User blog:BlissfullyRainingForever/Back To School: Senior Edition

Hey everybody!

So, it's Summer here, and after discussing with Jen and Liza we've decided to make a senior edition of back to school.

That means everybody is like, the same age, with a driver's license, a buttload more of partying, and...well, I guess you'll just have to find out c;

Anyways, our other "Back-To-School Chat User Fanfic" is still going on, but most likely will not last forever, so don't ignore that half.

Until it is over is when we'll move over to this blog, and begin writing an entire new school year...meaning almost all of the ships will die down, and some might spring up during the year once more, others might just, welp, stay dead. It's all up to you! We dunno.

Sign-ups are fairly similar but will be a bit more specific, so we can know how to portray you better in the story, even though we know most of you if you come on chat all the time. If you don't, however, then just go with the flow and describe yourself the best you possibly can.

Stay tuned for BACK TO SCHOOL: SENIOR EDITION!

Sign-Ups
Name:

Age(Obvious, but I guess this can range from 16-18, so pick whatever):

Personality:

Clique:

Closer Friends:

Crushes:

Alright. So.

''By cliques, I mean whether you want to be with the mean girls/guys, popular, nerdy, shy, outgoing, or jock-ish (the rather stereotypical groups). ''Don't get confused with that.

By Closer Friends, it just mean who you'll rather sit with at lunch or be seen or noticed talking alot to. This won't alter your clique, though, so don't worry.

Crushes - Mkay, don't get too excited. Even if you do put a crush in this section, not every one of these relationships will pop up all over again, or as fast. Be warned that it may take until the whole story is over before you're a couple, and some may be lucky and get started off with a date. Just consider whether you want to have a date by the beginning and none at the end, or develop one very slowly but overtime it gradually gets better and better, and in the end, well...you know how it goes. And since this is senior edition, crazy stuff will happen for sure, so don't be upset if you end up kissing a jock (*cough* like Liza). Oh, and you can have multiple ones too ;3

This story, instead of being like the other, and starting at the beginning, will start at second semester. So instead of re-doing Homecoming, we'll be ending it with Prom.

Enjoy!

Outgoing Clique (Da Sweet Sixteens tbh, everybody joining this is 16 :3)
Eden - Age 16

Emilia - Age 16

Connor - Age 16

Mean Girls/Guys Clique
Marina - Age 16

Popular Clique
Liza - Age 17

Summer - Age 16

Blake - Age 16

Shy Clique
Jen - Age 16

Rebekah - Age 16

The Jocks
Eli - Age 17

Tristian - Age 16

Jakey - Age 16

The Nerdy Clique
Haley - Age 16

The First Day of Second Semester - Summer's POV
"Tobias," I say, my feet dangling over the chasm. It was dangerous but we were dauntless. "Summer." He says, grabbing my hand. I feel myself smiling and he smiles back, inching his face towards mine. Leaning towards eachother, our lips are about to touch until he says something. "Wake up." I jerk back awkwardly. "What?" "Time for school." he replies, but his voice...it was more girly. He shoves me repeatedly until my eyes fly open, meeting the face of Liza.

"What were you dreaming of? You were smiling like crazy."

"Nothing." I jolt up, pushing my hair back out of my face.

She rolls her eyes. "Whatever, we're late. Hurry up and get dressed, we can't even eat breakfast."

"What about Jen?" I ask, getting up. She just shakes her head. "I'm going to wake her up now. Just hurry, we're five minutes passed the bell and it's second semester, meaning we'll most likely get a tardy slip." She says quickly, rushing out of my room. I look over at my alarm. It's plugged out. I forgot.

"Dang it," I murmur, plugging it back in. I jog over to my closet. I pull out a light blue flannel and white bandeau and quickly change into them, pulling on a pair of ripped skinny jeans. I put on a pair of white boots, with a little bit of heel, just so I can try to pull off Liza's height. Shoving on a bracelet I got from Disney World, vacation from when I was in Freshman year, I quickly plop up my hair that I had straightened last night into a messy bun and rush downstairs. We had just moved into a two-story house, which looks alot fancier than our old one.

Beep-Beep.

"Just a minute!" I yell to Liza's cue of 'Hurry up'. I snatch an apple and some juice before sprinting out of the door, sliding into the passenger's seat of her blue convertible. "Lucky I'm here to get you two, otherwise I would have left you behind. How many times have you failed your driving test anyways? 6?" She asks, and I bite into my apple. "7," I correct her, munching. She shakes her head and I laugh before she pulls out of the driveway just when Jen decides to show up.

"LIZA! WAIT!" She screams, diving into the backseat. "I told you to hurry up. And you know I don't live with you guys and mother anymore." Liza says, pulling into reverse. "Where are you staying anyways?" Jen questions, and she just shrugs. "With a close...older, friend."

I sigh, pulling out my homework from last night. "You still didn't finish that?"

I don't respond. Instead, I quickly figure out all of the problems for Pre-Calculus before shoving the paper back into my binder and putting on my sunglasses. "How late are we?" I ask Jen, who is currently on her phone.

"Um, 15 minutes."

The car comes to a stop and I look up, seeing a stoplight. "Great," I mumble, shifting. "We're only around five minutes away. We'll make it." Jen says, looking out of the window. "Yeah, I know, but I can't stand Mr. Gold." I mutter under my breath, chewing on a stick of gum. "I thought I had it bad in Freshman year, but certainly not."

Liza swerves, pulling into the parking lot and I slide my arms through the straps of my backpack. It has pink and blue anchors all over it. Jen comes out as well, and Liza presses the button to lock the car and we quickly run inside, before we bump into the principal.

"Liza, Summer and Jennifer..." She smiles fakely, and I put my sunglasses on the top of my head. "It's Jen," My sister says, clearing her throat. "Right." She grins, and I realize her makeup is a little off. I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear uncomfortably.

"Very well. Get to class. All of you." She says, before walking off, her stilettos clicking against the tile loudly. She didn't seem too pleased.

I begin to walk up the stairs, to our classroom. We had switched schools from the one from Freshman year because it was too overwhelming. Surprisingly, when we did, some of the people we knew did also.

I see a boy with a buzzcut walk through the hallway, dragging his bag behind with him. "Hey Eli," Jen smiles shyly, and he just waves. Walking down from where we came from, her eyes follow him, but I ignore it. "See you guys later," I say, pushing open the door to my class and stumbling through. Everything gets silent as I look at my teacher who raises his eyebrows.

"Write me a tardy." He says, handing the slip of paper to me. I write down my full name neatly before giving it back, and he looks at me oddly.

"Don't be tardy again, will you?"

"Sure." I lie, before looking around to find my seat taken. "Oh, right. Haley took your seat. You sit behind Tristian now."

I groan, rolling my eyes and dropping my bag to the floor. I sit behind him and he instantly turns around. Of course, being wary of all the jocks, I should know he'd attempt something.

"You look nice." He's playing innocent.

"Yep." I say bluntly, taking out my textbook.

"Whatever look you're pulling off, it looks sexy. Oh, and can I borrow a pencil?"

I decide on whether or not I should. "I don't have anymore..."

"You're lying, I just saw you take out a pencil from millions of others in your pencil case."

Busted.

"Ugh, fine, whatever." I hand him one, and he smirks.

"Thanks, sweetie." He says, and I roll my eyes. "If you don't have a seat at lunch, you can always sit with me and-"

"Your three hundred other ex-girlfriends? I'd rather pass, you know." I smile sarcastically, and he lets out a deep breath.

"Fierce. I like it."

"You like every single girl."

"Not all of them the same...Some can be special."

"Right. Special."

"The opportunity's still open if you want to accept it." He says, and I smile.

"I'll think about it."

As if I would ever.

I wonder what my sisters are up to.

Musical Symphony of Dweebs - Liza's POV
I tap my fingers on the top of the piano as Mr. Hiller yells at everyone else. Having the solo part for this song, it's never my fault. I'm just pissed that I got shoved back into Chorus.

"Marina, spit out the gum, now! Our concert is in one week, why are you all acting like a bunch of bumbling bees? We need this to be perfect!" He takes a deep breath and looks back at the pianoist, who has been shaking her head. "Ms. Vietta, start from the beginning." He looks at me. "Liza, from the top."

I shake my head, eyeing Marina with a raised eyebrow before straightening up. My hands skim over the short dress before I starting the beginning of "Just Like a Tree", which he got the idea from another Chorus group in no-name Florida.

"Just like a tree... that's planted by the water... I shall not, be moved. Though the winds... are blowing all around me, I shall not be moved." Ms. Vietta eyes me as I move to walk around the piano. "These winds will never last... this storm is sure to pass. This trial is just a test... so..." The rest of the choir jumps in, singing until the end of the song. Mr. Hiller sighs, leaning against the piano.

"Everyone take five. Liza, Ms. Vietta, with me, please." He then turns towards the rest of the class. "At the first sound of noise, I will come back and you all will be in trouble." He then turns and walks out of the room, towards the practice room. Ms. Vietta gets off the piano bench and walks with me to the practice room located just off to the side and sets me down in one of the sight-reading chairs, Ms. Vietta on the piano bench. He leans against the wall. "What do you suggest we do? The concert is in a week and no one is ready."

"I'm ready," I reply, pushing my hair out of my face. "And all it will take is the day before concert. Everyone will pay attention and realize what they are doing and will be ready. This happens every concert and you know it. You just need to relax." I put a hand on his shoulder. "Relaxing is good." I then turn and head out of the practice room, knowing my use was pretty much done. I sit down in the Soprano section and turn to look at Marina. "Gum, really?"

She shrugs, grabbing another piece out of her bag and sticking it into her mouth. "Sorry, it's my stress reliever, and I need that with him being a maniac." I shake my head and laugh before looking at the alto and tenor section to see Rebekah and Blake talking, their textbooks sitting on their lap as they go over their math homework.

"Blake, this should be the answer, you got it wrong."

"No I didn't, you messed up right there."

"No, I clearly didn't. You messed up right about..." she takes her pencil and draws a light scribble over his paper, "everywhere."

"Rebekah!" Blake exclaims as he snatches up his paper, looking upset. "Why would you do this to me? Why?"

She suddenly looks like she just killed his puppy and looks to her right, talking to Eden. Blake then looks upset himself and works on his homework by himself until Mr. Hiller returns. He sighs and motions for everyone to stand.

"Alright, we are done with Just Like A Tree. Lets move on to One Candle. Blake, Marina, as soloist, please come to the front. Liza, as the second soloist, stay where you are and come out once it's your turn to sing." I nod and step aside so Marina can come to the front, Blake shuffling.

Marina takes a deep breath and starts the song. I can only think of what Jen is doing at this moment...

Excuses? - Jen's POV
"Stop giving me excuses Jennifer." I'm too lazy to correct him. I cross my arms and look up at him. I sigh. "How many times do I have to say that I am telling the truth?" I ask, sighing. "I don't have it." I stuff the crumpled papers back into my teal backpack. He pulls my arm, which I think is agains the rules. I look through his thick rimmed glasses, his mouth twisted to a scowl. I want to say something smart-

"Why don't you have your homework?" He whispers, but it's just as menancing as if it was a yell. I breathe, closing my eyes, trying to imagine I'm somewhere else.

"I'm talking to you.." He's losing his patience and fast. I lean towards him, glaring. "You know what?" I grab my notebook. "I spent all my free time finishing your project and I forget it this once." I can feel my blood pressure rising.

I decide it isn't worth it and lose thepower in my voice. "And I'll turn it in next class..." I fall back into my seat turning red. I don't like people noticing me. I resume drawing, I sigh looking up. I need to be more outspoken-I rarely ever talk to most people anymore. I pull a lock of hair behind my ear as I tap my pencil on the desk, trying to find a way to make the drawing look better.

I sketch a floral crown, sighing. The blooms aren't even. the hands look like crap-oh well. I draw cross earrings as I move on to the guy in the drawing-

"Who is that?" Someone leans in, watching me. I don't even look up as I shut my notebook. "Nothing." I sigh, putting it in my backpack. "Just sketching." I mumble nervously. I feel myself turn red. I hate when people watch me draw or write. It might be just me but-

The teacher stands in the front of the classroom smiling. "Good job students on your work. I commend you. However, we must over how I take the no excuse policy..."

I sigh as his eyes lock on mine. I bite my lip, hard, trying to refrain from getting mad. I don't feel like yelling at anyone today.

"The no excuse policy is one we must take seriously class. We must begin to take the responsibility of the work ourselves." His dramatic hand gestures don't make me believe him anymore. I want nothing more than to yell in his face, but what I don't want is to be placed in the Principal's office explaining myself even more.

I keep silent through the lecture, eventually ignoring him all together and begining to doodle again. Their hands are now holding - I alter the girl's shirt to a sweater and sigh as he finishes. I quickly shut the notebook and take out my science book. I eye the board to see twenty five questions. I groan, flipping to the page and starting.

I finish the questions with ease, I can just scan the textbook and find the answers. I turn it in early and sigh.

Sketching one more time, coloring the background in a navy blue. I slam the notebook shut as I zip up my bag. Science is my least favorite class.

I kick my shoe to the tile, wishing that I had my homework. My teacher walks by every few minutes "You are sure you finished it?"

What am I five? Of course I did, why the heck should you care anyway-you said it was due next class.

I tug at my sweater, maroon like the one in the drawing as I daydream. I look out the window as I begin to think about this morning.

Snap back to reality in an instant.

I don't want to think about that right now. So I rip out a clean sheet of paper from the back of my notebook and start drawing the TARDIS.

Drawing the 11th Doctor with a fez and Clara by his side I can't help but smile. It looks perfect everything fit together with stars hanging high in the galaxies above them. I start to drift away again when the bell rings. I sigh, grabbing my bag and swinging it across my shoulder.

I can daydream just as easily in the next class.

I'm Sleeping, Don't Push Me to My Limits - Summer's POV
I sigh, dropping into my seat in AP Calculus AB. Yawning, I rub my eyes, trying to keep them open. I set my head down on my desk for a few minutes, which eventually turns into half of the class period.

"Summer! Summer, wake up." My female teacher snaps at me, and I bounce up, pushing some strands of hair out of my eyes. "What was the answer to the problem I was talking about?"

"The limit does not exist." I guess, shrugging, as if it were obvious.

I mean, it was. It was right on the board behind her.

