Three Years Ago

"Ow!" I squeaked, tripping over a chair. I silently cursed the darkness and moved steadily forward, navigating by placing my hands on the tables. Once I reached the back of the classroom, I turned abruptly and walked to the desk at the back. I felt around and my hand landed on the stack of workbooks beneath my desk. 

I sighed. Go me for leaving my homework behind. I tucked it under an arm and thanked my eyes for adjusting. I looked around the room that was now dimly seen by myself. A faint exhale escaped my lips as my eyes landed on a figure in the front row. 

The person was definitely a boy. Probably around my age, too. How long had he been sitting there? Had he heard me tripping over stuff?

"It's rude to stare."

I was struck immediately by the huskiness of his voice. Deep, rumbling, yet, impossibly smooth. 

I whispered, "Sorry. I just didn't expect anyone else to be in here."

"Me neither," he responded, "Are you okay?"

"What?" I said, blanking out.

"You must have fallen over like three times since entering the classroom."

"Oh," I blushed, "I'm fine... thank you."

There was silence for a moment before the boy asked, "So what are you doing in the back of the classroom?"

"Getting homework," I replied, "What are you doing at the front of the classroom?"

"Couldn't sleep," he said in a slightly snappy tone.

"What's your name?" I said, walking down towards him.

"Name's are pointless. We're all gonna die someday and not long after that no one will remember our names, nevertheless what we've accomplished."

"Way to put a depressing tone on it," I scoffed, "I think that's part of the charm of dying."

"You always this optimistic..." he trailed off.

"See, names do come in handy," I smirked, "My name's Natalie. Everyone calls me Nat or Nattie."

"Well, what if I don't want to call you either?" he growled beneath his breath. 

"Then find me a new nickname, that's fine."

"Fine, Dove."

"Dove?"

"You seem... pure. And fragile."

"I am not pure..." I pressed my lips together, "It is not fair that you know my name and I don't know yours."

"Pure," he certified, "Call me... Park."

"You seem uncertain about that, Park."

"It's my last name."

"And your first name?"

"Doesn't matter if you're gonna call me by my first name, now, does it?" he smirked suddenly, lightening up his mood.

I grinned, "Well, nice to meet you, Mr Park."

"And you, Miss Dove."

I smiled, tightening my hold on the books and turning away from him. At the door, I glanced back to him. The moonlight was beginning to cut into the windows and I smiled gently at his dark brown hair and gorgeous, unfocused eyes. I turned around again to head for the elevator.

***

Present Day

"Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night! Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow... That I shall say good night 'til it be 'morrow."

As I stepped back from the hand-made balcony window, I sighed gently. Park continued with his lines but my head was running. This- this thirteen-year-old girl had just made plans to be married. Not only is that illegal this day and age but she's probably making plans to be married to someone way older than thirteen. 

My life had fallen apart in the last four weeks. That was all ongoing from the last three years. Yet, this girl was purposely screwing her life over by making such rash decisions. Seriously, Juliet needs to sort out her priorities. She'd choose a guy she met four days ago over her family and her life! She killed herself for that man. Weak, right? 

Okay, I understand she thought she loved him so much as to die when he died because she couldn't handle the burden, but that's just showing how messed up her choices were. Wouldn't it be more difficult to live for the person you loved? Y'know, move yourself forward - forever remembering your loved one? 

Obviously, Juliet Capulet didn't understand that.

I didn't even have a loved one. The guy I remotely like was forced on me by a science experiment. Not even to know if he genuinely likes me, either. 

"...his help to crave, and my dear hap to tell," Christian finished before also moving offstage. Our eyes connected backstage and my heartbeat sped up.

I needed to sort all this out with Christian before we leave on Sunday. 

Christian let out a strong cough and I doubled over from the sudden lack of air. Emily rubbed my back soothingly as I stood silently back up. Christian smiled apologetically at me, "Sorry, Nat."

"No problem," I breathed out. 

Christian put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed, "We'll sort this out, okay?"

He let go and I felt an immediate numbness. I gulped. My shoulders were tingling slightly. It was always a slight reaction to a guy's touch that sent me jumping with nerves, but Christian's made me actually feel the tingles. 

Then my mind clued on to what he actually said. Did he mean the same thing I did? Or something completely different...

I shook myself out of it. There was a lot more to be worrying about right now than whether or not Christian liked me back. 

Our drama teacher called sharply, "Where are our actors?! This is our last rehearsal and it isn't being very thorough!"

***

"You coming to dinner?" Em asked as she changed from her school uniform to her casual clothes. 

I lied down in my bed, shaking my head, "Nah. Still feel sick."

I brought the covers to my chin and braced myself as I heaved from Christian's coughing across the hall. Em narrowed her eyes at me, "You know this is our second-last dinner here, right? And tomorrow it's part of presentation night. You don't really want to miss out, do you?"

I shrugged, "I wish not, but I seriously don't feel up to it, Emily."

