''What are you doing here?'' Mason asked. His black boxers were barely visible in the dark but his bare chest wasn't. I didn't mind, he had a well-built body. He was standing in the door of the library, I'd heard him come but pretended to be surprised he was there.
''Couldn't sleep.'' I told him. The moon was shining bright and illuminated the window sill I was sitting on. As he came closer, I could see he had been sleeping. His brown hair was tangled and his eyes were small.
''Everybody else's asleep.'' Mason pointed out. He sat down in front of me, the sill barely big enough for the two of us.
''Good for them.'' I turned my back to the window and touched the cold floor with my feet. They were frozen, I couldn't even move my toes anymore. I cursed myself for not wearing my good pyjamas, without a hole in the middle of my pants and spaghetti stains on the top.
''Nice outfit.'' Mason handed me his Spiderman slippers. I laughed again at the thought of his face when he had opened his mom's Christmas present two weeks ago, when he had found out the slippers were in it. Since Mason was a popular guy, everybody had seen it too but they all thought it was a joke from one of his friends, Mason played along. Only his best friend and I knew the truth, his mom had really sent them.
''You too.'' I pointed at his chest and raised an eyebrow, ''You never told me you work out.''
Mason looked down and seemed to only realise now he didn't have a shirt on. He rubbed his hand over his chest and said something about his room being too warm.
I raised my hands like thieves did when caught by the police.
''I don't mind.'' I joked, even though I meant it. There was no harm in flirting, was there?
He yawned and stretched his arms and back.
''I don't get how you can be up every night and still don't look tired during the day.''
''That's what make-up does to a girl. Want to try?'' I asked, pretending to be sincere.
Mason stood up and looked at the slippers on my feet.
''I want them back tomorrow, they mean the world to me. Please don't try to rip them apart or let them accidently fall out the window. I mean, also not try to burn them, I'd hate to lose 'em and I wouldn't be able to forgive you.''
''Goodnight.'' Was my answer. I wiggled my toes and smiled at how warm they were now. Maybe I'd hide them, for his sake. It couldn't hurt to do someone a favour once in a while. Soon after Mason left, so did I. It became harder and harder to sleep longer than a couple of hours before waking up, thinking about my dad. I missed him so much it hurt. Less sleep meant less beauty which meant more make-up. Too bad my concealer had almost run out and I wasn't allowed to go shopping until the weekend. Saturday had never seemed so far away.

"Elena!'' A voice interrupted my sleep. I shook my head and threw the pillow over my head.
''C'mon, get up! You promised to French braid my hair today and its' nearly eight 'o clock.''
My roommate threw my sheets off the bed and stopped talking. I looked up and saw her gaze was fixed on my feet. With the slippers still on. I groaned and wanted to go to sleep again. We still had half an hour before classes started.
''You've been up again? With Mason?'' Caroline said. Her voice had an accusative tone. A week ago, she had found out I couldn't sleep anymore and told me I shouldn't hesitate waking her too. Politely, I had accepted her offer but since I didn't see the point of two people not being able to sleep, I hadn't followed her advice.
She sighed and sat down on my bed, her hand on my leg. ''If you want to talk about it-'' Caroline said but didn't finish her sentence because she knew I didn't want to talk about my father's unexpected death. In fourteen days, it would be one year since he died. I wasn't looking forward to that day, not at all. Apparently, that meant I also wasn't able to sleep anymore.
''Let's get your hair braided, annoying little-''
''Blonde. You were going to say blonde, weren't you?'' Her tone implied no arguing so I told her to give me five minutes to get dressed and take a brush for her hair.
After I finished, Caroline looked into the mirror and smiled broadly. She even clapped her hands in excitement.
''Yes! Thank you so much. It's exactly how I wanted it to be." She tapped her watch and told me I still had enough time for breakfast. We went downstairs to the dining room and I looked at the paintings, as I did every day, to see if I found out anything new. The first two months, I discovered a new detail daily, one I had missed the day before. Now, it looked like I had seen them all but the looking had become a ritual Iy liked. Once downstairs, my friends greeted me with surprise.
''Never had I thought I'd get to see the day Elena made it to breakfast.'' Bonnie was the first one to speak. Like always, she said exactly what everybody else was thinking.
Moving trash from the others, I sat down and ate breakfast for probably the second time in a year. I ignored the comments about my appearance until one got my attention.
''What did you say?'' I asked, my mouth full with a half chewed sandwich.
''Nice slippers. Weren't they Mason's?'' Vickie repeated.
I brought my foot up over the table and realised I had forgotten to take them off. I shrugged and pretended to be busy with the scrambled eggs on my plate.
''Elena Hall. Are you blushing?'' Rebekah faked ignorance.
