I realised my final breath on my flushed face,placed my palms on my denim cladded knees and went towards the doorbell.After a long flight of stairs I foolishly ignored the lift on the ground floor.

I knocked on the door ,stood on my toes then clicked on the doorbell hard.

I began to dwell on all the events that happened a few hours ago :From Thalia's Demon dad doing black magic then him at my doorstep towards this.

At a house of a person I hadn't been in a long while.

My eyes raked the door and the flickering light that bathed the white door and hallway,unlike me Hayley lived in a beautiful, not run down apartment that was white washed not brick like mine.The interior was fresh and new still unlike mine.

Decorated on the midpoint of the door was a tails man both in gold and red.

It buzzed then the door clicked open and stood a shocked Hayley with wide eyes and an agape mouth.

So dramatic.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"God no.What the heck are you doing here Nathaniel?

A grin formed on my lips,"God yes,It's me."Then I rolled my eyes as obvious and as disrespectful as possible.Then I raised my hands and did the pump dance.

She ran her pink painted nails down her face then waved me inside.

As I walked in,I shot her a glare,"And who the hell still says heck what are we middle schoolers?"

Her flip flops clicked on the wooden ground as her iconic pigtails bounced.The bands both pastel blue and pink sort of like Harley Quin.

My eyes widened into saucers as I took in her house.Hayely and I were never friends or even close to each other but one day,when I was terrorising her boyfriend I caught the address but I removed it mentally.Two weeks after her expellusion,some girls had a conversation about visiting downtown Toronto and after that, It clicked.

She spun on her heels and arched her brows at me,"Don't you have school ?"

I shook my head wildly and waved my arms at my face,redness creeped up my neck,"Ummm,it's not important, not now,not later."

She only arched a brow and muttered an okay and a sheesh.

I scanned the whole house,it was larger and far cleaner than my ran down apartment. It was beige coloured and it was thick with herbs and spices from the kitchen, it had a sharp aromatic smell and it directed my nose towards it.

Hayley snapped her head up and sniffed.She slapped her head and muttered,"Yāy,are you cooking?"She screamed.

I raised a brow. Yāy.

The apartment was decorated with New Year flags on the walls and paper lanterns on the ceiling.

An old radio sat on a table and narrated in Cantonese commentary on something and on the walls,were framed photos of a younger Hayley in a certain South East country, maybe Malaysia or even Thailand, isn't that where she's from? Another was her at a gymnastics competition on a beam and outstretched hands and another with her parents at a funeral.

On the other wall was a glass cabinet filled with delicate China and on top of the vanity was a jade Budda statue.

She gestured towards the couch and let me sit and I awkwardly shuffled my feet and bunched up my jeans.

An old lady waddled in and glared at me dressed in a baggy red floral dress and sweats. In her hands was a wooden spatula and her shoulders sagged and gasped,"Good boy,"Then she looked at me with a disappointed sigh.She waddled away.

"Lah,"she gasped at her granny.

My face contorted in blatant confusion,"Good boy,who's good boy?What?"

Pink spread from her nose to her ears and she shook her head embarrassed."Umm,is nothing important okay."She began and adjusted herself on her couch."Let's continue our conversation, eii."

She rubbed her bare thighs and pursed her lips,"So why are you really here Nathaniel?"She narrowed her eyes hard.

A lump formed on my throat as I mimicked her actions and pulled at my collar as it burned red,"I came to hear about your side of the story.Just to know what's going on and stuff."

She huffed and crossed her arms tight,"Oh really then,okay let's go in.I can't believe I trusted someone like her in the first place and did you know?She ended up being worse than Diana."She threw her hands up angrily.

"I thought you guys were friends?"I pointed out,shocked at how easily she believed it.

She shook her head angrily,her hands closer tight."Thalia is no friend of mine after she did that.Never.For that,I regret ever being nice to her."

I was stunned by her words and how angry she was yet I get it,she believed that she made and started the rumours.

"Actually the school pointed out that Thalia was at the counsellors office before it spread."

