"Woah..." Chrissa quietly cooed as she looked around the aquarium with wide eyes. 

I smile, "I knew you'd like it..." I look over at the open mouthed Chrissa as she watched a stringray gracefully glide through the water. 

I watched too, in awe of it's ability to create perfect ripples in the water. I giggle as Chrissa looked over ar me and cleared her throat to speak, 

"How'd you find this place?" She began," I mean, you just got in the area-" Chrissa's voice was a lot deeper than mine but it was still feminine. I processed her question and the memories of how I found this place flashed through my mind.

"I passed it as I was driving here.." I shrug. 

Chrissa shrugs too, "I'm glad you found it-" She begins with a smile, looking back up at the same stringray, who seemed to be swimming laps, "It's amazing.." 

I smile and nod, following a small clown fish with my eyes, "It's really beautiful.. isn't it..." 

I see Chrissa look over at me from the corner of my eye and I turn to look back as well. She smiles warmly, her eyes meeting mine, "It really is..." 

My smiles falls into a neautral expression as Chrissa does the same and looks back at the stingray, assumingly. 

•••

"That was fun!" I say, biting into a french fry that came in a box from McDonald's. 

Chrissa nods with a small smile, "I agree..." 

We sit comfortably on my bed, Chrissa's leg foled under her and mine outstretched off the bed. I cock my head to the side, picking up another french fry, "Do you have any other friends bseides Tamara, Doja, and I?" I ask, popping the fry into my mouth. 

I finish it as she says, "Yeah, I do... but he lives in Sweden now.." Chrissa shrugs as I wipe my hands off on my pants, "Do you talk to him anymore?" I ask, my brows furrowed. 

"No... he said he wanted to start a new life with new people and friends. He told me that he would come back for me when he was ready..." Chrissa pushed her lips to the side and a little dimpled caved in on her cheek. I smile at the sight and quickly shifted my expression to a neautral one. 

"I'm sorry... I'm sure he'll be back soon." I smile, hoping I was right. Even though I just met the girl, seeing her sad was painful. I feel like we have some sort of connection, a connection that keeps me wanting to know more about her. 

"It's been years... I shouldn't even consider him a friend anymore... we aren't." She sighs and looks down. I nod in empathy, though I've never felt what she has... I feel so bad about it... and something about it makes me feel like I have experienced it too, it makes me.. upset.. 

The door swings open, Chrissa and I's eyes quickly look to see what it is. Tamara and Doja walk through the door, laughing loud and obnoxiously. Doja wobbles around the room to her bed and  Tamara follows....

They're drunk.. 

I sigh and look back over to Chrissa, she does the same. I flash a smile before patting her shoulder and sliding off the bed, leaving my box of fries.

"I'll be back around at night, see ya.." Chrissa waves and I turn and wave to Doja and Tamara. 

"Byeeeeee-" Tamara slurs with a laugh and a snort. I roll my eyes and walk over to the still open door. Passing through it, I shut it behind me and continue down the hallway with a sigh.

I look behind me for a moment and when I look forward again, someone is right in front of me, walking towards me. They're not looking and I abrutly stop, making their head turn to me. 

The handsome man's face is full of concern as he opens his mouth to talk. 

Before he does, I get a quick look at him. 

He's pale with slightly curled dark blue hair on his head, his eyeyes match his hair and his lips are a soft pink with a silver ring stuck in the bottom lip.. He's wearing a simple pair of jeans, white slip on Van's, and a band shirt that hugs his perfectly carved body. 

My eyes dart to his arms, the muscles are easily visible... they're not huge, but enough to make my cheeks flush. 

He's talking as I look into his eyes, but I ddn't seem to hear him until he says, "Sorry about that, really..." 

I furrow my brows before I realize what he's talking about and smile, "No, it's fine." 

The boy nods and looks me up and down, "Uh.." he looks back into my eyes, "I'm Kade," He smiles nervously. 

I nod, "Nice to meet you, Kade. I'm Liana." Kade licks his lip ring and curls his smile further, causing two dimples to show themselves. 

My face heats up before my phone buzzes, "Oh , hold on.." I grab my phone from my pocket and open it, a text from Cole appears on my screen and I sigh as I read it. 

'Hey, Lia' 

I decide not to reply and turn the phone off, sliding it back into my pocket. I look back up at Kade with a smile, "What's your major?" 

Kade's face turns pink as he swallows hard, it's all very noticeable, "Oh, uh.. I'm an English major. How about yourself?" 

"Me? Oh, I'm a history major." I nod with a proud smile, sliding my hands into my pockets. 

"Nice, my sister's an-" 

"Liana?!" A voice loudly calls my name, Kade and I both turn the direction of the voice. 

Cole comes stomping down the hallway, anger clear in his face as he approaches me. Except, he doesn't look at me, he stares dead into the eyes of Kade. 

Oh no... 

"Who are you!" He demands, clearly not asking. Kade's eyes widen and his smile drops, "I'm.. Kade..?" He says, quietly but loud enough for Cole and I to both hear him. 

Cole just gets angrier, and it's clear as he inches closer to Kade, "What the hell were you two doing?" He asks, loud, again. Cole looks at me and then back at Kade with blazing eyes. 

"Nothing.... We were just talking about the damn college, chill." I press against his shoulder and he steps back. I let out a sigh of relief. 

Kade looks over at me and furrows his brows then looks back at Cole, "How do you even know her, Cole?" 

I freeze..

They know eachother? How... how are they- 

Are they friends? 

"She's... she's-" He looks back at me, less angry than before , than back at Kade, "It's known of your fucking business. We're leaving." 

I'm shocked, at what both of they said... but, before I can say anything, Cole yanks me away by the arm. I walk beside him, "What was that?" I ask, gritting my teeth. 

Cole keeps his eyes on the door out, "You shouldn't be talk-" 

"Are you ashamed of us?" I squeak out. Cole stops dead in his tracks and looks over at me, "What..?" 

"I asked if you were ashamed of us..." I repeat, my lips stay parted as the words leave my mouth. He didn't tell Kade we were dating and he didn't want to... 

"Fuck.." he groans, running a hand though his hair and shutting his eyes, "Liana-" he opens them, "No, I'm not ashamed of our relationship.. he just didn't need to fucking know." He assures me. 

"Bu-" 

Before I speak, Cole shushes me and grips onto my hand, lacing his fingers in with mine. 

I don't smile, I just continue walking to the door...