I CURSED AS the shampoo stung my eyes. I was blind enough already and this was not helping.

Rubbing my eyes in the shower I blinked a little trying to regain my vision. It hurt like a bitch.

I finished cleaning up before exiting the stall and went over to the sink where my towel was. The red material wrapped around my frame perfectly as I picked up my Juul and stared into the mirror taking a long drag.

Holding it in my eyes scanned the girl I now was. Her brown hair was a tangled wet mess that framed her pale skin. Her lips were chapped and turned down while her eyes that stared back were lifeless and utterly cold. Sometimes staring at myself made me cry. Who had I become?

And the hatred didn't only start with me it started with so many people. People who'd abandoned me, who neglected me, who didn't bother to check up on me, and who never loved me. It was their mistakes that burdened me. Their faults that signed my life. I was wiped out from happiness and now when I was at the very bottom of the ragged pit my arms were too tired to climb back up. Too tired to fall back down.

I blew the smoke out.

Picking up my moisturizer I slathered some onto my face trying to work the dull skin away. I basked in the rose scent moving onto my neck and arms. I applied some to my legs as well before moving on to combing my hair.

Tears spring at my eyes by the hard pulls. It takes a great ordeal of time before I can fully work it through and make it flow like that of Emery. People born with straight hair have a natural blessing.

There was a knock on the door alerting me. I cleaned up the place before answering it and seeing Emery waiting impatiently with a bathrobe and makeup bag. She flicked her eyes at me emotionless. "There's someone at the door for you." She said dryly bumping her shoulder to me and shutting the bathroom door.

Sighing I took another drag from my Juul and opened the door to see if it was one of the girls. It wasn't.

I blew out a frustrated puff of smoke to which he smirked and waved it away walking in without my consent. His eyes leisurely took me in with surprise and something else.

I crossed my arms arching the towel knot higher to cover myself. "Why are you here Mercer?"

He raised his eyes at the dejected tone but didn't push. "I'm just here to pick up my girlfriend." He shrugged.

I took a look at his outfit and was impressed, to be frank. He wore a white button-up that was hidden under a black sweatshirt. His jeans were ripped but they looked good on him tucked into his white Nikes. But my absolute favorite part of the outfit was his rings. I'd never let him know that though.

"It's a Saturday Mercer. I don't have classes and nor do you." I sigh checking my phone from the kitchen counter. In honesty, I was just checking if my mother had texted me.

I took another smoke and held it in before blowing it out in front of me swiftly. The smoke puffed and floated up to where it turned hazy under the sheen of the light before disappearing in the ducts.

I nearly gasp when I feel him press up behind me. With my eyes wide I turned around only hearing him inhale a sharp breath.

"Fuck." He whispers backing off.

I blinked clenching my jaw. "Look I agreed to be your fake girlfriend but that play only happens when we have an audience. And right now we have none." I explained to him sternly.

Aaron nodded bored as ever. "Just practicing."

I didn't know what bullshit he was sprouting but I left for my bedroom to change. I locked the door twice just to be sure before dropping the towel and sliding on some black Lacy lingerie set and getting in black jeans and a white hoodie.

The air had turned colder outside so I knew that autumn was around the corner. My body takes time to adjust to new weathers and most of the time I end up with cold because of it. I was always the person sneezing in summer.

Going out I see Aaron holding my Juul and blowing out a hoop before letting out a ball of smoke that went through it. I rolled my eyes but didn't hide the small smile that lingered on my lips.

"At least you know tricks," I say grabbing a glass of water.

"Many indeed." He suggestively put out leaning on the counter and taking another drag.

"Can you do a ghost?" I asked curiously.

He didn't answer instead did it. He took a drag holding it in before blowing it out in a perfect bubble of cloud and then inhaling it back in. Aaron glanced at me and let out three trains of smoke.

"Show off." I huffed snatching it back from him and pocketing the Juul.

"It's not showing off it's practically natural to me." He chided flicking my head.

I swatted his touch away turning around and narrowing my eyes. "Liam's going to be here today."

"So?" He gritted hating the thought of Liam.

I placed my hands on my hips with a 'are you shitting me right now' look. "So that means we have to be in our best act. He's already texted me three times asking to see me today." I told him. Liam had suddenly turned sweet and as much as I would have loved to say yes I knew we'd end on bad terms. Our past proved it.

When we broke up it was bad. Like really bad. We'd both said a lot of hurtful things and slammed around accusing the other of flings and unfaithfulness. I remember crying that day on the floor where he'd left and slammed the door. Nothing but shattered glass around me and burnt up roses which the latter was done by me.

But now seeing him here in person... it was different. These past two years are still a stain on both of us.

"Why did he text you? How did he even get your number?" Aaron asked straightening up.

"We dated Mercer. He probably had my number saved in his contacts." I say to him. His black hair was messy. I wondered if he ever brushed it.

"Yes but usually exes who end on bad terms delete the other's number." Aaron countered pursing his lips. He gave me a calculated look before nodding to my phone. "I think you should delete it."

I think I should delete Aaron.

"No," I stated simply clutching my phone in case he took it.

Aaron licked his lips and raised his eyebrows. "Something doesn't sit right with Liam..." he murmured.

"Well deal with it." I jump down the counter. I was about to open my mouth when Emery walked in freezing as her eyes took in Aaron and me.

Hurt was evident on her face. It made my heart cave as her eyes cast a sheen yet she covered it up with a smile. "I was just here to check on the cereal storage." She says shuffling in between us and peeking through the cabinets. Her blonde hair was so sleek and silky it made me pout. "Chris is coming over so so thought I'd see if his morning breakfast could be put here. But we have it so there's no need for me to buy another." She said staring directly at Aaron and keeping her words clipped at the last part.

I glance at Aaron who had an unfazed expression and simply runs the pad of his thumb on one of his rings.

Emery swallows and looks at me but I look away. I didn't know what to do.

Instead, Aaron came to me and placed a kiss on the top of my head. "I got to go now sweetheart but I'll pick you up tonight at 7, yeah?"

Fucking prick. He was trying to edge Emery on and make me look bad. By the teasing tone, he used that was no doubt a punch to her. A taunting set in motion. He was probably going to use this facade to destroy my reputation. I wouldn't hold back though from returning the favor.

I nodded unconsciously before hearing two doors shut at the same time.

Well, that was super smooth and not awkward.