NOTE: To anyone who have read the previous chapters, there is an edit. The image that Kayla posted was a photo of Eline cheating once and the odd derpy photo of her crying. Please refer that chapter. That's the only edit :)

I blink twice, not registering what he said. He looks back at me quizically and it dawns on me. A wave of skepticism washes over me. Why would he—all of a sudden— decide to be extra nice by taking me for a walk?

Maybe some people are just nice—unlike you.

I bite my lip, unsure of what to do. While a walk and a new friend seems nice, I don't want to end up breaking my heart over something as silly as friends. My former ones did enough damage and I don't want to repeat the cycle over and over.
Plus, I don't know if I can still trust these people after their cryptic conversations with my older group.

I look at Luke again, whose smile vanishes as he takes in my expression.

It doesn't hurt to make new friends once in a while.

I firmly shut my negativity down and smile at him.

"Fine, just this once."

"For you," he says.

"For me."

We begin walking back the way we came in silence for awhile. My heart yells at me to speak something or at least initiate a conversation since that's the least I could do.
I twist my gears, thinking of some good starters.

What about the weather?

I cringe at myself and think of something else. A question immediately pops up in my head.

"Why do you not talk?" I ask, taking him by surprise. He recovers immediately, fixing his glasses that were nearly about to fall off.

"I can ask the same to you."

I raise a brow at him, quite surprised at how sarcastic he is. I don't take it to heart though since I was the one who asked him first.

"It's just—I have gone through a lot. I am going through a lot. I just don't feel like making friends after all that has gone down," I say, wringing my wrists.

He nods slowly.

"What 'bout you then?" I ask again, not wanting to drop that question too easily. Not after he managed to get an answer from me.

"It's just —" There is a silence as he ponders on whether to tell me or not. He replies again, "I never knew how to express myself quite frankly. I mostly stick with Aaron because he doesn't really judge me. When people speak to me, it's mostly because of the way I look. They think I am some sports hunk whereas in reality, they are nowhere close."

He ruffles his hair and tightens his hoodie around him as a breeze blows. I shiver.

"Then what do you actually do?" I ask, quite surprised at being able to keep up a conversation with him for so long.
That requires serious talent.

"I like chess. I hate social media, hate parties and I hate romance," he says in one breath. I shrug, not knowing what's the big deal in telling someone that. Maybe he simply didn't want to get too friendly. The whole idea of me not going to get aquainted with anyone flashes in my head. I decide to act against it. I don't want to be alone with no friends, after all. If I just keep believing all that Kayla and Avi used to feed me a while ago, I won't try and see the results myself.

I decide to talk again.

"Then you must've left many girls heartbroken," I say and he shrugs in return.

"I don't see the point in loving one person when you could love everyone."

"I mean, yes, you could love everyone. But there is no harm in liking a person in a different way, is there?" I counter-argue.

"I don't think it's possible for me—at the very least."

I nod my head, unsure of what to say. A slight pang of disappointment hits me. I brush it off.

After a minute or so, we hear some noise coming from Lora's house. I look up to notice that we were walking past her house for quite some time. Luke too stops in his tracks and follows my gaze.

"Wouldn't she be searching for us?" I immediately ask. He raises a brow.

"Nope. She knows that I don't do parties."

"Then what about me?"

"She should've known of what had happened a while ago."

Confusion agitates me and I ask again.

"Wouldn't she come searching for me because of that, then?"

A faint smile—one I can't decipher if sarcastic or not— lights up his lips.

"She has to," he says and immediately talks before I can ask him any further.

"In that case, the party will drag on for quite some time. If you don't feel like heading in, you can always go home," he says. I stand still for some time, not knowing if that was supposed to be a subtle way of kicking me out. He might be like Alma after all. Just a bit less subtle.

He notices my silence and realization dawns on him.

"N-no. It came off a bit mean. I just meant to say that no one is holding you captive," he says and again bites his lip when he realizes his wordings. I smile.

"It's fine, I get it."

He clears his throat and waits for an answer. I ponder whether to stay here or not but before I can reply, A brunette walks over to us. Astra's calm demeanour slightly breaks on noticing me but she bounces back.

"Hi, Eline. Lora was searching for you both. What happened?" Astra asks and Luke beats me to respond.

"You knew what happened, right?" he asks her. She frowns in return.

"I came a bit late. Everyone was talking about this but I couldn't get the full story," she says and looks at me again. She smiles. "It's fine if you don't wanna talk about it."
I look at Luke and then at Astra. Shouldn't I be making friends?

"It's just... some creep came up to me and acted, uh, creepily? And the next thing I know, him and his friends gang up on me and chase me down the street."

"Oh," Astra says and confusion lines her face. Luke scowls at her.

"You aren't convinced," he says to her. Her hazel eyes meet his and she rolls her eyes.
"Genius."

I raise my brows as I see a new face of her. She has never acted in this manner and it perplexes me.

Luke swiftly ignores her and faces me.

"So? Heading in or going home?" he asks. My head throbs in pain as the events from before reels over and over in my head. I have had enough for one day. I might not even be able to concentrate for my exams. That's my first priority. That and putting Kayla in her place.

"I'll go home. Can you inform Lora? I really don't feel like going in and telling her," I say to Astra. She nods understandingly.

Her personality changes again as she speaks with Luke.

"So are you being a gentleman and escorting this lady to her home?" Astra asks and he sighs.

"I am sure she can find her way home," he says. My lip itches to call out on his behaviour but I remain silent. He is being way too nice with me after how I've behaved, after all.

"Kills to be nice, doesn't it?" she smiles at him and waves at me before heading inside. I stare at her in confusion. As I look up and notice the night getting darker, I quickly check the time.

10:15 pm.

"Shit," I mutter and put my phone inside. I look at Luke surprised that he still hasn't left.

"So... I'll get going then," I say, filling in the void. He looks at me for awhile and nods unsure.

I walk off at a slower speed due to the wretched heels I wore.

"Um, wait!" I hear him call and I stop for a split second. I look over my shoulder to see him approaching me and I wait.

"Are you fine with walking alone?" he asks and I involuntarily smile.

"But you said to-"

"I just didn't want to give her the satisfaction," he cuts me off. My insides feel weird and I nod weakly.

"I don't really know," I say and look back at the path I am supposed to cover. He stays silent for some time and then replies.

"It's better if I come along," he says and looks at the party house. I think about those kids and nod my head.

"Thanks," I say and smile again. He looks taken aback for a second but he shrugs. We walk down the streets and the whole time, I couldn't take my mind off of those creeps.

Did someone really set them up?