She nods, lowering her glasses and looking at me with stern eyes. "Don't snooze off again. Or at least keep your head high so I know you're not possibly sleeping." She turns around on her heel, pointing her pen at a bullet point on the smartboard before babbling on about something else. Rolling my eyes, Jen tries to keep from giggling, but the beet red expression on her face doesn't do much good.

"Jen, you look like a balloon. Go ahead, laugh or whatever, but keep in mind that if you do I will go into your room and make sure you don't get any sleep with ice cold water, because I couldn't get sleep last night either." I shoot daggers at her and she slumps into her seat, crossing her arms. She squints at me with a look of disapproval.

I just shrug carelessly.

"So, everybody grab a packet and work on them with a partner." My teacher says, eyeing everyone before typing away on her computer. I'm one of the last ones to walk up there, grabbing a packet until something nudges me.

"Partners?" Jakey asks, and I sigh, nodding. "Sure. Be aware that I might snooze off, though."

He just nods and I take a free seat by his desk, sinking into the chair and realizing that I fell asleep again.

"You must be really tired," He says, and I laugh quietly. "You have no idea."

"Hm...Well, I'll do this for you if y-"

"Cut the crap, I'm not giving you anything in return." I mutter, and he groans in frustration.

"Fine, earn an F." He pushes the paper towards me.

"Haha, very funny. No." I push it back, checking out my fingernails.

"Well, I'm not your tutor." He refuses once more, putting the paper back into my hands.

"You could very much be," I suggest, a smile pulling at the edge of my lips. He doesn't buy it. My shoulders drop and I curl up in my seat.

"You really think school is some slumber party?" He asks, and I take his pencil out of his hands before scribbling down answers on my paper. "No." I shrug, looking over where two voices are arguing. Rebekah and Blake. "The answer is obviously negative four," Blake says, but she shakes her head, yanking his paper back and erasing his answer. "It's 1." Bekah argues, writing it down on top of the black line. "Fine, whatever." He settles with it, although he doesn't look very satisfied with her choice. Jen and Eli seem to work just find, it's just the fact that Eli is shooting crumbled up pieces of notebook paper into the trashbin and Jen is mainly doing all the work, as she is extremely good in math. On the other hand, Emilia and Haley don't seem to be on the right page, since they paired up together but aren't saying a word, and rather going seperate ways.

Wonder what that's all about.

I look back over to Justin. "I just choose resting over that," I point to everybody else, and he rolls his eyes. "At least that is working." He says and raises an eyebrow, while I shoot a glare at him.

"I am working...well, technically you are, but still. Sleeping helps repair your um - hair." I make up a random excuse and he gives me a weird stare. "Fine," I roll my eyes, jotting down the rest of the solutions for all the problems and flip my packet over. "Done. See? I was working."

"I made you." He remarks.

"Did not," I snap back, holding the papers close to my chest. "Anyway, give me the rest of what you got down. I only finished a little more than half of this assignment." He says, taking his pencil back.

I scoff, re-doing my bun my hair was currently in. "You have to work harder than that. You could have done that for me in minutes," I nod my head at the papers on the desk and Jakey crosses his arms. "You could have paid me in minutes, too."

"Pay you for annoying the crap out of me after I tried getting the smallest bit of rest? Right." I mutter under my breath, looking over at the teacher's desk. "You'd maybe earn yourself a dime. And that's maybe."

I hand the packet to the teacher before walking back to my seat, his eyes following me with his jaw dropped, and gladly setting my head down for ten minutes only to get waken up again to the school bell.

Lunch Outside of School - Liza's POV
I go out to my blue convertible. A lot of people were just chilling around in the parking lot with nothing better to do on this fine afternoon. Allbeit, I had like, 30 minutes to ge outside of school. But hey, with my next period class being online, I had that block period open, so why not just enjoy myself?

I get into my car and start to drive to the gate to leave when the guy at the gate, Ernie, looks at me. "Ah, miss, you aren't supposed to leave campus."

I poke my head out my window, looking at him. "The school said that if I have an online course, I can go and come back before the bell. Plus, it's lunch time. I even have a parking lot pass, meaning I can come and go. Come on, Ernie."

Ernie rolls his eyes and opens the gate. "I expect you back within limits. Otherwise, I'll be writing you up." He crosses his arms and I sink into my chair, rolling up my window and driving out of the school. I decide I'd show up at the regular cafe, but first...

I pull into a driveway. It's mine but it's not. I've been here plenty of times but of course I don't own the house. No, of course not.

I knock on the door and the older lady smiles warmly. "Hello Liza. Nick just go back from school. I'll go get him." She turns and shouts for Nick to show up. He runs down the stairs and smiles at me. His younger sister, Erin, smiles at me, waving. "Hi Liz!" she says with a bright smile.

"Hey Erin." I smile at her before looking at Nick. "You and I have a lunch plans."

He takes the keys out of my hand, smiling. "You aren't driving, love."

I frown. "It's my car, I'm pretty sure I can drive it, Nick."

He just shakes his head and grabs my hand, pulling me out of his living room and to my blue convertible, sitting idly in his driveway. He get's into the driver's seat and I get into the passenger's seat. As we start to move, I look over at him. "Why the hell can't I drive my own car?"

"Stop complaining. Being the guy in this relationship, I figured I should be driving you around, not the other way. I mean, if you're going to tell me I can't drive, then I'll just leave."

"But that's what you're doing to me, Nick," I argue. "It's my car. I've been paying for it with my own money and you're telling me I can't drive it because of your pride."

"Don't argue with me," he says in a some-what cold voice.

"Don't tell me what to do. I'm not yours to own." His grip on the steering wheel tightens and I shift uncomfortably.

"Liza, stop being a stupid idiot and just sit there, why don't you?"

"Excuse you?" I ask, sitting up straighter in my seat. "A stupid idiot? Stop being a complete and utter jackass!" His hand then slams against the right side of my face, making me slam against the chair. My hands touch my now burning cheek as I look up at him with tears in my eyes. "Pull over and get out of my car, Nick..."

He does pull over, looking back over at me. "I'm sorry... please..."

"Just get out..." He opens his door and looks back at me. "I'm sorry, really, I am. If you leave me now, I just... I don't know what I would do wihout you. Liza, please. You are the glue keeping me together and I'll kill myself without you."

I bite my bottom lip and he looks at me, both expectantly and filled with sorrow...

"I... I'll see you after school and..." I enhale, trying to calm my racing pulse.

Nick sighs. "Fine. Whatever." He slams the car door shut and starts walking back in the direction of his house. I quickly roll down the window and look in the side-view mirrors to see my face red from where I was hit. I rummage through my bag, grabbing the foundation. I quickly put it over my cheek to cover any sign of being hit as I roll the window back up and scoot over to the driver's seat. I quickly then start driving, heading towards the cafe...

Did I really promise to see him later?

Music In Art - Jen's POV
It becomes quite obvious after the first couple minutes of art that our teacher is a completely weird. He tugs on his various scarves, one bound to his wrists. They are all plaid, matching what looks like pajama pants...his coat is covered in miscellanious spots and when he walks by, it flips in the air in a dramatic twist, leaving a distinct smell of cigerrate smoke and cologne.

His tie is crooked, like his awkward smile he gives to students, not the cute kind of awkward that the guy across from me is right now, but the weird one, jummbled up around the edges, with teeth stained a yellow tint. I place my hands on the desk, tapping my dark red finger nail in a continuous ryhthm.

It's hard, after years of not being in this class, I'm back in it, with the same person sitting with me... I run my fingers through my hair. We broke up years ago, why haven't I stopped thinking about it?

The art teacher is now across my shoulder, pressing my shoulder with his bony hand. My eyes water from the strong scent. I breathe heavily, as he looks down at me, pressing his chin on the palm rested on my shoulder. "Art," He yells, "can be anything. Find something to inspire you. It could be the lyrics of your favorite song, or.." He claps his hands as he points at me. "The smile of a person...it can be love connecting two people together or hate, but it should be inspirational to you." He tugs at his collared polo. "Everyone is inspired in one way or another and that's your assignment. Paint a person, place or thing that inspires you the most. Remember these must be presented." He smiles again, which makes me weirded out...slightly.

"To work." He sits down in his chair and picks up his phone, calling someone that is obviously mad at him, because he walks out the door for a couple of minutes. You can hear the yelling from in here.

"It's interesting to be back here." Eli says, smiling, scribbling purple on the paper.

"Yeah." I laugh nervously. "Sure is different..."

"I know." He grabs my hand for just a millisecond, before pulling it back away again. A rush of heat falls as I start drawing a song lyric in a cluster of hearts colored in an ombre effect from red, orange, yellow. Green, blue to purple.

"What does that say?" He asks, his voice is lower now, yet quieter.

"It's a song lyric from Amnesia..that Five Seconds of Summer song..it's stupid really.." I start to crumple the edge, before he grasps it, pulling it to him. He reads "If what we had was real how could you be fine?" and then, "because I'm not fine at all." He looks at me with a sort of twisted up sadness like that he wants me to say something.

All I can muster is the next song lyric..like a complete and utter dork, because that's what I am, always will be, not able to say much anymore. "I remember the day you told me you were leaving...and the makeup running down-" I alter the line. "my face..and the dreams you left behind you didn't need them, like every single wish we ever made. I wish I could wake up with amnesia and forget the stupid little things..." I look down at my feet.

I look up just a second to see his eyes look sadly at me as he whispers.

"Jen..." The bell rings, I thank the Lord. The drawing I want to burn it, because that's the song I use to express my feelings...that was years ago. I make sure that I won't say anymore. Because whenever I do, the wrong words slip out. ...I'm really not fine at all.

Skipping Class in a Car that isn't mine, Police Cars, do I say more? - Summer's POV
I pull at Rebekah's arm, a small grin on my face.

"Let's skip."

She sighs, rolling her eyes. "You're just making me tag along because you've failed your driver's test how many times again? Oh right, 7. Well, you're out of luck, I'm going to study with Blake."

"You're no fun," I say, but get an idea.

"Here, maybe I can take the keys of your car and drive around a bit while you're in study hall?"

"No way! You might crash it! You don't even have a license!" She retorts loudly, and everybody in the class shushes us, working on their reading work. I groan.

"The only reason is because the past instructors have been idiotic and didn't want me to stop at Starbucks." I reply, stuffing my pink binder into my backpack. "I promise I'll bring it back without any damage. Trust me." She takes a few seconds to think before nodding. "Fine. Bring me back a smoothie when you're coming back." I smile warmly, trying to think of a reasonable way to get out of class. Bekah gives me the keys and Blake butts in, a smirk on his face.

"Skipping, are we?"

"Shut up. Nobody said your name," I shove his face back and he pouts.

"Ms. Waldron?" I ask clearly, and she looks at me. "Yes, Summer..."

"I need to use the bathroom really bad. I still have my bathroom pass."

She nods firmly, taking the blue slip and I quickly grasp my phone in my pocket to re-assure myself. I stash the keys into my front pocket before pushing the door open and sprinting down the hallway. After I thrust the double doors open, I smile looking at the large parking lot, until something hits me.

What car does she own?

I sigh, pressing the alarm button and then hearing a loud beeping come from a car. A familiar car makes it's way down the driveway and I notice Liza with an upset look on her face. She rolls down the window, slowing by me.

"What's wrong?" I ask, concerned.

"Nothing, I accidently hit my head on something and it gave me a headache. Anyway, what are you doing out of class?" She snaps, and I shake my head.

"Mom needs me."

"Since when?"

"Since now. Ms. Waldon needs you in her class, by the way. You're her best writer and today is presentation. Good luck."

She doesn't seem to buy my cover-up, but I doubt she'll ask the teacher anyway. She nods, pulling into another empty space and I slide into the driver's seat of Bekah's car.

Hope she won't mind if I give her pink Challenger a few scratches and what not.

I put some gum into my mouth before pulling out, managing not to bump into anything or anyone, and drive up to the gate. Crap. I begin to grab some random tissues from the pocket of my bag, fakely weeping into them, smudging my makeup all over my face. I hear a knock at the window and continue to sob into them, rolling down the window. I really hope this act works.

"Er...You aren't supposed to leave within the last two hours of school. Or at all, period."

Another sob.

"Are you okay, ma'am?"

Dramatic bawling.

"M-My boyfriend...he....h-he cheated on me a-and I don't know why! I mean, Becky is s-so much prettier than me but that d-doesn't give him permission to freaking g-go for the g-girl on ch-cheer team...And then there's Sa-Samantha-"

"Nevermind. Go ahead," He says, annoyed, and I continue to cry until I'm officially on the street. I throw the tissues full of lipstick and lipgloss out of the window and press the gas pedal a little bit more than I expected, but it's fine.

I'm just twenty over the speed limit on the highway. Well, that's until alarms fill my ears.

Crap, no. Crap, I cannot get a ticket. Oh God, no, I won't get a ticket today. This isn't even my car.

"Ma'am, please pull over your vehicle." A loud voice says and I sigh.

More like Bekah's vehicle.

I pull over anyway, trying to keep calm, but my fingers begin to panic. I scurry through the secret compartment, only to find her ID and Registration. Perfect. I just have to make up an excuse about why my face doesn't look like hers. I roll down my window once again, keeping a poker face. "Ma'am, do you know why you were pulled over?" The man is short and young.

Like, extremely young.

"No, actually, because I am just that type of idiot who didn't know why she was pulled over at all, 'cause she obviously was not speeding and a policeman just happened to tell her to park in the grass for no reason. In other words, yes, I know why I was pulled over, you jerk. And if you want to know why, I have to go see my mother. She's in the hospital."

"Hm. Well, ID and Registration."

I hand him both, somewhat angry, and he looks at me oddly. "I put on alot of makeup today. Like, extremely alot. It's for my high school play and-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

I shut my mouth abruptly as he scribbles down information on a piece of paper. Needless to say, I am screwed.

A large pick-up truck painted in electric blue and orange literally zooms past me. Horns are practically blaring out of the windows, piercing my ears. I put my hands up to cover them as the policeman next to me averts his attention towards them and begins to yell. "Hey! Get back here ya lunatics!" He screams, throwing the ID and Registration into the passengers seat. Ticket in hand, he runs to his small little police car and speeds off right behind them. I smile, taking a left into an exit and pulling into The Smoothie Store Drive-Thru, ready to order two pineapple-kiwi smoothies.

The One Day... - Liza's POV
As the day went on, I started to forget more and more about the days earlier events. That is, of course, until everyone's favorite class period, gym class.

