I jogged along the pavement with Marley by my side as the sky turned into swirls of orange and red from the sunrise. Like clockwork I was awake bang on 5am, my reoccurring dream jolted me awake making my eyes sting from exhaustion.

I tossed and turned for a little while before giving up and putting my running gear on. I quickly splashed some water onto my face in the hope that it would wake up my tired eyes. Thankfully I'd had the sense a couple of weeks ago to start buying eye drops. They helped my red dry eyes making me look more human and less like I was high. Shame they couldn't erase memories though.

Just after the accident happened I was made to go and see a therapist. I sat there for a couple hours pouring my heart out to a complete stranger in the hope that the heavy feeling I felt would go away. It didn't. I just cried until I had no tears left and was prescribed sleeping pills for my insomnia.

I took them for the first couple of nights but after that they went to the back of my bathroom cabinet in the house in London. They were supposed to help me with my sleep but overall they just made me feel more groggy. I would wake up feeling sick, plus it freaked me out that something might happen in the night and I wouldn't wake up because of the tablets.

My Gran made me promise to take them though so every time I spoke to her I lied through my teeth and hoped that the truth would never come out.

That's one person I did miss from back home. Everyone else was either dead or friends that reminded me too much of the past. Gran though was someone who still looked after my almost completely broken heart. I'd loved my gran since the first day I'd laid eyes on her. She was the cosy cuddly kind of gran however you'd never catch her baking cookies in the kitchen. She was more of a gin and quick English whit kind of woman.

You may wonder why I didn't stay with her after my family died. I would've loved too but Gran couldn't even take care of herself let alone a teenage girl. She had a stroke when I was around 10 and after that the left-hand side of her was left with little to no feeling. She now lives in an assisted home where she has people to look after her all the time.
In comparison to most elderly though she actually doesn't mind it. She's a nosey bugger and she feels like a queen with the amount of care she has at her finger tips. Plus, she's got more dealings going on in there than behind a bike shed at school. Don't worry, it's not drugs. Gin and chocolate hob nobs are her crack. It's the perfect place for her.

I quietly made my way down the stairs, trying my hardest not to wake up anyone else in the house.
I'd asked Simon if he was ok with me going out running so early and he said yes on the condition that I stuck to the local area, kept my phone on me and took Marley. I knew the first two were to do with my safety but I had a sneaky suspicion taking Marley was just to give him and Lindsay an extra 30minutes in bed every morning.

Hey I wasn't complaining though. I always listened to my music when I ran but it was quite nice having a companion with me as I worked up a sweat.

Well that's a lie, I already had Nora dragging her feet beside me but it was nice having a willing participant with me.

I did keep on reminding Nora that I wasn't forcing her to come with me and she was there of her own free will but she just glared at me and carried on complaining.

'I just don't get how you can find this enjoyable. My lungs are on fire, legs like jelly and if ghosts could sweat then I'd looked like I'd just taken a dip in the local pool.'

'Feels good doesn't it?' I joked.

She huffed in response but carried on.

I'd tried to convince her to come running with me a couple times back in England but she really wasn't a morning person. She'd tell me to fuck off and pull the duvet over her head. Nothing like some sisterly love to put you in the mood in the morning.

After a while when my dad starting running with me, I actually liked the fact that it was something we just did together. I love my twin don't get me wrong but the thing was from the get go you do everything together. You automatically have to share everything, even if you know they don't appreciate it as much as you. It was nice getting older and having our own hobbies.

'How much longer?' She wined. 'We've been running for ages! please can we go back now?'

She sounded like the annoying kid on a car journey that doesn't stop asking 'are we there yet?' every five minutes.

'We're on the stretch home.' We definitely weren't.

Since I've been running with Marley I've been letting him lead the way. He obviously had a set route when walking with Lindsay or Simon because he automatically pulled me in certain directions.

The first time we went out I had worried we'd get lost and fully expected to have to get my phone map out, but like the good dog that he was he brought me straight home every time.