She gave me a cold,hard glare and gripped her shorts hard,"That's weird of you ,Nate."she bit out,teeth clenched.She huffed,"maybe she told her after seeing the consular and didn't she speak about all of us in there.Some friend she is?"

"C'mon Hayley, you don't really believe that she talked shit about all of us?People have stuff to deal with though."

"If she's friends with her so why not?I'm not surprised, she's weird as hell.She definitely talked about you too,then right."She slapped her thighs."I won't be sure though."

I knew everything wasn't going well but I was surprised how quickly she shifted after everything.

"I don't understand, though.What about the suspected assault that happened?"

"Excuse me,that I won't be surprised is real, but after everything, that's low."She gritted her teeth and threw her hands up."I just can't believe it, okay?"Her voice was thick with emotion and began to break."I just can't believe she was friends with Diana all this time."

I leaned forward and awkwardly placed my palms on hers, then she lurch it back,shocked and surprised.Her eyes widened,"Nate,what the hell?I'm not into you,gross"

I lurched backward and stared at her with knitted brows,"What?I'm also not into you,your type is guys,probably white and over sixteen years old or older."I sighed."Plus,I was trying to comfort you,not flirt duh."

She nodded,satisfied with my answer.

"Diana never liked Thalia and remember how she insulted her."

She scoffed,"Maybe she did initially, they probably texted each other and talked shit after."

It was my turn to burst into laughter.It was dry and forced and I pointed towards my chest. "She's monitored by her dad.I was lucky to even be in those contacts.Her dad's controlling as heck."I spoke like a businessman with a smug smile.

She shook her head,"I can't believe you,after everything.You still defend her,Nate."She lifted her palms and wildly gestured around."Look at where it's gotten you,us and now,where is she?"

Dead.

I bowed my head and twiddled my thumbs and she sighed and rubbed her stomach with a smile,it wasn't warm but it was neutral.She had an apparent bump which poked out from her pink tank top and wore a heavy black shorts and wore a heavy black sweater.

"How many months?"I asked.

She parted her lips and shook her head,"Forgot it,okay.Plus,I'm five weeks pregnant."

"Five weeks."I exploded,my voice lifted an octave as I did the maths with my fingers and gasped."Since early October, it has happened in late September."Pink climbed up my neck.

"Yeah,I guess."She muttered, her head bowed and voice low."The thing is I did take a morning after pill, and yet,I took it too late."

My interest was piqued. "How on earth did you get it?You aren't seventeen or eighteen.Don't you need permission from your parents to get birth control?"

She nodded and brought a finger to her lips.She grinned."My parents never expected me to be dating as my Yāy would say,"No boys,only studying."So my parents never saw the point of getting me one,until I'm an adult or over eighteen, but I guess we were wrong."She shrugged measly.

"Plus,I tried to get it but they didn't give me and they assumed it was for my older sister,so I asked an older girl to buy me some but I miscalculated I had to buy it the day after,not a week so it's my fault."

"So would you keep the baby?"I asked. She petted her stomach and sighed."I don't know,it's not too late for me to get rid of my child,it's a foetus, not a child now."

I nodded in understanding as I tried to understand and picture what her parents talked about with her, but I pursed my lips and tapped my temple."My parents had an argument about it. Honestly, they aren't happy, so yeah."

I nodded and shuffled my feet,"Yeah,I get you."I began and rubbed my neck while I avoided her gaze."So have you heard from you know who."

She scoffed and looked away.She stomped her feet once."Yeah,he blocked me everywhere but I'm glad he did.He acted so cold and seemed to ,I don't know but he put the blame on me."

I nodded but she shuffled a lot and grinned,"it's so funny isn't it."

Now it was turn to swing my feet and rub my neck as a blush climbed up.Hayley mentioned my name and arched a brow high.

"What are you hiding?"She asked.

"Nothing,"I bit out,feeling awkward but I let out a sigh then said,"Actually,you know James--"she rolled her eyes and scoffed his name loudly--"Well,so me and Thalia went to parking-----I mean skating rink and we saw James.He was skating with his peeps and I went to confront him with Thalia."

