"It's just two days, it'll pass." Faith tried to cheer me up when I sat and sulked most of the evening.

Every minute that passed since Mitchell arrived felt like a year, he was the most self-centred, egoistical and arrogant person I ever came across. He wanted everything to be about him, he spoke the loudest and drew all attention to himself and seeing that made my skin crawl. The more time I was around him the more I wondered what I saw in him the first time I met him which now felt like decades ago.

The group decided to have a barbeque for dinner and Mitchell and Owen took the responsibility of that. Since I was the only vegetarian present I decided to make my own dinner which was my very own home made vegan burgers made from soy beans and chickpeas, I told the guys that I'll grill my own food mainly because I just didn't trust Mitchell with any of my edibles, I figured he'd rub sand on it or worse put boogers in it.

It was a little after ten pm, we all finish eat and Faith and Owen cleared up while I sat down by the fire and tried to beat a hard level on a game on my phone.

"Are you allergic to helping?" Mitchell asked.

Without looking at him I answered. "I'm allergic to any sort of chores or hard manual work."

Mitchell snickered under his breath and mumbled something incoherent.

I paused my game and looked up at him. "Why? Do you have some kind of idea that women are meant to clean up after everyone?"

"No but I do believe that everyone should do their bit in cleaning up when they contributed to the mess." He answered.

"I don't see you doing your bit so quit bitching about me." I retorted.

"I helped make dinner." He pointed out.

"Yeah, so did I." I answered. "And I tossed my plate in the trash, so I did my bit."

Mitchell was about to retort but Olivia who was sitting next to him gave him a look and tried to break the tension.

"So, Mila," she began. "You don't eat meat at all?"

"Nope." I replied.

"You've never eaten it?" she asked.

"I mean as a kid I did but I remember the day I found out that chicken is actually a chicken, I cried for about a week and ever since then I became vegetarian." I answered.

"That is so cute." Olivia grinned.

Mitchell was scowling like a sour grape next to her.

"Who doesn't know that chicken is actually chicken?" he remarked.

"I was three smartass." I told him.

"You know what I don't get," Owen said as he took a seat after he was done cleaning up. "You're such an ardent animal lover, yet you hate the outdoors because you're afraid of them."

"Ardent?" I raised a brow.

"Afraid?" Mitchell repeated at the same time.

"Passionate." Owen said as he playfully rolled his eyes. "Better word use?"

"Wait, Mila is afraid of the outdoors because she's scared of animals?" Mitchell was still not over what Owen said.

"I'm not afraid of them." I corrected him. "I just prefer if they stay away from me, I love them and respect them, they should just stay away."

"So, you're scared of puppies?" Mitchell mocked.

"No, I love puppies. And did you not just hear what I said? I am not afraid of them; I just don't like them touching me and the same goes for humans." I said.

"So you've never held or cuddled a puppy or a kitten before?" Olivia asked.

I was growing annoyed at their dumb questions. "I don't cuddle anything, but I have held puppies and kittens before but when my puppy died when I was eight, I never had the heart to get another one."

Olivia cooed. "Aw, that's the saddest thing ever. I'm so sorry. How did he die?"

"Yeah Mila, how did he die? Did you put him in the microwave by mistake?" Mitchell scorned.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You know I never took you for cannabinol."

"Excuse me?" Mitchell the snowflake was offended.

"Yeah I find it inexcusable that a smelly cock like you eats chicken or any kind of poultry."

Owen burst out laughing while Faith and Olivia turned red trying to suppress their laughter.

"Your dad called, he wants his lame jokes back," Mitchell bitterly retorted.

The mention of my dad's name disheartened me but I brushed it off and put on a face that didn't let my true feelings show.

"You kinda deserve that after the sick thing you said about her puppy," Olivia scolded. "The puppy did nothing to you."

Olivia seemed like a really nice, compassionate and smart person, looking at her sit next to Mitchell made me wonder just what she saw in the obnoxious ass she was dating.

"She's the one who killed her puppy and I'm the ass?" Mitchell responded.

"I didn't kill my puppy dumbass!" I snapped irritably at him. "He was a gift and unlike some spoilt kids I appreciated him more than anything, but I didn't live in some mansion on a fancy estate, I lived in an apartment, so he got really sick and died. It was one of the most traumatising moments of my childhood."

