For the third time this week, Wren saw her mother getting down from a red BMW from her room window and she couldn't help but wonder who it was. She disagreed with the strange feeling that wanted her to believe her mother was seeing another man, just three weeks after her father's death.

Snap out of it, Wren.

When she saw her mother looked up to her room, she immediately closed the blinds and went back to bed.

She didn't want to think about it, like thinking about it would suddenly make it real. Then her phone started ringing she saw the caller ID flash on her screen.

Tristan...

She tried to think what exactly he wanted as she watched the call go down to voicemail. She didn't want to hear anything from him. School was almost over, which meant College for her, and so many others.

She lay down on her bed, reminiscing on when she first entered Caves High, the multiple experiences, Mona, Ian and Nathan. Although she wasn't as close to Nathan now, she was glad he was her friend. From tomorrow, they'd start their count down to their graduation from High School and she wanted it to be worthwhile.

Just like before, Wren had always dreamed of being a student of an Ivy League university, which totally made sense due to her perfect grades. She had applied for Harvard University for first choice together with her best friend from her former school, Casey. She had been speaking with her recently and it looked like she was getting it afterall.

University of Pennsylvania was another school she had aimed for, which made a lot of sense, given she lived in Pennsylvania all her life although in the small town of Rosewood, but she had gone a few times to their college fairs with Casey.

Wren had worked so hard in junior year, both academically and in extracurricular activities by getting head leads in swimming, she was deputy junior student President in her former school, having been a runner up with her friend. She had worked so hard to up the Havard standards, and she believed she would get it.

First list for admission into Harvard was going to be out this week. She had obsessed about it recently and she had mixed feelings these past few days and kept checking her email from time to time, or the mailbox just outside their porch.

Mona and Ian had applied the same school, it was no surprise, Bread and butter can't be separated, right? She didn't know the school Nathan put but she was going to ask him one of these days.

Ryder was going to study in Korea, his parents decision and as much as he dreaded it, she thought it was an opportunity for him to mingle with people like him. Sometimes she was embarrassed he didn't know basic instructions in Korean. She was going to miss him, but they would be in touch and he said he would come back a few times and they'd hang out. She knew he wasn't so sure about it and saw the way his lips twitched whenever he talked about leaving. She saw the sadness in his eyes but didn't want to dwell on it, as she would just end up crying, and crying didn't look good on her.

Instead, she tried to make everyday count for them, and they did interesting things, as well as go out when they have the time to. For some reason, she thought that that was the reason Ryder hadn't asked her out. Severally she thought when they went out, he was going to come up with something really cool and then ask her out, but it never came. She use to be worried about it, worry that he really didn't like her as she put in extra efforts to look appealing to him.

Now she was more comfortable, she understood he didn't want to make promises he wouldn't keep, so she let things slide. Asides that, everyone thinks they are dating, and neither of them try to state otherwise.

Tristan didn't give her too much trouble, and she saw less of him in school these days which made her wonder why he was calling. For all she cared, his parents we're planning on shipping him off to some really expensive College, where he wouldn't have to worry about anything, so, she didn't care.

***

"Wren! "

Wren had just left the office of the Guidance counselor when she heard her name. This had been her recent place of visit, and she had grown on Mrs Vaughn. She turned around, to find the blond running towards her. She looked really happy today.

"Hello to you too, Mona. " she rolled her eyes.

"Shut up and let me speak." She folded her arms.

"I was accepted into UC! Can you believe it?! I always thought I'd remain a dumb bitch, but fate gave me a chance at education!"

Wren's mouth fell open as she watched her friend rejoice. "What? I'm so happy for you, Mona!"

She ignored the crowded hallway and the few glances made to their way as she jumped with her friend. Then she frowned a little, and for the first time, Mona read her expression right.

"I know exactly how you feel. Its going to be good. You're bomb, Wren. And I believe so much in you. You'll get into Harvard and you'll rock it."

She gave a small smile, as if it could hold the way her heart beat increased. She had been thinking a lot about College and it was already wearing her out.

"You remember that hot T-shirt you wore the first day in Caves High?"

Wren could never forget it. 'YOU ROCK' some stupid T-shirt she stole from Travis' drawer, yet it made sense now.

"You rock, baby girl. And that's the Wren I know. " And Wren was about to say it WS the sweetest words Mona had ever said, but decided against it. Mona would like to prove her wrong, and it would ruin the moment.

"What about Ian? Have you broken the news to him? "

"No, I haven't. I'll tell him, anyways. God, I'm so excited! Daddy will buy that car he always talked to me about! This summer, I'm going to get a driver's license, I already know how to drive, anyways."

Wren shook her head, it has always been about the car, not even the university itself. "I need to announce this to Ian. He would be thrilled! "

And with that, she left Wren behind and ran the other way of the hallway. So typical of her friend.

Her stomach made a funny sound as she had the sudden urge to poop. She squeezed her Angus to hold in the fart that was threatening to leave. She immediately rushed to the girl's rest room, wondering what she might have eaten last night to cause this. After flushing the toilet, she walked out, shutting the door when she heard someone call from behind her.

"Hi Wren. "

She turned to see Busty Blondy smiling back at her. She had dyed her hair pink, with streaks of blond and the colour came out perfectly as she let them fall to the sides of her neck.