"You went with Thalia. Should have known she was against the relationship like you.But I can't believe Nate,you were right."She sighed ,shook her head and crossed her arms.

"Actually,"I began,my finger raised high."Thalia was actually supportive of your relationship and told him to contact you but he never did."

"What?"She gasped,surprised and watched with wide eyed.She looked down."I'm so confused about this.I know I dislike her but she actually gave good advice weirdly."

"Yeah,"I nodded then she darted her eyes to me and grinned broadly while she rubbed her hands together."Do you get it ?Nate.You were right about everything.James is an asshole ,I can't believe I thought he was the one.He's the creep."She placed her palm on abdomen and grinned."He doesn't deserve to see my baby."She petted her stomach.

I nodded in complete agreement.Then her eyes snapped open,taken aback,"Wait,back up.What do you mean that Thalia supported my relationship.I thought by the way,she behaved like she was against it."

I nodded,"She was in agreement while I wasn't and ,you might not believe it,she vouched for you."

She nodded and leaned back and played with her hair.Then she looked at me and looked at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

I mimicked her look with a side grin,"What is it ?"

She threw her head back and her grin got wider as she relaxed on her couch.She rested her painted nails on her knee."James has a pretty embarrassing hobby.James is the straightest guy I know."She clamped her fingers around her lips to prevent herself from laughing.I arched a brow because straightest guy and laughing it's a freaking oxymoron."James enjoy meni pedi's ,spy days and skin care.He kept it a secret from his friends or they'll label him as gay,nothing wrong with it or swinging both ways too, but he made it such a bad thing.I didn't have a problem but after everything,I'm going to expose him."

I nodded a proud smile and thrusted my fist into the air. "Do it."

She spread her hands and levelled her gaze on me."If I had known about her house,it was so creepy and cold.I felt as if I was in a haunted house."A shudder ran through her spine, and her body convulsed."I shouldn't have gone in there ,like at all.You ,Nate.You acted so weird,so off like you were on drugs or on something.That house was so off.You were off.The house was off."Her eyes on me were glossy and eyes narrowed and filled with undeniable emotion.Her brows rose."Well, are you?"

I leaned back and gasped,"Me?On drugs."I pointed towards my chest ,stunned."Why would I be on drugs?For one thing,I'm a minor, and yeah, I agree that house has a messed up air."I nodded in agreement.

Then she turned her gaze towards the television, then clicked it on onto numerous channels, and each was still talking about what happened on Saturday,the police,theories,research on the people, the rich kid and a bunch of short videos that circulated online.Showing her haunted,crazed expression as she runs and screams.I winced and avoided the glare of the TV ray.A shudder ran through my spine.

"See this is all that shows online and in the channels.I don't get why it's got everyone panties in a bunch?It's been trending since last week.Theories and all sorts of nonsense have been hijacking the TV and people seem to foolishly believe it."

That piqued my interest,so I snapped my gaze towards her."So you've heard."she nodded ,her shoulders tensed."How did you feel when you saw it?Were you upset?Surprised or yeah."

She looked away."I don't know how to feel ,Nate.Over everything has been so weird and strange ever since Thalia appeared at our school.I didn't know her mental health was that bad till I saw her house and her drawings but I brushed it away."She shrugged,"now I know that she was never okay."Then she moved mer body towards my direction."I know she ran away from home ,twice.Called the police on her father,twice."

My eyes widened,"Wait,you knew."

She arched an eyebrow,"Duh,everyone knows about it.Its on the news.They even revealed on the news like everyone has seen the drawings online."

I nodded but I mentally cursed.

"How did you feel about Thalia now?"

"Now that I know she had problems and was a bit messed up.I don't know Nate.She covered her arms with sleeves and was drawing weird things too."She breathed out."Now that I think about it.Thalia has always been so strange.I always felt like she was so anti-romantic and against dating but that could just be because she's religious ,right?"She clicked her tongue.

She cocked her head to the side,then she glanced at her watch then asked,"So why are you here ,school isn't over yet.Why are you here?"She asked,eyebrows knitted.

