open the door and see Dean standing there, holding a large rolled up blueprint.

"Is that--?"

"A blueprint to Wells Newman's house? Yep. Got it on the black market. It's not as hard as it used to be to access, y'know." He says with a wink.

I smile "But why? I told you, I'm not doing it anymore. It's a suicide mission."

"Ok, but, hear me out. Can I come in? I have something to show you."

"Sure, sure." I stand to the side and let him through the doorway, closing the door behind him.

He heads straight to the kitchen, laying the blueprint down on the dining table. I quickly realise this is much different from the blueprint I had acquired myself.

"I know, this isn't the same blueprint you showed us, this is an older one. It's from before the house was even owned by Wells, and it shows that there's a secret network of underground tunnels built by miners mining the area in the 19th century. Apparently the site was a real catch."

"No way. . ." I inspect the print closely and spot what Dean is on about. A network of tunnels runs deep underneath the foundations of the house, but the one that catches my eye is the one leading to directly under the second floor Oxygen room. Well, under the window of the room, at least.

"It goes--"

"Directly under the Oxygen room, I know."

"But, how far deep underground do these things go."

"About. . . 200 feet."

"Wow, that really is deep."

"Yeah, and that's not the only problem. Some of those tunnels are super unstable, like. . ." He pulls out another, smaller sheet of paper. "This is the most recent seismic graph I could get of the area, and look. Here and here is very prone to micro tremors. If there's even one tremor whilst we're under there, we could get trapped. Permanently."

I try to digest what he's just said, weighing up the risks. This plan is much more reliable than mine; all we'd have to do is enter the tunnels, find a way to get up the side of the house, take what we need, and go. Easier said than done, obviously. We'd still have to disable cameras and get rid of security, but it was still miles better.

Then again, I don't think I fancied getting buried alive 200 feet underground anytime soon.

"What do the others think about this?" I ask

"I. . . haven't told them yet." He admits

"Oh, right. Well, honestly. . . I think it's worth the risk."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean, yeah it's risky, but. The whole idea was risky as fuck in the first place. Lets just do it."

"Oh, I like this new positive attitude. What happened to the 'sitting at home bingeing on chocolate and ice-cream' Adira?" He sticks a thumb to the living room, the empty wrappers and tubs in full view "Oh, c'mon. You think I'd not see it."

I blush, embarrassed, a scrunched up smile growing on my face. He notices it and chuckles. "It's ok, we've all been there. When I broke up with my last boyfriend I was stuck at home for weeks."

Hold on. . . boyfriend? Last boyfriend?

Realising, he curses "Oops, that wasn't intended."

He looks down and doesn't say a word, the silence stretching forever

"No, no. Don't be embarrassed. Please, it's ok. I'm fine with it."

"I'm not embarrassed, it's just. I can tell you didn't expect it. Bad boy junkie who hangs around the skate park all day is also gay? Doesn't exactly add up."

"You don't need to worry about that. Yes, I admit, I'm surprised, but not every gay person has to fit into a certain stereotype. You just be you."

"Thanks, that's nice to hear. Y'know, you're actually the first person I've told."

"Oh, really? Wow, congratulations. I'm happy for you."

He smiles

"So, I guess I should ask. . . last boyfriend? Does that mean you have one now?"

He nods, and I can see him fighting a smile.

"What. . . Oh, is it someone I know? One of the boys?"

He continues nodding, and I can barely believe it.

"Are you going to tell me or am I gonna have to guess?"

"It's Joe." He blurts "Me and Joe are dating."

"No way. . . oh, that's so cute. But, does AJ not know, and what about Ace?"

"We're planning to tell AJ one of these days, but I'm not too sure 'bout Ace. He's always been so. . . conventional. I don't know how he's gonna take it."

I nod in understanding; Ace is definitely the conventional type. Not exactly homophobic or anything, he's just very. . . set in his ways.

"Ok, I get it. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone before you're ready. Take your time. But anyway, I get why you chose Joe, he's kinda hot."

"I know right? And he's so sweet on the inside, you just don't know it. But I know that's not who you really have the hots for. I've seen the way you look at Macks."

"Oh, that douchebag? The one who called my Mother's pie stupid? No - maybe before - but not anymore."

"Hmmm, you do know that 90% of love stories are, like, enemies to lovers and all that shit."

I hit him in the arm "Don't you go there, this is nothing like that. He may have wonderful hair and dazzling eyes but I can see who he is deep down. An arrogant, self-centred arsehole."

"Hey! Are you forgetting its my friend we're talking about here?"

"Maybe. But don't take it personally, most men are like that."

"Most. . . Exaggeration on the 'most'."

"Sure, ok, maybe you're not like that."

"Thank you. I take that as a compliment." He says proudly.

"Oxygen at 1 percent. Please refill immediately." The automated female voice says from my monitor. I guess all this talking and laughing has used up my oxygen quicker than expected.

"You're in luck, I always carry a cannister with me." He pulls one of the small metal cylinders from his pocket and I feel so grateful in the moment, I could hug him. Another day averting suffocation.

"Thank you so much. You're basically saving my life here." I connect the cannister to the monitor and watch as the numbers slowly ascend.

"That's what friends are for." He laughs in a joking but also not joking way. "I should probably get going anyway, I'm working a late shift today."

I nod and stand up, and he stands up as well. "Thank you Dean, for this, for everything. I hope the boys get on board with this plan."

"I hope so too. It's been nice chatting to you." He hugs me before I get the chance to make the move, and I wrap my arms around his shoulder and torso.

"Do you want me to see you out?"

"No, no. I know the way. You just fill up and get rested. The next time I see you, we'll probably be setting off to Scarsdale." I let out a breathy chuckle and watch Dean leave the room, glad to be making a new friend.

____________________

Ten chapters in. . . how we feeling guys? The plan is finally in motion, Adira and Dean are becoming friends, he's even confiding secrets in her. What's not to love?

Comment your favourite part of the book so far here, and I look forward to seeing you all in the next chapters.

- Dalola <3