I rewrote Chapter 25 (as of 08/01/17) so I suggest if you read it when it was uploaded you re-read it. Thanks!!

My bae Dylan above omggggg.

The next week kind of passed by without my knowledge. Sure, I went to class, took notes and ate at dinner, but as Emily said I haven't been talking much. Diana was saying how each time I came back to the dorm I was more reserved in the common room. I just read and did my homework. 

In fact, I don't think even I really realised why I was doing so badly until the third Monday into term. Three weeks. Three weeks I was acting like a zombie! I never thought I'd be a... a Bella Swan pining after her Edward Cullen with depression but apparently, I was.

But that Monday, someone put something into perspective for me. 

***

I had been sitting at the back of my English class, writing notes from the board into my book. The teacher was lecturing us in a monotone, but all his information was also on the board. Emily whispered next to me, "It's for you."

In front of me, she placed a white, folded piece of paper. I glanced up from it and looked around the room. Everyone was throwing furtive looks to me but Rose's remained consistent. She mouthed, 'Important!'.

I unfolded the piece of paper and read it under the table. 

There's a delivery for you at the office. Dr Demonico dropped it off!

My eyes widened at the last statement. I looked back to Rose but her attention was elsewhere. I narrowed my eyes at the writing. What would Dr Demonico have dropped off for me?

As soon as class finished, I bolted out of there, sprinting down the halls. I jumped down the stairs rather than taking the elevator and found myself at the office in no time at all. I burst into the office, probably scaring the receptionist senseless. 

She took a deep breath and then smiled, "Natalie, you have a gift for you."

"So I was told," I nodded, "Who was it from?"

"A young woman delivered it but she said it was from a boy called... oh, what was his name, I wrote it down somewhere..." she began ruffling through papers.

"His, uh... his name wasn't Christian, was it?" I asked, "Christian Park?"

"Oh, yes, that's it!"

"So, can I have the gift, please?" I said, trying to dial down my enthusiasm. Despite the small gesture, I was happier than I had been ever in the last month.

"Of course," the receptionist said, handing a long black box and a card. 

I took it gratefully and headed back up to my room. The card was of heavy, expensive material. My name was written on it in a messy black scrawl. 

I opened the envelope and pulled out multiple pieces of paper stacked. I unfolded them and began reading.

***

Dove,

I know this is probably the weirdest way to communicate to you but I can't stand not communicating. I know we aren't supposed to have verbal or physical communication but I rang the doctors and they said it was fine for me to send you a letter. Cool, huh? All steampunk era and stuff.

The point of writing this letter was to say I miss you. And I like you, a lot. Sappy from a guy, but true. I'm counting down the days until the December holidays so I can rush out of school to see you. I hope you are too. 

For the last few weeks, I've struggled to come to terms with you not there. Shawn kept saying how I'd worked myself into 'a funk', whatever that means. Cory was a little more informative and said I looked depressed. If my depression has come back, I suppose your anxiety has come back, too. It won't be long before the other things kick in and I really hope they don't.

I'll try and sleep, stay positive and socialise as long as you keep eating, stop stressing and watch your sleeping patterns. Go ahead and open the gift now. I really hope you like it, Dove.

Sincerely,

Christian Xavier Park.

***

I stared at the words, breathing quickly. My chest tightened. There was so much I wanted to say in return but knew that unless I wrote a letter, I had no way of saying them. I could write a letter, but I'm really, really terrible at expressing my feelings on paper. 

I took the black box gently and held it in my hands. The box itself was the size of my outstretched hand, and a few centimeters taller. The black was a velvet material and engraved into it in gold was the Swarovski logo and small script: Natalie Ann. 

I slowly opened it and gasped. 

Squealing, I jumped around the room with it in my hands. The door slammed open and Rose ran in, "Where's the fire?!"

I grinned brightly at her, "No fire."

She raised a cautious eyebrow at me, "A-are you okay?"

I turned the box around so she could see the piece of jewellery.

Her expression matched mine, "That's what the delivery was for? It's gorgeous!"

I stared down at the necklace in awe. A heavy silver chain held a perfect charm on the end. The charm, made of two interlocked circles, was decorated with tiny little diamonds all the way around like a crust. I fainted internally at the sight of it. It was too... gorgeous, too expensive, too much. 

"I can't accept it!" I almost squeaked, "Can you imagine the cost of this thing? I got to give it back to him!"

