After school, instead of getting picked up by Ellie, Simone and I follow Winona to her dorm room.

The building is tall, like an apartment building, and it has 6 floors. There are 4 more buildings like this surrounding the area that houses the girls. The boy's dorms are very far away from the girls, but not far from the school itself.

I get what they're trying to do, but if us teenagers want to fuck like rabbits, that's hardly going to stop us.

Winona's room is on the third floor, almost at the end of the hall. Thankfully in her room, her parents paid for the privilege to have a bathroom inside of the room. That totally beats having to share it with other people on that live on this floor.

When we walk in, I'm impressed by how well decorated and color coordinated it is. The room is small but cozy, with a laptop resting on the desk and a tv mounted on the wall in front of the beds.

Winona puts her bookbag down by the desk and motions for Simone and I to do the same.

Winona looks at us a bit shyly, like she's not sure what to do. "So, what do you guys want to do?"

Simone takes off the required blazer and throws it on her bag. "I don't know about you guys, but I need to get out of this stupid ass uniform. Let's change into our pajamas!" We all agree and start to change.

See, in my bookbag, I already have my toothbrush, pajamas, toothpaste, hair products, and another uniform for tomorrow. Winnie told us about her roommate yesterday, when we all met, so I kind of already had this planned out.

I had a lot of hope that Ellie would say yes.

It may seem weird that we're all spending the night together, and we just met, but it doesn't feel weird. When we met at the mass orientation yesterday, we instantly clicked and we share some classes together.

Winona and Simone are sixteen like I am, but Simone will be 17 coming up in October.

I just know that these girls are going to be my best friends for years to come.

Once we all change into our pajamas, Simone puts on some music. When Girls in the Hood by Megan Thee Stallion comes on, my body instantly starts to dance to the new bop. Simone instantly dances next to me and reaches out for Winnie.

"Yas, Dar, get it! C'mon Win, dance with us!"

Winnie laughs and joins us. Our bodies move carefree to the music, and we are definitely feeling ourselves.

After about 3 more songs, we finally collapse onto the beds, breathless. Winona is the first to sit up, and she rummages under her bed. She pulls out bags of chips, popcorn, chocolate, and even soda.

She looks at our surprised faces sheepishly. "You guys hungry?" Simone and I look at each other, before we bust out laughing. Winnie fake pouts at our cackling. "Shut up you guys! A girl's gotta eat, and that damn cafeteria doesn't have good snacks!" We just laugh harder and Winnie can't help but to join in.

When we calm down, I take a bag of hot cheetos, a Hershey bar, and a Sprite. Simone grabs a bag of doritos, swedish fish, and a coke. Winona just gets a huge ass bag of spicy tortilla chips. She turns on the tv and switches to Netflix. "Any requests?"

"Stranger Things!"

"Stranger Things!"

Simone and I look at each other wide eyed. Winona is the first one to crack up laughing, and soon we all are cracking up.

This is going to be a long night.

︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

"Liam Payne! If you are not down here in 5 seconds, I'm starting the movie without you!"

I hear a faint gasp upstairs. "Don't you dare! I'm coming!"

Giggling, I countdown from 5 in my head, my finger hovering over the play button.

5..

4..

3..

2..

Thundering footsteps crash down the stairs and then Liam stands before me in all of his anime pajama glory.

"I'm here, I'm here!" I can't help but to laugh at his goofiness as he plops down beside me, snatching a handful of skittles from the coffee table.

"Now you can start it."

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "How gracious of you." I press play, and the opening credits start.

"What movie is this anyway?" Liam whispers.

"John Wick."

"Huh? Is this a movie about candles?"

I punch his arm for the foolish question.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"Just be quiet and get ready to have your mind blown!" Liam snorts, but doesn't say anything else.

When the movie is over, Liam begrudgingly tells me that it was awesome and that he can't wait to watch the second one. I offered for us to watch it right now but he turned me down. Liam said that we'll watch it the next time he comes to visit. The thought makes me happy because it just means that he's coming back.

We talk about anything and everything in the dim lit livingroom, and it feels like old times. Nostalgia hits me and I'm remembering event after event with Liam and his parents.

"Hey, remember that time when your parents took us to the movie theater and we got lost?" Liam groans. "Yeah and we ended up seeing a horror movie that scarred me for years! I still don't understand how you were totally fine afterwards." Laughing, I remember Liam's terrified face, all while crushing my hand the whole time. "I think I was okay because when they finally found us, they let us pig out on all the junk food we could get our hands on." Liam cracks a smile, "Yeah, that part was pretty awesome. Remember that one time when..."

And so, Liam and I speak of fond memories until we fall asleep with smiles on our faces.

▪︎▪︎▪︎

"-and that's the story of how I got dumped by my asshole boyfriend in the middle of getting dicked down."