"Alright princesses. Today we'll be swimming. Any objections, you'll be failing this class immediately. Am I understood?" He looks around as no one answers. "AM I UNDERSTOOD?!"

"Yes sir," people quickly say before he dismisses everyone. I shake my head. "A freaking dictator, that's what he is." I shake my head again and quickly change into the school mandated outfit for that special time where he forces everyone to swim for the entire next week. Always so fascinating.

As I walk over to the pool, my head suddenly pops back to the make-up. I look over at the couch... Maybe he'll understand for just one day...

I walk over to him, making him raise an eyebrow. "Don't tell me any bull about wanting to sit out today. Unless you are on crutches, have some sort of brace on your arm and/or leg, or have some severe illness, you are participating. At most, you'll all just be doing whatever you want."

"But sir... Please, it's just a one-time thing. I've never sat out without good reason and I never will. It's just this once."

"I've heard enough. Now go over to the pool with your fellow classmates, warm up, and start a game of whatever you all play in the pool." He turns his back to me and I sigh, walking over to the pool. Maybe if I kept my head above water...?

So we got into the pool and I got into that sort of pattern, swimming away as fast as I could with my head above water and avoiding splashes at all costs. It was working. That is, until Tristian decided to "accidentally" body slam me.

"Holy crap, I'm so sorry and-" he pauses, moving my face to look at him. "Did I hit you that hard? Your cheek is all bruised..." He touches the side of my face, making me flinched. "But wait... it wouldn't be that bruised within three seconds, would it? Liza-"

"It's nothing. I accidentally got hurt today when some kids were throwing around a football this morning."

He looks down at his arm. "And you covered it with foundation?"

"Yup. Didn't want to get fussed over by my sisters." I quickly swim away from him, covering my cheek which started to burn again after getting slammed by Cas.I closed my eyes, leaning against the side of the pool. "Dear god, this is going to be the death of me..."

The couch blows his whistle. "Alright, dry off, dress up, do as you please! You have 20 minutes before the bell rings and you'll be free." I quickly clamber out of the pool and hurry to the locker room, drying off with a towel I snatched before changing and grabbing the foundation sitting at the top of my bag. I quickly apply some to my bruised cheek before working on drying my hair.

Rebekah walks in, looking upset. She sits down and starts to dry off before looking at me. "You got dressed fast."

"And you look upset. Do tell," I reply as I move the hairdryer to the highest settings so it will dry my hair faster as I frantically hope it does smudge away at the make-up.

"It's Blake. You remember how he and I dated towards the beginning of Freshman Year back at the old school?"

"Of course. You two were so in love. If only Oli moved with us..."

"Yeah, off topic, Liza," Rebekah replies before continuing on with her story. "So any way, after we broke up after the move, which was after the Frozen musical, nothing's ever been the same. We constantly argue and disagree and nothing gets done until we work on our separate projects. It's annoying."

"I'm sorry," I reply as I turn off the hairdryer, somewhat frustrated that my hair is still partially damp, I push it over one ear to make sure it won't tamper with the make-up. "Anything I can do that does not involve running him over?"

"You could run over Summer. She scratched my car up last class period."

"Of course she did. Alright, if it will lighten your pain," I say with a small smirk. Rebekah smiles before leaving to change into regular clothes. I grab my bag, swinging it over one shoulder and heading out of the locker room. There I am confronted by Tristian.

"Listen, Liza, if I can help with anything, like say knocking out the guy who threw the ball at you, tell me."

"I'm fine, honestly," I reply before shoving past him, grabbing my book and reading for the remainder of class.

What Happened Again? - Jen's POV
The doors to Liza's car slam as I approach the school. Yesterday night blew by, all I did was stress over homework. I wait for Summer, who's reapplying lip gloss. I lean over the door, smiling. "Who you getting ready for?"

She laughs, pulling my arm as she kicks open the door. Liza grabs her keys and shoves them in her jean pocket. We all walk together, this is one of those rare classes when we're all together, which is fun. The only disadvantage is that the history teacher is outdated by at least two decades. His huge spectecales and hair lined in grey, the dorky vest that doesn't look good on anyone. The only good thing that is good about the attire is the bowtie. Bowties are cool.

I trail off into a whole different thought when the white noise comes back to voices. "Jen, why are you so quiet today?" Liza nudges me as I look down at my book. "Oh it's nothing." I laugh softly. she shrugs, resuming whatever conversation she was talking about as I pull at my backpack strap, which is fraying on one end. I groan, making a mental note to cut off the loose string when I get inside.

When we walk on I see people crowded all around, which isn't a surprise, the first bell already rang. I admit I left my textbook in my locker as they sigh. "Again?" Summer just sighs. "See you upstairs then." As they both climb up stairs you can hear them both laugh, probably the conversation I didn't hear. I sigh, twisting my lock and pulling it. Grabbing my book and shoving on top of some crumpled papers, I zip up my bag and head to the fourth floor.

There is so many people, I groan, being one of the smallest ones here. I shove through the crowds until I finally get to the hallway my class is in. As the late bell rings, I burst into a jog, sighing. I don't even pay attention as someone runs into me. The impact hurts, but not as much as when I feel something dripping out of my nose. The taste of copper burns my throat as I scramble through my backpack, trying to find a tissue.

I find  half of a napkin and place it to my nose. I look up, to see grey eyes look at me. "Woah, are you okay?" He asks, about to put his arm across my shoulder, but then jerking away. "Wait." He runs, grabbing some paper towels from the boys bathroom.

"What..." My voice is nasal, cracking slightly. "The hell Eli..." I grab the paper towels and put it to my nose.

"Damn, listen I so didn't mean that."

"Yeah, you come to school just planning to hurt me." I laugh. I look over, sending a wincing headache. "You damaged another one of my books?!" I laugh, which doesn't even sound right, it's sort of garbled. "I still don't forgive you for damaging my limited edition in Freshman year."

He looks sideways, trying to remember. "I don't remember that but oh well."

It seems he wants to help me up, but he takes a couple steps back, staggering, he asseses the damage. "Can you get up?"

I look at him, even though it hurts like hell.

"Really? I can barely turn my head I have such a bad headache."

He stands there for a moment, arms crossed before sighing in defeat. He puts his arm around my shoulder, helping me up. I stumble a little as he puts his arm around my shoulder. My mind freezes for a moment. I can feel myself turn red, thank god that he can't see it. He looks over at the stairs before guiding me the opposite direction.

"The elevator." He sighs, pressing the down button.

I stand there, his grip tightens a little as the doors open. "You know we need a pass right?" I ask, walking in. He presses the 1st floor before looking down.

"I think they can make an exception." He sighs.

The door swings open as I walk out-well guided-to the office. He sighs as the new woman at the office with platinum blonde hair's eyes widen. "What happened?"

"He..um...ran into me." I say, sighing.

She gives him a distastful scowl before directing him to the nurse's office.

His grip loosens as I sit down. He shifts awkwardly, pulling a seat beside me.

The nurse walks in, inspecting me. She tells me there will definitely be a bruise, but I could've done much worse. I sigh, asking her for any pain killer.

"Unfortunately," She clicks her tounge, "We will have to call a parent to drop off medicine."

I sigh, shifting slightly. "Fine, call my mom."

She nods, exiting the room.

About thirty minutes later, Ibuprofen is dropped off. I breathe a sigh of relief as I swallow the pill.

"If you need anything else, call me okay?" My mom pulls her coat before leaving.

Eli and I both get elevator passes and an excuse note. He guides me back, my headache still killing me. "I'm sorry about the novel," he says, placing it in my hands. I laugh softly as he walks me to my history class. His grip only loosens when he drops my backpack to my feet. "When the bell rings, wait here. I can walk you to our next class okay?"

Whatever friendliness that was there disappates as he leaves the room, and for once, I don't fall asleep in history class.

Chocolate Cake and Fake Apologies - Summer's POV
After the bell rings for Chemistry, following History, I stuff my whole backpack into my locker so I won't have to carry it to lunch, the weight practically smushing my Biology textbook. I shut my locker before walking to the Cafeteria, cursing under my breath about how I forgot my lunch. I pray that what they serve today isn't harmful to my tastebuds and push open the double doors, looking around for my sisters. While doing so, I forget to walk straight and practically slam into somebody, chunks of what I think is chocolate cake smudged all over my long-sleeve shirt. I sigh, and it takes me a few seconds to remember that I'm on the ground.

"Oh, Summer..Er...Sorry..." A voice says, and my head starts throbbing the slightest bit. I push myself up with the palms of my hands, looking down at my top. Nothing but brown frosting and cake colored all over what used to be red, but luckily the back of the shirt is safe.

"No, it's okay I guess." I look down, heat rushing to my cheeks as I try to maintain my anger. Jakey starts laughing hysterically.

"What?" I ask.

"N-Nothing it's just...ah...you look like a cupcake now,"

"S-Shut up!" I stammer, now noticing that the surrounding, large amount of students around me, including Marina and Emilia, are snickering and giggling at me. I roll my eyes, trying to brush off crumbs that are stuck to the chocolate paste that's smeared all over me, but to no avail.

"How much cake did you want to eat?" I ask furiously, my hands clenching into fists and I begin squeezing them, trying to calm myself down.

"It was just a slice of today's special...I just didn't think it'd break apart all over you..." Jakey says, and I scoff.

"That was one hell of a slice of chocolate cake." I remark, turning on my heel to now head for the bathroom. I storm through the doors, down a hallway. I hear him following me and I groan.

"What do you want?"

"To say sorry for back there..." He replies, looking at the ground and scratching the back of his neck. I cross my arms.

"Well, thank you for embarassing me in front of more than half of the school." I retort, pulling at my shirt. "Now I'm covered in...yuck..."

"You don't like cake?" He asks, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"Nope. Hate it," I reply, and he sticks both of his hands in his pocket. "That makes sense," He says, looking around but nowhere near meeting my eyes.

"Well, apology not accepted because I smell like pure sugar." I say, still standing in front of the entrance to the girls' bathroom.

"Then how can I make it up to you?" He asks. I shrug.

"Probably can't. Maybe by not laughing at me and drawing attention to 'a cupcake'." I answer sharply, and he looks over at the lockers. "Fine, here, maybe we can go out to the county fair this weekend?" He scratches his neck once more and I shake my head.

"Not in a million years. If you want to be charming, do me a favor and stay away from me," I snap, anger bubbling under my skin. I turn around, about to enter the bathroom when he says something again.

"Please, Summer. I really want to apologize for it. I'm pretty sure your shirt is ruined now, and it probably costed a lot..."

I take time to think about it, running my fingers through my hair. Maybe he really does want to take me out?

I sigh.

He's a jock; a player. It's obviously going to be a waste of my time.

"I'll just buy a new one."

And with that, I pull up the handle of the sink labeled "Cold", and watch the water run out of the faucet, taking off my top to leave only my undershirt and begin to scrub the chocolate harshly off of my shirt.

Suspision and Nearing Depression - Liza's POV
"Nick!" I cry out as his hand slams across my face, making me bounce off his bed. I quickly get to my feet, holding my arms out defensively. He slumps against his dresser before turning around, kicking it.

"I'll be back," he replies as he walks out of his room, leaving it opened. I slump against the foot of his bed, crying into my hands.

"Liza...?" says Erin, who just turned 15 today, peeks around the doorframe. "Did... Nick break up with you?"

"It's fine," I reply, rubbing at my eyes with my sweater sleeve, grabbing the concealer out of my bag, turning my back to the girl. To go along with the blackening bruise from yesterday is a nice red swelt. How on Earth am I going to pull that off?

"He... he didn't hit you, did he?" When I don't answer, she's right behind me. "If he's hurting you-"

"It's none of your business, Erin. Get out," Nick says from the doorway, leaning against the door. Erin gives a quick glance in my direction before running out of the room. Nick closes the door behind her and sits down on the floor next to me.

"Hey, Liza... I'm sorry. I know, this is the second time it's happened but please... I... I love you." His hand touches my shoulder and I feel my head swirling with a sense of anxiety with his proximity but also to want him there... and then a need for him to also be in Cambodia.

"Everything's fine," I lie as I put the concealer up in my bag, holding back any feelings. The only thing that seems to catch my eye is that tree branch outside... how simple it would be...

"Turn to face me, Liza." The simple command turns my heart to ice as I slowly shift myself to face him. He smiles softly, cupping my face.

"There, wasn't so hard, was it, love?" he asks softly before kissing me. He quickly stands up, pulling me with him to a standing position and I put on the best smile I could muster in a time like this.

"You're so pretty when you smile..." He walks over to his dresser and pulls out the gameboard for checkers. "A little one-on-one game of checkers to make you feel better?"

I give a semi-heartful laugh but he seems to take it. "Yeah, sure." My face quickly falls but he is off in his own world already as he sets up the gameboard. I sit down on the bed and he sits across from me. "You move first..."

Nick looks up at me. "No, I do insist you go first."

"No, really. You go first," I say as I keep an emotional check on at all times to not start crying and making him angry.

"No. Go first, Liza." Once more, another simple command grips at my heart, clenching it between it's grasp. I have to keep from breathing in large amounts as I move one of my pieces at random.

And so, the game commensed. I almost allowed myself to forget the earlier events...

Almost.

Of course, when I won was a hole new story.

"Son of a-" My alarm on my phone goes off. I grab my phone sitting on the dresser as I look back at Nick who sits silently on the bed. "I'm sorry, I have to get back to school."

"Whatever, it's fine." He shrugs it off but it looks as if it is killing him. "Go and flirt with all the guys in school."

"I'm not skipping school..." He looks at me with those big, doe-like eyes. "Nick..." My heart starts to clench and I feel the ball and chain around my ankles, holding me here in his bedroom. "Nick, I have to..."

He walks over and kisses me softly on the lips. For a moment but it was all it took. "Come on, Liza. It's one day."

"I... I need to check it out with the school and-" I start but he interrupts it by kicking the corner of his bed in frustration. I jump back but don't get far, the imaginary chain and ball keeping me somewhat glued in the same vacinity. "O-Okay... I'll stay..."

He grabs my hand and pulls me towards him. "Thank you... you won't regret it...." He turns to leave for a few seconds and I quickly text Summer.

Tell the school that I had to leave for the rest of school because of an injury.

She is fast to reply.

What the hell happened?

''Nothing... I just... need the rest of the day off...''

I then turn my phone off, setting it on the dresser as I sit back down on the bed and Nick comes back in with a couple of movies to watch. All I can think of is that tree branch outside... how simple it would be...