"To who?"

"Christian, who else?" I began racking my brain for ideas. 

Rose raised an eyebrow, "Oh. Then don't return it. If he gave it to you, it's for a reason, girl!"

I frowned slightly, "But still..."

"Let me help you put it on," she chuckled slightly and held her hand out for the box.

***

Park,

I miss you too. And, of course, I like you back. How could I not?

I am wearing the necklace currently. It is gorgeous but way too expensive. You really didn't need to spend that money on me, but I absolutely love it. Thanks, Park.

We've got a deal. We both control ourselves with our problems. I'm just one letter away if you need me.

Thanks,

Natalie Ann Roberts.

***

I held the envelope in my hands. Did I really want to send it to him? It didn't seem as well-thought-out as his was. And I was horrible with writing feelings on paper... I crumpled the envelope and threw it into the bin. 

But now, how do I thank him?

***

"Francie," I warned, staring down at the younger girl.

She crossed her arms and jutted a hip in defiance, "Isn't this a free country?"

"Yes, when it comes to things that matter like race and religion," I explained, "Not if young Francie Davis is allowed to paint her nails at a prestige boarding school."

Francie pursed her lips, "I refrain that we should. It shows our individualism."

"You can show your personality in other ways," I rolled my eyes, "Like in your hair. Or your makeup. We have only a few rules regarding uniform at this school, Francie, and you just have to break one of them."

Francie scowled, "You're always getting me in trouble. What about Emily Truant? I'm sure she's done something bad."

Like written her initials on a bathroom stall door in permanent marker, I thought.

"If you're trying to dig for something to use against Emily, forget it," I said to Francie, "Here's your detention slip. Be there promptly this afternoon at four-thirty. If you show up with nail polish still on by then, you'll be returning tomorrow. If you don't show up at all, you'll have detention for the next week."

Francie let out a small shriek of defiance and stormed away from me, clutching the detention slip in her hand.

Bree wrapped an arm around my shoulder, "Well done, S.B.P. You're back in the game."

"What do you mean?"

Bree sighed, "You let Francie Davis get away with wearing a Nike jacket over her school uniform last week."

"I did?" I said, in confusion.

"Yeah. But now something's clicked and you're back," Bree grinned, "So welcome back, S.B.P."

***

He rested his hands on my waist, "You're so beautiful..."

"Another cheesy pick-up line? You don't need to... you've already thrown me into the depths of your heart," I whispered back.

My arms were wrapped around his shoulders, resting behind his head. His hands tickled my stomach slightly. Our noses were just touching and our bodies were pressed lithely against each other. We were moulded together as one. 

"I do need to because it's true," Park murmured, "You're probably the most insanely gorgeous girl to walk this planet."

Which I knew wasn't true. Whilst Emily was described as sexy, my mother was described as stunning and Whitney was described as a goddess, I was usually described as non-descript or plain. 

"Thank you," I said anyway.

To anyone looking at us, they would have at first thought we were dancing but that was not the case. We were standing completely still, nose to nose, in a barren ballroom. 

A fair distance from us, a small chime rang out, like one from a grandfather clock. Park tightened his hold on me, "It's midnight. You should be sleeping."

"And so should you," I whispered.

Park nodded infinitesimally but didn't move, "We should get going then."

"Yes, we should..."

He turned around for the door whilst I stood immobile, unable to go anywhere.

Park turned at the door with a mischievous grin, "Goodnight, Dove. I love you."

With that, he exited, leaving me dumbstruck. 

He loves me?

Too late for him to hear, I murmured back softly, "I love you, too..."

***

"Nat! Nat! Nattie! Natalie, come on wake up! Natalie, you're late!"

I groaned and rolled over. I. Need. Sleep. School will wait for me later...

A moment later, more footsteps came through my room. Then silence. I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly with a faint snore so they would leave me to-

"Agh!" I burst upright in the bed, shivering. The cold had hit me suddenly, like a sudden deploy in Antarctica. 

Whitney smiled apologetically at me, "You wouldn't wake up..."

She held the empty pitcher in her hands, whereas I was covered in freezing cold water. 

"Anyway," she hurried, "Dry and get changed! You're late!"

"It's Saturday!" I suddenly realised, "Why?!"

"We're going to hit the town," she whined, "Hurry up!"

***

Song: I Miss You - Cover by 5SOS, originally by Blink-182.

xx Sharky.