I was intimidated by his words, but I didn't let the effectiveness of it surface. I didn't even know what he meant by that, to begin with, but I didn't intrude any further. 

Not being able to formulate an answer since I didn't know what to say, I just redirected my focus to the passing clouds in the vast sky that overlooked the building. As the cigarette smoke subsided, I heard him stomp on the ashes, flicking the stick away, his demeanour quiet. It was weird how intimate the moments got between us. So instead of leading it on, I cut in.

"I should get going now," I addressed, pretending not to feel awkward. "If you need any help with studying, I'll always be there,"

The words sounded in a completely different context than I intended to, and I mentally sighed at myself for the now voluptuous awkwardness.

A small smile slid his lips, as he looked up at me. "Okay, sure. I could walk you out if you want."

"Okay." I agreed unsure of how to express my refusal with him to not bother himself so much for me, not that he would even comply with it.

Frankly, even I was surprised at how easily I became a hostage to his hypnotic niceness. The feeling felt profusely foreign, and I was inexperienced to react to something like that. For the most part, it was my trust issues that had taken the lead to dictate my actions, but the other half of me was having the opposite effect.  

I asked Edward to give me a minute to excuse Marilyn for my instant exit, only to find her scurrying out of the classroom towards me. She gave me a one-sided goodbye hug, while engaged with a call on her phone.

It felt like she was occupied with a lot of other things that were on her plate. I didn't know what it was or what she was going through, I didn't even know how to ask something like that. 

I sighed as she left as soon as the time struck home time. Before I could rummage my way out, I heard Drake call out. I spun around to face him, as he walked towards me.

"I've been meaning to ask..." He trailed off, waiting for my expression of approval. "So, you and Edward are hooking up?" He continued out of the blue, making me gawk appalled, for him to assume something like that.

"Why would you think that?" I questioned back to my dismay.

"Those texts the teacher was talking about." He shrugged pretending to be oblivious or so I guessed. I then realised what he was talking about and let out an exhausted sigh again in return.

"It's nothing like that. He's just a friend," My automatic but shaky voice answered, trying not to think too much about the situation. 

"Okay, I was just wondering since you two seem pretty close anyways." He chuckled slyly and I had half a mind to ask why it mattered to him so much. Even though Drake and I were simple friends, even lesser than that considering we never talked much, it shouldn't bother him who I was talking with at the moment.

"Alright..." I trailed off, trying to keep my paranoia at bay, and scanning his face for any other signs. "Is there anything I should be knowing besides?"

"No." He coolly breathed, stuffing his both hands in his jeans pockets, and looking past me. "He's here." He gestured with his eyes.

"Michelle," Edward called out from behind. "You're going to miss the bus."

I bit my lip nervously, and without a second beat, I nodded Drake goodbye before exiting the class. I didn't wait for Drake's response neither he seemed to follow. Edward, though, stuck close by, walking silently, his bag dangling on his one shoulder. I was glad he didn't question my exceptional quietness, but I was certain he would.

We reached the gates and thankfully the bus was still there. Before I could rush towards it, I looked back at Edward, his dark icy eyes filled with curiosity, which froze me in my position.

"You, okay?" He casually asked, his eyes radiating a contrasting expression.

"Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be," I asked more to myself than to him. I tried to keep my voice calm and steady, but it ended up weak.

"Right." He looked at me for a split second, before his eyes shifted back to his favourite thing in the world -- the cigarette pack, his coarse fingers lighting one up.

I replied a quick farewell quietly and made my way out before he could stop me for further inquisition.

I finally reached home, extremely drained from the ride and the studying stress Marilyn had brought to my attention. She was right. I wasn't studying enough like I was supposed to, obviously distracted by other petty things.

It was something I heard, quite excessively by others, emphasising all the do's and don't's to survive university. Bombarded with things like how I needed to stay away from bad company, how I needed to choose friends wisely, how I needed to stay away from boys and relationship drama, and how I had to prioritise studies more than anything.

It's not like I opposed those rules. I just thought that I'd be facing the bad side of university one way or another. I could be as careful as I could and fail at something different, the plot twists are always unpreventable at the end of the day. 

I shook off my nagging thoughts, making my way to my bedroom and instead of taking out my textbooks and workbooks, I took out my phone. I thought I deserved a break so there I was, earphones plugged in my ears, reading random fanfictions to distract myself.

After ignoring Edward's incessant texts, I gave up, frustratingly opening them. He was too stubborn for my liking, and I was just trying to stay as stern as I could just so that I wouldn't lead him on.

Before I could type out a reply, he called. This guy I swore never let me study.

"Why are you being annoying Edward?" I said without meaning to.

"I could ask you the same." I heard the amusement in his tone and rolled my eyes.

"What do you want? I'm studying and I don't have enough time," I cut it short for him to not go through the trouble of beating around the bush.

"Yeah right. Of course, you're studying." He laughed lightly.

"Okay then I'm hanging-" I begin but he interrupted.

"What did Drake say to you?" He goes straight to the point, instantly bringing back my nervousness.

"Why are you asking me this now?"

"Didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. I know you're always so fidgety around me," he said seriously. I grimaced at the thought of him noticing my not-so-well-preserved anxiety around him -- or anyone for that matter -- when it was the last impression, I wanted him to have of me.

"Why does it matter to you?" I asked back and he groaned in frustration.