"Hi Rachel. " She wanted to add 'Great hair' but didn't.

She smiled back, hoping that was all. Rachel never really talked to her, she only gave her that look of acknowledgement or just nodded at her, nothing more.

For some reason, she thought Rachel still saw her as the enemy and would snatched Nathan away from her, so she stayed away. And she was glad she was no longer mean to her.

She touched her face, and withdrew her hand. Sometimes she forget she didn't need glasses anymore. She had gotten so accustomed to it that she felt empty without the glasses.

"I heard you entered Harvard as your first choice of University. " she talked almost silently.

"Yes? " It came out more like a question, raising her eyebrow, then she brought it down. She understood how news flew in this school, and her royal highness wouldn't leave out in this. Sometimes she thought she had people following her, monitoring her actions.

"I believe in You, Wren. And you need to believe in yourself too."

Okay, awkward.

She was sure someone would have told her about it. Because only her friends knew the school she applied for admission. And she wanted to tell her to get to the point, she knew Rachel didn't call her for a pep talk on Universities.

"Uhm, I want to say a few things to you." Rachel added, drawing lines on the floor with her leg. Wren almost chuckled, she had never seen Rachel this unguarded, gentle.

"Okay? "

She really needed to stop pronouncing words as questions these days.

"I'm sorry. And thank you. "

The two words Rachel would never say spilled out of her mouth all at the same time, so smoothly. Making Wren wonder if Nathan had put her up to this.

"And no, Nathan didn't put me up to this. "

Well, someone around here read minds.

Wren nodded, folding her arms, not buying whatever she was saying.

"I'm sorry about all the mean things I did to you. You're actually a good person and I've always been jealous I wouldn't be like you, loved like you, kind as you."

Wren noticed the way she spat the word, jealousy from her mouth.

"And I'm sorry about your father. I didn't get to tell you this since, because I've been too ashamed at myself for always being a bitch to you."

Wren thought she saw her eyes glassy with tears, but she immediately blinked it away sealing it with a tight smile.

"Its okay, Rachel." She wanted to say more but it seemed like everything hooked at the back of her neck, not wanting to come out.

"Are you going to be free tonight? I want us to hang out." She said finally.

She recalled how much Rachel had hurt her, she didn't still feel angry at her, yet she still wanted to keep her distance from her.

"Ah.. I'm not sure if I'm going to be available."

"Okay. " she answered. "Can I have your cellphone? " She opened her palm, towards her, her gold charm bracelets chimed.

"Huh? "

She took it from her hand, typed something in and gave it back to her. "That's my cellphone number. Whenever you feel like hanging out, let me know. "

She smiled at her. And with that, she walked away. Another sharp pain ran across her lower abdomen again when she rushed back into the toilet to ease herself.

Coming out of the bathroom, she walked into Nathan, who just dismissed talking with a guy from his Lacrosse team. Just like most times, he wasn't tucking in, and this tie was loosely knotted, making him look less of a student. He turned to her direction, the smile that was on his lips slowly fading to a nervous expression.

Speak of awkward moments.

"Did you ask your girlfriend to apologize to me? " She went straight to ask him the one thing that was on her mind.

And he looked like he was caught doing something illegal his eyes wide in shock.

"What? What girlfriend?"

"Don't play dumb. We know who I'm talking about. Rachel." She fought the urge to roll her eyes. And he was wearing a new cologne now, it wasn't that fresh mint smell from him, it was now something different. Maybe what Rachel recommended for him.

"Oh, yeah. You said? Talk to her? No, I didn't. Why did she do that? " He looked like he wanted to prolong the conversation, when Wren on the other hand wanted to dismiss it and walk away.

"She just did. I guess a bad bitch could be repentant, after all. " She huffed and started walking off.

"Wait, wait, wait." He held her wrist, stopping her.

She turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He lifted his hands in confusion, like he was seeking for help, then he tucked it into his pockets.

"How are you? "

Was all he could say. Things had gone from normal to awkward between the two. He knew it was all his fault, he wanted things to be normal between them, but there is just tension between them because of Rachel.

"I'm fine."

"I mean, how are you, really? " He exhaled, holding a grim expression.

"Look, Nathan. I really don't have time for this. I have classes to attend, and this conversation is going to end now. "

He felt a sting across his chest. He didn't know when she became this way. She couldn't even stand him now. He shrugged, his hand still deep in his pockets.

"I'd be performing at a show today, Its been awhile, and I want you to be there. " He handed her a ticket. He was scared she might decline straight up then he added, "You don't have to answer now. I really want you to see me perform tonight. And I also hope things got back to normal between us."

She shrugged, took the ticket in his hand and gave him a small smile, walking off. She was going to tell Mona about this too, so they'd go together. She just had to talk with Mona, and everything will be okay. And what Nathan said about things returning to normal, she doubted if that was going to be possible. If there was anything Caves High taught her, it was the temporality of people. Once a person is in your life, you don't know if they'll be there tomorrow, they come in, they fill so much space in your life, you never think they would leave someday. No matter what you do to prevent it, life happens and you lose them. And when you lose touch with these people, nothing can be done to undo it. This happened with Nathan.

****

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