Amara set her violin down, stretching her fingers and pressing a hand on her stiff shoulders. She looked towards Primo was laid on the old brown couch as he played some rhythm game.

"Did you fill up the form?" She grabbed the papers and went to him. Amara placed his head on her lap as she read the forms needed for the school yearbook. "You didn't put a motto."

"Write them for me."

"What then? 'Time is gold'?"

Primo chuckled. He put his phone down and tilted his head to her. "How about 'To love is to be daring'"

Amara arched an eyebrow, caressing his hair. "Where did you get that?"

"Natasha."

"You're kidding."

"I know right. I didn't know that girl could make sense."

Amara kept quiet. They had left Elijah and Natasha to solve their problems. But a part of her woke up to the realities of young love in regards to the future. "Do you think they'll be okay?"

"They know what they want. I think that's the most important thing," he replied. Primo began twirling the dark hair that hung from her face. "How about you? Are you ready for your competition?"

"Fine," she replied, noting how fast Primo changed the topic. "Miss Jang agreed to be my accompanist. Unless you wanted to volunteer?"

Primo snorted. "You know I only play Chopin." He pulled her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. "You worried?"

"Fine." Amara tried to smile but it came out forced. "I can't lose this."

He sat up and frowned at her declaration. "Is it so bad to lose? You can just try other things."

"I'm not like you, Primo," she said, yanking her hand from his clutch. The words trickled out of her lips with vehemence before she could think it through. "I don't like thinking about other options when I'm clearly good at this. Like what's the point?"

"What the hell? You make it sound like I'm so fickle," he muttered in distaste.

Amara crossed her arms, raising a challenging eyebrow. "Isn't that the truth?"

"Is it bad to try a lot of things?" He clicked his tongue, glaring at her in petulance. "I only wanted to know what I like."

"Maybe it's alright when it comes to food and clothes and hobbies..." she spat out as the argument sparked a fire inside her. "But what about the other things?"

"What other things?"

"Things like relationships." Amara shut her mouth at Primo's keen gaze. Her cheeks burned at how her words sounded too much like that of a spoiled child. "I didn't mean it that way."

"Amara..." he began as he reached for hand again. "What do you want me to do?"

Amara shrugged, feeling stupid for bringing it up in the first place. She locked her emotions away. "Forget I ever said anything, Primo."

"Princess..."

"Maxine has a party tonight, right? Wanna go?" Amara asked. She hadn't had the time to face her fellow students about the gossips that had littered her image. She didn't know what to expect. But a distraction was what she needed.

"If you want to."

✘✘

The party was at its peak when Amara and Primo had arrived. She let him go to his friends while Amara headed straight to where the booze was. Her greed for Primo's affections had disoriented her a bit. But it wouldn't happen again.

Primo had been clear that a relationship with her wasn't in his plans.

And yet, why were they so good together?

Amara grabbed a cup and filled it up with the red liquid. Three cocktail towers faced her and just for the shit of it, she tried all of them.

"Amara!" Maine placed an arm around her, pulling her in an awkward hug.

She hid her sneer and tried to smile as Isla joined them. Amara didn't know if they were friends or not. She had enjoyed shopping with them and coordinating their outfits but aside from that, she had no clue as to what their relationship was.

Isla smiled a little. Her floral print wrap dress fluttered as she leaned in to pressed her cheek to hers. "Hello, Amara."

Amara shrugged. Should she be nice? Not one of them had even asked for her side of the story after Natasha's post.

"Hey," she muttered and drank from her cup. If it was up to her, she'd rather stop pretending to be nice all the time. Clearly, her attitude wasn't enough to ensure people's favor.

Maybe she should thank Natasha.

"Do you want something?" Amara asked.

The awkward mood remained despite the loud, banging music. People were dancing and drinking and laughing at the same time.

Except for the trio.

"Amara..." Maine spoke first. Her tight bun framed her small face, emphasizing her soft pinkish cheeks. "Is it true that you and Primo are together? Like for real?"

"Yes," she answered. But Maine's curious eyes weren't sated.

"How long have you been together then?"

Amara smirked. She really ought to stop playing nice when she was being offended straight to her face. "How long do you think?"

Maine squealed as Isla winced. The former squeezed her arm. "Probably years ago? I knew there was something between you two even if Primo had dated a lot. Though I think he's a bastard for treating you like a mistress."

Amara retracted her arm, glaring at her. "You don't think much of me, do you?"

The girl paled. "That's... I don't mean that. Natasha said—"

"It's okay, Maine. I don't blame you and I don't care about your opinion either," she declared that Maine swallowed hard. "I like your fashion choices but that's all. You're not worth that much either."

Amara ignored her apologies. It hurt to hear what others truly think of her but at the end of the day, it didn't matter. It was her life. It was hers to control.

Starting right now, she was going to live her life to the fullest.