it's finally Friday. we didn't have school today, the school is hosting another charity brunch. we all have to be there by 11 am. it's 10:30 right now.

me, Blake and Vivienne are getting ready. these brunches aren't my favourite. they have good food and drinks, but other than that they're shit.

I've gone to a lot of these back in Toronto, and they weren't all that different. they're just an excuse for everyone's parents and the staff at school to get together, drink wine and brag about their kid's "accomplishments."

even though they don't slightly care about them. the only thing they do care about is trying to look good in front of the other parents.

I know Vivienne's, Blake's and Rowan's are. luckily mine aren't. all of their parents live here in Vancouver, mine are back in Toronto.

We're meeting Luca, Rowan and Leo there. the last time we all "hung out" was the game a week ago. they all seemed pretty normal after it, other than the night on the roof with Leo. he seemed the most "fine" out of all of them.

I don't know why I followed Leo out there, I don't know why I told him about how I felt, I know that I was hoping, that my rambling might take his mind off of whatever happened.

"Blair, come on let's go," Blake says from behind me, I look away from the mirror and look at Vivienne and Blake "oh my god, you both look so gorgeous" Vivienne is wearing a casual white dress with a small slit on the side, Blake is wearing a corset-like top with flower detailing and pants.

"thank you so much, Blair, but you look absolutely stunning, I love that dress so much" I'm wearing a beige mini plaid skirt with darker beige detailing, with a black cardigan that's undone at the top and bottom. under the skirt, I'm wearing black tights and for shoes, I have my plain black doc martens.

I laugh and shake my head "thank you" I check the time on my phone "we need to go, it starts in 20 minutes"

they both nods grab their bags, and we walk out the door.

when we reach the ballroom, Rowan, Luca and Leo are all sitting outside of the doors on the benches "you're saying it looks bad?" we hear Rowan yell.

"I'm not saying it looks bad, just different" Luca shrugs. "Blair" rowan looks away from Luca and looks at me, "Vivienne," then Vivienne. "Blake" and then Blake.

he jumps up from the bench and pulls all of us into a hug "you guys are finally here, we've been waiting" he pulls away from us.

my eyes widen, Rowan's eyes have eyeliner on them. he put some on his water line and then he put some in the inner corner as well and then he also put a tiny wing at the end. "oh my god rowan your eyeliner" I pause " it looks so good"

he smiles and then turns to Luca "I told you it did" he turns back to me "thank you, Blair"

I smile "of course, it makes you look even hotter than you already are." I wiggle my eyebrows. "I agree," Blake says from beside me. "me too."

"I do look hot" he smiles. I look behind him to see Leo and Luca looking at each other. "he looks hot?" Luca questions.

"yes, he does" I reply. "he looks very hot." when I look at Leo I can see his eyebrows furrow a bit, but it soon disappears.

"anyways, we need to get in now," Luca says. Luca gets up from his seat, walks in and we all follow. Leo stays behind me as we're walking in, not daring to walk beside me.

Luca checks his phone "we're sitting at table 5" he says, "it's the one in the middle."

we all nod and then walk over to the table, Vivienne sits beside Rowan, and Blake sits beside Luca, leaving me to sit beside Leo.

we haven't talked a lot since that night last week, the most we've talked to each other was three days ago when we were assigned lab partners again. he acted normal during that. like the night never happened.

I've been acting pretty weird around him, I regret saying what I said, I know it was small and insignificant. but I do regret it.

I pull my chair open and sit down, and Leo sits beside me.

people soon start cramming in, teachers, students, parents. they start chatting around us. "my parents are here" Vivienne says quietly. "I have to go talk to go talk to them, I'll be back" she gets up from her seat and walks away.

a man wearing a tux walks around our table holding a tray of drinks "champagne?" he asks us.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, they're going to serve us alcohol underage?

"it has no alcohol" he adds. that makes more sense.

I nod and he hands it to me "thank you." He hands one to Leo as well and he takes a sip from it.

Rowan looks around "my parents are here now too, I'm gonna go say hi" he gets up and then he leaves as well. leaving me Luca, Leo and blake.

