A week had passed since I last spoke to Elaine and Marcus.

It still hurts when I think about how a small matter brought my relationship with them to an end. But it hurts even more when I know I was the one who had made it all happen.

I sighed.

"Serene!" Mrs Janet's voice boomed, causing me to jump as I broke out of my thoughts. "Pay attention to class, mid-year exams are very near!" She scolded, tapping her pen on my table. I felt my face flush. "Sorry.." I mumbled numbly. "Tsk," and with that Mrs Janet went back to her lesson.

At the corner of my eye, I caught Elaine staring at me. But she looked swiftly away as I turned around. If this carries on, I told myself. I'll fail my mid-years.. And so I straightened my back and prepared myself for the horrendously tedious lesson ahead.

♥♥♥

Turning on my radio, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. "Aaaahh I'm beat." I closed my eyes and listened to the music.

♫ I don’t wanna run away, baby you’re the one I need tonight,
No promises.
Baby, now I need to hold you tight, I just wanna die in your arms

I don’t want to run away, I want to stay forever, through Time and Time..
No promises ♫

"Eh? No Promises? What a time to broadcast such a song." I said miserably.

♫ Is this the moment where I look you in the eye?
Forgive my broken promise that you'll never see me cry
And everything, it will surely change
Even if I tell you I won't go away today ♫

"Permanent now?! Geez."

And a hell lot more sad songs than happy songs were being broadcasted.

Damn, I thought bitterly as I switched off my radio. What's with the sad songs? I'm stressed out enough.

I walked across my room. Opening the stubborn shutters of my window, I glanced up. "It's a full moon tonight, Raine." I smiled to my dog. "And during this particular period of time, Marcus and I would usually sneak out to the beach, staring up at the moon, letting the breeze caress our hair." I laughed. "Seems alot like we're a couple eh? But during this particular night, we don't. And maybe never."

When I see the moon; I think of you
When I see the stars; I remember you

I feel incomplete without you,
'cause them both made me think of you

I wish to the star I see tonight
Now I wish with all my might
I plead my wish come true,
I want to be with you

I cried silently to myself. I couldn't help but think, how did it turn out this way? It was horrible, being apart from the ones you loved. You're so melodramatic, my mind scolded as usual. I wiped away my tears and sniffed.

"Come on, Raine." I ordered my dog as I began to walk off. Raine walked beside me loyally, silently, as if sensing the distress.

"Serene."

I froze. That unmistakenable voice. No doubt it's..

Clinging onto my window(Well, it's only a two-floored house. He's been doing that for a couple of years. It was no surprise.), is Marcus. The first ridiculous thing that came to my head, "What're you doing?" He gave me a long look. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm visiting." He said sarcasticly.

"What for? You could just come in by the main door, anyway." And I thought you didn't care about me anymore.

Making himself a comfortable position on the window, he looked at the sky. "I'm worried." He looked at me with hurt eyes. "Elaine told me you've been spacing out, alot. And you wouldn't let me in even if I did."

Dammit, bullseye. "Why do you care?" Elaine Elaine Elaine.. Blahblahblah. Lies.

He jumped off from the window and walked toward me. He held me firm by my shoulders and looked into my eyes, hard. I tried not to flinch. "'Cause I love you." Pain and fury flared in my eyes. I knocked his hands away, glaring. "LIES! You love Elaine, don't you? Also, almost a week had already passed, and you're telling me this now?" I shook my head. "I don't believe you!" I stalked out of my door, and Marcus, of course, was right at my heel. I swung open the front door and stood by him. "Get out." Pain stung me as hurt flashed across his eyes at my words. "Please, Serene, I don't want it to end like this." He begged. "It already did." I replied coldly.

He sighed and pulled me to him. Soon I was in his arms. "Wh-Wh-" I stammered stupidly. "Believe me." He whispered. "You're so melodramatic." I said, the corner of my mouth lifting the slightest. He smiled, "Same to you." Then he leaned down.

"Hold it!" I raised a hand to his face. He stared at me confusingly. "You ain't gonna kiss me with the damned door wide open are ya? It's freezing!" I shivered literally. Not moving an inch, he slammed the door shut with his leg. I gave him a long look. "What?" He smirked. "You're such an ass, Marcus." I sighed, shaking my head.

♥♥♥

Then on that very night, where the full moon shone proudly, our relationship took a step deeper.

His kiss was soft and gentle, unlike others who just pratically crash their lips to yours and mould you into them. His lips parted slightly, my heart skipped a beat. I'll so totally kill myself if my legs gave up on me. The kiss lingered all over, from the very tip to the very end. As long as the kiss lasted, it eventually had to come to an end. "Whoa." Was all I could say as we breathed heavily after the kiss. "Yeah." He grinned down at me and kissed my forehead. I smiled at him.

"WOOF!"

"Gah!" I jumped in Marcus's arms. He immediately broke into a thunder of laughter. "That wasn't funny!" I said through my teeth. Something warm snuggled against my leg, Raine. She looked up at me with sparkling eyes. "You saw all that, didn't you?" I sneered. She wagged her tail. I gave her a long look. Marcus laughed.

"It's gonna be just you and me, baby."

