18

Nerina's POV

I walked back down the stairs, wondering where I could go where I wouldn't get interrupted by someone.

Oh God, if Skye was going to break up Blake and Dino like I knew he could, easily, Dino... Oh God, everything was screwed up. More screwed up.

Dino...

I bit my lip. When he was kissing Blake, wow he loved her so much, and she was about to break his heart completely. Or Skye was. And then tomorrow we would all be going back home, three weeks to mull over what had happened and to start hating each other.

I flipped up my phone and rang Blake.

'Hello-?'

'Blake, listen I need to' I began.

'Hah, got you! Leave a message.'

'Shit' I put my phone back in my pocket. Jasmine ran up the stairs followed by Ash.

'I've known he was crap forever-'

I watched them run up, then shook my head and walked back outside. Blake had disappeared but Dino was making his way up to the patio.

'Hey Nerina' he said, absently.

'Hi' I smiled 'so you and Blake are fine right?'

'Umm, yeah sure.'

'I'm so sorry' I apologized.

'Why?' he laughed 'it wasn't your fault.'

'But Skye's in my room waiting to talk to Blake' I replied 'it's my fault. I tried to stop him, I shouldn't have been in the library.'

'Talk to Blake?' he raised an eyebrow.

'I think he's jealous or something, and he's going to break you guys up.'

'Oh' Dino hesitated 'he won't managed it, Blake hates him...'

'But she loves him' I said.

He paused 'we'll talk about it later, okay?'

'Okay...' I said and he ran up the steps. I looked around the near empty field, I pulled my coat tighter around myself and walked along the path trying to clear my head. I looked back at the school, nearly three months ago I had arrive , completely terrified and knowing no one. Now I couldn't help but wish I didn't know any of them, so they wouldn't sweep me up in their lives of solid drama. I turned a corner and saw Natalie attached to some guys face.

'Natalie' I said.

She turned round 'hey Nerina' she smiled.

'Who's that?' I asked.

'Umm, Frederick is it?'

He shook his head.

'Umm. Gray?'

'Sort of' he said.

'See' she turned round and smiled at me. I suddenly saw myself like Natalie, kissing guys I didn't even know, probably more.

I stuck my hands in my pocket 'Natalie, is it true what you said?'

'What did I say?'

'About your stepdad?'

'You can go' she said to the guy then turned round to face me properly 'of course it's true. Why would I lie about something like that?'

There was something about her eyes and voice I didn't like as she said that 'but Blake said-'

'Screw Blake. She's just really annoyed with me for something that happened months ago. I mean, how childish is that? Let it go already.'

'Hmm' I said 'I think she's going to break up with Dino.'

Natalie smiled, literally smiled. I turned away 'see you next semester Natalie.' I doubted she'd be in the room tonight.

'Happy Christmas' she said.

Dino's POV

Well, at least Blake was getting what she wanted. Skye was jealous and probably wanted her back. I wondered if she'd go back to him, and if she did how long it would last this time. How long until he got bored with her again. I felt bad, I didn't love Blake and she was right when Nerina was around I never would. But if Nerina had never come... well. If Nerina had never come we wouldn't have met in the first place.

'I'm going to kill Ash Felton' said Jason, suddenly appearing from nowhere.

'For any particular reason?' I asked.

'He spread a rumour that I slept with someone else so Jasmine would break up with me' he said.

'But you did sleep with someone else' I replied.

'Yeah, but she didn't need to know that' he said.

I shook my head 'go make it right then' he stalked off somewhere. I wondered what to do next, I could go study? For what... Then Nerina pushed through the crowds and disappeared into and empty classroom. Was it just me or did she look sad? I put my head round the door, she was curled up on one of the chairs at the back, staring out the window at nothing. I knew what I had to do.

I took out my phone and rang Blake's number.

'Hello?' she replied, her voice sounded thick.

'It's me' I said.

'Hi, you' she said.

'Have you been crying?' I asked, leaning against the wall.

'It's-' she sniffed, then her voice hardened. 'It's nothing Dino, it's just Skye... don't worry.'

'I need to talk' I said.

'Go ahead.'

'You know you said pretend.'

'Yeah.'

'Well' I paused, but I had to do it 'Blake I don't want to even pretend okay? It's completely off.'

'Your breaking up with me?'

'Sorry, I-'

'Over the phone?'

'Sorry. But-'

'Wow Dino. I didn't expect that of you' she paused 'please don't do this.'

'Why does it matter?' I asked 'it's not like it's real.'

'I need this' she said 'Skye-'

'Blake. Have you ever thought that messing around with Skye's mind isn't the best way to make him fall in love with you?'

'I don't want him to fall in love with me' she replied firmly.

'Yeah right.'

'Don't do this to me Dino' she said.

'Sorry' I said 'listen, Blake-'

'You know what?'

'What?'

'You'll never be him' she said.

'What?' I repeated, had she gone insane?

'You won't. You can try but you won't manage it, I know it, and Nerina will know it.'

'Blake. What the hell?' I demanded.

'Merry fucking Christmas Dino.'

She hung up and I put my phone back in my pocket. I could solve that later, but for now...

'Nerina?' I ventured.

She looked up at me, her huge, beautiful eyes shining. 'Dino' she said, in surprise.

'What's wrong?' I pulled up a chair next to her.

'It's nothing' she shook her head 'it's just everything.'

'What?' I said.

'Everything. Everyone in this place lies, cheats, sleeps around, bitches and they never deal with the consequences and everything ends up... shit. ' She hit the table hard 'I wish I'd never even come.'

'I wish that every day' I said.

'You're no exception' she said, looking up 'you and Blake. What the hell is going on there?'

'Nothing' I replied.

'Of course something's going on' she said.

'It's over. I just ended it' I said.

'Seriously?' she looked up at me.

'Yeah.'

'Poor Blake.'

'Hmm' I said, exactly what I was thinking. 'She'll be fine.'

'I hope so' she said. Then there was silence while we both stared at each other. I wanted to tell her I loved her, I wanted to but...

Then she leant forward and kissed me, SHE kissed ME. Then she shook her head and pulled away 'sorry Dino' she said, staring at the floor.

'Don't be sorry' I said, restraining myself from saying kiss me again. Then I kissed her back, harder and she kissed me. I pushed my hands through her hair, it was as silky as I had imagined it to be. It was amazing. Then she pulled away again.

'This is too confusing' she stood up, picking up her bag.

'Why?'

'Because...' she hesitated 'we both have three weeks off. Three weeks we can think about this, then next year we can talk about it.'

'Okay...' I said, and she turned away. Three weeks suddenly felt like a long time.