"my parents aren't coming," Luca says. "oh god mine are" blake grabs the drink from my hands and downs it all.

"blake, there's no alcohol in that" I look at her. "oh," she says.

"yeah" I shake my head.

"oh shit, they texted me, they're here" she gets up from her seat "I have to go meet them outside, they can't get in"

I nod and then she walks away too, leaving me, Leo and Luca alone.

"Blair, are your parents coming?" I look at Luca with wide eyes, "from Toronto? definitely not" I laugh.

he nods in understanding and looks at Leo "are your parents coming?"

he takes another sip of his glass and then sets it down, with his hand still on the glass he answers "yeah."

Luca nods and takes a sip from his drink. "I'm back, thank god" Vivienne pulls out the seat she was sitting in before and sits down.

"my parents were talking about so much random shit, it was getting annoying," she says. "right, same" Rowan comes back as well and sits down on his seat.

Vivienne looks at him "did they ask you random stuff about winter break?"

his eyes widen "yes oh my god, so many random questions."

I look at both of them "when does winter break start?"

"the upcoming week is our last," he pauses "and the break is 2 weeks, from the 17th of December to the 5th of January"

rowan takes a sip of his drink "are you going back to Toronto for the break?"

"I think so" I reply. "are you guys going to your parents?" I look at Rowan, Luca, Vivienne and Leo.

"all of us are staying here for the break, but visiting during the day," Luca says, "that's what we usually do"

I nod in understanding.

"I'm back," Blake says and she's down in her seat. "what did I miss?"

Vivienne takes a sip of her drink "nothing really."

"attention everyone!" the dean of our school stands on the podium and clicks his glass with a spoon. "if anyone wants to donate, please come up to the podium throughout the day!" people clap and he steps down from the podium and then goes to his seat.

someones' phone rings, I check mine, no one. Luca checks his and then sets it down on the table "not mine." Leo moves his chair away from the table and stands up. he holds his phone in his hand "it's mine."

he looks at his phone and then sets it in his pocket, Leo's wearing grey-ish black dress pants, with a white button-up, that that three buttons undone at the top. his shirt is slightly risen upon his hands due to his cuff links, causing me to see one of his tattoos. I can't make out what it is. it's small but it's there.

he then walks away without saying another word, he walks through the crowd and then to the doors at the front of the ballroom.

I turn back to look at the rest of the group and they're staring at the door as well, except for Luca. he's staring down at his phone texting someone.

"anyways" Rowan looks at me "are you excited for winter break?" he asks.

"Rowan, that's the most random thing I've heard" Vivienne looks at Rowan.

"I just wanted to know Vivienne." Rowan shakes his head and takes a sip of his drink. "when do you think they're gonna serve the food." he asks.

"I don't know Rowan," Blake says "why don't you ask them and not us."

Rowan's eyes widen and he sets his glass down very dramatically "you sound like my mom." he pauses "she always says that to me."

my eyes widen and I look at Rowan "mine does too." I pick up my glass, I try to take a sip from it but nothing comes out. I look at it and see it's empty.

"Blair your glass is empty" Rowan shakes his head and points to my glass. "I can see that." I can't tell if Rowan is stupid or now. seriously. I pick the glass up and stand up from my seat. "I'm gonna go get a refill," I say. Rowan nods and then I walk off towards the table filled with drinks.

I'm about to pick up a drink from the table but someone comes up behind me "Blair, hey." my eyes widen and I quickly turn around. Lewis. "oh hey lewis, you scared me" I laugh.

he chuckles and smiles, "I'm sorry" he gets two glasses from the table and hands one to me. I take it from his hand and take a sip. "I just wanted to say hello," he says. "and I wanted to ask you something

I smile and then take another sip of my drink. "what is it?"

"there's a party happening after this event, 9 pm," he says "I wanted to invite you." a party? are Leo and the others coming?

"you can invite your friends" he adds. I look at him and open my mouth to talk "you don't have to give me an answer now, it's at Lockwood house at 9 pm" he smiles and then takes another drink in his hand.