Everyone was quiet for a long moment after my sad story and I even felt bad talking about it but Mitchell just had to push my buttons.

"I'm so sorry Mila." Olivia sweetly said.

"Who gifted you the puppy?" Mitchell asked.

I curled my hands into fists and was just about ready to punch his jaw.

"Mitchell." Olivia warned. "Stop."

He shrugged. "I'm just curious."

"Okay guys, leave my best friend alone." Faith said as she sat on Owen's lap.

I looked at her gratefully.

"But I'm curious about her odd fear." Mitchell said. "I've never met anyone afraid of animals. I mean I went on a safari in Africa when I was seventeen and it's one of the best memories of my life. I even played with lion cubs."

"You'll become a memory when a mountain lion has you for dinner." I shot his way.

He quirked a brow. "I'm too hot to be eaten, just like humans' animals like their meal tepid so I think there's a higher chance of you getting eaten rather than me."

"Aw Mitchy." I sarcastically cooed. "Your mommy fed you lies as bedtime stories?"

I could see Mitchell's playful demeanour change to one of annoyance and I smiled at him triumphantly.

"Okay, can we stop this banter now?" Owen announced loudly. "Trust me we don't need anyone fighting... again."

"I agree and before anyone asks again, Mila is not afraid of animals she just hates anything or anyone getting near her. The only type of animals she's really afraid of are reptiles, she can't even stand the sight of them in pictures; especially snakes." Faith said. "So now no more questions, alright?"

Everyone nodded except big head Mitchell.

"I just have one last thing to say, may I?" he asked.

"No. I've heard your voice enough for one day." I answered.

"As if I'm going to listen to you." He scowled at me. "I just want to ask, are you afraid of reptiles because they remind you of yourself? You know cold blooded and scaly."

I chose to do the civil thing and not retort with angry words so instead I showed him the finger.

"Mitch." Owen said.

Mitchell put up his hands defensively and said with a chuckle. "I'm done now."

"So, who wants marshmallows?" Olivia asked.

Everyone agreed, except me.

"You don't eat marshmallows Mila?" Olivia asked as she brought over a packet with skewers.

"Nope she doesn't." Mitchell answered for me.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't realise you were a Mila encyclopaedia." I said.

"Don't flatter yourself, it's a known fact that marshmallows aren't vegan and has gelatine from a cow, so therefore you won't eat it."

He was right but I didn't want to say that to him so I remained quiet and looked away, I was growing very irritable with him; it was like he made it his motive to pick on every little thing I said or did.

"I'm sorry Mila, I can get you something else to eat." Olivia said. "I think I seen a pack of M&M's back there."

"No." I said a little too loudly. "I mean, no thank you."

I glanced at Owen and Faith grin at each other and I wanted to show both of them the finger for making me hate M&M's.

"You babe?" Oliva asked Mitchell.

"Um, no I don't like M&M's at all. Like I hate the stuff." He mumbled.

I looked at him then at Owen and Faith's smirks grow wider and I figured that Owen enlightened Mitchell on the gross nickname they gave us too. I guess both of us were scarred off M&M's for life.

Thankfully the attention from me and my dislike of staying outdoors was diverted and the two couples were roasting their marshmallows and talking about going on a double date in the near future. If I heard correctly, I think they were arguing about going to go to a movie and a dinner or a carnival that was hitting town just before we went away for the summer.

I averted my attention back to my game while they spoke, I had no interest in joining any of them on a date as a fifth wheel, as it is, I was already just that currently.

"Oh, come on, a carnival is so much of fun." Faith said. "I mean we can win prizes and ride the Ferris wheel."

"Ferris wheel?" Mitchell repeated. "Nothing in the world can make me go on one."

"Oh yeah I forgot." Owen chuckled. "Mitchell is afraid of heights."

The words Mitchell and afraid caught my attention, Mr. Smartass acted invincible taking a pick at my fears and here his own best friend exposed him.

"I'm not afraid of heights as I am of falling, if there's a way I've got to die, it won't be from falling." Mitchell defended himself.

"Yeah it would be from my hands." I muttered under my breath.

"What was that Mila?" Mitchell who seemed to hear me asked.