This Is Why - Jen's POV
"Over here," His arms are strong, definite...quite familiar. I try to control myself, not letting the wrong words slip out. My books are layered in one arm, two backpacks on his shoulders. It's days like this where I wish I had makeup. The closest I've been to him...in years...and I look like complete and utter crap. I staggered into the bathroom earlier to see a deep purple ring across the bridge of my nose. To make matters worse, one of my eyes is darkened underneath. A black eye and a bruised nose. I look awful, yet I can see a spark in his eyes at points, but it's diminished as quickly as it's shown.

"Thanks again." I mutter again, sighing.

"Yeah..." He looks down as he presses the elevator's up button. His grip loosens, causing me to stagger for balance.

I don't even think-and I should-whenever I let words slip out they end up wrong...maybe that's why our relationship became distant.

"Don't." He looks sideways, into my eyes, for a second I feel like there is anger I see, but it ends up a smile.

"I only say that to you." His grip tightens once more.

I bite my cheek, trying to refrain from speaking. Please shut up..I say to myself.

The elevator fills with silence as I shift slightly, looking at him.

"Hey..um.." He groans.

"Lost your train of thought?" I laugh, which sounds even worse than before. God.

"Nah.." His laugh touches on nervousness.

"What?" I ask, pulling his arm away. I trip trying to look at him. Damn..damn...damn... My head screams as he grabs my hand.

I blush bright red, I can't control it this time. I can feel heat rush though my cheeks as I breathe shakily.

"You're blushing..." His eyes widen. "No...no..I'm not." I turn around, I only feel warmer. Stop. I tell myself, but I can't.

"You are." His arm guides me to meet his eyes. He's probably half a foot taller than me now...

"I missed that..." He groans as he looks away. Is he thinking the same thoughts as I am..I don't even know anymore.

I breathe shakily as I just stand there, battered and bruised as he looks over and leans in and for a second, I can feel I was in Freshman year again.

The doors swing open. We don't notice until a teacher coughs. We pull away, as my Language Arts teacher walks in. She's young, smiling as she holds the door open as we walk out. Some kids eyes widen, whispering about it as they walk away.

"I'm sorry." He sighs. "That was kind of..." His voice trails off.

"I shouldn't have..damn..." He mutters under his breath. I look at him, which worsens my headache but I don't really care anymore.

"It wasn't really..." My words stutter-damn I am a wreck today aren't I..

"Stop trying to make me feel better...I already know you don't like me that way."

I feel like I am punched in the chest. I look down, trying to put my thoughts together. "You think so..." I look into his eyes. "Then why do you think I didn't break apart the kiss or...or..when I blushed what was that for..." I breathe shakily as he shifts slightly.

"That assumption..." I make out. "Is wrong."

I close my eyes, praying that nobody heard.

"Jennifer..."

"It's Jen." I mutter.

His eyes widen as he runs his fingers through his hair.

"Now this...hurting you was enough. Not that you look bad now...it's just that I don't want to hurt you ever...it makes me feel guilty as hell."

I look at him in a twisted sort of way when I sigh.

"We need to go to class."

We both are an awkward mess when we walk into the classroom. I sit down, slamming my books on the ground. The lecture starts.

I sigh, being in the back of the room, I could practically sleep and he wouldn't care.

But instead, like a crazy freaking lunatic, contrary to what my mind is telling me to do, to shut up and take notes, I grab his hand, like I always did back in Freshman...

I think my mind stops when he squeezes back.

I close my eyes and look the other direction.

This is why I didn't want to do this..

It makes me such a wreck.

You Tell Me - Summer's POV
Jen's beet red when I come out of class, heading down my gym hallway that reeks of men's cologne. Gagging as I walk into the locker room, I quickly change into my uniform and slick my hair back into a high ponytail, sliding on my all-star high top converse before exiting. Jen looks at the ground, not saying a word. "Jen, you okay?" I ask quietly, looking at the clock.

"Yeah, sure, whatever. Just...stuff."

"You sure?"

"Positive. I think I'm gonna go sit out today. See you at dismissal," She says, before walking over to a spot on the bleachers. I follow behind, taking a seat behind Emilia, the first row in front of me, and Marina, the second one down. She's doing a waterfall braid in her hair, the two gossiping about drama going around school.

I look around, seeing Jakey and some other girl walking together, his arm around her waist.

I'm not jealous.

After catching a glimpse of me, he turns around and gives her a kiss on her cheek.

''Still not jealous at all. He could have the girl on the cheerleading team for all I know and I won't give a damn.''

I contain myself, every second waiting on this seat seeming like an hour. I tap my foot impatiently as Jen walks up to the coach, discussing something and he gives her a look of sympathy before nodding. I bite my lip, checking my phone for the time, also checking for any more messages from Liza. None.

Only an hour left of school. Walking down the steps of the bleachers, I trip and luckily catch myself, nearly landing on my face. Hugging myself, I squeeze through the rest of the students getting off of the bleachers and notice Jen hanging out by the shade. I sigh, the sun practically melting me alive, and try to find an activity to do. I would normally go for volleyball but every person on the team saw me get embarassed today. I'll probably go back tomorrow.

I look over by the fence, noticing him and that dumb blonde girl. She giggles softly, twirling a piece of hair around her finger, a shy, fake grin on her face. She realizes me watching and I look up at the sky, but it's too late anyway. She already saw me.

She closes the space between them, running her fingers through his hair. I hear smacking noises and roll my eyes.

''Will. Not. Get. Jealous.''

I duck under a low tree, trying to get a better view of them and to listen better on their conversation.

"Totally....Sure...I'll go to the fair with you...Why wouldn't...She's so dumb..."

Excerpts of what they're talking about is what I can barely hear and I stop when I hear the word fair. He's taking her out to the damn fair.

Ultimate Jackass.

I roll my eyes, noticing that I'm behind some vines acting like a desperate loner, and I'm about to step out when I slip on something wet and fall back, hitting the ground. Or, at least, I thought it was the ground.

A huge splashing noise emerges and I find myself in the water. I'm guessing it's just my luck I'm in the deep end and I struggle to get up to the surface, me not being able to swim anywhere near how Jen is able to. Seconds, that feel like minutes pass and I try to get to the surface, but to no use. Panic runs through me as I realize my phone is in my pocket and now broken from water damage.

Another splashing noise, although muffled, comes and I'm lifted from the area I was back up to the surface. I'm met with a set of familiar eyes.

"What happened?"

"N-Nothing."

"Were you stalking me?"

"You wish I was," I bicker, struggling to get up but he pulls me from any ability to grasp the edge of the pool.

"Maybe I should watch you attempt to wriggle out of my arms."

"Maybe I should punch your face."

"Maybe you should be thankful I saved you."

"In utter self-confidence, that was the only reason you wanted to come and get me. I might not be the best swimmer in my family but a girl can know how." I snap, still trying to exit from the center of the pool. He laughs.

"I don't even get a thank you?"

"Hell no. Go say thanks to your girlfriend over there for making out with her earlier."

"You saw that?" He asks, a look of surprise on his face. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, I actually did. And weren't you so sad when I told you I couldn't go to the fair with you? Yet you sure as hell were excited to ask Ella to go."

"You didn't even hear the story. And why were you even eavesdropping anyways? Stay out of my business, Summer."

"Do me a favor and stay out of mine. You can't tell me what to do."

"Sure I can."

"Really?"

"You're going to be my girlfriend for all of next week. And if you can't do it, I'll hook up with the school editing team and allow them to put the humiliating story of how you couldn't save yourself in the pool and that I had to go rescue you. If you think getting dessert dumped all over you was embarrassing, just wait." He smirks before dropping me and getting out of the water.

Oh hell no.

I get out of the pool, my hair and clothes soaking wet, and storm over for the entrance of the indoor gymnasium. I shake some water that drips continuously out of my phone, and the power button isn't even working. Nothing but a black screen is there. Jen looks up at me, raising her eyebrows. "Summer, you okay?"

"I don't know." I reply, walking over in anger to the entrance and pushing the door open forcefully, surrounding classmates looking at me in confusion.

And I have to deal with being the girlfriend of one of my worst enemies for the past three years, or dealing with humiliation of a fake story of not being able to swim.

Which one will I choose?

You tell me.

Weekend Party Begins... - Liza's POV
(Author's Note: Sorry, decided to skip ahead to the weekend. Apologies to any other writer who may have had other ideas for the school week)

I set up for the party, putting out dips and chips and all things that are usually at a party. Slowly but surely, people came into the house for the party. Nick, of course, was the first. Annie comes right behind him and quickly starts complaining about her five AP classes.

"Annie, honestly. If you have your classes, just like, stay home and study. This party is going to be crazy."

"No, I'm staying!" Annie shouts as she then looks around. "So em... how is... how is... Rick? Rick's his name, right?" Annie asks, looking over at Nick.

I facepalm and shake my head at her. "Nick. But you were close this time."

"Right.... right... Of course..." she scratches the back of her head before walking over to the couch and grabbing a book from my shelf, flipping through it idly.

More people came around and I look around for Summer. "I wonder where she could be..." I ponder softly.

Tristian enters and quickly gets inveloped into a crowd. Nick wraps his arms around my shoulders and I shift uncomfortably, but apparently play it off well because he doesn't do anything. Tristian eyes me from across the room and I know that he's coming to some conclusion. I just fear when it will happen.

As everyone starts to wonder what to do, I quickly walk over to my closet and look around at all the items before I think of a game I learned at Acting. I slam the door shut and turn off the music, raising my voice. "Alright darlings, gather around in a circle around me. Clear any furniture so we can start the game."

As the circle forms, I quickly go over the rules in my head once before telling everyone. "Alright, this game is called, 'Honey, I love you.' The objective is for someone being me to walk over to say... Nathaniel and say, 'Honey, I love you, won't you give me a smile?' Nathaniel will then have to say, 'Honey, I love you, but I just can't smile'. However, if he smiles once while saying that, he will be the main person of interest. However, if he manages to not smile, I will then have to walk over to someone else until someone smiles."

Everyone nods, processing the rules in their head. I look around before finding the perfect victim. Connor. I walk over, the biggest smile on my face. "Honey, I love you. Won't you give me a smile?"

HIs face contorts for a moment before he says. "Honey, I love you, but I just can't smile." The corner of his mouh twitches into a smile and he realizes this as he groans and stands up. I mush the group into a tighter circle so I can be the judge. I walk around, watching everyone.

Eli decided to mess with Jen and made her start laughing right on the spot. She then mutters every curse word possible as she stands up and continues the game. She goes after Nick who keeps a straight face. She groans and moves on to Rebekah, he smiles.

As the game carries on, it's just down to Nick who hasn't smiled. Everyone has practically targeted him until I decide to interviene. My heart pounds, remembering what he's done to me in the past...

"Tristian, sit down, I've got this, love." He gives me a sort of small glare before turning and sitting down. I walk over to Nick, raising his chin as I crouch down to be level with him. I put on the biggest smile I could ever do in his presence at the current time. "Honey, I love you, won't you give me a smile?" I ask sweetly.

His eyes meet mine and I see the person I fell for. I feel he may be coming back... A smile twitches onto his face but it quickly falls. "Honey, I love you but I just can't smile."

"You smiled before you said it," I reply. His eyes soften for a moment... maybe there is a chance... He kisses me in that moment but when the kiss breaks, his eyes harden and I want to cry out and scream. I turn and call the game to an end before going back to my room.

I sit down on my bed and Nick walks in, closing the door. "You played me, Liza."

"I played you? You know how the game goes, Nick. You can't just blame-"

"Don't argue with me," he says, his voice hard. I shrink into my bed but try to keep a composure.

"Maybe you shouldn't be hiting on me," I mutter but he hears me because the next thing I know, he slaps me across he face, harder than ever before.

"Don't ever accuse me of bullshit... ever." He then starts to pace, trying to calm down so he looks fine around my friends. I hold my face closely...

"Get out of my room." He does so, leaving fast. I stumble for the knife I hid in my room, trying hard not to cry as I place the knife to my wrist. It would just be easier, after all...

I Swear... -Jen's POV
Liza takes forever to come out, I think because she changed into a sweater, that is a little too big, the sleeves hit her knuckles and she quickly balls her fists together. I think I see a red streak on one of her fingers, but when I turn back I see it gone. I might talk to her about it later, but not with this many people...

"Gather around.." Her voice is shaky this time and maybe quieter... "I won't be participating in this one." A couple people groan. "But I'll watch. This game is called Kissing Cards." She holds about 7 deck of cards. She hands one to each two people. "Guys get all the black cards and girls get all the red cards in the deck." Liza mutters meakly.

I end up sorting cards with Blake, who seems pissed that Rebekah isn't who he's sorting them with. I don't get the logic that goes in guys' minds. More time to talk to a girl I guess? I mean she is sitting right next to him...

He takes the black cards, while I take all the red cards. He sighs, turning to Bekah and starts talking about something. She seemingly ignores him, sorting cards way too seriously. She looks up once while he looks away, a spark in her eyes, I know she wants to talk...but as soon as she turns back she's shuffling them.

As soon as everyone finishes, Liza looks around and smiles softly, but it's not directed to anyone, just at the cream colored carpet.

"Okay, so the rules are that you go around the circle. The girls sitting next to the guy have to show their cards. If the girl's card matches the guys, the girl kisses the person the card matches. No exceptions. She looks over at a couple of guys, glaring.

"Okay, Blake, you go first."

I roll my eyes, pulling out the top card. An ace of spades. His and Bekah's card, however, reads King of Diamonds.

Rebekah sort of looks around with awkward tension. They kiss for barely a moment, something new for them. They both look at each other, sigh together and look towards the next person.

"Eli, go."

The girl next to him...I think her name is Eden if I remember, quickly pulls out her card, smiling. I grab one, which of course, why wouldn't...I sigh. Eden however, flares, giving me a distasteful scowl.

I lean in and somehow I manage to close my eyes in the middle of it, I manage to relax for a split second because I was sure now that he wouldn't mind. He manages to pull away, smiling. I blush, pulling a tiny strand of hair behind my ear.

He pulls my closer, I sit there awkwardly for a moment, before laying my head on his broad shoulders. I breathe heavily, hoping he doesn't see how red I am. The game continues, with other people looking around in nervousness. Luckily, mine doesn't match again.

After the game, I head to the my room to change, I really want to change into something nicer than well, my graphic tee and skinny jeans.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Eden yells.

