“Hey!” I cried in a whine “I'm not playing!” my ten year old self cried in complaint as Liam declared me in for an edited version of murder in the dark.

It was Liam’s party for his own mates to come over and stay the night for his “man” birthday. As a result of the house being filled with over five guys my age that had boy germs I convinced my mum to let me get Mel over for moral support. Little did I know that Mel would be the one to suggest the game. Traitor.

“C’mon E! It will be fun! We can show them how awesome girls really are!” Mel declared putting her hands on her hips with a proud look on her face making my lips twitch.

“I don’t know…. I'm not really good at this game.” I said tentatively biting my bottom lip with nerves.

“You can be my partner, Liam you can go with Mel right? I'll go with Ez.” Eli declared. I looked up at him; he had a soft and soothing smile on his face. “C’mon let’s show em how good we are, eh?” he suggested holding his hand.

Tentatively I slid my hand into his and we proved them wrong hand in hand.

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The slamming of the lockers all around me in the echoing and combust halls should have made me jump with a startle. However in all honesty I was just used to it. Welcome to Epping High School I thought dismally. This was the school I was going to be attending ‘till the end of next year. Welcome to the place that I had basically spent the majority of my life for the past five years or such.

The hall was growing quieter as everyone practically ran squealing and running with glee to race to the outside grass and tables for lunch. It was only autumn so it wasn’t like it was too cold to be outside and fooling around; we after all were craving vitamin D.

“Hello? Earth to Erin Cormack!” my head snapped up harshly.

Now that did startle me, I jumped my breath caught “Oh, hi Adam.” I said breathlessly with a smile of apology as I clutched my heart. “What’s up?” I asked my neck craning up to meet his eyes, he was just so tall.

He smiled at how short I was, Adam often teased me because of it. Adam being a friend of both Liam’s and Eli’s.

He shrugged happily “Not much, listen Ms Vinson told me to tell you she has some new books in and you’ve got first priority. So….run.” he urged teasingly.

I laughed as a picture of thirty thousand people lining up and pushing to reach those books before me. I snorted at my imagination; the library would have about five people in there right now and the chances of anyone else rushing to see the new books were mission impossible.

And yet that was how I found myself rushing towards the library in almost a sprint as I called back over my shoulder “Thank you Adam!” he just laughed at me, and I smiled as I rushed for another intoxicating book that would be more beautiful than anything else in life I’ve ever knew.

***

“Oh and you can have that back.” I said handing her over a book as I clutched two new ones to my chest. If only she let me borrow more.

“I should’ve guessed you’d finish it.” Ms. Vinson said in amusement, her grey gentle eyes sparkling.

I laughed shrugging blushing slightly at the utter and complete book nerd I was “Well thank you, if this one’s good I'll have to buy it.” I said. She laughed at me, she always enjoyed laughing and chatting animatedly over books together, I could do it for years. “Thanks.” I called again as I closed the door behind me.

As I walked down the front steps of the school, my arms wrapped tight around my folder to my chest, as the other held my book as I read the back of it. I was beginning to twitch; I was in desperate need to open this book and just delve right in. my hair flicked around my face as the wind hit me. As I reached the bottom step I was contemplating whether this book is going to be one I’d dislike or whether it will be clichéd ridden.

That was until I slammed into something, or rather someone. My balance lost control and I fell forward to be pulled back up as an arm snagged me around the waist and they pulled me back up and in to them. My book and hand sat against their chest and the other was still clinging onto my folder in fright.

“Breathe Ez.” They murmured softly brushing the hair from my face with the back of their hand.

Taking a deep breath I felt centered and in control, I looked up “Oh, hey Eli.” I said my breath sounding puffed. I should have known it was Eli, he was after all the only one to call me Ez, it was his own personal nickname for me.