This was why at this moment in time I wasn't too concerned with keeping my eyes locked on him. I was too busy winding Nora up when he jolted and the leash flew out of my hand. He bolted up the road like a race horse and barked at something in the distance.

I chased after him calling his name but he completely ignored me. I flew past the morning postman who I tried to politely greet as I ran past although I was sure I heard him mutter 'damn kids.'

Finally, Marley came to a stop jumping up at someone up ahead.
Shit! I knew he wasn't an aggressive dog but still not everyone would like that at 6:30 in the morning.

'Marley get down!' I grabbed his leash as he started licking my face happily. 'I'm so sorry.' I said as I tried to calm my erratic breathing.

'Are you stalking me now?'
The amused tone was so familiar but surely it can't be?

I looked up bemused as I met a pair of familiar green eyes.
'What are you doing here?' I asked through labored breathing.

'I could say the same to you. I live here.'
His mouth was turned up in a mocking grin as he looked over me, taking in my ensemble as Marley bounced around him.

I instead glanced at the modern looking house we were standing in front of. The front garden was manicured perfectly and the house, even though new looking, had a cosy feel to it.

'Fucking hell that dogs fast!'
Nora finally caught up to us and lent on a tree to catch her breath. She looked like she'd just done the London marathon which was hysterical to me as usually the only thing that could make her run was when our domino's pizza delivery was at the front door.

'You live here?' I don't know why I was acting surprised, it's not like I'd ever pictured his house before.

'Yes London I live here.' He chuckled. 'Why? Did you think I lived in a hole? Would you like to interview my parents?'

I looked back over at the house wondering which window was his bedrooms. 'That's ok I believe you.'

'What are you doing up so early on a Monday morning?'

'When I can't sleep I run.' I shrugged like it was no big deal.
'What's your excuse?'

'I'm going to the gym.'
I couldn't help it. My eyes travelled to where his vest was covering his abs and I wondered if he had a six pack.

'It's a little early to be checking me out isn't it?'

I rolled my eyes and starting backing up.
'Well not that this meeting wasn't splendid but I've got to get back. Bye Harrison.'

'Bye London, try not to miss me too much.' He blew me a kiss which I masterfully dodged.

'Yeah I'll try.' I jogged back the way I came, Marley in a strop at my side because I didn't let him stay and play with his friend.

I tried to push the thought of Harrison at the gym out of my mind but it just kept on cropping back up. There's nothing like a guy lifting weights to get your heart racing on a Monday morning.

'Jesus I never thought I'd see the day.' Nora muttered beside me.

'What do you mean?'

She shook her head at me and ran off in front. Right, so just after she makes a comment like that she decides she wants to run. She's such a cow.

.....

'He totally has a vendetta against me'

'Zara, no he does not.'

'Xavier I'm telling you he always fails me on exams.'

'That's because you never study and you sit there talking to me the whole class.'

I started tuning out of the group's conversations. We'd been chatting all of lunch but then they got onto a conversation about people I didn't know so I started looking around the cafeteria.

My eyes zeroed in on Paige walking into the cafeteria. Since my first art lesson we've been speaking quite a lot. She now sits next to me in class and compared to the first time I met her she chats nonstop. She smiled over to a table where a couple people were at, I think I recognised them as her friends and she made a beeline for them. Unfortunately for her though she didn't notice the group of guys that were walking towards her also not paying attention. One bumped into her unintentionally, but he also didn't turn round to say sorry.

I jumped up out of my seat when I saw the inevitable happening. Paige toppled over sending herself and her things careening to the floor. A chorus of ohhhs could be heard around the cafeteria and then it fell deathly silent, silent enough to be able to hear a pin drop.

'Hey are you ok?' I asked when I got over to her. I crouched down and gave her the once over. Thankfully no injuries but I bet she'd have a hell of a bruise later.

The three guys had turned around when they heard the commotion and the one that bumped into her had the decency to look sheepish.

