5.

Audrey:

The past few weeks have been hell for me. I barely had enough time for myself as my part time jobs were taking up almost all of them. I hang out with Martin while we are at the pool, working as life guards but other than that, I rarely get to see him.

I do visit the library once in a while to get a head start on college work. I really wanted to put in a good effort once I get accepted. Martin being a Microbiology student, did help me out from time to time when he was done with his shift and I was on mine.

I had applied to Stanford because I knew my CGPA would be good. I always was a straight 'A' student. And taking Spanish as my elective was a bonus for me.

"Hey Audri." I snapped out of my thoughts to find Martin sitting on my bed. Who let him in?

"Martin? You're here? How?" I asked, trying to stifle a yawn.

He simply pointed at my tree and window. "Try to lock this next time." He pointed at my window and I mentally face palmed for being so careless. What if a thief had gotten in?

"Thanks for the note."

"Anytime Audri." He waved it off and dropped my novel on the bed.

"So who's got the shift at the pizzeria?" I asked while taking off my jacket.

"Blake." He simply said.

"I should have known." I rolled my eyes.

"You know, he makes good pizza. No surprise there, his mother is an Italian chef." He randomly said.

"That explains the spectacular Italian taste." I remarked.

"Quit it, you wouldn't have known of I hadn't said it." He scrunched his nose and I tried so hard to stifle a laugh.

"Why are you here?" I asked, coming out from the bathroom now clad in shorts and a black mid-breast crop top. My hair was now in a messy bun as I put on my reading glasses.

"Do you always look this cute? It's hard for me to take you seriously." He said while tossing my novel in the air and catching it.

"Careful with that, it's not mine." I scolded.

"Anyways, I got tired of home. My grandparents are in town as Terrz is not around and apparently they don't think I'm a good influence on Kelsie." He sighed, throwing his head back on the headrest. "They're giving me a hard time and it's moments like this that I wish summer would just fucking end so fast, so I can go back to living in my college." He said bitterly.

"Looks like you're getting your wish because summer is fast ending. The days are flying like hell, and I know I should be enjoying the holiday because once college starts, I'd barely have enough time for myself or anything." I said, deep in my own thoughts.

"What course are you going for?" He quirked his head to the side.

"A doctorate degree in Stanford or something higher." I shrugged.

"No doubts, you'd be a good doctor with good grades. Heard they take this hard exam." He said, trying to recollect it's name.

"USMLE-1?" I asked.

"Yeah that. If you fail it, it's over. And I know you'd pass it." He really had faith in me.

"How's Stanford by the way?" I asked him. He should brief me since he's a student there.

"It's a tough school, I won't lie. I've considered dropping out many times. But I just don't. Not that I'm graduating with a first class degree or something there about. My grades aren't that nice." He said with a heavy sigh.

"So you're doing an extra year?" I asked him.

"To make up for my terrible one? Yes." He said.

"I'm sorry, it must really be hard on you." I deeply felt for him. He was struggling to be something.

"Pft. It's fine. I'd be dropping some jobs once school starts, that's why I'm working my ass while the holiday, so I'd enough cash on me for the session." He explained.

"Not bad. I always thought you were carrying so much." I smiled at him.

"You don't mind if I stay here for a while, do you?" His emerald eyes were pleading with me.

"No... it gets lonely by the way. Least I forget, my friend is coming over today. His parents are keeping him with me for the weekend." I told him.

"A boy and a girl alone for the weekend, that sounds like a recipe for disaster." My eyes turned pink at his implying words. I wasn't a toddler, I knew exactly what he meant.

"We're not having sex Martin. Get your head out of the gutter." I snapped, trying to control my embarrassment.

"Did I say you were?" He rose a brow at me teasingly. He was playing with my head.

"Don't make me chase you out mister." I said to him with folded arms.

"Please stay like that, that pose makes you breasts more visible as your top rides up and your flat tummy more enticing." He was analysing me.

"Martin!" I threw my hair brush at his direction which he easily dodged.

"What! Can't a man speak the truth and not get judged?" He blinked at me.

I would have given him a befitting come back if not for the doorbell. "Saved by the bell red ridding hood." I called him that because of his hair and eyebrows and lashes. They were the same colour. 

"Don't call me that!" He snapped.

"Don't blame me, you've got red hair everywhere." I smiled triumphantly.

"Everywhere? You sure?"

"Duh." I made a silly face at him to mock his dumb question.

"Wanna check?" He asked with the corner of his lips tilted up.

I gasped as his crude nature. I knew what he was talking about and no way in hell was I going to let him win. "You're sick young man."

"You're not wrong, I had a fever his morning and it nearly fried my brain."

I left him to go get my doorbell and my face beamed to see Bentley and Carter around. I have gotten used to Bentley dropping by randomly with his friends and Carter wasn't really my favourite. He was usually weird in a weird and quiet way. I preferred Luca out of all of them. He was the goofy one. Daniel was more serious and mischievous, a deadly combination and well Enzo, though I've heard his name from the guys, I've never really seen him. It appears he rarely accompanied the guys out to a few places.

"Heyya bunny." Said Luca springing up from nowhere to ruffle my hair. I admired the blue streak added on the front of his raven black hair. He had a Canadian accent that made my belly flip anytime he talked. He and Asher.

"Hey Luca." I replied.

"Someone looks ravishing." My eyes rose to Daniel who's eyes were glinting with mischief and his face wearing a wild grin.

"And someone is begging to get a punch." I retorted.

"You punch like a kitty." He simply said, unaffected by my threat.

"Why are you guys here?" I asked.

"Hey, summer holiday is ending quick and we haven't even hung out. Once summer it's over, everyone would be getting ready to go to college. Acceptance would start coming out as from next week. So I heard." Said Bentley.

"What about Stanford?" I asked, eager to know.

"They'd be releasing acceptance this week. It's the third week of summer so we should be expecting letters." Answered Daniel, making himself comfortable on my couch.

When did he get in?

"Who said you can come in?" I asked with hands on my waist.

"Yeah." Replied Carter, strutting into my house.

"Oh you boys really do what you want." I huffed in surrender.

"Hey audri. Little help." Whined Asher, wobbling with the bags and cartons in his hands. "I got us groceries to last till the end of summer, popcorn for our movie tonight, soda and juice, pizza, and detergent since we are out of those." Said Asher, recounting the kitchen stock. "Everything should last, as long as it's just us eating it..." he swallowed the rest of his sentence as he turned to meet the boys grinning at him. "Seriously?" He face palmed.

"I'm as overwhelmed as you are." I patted his shoulder to show I felt the same way.