Winona and I stare at Simone with shocked faces. I'm the first to snap out of it. "Well, damn! Did you even get to orgasm?"

Simone laughs while Win nods, also wanting to hear the answer. "Well, he was an A1 douchbag, but that doesn't mean the dick wasn't A1. I waited until after I was done, then I slapped the shit out of him."

"Good for you!" Winona finally finds her voice. "I know if my boyfriend ever tried that shit, he'd get popped right upside his head!"

We all laugh at Win's sudden outburst. "You have a boyfriend, Winnie?" I ask.

She all of a sudden gets shy. "Y-yeah. His name is Quinten, but he doesn't go to this school."

"How long have you been together, Win?" Simone questions.

"For about 6 months. On our anniversary, he got me a puppy and my parents flipped shit because they're allergic. Sadly, I had to give him to my cousin, but Quin bought me a stuffed dog that looks just like the puppy."

My heart melts at the story. "Aww, you guys sound cute as hell!"

Simone reaches over to grab some gummy worms and looks at me. "I agree, but what about you D? Have you ever had a boyfriend? Are you a virgin? No judgment, just curious."

Winona smirks. "If you don't, I'm sure Zander would love to fill the position."

I playfully shove her. "Zander is just a friend! Actually, barley that because we're just Biology partners."

Simone giggles and grabs more gummy worms. "Is that why he ate lunch with us today? Oh and not to mention that he basically ignored Win and I. That boy is in looooooove! He wants some of that caramel dip!"

"Ha! Good one Simone!" Simone and Winona high five while my cheeks unwillingly tint red.

I end up pouting at them as they start to talk about Zander and I's wedding. "Guyssss! Come on, stop." I whine.

Winona puts her arm around my shoulder. "Alright, alright, we've tortured you enough. But seriously, have you ever had a serious boyfriend?"

My face goes blank at the question as I start to think about Asher.

The girls notice my shift in mood and Winnie quickly backtracks. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. I didn't mean-"

"No, it's okay. I haven't really talked about it to anyone, so I want to." I take a deep breath before continuing. "Asher was my first and only boyfriend. Well, we didn't put a label on it, but that's how it felt. I didn't want to put a label on it because I was scared. That seems so stupid now. We met in a mall while I was out shopping with one of my sisters. He approached me and let me tell you, he was laying on the charm. He gave me his number and later that night, I found myself calling it. We were together barely 4 months, but those four months were the best months of my life. Right here and now, as I'm speaking out loud, I can honestly say that I loved him. One night when we were alone at his house, I gave him my virginity and he told me he loved me. I felt the same, but I was a coward and the words stuck in my throat." I still remember the flash of hurt in his eyes when I didn't say it back, but Ash told me he understood and made love to me again.

I pause, the not so distant memories consuming me. Simone speaks up, making me come back to the present. "What happened?"

I contemplate for a moment, wondering if I should tell them the truth. I decide to tell them half of the truth.

"Well, my biological sister died right in front of me a little over two weeks ago. After that, I just told him that I wanted to be alone. He.. he was there when it happened, so he agreed. We haven't spoken since."

The once happy atmosphere has turned dark and I feel guilty. I should have kept all of this to myself, but... it feels good to get it off my chest.

Simone and Win give each other a look and suddenly, their arms are wrapping me into a group hug.

Surprised is an understatement as I slowly hug them back.

As we sit there and embrace each other, I think about those grey eyes. The eyes of a boy that I still love.

▪︎▪︎▪︎

"Bene?"

Translation: Well?

"Il ragazzo non sembra essere una minaccia, sta solo passando la notte. Ma terrò gli occhi aperti capo."

Translation: The guy doesn't seem to be a threat, he's just spending the night. But I will keep my eyes open boss.

"Farai meglio di così. Scoprirai tutti quelli che le sono associati e riferirai a me. Non voglio sorprese."

Translation: You will do better than that. You are going to find out everyone who is associated with her and report back to me. I want no surprises.

"Ma capo, pensavo già che-"

Translation: But boss, I thought you already-

Before I can blink, a knife is being thrown and lands into my left shoulder. I make sure not to flinch in the slightest, or else things will get ugly.

"SEI LA DOMANDA?!"

Translation: YOU DARE QUESTION ME?!

"Nessun capo! Non vorrei mai!"

Translation: No boss! I would never!

He stares at me for a minute, and I know he's deciding if he wants to kill me or not. His attitude has completely changed from enraged to calm. That's how I know my ass might be in trouble. Eventually he scowls and relaxes back onto his throne.

"Hai i tuoi ordini. Ora vai prima che cambi idea e ti strappi gli occhi."

Translation: You have your orders. Now go before I change my mind and gouge your eyes out.

"Si Capo."

Translation: Yes boss.

▪︎▪︎▪︎