16 My Favourite

The grade eight students sat in the rows of chairs and wooden desks at Chaoyang International School. Each student with a textbook in hand and expensive expectations hanging over their heads.

Lina sat at her desk and watched the rain drip and streak over the large windows. The gloomy gray clouds covered the sky like a depressing blanket of coldness and a warning of the coming wintery season ahead.

Although this winter would be different. This would be the first winter since mom died that Lina wouldn't be alone. Now that she had a boyfriend, that meant someone to spend the winter vacation with and she began planning what kind of things to do and places she could go with ShaoQing.

Lina's eyes scanned over the students, deeply immersed in their work and she felt down when she saw Julie's empty space.

This was the third day for Julie Zheng to be absent since the fight with Jack.