This was killing me.

I swung my chair around, bored out of my fucking mind. I'd only been here for two weeks. September couldn't come fast enough.

When the yacht sank earlier this month, I was sure my mom would kill me. But I didn't think she'd actually send me to my very own hell. I hated not being able to do anything, and being here in this town with absolutely nothing to do...

It was a death sentence.

If only her foundation didn't fund this center, I wouldn't be here. I'd like to give whoever it was that gave her the idea to send me to this place a piece of my mind.

I didn't even know what I was doing here 'volunteering.' I didn't have much to do, anyway. I was better off on house arrest back at home.

Although, at least I wasn't sent halfway across the planet like Gavin and Conrad. Aurora was the only one of us who was allowed to stay in the city because this was the summer she was coming out to society as a debutante.

Sometimes, I wished I was a girl.

Then again, with Aurora's control freak mom... No, thanks.

"Anders, dear," Grace called, in that uppity musical tone she always used.

I stopped spinning the chair and straightened up.

"Do you mind helping Meadow fold the newly washed sheets?"

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do mind.

"No, not at all." I put on a smile and started to get up. "Oh, shoot. Didn't you need me to man the front desk?" I'd rather do nothing than be caught dead doing chores.

"No, Louie came to work today. He's covering it."

"Great." Shit.

I headed to the laundry room, peeking through the doorway first in case the quiet girl was dancing again. But this time, she wasn't.

Today, she was wearing one of those sundresses with puff sleeves. Her long black hair cascaded down her back. She was actually cute, albeit awkward. She blended into the background so well I didn't even notice her on my first day here.

I didn't bother making an effort in talking to her – neither did she. It was as if we were satisfied co-existing in the same space.

However, we did share a heated conversation just a few days ago.

I remembered how I was hanging out in the back building, smoking weed to help me pass the time. But then out of the blue, she walked by. When she caught sight of me, she marched up and grabbed my joint before stomping on it.

My forehead creased, and I straightened up.

"Hey!"

"Have you no shame?" she demanded. "People here are trying to get over their addiction and here you are parading it as if you're taunting them!"

I rolled my eyes.

In normal circumstances, I would've chuckled and apologized to appease her. But I was fed up with the well-mannered bullshit act I kept up since the moment I stepped foot here. Not to mention, this was just a tad bit dramatic.

"Smoking in the back building where nobody could see me is hardly parading it."

Seething angry, she poked a finger on my chest. And I didn't know whether to be amused or amazed that the girl who never spoke to me was suddenly this opinionated.

"I saw you," she continued, "which means anybody could've seen you. Have some consideration and think about others besides yourself, why don't you?"

"Don't make a big deal out of this."

She stepped forward.

Huh, she had gray eyes. They were quite striking this close.

In a hardened voice, she said, "Some people have it harder than others. Addiction is not something to be taken lightly. One whiff of that thing and all the progress they've done could disappear just like that."

"'Could,'" I emphasized, "which means it's only a possibility. We don't know yet." I shrugged. "Consider it as a test they need to pass."

"You don't get it." She shook her head. "They're here to recover. Not to be tested."

I sighed, getting bored of this already. "It's just weed."

"For you, maybe. But we're not all like you."

"Isn't that the truth?" I muttered.

She scoffed, staring at me in disbelief.

"Are you gonna slap me with your hair again?" I asked tonelessly.

She glared at me for what felt like ages. We were just standing there, neither of us refusing to look away and lose from the staring match. Until finally, she walked away without even so much as a backward glance.

It made me wonder if she was still furious.

"Hi," I greeted, as I stepped inside the laundry room.

She looked up at me, wearing a blank expression. She gave a brief nod and turned around. She casually tied her hair before she went back to folding.

The corner of my lips twitched as I eyed her now tied long hair.

"Which pile should I do?" I asked, stepping beside her.

She picked up a weave basket and placed it on the table in front of me. With that, she went back to what she was doing.

Okay, then.

"Thanks."

We worked in silence for a few minutes. But every second that passed by pushed me to become more irate. This was stupid. Why the hell was I even doing this? Weren't there people hired to do this mundane task?

I could feel her watching what I was doing. I didn't care if I was doing a bad job at folding. It was folding.

Finally, she sighed and took the sheets from me.

"It's done like this," she said, demonstrating how it was done. "Longer ends first, then you fold it this way."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why does it have to be neatly folded when it's going to be used, anyway?"

"To keep it tidy."

"I don't see the point."

"Try to see it from another person's perspective," she suggested, shoving me the folded sheets. "Yours seem to be too narrow-minded."

I gave it a thought. "Nope, still pointless."

She didn't answer and went back to folding.

"Don't you get bored?" I asked.

She only shook her head.

Right, fuck this.

I brought out my airpods and put them in my ears. Not caring whether or not she would hear my conversion, I dialed Gavin.