I rolled my eyes and ate the rest of my breakfast where after I went away to change my shoes. When I came back, Caroline gave me The Look. The look that said: we need to talk about it and I feel sorry for you. I knew she'd be looking at me like that all day long. So I spent most of the day with the boys, mostly joking around with Mason and Matt, having fun. Until I saw Cara. Cara was the girl you saw in movies, with the boobs, perfect blond hair, long legs and she happened to have a crush on Mason. I wouldn't mind if she only let me out of it. I sighed and waved my goodbye because I was not in the mood to get interrogated by her about whether I had feelings for the boy or not. The next class was about to start, which was math, so I went outside for a long walk. I'd change my attendance record later on. I needed the fresh air. Once outside, a cold wind blew past me and made me shiver. The tree's, the road and the houses were still white from the snow but it was melting already and forming brown slush. I walked to the woods and the moment I touched the first tree, I started running. I ran a whole hour without stopping at a high speed. My body didn't feel numb anymore, it felt alive and healthy. The burning sensation was spreading through my legs but my breathing was still even and under control. I ran another half an hour but slower, until I arrived at the open spot in the woods with only a couple of fallen trees and a few bushes. To enter the place, you needed to crawl under something that looked like a rabbits hole. In truth, it was the entrance to my work space. The stuff I usually trained with, were hidden under one of the bushes in case someone did accidently find out, just like I had a year ago when I first started at the Gilbert Boarding School. I had guns (to keep improving my aim), a punching bag (to keep pretending it was Cara I kicked) and a radio (to hear music of course). If I needed something else like a bar to do push ups at, I used my surroundings, like a branch from a tree. I stared at the place I had created and didn't feel the usual butterflies I felt when I could work out. I felt sad because it reminded me of what I used to do with my dad. He had trained me every day, how to fight , how to aim, how to keep a healthy body. Never had I known the reason why, he just did and I liked the time we had spent together. I never knew my mom. Dad had said she left when I was two years old but I didn't miss a thing in my life. Except for now. I sat down and stared at two squirrels, fighting over a nut. The smallest one was winning because it was smarter, it made all these noises to distract the bigger one. I laughed, for no reason and got back the energy I usually had. First, I was going to kick Cara as hard as I could on the punching bag.

I had been gone for three hours and went back to school. Mason was in front, waiting for me.
''Three hours? '' He said, throwing me a towel to wipe away the sweat. ''That's longer than usual.''
I caught it and stretched before answering. ''I felt out of shape.''
Mason chuckled. ''I bet half of the teachers don't even know you're in school because you never attend half of the classes.'' I looked up at him. ''Maybe that's for the best.''
''Plus you still get good grades. How do you do that?'' he continued as if I hadn't said a word.
A smile crept across my face and I gave him a wink.
''I study. That's the big secret. You should try It some time.'' I meant what I said but he waved it away. ''Yeah mom. I study, sometimes. '' It was getting colder outside so I went back in, Mason followed me all the way to my room. He kept talking about why he didn't like studying but wanted to get good grades. Eventually, I offered him my help and joked he could probably get Cara's too.
He laughed at that, he knew what she felt for him.
''You know, maybe, you could give her a shot. She might not be a total bitch to someone she fancies.'' I gave him my best advice. I closed the door and took the longest shower I had ever taken.

''How? Tell me.'' Rick didn't know when to shut up. I liked the kid but he took it too far sometimes, didn't keep quiet when he needed to and always needed to push people to their limits.
When I didn't say a word, he started poking me. He knew that was the one thing I couldn't handle and I giggled, something I hated, but couldn't help myself.
''Fine! I'll tell you.'' I surrendered and pushed Rick off me.
I looked from the left to the right, gestured Rick to come closer and whispered in his air.
''I sleep with the principal.'' Rick sighed. ''I knew it. It had to be the only way. Too bad he's a dude, otherwise, I could've done it too.'' I slapped him on the back of his head for his stupidity.
''I don't sleep with him, you idiot. ''
''Then what's the reason they let you miss half the classes without any punishment?'' He rubbed his head on the spot where I had hit him and added, '' That hurt.''
At that moment, Mason and Matt joined us at our table, Matt neatly dressed, for once.
''Whatever she did, you must've deserved it. '' Mason said and Matt laughed. It was nice to see two boys such good friends. ''She sleeps with the principal.''
Matt gave me a thumbs up that said: way to go. Mason's look wasn't so happy. ''You what?''
I rolled my eyes and slapped Rick again. ''It's not true!'' I actually felt insulted everyone believed it so quickly. ''You really think I'd do that?'' I asked Mason and then looked at Matt. They both shrugged and started eating their evening meals.
''Jerks.'' I murmured while starting mine.
Right when I was enjoying my dinner and the quietness that hung around us, Mason broke it.
''You have to face her sooner or later. She's your roommate.''