Together we feel the night breeze;
Together the birds fly free
Tonight I express my craze;
Since it's just you and me

Labels: No Promises-Shayne Ward, Permanent-David Cook

Click.

I got up and headed downstairs, to find Marcus heading up the same direction. "Elaine went home?" I asked, not meeting his gaze. "Yeah, she said something came up at home and wanted me to tell you that." He replied.

"Oh." Was my reply as Raine padded down the steps. His stare was unnerving, as if he was trying to see through me. I tried brushing past him, but he had caught my arm. "Why are you avoiding my eyes, Serene?" His voice was hard, I gulped. "'Cause you're too damn tall, if I look at you, the light would get in my eyes." I lied sarcasticly. He sighed and dragged me across the room, onto the couch. He knelt infront of me and said, "Now you can look me in th eye right?"

Still, I looked away.

His hand gently lifted my chin up, and stared into my eyes, hard. "Tell me what's wrong, Serene." He demanded. "Nothing's wrong." I lied, trying hard not to waver my gaze from his. "Come on, we've been childhood friends, you can't hide anything from me." He said.

I just kept staring at him. Sure, I can't. But can he tell me how I felt?

For long moments, he just kept peircing me with his eyes, as if searching me. I bit my lip, and looked away. He then slowly stood up, ever so briefly touched my hair and closed the door behind him. He's gone. I broke up into tears.

♥♥♥

Days passed by slowly. Marcus didn't contact me afterwards. Maybe he just wanted to give me time to think, I thought. But it didn't really help at all, since Elaine was always rushing up to me, babbling about her conversation with Marcus. There wasn't a day without the word "Marcus" in it. Soon, I gradually got irritated, I couldn't stand it. It was like they were the ones who were childhood playmates.

Then one day..

"Serene!" Elaine called as I was walking to school. "Hey, Elaine. Lemme guess, first topic's 'Marcus' right?" I asked, she giggled. Bingo.

"You know.." She told me in a quieter voice. "I think.. I.." Then she broke off into a fit of embarrassed giggles. I rolled my eyes, I already knew the answer, Elaine would always be Elaine. "Yes yes, save your breath. I know, you think you like him" I looked off into the distance as I said that, trying hard not to growl at the word like. And off she goes into a another fit of hysterical giggles.

Third period, History.

"Serene.." She whined. "He ain't replying~!" I rolled my eyes behind my book. "He's probably busy." "But.." She stared at the screen of her phone, eyes solemn.

Vibration. Elaine flipped open her phone right away, one second of happiness, but it wasn't hers. I picked up my phone, wary of Elaine's prying eyes. Leaning away from her, I checked my message.

My heart skipped a beat.

Marcus

Oh great, just great.

Hey.. How have ya been? Feeling better? Elaine had been rather strange..

Halfway through the message I had thought he was worried for me. But then, the topic literally jumped to Elaine. I sighed. Elaine stared hard at me with sparkling eyes, I shook my head. Not him, I lied through my eyes. She fell to despair.

I'm fine.. What's with Elaine? I typed back.

And so the conversation went on. About Elaine.

♥♥♥

Back at home.

Nothing felt better than lying on my bed, snuggling up to Raine, thinking of nothing at all. Well, before my phone rang anyway.

Marcus

Argh, what now?

"Hello?" I answered nonchalantly.

"Serene? Hey.." Marcus replied.

Before I opened my mouth to speak, Marcus had shot off.

"You know, Elaine's actually pretty sweet. You know, sweet face and all, it seems like we could really get along." Laughs. "I think I kinda like her."

I think I just felt my heart stop.

"What? But I thought you already had a girlfriend!" I stuttered.

"That was what I wanted to say that day.." He trailed off. "We broke up." He finished.

My mouth hung open, no sound came out. When it seemed like I wasn't going to reply anytime soon, Marcus went on.

"Do you think I'll get a chance with her? She's an interesting fellow, this one." More laughs.

At this point of time, unfortunately, I was suddenly, utterly, sick of all this crap.

"Yeah, fine. Do whatever you like. You know what? Ever since you met her. Ever since you set your eyes on her, I felt nonexistant! Serene! Marcus this, Marcus that! Squeal squeal giggle giggle. Serene! Elaine this Elaine that! Laugh laugh. You know what? I'm sick of this!" I cried out, hanging up the phone with a snap.

Raine patted my cheek with her paw, and snuggled my chest. It was then I realised I was crying. How long was this going to last?

Ooooh this sucks.

"Aahhhhh.. How I wish my dog would just eat my homework!" I groaned, looking at Rainie, my husky, hopefully, who sneezed and padded to Elaine.
Traitor. I thought.
"Who asked you to finish them off last minute," was Elaine's reply, who gave Rainie a few pats on the head before getting back to her book.
Among the heap of thousands and millions of paperwork, I stuck my tongue out at her.
"I saw that." She said.
"Get back to ur reading you bookworm." I shot.
"And get back to your homework you lazyass." She shot back.

