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Trying to update frequently before I leave again.
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John POV

I can hear people shuffling around me, quietly. Somebody whispers cheekily and there is a muffled giggle in reply. Six? Eight? Ella? I have no idea. I am awake, but don't want to open my eyes just yet. My head is pounding and the dark colour of my closed eyelids seems to pulse.

Another giggle sounds from the corner, and I groan, opening my eyes. Footsteps hurry away from me, echoing down the hallway. The headache intensifies, what happened last night? I drag my hand up to my face and peer at my watch. The digital screen reads 5:59, I exhale slowly, and watch the seconds tick until six o'clock. My alarm goes off and I drag myself in to a sitting position.

"Nice to see you're awake, John" Marina appears from behind me, her soft footsteps edging nearer to the couch "We've got school in an hour, so hop to it" her calm voice is comforting, and I amble towards the bathroom for a shower – and to clean my teeth, my breath reeks of alcohol.

I bump in to Six and Ella in the hallway and Six gives me a knowing smirk, before turning back to Ella and giggling again. So that's where the giggling came from. I look down and notice my pants are soaked and I'm wearing the same clothes as yesterday. I'll have to ask Nine to fill me in.

After a quick shower I return back in to the kitchen and find the others sitting at the table for breakfast – thank God Marina cooked, not Six. We all tuck in to Marina's delicious bacon and eggs, before grabbing the necessary items for school and heading off.

The school we have been assigned to – funnily enough, John Hancock High School - is relatively close to our penthouse, so we opt to walk. I took up Nine's offer on his special homemade hangover cure, and am feeling slightly revived. After checking in with Eight and Ella, I slow down, waiting for Marina to catch up. She notices me waiting and gives me a wary smile, her eyes darting around.

"Hey John, feeling better?" she offers meekly.

"Yeah, loads thanks. Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something." I ask.

"Of course. Is this about what happened last night because honest-" she begins.

"No. No. Just, No. Nine filled me in actually. But what I really wanted was to talk about Six" I state.

"Oh. Yes, well, okay." Marina tilts her head to the side.

"I know she's been getting better but, can you keep an eye out for her? You're the closest to her, really. I mean, Ella is close but she's too young to be worried about this kind of stuff and I just thought that…" I peter off.

"Sure, John. Consider it done" she smiles warmly at me and I thank her before re-joining Nine at the front of our group.

Nine POV

We approach the gates of John Hancock High School, and I snag Six on our way in, hoping to have a word with her before things get too hectic. She squints at me, confused.

"Hey" I say, searching her dace

"Hey" she stiffly replies

"Just, be safe, Okay?" I hope she is listening "Come and find us at lunch?"

"We'll see" she gives faint smirk and winks at me before stalking in through the double doors.

I mutter a curse under my breath and find Johnny, we walk together to collect our class allocations. Johnny has Math first, while I have Chem so we bid each other farewell and find our first classes.

The school is small and cramped and the last place I want to be right now. This is the first time everyone has been to school in forever, well, everyone but Sarah, who is currently still in the holding cell. Johnny told me she tried to text him, when he was drunk last night, and I told him to forget it. We can't afford to trust anything that she says anymore.

I pass Six again on my way from the office, her face is pale and there is a sheen of sweat on her forehead. A crease forms in my own forehead and I peer at her out of the corner of my eye, casually walking as I do so. Just when I thought things were progressing between us she shuts up like a clam. Maybe school isn't such a good idea.

I continue down the hallway and snort at the people on display. Teenagers are so needy, then again, I am one too, a teenager, that is. Though I don't think I'm that needy. It's just one class, people, not the end of the world. Stop sucking faces and get out of my way.

The day passes quickly, and before I know it I'm sitting with Eight in a cafeteria swarming with people. We try to spot the others, but give up searching for them in the writhing mass of bodies, instead opting to chat idly while we waited. Marina joins us, and then Johnny. Ella is in the younger year level, so doesn't go to the same part of school as us. I unconsciously scan for Six in the crowd, who is working under a new alias, as Audrey. An old fashioned name, but then again, hers always are.

Johnny has kept his name, surprise-surprise, as has Marina. Eight has changed to Dean and I chose Harry. An interesting and unusual mix of names from which we cannot be linked in any way.

Marina lets out a soft exclamation of surprise, and I follow her line of sight to find Six sitting at another table, surrounded by strangers. Although, they don't look like strangers to her, she appears perfectly comfortable in her position. I throw Marina a meaningful glance and she rolls her eyes slightly before heading over to find out what is happening.

I keep my eyes on Six as Marina walks over. She looks happy and at ease, and I feel the familiar tingle of jealousy begin to set in. Why is Six over there? Why there, when she could be here, with me? I shake off the thought and re-focus. Six, surrounded by burly looking guys, is laughing off Marina, she looks kind and happy and – focus, Nine. Marina keeps her head down as she shuffles back over.

"What happened? What did you-" I begin.

"I'm sorry, Nine" she cuts me off "she said she was fine, and honestly, Six, I mean Audrey, looks happy"

"But that ca-" I try again.

"Just let it go, please?" Marina pleads, and this time I listen.

I focus on my food and shove it around my plate. I need Six to cooperate. I need her to listen. I need her.

Maybe I am more like those needy teenagers than I thought.


Nine is getting jealous, and Six isn't helping...
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