I groaned ,tapping my foot on the floor and avoiding her gaze.But she kept her piercing gaze on me,hard.

I threw my hands up."I've been suspended till further notice."

"What?"She screamed in disbelief.Her eyes widened and were on her feet."I can't believe how can expel you -"

"I wasn't exp -"

"The school doesn't use 'suspended till further notice' literally means expelled for all I know."She splayed her palms."They did the same for me, and look where I am expelled."

The realisation settled on me.I wasn't just suspended,I was expelled.Just because of what I did.So I told her about her family meeting and the thing about roping

"The school can't just expell you over that.Her parents sure spent too much time and you can't be blamed for trying.It was all her fault for running away."By then, she walked around in a ring and gestured towards her couch.

"Thalia didn't run away,she was coming to visit me."I was on my feet, and I pointed towards my chest as her eyes widened."What are you doing?Do you hear yourself !"She scoffed and slapped her thighs with a scoff."You keep on defending her."

I clenched my fist." I am hearing myself very clearly ,Hayley."The TV illuminated half of my body as I looked at a wide-eyed and stunned Hayely, who just blinked.

"What the fuck?"She repiled,stunned.

I was taken aback, but I continued."The news confirmed that she was indeed coming over because at the news,"I gestured towards the TV."They showed the witnesses and her running towards my location."

She scoffed and crossed her arms tight."I can't believe you,Nathaniel."She staggered," Do you like her Nate?Is this what this is about?"

My shoulders sagged, and my expression turned sour."Um,no. What the hell?No,I..."

She sighed and leaned against the couch leg."I'm just very concerned and confused about you.That's all.About how these strange and odd things happened all because of that."

I nodded,rubbed my palms together and settled onto the couch.

She kicked her feet off,walked towards me, and she bounced on her soles."Whelp,so what are you going to do now?Now that you're expelled or 'suspended till further notice ' or whatever."She shrugged.

I brushed my chin and thought hard."I dunno what to do now that I am expelled or what you may call it ?"I arched an eyebrow.

Then I blurted out something,"James is still in Ontario ,not in Montréal yet."

"I'm not surprised."She sighed heavily.

I stared at my soles hard."My mom and I would figure it out."I crossed my leg over and brushed over with a sigh."Thalia's dad came over and he---"

"He what !"She sputtered.

I shrugged my shoulders." He just came to talk to us ya da ya da."

She pushed herself forward."That's not okay."She said repeatedly as she shook her head frantically.

She pounded her fist on her palm multiple times."He has no right to demand such a thing.All because of her.What an asshole."She nodded and scoffed.

I nodded then before I spun on my heels.I did something I couldn't believe I did.Hayley stood proud and tall then my eyes raked her feet towards her hips which were wide and curvy.She placed her hands on her hips and my selfish eyes went towards her chest and I blinked multiple times yanked out of my reverie.

She stretches her hands out."What are you doing ,Nathaniel? "

I stumbled backward, confused."I don't know?"

" Where are you just checking me out ?"

"No,I mean yes."

She clenched her fist."I knew it.You're into me."

I waved my hands away and said my goodbyes as she called me as I went away.But I paused and asked about the Good Boy and she awkwardly told me that was the nickname that her Nan gave to James then with another wave and another cry from her I was off.

The door slammed shut as all I thought was the unthinkable.I checked Hayley out.A shudder ran through my spine and I wondered how did it all go wrong ?And I never checked anyone out.

My shoes flew over the stairs and I still ignored the white elevator and went down.I grabbed my bike and streaked down to the apartment while I reached there within minutes.

I opened the door to meet my mom, tapped her soles and crossed her arms.

"Where the hell did you go?"

"To visit a friend and just to see what's up."

She threw her arms up."At this point, l,what do you want ,Nate.We've lost everything, and now you want to do stuff."She ran her fingers down her face."Can't you see how much trouble we are in.

I bowed my head in shame and intertwined my fingers and tapped my soles.

My eyes darted towards the window as I took in the sunlight streaked on the sky and the sun set down.