I looked up innocently. "Hmm? I said nothing."

He looked at me bitterly. "I heard you loud and clear."

"I think you need to get your ears checked because I've been sitting quietly here all this time." I smiled innocently. "Although I did hear that Mr. Macho Mitchell is afraid of heights."

"I am not afraid of heights." He stated.

"Oh come on man, it's nothing to be ashamed of, everyone is afraid of something or the other." Owen said.

"Well I'm not." Mitchell told him.

"I actually remember when you were about nine years old or so and your dad got a treehouse built for you and Katie and you refused to climb up." Mitchell laughed. "Yeah your mom and sister were up there waiting but you and your dad refused to climb up and made the crappiest excuses to not go up."

"Okay Owen, we don't need to go down memory lane." Mitchell said with a glare towards Owen.

"Aw babe." Olivia cooed and pinched Mitchell's cheeks. "That's so cute."

I laughed not just at the story, but the way Olivia spoke to Mitchell and pinched his cheeks like a little kid, he acted like such a cool dude but here his girlfriend was being all mushy with him. He looked my way and I mocked him by pouting with a puppy dog expression and pinched my cheeks before I laughed at him again.

Mitchell was clearly embarrassed because he cleared his throat and humourlessly grinned at Olivia. "Ok, that's enough Liv."

"Don't act shy Mitchikins, you love when I smother you when we're alone so why the act now?" Olivia asked.

"Olivia." Mitchell warned under his breath.

"Yeah Mitchikins, why the act now?" I asked in an extra sweet voice.

"You know what Mila?" he sneered bitterly.

"What Mitchikins?" I asked battering my eyelids at him.

"Don't call me that." He demanded.

"But Olivia just did, and I think the name really suits you," I told him.

"It really does." Olivia smiled. "But he's my Mitchikins." She added as she moved to sit on his lap.

I opened my mouth and pointed my finger in making gag gestures.

Faith rolled her eyes and Mitchell scowled at me and I figured it wasn't just because of my reaction but because of a very disturbing memory we both shared but both of us refused to ever bring up.

"Don't mind Mila." Faith told Oliva. "She's anti-feelings."

"I am not." I defended myself. "I am lactose intolerant to cheesy couple stuff, that's all."

"Of course you are." Mitchell remarked. "I mean what else can you expect from someone who's never been in a relationship before."

I raised a brow at him. "Clearly from just tonight I can conclude that you think of yourself as Mila Bandera's Wikipedia page so please enlighten me and do tell how you know I've never been in a relationship?"

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked.

I looked down at myself and then back at him. "I'm pretty damn hot if I say so myself."

He sarcastically smiled at me. "Your mommy read you lies as bedtime stories?"

"Ooh," I remarked. "Good one but next time be a little creative and think of your own comebacks."

"Oh boy." Owen mumbled. "Here we go again."

Mitchell ignored Owen before he sighed. "My point is, you've clearly stated that you don't believe in relationships or love or even give any sort of relationship a title, I mean you refuse to call Faith your best friend so how can you have a boyfriend?"

I raised a finger at him. "Incorrect I actually have a title for you and that is..." I paused for dramatic effect but these idiots around me didn't appreciate my theatrics, so I just said it, "Nemesis."

Mitchell was growing more and more annoyed at me, but I didn't care, I was being unapologetically myself and I loved it.

"Actually, if I may," Olivia said. "Mila did have a boyfriend."

Mitchell looked at her sharply. "What? How do you know?"

"Because I've been in the same class as her since our first year." She answered. "And if I recall correctly, last year she dated the hottest guy on campus."

"I don't recall dating her or even seeing her." Mitchell cockily retorted.

I began coughing dramatically.

"Are you okay Mils?" Owen asked.

"Yeah, do you want some water?" Faith asked.

I stopped coughing and flicked away my fake tears. "No, I'm all good."

I paused and looked directly at Mitchell. "I'm just allergic to bullshit."

Faith and Owen looked away and hid their threatening laughter while Mitchell glared icily at me.

"Funny you say that Mils, I'm known to be the type of guy that even the coldest bitches throw themselves at for a mere one-night stand." He said, hinting to our very first meeting.

I looked at him expressionless and smirked. "Are we going there Mitchy?"