"thank you" I respond. he smiles his eyes twitching in the corner and then he walks off. I take another sip of my glass and then start to walk back to the table. I look down at my phone quickly, and then I feel it.

someone ran into me. causing me to spill mine and their drink all over myself. I look up and see a short blonde girl standing in front of me. Clara jones. Leo's 'ex.'

"oh my god! I'm so sorry," she says and then sets mine and hers glass on the table. "I don't mean to run into you" she shakes her head and then gives me a big smile. which I can tell is fake. I look done at my outfit and see there's red punch all over my skirt from her drink, and my shirt is soaked from mine.

"it's fine" I shake my head. she hands me a napkin and I take it and rub it all over my skirt as if it's gonna help. "I'm so sorry," she says again. I don't believe her. "it's fine, I've already told you."

she smiles at me "okay good" she walks closer almost pushing up against me "while we're here I just want to ask you about your 'thing' with Leo" she smiles.

thing with Leo? what?

"I don't have a 'thing' going on with Leo" I furrow my eyebrows. I don't know what she's talking about but I want her to leave me alone.

her lips twitch and her smile drops "I'm just letting you know that I and Leo have a thing going on, and he would never choose you" she looks me up and down "over me."

I look at her "look I don't have a 'thing' going on with Leo, so can you please back off and leave me alone?" she takes in a breath and then walks away, no she stomps away.

what the fuck just happened?

then I feel it, my cardigan is stuck to my skin and my skirt is soaked and red. fucking great.

I look up from my outfit and look around the room, some are people minding their own business. but most are staring at me and my outfit. Luca, Rowan, Vivienne and Blake are all looking at me as well. at least Leo isn't here to see this.

I shut my eyes in hope that this is a dream and it didn't happen. this cannot be happening right now. I slowly open my eyes and avoid eye contact with anyone else. I quickly walk out of there in hope for no one to stop and try to talk to me.

I feel tears weld up in my eyes and I quickly wipe them away. god, this can't be happening. I can't cry over this. it's stupid. so stupid.

I'm being overdramatic. this cannot be happening. who cries over something this stupid. even if it was only one tear, it shouldn't have happened.

I look down at my phone and see a text from Vivienne

I quickly text her back Vivienne responds instantly

I keep staring down at my phone while I walk, I keep walking until I feel someone bump into me, they grab my shoulders and stop me from walking. I look up and see Leo. great. "hey what are you doing out here."

I look up and him and he looks down at my clothes. "what in the world happened?" his eyebrows furrow.

"someone spilled a drink on me," I reply looking straight into his eyes. his eyes are red and his face looks wet?

"I can see that" he nods slowly "where are you going."

"to change."

"are you okay?" he asks looking me dead in the eye.

"yeah I am" I smile and look at him "I'm going to my dorm now" he nods and I reach into my pocket to take my key, but it's not there. "shit"

Leo looks at me "what happened?"

"I don't have my key" I look at him and see his eyes widen. "you can come to my dorm if you want," he says.

"what?" is he being serious?

"you can come to my dorm, I have clothes and a shower." he pulls his key out of his pocket and holds it up.

"I can't wear your clothes," I say.

his eyes go wide and he moves a little closer to me "why not."

"I just can't" I shake my head. I can't wear his clothes.

"so you want to go back in there and get a key from Vivienne?" he raises his eyebrows and his lips turn into a small smile. "because if you want to do that-"

I cut him off "no"

he smiles more "then we'll go to my dorm."

"fine"

I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around my body, I pick up the clothes Leo left for me off the counter. he left me a navy blue sweater with some words embroidered and a pair of black sweat pants.

I put them both on and look in the mirror, it looks like I'm drowning in them. the sweater reach's my thigh and the sweatpants are pooling at the bottom of my ankles. my hair is wet and knotty and I don't have a brush to use.

I grab my dirty clothes off the counter and bunch them up in my arms, I walk out and see Leo sitting on his chair staring at his phone. he looks over at me and then looks over my outfit, staring at it for far too long.

he coughs once he notices how long he was staring and then looks away "you can put your clothes in the bag I set over there." he glances towards his desk. I look over and see a plastic bag on it.

I put the clothes in the bag and set them the bag back down. "you can sit down you know." he points to the bed.

