"Arthur fucking Walker? Really, Mer?" Val whisper yelled as we sneaked into my room. I rolled my eyes as I took off my socks. And dropped the heels that I was carrying in my hand at the bottom of my closet.

"What is your problem?" I ask my voice quiet, I could feel tears building up in my eyes and I cursed myself for crying so quickly.

My immediate response to any minor inconvenience is to cry and I hate it. I hate it so much that whenever I get angry, I cry. I get happy, I cry. I get sad, I cry. I get frustrated, I cry. I see old humans eating alone, guess what I do? I fucking cry.

"No, what is your problem? Seriously? Arthur? Could you not have fallen so far?" She muttered and I could feel my temper rise.

Today has been shit.

"We ran into each other. Besides what did she do to you?" I ask turning around and Val shuts her mouth just as quickly as she opened it.

"Go to sleep, Mer." She mutters walking out but I stand in her way.

"No! What'd she do?" I ask again, this time my words holding enough bite that she caves in.

"Last summer, Nate and Arthur decided to do some illegal shit. They got caught. Nate was sent away and Arthur went to juvie, there." Val states and my eyes widen as she walks away but not before bumping into my shoulder. Nate was Val's ex boyfriend, they broke up due to him moving away.

I shouldn't have pushed her.

I know, I know I shouldn't feel this way. But I looked past what Val said.

I could still feel the ghost of Arthurs touch on my body so I did what everyone does.

I locked the door, stripping down I looked at myself in the mirror. Letting my hands run down my curves. Convincing myself that it were hers.

I slowly walked over to the bathroom. Prying open the heavy wooden door I walked in locking it behind me. Breathing out a sigh of relief as I let my hands wander down my body again. My eyes closed as I took off my underclothes.

My breaths came out heavy as the last piece of clothing fell on the tilted floor.

I turned on the bathtub faucet before a angling myself underneath it. A moan left my lips as easy as breathing. My breaths were heavy as I couldn't help but think of her that way. Think of the tension in a bad, bad way. So bad that it made me feel so good.

•

Waking up, I was ashamed. Ashamed for letting my thoughts wander so wild. But I knew I would have to go to school today and face her in classes.

Let's hope she doesn't show up.

"Marnie! Come on, eat your breakfast." Ma's voice was sharp as I donned my ribbed shirt sweater before walking down the stairs as fast as my feet could take me to the kitchen.

"What took you so long?" Val asked as she finished her breakfast. I shook my head, as I sat down just as she got up and kissed all of us on our cheeks and walked out.

"Papa," I called out and he looked up from his newspaper.

"Yes, baby?" He smiled and I grinned at him.

"I was hoping that I could buy a new book," I muttered and he raised an eyebrow.

"You can buy book. You know I have never stopped you from reading." He answers his eyebrows furrowed as he looks between ma and I as I nod slowly.

"In short, she wants you to give her, her monthly allowance a little early this month." Ma said and I gave her a grateful smile before looking at dad who was contemplating.

Ma gave me my bowl which was filled to the brim with oatmeal and fruits.

"Just this one time," Papa said and I grinned before kissing his cheek and diving into my breakfast.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." I smiled excitedly and he laughed before taking out his wallet and handing me the cash for the month.

"Mer, breakfast first and then money." Ma scolds me as she sips on her already second cup of tea before handing my father his first.

I frown as papa places the money underneath my glass of water. I begrudgingly finish my breakfast, forcing myself not to gag when I realise ma made the oatmeal a little too thick.

"Okay, thank you for the breakfast. I'll see you at dinner? Bye!" I call out before kissing their cheeks. Putting the money in my pocket as I pick up my bag and my skateboard after slipping into my shoes and walking out.

Today ma had a doctors appointment before going to her job so she couldn't drop me. But I could not feel freer.

Papa worked as a manager at an bank and my mother was a fashion designer and worked at YSL. I aspired to become a doctor where as Val wanted to be a lawyer.

My skateboard raced me across the streets and towards my school. I hummed a melody of the song I heard the radio in the kitchen play this morning and I knew that it would be stuck in my head all day.

A desi song. From the movie that I and my father have watched a hundred times and would still watch it over and over again.

I hate listening to music when I'm heading somewhere. Makes me more anxious than you could imagine. I know music is supposed to be therapeutic and all that but if I don't focus on every little detail when I'm headed somewhere it makes me so uneasy.

"Hey!" Jackson approached me as soon as I entered through the gates of our dreaded school. I groaned mentally but had absolutely no balls to tell him that I was angry with him. I would do anything to avoid a fight.

"Hi," I muttered, if I was angry and couldn't say it. I might as well be dry as hell when I'm speaking to him.

"I'm sorry I didn't stand up for you yesterday. My fathers business just got expanded and joined hands with Malcolm's. I couldn't do anything about it. He would've gone and cried to his daddy about it." Jackson explained huffing out a breath and I gave his words a thought. Understandable.

"It's alright." I smile at him and he grins back.

"What's your first lecture?" He asks and I look at the timetable on my phone to see that it was sociology.