"What?" My eyes widen.

"What gives you the right to kiss him like that? You broke up, what, back in Freshman?! And suddenly you are a couple again?"

"No...." I say softly, digging my nails into my dresser.

"Then what are you some secret sort of thing? It sure didn't seem secret tonight."

She pulls me to the closet door, slamming her palms against my shoulders.

Pain rushes through my head once again, my nose causing it to sear.

"Ow..please, I hurt my nose okay and can't you see this black eye. It really hurts like hell so now if you could please stop..."

"Poor Jennifer...all he ever cared  about you was your weakness." She curls her fingertips into my shirt. She smirks as she starts taunting. "Pity me..I bruised my nose. Pity me I have a black eye. He doesn't give a damn about you, just your sob story. It's pathetic really." Her eyes are enraged.

I breathe heavily looking at her quickly. "I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry you didn't get what you deserved..."

Her nails grip tighter. "I'm sorry for you getting what you don't deserve." She pulls me forward only to slam me against the door again. My vision blurs. "We dated for 9 months and somehow he couldn't move on from you. That's why he broke up with me. You. You were the reason we broke up and now suddenly you think that he'll just come up and crawl back to you like he did before. How naive you are..." She clicks her tounge.

"I am not naive..." I muster. "He told me he liked me still..."

Footsteps approach as she knocks me towards the wall. I stumble, feeling a small amount of blood coming out of my mouth. "Hell..." I breathe. "I just am a screwed to look the worst I can."

I shut my eyes, the vision too fuzzy for me to concentrate all I hear is distant or is it near screams from Eden. Eli is slightly calmer but not that much. "What gives you the right to hurt her like that?"

Eden lowers her voice, almost in defeat. "She's the reason why we broke up and I mean...I miss you Eli." I open my eyes into slits, looking at her pull him close and kissing him. I think he might be enjoying it but his eyes are wide open, looking at me, pulling away quickly. "I don't like you that way Eden...that's why we broke up. We're still friends though right?"

"What. No.

"I thought we agreed..."

She groans, flipping her hair quickly before leaving my room. "Sure you damn.." She mutters.

He slams the door.

"Jen...." He pulls me close as tears stream down. "I'm so sorry..." he looks over at me, wiping away tears. "Please don' t cry. I don't want to see you like that..." My body shakes as he holds me. "It's okay, it'll be okay." I cough, the copper taste stinging my mouth.

"That's what people say that I'll be fine. I can't be sometimes though. I'm so freaking messed up right now, I look like hell." I sniffle, tears falling on his shirt.

"Jen...you look fine. Please just don't cry like this. Because I don't want to see you crying. You are adorable okay?:

I nod, pulling away softly, with stinging eyes. I lay my head on his shoulder.

"Will you go back out there with me? Please Jen..." I look up and nod softly. I stand up, only to my hideous reflection in the mirror. My eye is now purple-blue, my bottom lips is stained blood red, my nose a black color.

He stands beside me, at least a half foot taller than me now. Jesus, I remember when I was about his height.

"Whatever thoughts you are thinking about yourself now, don't. Please, Jen, I think you look as beautiful as you always do and anyone who doesn't see that is effing blind."

I turn towards him, which really freaking hurts, but somehow I deal with it. I grab his hand, squeezing, as I pull my gaze towards him. I don't know how and I don't know why but I don't feel as awful, as a mess...

As I walk out with him, I eye Eden. He kisses my cheek quickly, which burns. My right eye can barely open now. "Let's play something else he announces, helping me sit down. Tears slip every now and then but at least now I am positive I am fine, he slips right beside me.

Pretty Pissed -Tristian's POV
Honestly, I am pretty pissed at Liza right now. The way he kissed her, and the way she didn't pull back. I mean... does she want to go back into that relationship? No, I won't let her. I just, she is such a good person, and I only want what is going to be good for her.

"Okay guys, I think I know a game we can play...." I stand up from the floor, shaking some object from the bottom of my pants.

"Hm?" Jen looks confused, maybe because I don't really talk that much around this group.

"Yeah! It's a really fun one. I played it.... last year." Now I have everyone attention.

"Where?" Nick, ew, starts to ask.

"...My house." Lying is not really in my forte. Liza smiles,

"Sounds good to me. What's it called?"

Oh crap... Come on, think. I need a name... I mean, all I am going to do is put a piece of tape around Nick's mouth and shove him in the closet upstairs. Then pass it off as some weird hide-and-seek game. But would they really fall for that?

"Um... er... You know what, nevermind." I sit back down and put my face in my hands, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"O-okay... That was strange." Eden coos from across the room. I don't even know her... Where did she come from? Come to think of it, I hardly know any of the people here, aside from Liza and a few of her friends. And then Nick of course. I still need to keep them apart. Make sure he doesn't try anything with Liza again, because God knows he is going to try.

I get up and walking into the kitchen, pretending to look for something to drink, but in the end just sitting at table. I have no idea why I am bugging out so much, all I know is that I am not having much fun anymore.

Someone comes into the kitchen, and I don't even look up to see who it is. A chair pulls back from across the table, and thats when I finally look up. And now I really feel sick.

Nick takes the spot across from me, and the look on his face seems just a little upset.

"What was that all about...?" he asks almost instantly.

"Huh?" His anger sort of catches me off guard.

"The whole game thing out there, you kept looking at me funny. And then now you don't want to play it.."

"It just wouldn't work." I cup my hands together under the table. This is really starting to piss my off, I haven't the slightest idea why he is acting like this. acting more annoying than usually I should say.

"Is it because you like Liza?" he suddenly blurts out.

I stand straight up out of my chair, and look him straight in the eye. Luckily, I am a few inches taller than him. He still looks annoyed, but less angry.

"I do like Liza. She is like a little sister to me. And we all know what you have been doing to her," I start, my voice only raising with anger,

"And I swear, you better stay away from her if you know whats good for you."

He seems to have regained his anger, because he stand up, making his chair bounce against the back of the wall. I am ready, if he want to fight. I am so ready.

But he just laughs,

"Yeah, okay. I will." And with that, he walks straight out of the room.

I think my jaw dropped a little, and I follow him back into the room. Everyone is looks bored, and when Nick sees me walk into the room, he sits down right next to Liza. So basically, I literally squeeze in right between them, knocking Nick's legs over to the other side of the couch. I give him a big smile.

"Comfortable?" he asks me, his voice dripping with malice.

"Absolutely."

I Don't - Summer's POV
Gathering all my courage, I sigh, pulling out the rubric, before knocking about two or three times on the door. I squeeze my eyes shut as I hug my binder closer to my bosom.

A woman comes to the door and gives me a warm smile through the window, before it swings open, slightly startling me.

"Summer, right?"

"Y-Yes ma'am."

"No need to be nervous. Jakey's in his room, he'll be out in a minute."

"Sure thing," I say under my breath, stepping inside and smell the fragrance of candles. I stand there awkwardly before Jakey comes out.

"Ready to start the project?" He steps out, walking down the hallway, which I'm at the end of. Taking the rubric out of my hands, he examines it and I exhale deeply.

"Ready as I ever," I lie, following him back to his room, and he flops down onto his bed. I take a seat in his desk chair, and he smiles.

"What?"

"Nothing. Don't you think it's a coincedence we became partners, though?" He rises, stepping towards me and I curl up deeper into the chair.

"N-No..." I say softly, stuttering.

My weakness.

He tilts my chin up to look at him, his eyes scanning over my face and stopping at my lips. My face is growing hot and I'm about to pull his hand off before he smirks and goes back over to his bed. "Well, I was hoping you'd do the work while I watch the food channel," He suggests and I scoff.

"Very funny, but no." I reach for the remote by his TV and he grabs it first, dangling it above my head. "You want this?" He taunts, a devious smile on his face. He leans his face closer to me.

"Go get it." He whispers.

"I'm not your dog," I mutter, inches from his face before kicking him in the shin.

Oh, how I am so glad I wore my combat boots today.

He yelps in pain and the remote falls from his hands, right into mine. I clench tightly to it, grabbing a pencil from my pencil pouch and looking at him. He puts on a pouty face.

"You want it?" I ask, mocking the way he said it. He rolls his eyes, groaning.

"Yes," He says, throwing himself back against the bed.

"Then help me. Afterwards, you can watch food channel." I set it aside and throw a pencil over at him, which he fails to catch. I then begin writing down the summary on the white cardstock paper, using colored pencils to make it look neater. Glancing over at him now and then, I notice that he's actually reading. I feel a smile grow on my face before I snap back to reality, writing some more ideas based off of my notes. My hands throb with an aching pain after around twenty minutes and I sigh, giving them a rest.

"Tired already?" He asks, and I can just feel his eyes digging into the back of my neck.

"No, not really," I answer. "Just...sore."

"It hasn't even been half an hour," He chuckles and I roll my eyes. "It almost is," I reply, pulling my beanie further over my head.

"Well, I've been drawing the logos," Jakey says, and I look over to see his eyes glued on some white printer paper and a few markers. "This crap is stupid..."

"It's second semester. Everything is stupid," I respond, still partially focusing on what's in front of me.

"I know what isn't," His voice is lower and he walks over, sitting on the edge of the seat I'm in, throwing his arm over my shoulder. A mischevious glint is in his eyes and he leans further towards my face.

"You look pretty, you know." His voice is still deeper, although slowly getting quieter.

My weakness is washing over me.

"Lies aren't charming, boy," I reply, looking him dead in the eyes.

"Lucky for me, I tell the truth." I shift but he instead cups my face and he leans his closer. I'm growing hot.

"Sometimes...I miss freshman year. I could kiss you whenever I wanted..." He whispers, trailing small, light kisses on my forehead, cheeks, but then stops when he's about to kiss my lips. I close my eyes, pressing a hand against his chest before the words spill from my mouth, my throat not being able to hold them down.

"I don't." I remark, and his hands drop solemnly as I feel his breath slowly fading away from my face. Opening my eyes, he's still staring at me, although with a hurt expression.

With that, I hear a buzzing sound and the desk vibrates. I look over at Jakey's phone.

"Newsflash, that's my phone." He says, reaching for it but I slam my palm on top of it before he can lay a single finger on it. I look at the screen. Jen.

"Yeah, it may be your phone, but it's my sister." I say back, picking it up and looking at it.

"Nosy girl," He mutters, returning to his old self, and I roll my eyes, smiling, before I realize what the text says. I get up from the chair and his eyes follow me, although mine still on the screen. "What's wrong?" He asks, and I shake my head, although knowing something isn't right.

''Hey. Jakey, let my sister have your phone.''

I begin typing.

''It's Summer, I already had it. What's up?''

Pressing send, I begin to get a little anxious and set it back down on the desk. "Don't worry about it, she probably just got into trouble with mom." I say, proceeding back to writing the rest of the project. My fingers are red and blotchy and I've already wrote ten paragraphs, my pencil practically racing across the paper. The faster this is done the faster I get out of here.

"Ready for Monday?" He asks.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Another buzz.

"The bet is still ongoing, you know." He says, and I bite my lip, knowing I'll have to act like we're dating. Crap. I pick up the phone in my hands, staring at the message on the screen in utter shock.

''I'm not sure if Liza's okay. She's been acting up.''

Scratching my eyebrow, I quickly reply.

I'll be there in ten.

Maximum Anger - Nick's POV (written by Liza... :) )
My anger at Tristian just bubbles over to the point where when Liza leaves to go get some fresh air, I slam Tristian against a wall, pushing him deep into it with my arm. A small crowd gathers around us, staring in shock.

"Get lost," i say under my breath as Tristian shoves against me. I glare at Tristian once more before turning around and sitting down on the couch. The crowd quickly leaves.

As the party goes on, I see Liza on the back porch, sitting in a chair by her tree in the backyard. A rope dangles on the branch several feet over her head. I quickly stand up before relaxing, nonchalantly heading outside. She hears the door close, apparently, and doesn't turn around.

"Tristian, go back inside."

"If you were looking for your lover, he isn't here," I reply.

She leans against the base of the tree, her hand resting on the noose tied into the rope.

"If you are here to talk me out of this, you're too late. If you want a show, you can play this off as some encounter and let someone else find out."

"You aren't going to kill yourself, Liza. Get down," I say, taking a step towards her. She turns around, both of her hands holding onto the noose, pulling it closer to her head.

"Try to stop me this time. Go back inside."

"I said get down. You will listen to me, Liza." I take another step closer but now she has the noose around her neck. I chuckle softly, putting my hands into the air for a moment before becoming serious. "If you get down now, the consequences wouldn't be that bad. Because if you do go through with this, I'll save you before it happens and you'll regret every second of your undying life."

"That's what you think, asshole." She drops her hands and kicks the chair out from under herself. Her body speeds to the ground before lurching to a stop.

"Liza!" someone shouts from behind me. Tristian runs past, shoving me out of the way. He clambers up the tree to the branch, pulling out a swiss army knife to cut down the rope. "Get help you asshole!"

But instead, I just stare at her. I turn around and walk out the gate she has, leaving her backyard. Cas starts screaming every curseword in the entire world after me.

As soon as I get to the front of the house, I hear Jen screaming. Just at that moment, Summer arrives with Jakey, running seemingly unnoticingly past me to the backyard. I shove my hands into my jean pockets as I walk over to my car, unlocking the door and driving off.

Arriving home, I find the cops to already be there, I quickly grab a water bottle, splashing some water onto my cheeks and slapping myself a couple times to make it look like I've been crying. Instead, I've primarily been pissed.

I walk to the front door, rubbing at my eyes.

"Are you Nic-" they start but I push past them, rubbing at my eyes and even adding an occasional sniffle to pull of the part.

"Oh Nick!" my mother says as she runs over, hugging tightly. Erin is sitting at the table, giving me death glares but it looks like she's been crying.

The officers decide to show themselves in. "We need to talk to Nick and..." The female cop looks over at her male partner. "I don't know how to say this... we need to bring him in to ask some questions about Liza."

"She killed herself in front of my own eyes... I just want to be left alone..." I rub at my eyes before turning around, heading for the stares.

The male cop grabs my hand. "Unfortunately, we have our orders. We were sent here by a boy name Tristian. Said you were the only person to see the girl kill herself, and that you were her boyfriend." He looks over at my mother. "There's no easy way to say this... The boy on the phone said that he's been hurting the victim which is why she commited suicide. We need to bring him in on legal charges for indirect murder."