'Hey assholes are you going to help or just stand there like morons?'
People from the closest tables started snickering.

All three of them turned bright red and within seconds had rushed over to pick up Paige's books from the floor.

'Shit, I'm really sorry.' The guilty guy said. The three of them looked to be a couple years younger than us and I didn't recognise them.
'I didn't see you there.' He took the books from his friends' hands and passed them over to me with a small smile.

'It's ok, I wasn't paying attention either.' Paige returned his smile which the guys obviously took to being let off the hook as they got up and walked away.
I held out a hand to her and helped pull her up off the floor.

'It's a miracle! She lives!' I exclaimed which earned a smack on the arm and a small smile.
I could always tell when she was pretending to be annoyed at me because she'd hit me but she couldn't stop herself from smiling a little.

'That was impressive though. At first, I thought you'd be like the leaning tower of Pisa, you wouldn't actually fall but no. It was like wwe smack down.'

She burst out laughing and I could tell I was helping her feel less embarrassed by what had just happened.
'You're an idiot.'

I pretended to be hurt by her insult but she just rolled her eyes at me.

'Why are you coming to lunch so late anyway? We have to leave in a minute.'

'I'd been studying in the library so I ate lunch in there. By the time I finished I thought I'd look like a loser if I went to class early so I came here instead.'

'You should've just texted me; we've got art together next anyway.'

She shifted her weight on her feet which made me think she was in more pain than she was letting on.
'Yeah well I don't like making you feel like you have to hang out with the invisible loser.'

I wanted to roll my eyes but I restrained myself.
'I'm going to choose to ignore that. Wait there a second whilst I go get my stuff and then we'll head to class.'

I left her over at the table where her friends were chatting around her. As I walked back to my table the gang looked up from their conversations and asked if Paige was ok. Replying yes, I started gathering up my things to go.

'Evie are you leaving?' Xavier asked scratching the back of his head with his hand.

'Yeah why?'

'Well I just wondered if you were done with your pizza?' He pointed over to where my pizza lay cold on its plate. I never really liked cafeteria food. At my old school we were allowed to leave the campus at lunch so we'd all go to local places instead.

I laughed at his eager face. God that boy was always eating.
'Do you want it?'
He nodded sheepishly and took the pizza from my outstretched hand. It's good to know I'm useful for something around here.

Saying goodbye to everyone I headed over to collect Paige from where she was stood with her friends. They all went silent as I approached and linked my arm with hers but they smiled so I guess I shouldn't be too concerned.

We got to art class early but that didn't bother us. We sat at our table and chatted until Ms Stevens and the rest of the class arrived.

'Evie, I thought we could go and have a chat to see how your project is going so far?' Ms Stevens said pulling me out of the painting I was focused on halfway through class. Her warm brown eyes met with mine as she motioned for me to follow her.

'Yeah of course, should I bring my book?'

'Yes, and your big folder.'

I collected both items and followed Ms Stevens through an adjoining door to the next classroom. The art rooms were in the converted attic part of the building but that by no means meant they were small. The ceiling arched high above our heads and had beams running across it. This classroom was split off into two where on one side computers were set up for photography students to edit their photos and the other side had normal desks and art supplies everywhere.

She led me over to the teacher's desk at the far corner and helped me lay out my work.
For the first 10 minutes she went through everything I'd done so far. Even though I knew Ms Stevens was lovely, I still got nervous at the thought of her critiquing my work. As I'd started a month later than everyone else, I had a lot of work to catch up on but thankfully it seemed I was almost there.

When she was done, she pulled her glasses off of her face and beamed at me.
'Evie I'm really impressed. I like the theme running through your work. You have a strong colour palette and style. So now it's where do we go from here to develop this?'

She picked up one of my paintings and held it out for me to look at. I'd managed to convince Taliah to let me use her face for some of my project. It was a portrait of her but she had ivy wrapped around her skin and hair. The theme that I'd chosen for my project was 'one with nature'. So far I'd used Mother Nature as inspiration for my project.

