Eight Weeks (Unfrozen Four Book 2)

“’cause without you, babe, I lose my way”—Falling Like The Stars by James Arthur

“Can you not leave your clothes all over the living room?” Winter says as she barges into my bedroom, throwing my jacket at me.

We’ve been back in New City for a week now, and with every passing day, this woman gets more annoying.

Being back here also means that I no longer see Aaron every day, but he texts me… hourly. Well, I do see him daily, either because we eat lunch together or at hockey practice when Lily and I watch Brooklyn for Miles. But we no longer sleep in one bed together. At least not unless he spends the night here or I spend the night at his house, which hasn’t happened yet.

I get it, though. I wouldn’t want to spend a day in this dorm room either, if I had any other choice. Winter is a pain in my goddamn ass, worse than my pedophilic uncle. Yes, I said it. She is worse than him.

“You always leave your stuff everywhere. Are you a hoarder or something?”

She irritates me, a lot. I always thought I was good at finding words to say or know what someone is about to say but with her… I just don’t ever know.

“You do know that a hoarder isn’t the right term, right?” Plus, I left my jacket hanging by the coatrack, not anywhere else around the living space, so what the hell is she on about?

“Doesn’t matter. You are annoying me with your dirtiness.”

“My… What?”

“So now you don’t even understand English. Just great.” Winter inhales deeply, then repeats what she had said very slowly.

“I did understand what you said, Winter. I am from New City. I was born here. I speak English fluently. You just don’t make fucking sense.” God, please, let me go back in time. Preferably to the beginning of whenever Aaron and I became just that; an us, we.

“You are a horrible person,” she mutters under her breath, then has the audacity to look around my room like she hasn’t been snooping around while I was gone for a little over two weeks. “You got a lot of pictures of Aaron. You’ve got a crush on my boyfriend?”

I almost laugh right into her face at that. “Your boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

“You are delusional, Winter Varley.” And I absolutely stand by that. How in the world has Lily managed to share a space with this woman since freshman year? I barely made it a full month in total, and I would rather sleep on the streets than spend another day in her presence.

“What? You think you’re his girlfriend?” She laughs, once. “Honey, you do know Aaron only hangs around you because of a bet, right?”

“Once you’re done talking bullshit, close the door when you leave.”

She takes a step deeper into my room. “You don’t believe me?”

“I don’t ever believe a word you say.” Can she just let me get back to my assignment? Doesn’t she have her own schoolwork to do anyway?

My phone chimes, and while Winter keeps babbling about that stupid bet she just made up, I check my messages.

Aaron: I can’t sleep, my brain won’t stop thinking about you.

I smile to myself, quickly shaking that smile off my face because what the actual fuck? I do not smile at messages from anyone. Ever.

Sofia: Aw, miss me?

Aaron: Nah. But your cute butt rubbing against me when I try to fall asleep, that I do miss.

Aaron: Also, I was thinking about something else…

Sofia: Oh, no. Nothing good ever comes from that one.

Aaron: Listen here my little ketchup packet. I will literally come over right now to shove a pillow into your face if you say that shit ever again.

Sofia: Little ketchup packet? What?

Aaron: Yup. That’s your new nickname now for whenever you’re on your devils week. You better learn to love it.

It’s a genuine sport trying to understand how his mind works. His new nickname for me sits a little heavy in my heart, but I suppose I can get used to it.

At least it’s only a once-a-month kind of thing.

Sofia: Hold on. Winter is talking to me.

“Can you just leave, my God. Do you need me to spell it out for you or something?” I snap when she sits down beside me and tries to look at my screen.

What is her damn problem with me? I don’t walk around here marching into her room to speak to her either, so why the fuck would she do that to me? Come to think Winter doesn’t just hate me, she envies me for some unknown reasons.

Alright, maybe not all too unknown, but like, just give it up already. By now, she should have gotten the hint that Aaron and her will never happen.

“Have you listened to anything I just said?”

“I have not.” Nor will I ever listen to what she says.

Seriously, the entire building could be on fire, and I would not believe a thing that came out of her mouth, let alone even hear it. She’s tuned out, constantly.

“You’re digging your own grave with this one, Sophie. I am telling you.” She gets up from my bed, walking toward the door.

Jokes on her, I already have my grave dug.

As soon as the door closes behind her, my eyes are back on the screen.

Aaron: I told Lily it would be a bad idea letting you stay with Winter.

Aaron: She’s jealous I have a way better and deeper relationship with you than I ever had with her.

Sofia: Already figured that one out two seconds after I moved in.

I wish I was lying, but I’m not.

From the second I stepped foot in this dorm room with Aaron by my side, she has hated me. The disgusted looks I’ve had to put up with was only a small indicator.

Sofia: Anyway, what were you thinking about?

Aaron: Never mind. Already figured it out.