He answered after the first ring.

"Back from hell?"

"Still here." Unfortunately. "How's New Zealand?"

He let out a deep breath, sounding just as bored as I was. "Same as yesterday and the day before that, boring as fuck. I'm still being watched twenty-four seven. The most interesting thing they'll see me do is masturbate."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

Gavin mastered the art of sneaking out anything – himself included. It was only natural his parents were keeping a close watch on him. The last time they didn't, their private jet disappeared.

"How about you?" he asked. "Found anything fun to do yet?"

"Yeah, staring at the walls of my hotel room is my new hobby."

"You didn't get your cards back yet?"

"No, I'm still stuck with that damn debit card."

I missed my platinum cards. It wasn't like I could use them on anything here but I liked the sense of security.

"Oh, like the one Conrad's dad gave to him last fall?"

"Yeah."

In hopes of keeping him on a tight leash, Conrad's dad thought it was a good idea to limit his expenses. It didn't work, though. Conrad still had us around.

But in my case, my friends were too far away.

I was on my own.

Gavin made a hissing sound. "Your mom didn't do that thing where an amount is deposited everyday as your allowance, did she?"

"Exactly like that."

I didn't doubt my mom had a talk with Conrad's dad. Word got around easily in the city. It was a small circle.

"Ouch. How much?"

"Fifty," I answered.

"Fifty?! What the hell can you do with fifty dollars?"

"No idea." I didn't have to look – let alone think – about prices before, so I had no clue what fifty dollars could actually buy.

"Haven't you tried going out?"

I snorted. "And go where?"

"I don't know, explore."

"There's nothing to explore in this sleepy town."

"Wait, what about food?"

"Mom pays for the hotel and room service," I explained. I guessed she didn't want me to starve while I learned my lesson. "She won't pay for my gas, though. I'm mostly using the money for that."

"Why don't you just sneak out?"

"Where would I even go?"

"I'll ask Aurora and see if we can hide in their hotel in Saint Moritz. I'm planning to escape soon," he added in a whisper.

"That's predictable."

I noticed my co-volunteer was done, and was now placing the folded sheets inside the drawers. Another thing I didn't like about this place was the neutral colors. The walls were off-white, the wooden cabinets were white, even the floor was marble white.

It was obvious the designer was going for the minimalist french look.

Not for me, though.

"You're right," Gavin said. "We should go to Asia."

"The debutante ball is next month," I reminded him, my eyes on the black-haired girl as she closed the drawers and double checked the room.

"Oh, Aurora's—What?" he added, talking to someone else on his end. "Now? I'm on a call... Fuck. Alright, give me a second. Yo Anders, I've gotta go."

"Your mom called?" I guessed.

"Dad," he corrected. "He's checking to see if I'm behaving."

I chuckled, my eyes following the girl who seemed hell bent on ignoring me as she walked towards the door. "He must've sensed your escape plan," I told him.

"Shit, did he bug my phone?!"

"Bye, Gav."

I shook my head in amusement as I hung up. Then, I brought my attention back to the sheets. I seriously considered paying someone to do this for me.

"Mount Valley is not a sleepy town."

I raised my head and looked at her, keeping my expression nonchalant. She was standing by the doorway, looking defiant with her arms crossed.

"There's plenty to do," she added.

I faced her, and leaned my back on the table.

"You just haven't given it a chance."

I tilted my head as I stared at her. "You always seem to have a lot to say whenever you want to prove me wrong."

"You are wrong."

"I highly doubt there's anything fun to do here."

I watched as her jaw clenched, her eyes blazed, and her nostrils flared. I guessed I must've pissed her pretty bad.

"Meet me at the movie theatre at seven." With that, she made a move to leave.

The corner of my lips lifted up. "Are you asking me out?"

"I'm going to show you what we do for fun," she replied, ignoring my statement. "Maybe it'll get you a new perspective."

"By watching a movie?" I asked, skeptical.

"Better than staring at walls."

Good point. "Address?"

"There's only one movie theatre in town."

Shocker. "And what's in it for you?"

That made her stop in her tracks. She hesitated for a long minute, before looking at me over her shoulder.

"It's not for nothing," she said quietly.

Now, I was intrigued. But I wasn't planning on letting her know that.

"Thanks for that straight answer," I told her instead.

"You're welcome. Goodbye."

I wasn't sure what it was, but she wasn't as shy with me ever since she scolded me the other day. That must be the kind of ice breaker she needed.

"Later, then."

The last time I watched a movie in the theatre was during a film premiere and my sister recorded the featured song. I didn't see how this would top that.

Like she said, though, it was better than the alternative. I'd rather not stare at my yellow bedroom wall another second more.

I doubted she would prove me wrong.

Nevertheless, I was curious to see how hard she'd try.

Shit, what was her name again?