"Going where?" Olivia, who looked very curiously between us asked.

"Yeah, I want to know the answer to that too." Owen said.

I guess Mitchell didn't inform his best friend about our first encounter, he clearly was more embarrassed by it than me.

Mitchell shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't know what she's talking about."

He looked at me, "What are you talking about Mila?"

I innocently shrugged. "I don't know, what should I be talking about?"

Owen frowned. "Why am I sensing something weird going on here?"

"There's nothing weird going on here, Mila is the only weird creature here." Mitchell stated.

"Weird is more fun that normal so I'll take it." I admitted.

Olivia and Owen didn't look convinced so to save myself from embarrassment I covered it up. "What I mean is, I don't think Mitchell is the type that girls who don't give a crap about male attention would throw themselves at, unless they're highly intoxicated and their brain cells are dead and if that happens and they see what they're about to hook up with, they get sick to the stomach."

If I thought Mitchell was glaring at me earlier on it was nothing compared to the look he currently wore.

"Why do you always evade the topic when it comes to your personal life?" Mitchell asked me.

"Because unlike some people, I don't like to make things about me." I answered.

Mitchell ignored my answer and looked at the girl on his lap. "So, who was the poor soul that Mila was in a relationship with?"

"Jadyn Evans." Faith answered instead of Olivia. "He was the hottest med student I've ever seen."

I gave Faith a look, I really didn't want to talk about what Jadyn and I had because it touched a nerve and I didn't want Mitchell or anyone knowing anything about my personal life. 

"You got that right." Olivia agreed. "He was in his final year and we were in our first, I think every girl and even guy in our class had a crush on him."

Mitchell scoffed. "And he dated Mila? Why do I find this so hard to believe?"

"Why?" I asked. "Jealous?"

"You wish." He responded flatly.

"I was jealous." Olivia said. "I mean he was so dreamy and tall with a killer body. He had the perfect caramel skin, curly hair and eyes so brown it looked like honey and to top it all off he was the perfect gentleman."

"And his voice." Faith sighed. "It was the definition of masculinity."

Owen gave her a look. "Okay now I'm getting jealous."

Faith grinned and pecked him on the lips. "No one is as hot as you bub."

Jadyn was hot and he was exactly as Faith and Olivia described him and more, he was literally the kindest and sweetest guy I had ever met in my life and the months we had together made me really happy.

"I mean Mila you scored big time." Olivia said. "He literally only had eyes for you and when you two finally became an item every girl and again – guy envied you. He was like the Adonis of modern times."

"Am I just invisible?" Mitchell sourly asked.

Olivia shifted up and kissed Mitchell long and hard. "You baby, are no less of Apollo, yourself."

I rolled my eyes as Mitchell smirked when she complimented him, he really was extremely petty, cocky and shallow.

"I mean Jadyn and Mila were like Adonis and Aphrodite together, two gorgeous beings wrapped up together in a circle of pure passion." Faith said.

"Guys." I laughed. "Calm down, don't you think you're exaggerating a little?"

"No." Faith and Olivia said.

"You didn't see how the two of you looked from a distance? Like two primitive beautiful beings made for each other to make even more beautiful babies." Olivia said.

I widened my eyes at her description.

Mitchell rolled his eyes and snickered. "Yeah right, for the first time ever I agree with Mila; you two are exaggerating."

"I only said that because you saw Jadyn on the outside and yeah he was the hottest guy I ever laid eyes on but he was something else as a person, I mean I've never met a soul as kind and pure as his, he honestly is one in a billion." I said honestly.

"Then why did you let him go?" Mitchell asked.

"Yeah, I wondered what happened between you two." Olivia added. "I mean you guys broke up even before he graduated and I heard he was posted for his residency nearby, so distance wasn't an issue."

I thought back to how things ended between Jadyn and I and it took me back to a time in my life that wasn't the best, I never spoke about it to anyone, not even to Faith and I wasn't going to start sharing now.

"It's personal." I answered seriously. "And I'd like to keep it that way."

"I can guess." Mitchell once again as usual offered his opinion. "I'm guessing it has to do with incompatibility in the sack."

"Mitchell." Olivia scolded.

"What? We're all adults here." Mitchell said innocently. "It's a known fact that many relationships end for that reason so I'm