Mom starts crying harder. "No, it's nonsense! Nicky would never! Never, never, never-" she starts but Erin stands up, rubbing at her eyes.

"I saw him do it. Not... not directly. I heard him hurt Liza and came to investigate. Her face was all red on one side and the other was bruised. She quickly put on make-up to cover it." Erin grips at the table to keep herself up, ready to collapse back into tears. Mom starts to burst into tears even more and decides slamming herself into the coat closet would be the best option.

The two cops take me outside and the only thing I can think of is that if I get off, I'm coming for Tristian...

When walking out to the car, I see Liza standing there, watching. A lady walks over, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Liza!" I shout. "This is all your fault!" The girl looks confused as her mother puts her arm around her, guiding her into the house as the cops shove me into the car.

Alone and Broken - Jen's POV
Swarms of police come, investigating, asking me all these questions that I don't feel like answering. "What happened?" "Why do you think that..." The voices crowd my mind as I manage to make out a few answers. Before I fall apart, I ask them if I could just be alone for a little while. They nod, walking over to the scene where at least a dozen officers already are.

After Eli took me and Summer home, my mother was talking some crap to him and Summer about what happened. As the police wasn't enough for them...

My bare feet cause the wooden floor to creak as I enter my room, shutting the door behind me softly. I get down on my knees and reach under my bed, trying to find one thing in particular. Once I locate it, I pull the box out, sighing shakily. The paint is chipped, I painted it ages ago, the fushia color burning my eyelids. The flower stickers that once were attatched firmly, were now peeling at the corners. Dust settles all across the top, settling in the cracks in the wood. It still smells  like crayons and pencil shavings as I crawl up onto my bed, placing it in my lap.

The top of the box flaps open easily, as I see the enormous piles of cards I have gotten from my sisters or my family. I slip my fingers down to the very last one and set them beside me. The first cards are from my 16th birthday, with Liza's neat handwriting and Summer doodling all across the paper, but when the pile dwindles, the writing diteriotates, the perfect curves in Liza's signature turned to an unrecognizable mess. I smile softly, reading her words, when I see one, the necklace still in a little plastic slip, with only Liza's writing.

I breathe heavily, reading her writing. "Thanks for being there for me." She has doodles that are way too out of proportion, her writing is in crayon, but the necklace I haven't seen in years. It is tiny, probably almost a bracelet, but I still take it out of it's packaging.

I close my eyes, a single tear running down my cheek, as I sigh, putting everything back. It's not fair...

More tears. She didn't deserve any of this. And how am I such a good sister if I just ignored her..I should have talked to her..I should have..Sobbing.

I bury my face into the pillow, not caring about the heat, or if anyone could here me because all I feal right now is some pain that I can't deal with and...my eyes now burn, so I squint them shut. The blankets are pressed up against me. My breaths are shaky now.

Someone walks in quietly, sitting beside me. "Jen, it's okay," Summer says, trying to pull herself together like she normally does, trying to be the older one, but I can tell she knows that she wants to be alone too.

"Just go away." I say through tears, choking out words that are barely audible.

"Jen.." She says, moving the cards over. "Please, you want to talk about it?" There is concern in her voice. I pull her away,wrapping the blankets tighter around me. "I know how hard it is Jen but.."

I can see her feet still dangling, her neck slung....

I look over to her, sighing. "Hard? This is hell Summer." I press my face into the pillow as Summer sits there, I look up once to see tears falling, but she soon leaves, slamming the door to her room. Distant sobs. I climb over my bed to shut the door back.

I sit there for a while, eventually picking up my novel. reading silently. The pain lessens for a little while, until someone else comes in. I don't even look up from my book.

"Go the hell away, I do not want to talk to anyone."

"Hey, I know that this isn't the best day but you wouldn't talk to Summer, so she thought you would talk to me."

I look up, putting my bent Doctor Who novel down. "I don't need to talk." I start, looking at him. He sits beside me.

"I know that your sister just..." He's trying to think of a way to say it so it doesn't sound effed up, but that is virtually impossible.

"Commited suicide. Yeah." I bite the inside of my cheek.'' Don't cry....please don't cry again. ''

"I'm not good with this whole comforting thing," he says after a while. I nod, sighing.

"Don't think you could comfort me now anyway. My life went straight to hell and I can't do a damn thing about it." And I break again.

I bury my face into my pillow and just cry as Eli probably looks at me like I am just as freaking screwed up as my life is.

"Jen...it wasn't your fault.."

"I didn't comfort her. I didn't do a damn thing because I just ignored it. And now my sister is dead." I breathe heavily.

He looks over at me. "Look Jen I'm sorry that your sister died.."

I close my eyes. "It's not fair..." I look down at my feet, sighing.

"I know..." He puts his arm around me as I cry, my face is sticky and I look like freaking hell and my sister is dead...

"My life sucks.." I say, leaning my head onto his shoulder.

"You should get some rest," He says after a while. "How about you, where will you go?" I ask, looking up.

"It's one in the morning, your mom said I could stay here for the night."

I nod, showing him where our inflatable mattress was. He sighs, dragging it into the room.

Drifting off to sleep somehow, I see flashbacks again and again, the bloody knife they found in Liza's room, her hanging on a noose. Then I hear the distant screams in my mind, her yelling echoing in the darkness. "Thanks for nothing Jen.."

I make up screaming, with sweats all over my body. "Jen," Eli's eyes are swollen. has he been awake the whole night?

"I heard you talking and then you started crying...." He looks over at me with sad grey eyes. "Is everything okay?"

It's 4 in the morning and I swallow my guilt. "Not really."

I cry, pulling him closer to me. He and Summer is the only thing I have left now and I don't want him to leave me.

"I can't take this..." I say digging my face into his shirt. He strokes my hair and looks away, trying to be the strong person in this situation.

"It's okay..." He says, voice cracking at the last word. A single tear falls onto my cheek as he sighs."I'm here.."

And that's when I know we're both broken.

It's All Okay- Tristian's POV
A few hours ago...

It's just me and Liza, sitting in her room. She has been staring out her window for awhile now. The only sound was the ticking of the clock, and the sound of my heartbeat. I can't see her face, but I know the tears are running down her face with fury.

Part of me want to go across the room and help her. But the other part glues me to the chair, tells me to just leave me to leave her alone. She is a strong person, but I know she can get brought down just as quick as she can rise back up.

Right as I open my lips, she begins to speak,

"I'm so tired... so, so tired Tristian." her voice is a cracked whisper. My heart sinks faster than her fleeting sanity.

"Liza, it's okay, really." I tell her softly, standing up. With this, she turns around, and I see the red streaks along her cheeks, and the moisture coating her eyes. She seems so... broken.

"No... no... no..." She cups her hands around her ears, rocking back and forth.

Finally, I go to her, and wrap my arm around her. She is still rocking, but becomes less tense. I try to soothe her by rubbing her head, but she is still whispering to herself, and rocking ever so slightly. It's okay... it's okay.

"You... know, all the pain I have felt in my life... why is it worth it?" she looks right in my eyes, and I can see the dark pits in her irises.

"Liza, it's okay." I grip her more firmly this time, but those eyes are burned into the back of my mind. I can see them when I blink my eyes. Literally the imperturbable void of broken life.

"No... no... no..." And with that she continues her steady rocking, and the random cupping of her ears. It seems like she is trying to get voices out of her head.

I have no idea what to do. Part of me, with a burning passion, wants to help her, protect her, make sure she has the best life she can. But the other part of me succumbs to her sorrow, and feels a need to end it. To end her pain. And then the question arises,

With a quirky laugh, "I have... a razor in my bathroom. It's on the side of the tub. It... it could help me." she laughs a little.

"Liza.." I start, but then she just puts her fingers to my lips. And then I see the eyes again, only this time accompanied by a smile that says she has given up. Once and for all. No more fighting it.

"Please, I am done... I've... I've had enough time." she tells me. And that was it. I got up, leaving her rocking, and went into her bathroom. Like she said, the razor was laying on the edge of the bath-tub. When I pick it up, I hear some commotion in the bedroom, and I run back into it.

Liza is sitting at her desk, writing something. I don't know what, but she is writing it really fast. It seems like she is writing two different things.

"I got it." I tell her, getting choked up a little. She stops writing instantly, and turns around with the warmest all around Liza smile she can give.

"Thank you... lay it on the bed. I have something I have to write first." she tells me, a more sturdy tone accompanied this time with her voice. I realize I am making the right choice here. She is ready, and what am I to do against someone that is ready to end her pain? All I want is for her to be happy, and I will do anything to make sure that is possible.

"Okay... one for my friends, and..." she gets up and sits on the bed next to me,

"One just for you. Read it when you get home." she tells me, and hands me a neatly folded piece of paper. My eyes are burning, and I give her one long hug. I can feel a wet dripping on my cheek, as she starts to shake all over again.

"We had a good run... The best." she whispers in my ear, and kisses my cheek. Her hands are shaky as I feel her brush my leg, looking for the razor.

We never once stopped hugging. I looked at the corner of her room, never once looking down. I could... I could hear it. I could smell the metallic taste.

I could hear her sighing, and laughing with instant relief. I never once blinked away from that corner.

It must have been at least two minutes... at least, until she loosened, and gently fell on the bed. That was when I fell apart. I couldn't even stand looking at her, so I left the room.

Pacing the hallway, my mind cluttered with thoughts, I didn't know what to do. I needed... I needed to call someone. Yeah, I needed to call someone. I took my phone from my back pocket, and dialed 911, and began my breakdown.

But... that isn't how the call went.

It went fast, but the one thing I remember blurting out was,

"HELP HE IS KILLING HER! NICK IS... OH GOD HELP!" in a anxious tone. I know she left a suicide note, but hey, at least it would get him in hot water.

Now, I had to leave her where they could find her. I remember the tree outside her house, the one she would always look at, loving and cherishing.

All it took was some rope from the basement, and a little tying, and there she was. Hanging in the breeze. I tried not to look at her much, so I said one last goodbye, and left the yard quickly.

Once I got to my house, I didn't bother going inside. Instead, I wandered into the backyard, and laid down on the soft grass. The moon illuminated the yard, as I pulled Liza's note out, and began reading,

Tristian,

''You are my rock, my soul, my funny little companion. Life was hard... but you made it easier. I know when you read this, I will be gone. But I will never be truly gone. Just open your mind, and there I am. Laughing, crying, being apart of each other lives. I know you will continue your life, but please, don't think about me too much. You know... I would do the same. I love you... forever.''

I do Liza.

I do.

The Exchange Student - Summer's POV
Monday finally rolled around, which felt like weeks, and I was at Lunch, trying my best to keep myself together.

Walking to where Jen and Eli are sitting, I feel a hand touch my shoulder.

"Summer...I'm really sorry..." Jakey says and I nod.

"Thanks for reminding me."

"At least he said it," Tristian says, looking at me.

"I would've rathered him not."

He drops his hand and I continue walking, Eli hugging Jen, trying to comfort her. I'd be a third wheel. I'd prefer to be alone anyway.

Instead, I find an empty table and sit there, Annie passing by. "You aren't going to eat?"

I shake my head, exhaling.

"It's not that I just...don't feel hungry..."

She nods, walking over to a different table and I put my head down, memories flooding my head. Freshman year...when she got hit with a football...how she won Homecoming Queen...and how I found the same crown shattered to pieces deep inside of her backpack.

Before I know it, I have salted cheeks.

I feel somebody's presence come upon me and look up, not caring whether I look like crap. It's an unfamiliar girl.

"Hi, are you ah...well?" She says, a French accent peaking through. I nod, brushing my hair out of my face.

"Yep."

"I am...how do you say...so apologize for your loss..." I can tell she's struggling to have the right English, but she's not quite there yet.

"Thanks...What's your name?" I manage to croak out, clasping my hands together.

She smiles warmly, her auburn hair in a neat side braid.

Very pretty.

"I am Sapphire. It is a...ah...pleasure to meet you."

She seems like she's thinking about something before opening her mouth again.

"What is ah...your...name?"

"I'm Summer," I hold out a hand and she shakes it lightly. "That's a very...pretty name, Summer."

"Thank you. Do you have any family that live here?"

"No, I am an...eh, Exchange student. My cousin Amber, she's also coming to this school...she's like my...tra...labor?"

"Translator..." I smile and she smiles back. "I am horrible at English."

I laugh light-heartedly. "It's okay. I'm sure Amber is teaching you and you'll be a pro in no time."

She giggles softly, pulling out her phone.

"Can I have your...ah, number? You're very nice and I have no friends...as you can tell..."

"Sure," Taking her phone in my hands, I type it in before handing it back. "There was this guy in the halls...Jake? He was very nice...very charming..."

I run a hand through my hair, remembering what happened that day we were studying together.

"Yeah...He was my boyfriend in Freshman year..."

"Oh, I apologize! What happened..?"

"Nothing..." I shake my head. "Nothing, really...it sort of just...faded..."

She nods. "I understand." I glance at her and she realizes it before beaming. She holds out her hand again.

"Thank you, Summer. You're...you are very kind." I shake it again and she gets up, leaving.

High School Confusion - Amber's POV (Written by Liza)
I sit down at lunch, getting several strange looks from people. Is it because I'm from England? If it is, how rude...

I catch a glimpse of Sapphire as she is talking to a girl at some table. "Sapphire!" I call out to her. She quickly catches eye of me and waves. She sits down and smiles. "I just made a, em... a fiend?"

"Did you mean a friend?" I ask her.

"Oui! Oui!" Sapphire says, smiling. I laugh softly. "Her name is... Summer?"

"I'd love to go and meet this Summer. What table is she sitting at?" I ask, leaning forward.

Sapphire turns around and points to a table with only one girl sitting at it, her back towards us. I give Sapphire a smile before walking over to Summer, sitting down at her table.

"Hello, I'm Amber. My cousin, Sapphire, said she's meet you," I say and Summer looks up. She cries out, covering her mouth. I raise an eyebrow, realizing this wasn't the first time this has happened today.

"That isn't funny, Amber. Take off that wig now." She leans closer. "And those eye contacts. Who do you think you are, impersonating my..." Her voice drops. "Sister..." She suddenly gets angry again. "Take it off now!"

"I'm not wearing a wig!" I exclaim. I tug at my hair, fairly painfully, at that, to prove my point. Summer starts to cry and I quickly stand up. "If this is how you treat all new people than I'll pack my bags and leave." I turn around and head back to where Sapphire is sitting, with some random guy.