"thank you" I smile and move over to the bed. I sit down on it and let my legs dangle off, not wanting to really sit on his bed.

I look at his side table and see the book I gave him on it "you kept the book?"

he looks at me and his eyes go wide. I point to the book and he looks at my hand. "well yeah, it's a book, I'm not going to throw it away."

he gets up from his seat and walks over to the bed, he grabs the book off the nightstand and puts it back into his pile of books. Leo walks back over to me and then sits down beside me on the bed.

Leo changed out of his dress shirt and pants while I was in the shower, I assume. now he wears black sweat pants and a white t-shirt. he's sitting a foot away from me, yet I can still smell his cologne from here. it might be due to the fact that I'm wearing his clothes as well too.

I look at Leo and see his eyes are still a little red from earlier "hey you okay?" I ask him. was he crying?

he looks at me "yeah I'm fine" he pauses "why?"

"your eyes" I point to his face "they're red." he stared into my eyes and then swallows "yeah."

I don't ask him anything else about it, we both sit there in silence yet again, just like the night a week ago. "don't you want to get back to the brunch, aren't your parents doing to be confused on why you aren't there?"

he swallows and then looks at me I'm the eyes "they aren't coming" he says. he pauses for a second before continuing "the phone call that I left for, was them telling they weren't coming." he says that last party quietly, almost as if it hurts him to say.

the room is quiet, All I can hear is the wind outside rain outside of Leo's window, I don't know why it's raining in December, but it is.

"I'm sorry." is all I say to him. I know it doesn't mean much, but we both know that whatever I say won't help. a speech about not overthinking it won't, a speech about trying not to care about it won't. nothing will and we both know it.

Leo doesn't respond, he keeps staring outside of his window overlooking the trees. I move in further on his and pull my legs on it, I cross them and sit back onto the pillows.

I can see a tattoo on Leo's arm, he has one on the inner corner of his wrist, and another on his other hand, the inside of his elbow. the one is his wrist looks messy, almost as if it was done by an eight-year-old. the one on his arm is written upside down, so I can't tell what it says.

"you have tattoos" I look at Leo. he looks at me and then looks down at his arm, his lips press together and then go back to normal "did you just notice," he asks, a slight smile on his lips.

"well no I didn't just notice, it's hard not to," I say "I just never really looked at them." I pause "how many tattoos do you have?" I ask.

"nine" he looks me dead in the eyes, his lips twitching in amusement.

"did they hurt?" I ask.

his eyes go wide he chuckles "of course, it hurt Blair, they're tattoos." he shakes his head.

I ignore what he said, "can you show me some of them?" I ask.

he looks twice up and he smiles "you want to see them?" he pauses and keeps his gaze on mine. "well yeah," I say.

"I'll show you some now, but I'll show you the rest another time" he brings his hands to the bottom of his shirt and lifts it revealing his back. oh my god.

I stare at his back while he does this and he looks me in the eyes and raises an eyebrow, I quickly look away and look into his eyes. he turns around and brings his back towards me. his shirt is still on him, it's bunched up at his shoulders and his full-back is on display. "I have one on the upper part of my back. in between my back and my neck," he says.

I move closer to him, my legs are pressed up against his back now. I look at the tattoo, it's roman numerals.

I bring my hand up, and I feel Leo slightly twitch. even though I haven't even touched him yet. I move my hand closer and press my index finger against the tattoo, Leo takes in a breath as I do. I lightly rub my finger over it, he starts to breathe heavier by the second.

"what does it mean?" I ask him. I keep running my hands over the tattoo, Leo's breaths still being heavy. Leo swallows "it's my-" he cuts himself off, his voice comes out slightly raspy and he clears his throat. "it's my sister's birthday."

"you have a sister?" I ask him.

"yeah," he smiles "and two brothers." I take my hand off of his tattoo "you're the oldest?" I ask.

"no, one of my brothers is, I'm the second oldest, and my sister is the youngest" Leo pulls his shirt pack on, I move away from him and he turns towards me. "do you have any siblings?" he asks.

I shake my head "nope, an only child." I hate being an only child. "what about that tattoo on your wrist." I change the topic and point to it.