'This painting is one of your strongest works. There's no doubt that you have a talent painting real people but from here I really want you to explore the nature aspect. Really have fun with it.'

I could see what she was saying. Portraits were my thing but I couldn't forget the theme was around nature.

'So after our conversation the other day I had a chat around and there is one of my photography students that I think will really help you. He's my top marking student and he knows some good hidden spots locally that I think will suit the vibe you're going for. Stay here a second, I'll go and get him.'

Ok, this should be alright. Hopefully this guy isn't an asshole and he'll just give me a list of places that are good around here.

'Evie, I don't know if you've already met-'

Before she could reply Harrison's pretty face grinned at me.
'London! Isn't it funny how fate keeps on bringing us together? Twice in one day, aren't I lucky.'

'I don't think you can call stalking fate.'

He gave me a fake hurt expression and covered his hand over his heart.
'You're the one that was outside my house this morning.'

I heard Ms Stevens chuckling.
'Why am I surprised? Of course you two have met before.'
She looked over at the two of us with a knowing look that left me confused. Before I could ask her she got back on track to where we'd left the conversation.

'So both of you. When I was thinking about someone to help you Evie, I came up with an idea that I think will help the both of you excel in your projects. I was thinking of some kind of collaboration. We've done it before with a couple of students and it worked exceptionally well. Of course, you two will both keep your separate projects but I think you have what the other person is currently lacking.
Evie, Harrison shoots nature the majority of the time and I think his photography would work as great inspiration for you to paint.
Harrison for your project you've been working on silhouettes. Playing around with the focal point in your photographs. I think it would be really interesting to use a person in some of your work rather than just buildings, nature ext. So, I have found you a person to photograph.' Ms Stevens motioned to me making my eyes go wide.

'Wait a second. I'm not a model, I wouldn't know what I was doing.'

'That's ok I wouldn't expect you to be. That's Harrison's job as a photographer to make you feel comfortable and guide you. You both are two of my best students. Your projects are currently brilliant, I just think you could take it a step further. Your styles both complement each other so well and I think you'll bring out the best in each other.'

I could feel my face heating up a little but I didn't know why I felt embarrassed. It didn't help that Harrison was grinning like a fool beside me.

'I couldn't agree with you more Ms Stevens. I think it's a great idea.'

Of course he bloody does. The more time he gets to irritate me the better I guess.

'Great! What about you Evie?'

I looked at her eager face and I just couldn't break it. As much as the idea didn't exactly thrill me, I could appreciate how talented Harrison was and if she thought I could get a higher grade doing this then so be it.

'Ok let's do it.' I shrugged as if it was no big deal.
I know you're probably wondering why I'm not jumping for joy. The problem was something about Harrison made me nervous and I didn't want anything to jeopardise my project. Plus, I was bound to make an idiot of myself at this modelling thing. I generally try to avoid photographs of myself as much as I possibly can.

'Brilliant, well I'll leave the details to you two and we'll catch up weekly with how everything is going.'

She got up from behind the desk and walked over to a student asking for help.

I could see Harrison staring at me from my side but I ignored him and starting putting my paintings away.
I leant over the desk and felt my phone come lose out of my back pocket. I turned expecting to see it falling to the ground but instead found it in Harrison's hands.

'What are you doing?'
Why was that the first thing out of my mouth and not touch my ass again and get your hands chopped off? Also, he must've been staring at it for him to notice my phone there? Funnily enough that didn't annoy me as much as I thought it would.

'Giving you my number. You really need to put a lock on your phone.'

He wasn't wrong to be fair.

'Oh right, I guess I should give you mine then.' I reached out my hand wiggling my fingers at him expectantly for his phone.

'I already have it.'

I frowned at him. I was sure I'd never given him my number before.
'Really? How?'

'I have my sources.' He said whilst shrugging.

'Ok