"Ah, Amber!" she shouts, waving me over. "Meet Jack... Jackie? Is that how you say it?"

"Jakey..." he says, trailing off the end of his sentence just like everyone else today. He stands up slowly. "Liza? Is that... you?"

"Not you, too... I swear, the amount of people who have thought I was this Liza girl... and some girl just shouted that I was impersonating her dead sister. What the hell is with this school? My name is Amber. I transferred here with my cousin, Sapphire. I don't know any Liza."

"LIZA!" I hear someone shout and suddenly, I am being hugged by some older male. "Liza you were dead, you were dead and, and..." He pauses. "You were dead... You are dead. I..." The male straightens up. "I... I'm sorry... I thought you were an old friend..." He pauses, messing with a folded up piece of paper. "I... I'm Tristian. it's nice to meet you..."

"Another one!" I exclaim. "Who the hell is this Liza person any way? Some stuck up American, I suppose."

Tristian straightens. "Don't talk about her like that. If you'd know anything, you'd know she was well known around the school, one of the best. And badmouthing her after what happened Saturday will get your ass kicked, Brit." His hands tighten around the piece of paper that's been folded many times over. I look back up at him.

"Do you know who I am? I am related to the current Queen of England, you daff-"

"And do you know who I am? I'm a friend of Liza's. And I..." He stops before pointing at me. "And you'll watch what you say. Understood?"

I snort before turning and grabbing my bag, heading towards the bathrooms before turning around. "She's dead, whoever this Liza girl is. Recently. If you weren't grieving at the current time, you'd find yourself in a whole lot of trouble. Sapphire, are you coming?"

Sapphire grabs her bag, saying a quick goodbye to Jakey as we head out of the cafeteria.

"Sometimes, just sometimes, these American people get on my nerves."

"Not all of them are... terrible," Sapphire replies, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Whatever. Come on. I need to get to my locker and grab some books before moving on with my  life."

Who Do You Think You Are - Jen's POV
"Come on!" I kick my locker with my bare feet, soaking wet. "You can't do this now." It earns me a few stares from girls already dressed. My hair is dripping onto my back and I don't even have a towel with me. As girls start filing out, I sigh in defeat, leaning against the lockers and reaching for my backpack. I pull my hair back, trying to adjust my swimsuit. The only thing I own to cover me up is a soft cardigan, which I honestly do not want to ruin with chlorine. Muttering, I pull the locker room door open, to see that I am the very last one left. The announcements start as I close the door. I close my eyes before stepping out onto the gym floor in bare feet, trying to ignore what seems like bitter silence as the announcements blare.

As I open them, I bite my lip, looking to the nearest seat. I find one saved for me, beside Eli. Please, anything else...but I really don't feel like searching for a seat either. I slide beside him, dripping wet, grabbing a brush out of my backpack and making my hair look halfway decent. His eyes widen, looking at me, as I look over.

"This was the only thing that I could wear. My gym locker wouldn't open," I mumble, tightening my hands into fists. I look away, biting my lip harder. The bell rings, but I don't hear him get up.

"There's nothing wrong with that..." He says softly, looking over at me.

I turn back to him, closing my eyes. "I don't really want to wear this, it's making me feel damn uncomfortable so if you could please leave me be for now." I sigh, I'm not in the mood today.

"I know your sister died and everything but that doesn't give you permission to be a b-"

My blood pressure rises as I look over at him, almost everyone out of the gymnasium now. "I'm not being like that Eli. I've had a damn awful week so if you could please..." I get up, ready to leave.

He stands, pulling me closer. "Jen, I swear I was just kidding." He kisses me. As soon as I feel weakness fall into my chest, I pull away, which causes his eyes to flicker open.

"What..you never do that..." He says, his face twisted to a frown.

"You never talked to me like that so we're even." I say, looking up into his eyes. I storm out of the gym, not caring if he's left behind. I've had enough today.

I walk through the hallway, bare feet slamming the tile, when I notice someone who looks shockingly familiar...

''Liza? ''I ask myself, shaking the thought away. I resume being pissed because I swear to god I-

"You know you can't walk around pissed the rest of your life." It sounds British. I turn around, seeing Liza-no it couldn't be her...

"Who are you?" I ask, with too much agressiveness.

"Amber. Jesus Christ, how many times do I have to introduce myself today.." She mutters.

I nod, trying to place my thoughts together. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jen." I look over at her, god she looks exactly like her, down to the color of her eyes.

She nods, looking around. "So what the hell are you so mad about?" She pulls at her cardigan, looking down at her boots.

"Oh..my..um.." Boyfriend? I don't now how to describe him.

"Eli-we're dating-and um...he just said some things that I didn't find very um.." My thoughts are all jumbled together. "Nice and...he tried to fix it but I just haven't had a good week.."

"Yeah, heard this Liza person died." She mutters.

"She was my sister." I manage before glaring at her.

"Oh...sorry about that."

I sigh, pulling at my backpack strap. Silence arises as I sigh shakily.

"I should..go.." I mutter, pointing at the door. She nods, pulling out a book from her backpack.

I open the glass doors to see Summer who looks at me softly. "What happened..you usually come out with Eli."

"Stuff I really don't want to talk about." I mutter, pulling at my swimsuit. Damn I screwed up this time didn't I? But so did he..I groan, my thoughts have been screwed up since Saturday.

I pull out my phone from my backpack, turning it on.

A couple missed messages from Mom, like I care. I respond quickly, not expecting to get a response in the next ten minutes.

Then I see Eli's texts as I sit down, even though my mind tells me anything but to read them..

I read them one by one..sighing.

''-I'm really sorry, okay? ''

-I know it was uncalled for..

-Can you please call me tonight...

I turn my phone off, not responding.

It still won't lessen at all any pain that I felt.

I make a mental note to call him.

Liza is gone...but what if I lose him too. Then what will I have?

I sigh shakily, trying to be okay.

God, can this week get any worse?

Could Have Done Worse- Tristian's POV
Early basketball practice hurts even worse than I already feel. I forgot how much it sucked to sweat. But, I'm decently tall, so... basketball. I mean, I guess I am okay at it, could probably be better if I actually practiced. Every throw I make, I can feel Liza's note against my leg. When the coach blows his whistle, I file out into the showers.

Taking a towel, I dry some of my hair, and get another one to wrap around my waist. I think I am the first out, so I don't have to worry about any towels whipping my ass. I check my phone for any messages, and I do see one. It's from a number I don't know.

Meet outside k :)

Who in the hell? I start to text back, but I hear some yelling on the other side of the room, and know the guys are starting to finish. I get dressed as fast as possible, my hair still a wet mess, and glide out of the locker room. My next class is math, but I skip it to go outside and see what this person wants.

''Did... did they see something about Liza?''

I can't tell you how long that thought has been in my head. What if someone saw me outside with her... What if it was Nick? I shudder at the thought, but continue to make my way out the backdoor no one uses. My phone buzzes,

Were r u????

Who... is this? I press my hands into the door, and then exit outside, and the sun immediately causes irritation to my eyes. Looking around, I don't see anyone, so I go to where the tables are under the trees.

And sure enough, someone is sitting there make a daisy chain. Her auburn hair is shining radiantly through the peeks of sunlight.

I instantly begin to turn around. But she spots me too quick.

"H-ey!" she calls out rather loudly. Sapphire puts down the chain she was making and skips over to me. I bite my lip and turn around.

"What the hell is this about?" I hold my phone up to her face. She looks confused.

"Wha?" she whispers.

"You insulted my dead friend, and acted completely rude... and-and now you wanna talk to me-" before I even finish, she pushes me against the brick wall. My eyes open completely wide as she leans in, and gently kisses the bottom of my lip.

"American boys... I like them." she breathes out, and this time the kiss is harder. I have no idea what is happening, or no idea why I don't make her stop. Her hair is brushing against my neck softly.

"Wha-" she stops any questions, with harder, fiercer kissing. And finally, I just shut up.

I just shut up.

The One to Ruin - Sapphire's POV (Written by Summer; Credit to Liza <3)
After pulling away, Tristian looks at me with wide eyes.

"O..kay...then..."

"I need you to do something for ah...moi..." I propose. I swear, I cannot believe people are buying this French act.

"What's in it for me?" He asks, and I look around before dumping the contents of what's in my bag. Bundles of money fall to the ground.

"That." I answer, smiling.

"How..."

"No time for questions. Tell me, will you do it?"

"Er...I'd have to think about-" I kiss him again and he nods.

"Sure."

Smiling, I stuff the money back into my bag and he sighs, walking beside me.

"So...what do I have to do?"

"I'll be there to witness it...but I need you to get rid of somebody."

"Who?"

"We both know who," I whisper. "I need revenge on them."

"What did they do?" He asks, and I remember back to Matthew and how I had to kill him. He didn't love me.

"It's a long story and I have to catch up with Amber. I'll text you who they are. It has to be done tomorrow night."

"Alright..."

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. "Why are you so casual about this?" He just shakes his head.

"May or may not have done it before."

Running a hand through his hair, I grin. "Then this'll be a piece of cake. We're both experienced."

I see Amber in her car, driving up to me. "What are you doing? You know we still have to go to the store."

"I am apologize!" I shout, running over to her. "I was talking to...Turtle..."

"Tristian." Amber rolls her eyes. "Whatever, come on." I get into the passenger's seat, setting my bag in front of my feet. She then looks at me, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you look so happy?" "Nothing." I reply, shrugging. "Tomorrow is just going to be...quite...tha...day for me."

I look at the four contacts on my phone.

Jen, Summer, Amber, and Tristian. I smile.

I'm Back But... Not? - Liza's POV
I get into school for Tuesday morning. I tried to get my car but mom moved it from my house and apparently it is Summer's for the time being. What is this maddness? Is this because I... well, almost died?

"Hey Blake!" I shout, running over. He doesn't turn around as I tap on his shoulder. "Blake! Blake? Come on, Blake. I need to know what I missed yesterday in Chorus and AP Calc."

He just keeps his back to me. "Blake, answer me!" I shout. Instead, I just throw my hands up in the air. "Fine."

I spot Marina walking with a new girl with Auburn hair. Is that the new foreign exchange student? Hey, I was supposed to be her help!

"Marina!" I shout, running over. "Come on, I'm out for one day and you steal my foreign exchange student?" I shout but get no answer. "Marina, I know you can hear me! Everyone can hear me!"

But no one is even glancing in my direction.

A kid shoves me from behind and I look up to see Tristian. "Tristian!" I shout and for a moment, he turns around, looking into oblivion. His eyes fall on me for a second before he turns around. "Tristian, wait, can you hear me? Tristian? Tristian!" I run over and grab at his hand, pulling him back. He lurches with the sudden grasp and several people stop and look before continuing on. "Dammit, what's going on?"

"Amber, whatever the hell you're doing-" he starts by yanking his hand away and he turns as pale as a ghost. "Why did you disappear."

I shift uncomfortably. "I'm still here," I reply, starting to get pissed again. "And who is this Amber person?" I grab at his arm again and only then do I notice the cuts along my arm and how sore my neck is. "Ow..." I flinch as Tristian moves his hand to touch my arm.

"Holy crap," Tristian says, staring at me. "Liza... You... You were dead... Is this really you?" He let's go of my arm. "Grab my arm again, you've disappeared." I do so and he hugs me. "Holy crap, this must look so awkward to everyone else in the halls." I do notice the amount of people watching.

"What's going on? Why can't anyone hear me?" I ask him when I see Summer and Jen.

"Summer!" I shout, but Tristian keeps a hold on me. "Let go!"

"Liza, stop. I can only hear and see you because we are touching. If... If we weren't... I... I think you're a ghost."

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not a ghost. If I were a ghost, I wouldn't be able to touch things. I... I..." I suddenly burst into tears. Tristian furrows his brows and grabs his books that he dropped. "Come on, there is time before class. Maybe... Maybe we can figure this out. Just you and me. And during lunch, maybe even after school."

"Tristian!" shouts a girl, the same auburn hair from before. Sapphire.

She lowers her voice as she stands next to Tristian, making me lean in.

"Don't forget, tomorrow night." She then smiles and kisses him, making me let go of his arm as I back away in pure shock. I collapse against a wall, holding my head in my hands as I start to think this through. What was tonight? Why didn't Sapphire have an accent?

Why was she all over Tristian?

"Liza?" Tristian asks, looking around. He then sighs. "If... If you're listening... I... I'm sorry. I'll see you later."

"You promised to help me! Are you putting Sapphire before me now? We... We are best friends! I... I..." I can't bear to finish the sentence. It's too painful, for one, then he can't hear me, and he's also run off.

I lean against the wall and start sobbing into my hands until I catch sight of Summer. I walk over and grab her arm. "Summer!"

She looks at me. "Amber, what... Where is your accent?"

"Summer, it's me," I say.

"Nice try." She tries to pull her arm away but I keep a firm grip.

"Summer, it's Liza. We got detention on our first day of freshmen year. We played sisters in Frozen. You're my baby sister and please believe me."

"How... How are you alive?" she asks.

"I... I am but... I'm not." I let go of her arm and disappear from her view. I then grab it again. "I... I'm a ghost..."

"Liza..." She says softly and hugs me. She starts to cry and so do I.

"I... I'm so sorry, Summer. I never wanted to... it was my only escape from him... Please... Tristian ran off and... and..."

She then slaps me on the face.

"Holy crap, ow. I'm a ghost and that hurt. Ow, ow, ow..."

"Don't... don't ever do that again to me..." she says softly.

"As a ghost, I don't have much option..." I hold my face for a moment before hugging her. "I'm sorry... I need your help... and Jen's... and Tristian's... anybody's help. This... this needs fixed."

"What do I have to do?"

Dates And Roses - Jen's POV
''Come on...get your thoughts together. You can't just sit here...looking at his number just call him, Jesus. ''My mind scolds, racing. Damn, just call him!

I sigh, finally clicking call, biting the inside of my cheek so hard I taste blood. The dial tone rings...

"This is Eli, leave a message''." ''The phone beeps abruptly as I stutter. ''Damn, why did you call him? ''

"Uh-um...hell...It's Jen and I just like-" The phone beeps again as I hang up. I groan, covering my eyes with my elbow, dropping my phone on the bedspread. I grab my throw pillow, hugging it tightly to my chest. God...you screwed up.

I sit up as there is an abrupt knock on the door.

"I'll get it," Mother yells from downstairs. I sigh, falling back on my bedspread, arms outstretched.

