After the classes had ended, I made my way to the cafeteria. I scanned the room, searching for two empty seats; one for myself, and another for Adeline.

Just as I spotted an empty table, I noticed someone waving excitedly at me.

Clayton. I had forgotten.

"Hey, Big R!"

"Hi," I greeted back, starting towards where he sat.

I watched as a belle sitting next to Clay took a bite of her hamburger. I couldn't help but admire her desirable body with definite curves as she sat casually in her chair.

The closer I got to her, the more I could observe her heart-shaped face, completely resembling Clay's. She had the same shade of ginger hair with undulating curls, and her lush, dark eyelashes dazzled me. Her eyes matched those of Clayton, except hers were stormy grey while Clay's sported an aluminium hue.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she spoke. "So, Rebecca, is it? Why did you agree to sitting with this nitwit?" She pointed to Clayton with her thumb.

"Don't know. Probably because he's a matey kid, and adorable, too." I shrugged, stating the obvious.

"Oh, my stars and garters!" Clay stood up and hugged me so tightly, I almost couldn't breathe.

"Clayton Francisco, uh... I'm kinda suffocating over here." My mouth twitched into a slight smile.

Ignoring my words, he kept hugging me like a silly old bear. "Thank you so, so much! You are such a goodie!" His tone had changed; rather, he now mimicked a 4-year-old's jovial voice.

"Thanks... and you can let go now, Clay."

The smile plastered on his face clearly showcased his unadulterated elation. Nobody seemed to have ever praised him before.

"Are ya done with the mushy stuff, yet? Everybody's staring at us, stupid chick," the girl said. I could almost hear the eye roll in her voice.

Clay sighed. "Now, it's not my problem if you don't know the term 'expressing feelings,' Miracle."

"Not in my dictionary, Frans," she retorted.

"Miracle? That's your name?" I interrupted, looking at the girl.

"Yes, Useless Miracle is her name." Clay chuckled.

"Frans, pipe down." She stuck her tongue at Clayton before calling him a "minger."

"Ha, you should listen to yourself, Charcoal. You have Francisco in your name, too."

I half-smiled. Listening to this bemusing argument between the two... friends? Couple?

"Please don't mind my bro." The girl sighed, shooting Clay an annoyed look before turning back to me. "My name is Charlotte Miracle Francisco."

That cleared my uncertainty; they were siblings. That's why they had similar features.

"We're inseparable," Clay said, patting Charlotte's shoulder. "Twins joined at the hip, ain't we, Charcoal?"

"I'd rather die."

"Go ahead. There's a knife." Clayton pointed at the plastic knife that came with the cafeteria food. "We are together. Inseparable, as I said."

"You are seriously off your rocker!"

I cleared my throat. "Guys, you know cats and dogs are really attractive together, so people are staring..."

Understanding my nudge, the twins stopped and looked around, abashed.

~~~ ~~~

My lips crept upwards as I felt a surge of happiness at the memory of the day. Although I was still not quite certain about trusting those ginger twins, I was appeased.

Then again, did they feel the same way about me?

"Of course, dummy. They're true, I assure you."

Once again, that familiar tone whispered in my ears.

At the sudden encounter, I fell from my bed to the carpet of my room, hitting my buttocks hard.

"W-who the fudge are you?" I stuttered aloud, glancing around the room. "What are you t-trying to do to me?"

"Relax, Reca," the voice said smoothly. "I'm just your well-wisher"

I scoffed. "As if."

"Believe me, I am."

"Where are you? Show yourself!"

"In your heart."

At the vague response, I sucked in a breath and rolled my eyes.

A sharp wind suddenly blew in from the half-open window, making goosebumps rise on my arms. A strange silence settled in the air.

"Stop," I ordered. "Just stop it. Get out, NOW!"

The voice started to guffaw.

"You think that's funny?" I scowled, smouldering with resentment.

"Laughing doesn't mean sobriety, does it?"

I realized that I was still sitting on the floor, so I stood up and angrily stomped my foot.

"Just—GET THE HECK OUT!"

♪ If you could see that I'm the one who understands you,

Been here all along, so why can't you see,

You belong with me,

You belong with me. ♪

"Nice ringtone, Reca."

"Why do you call me Reca?" My foot met the floor again.

"Reca, pick up the phone."

I took no notice of the ringing and buzzing; after all, I was too deep in my brooding about that curious invisible boy.

Casper was my first guess, but it simply couldn't be possible. I reckoned him to be my childhood imaginary friend, and only that.

Though, my heart wanted for him to exist; I just didn't know why I had this attraction towards him.

Like, heck, why?

"REBECCA, PICK UP THE PHONE!"

The dulcet voice had turned into a shriek, forcing me to hurriedly pick up the buzzing device.

"Hey, Rebecca. It's me, Clay!"

"O-oh, hello," I said, trying and failing to conceal the residual terror in my voice.

"Can I come over?" His voice seemed quite strained, and my fear turned into worry.

"You sound tired," I told him.

"Was it Apartment 9 or 10, again?" he asked, ignoring me.

"Um, 9. Alfred Street."

"On my way."

"Sure, Cla-"

The line cut. Why was that constantly happening to me these days?

Distracted from the Clayton Coming Over topic, I looked hither and thither, searching for the mysterious boy again. "Hey, Camou-man! Show yourself!"

"Camou-man?"

"Camouflage man, duh." Realising my much too friendly demeanour, I returned to my previous harsh tone. "Get out, you scaredy ghost! Afraid of a 13-year-old? Ha!"

No response. My words hung in the air like heavy fog.

Then, the doorbell rang.

And I felt his presence fade once again.

