With the wound on my stomach now near-completely healed, I only had 3 broken ribs left and a still shut eye left to heal! So exciting.

“MAVERICK KENNEDY!” Aurielle's voice came from down stairs and I instantly ducked under the covers of my bed, knowing what was to come.

I heard her boots storming up the stairs to my room, stomping like an elephant. 

“WHY THE HELL DID YOU USE MY 2 MINUTE NOODLES!” She hissed and pulled my covers down, revealing me.

“Well you see, I’m a broken man so I just had to use your noodles.” I spoke slyly, a sheepish grin spreading across my face.

Aurielle slapped my face and walked back down to the kitchen. “Shark week for someone, eh?”

Another slap. “Why don’t you take all this out on Aston? I’m sure he’ll be fine with it.” Aurielle smirked at my suggestion and went over to his room, opposite mine and barged in. I tiptoed out of bed to watch this go down. She just went straight up to him and began punching his face and I flinched at the confrontment.

“THEY’RE GOING BACK AT IT AGAIN GUYS! COME WATCH THIS!” I heard a hoard of footsteps coming up as I yelled this and I smirked.

“The hell Maverick? Why-” A punch landed on the side of his face and he retaliated by ripping Aurielle’s shirt. 

“What caused this exactly?” Austin whispered in my ear and I smirked.

“Moi.” I replied, making sure the rest of us heard. Aston’s head turned towards me and I felt my cheeks heating up to a shade of red. He lunged for me and I began running, fast. My legs gave out under me as I reached the kitchen.

“Kennedy. Why. Did. You. Do. That?” He held me by my collar and I shrugged.

“Aurielle was beating me up cause I ate her noodles.” He punched my face and I gasped. The audacity. I sent my own fist into his jaw. The side Aurielle had already hit for me. I saw tears spring to his eyes and I smirked as I saw my escape. I pushed him off me and ran back up to my room, locking the door behind me. 

I saw my phone buzz from my nightstand. I grabbed it and saw a notification from the dating app I downloaded like a year ago. I forgot I had it. 

Ner14h09: Hey cutie, wanna go out with me? Xoxo

I stared down at the message. Bold.

MKxx: I’m free any day of the week, hbu?

I suppose it was worth a shot, trying to go out with the girl. She replied almost instantly,

Ner14h09: How does Friday sound? 

MKxx: Perfect. What time and where?

Ner14h09: Biscotti Cafe at 3pm? 

MKxx: Sounds good, see you then.

I looked down at the messages and smiled the slightest. I finally had something to do instead of being cooped up in the dorms at Zomji.

A knock came from my door and I got up. “Who is it?” 

“Austin, your dearest, closest friend in the whole world!” Austin replied, a snarky grin on his face when I opened up the door. 

“And what do you want?” I questioned him, an eyebrow raised. 

“Company.”

“Come in.” He smiled and lunged onto my bed, sprawling out like he owned the place. “I have a feeling you did something dumb, Austin.” 

“Oh, I did do something dumb.” 

“And what was that?” 

“I-” His cheeks flushed one of the brightest pink, it spread to his neck and he hung his head down low.

“Austin. Tell me.”

“Yuka broke up with me.” I could hear the sadness in his voice as I just stared at him, shock etched on my face.

“Why?” They were always so happy.

“I dunno, she said, "you never care about what I want.” and “we always do the stuff you want.” or something like that.” He mumbled and pulled my blanket over his head. I didn’t know what to say to that. “Now she’s probably run off to Aurie and Giselle over it!” 

“It’ll be fine. Go complain to Aston if you’re that upset.” I suggested, since he was the one with authority around here.
“Aston hates me. I broke his nose multiple times.” He reminded and I took a few seconds to recall before nodding slowly.

“Right, okay. Well I’m not the type of guy for this and I just got myself a date for tomorrow. Maybe go cry to your sister.”

“I’m not crying! Just… Contemplating.” Austin elbowed my ribs and got up and left my room. I snorted and followed him out. 

“Let’s go eat something and you complain whilst I listen.” I suggested and a smile was brought to my best friend’s face.

“Okay.”

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After a handful of coffees and unmeaningful advice from yours truly, Austin looked and said he felt better, but I doubted that. It had only been a couple of hours since the break up and just from looking at his face, I could tell his insides were in turmoil. Poor boy. 

“Now, I’ve got things to do.” I announced, getting up and holding my side. I didn’t have important things to do, mainly go get my wounds re-done and also get my hair re-done. It had been a good three months since my last haircut. 

“Oh, Judy!” I knocked on the infirmary door and looked for the nurse in charge of the place. 

“What, Maverick?” She grunted, opening the door. Her hair was all dishevelled and she looked like crap.

“I need you to redo the dressings on my wounds.” I told her, smiling slightly. 

“Not right now, Aston is in a bad condition.” She responded and began closing the door in my face.

“What do you mean? I was fighting with him just a few hours ago!” I was astonished by the little time it took that dude to get himself into trouble. 

“I don’t know, he just went out to grab dinner and he came back in this state!” Judy let me inside the room, showing a passed-out Aston, covered in blood and bruises. His clothes were ripped, right shoe missing and nose clearly broken. It hadn’t even been healed in the first place. It now basically touched his cheek.

“Aston?” I whispered, not wanting to wake him, yet still needing him not to remain unconscious. All of sudden, quickened footsteps were in the hallways and a flustered looking Aurielle waltzed on in. “What are you doing here?” 

“Uhm, out you go!” She pushed me out and I was left in the hall. Needing to bandage myself, all by myself!