I hear the door creak open and a few seconds later, footsteps up the stairs.

"Jen...um what's his name...is here." A gentle knock on my door before she opens it. I nod, looking at myself for a moment. Why is he here of all places in the world right now, why did it have to be here, at this moment, at this time, right after the screwed up voicemail and my stupid awkwardness.

But somehow I get that urge to make sure my hair looks nice, quickly tying my bandana sloppily. I can practically hear the impatience echoing in the house from both my mother and Eli...

Jogging down the stairs, I open the door a little wider, sighing.

"Hey sorry," I smile awkwardly.

He nods, smiling softly. "Um..I was wondering if you-" His speech pauses.

I pull down my sweatshirt, looking up. "Yes?"

His eyes widen before he resumes. "Yeah..uh..I was wondering if you maybe want to go out to dinner? I mean if your mom won't let you or anything that's fine just I found this really nice place and-"

"I can ask. Wait a second." I smile softly, walking to the kitchen.

She grabs strawberries from the fridge and sets them down before noticing me. "Yes, Jen?"

"I was wondering if I could go out to dinner with Eli tonight."

"Sure." ''That's it? No, get back home or I will ground you for eternity? Nothing? ''

I nod, racing back to the door. "She said it was fine." His smile brightens as I smile back. "Can I get dressed first because this..." I point to my Disney pajama pants, is not going to look okay."

He laughs, walking in and sitting on the couch. I climb the stairs, going back into my room.

After disregarding a few dresses I find one floral one, maroon lace at the top and a floral design at the bottom, tied together with a black belt. I pull my heeled boots on, making me not look as tiny as I already am. I walk down the stairs, smiling. "Sorry, that must have taken forever."

His eyes widen as I sigh. "Shall we go out then?"

He nods, getting up. We both walk out the door as Summer asks Mom about going to the park or something after dinner...

As I walk outside, I feel a strong chill as I shiver, groaning. "Are you okay?" He asks, eyes showing concern.

I nod, biting my lip, as I get in his car. It's warm inside, and as he starts the car, Celtic music plays. "What the hell..." I mutter, laughing.

"I kind of enjoy it." He shrugs.

"Do you mind if um-I change it?"

"I don't care."

I turn on the Alternative Radio station, flipping back and forth with the Classic Rock station when they play crappy songs.

"How can you stand this stuff?" He asks, as Kansas' Carry On My Wayward Son comes on.

"It's cool, I enjoy it."

He pulls up in a parking lot, as my eyes try to find where exactly we are going.

He turns the car off, getting out of the car. I swing open my door, a cool breeze rushing into the car. I get out, shutting the door behind me.

Leading me to the sidewalk, he puts his arm around my shoulder, which he practically has to kneel down to do, I am so small.

"Here."

My eyes widen. "Jesus Christ you know how expensive this place is?"

"I earned some extra cash, I thought we could go do something." He shrugs. Don't notice me blushing...please.

An older man opens the door for us, the aroma of decadent food filling the room. I look around at golden pillars that the split the room. The floral bouquets are fresh roses and tulips.

My eyes widen as I look at him, "Wow..." is all I can barely muster.

"I know." He whistles.

The waitress looks at me and then back at him. "Reservation?" Her accent sounds a little bit Russian...

"Eli?"

She mutters something, scribbling something down in the notebook. "Ah..I see. Welcome Eli and-" Her eyes land on me.

"Jen."

She nods smiling. "Yes...yes. Follow me,"

Another cold spot. I shiver again, which causes Eli to put his hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay?" I nod, biting my lip.

The woman leads us to this alcove, the light slightly dimmer. Candles sparkle, the light illuminating the room. "Here." She ushers us to a table, smiling. "Enjoy."

As another waitress comes, she hands me a menu, asking what I would like to drink. "Water please." I mutter, looking up.

"And you?"

"Pepsi?" He shrugs.

"Sure, that will be coming out shortly. She disappears as Eli sighs.

"I think I've never been more annoyed in my life."

My eyes widen. What did I do?

"Eden just..." He sighs, closing his eyes. "She wants to get back together with me and..."

I bite my lip.

"And I can't. Because I just see one girl on my mind and-" He eyes me, sighing. "It's so stupid really."

I look at him. "It is not." I laugh. "It's sweet." ''Please, please don't notice how red I am. ''I scan my menu, lifting it up.

The waitress comes back with our drinks a couple moments later. "Do you know what you would like to order?"

I nod. "I would like the salmon with Ceaser Salad."

"I would like salmon with um-" He scans the menu again.

"Salad. Like plain. With croutons and-" The waitress is gone by he starts the last phrase.

I laugh. "Wow."

The lights flicker for a moment. I look around, when I feel a slight squeeze on my shoulder. I turn around to see what looks like Liza-but it couldn't be?

"Amber.." I groan.

She loosens her grip and disappates. "It's Liza and I know I interupted you guys at the worst possible time but-"

My eyes widen. Ghost?

I whisper. "But what?"

Eli looks over at me. "Are you positive you are okay because there is no one..." Liza fades, and I guess she walks over to him.

His eyes widen as he grabs the butter knife, aiming it at her.

She once again comes back into view. "Damn," She points to her bleeding arm. I grab a napkin, trying to wipe the blood off, grasping her arm.

"It's okay." She looks up at me. "I'm okay Jen, just please I need your help. "

"What for?"

"I'll tell you later, but you must promise me."

I gulp, then nod. "Okay."

She fades, the lights now steady.

"What the hell..." Eli starts.

I shrug as my salad is laid in front of me. I sip my water before picking up my salad fork.

"That was..." I sigh. "Something."

"Yeah..."

Soon after we both finish our meals, we head out, the spring rain falling down like crazy.

As we walk outside, he sighs, looking into my eyes. He pulls me close as the rain pours and the lightning cracks, kissing me. I close my eyes, not caring about the rain. Some look over smiling, then whispering something.

He pulls away. I grasp my hand as I laugh, looking at how soaked he is. He notices me and laughs in return.

"We are a total mess." I smile, gasping his hand. I start a sprint, him surprised. "God, could you at least warn me next time..."

I head to the parking lot, laughing.

We head into the car, him turning on the car, pulling out. The rain gets harder as we head onto the road. He flashes a smile as I lean over, trying to control the wheel.

The car swerves, as someone hits us. I scream as the glass shatters, only seeing Eli looking over at me. "Jen.." He barely mutters. The world turns to black as I hear sirens in the background.

The Witness - Summer's POV (Warning: Very Long and Shocking Chapter)
I recieved a text from Bekah as I take a walk through the woods.

''I think your sister and Eli are in the hospital. Tragic accident.''

My heart pumps faster as I instantly turn around, seeing somebody with familiar auburn hair. Sapphire.

"Summer, hi!!"

"Hey, look, I don't have time to talk-"

"No, it's only a second, please, Summer..."

I exhale deeply and nod. She reveals my cousin, Ella, from behind her back.

"Ella?"

"Summer, you have to run! Call the cops! The girl's insane," She yelps, as Sapphire yanks her hair harshly.

"W-Why?" I question, and then Sapphire reveals a gun, putting it to her head.

"Call the cops or not, she's dying. Do as you please."

My fingers shaking tremulously as I struggle press the emergency button on the screen of my phone.

"Matthew...long-distance relationship Matthew told me he loved me."

"No..." I remember the boy I had a long-distance relationship with when I was about 13.

"He cheated on us. I had to kill him."

"Sapphire, I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but get the gun away from my damn relative."

I manage to call 911, the operator answering.

911, what is your emergency?

"Matthew was my boyfriend, we were supposed to get married!" She yells at me in pure anger.

"At age freaking 13?!" I shout back, trying to contain myself. The gun is still by Ella.

"YES!" She screams, and I try to answer the operator calmly, but I just can't.

"P-Please help...the exchange student from my school...she's...she's trying to kill my cousin and-"

Where are you?

"I-I don't know! I was going for a walk in the woods-"

"Summer, put down the damn phone!" Sapphire screams, her accent leaving. She digs the tip of the gun deeper into Ella's head.

"COME QUICK!"

A gunshot rings out.

Ella drops from Sapphire's grip as her head slams into the sidewalk. I drop the phone in shock as thoughts swarm inside of my head, and at the sight of blood I begin to get woozy.

I saw a person die.

"S-Sapphire...N-No...Ella..." I croak out, sinking to my knees and cupping her face in my hands.

"Ella...wake up..."

Silence.

"ELLA, PLEASE, YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP! DON'T DIE! DO NOT LEAVE ME!" I scream, tears flooding out of my eyes as I rock myself back and forth, her head on my chest, praying that she'd at least take a breath. I feel for a pulse but everything is still. She begins to turn cold as her eyes develop into glass.

"Why...Sapphire.."

"I lost somebody I loved. Now you do too."

I hear sirens as the police pull up, aiming guns at Sapphire and me.

"Put your hands in the air, and drop the weapon!"

I instantly stand up but feel like I'm going to fall back down again. I saw a person lose their life.

Sapphire puts down the gun. They instantly rush up and put her in handcuffs.

"Sapphire Williams, you'll be taken in for questioning."

I look at Ella, cupping my hand over my mouth as I scream repeatedly, her face that was once so beautiful now...ruined in crimson.

~

Waking back up, I'd expect myself to be in the hospital or something, but I'm rather in the police station. A lady with dark red hair and brown eyes with dark freckles looks over at me.

"What's your name?" She looks at a clipboard before asking. They're making sure I didn't go physco or whatever.

"Summer."

"Good. What year is it?"

"2014."

"Perfect." She says. "Do you remember what happened?"

I feel my hands shake again and find the scene replaying in my head.

"My cousin, Ella, she...she was killed."

She nods, sadness hiding behind her eyes. "Sorry, kid." She pats my back, before looking at me. "The specialist will be in here in a second." I just nod silently, trying to forget everything that happened. Why did I have to see that...why couldn't I have just...not went outside...

I twirl the thread hanging from my hoodie loosely as a tall man with a bushy mustache comes in.

"Summer, correct?"

"Yes. Can I...go..."

"I'm afraid not...I have terrible news."

"What is it?"

"Due to you being at the scene...and experiencing everything that happened...we're afraid you'll have to be put into the witness protection program."

My heart skips a beat as I begin shaking my head violently.

"No, no no no, y..." I scoff. "Y-you don't understand, sir I-"

"It's the only option." He interrupts me and I keep shaking my head. "No, please, please let me stay with my family, I can't-"

"You have to. Usually people are already put into the procedure with one. We're terribly sorry, but it's what has to be done. It's unacceptable to keep you here."

"No!" I get up as a police officer holds me back before I could even touch him. "No, no! You cannot, I repeat, cannot do this to me! I have a life! I can't throw it away!"

"You'll be going under the name Sophia Dawn from now on."

"NO!"

"Age will remain the same, except that you'll be an early college student."

"PLEASE!" I scream, my throat hoarse and painful and sounding nothing like me.

"You'll be shipped off to a high-class college dorm in Providence, Rhode Island, and your appearance will have to be altered. Due to the events taking place, your family will not be allowed to leave with you. They saw no deaths take place from the start of when the victim was alive to the finish, although you did, therefore it'd be unnecessary for them to tag along."

Utter cries escape from my throat as I keep shaking my head over and over, my eyes welling with tears again. I'll lose my sisters...my friends...

"I am terribly sorry for this."

~

I pack up my things as the police officers follow, and I sigh. Mom was at the hospital with Jen and nobody was home, making it even easier. They'd just tell them that I had ran away from the drama going on, that I had a mental breakdown. A hairstylist had dyed my hair dark black and they gave me green contacts. I have to admit, I look quite stunning, but I didn't care about anything. Grabbing my suitcase, I stuff some extra things into it before they comment about my phone as I take it into my hands.

"Not allowed."

"It's broken."

"It's still trackable. We'll provide you a new one." He says sternly, raising an eyebrow. I don't respond, but instead look at my box in the corner of my room, filled with old photos. I open my mouth to ask him but he's faster.

"Nothing about your past is permitted."

"Okay." I murmur, grabbing a hat and some sunglasses and placing them on my head. "Your flight leaves in an hour. We should head to the airport." He says, and I just exhale, following them out and back into the police car. In about fifteen minutes we arrive, and I pass through security check and everything. Looking at my ticket, I realize it's already under my fake name.

Sophia.

I guess my nickname will be Sophie.

I walk to the waiting room as my airplane number is called upon the rest of everybody. The police officer looks at me, nodding at where I'm supposed to go, and whispers one last thing.

"Good luck."

I fake a smile before turning on my heel, following everybody through the tube, and taking a seat onto the plane. I sigh, putting in some headphones the Flight Assistant had given to me and playing "Heart of Stone" by Iko.

And I look outside of the window, met by the stars and night sky as they go on with the lame flight instructions. I let out a shaky breath as an older woman sits beside me, trying to make a conversation but I'm not in the mood. I stay quiet.

And I realize that I really wish that I had amnesia and forget the memories that'll haunt me as the person I'm not.

I've Been Lied To? -Amber's POV
The knock came late in the evening. Sapphire disappeared with Tristian, which pissed me off. For one, she knew how I felt about Tristian and still went out with him. But I know something's wrong. She... she's just been different.

My hand touches the bag sitting on my bed as I almost open it, but get interrupted by the door. I walk out of my room and head to the front door, where a cop spies me over my mum's shoulder.

"Ah, you must be Amber. Can I speak to you?"

"What's the meaning of this?" I ask the cop as he tries to get past my mother.

"It's about your cousin, Sapphire." Mum quickly perks but I move her out of the way and head outside, sitting down on the porch swing as the officer leans against the railing.

"Do explain what is going on. Now."

"Earlier this evening, Sapphire Williams was arrested in the murder of Ella Cottner. She says you are the only person she will talk to."

"My cousin? A murderer? You have got to be kidding me! Why would she kill Summer's cousin? Honestly, you have about lost it." I shake my head but the cop looks grim.

"We have pictures. I'm not supposed to show you but we do ned to bring you in. As part of the protection program, you are of use, Me-"

"Don't say my real name," I say under my breathe. "I'll come. But that means you give me any information I need."

"Alright, in the car there." He grabs my hand and pulls me into the cop car. As we drive to the station, my brain nags at me.

"When can I talk to my mum again? My real mum."

"I assure you that once you can be moved back to England, you'll be fine. You'll see William and Charles..." He sighs. "If the person who killed your mother wasn't after you, we wouldn't have moved you from France, