No one ever told us to get attached, but we did. And no one told us when it was time to let go.

-THEO

Caleb Parks' POV

Do

It took a while, but Marcel and I finally came to a compromise on the university; I would enrol with his help.

It was close to home, and I could be there for Abigail whenever I was needed. I could also go to the studios when Marcel wanted to work with me.

Marcel and his wife Dinah, their daughter Marci and my sister Gail just dropped me off in the dorms, and they helped me set up.

I gave Marci a big hug and made her promise that she would look after Abigail as if they were sisters, which they are now.

I finished having a quick shower when I walked into the room; I was met with my roommate.

He turned around and shot me a smirk.

"If you swear that you are not a total neat freak, I can promise to keep it down when I bring girls over." His smirk grew wider.

I stood in just a pair of jeans with a towel slung over my shoulders, watching him.

"What say we make it interesting," I go along with his game, "If you give me a heads up before it happens. I'll do both of us a favour and sleep elsewhere. Hell, I'll even spread roses on the floor and leave a bottle of Jack Daniels in a bucket of ice."

He threw his head back in laughter, and I followed soon after.

He stretched out his hand for me to shake.

"Jack Guave."

I shook his hand, "Caleb Parks."

"Say, Caleb, I think that this may be the start of a beautiful friendship."

Re

Jack and I apparently got sucked into watching a movie all night. And if they needed a zombie extra at the end of the world sequel, I'd be the best fit.

"Rough Night," The girl who has sat beside me for almost half the semester says.

Her brows raise in concern, a contrast to her usual scowl. I had no idea what her name was, but I can tell you that she speaks with her facial features, literally.

Her eyes always had a cold yet broken look. Her face tells a whole other story. She hardly ever speaks her mind, it's obvious when something bugged her, but she preferred to stay mute and stare the problem down as if it were to disappear if she looked at it any closer.

"You could say that." I massage my temple with my fingers trying to ease the pain.

"A wise man once said early to bed and early to rise; but I say if you take enough hits of coffee when you wake up, you could literally spend the night having a slumber party with the cast of Jersey shore and still be able to run a marathon at the crack of dawn."

I whip my head too fast and look at her. I pinch myself to remind myself that I am awake.

The pain in my head intensifies, and that's the only reminder I need.

"Here," She slips a white pill into my hand.

I look from the pill and back to her with a dubious look.

"If I wanted to have my way with you, I would have done that long ago."

I didn't get to reply because the professor walked in. I had nothing to lose, so I downed the pill with a dry mouth and proceeded to sit through the class.

The pain was bearable thanks to the pill that the girl gave me. I realize that now would be a good time to know her name now that I accepted a drug from her.

As soon as the professor leaves, the whole class gets up to do the same, and the mysterious girl beside me disappears.

I sigh in defeat that my curiosity would have to be answered next week unless I miraculously bump into her before then on campus.

I stand up and start to leave when a piece of paper falls from my lap.

'Taryn Alden.' It read, and I found myself grinning at the thought.

Mi

"I'm telling you; they were the biggest I have ever seen." Jack hollers as we walk into the café, successfully grabbing everyone's attention.

He was describing his last conquest, and for some reason, I would rather listen to Marcel try and compliment a bunch of puppies.

I playfully push him towards a table in the back to prevent getting more than needed attention.

"I mean, they just kept bouncing, and I was pretty glad about that. She was so fucking tight that I swear I felt the circulation to my guy down there cut short." He goes on to continue, not caring about my grimaced expression.

"Don't be such a prude," He rolls up a piece of serviette and throws it at my face.

Living with Jack has had its ups and downs, ranging from his every night hookups to me needing a quiet room to read and make some new lyrics.

I snort in his direction, "I'm glad I got to crash elsewhere last night." I grin.

"Where did you sleep last night anyway?" He furrows his brows at me.

"A friend of mine," I reply vaguely.

The last thing I need is for Jack to have his way with Taryn. The way I see it, she might have her way with him, and I doubt that a bed or condom will be present.

Jack was about to comment on my answer when my temporary roomie walked closer to us dressed in a waitress outfit.

If I knew that she was on her shift, I would not have allowed Jack to come here with me, but it's like they say, there's a first time for everything.

"Welcome to Roxy's café. Can I take your order?" She winks at me before turning her attention to the pen and notepad she held.

This exchange goes over Jack's head because he just sits there and ogles her.

"I'll get you but hold the clothes. Add extra whipped cream and a cherry on top." He smirks as his eyes rake over her form.

I wonder if I am a good friend for contemplating whether to order popcorn. I already know that this will not go down in Jack's favour.

Taryn gives him a tight-lipped smile. But on further observation, I could see the vein on her forehead bulge and don't get me started on the fire that has been ignited in her eyes.

"Tell you what, why don't I give you our special on the house, mm?" She looks at him expectantly.

Jack's eyes light up like a Christmas tree as he nods enthusiastically.

Taryn allows a dark smile to cover her features as she turns away from our table and takes the milkshake from the tray of a passing waitress.

She dumps it on his head, "You can keep the tip and what else is left of your dignity, pretty boy."

That's the finale because Taryn throws her apron at a waiter, mutters about quitting and storms out.

"Now, only if I could get said dignity in that feisty mouth of hers." Jack has his finger tapping on his chin, not caring that he is covered with a milkshake with a cherry on his hair.

I pick up the cherry and slip it into my mouth, "You wish, pretty boy."

Fa

I spent the whole week after the café incident apologizing to Taryn. I've never been a big fan of letting people get close to me after the accident, but something tells me that Taryn Alden might just make the cut.

I also helped her look for a job, but there was no such luck.

Marcel called and said should I say demanded that I get over to the elderly retirement home the next day with the song I was working on.

I would love to get Taryn and Jack there to support me in my second performance, but it won't be easy.

"What are you doing this weekend?" I ask Jack as he sifts through his pile of semi-clean clothes; looking for what to wear to class today.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Most likely gonna bring a girl over. Why do you ask?"

"I was thinking we could spend it in a club," I suggest while crossing my fingers behind my back.

"Sounds like a plan. Text me the address, and I'll meet you there."

I grin.

I met Taryn in class with her head stuck in a book.

"Should I even ask?" I take the book from her fingers and discover that it doesn't even have a title.

"You don't want to know." She shakes her head and takes the book back from me.

"You really like this mysterious girl vibe you got going on, don't you?" I ask rhetorically, but she shrugs off my question.

"Seeing that you have more free time on your hands, what's to say you come watch me sing tomorrow afternoon?" I get it out there.

"Please tell me this is not a date because I can't cross that line with you." She has a bewildered look on her face.

I can't help the laugh from slipping out of my mouth. Taryn drops the whole surprised façade and glares at me.

"It's not my fault that my place of work became infested with unnecessary nonsense." She scoffs in my direction.

I never got Jack to apologize to her, but I can work on that later. My main plan of getting them to watch me sing is still in progress.

I quickly sober up, "I'm still sorry about that. Jack can be a little too much. I'm positive, if you gave him a chance, you guys would get along."

"I'll pass, but if you want to set him adrift in the ocean, feel free to ring me up. Now about tomorrow, I'm pretty short on cash right now. The university only covers my expenses relating to school work, so how do you expect me to get there?"

"I'll figure that out." I am very sure I have an ear-splitting grin on my face.

So

I finished my performance, and the women were showering kisses on my cheeks as I walked to Jack.

"If I knew that it was only you that was going to be getting some tonight. I might as well have stayed back in the dorm." He complained.

I laugh and lead him towards the bridge table where I left Taryn. She was smirking as the three men swore at her for giving them a run for their money.

"Gentlemen, I am willing to forfeit my winnings if and only if all you geezer get yourselves a fine-looking lass." She hollers with a wistful smile.

I can tell that she is in her element.

The men throw out more offensive words at her in a playful manner, drop their cards and walk away.

"If I knew your mouth was this dirty, I would have tested it the moment we met." I ignore the dig that Jack threw at Taryn and make him sit in the seat across from her.

Taryn must have gotten a heads up on what I planned to do because she tried to use her tiny figure to her advantage and stand up from the chair that she was on.

Unfortunately for her and lucky for me, I saw it coming and made her sit back down.

"Jack meet Taryn, Taryn meet Jack." I hold my finger up when they both go to open their mouths.

I know that Gail is running around here somewhere, and the last thing I needed was for her to hear the words that would have left their individual mouths.

"My family is here, and I consider you two as such. So can you both do me a favour and pretend to get along? I promise that you will never have to see each other again. Do we have a deal?"

I look from my roommate to my coursemate, not sure of what the outcome would be.

"Deal," Jack replies, keeping a flirtatious gaze on Taryn.

We look at the small but mighty woman before us who apparently had the ball in her court.

"If you can keep your scaly hands, dog-borrowed tongue, and creepy eyes to yourself," She starts her agreement with a glare directed at Jack which softens when she looks at me. "For you, I guess it's a deal then."

As soon as those words leave her mouth, I feel someone crawling up my leg.

I look down and see Gail with a sneaky grin on her face. She raises her hands to me. I comply with her wishes and pick her up.

"Guys, meet my little sister, Abigail." Gail shyly waves at them as I introduce her before she hides her face in the crook of my neck.

"There you are." A thirteen-year-old Marci comes our way with a flustered look that turns relieved when her eyes hone in on the human in my hands.

I use my free hand to wrap it around Marci's shoulders, "And this is my other sister Marci."

Marci darts her eyes from Taryn to Jack and gives them a smile, "Hi."

Jack nods at her greeting before turning his focus to me, "Is there by any chance that you have an older sister or a cousin nearer to our age?"

Taryn huffs and goes to open her mouth until she realizes we have an impressionable young lady in our midst.

As the spawn of Marcel and Dinah, I came to notice and conclude that Marci is very much like her parents. In every which way.

"I would like to use soap to clean your brain, but it's already too late." She goes to say.

I hear Marci giggle from beside me and conclude at that moment that having these two around might be the highlight of my college years.

La

"Are they going at it again?" Dinah asks while nursing her second cup of coffee this morning.

"Would it be murder if I show them the use of my shotgun?" Marcel mutters from beside his wife.

I pause my feeding of Gail and take in the couple before me.

"Like having a dead body in the house would do us a lot of favours," Marci says as she walks in a black dressing gown.

"I'm just saying maybe Taryn and Jack would like to know how it works." Marcel shrugs his shoulders.

I made a promise to Jack and Taryn; the day summer rolled around the corner. Taryn had no money to go home, so I offered her a room in the Wellington Mansion. Jack thought he could add her to his summer conquest. Safe to say that this summer would be fun.

"I'll be right back." Dinah excuses herself and walks out of the room.

"So, what are we doing today?" I give up trying to teach Gail how to eat her veggies and leave her to her own devices.

"You are making a music video for the empatía album while I'll see what I can do to get you more gigs," Marcel says thoughtfully, with a faraway look in his eyes.

"What about you?" I direct my gaze to the black clothing wearer among us.

Marci snorts as she pours cereal into a bowl, "I might hang out with Nate or stay here with Gail. Depends on who stays and who goes." She shrugs and begins eating her cereal, oblivious to the glare her father gives her.

"No worries, Jack and Taryn will keep you company." Dinah directs her daughter as she walks back into the room.

"How come?" Marci asks mid-chew.

"I locked them up in a room so they could sort out their problems." Dinah has an identically evil smile that her daughter is sporting as loud bangs start filling up the silence of the silence.

This summer might just be more exciting than I bargained for.

Ti

Safe to say that university has had its ups and downs, and I don't mean with my two best friends who decided they wanted to have an open relationship at first which clearly was not working out.

Take the scene before me as an example.

Taryn walked in, hoping to come and have a study sesh with Jack and me. Apparently, I was the only one with an open notebook while Jack had his tongue down some girl's throat on his bed.

If they kept going at it, I was ready to take myself to Taryn's room which was not too far from ours.

Taryn had a tight-lipped smile take over her features as she walked out. I sigh. Throwing a book to the duo, I efficiently break their kiss.

"What was that for?" Jack glared death in my direction.

"Taryn just walked in here." I roll my eyes at his ignorant self.

"Holy shit!" With that, he forgets the girl on his bed and runs towards Taryn's room.

The exams were raining on all three of us butts, especially mine.

Apparently, university reviewing was not something you could get done by yourself. I had to divide myself into two and be there for them both: To ensure that we both graduated.

Do

I was way past my breaking point. The silent treatment Jack and Taryn were giving each other was finally getting annoying. The week before graduation, I had all of us sit in the same café where they first met.

"I love you two like family, but if you both don't stop the feud you two got going on. I think we are going to have a problem here." I glare at them.

"It's not my fault that he can't keep it in his pants," Taryn mutters and looks Jack straight in the eye.

"You're one to talk. The next day after we hooked up, you allowed some scrawny dude to go down on you." Jack returns her glare with more fire.

I should have microwave popcorn before I came here.

"You said you wanted an open relationship!" Taryn yells, clearly getting fed up. "I didn't want that, but you made your choice when I walked in on the little show you gave one of the professors in the lecture hall." I heard her voice crack at the last part of that sentence, and I resisted the urge I had to pull her into my arms and hug her.

In the six years, I have known Taryn, I know that she has gone through a lot and for her to still be kicking and fighting says a lot.

Jack's face softens, "That was you; I could have sworn it was one of the professors."

Taryn sniffles and lets out a humourless laugh, "Well then, I can safely say that I don't want to go down that road again. So when we graduate next week, can you just pretend that we never met and go on with our lives?" Taryn takes his silence as the answer, and a tear slips under her eyes.

She gets up and starts to make her way out of the café, but Jack stands in her way with a determined look on his face.

"Hell can freeze over before I agree to that. Patrisha, I only said that because I was afraid of how you made me feel. That doesn't mean I don't want to try and make this work."

Taryn sighs, "I knew playing that game of twenty questions with you was a bad idea. It's not a big deal, Jack, you could always find another girl, and I could-"

The words get stuck in her throat as Jack crashes his mouth onto hers. The kiss lasted longer than I thought it would. I could have gone home, microwaved some popcorn and come back.

"Don't ever say that again," Jack says after he breaks their kiss and rests his forehead on hers. "I can't imagine going into the big world without you. Sure I have Caleb, but I still need you. I know that I'm going to be a real dick most times and fuck everything up, but that's why I can always know that you will be there to catch me when I fall, and I'll catch you when you fall." He brushes the hair from her face.

Taryn's reply to that was smashing her lips with his; tears flooded her face as their breathing filled the cafe. It was hard to tell whether there were happy tears or not. Judging from the situation, it came from the spur of the moment.

I was playing a Batch piece on the piano. Allowing myself to feel the beat, not fighting off the memories that come with it but embracing it.

I feel a hand rest on mine when I hit the last note. I open my eyes and see Peyton staring at me with a concerned look on her face which was free of makeup. She has never looked prettier.

I refuse to believe that my time with this girl is up, so I turn my face the other way, "Taryn called. She said that she is coming back earlier than expected."

Peyton inhales a sharp breath, but she plays it off, "That's a good thing."

I throw my defences out the window and scowl at her, "How exactly is that a good thing?!"

She sighs, "Caleb, we've been over this already. A deal must remain a deal."

I stood up, not wanting to be near her, "How can you say that?" I ask her incredulously.

"Was everything a joke to you? Did the times we spent together mean nothing more than a mere deal to you?!" I can already hear the cracks in my voice.

She gets up and starts coming closer to me slowly with an offended expression, "That's a lie; if I could have my way, I would rather stay here. With Gail, Marci, Jack, Jacob and Shawn. Hell, I'll even get to know Taryn, but I can't." She looks away.

"I've literally bore my soul to you, yet you still want to be selfish and leave all in the name of a deal." I try my best to limit how much my voice cracks. "I'm begging you just stay, just please stay."

I close the gap between us and hold her face in my hand. Taking in the soft blue eyes that brimmed with tears.

I know it's killing her about this decision; she could simply stay and put us all out of our misery.

"You don't know why I can't stay. Trust me, Caleb. It is for our own good, especially yours." She looked deeply into my eyes, and I did the one thing I craved to do all this while.

Marcel always told me that words would get me nowhere, and judging by the stubborn girl before me, I would have to act on it.

I crash my lips on hers.

She went rigid, but I didn't allow it to discourage me. I pull her flush against me. One hand on her waist, and the other cradled her face. I tilt her chin upwards and nibble on her lower lip. A gasp escapes her lips, and I slip my tongue into her mouth.

The tears fall from her eyes and mix with mine as I explore every corner of her mouth.

I kiss her with all I've got, all I have left to give.