I sighed and dropped my fork. Caroline was probably looking at the table, too shy to come and talk to me because of the boys. ''She wants to talk.'' I pointed with my thumb behind me.
The three boys 'oohed' at the same time. I nodded, ''I know.''
''Now I get why you lasted a whole day with us.'' Tyler said, joining the table. He had his sweatpants on and a top with no sleeves. An hour before dinner, Tyler usually went to the gym in school. His arms looked good, really good. Even though I preferred more clothes at dinner, just for sanitary reasons.
I looked at my watch. It was only six thirty. ''You're early.''
''Well, Cara was there, with Cynthia. You know what she's like.'' Right after he said it, Cynthia walked in with Cara, both in their jogging but not the saggy ones. They wore pink matching and very, very tight tops and shorts. Their muscled bellies and long legs were out in the open and almost every guy looked around to get a good look. Except for Mason and Tyler. Mason was too ignorant, he didn't even notice them walking in, to much annoyance of Cara who tried to stand out as much as she could. Tyler just hated the two, I didn't know why. But I understood him, I wasn't a fan of the blondes either. ''The faster you eat, the sooner we can go.'' I whispered in Tyler's ear. But it was too late, they had found their way to our table. I gave a glance at the door but figured it would be too obvious if I quickly ran out. So I stayed and listened to Cynthia flirting with Tyler who pretty much ignored her, and also had to hear Cara's numerous failures to get a date with Mason. Matt gave a quick nod with his head to the door and I nodded back. At the same time, we took our stuff and stood up.
Rick looked in my eyes, daring me to go away and leave him alone with the two couples. I almost laughed at how pathetic the situation was but kept my face straight.
''Where are you going?'' He asked.
''Library.'' Matt and I said at the same time. We both knew Rick rather listened to these girls than had to spent any time in the library, he hated books more than anything.
''Have fun.'' Tyler said and Mason just waved.
When we were out of hearing distance, I spoke again.
''I kind of feel sorry for them.''
Matt shrugged. ''If you don't tell the truth, you need to stick with the girls. And It's not like it's total torture to be able to have sex with a model anytime you want.''
I smiled and agreed. Boys could be so simple, and that's why I liked them more than girls.
''So, '' I said once we came to a point where we needed to choose to go left, actually to the library, or right, to the gym, ''want to train?''
Matt didn't even stop his tracks, he immediately went right and gestured me to follow.
''I've been practising. Today might be the day I beat you.'' He said full of confidence.
I bit my lip not to burst out into laughter. He probably knew, somewhere in his head, he had no chance of beating me in a combat. But he could have hope, I wasn't going to take that away.
''I'm going to change first, meet you in a quarter downstairs.''
Matt nodded. He also didn't have his sportswear on and went to the boys dorm. I went to the second floor, where the girls slept. Someone had been following me upstairs and I knew who it was. Damn it. I opened the door to my room and sat down at the desk chair. My arms were crossed and I hoped my face told her not to start. Unfortunately, Caroline didn't care whether I wanted to talk or not, she closed the door and sat down in front of me.
''You can't avoid me all day long. That's not nice. '' She raised an eyebrow and waited for an apology. As soon as she realised she wasn't going to get one, she sighed.
''Okay, I get it. You don't want to talk about your father, you just want to keep it all in until you get depressed and you need to be shipped away where after you'll kill yourself-''
''Caroline! '' I stopped her before she could say anymore, ''Talking about being dramatic.'' I couldn't help but smile. ''At least I made you smile.'' She said while smiling herself.
''Look, it's sweet you want to help me and all that, but I'm fine. Really.'' The blond in front of me nodded but wasn't convinced. Nothing I would say would matter so I changed into my gym outfit and tied up my hair into a high ponytail. ''You going to the gym with Matt?'' Caroline asked and fidgeted with the sleeves of her new sweater. I turned around at the tone of her voice.
''You have a crush on Matt?'' I said in disbelief. ''No way!''
''No, I don't!'' She said too quick. Her eyes were turned away from me, another obvious sign she was lying. I laughed and got myself ready to go.
''See you in an hour.''

Matt was already warming up in the gym when I arrived. I smiled when I thought Caroline, sweet little Caroline, had a crush on my friend. ''Why are you all of a sudden so happy?'' Matt asked, running laps. ''Inside joke. Run faster.'' I told him and crossed my arms, to look more strict. Apparently, it worked because he quickened his speed. Matt had found out about me training when it the weather had been too bad to go outside. I had noticed nobody ever went to the gym between six thirty and eight so on good luck, I had trained inside school. Little did I know Matt had forgotten his towel and wanted to come and get it right at the moment I was practicing my kicks. He wouldn't tell anyone if I would teach him everything I knew. At first, I could beat myself up for getting caught but now I was used to having a buddy and I kind of liked the company. It also gave my ego a boost every time I knocked out a boy.