N I N E
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We luckily stayed at a hotel in Norway, since tents would leave us freezing. The room was big with multiple bunks. On the left was a door to the bathroom, which looked perfectly clean, yet casual. Two sinks, one shower, and even a bath.

On the other side was a couch, in front of it a small TV, surrounded by the bunk beds that stood against the brown walls.

It was almost as big as the apartment I used to have. Damn.

Frypan was about to claim the highest bed, but got stopped by Minho, who climbed onto it in one smooth move. He hissed slightly. "Too slow."

I found my place in the lowest bed, Thomas above me. The boy seemed to like me, and I liked him too. In a platonic way. I enjoyed hanging out with him a lot, even though I hadn't talked much yet.

After the long trip on the ferry, most people wanted to go to sleep, since it was quite late. We had eaten a bite at a snackbar after we stepped onto the normal surface, then left to the hotel.

"Is anyone gonna use the bathroom?" I spoke a little louder. "Otherwise I'm going to shower real quick."

"It's all yours."

A smile before I closed the door behind me. The shower was in a small, glass cabine. Those small soaps people, and I, always stole from the hotel stood next to the sink. I decided to use those, and not my valuable shampoo.

I got rid off my clothes, mentally begging myself not to look in the mirror, but I ended up doing it anyways.

A white scar ran from my side to hip, the skin around it tightening. It had been a knife, the night it had gotten out of hand.

More scars from times I got slammed against the wall so hard it left abrasions that never really healed. Why? Because after I left him I could barely afford enough food to make me healthy, so my body wouldn't heal itself as easily.

Then I got into the shower. My eyes closed at the nice, hot feeling of the water rinsing my skin and washing all the worries of for a second. I breathed deeply, washed my body and hair, then got dressed fast again.

I was used to showering quickly and didn't want to make the others wait for me, or be bothered by the running water. I changed into my blue pajama shorts and shirt before revealing myself to everyone again.

Some calm breaths let me know a few friends were asleep already. I quietly climbed into my bed, hoping that I wouldn't get another flashback, and fell asleep.

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I woke up by a boom.

I panicked at first. Complete darkness surrounded me and no sounds followed after the first noise. Until there was a groan.

My eyes got used to the dark fast. Thomas had somehow managed to fall off his bed, onto the ground with his blanket and pillow.

And he was still asleep.

My mouth was as dry as the Sahara while I watched him for a few seconds. On my way to the bathroom to drink, I checked the time. Five a.m.

I only noticed someone else was in the bathroom when I opened the door. Minho stood in front of the mirror, a pot of gel next to him as he looked in the mirror. I froze in my place, about to leave again.

"You can come in." He said, his voice deep from the morning.

"Alright." I filled a cup with water, taking careful and soundless sips. In the corner of my eye, I noticed Minho had a whole bag full with pots of hair gel.

Well... he was prepared.

"Why are you up this early? Does it take that much time to do your hair?" I wondered, keeping my tone lone in case anyone else would hear.

"Nah. I just went on a run." He pointed at sport clothes he hung on the wall. "And I'm back a bit early. Why are you up?"

"You run?" I asked, surprised and not answering his question.

"Almost every day. Both jogging and actual running." He fixed the last strands of his hair. "Normally I'm not doing my hair this early, don't worry."

I let out a laugh. "Good things take time, though."

"That's why I'll be late." He grinned, finishing my sentence just like I wanted him to.

I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, smiling even brighter. It was a nice of the day already. Minho was nice.

"Hey, Quinn?"

My heart skipped a beat as I stopped making my way back to the door. "Yeah?"

Minho turned face-to-face with me. He was about five inches taller. The grin stayed. "Can you get ready? Like... meet me in the hallway in less than half an hour?"

I gaped at him, feeling tons of questions and emotions overcome me. "Yeah, I- sure."

A tiny smile. "Great. And no, it's not a date."

"Then what is it?" I wondered.

"You'll see."

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As Minho told me to, I met him in the hallway again. At five thirty in the morning... awesome.

He wore a black blouse with also black pants by now, as if he straight walked out of either a movie or a business. His hair was styled, face and smell fresh.

I wore my favorite item of clothing I owned. A black turtle-neck in combination with very dark green jeans. The loosest one I had, so close to wide pants, which I loved.

"Where are we going?" I asked again. Curiosity was making me impatient and close to bursting out, but Minho's answered were short and not the most convincing.

He never answered the question well enough. I rushed to follow him out of the hotel, to the parking garage. He was walking quite fast while clicking on the button of a car key.

A black car made a sound from the corner of the garage. A black freaking Porsche.

I opened my eyes wide, staring at the shiny thing for a while. It looked very expensive. Minho casually opened the door and sat down, motioning for me to go into the passenger seat.

The car was low to the ground. My chair lay back enough for me stretch almost my whole body. The whole inside was black and fancy too. It smelled like clean soap, which made me careful with anything I touched, afraid I would break it or whatever.

"Are you going to kidnap me?" I blurted out.

A tiny smile. "Nah. It would take too much time to brainwash the others with the fact you just randomly disappeared."

I smiled, too. "What about this car?"

He was driving with just one hand, which looked pretty professional. Maybe he was professional. With Minho, I had no idea what to think. He seemed like a guy that could do anything without the others knowing it.

"What about it?"

"Is it yours?"

"No. From a friend. Ya know, business."

Maybe that business job Minho had was a lot more important and difficult than I thought.

He had friends in Norway? One that owned a Porsche? He drove a Porsche like he drove it everyday? What kind of car did he have in the United States?

"How many is really in that suitcase?"

I stared at my lap. "Not much. It's barely half full."

He was silent for a few seconds, expression unreadable. At least he didn't seem judging. "How were you planning to go through the weeks?"

"Wash the clothes. Buy new ones." My face was as red as a tomato from shame already.

"You don't have to be ashamed." He somehow read my mind. "Any problems with sharing how much money you have left?"

"Thirty dollars." I mumbled. With no house.

Outside the window I could see busier streets. Very colorful, cute buildings. "Where are we?"

"Welcome to Stavanger, Princess." He drove a little harder.

My stomach made a jump. Just a nickname, jeez. But my face heated up even more, and I couldn't deny that I hoped that would get an usual nickname.

Better than 'piece of shit', right?

"What are we gonna do here?" A smile was growing on my face by seeing the cheerful-looking shops in the streets. And maybe because of the nickname.

He grabbed something out of his pocket and handed it to me. "Take this."

It was his bankcard.

His. Freaking. Bankcard.

I made a movement with my eyebrows as I inspected the black thing. "What?"

I was confused. Stunned. Curious. Everything was so fancy. Why would he give me his bankcard that had tons of money in it? Drive to a random city with me at five thirty?

Well, by the time we had arrived it was seven a.m, but still.

"We're gonna get you some more crap to live on. You choose, I pay. Nice deal? Say yes."

I was speechless.

In pure shock someone would just do this for me. But clothes? And I got to choose them myself? it was a living dream! "Are you sure? I—."

"Say yes."

I tightened my jaw, not wanting to give up this easily, but his voice was too much to... handle. "Fine."

He drove even faster. "Awesome. So, what stores do you like?"

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A/n: Ahhh!!

Sorry some chapters are short! I know I could've added the whole shopping part to this chapter too, but I found it more fitting for the next chapter. So expect some to be longer than others!

Bye!! x Vera