~~~

"Rebecca! I missed you!" Clay exclaimed as I opened the door, and crushed me in a tight hug.

"It's only been two days, Mister. You can let go now."

As he pulled away from me, my eyes widened, noticing the teardrops in his eyes.

"Jesus, Clay! Are you okay?"

I pulled him to the couch and made him sit down. "Now, spill it, Francisco."

"Is it illegal for a 13-year-old to sob, 'cause—"

"There's no law against crying, Mr Chick."

He sniffed. "Austin..."

"You're crying because of that blockhead?"

Giving a hesitant chuckle, Clay continued. "He was my best buddy for 6 years. He never casted me away. Always right by my side"—He swiped at a tear—"until today."

"Bloody hell, Clay. What happened?"

"This morning, I saw him with a bunch of players. He was all happy and laughing, as if I didn't even exist."

I nodded for him to go on.

"When I asked him about it, he started to howl at me, saying that I'm just a useless and insufferable piece of junk, a-and that I don't deserve to hang out with a popular and cool guy like him..."

"Who the heck does that unruly hooligan think he is?!" I thundered, balling my fists. I could only imagine how those gut-wrenching sobs tore through Clay's chest.

I knew how it felt to be betrayed by the one person to whom you devoted your whole life.

Seeing Clayton's tragic expression, I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him.

"It's okay, kiddo," I murmured, patting his back. "If your friends don't accept you the way you are, then it's them who doesn't deserve you. You'll never know your worth, silly." I smiled, but inwardly, I was seething with fury.

How dare he.

Clay buried his face in his hands. "I just lost my one and only best friend!"

"Oh, Mr Chick! You didn't lose anyone, 'cause he was never your real friend in the first place. So, who did you lose again?"

"Um... nobody?"

"Twinkletoes, lad."

"Love you, R. I'm glad I met you." Clay smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "But if you ditch me like everyone else—"

"I'm not everyone. I'm Rebecca."

Giving him one last bear hug, I offered him my Ruffles and The Three Stooges, hoping that the comedy would bring back the genuine Clayton.

From that moment on, my loathing for Austin grew and grew, along with my reticent and sceptical personality.

"You mustn't jump to conclusions, Reca. Especially about trait judgement."

The voice had again spoken, just as I was about to close my eyes for the night.

What?

"What are you saying, Camou-man?" I asked, irritated at the boy for disturbing my rest.

"About Austin."

"Oh, puh-leeze."

"By the way, I'm Camou-boy. Not a man yet." He seemed to chuckle.

Fury surged through me again, and I kicked back my blanket to sit straight while squinting through the darkness.

"I'm so done with you," I growled.

"Knock it off, Reca."

"Show yourself, Camou-ma- I mean, Camou-boy!"

"Just—bye."

"Wait, please- hey!"

I gulped and fought my rising panic due to the silence that gnawed at my insides. The sudden wind blew through the window like before, and my heart lurched.