"Why shouldn't it?" He asked and I scowled. "I mean we're friends now, right?"

"Are we friends now?"

"You said that when Drake asked you."

"Wow Edward, you've been eavesdropping."

"Not exactly-" He begun but I don't let him continue.

"Get to the point." I diverted the subject.

"I did."

"It was nothing serious, okay?" I assured.

"You're not getting away like that Michelle."

"Getting away with what? He was just wondering if I was with you like... You know the non-platonically with you? I don't know how to put it in appropriate words," I whined, and I heard his raspy laugh in response.

"Of course, he asked that." He scoffed.

"Well, thanks to our English teacher. She announced that we were exchanging flirty texts,"

"Only if you were a little smarter,"

I tried to hold back my uninvited grin burying my face in my pillow, as I shifted the phone to my other ear.

"Not to say you're not, considering you take me as your friend now," Edward took the lead of the conversation again cutting my bothersome silence. "Besides, Drake likes you so yeah, there's that... That's obviously why he asked whether we were hooking up or not," He added deliberately, my eyes widening at his response.

"You mean as friends, right? Drake is a nice guy so what's wrong with that?" I said but Edward didn't respond, growing my patience thin. "Okay, maybe not?"

"I don't know,"

"Stop messing around with me Edward," I hesitantly scolded him.

"I'm not messing around," He stated plainly, and after a brief pause, as I tried to comprehend his words, he continued. "I'm serious Michelle."

"When did that happen? And why are you telling me that?"

"I never intended to. And I don't know when that happened," he said simply without a hint of emotion.

"Well okay." I awkwardly shifted in my bed, not knowing what else to say. I couldn't believe him, so I shrugged off the mere thought.

I knew it wasn't possible. Firstly, because we just met, and we barely knew anything about each other. Secondly, because I didn't think any guy could like me in some other way. It was as impossible as someone using cracked glass again. Only for all the wrong reasons.

"Well, I'll leave you alone now. Sorry if I said anything you didn't like." I heard Edward sigh.

"No, I'm fine. You didn't say anything wrong. I'll talk later." With that, I cut the line and put the phone away, sinking into my tear-absorbed pillows, deeper.

I just knew Edward was messing around. Or either, he was just over-contemplating things. I wouldn't let these kinds of things get to me again.

I completed my physics assignment to keep my mind at bay from any dangerous thoughts penetrating. Yet it didn't last long. Tiredly, I got up from my bed, checking the time to find it was past midnight. I straight away went to the washroom to take a quick shower.

Stripping any last bit of clothing clinging to my hot skin, I took several breaths, leaning onto the sink. I somehow managed to take a look at my reflection in the now partly cracked mirror. Black eyeliner outlined my smokey dark grey eyes, clouding with darkness. I looked worn off.

Without thinking anything else, I turned on the shower, letting the cool water, spray my body. I started to scrub my face with water, going down to my neck. Little droplets of water slid down my pale skin like tears.

"You always make everything about yourself." I could hear his hoarse voice in my head all too well. "Not everyone likes you."

"I know... But he keeps following me around like a creep." I tried reasoning.

"You really think he does? Fine, let's ask him then." He smirked at me deviously, his black eyes, revolving from me to the guy, standing afar. "What do you have to say about that?"

"She's delusional." He laughed at me in disapproval. "Why would I like someone as fucked up as you? You clearly need help."

A few chuckles and snickers in my classroom followed, and I tried not to let my tears emerge, breathing heavily to stop.

"Hey, we're just kidding Michelle. He tried to hold back a laugh; satisfaction written all over his face.

I tried to play it off coolly, but my voice was thick of hurt, from the unfunny jokes. "I need to go."

I slowly walked away from them, hearing people snitching behind me. I walked and walked in the long hallways, only to bump into one of my friends.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Iris asked with utter concern, looking at me with pitiful eyes. And then finally the tears came out.

She led me to a quiet bench, seating me down along with herself, waiting for me to speak.

"I don't like him." Was all I could muster in voicing it out.

"Oh, I know. I know you two don't make a good couple," she exclaimed in sympathy.

"It's not that. It's not even funny." I sniffed, wiping my face harshly, obviously mad at the tears coming out.

She shook her head tiredly. "You know the reason why most guys don't like you is that you act like this victim, a victim from an abusive relationship, when that's not even the case."

"There was this other guy who I thought was stalking-" I tried stating but she didn't seem to be in a mood to comprehend.

"Look guys are perverts like that. It's just not you that they stalk, okay? Stop acting like all of this stuff happens to you. Do you know your boyfriend, tried stalking me in the first place before he even liked you." She shook her head sympathetically. "Just a little piece of advice. If you think he's mean to you, try knowing why. And then just suck it up and let it go."

And what I finally learned was, the worst the regret, the less the chances of repeating the same mistake.

I didn't even realise my eyes, heated with tears, caressed my face as the shower water slid them away.

I unknowingly washed them away, and without wasting any more time, I cleaned myself quickly before stepping out.

Dressing into my pyjama shorts, I readied myself to get to bed. Out of the corner of my eye though, I caught a slight glimpse of something moving past my window curtain, making my breath hitch in my throat. I quickly made my way towards it, flicking away the curtains hastily, only to find the breezy wind flowing through, the presence of the moon in the night sky looking like a metaphorical reminder of being followed.