I ignored her and went back to writing my 300-words essay on 'Why we must not be late for school.'. After finishing half the ton of my holiday homework, and having Elaine finish three books, and Rainie have had her beauty sleep, I let out a long sigh, exhausted. "I'll just bloody throw my homework away and tell 'em Rainie ate them." I said, flopping onto my soft velvet bed. Which I would have fallen alseep on if Rainie hadn't bark her lungs out when the bell rang. "HOLY SHI--" I screamed as I pratically jumped a foot high from my bed. Heart still pounding from shock, I walked to the door. "Coming!" I called on the way down the stairs.

Swinging open the front door panting, I stared at my visitor.

And gaped.

"Ma- Ma- Marcus! Hi!" I stammered, grinning a little too broadly. Well, I wasn't expecting him here. "What, ah, brings you here?"

"Hey Serene.." He trailed off, looking away.

"What?" I said defensively.

Still not looking at me, he waved a hand at me. Puzzled, I looked down at myself, and my eyes went wide.

"OH MY GOD! Er, make yourself comfortable! I'll be right back!" I threw over my back as I pratically flew up the stairs. Slamming the door shut behind me, I ran to my full-length mirror and stared at myself. And I felt my face burn. "Bed hair, oversized hoodie, totally plain face, not forgetting panda eyes, who wouldn't be surprised?" Elaine said sarcasticly. "Why didn't you tell me?!" I hissed at her. "You ran like lightning, my brain was too slow to register my reactions." She shrugged. I glared at her as I pulled on a checkered skirt. Then I checked my reflection on the mirror. "Ooohh you witch, I don't have any panda eyes!" I sneered. Opps, she mouthed. Putting on a little lip-balm, I rolled my eyes at her and raced back down.

Marcus had made himself comfortable on one end of the couch, browsing through the channels on my television. "You reeeaally made yourself comfortable, eh?" I eyed him, hands on hip. He threw his head back, glanced at me, whistled, then patted the space beside him. I ignored that gesture, "Want a drink?" I asked. "Gotta beer?" He smiled ,oh-so-fake, sweetly. I glared at him, "You should really cut down on those." "And if I don't?" He challenged. "I'll.. Well.. You'll see!" I stormed into the kitchen, fetching two cups from the cupboard.

"Thanks sweetie," He said as I slammed a cup on the table. I rolled my eyes and sat a good two meters away from him. "Awwwww come on," he smirked. Not taking my eyes away from the television, I asked, "So waddaya want?" "Oh yeah," He said, and I could tell that he was trying hard to make it seem casual. "I just wanted to stop by..." Trying to act nonchalant, I started, "So what is it? I have a friend waiting for me--" "Nah it's okay, I'm gone." Elaine cut me off as she walked down the stairs. "Already?! Bu- But-" My eyes flickered from Marcus to Elaine. Then back to Marcus, "Can she join us?" I asked, eyes sparkling with a glimmer of hope. "But-" He started to protest. "It can wait," I hurried. "Besides, it's great to make new friends! Pleeaaase?" You're freaking lame, Serene, my mind scolded. I stared at him with big hopeful eyes, his weakness. Muahahaha.

Marcus blushed slightly and thought about it, Elaine was reaching the door, I started panicking. "Sure," He said as Elaine touched the door handle. "Why not?" He smiled, patting the seat beside him. Elaine smiled back, but sat on the other end of the sofa, wary.

They talked for a good half hour, and I seldom joined in. That was when I was starting to feel like a damned light bulb. "Enjoy yourselves." I pratically sneered at the last word, before storming up the stairs and slamming my room door shut.

My knees buckled under me and I sank to the floor, breathing hard. Raine padded up to me, placing a paw on my cheek before snuggling up to me. "What's wrong with me?" I asked Raine. "I was the one who introduced them to each other. So why did I feel this way? But hearing them talk so casually, every word bringing them closer, watching their every moves. I just couldn't stand it." Realization struck me hard on the head as I guess the possibilities. "It couldn't be right? That I'm actually.. jealous?" I asked my dog, who stared up at me with her big blue concerned eyes.

Oh hell, fancy talking to a dog. But sometimes they're all you've got.

{ Prolouge }

Serene is an 15 year old average teenage girl, with slightly wavy, dark brown hair that falls to her waist, and olive-blue eyes.

Elaine, with wavy blonde hair and clear blue eyes, had been Serene's best friend since 5th grade. Though they've been through thick and thin together, Elaine had never really understood her.

Marcus, 18, with messy short-cropped, jet-black hair, and warm hazel eyes, had been Serene's childhood playmate ever since she moved into the neighbourhood, Hazel Street. Marcus read her like an open book, and knew whenever she way lying or had troubles. Serene thinks he only treats her like a little sister. But is there more than that?

{♥} Him ♥
{♥} Guitar/(cont.)piano/drum lessons!
{♥} Happiness!
{♥} Shiny black ballet flats
{♥} Complete set of Tsubasa manga :D
{♥} Huuuge teddybear!
{♥} Huuuge stuffed puppy!
{♥} Huuuge stuffed turtle!
{♥} Go Japan!
{♥} Learn Japanese:D!
{♥} New lappy (:
{♥} Buy domo-kun bag!
{♥} More red checkered skirts ! :3
{♥} Buy strapped platform shoes