"Sociology." I groan and he laughs before patting my back and bidding me goodbye.

•

I walk inside the last class of the day to see my chair empty but the usually empty one beside me was occupied by Arthur.

She's in this class too?

I had chose communication and sociology as extra subjects to boost up my grades. Because I hated maths and would do anything to avoid it.

My heart pumped so fast inside my body that I felt like I was going to collapse anytime soon.

Arthur was dressed in cuffed black jeans with a plain black half zip pullover. A couple of tattoos on her hands peeking through.

I looked at my outfit to see that it was just the brighter version of her. Baby pink cuffed pants with a green and brown striped cropped ribbed shirt. I had layered it with a pink and green cardigan due to the unforgiving cold.

I sighed playing with the hem of my knitted cardigan involuntarily as I walked to my assigned seat.

Quiet as a church mouse I slid into my seat. But her head snapped towards mine in a breath. Her gaze was as sharp as a razor.

I looked like a deer caught in the headlights as I awkwardly waved at her. An amused smile appeared on her face as her eyes took me in.

I remember what I did yesterday and my shame was unrestrained.

"Cute outfit." She murmured. Her voice is raspy and full of sleep. A small bruise on her cheek and I let my eyes run over her side of the face. She snapped her head forward and the bruise was again hidden.

"Thank you," I whispered and she nodded softly.

Her jaw clenched and I started at her face debating whether I should ask where that came from or not. After giving the idea a second thought I decided against it.

"Your outfit is cute too," I muttered turning my body slightly towards hers and she threw her head back with a chuckle.

"What?" I asked narrowing my eyes and hers met mine. The smile on her face was nothing short of beautiful. Her lips were covered in clear gloss where as a thick winged liner covered her eyelids.

"It's an all-black outfit." She stated and I rolled my eyes just as our professor entered the classroom.

"Okay kids, today we're doing a project." Our professor announced. And a few kids cheered while others groaned. He eyed everyone before pushing his glasses up.

"You are to ask 36 questions and you have to communicate with your partner for the answers. This project is due in a week I hope to see you make new friends. Now, about the partners..." He trailed off looking at everyone who was looking at him with hopeful eyes.

"You are partnered with the person sitting next to you." He grinned at us and I internally groaned. Whereas Arthur groaned loudly. I looked at her with an annoyed look before taking out my notebook and pens.

"You're not seriously doing the project, are you?" She asked turning towards me so that her knee pressed into the side of my leg. I forced myself to stay calm as I turned towards her.

Stay calm, stay calm. Stay calm.

"I don't want to fail this class. So yes, I am doing the project." I rolled my eyes as I passed her a paper and pen.

"I do have paper and pen you know?" She smirked and I gave her a mock smile.

"Well you don't seem to be bothering to take them out, do you?" She grinned at me darkly before shaking her head as I wrote the topics in my book.

"I am not answering your questions here." She pointed out and I looked around me to see everybody doing their work not bothered by us.

"Why not?" I trailed off and she shrugged before spinning the pen. Her long fingers were adorned with chunky silver rings. I gulped harshly and nodded.

"Well, you can ask me your questions," I muttered and she straightened up in her chair.

"Okay, what did you do when you got home last night?" My heart dropped and my eyes widened. I clutched the material of my pants in my hands as I gaped at her.

Arthur simply tilted her head in confusion as she looked at me awaiting the answer.

Shit. Does she know? Oh my God.

"Marnie? What did you do when you got home? Did your sister say something?" She asked her face void of any emotion.

Ohhhh.

I breathed out a sigh of relief when I realise I totally misinterpreted her question.

"Oh no, she- well she just told me the reason you went to juvie," I answered leaning back, her legs pressed to mine stealing my ability to think straight. As soon as I said it and saw her expression I hope I had just shut my mouth.

"Oh, did she now?" Arthur sneered leaning closer to me as I leaned back. My back hitting the wall.

"Arthur," I muttered softly and she grinned. Tucking her lip between her teeth.

"Yes, baby?" She whispered her face nearing mine and I looked around to see everybody still concentrated on their work.

I always go too far.

I said nothing, my eyes wide and my heart beating a thousand miles an hour. I looked around, hoping to see someone who would notice and get me out of this situation.

"What are you looking at? Look at me." She muttered, her eyes focused on my lips staring at them like she was in a hypnotic trance.

"What'd she say huh? Pretty little Valerie does have a lot to say, doesn't she?" Her face flashed with icy rage and I hated myself for outing Val like that.

"Not much," I whispered and Arthur grinned, looking at how uncomfortable she made me before abruptly standing up. I scooted back as her knee hit mine. She picked up her bag slid the paper and pen that I had lent her towards me.

"Meet me at my place." She muttered and I looked at the paper to see an address scribbled roughly on it. Along with the time I was supposed to be there.

"And Marnie, call me Art." She said before walking out of the classroom but not without our professor yelling at her to stop. She paid him no heed as she looked back at me, winking and then walking right out.

Art.

Hello! This is Marnie's outfit. I hope you like it lol.

Q U E S T I O N S (because I'm nosy and would like to know small details about you)