He smiled down at me, his face close, and his breath spilling all around my face. It was there standing in the sun and wind that I realized not just how close we where but how beautiful and handsome that smile looked on his face, it was a smile I hadn’t seen before. I felt like it was just a single smile for just me. I loved though how his body bought a warm light within me and it made me feel warm and secure.

After a moment a flicker of something crossed Eli’s face, before I could even read it he steps back looking away, making a gap.

I blush, I'm his best friends little sister (only by a couple minutes) of course that was to him awkward. “Sorry.” I murmured in embarrassment as I fidgeting I put the book in the same arm as my folder.

“Another book?”

I looked up “Yeah, it’s a new one Ms- what?” I asked trailing off as I became confused by Eli’s broad smile. “Anyways I better be off-“ I began suspecting he was laughing at me, mocking me like a large group of others do for my love for reading.

However as I began to leave he cut over me “Hey I'm not bagging you out. I was just smiling at how easily you light up over books.” He said happily. “A smile looks good on you.” He complimented as if I never smiled, but I did, didn’t i? I looked away blushing, I wasn’t used to compliments. “But yeah, I’ve got to go.” He added.

I looked up and pulled my fingers through my hair as it spiraled around me from the breeze “Yeah, I'll see you around.” And then I began to descend the rest of the school’s steps.

“Ez?” he called out, my heart felt as if it was swelling, I spun around raising a single brow. “By the way,” he said smiling. “Thanks for helping Liam.” Then he turned back around and made his way up the steps.

I smiled, obviously he figured out I was involved because Liam would have taken the credit. Eli just knew me.

“There you are! Look I'm going to go kick the footy.” And without another word Jed jogged out onto the grass.

I nodded my head not caring, I was used to him spending his lunch with his mates and such, and I was actually quite used to playing not a very huge role in his itinerary. It wouldn’t hurt him though to add in some compliments like Eli did right? I mean Eli was only my brother’s best friend and yet he could.

Finding my way over to Mel and my spot, a huge shady oak tree with grass underneath it, I sat down with my head against the tree and my eyes closed, resisting to pick up the book because I wouldn’t than be able to put it down.

“Hey E!” a voice cried.

I looked up smiling to see my best friend “Hey Mel.” I greeted her.

“Sorry, I hope I didn’t leave you alone here too long, I sort of had detention.” She said carelessly as she chucked her bag on the ground and sat down across from me.

I laughed used to Mel’s character of liking trouble “What did you do this time?” I asked interested for a new and exciting adventure. Mel herself was the best novel possible, her life was always full of challenges and amazing stories, and she always made me laugh.

As she spiraled into her story I watched her with interest; her straight volume black hair hung down past her shoulders, her eyes were a soft gentle fern green and her skin was a clear beautiful olive complexion. She was tall as could be like a personal bodyguard for me and she had a body of an athlete, she loved running it was her use of an escape.

“No kiddin’?” I cried laughing as she concluded her story.

Mel was my best friend and really my only proper friend; she was an adopted sister to me. And I loved her so much, I’d jump in front of train for her, she was protective as hell over me. It was some vibe that I must give off, but it was a vibe as if I was vulnerable and I think deep down I was, I was too insecure. Mel was my protector and she’d do anything for me, like I’d do for her. I don’t think I could breathe without her.

Our years layout system was kind of odd, I got along with all the status levels but Mel and I preferred to sit alone and just mingle and such all the time but in the end of the day it was just us two. Eli and Liam sat with us every now and then, especially during winter and rain when they couldn’t muck about on the field. And Jed hung out with his popular mates, which also were well known for being jerks to the “un-cool” and also players. Eli and Liam were popular too, but they hung out with different groups of popularity, Liam and Eli’s group were more down to earth and just nicer.

Mel laughed along with me as we started chatting, the two of us laughing about Mel’s detention and who she had to spend it with, like I said Mel was a story herself. A great one that I have yet to finish reading. And looking into her face and just knowing my sister, I knew there was something yet to be revealed.

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