She nodded slowly, "But you love food."

"Bring me some dessert."

"Fine, I'll see you soon," she sighed. 

I nodded minutely and she walked out, matching my brother as I caught a glimpse. The door shut and I closed my own eyes, falling into a deep slumber.

***

I stood on a seat in the bar as the guy sang from the other side of the room, "But now you're lookin' pretty in a hotel bar and I-I-I-I... can't stop."

The male singer from The Chainsmokers continued serenading me as I wore a goofy smile. 

-*0*--*0*-

"Logaaaaan," I called as Blondie walked in our apartment room.

He smirked, "Hey Ace."

The Gilmore Girls seen played out with me proceeding as Miss Rory Gilmore.

-*0*--*0*-

"Dove? What are you doing up?" the too-familiar voice asked. 

"Thinking," I whispered back to Christian.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and tucked his chin on top of my head, "Who's that?"

"That's my dad," I said, pointing to the figure on the right, "And that's my mum."

"They look young."

"This was taken just before they got married twenty years ago," I explained quietly, "Before dad died and mum... sort of vanished."

"Vanished?" he said, skipping over the fact of my dead father.

"She's never really around anymore. But she's getting married in two weeks," I said slowly.

"Wow..." he murmured, "Are you gonna be okay?"

I shrugged, "Since when am I okay?"

He spun me around so I was facing him and our eyes connected. He murmured, "So after these holidays... we'll never see each other again, will we?"

"Christian," I murmured, "I'm going to be too busy organising this wedding to see you. After that, apart from days we have on town, I'm not going to see you until the end-of-year formal."

"What about the Spring holidays?" he narrowed his eyes.

"I always go with Emily to the Gold Coast for the entire holidays."

"Oh," he said simply, "I'm going to miss you, Dove."

"I'll miss you too, Park..."

-*0*--*0*-

"Nattie," Em drawled, "Check out those fine bodies..."

I lifted my head slightly to look through my sunglasses at the surf boys currently stepping into their wetsuits. I stared in brief admiration at a boy with black hair before my attention was caught back by Emily. 

She ran a hand through her brown hair, "It's so hot!"

"It always is," I joked, "But be like that if you must."

"Whatever," she sighed dramatically, "When's your brother getting back from the soda shop?"

"No idea, Em," I groaned, lying back down, "Please stop perving on Shawn."

"Fine," she snapped, lying back down on her matching chair.

***

The next afternoon, I pulled on my school uniform with even the blazer and tie - required for formal events. I'd spent all morning packing items away into bags so I'd be ready to leave tomorrow morning. 

"Two minutes!" Rose shouted down the hall. She had been ready ages ago. I sometimes feel like she does a better job at being S.B.P. than I do. 

I rushed out of my dorm room to join her in the elevator, my brother right behind me. I leant against a wall and pushed my hair out of my face, "Ready, S.B.C.?"

The student body councils of DAG and DAB nodded together, bar Christian and myself, and I smiled, "Perfect."

Shawn looked me up and down, "You girls wear ties?"

Rose nodded, "For formal occasions, only though," she simplified.

The DAB formal uniform was their normal one - with the tie included - and a blazer. My brother's hair, was for once, neatly gelled back across his head.

The elevator doors opened and the three of us stepped out, aiming for the Facility's auditorium. It had been already set up for the drama club, but part of the stage currently held microphones and a podium. 

Principal Moseby waved his hands furiously, "Come on!"

Not much of the student body had gathered yet so we walked leisurely through the aisles to the podium where the principals, doctors and Christian were standing in a clump. I walked slowly to stand next to Christian.

"Nice of you to join us," Principal Wednesday frowned in my direction, "You're late again, Natalie. It's becoming way too common."

"Sorry, Principal Wednesday." Of course, I was late again. 

She continued, "Here's how presentation evening will work: our S.B.P.s will address everyone quite casually. It will go on to the school pledges and then an address from Principal Moseby and myself. From there we will have the drama production, followed by dinner and dessert in the dining hall as an intermission. We will then proceed back to the auditorium and the vice-S.B.P.s will address everyone. The music class will then have a production. Finally, it ends by the doctors revealing information about what was tested at The Facility."

My glance shifted on cue to Dr Demonico. However, she looked quite at ease, hanging onto Principal Wednesday's words.

My principal finished, "Then you return to your dormitories and that will be all."

Christian and I swapped a glance of worry. What were the doctors going to say? Stuff about Alto Emus or the normal Year Eleven things?

Principal Wednesday glared at Christian and I, "Something wrong?" I shook my head quickly, "Good. Then get ready to welcome everyone."

***

Song: How Far I'll Go - Alessia Cara (from Original Motion Picture, Moana)

I created a spotify playlist of over 1400 songs omggggg. Here's the link: https://play.spotify.com/user/jbirving/playlist/2nJnh4IYljdmpr5fPqqiZn?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open The playlist of this entire book will be published at the end btw! 

xx Sharky.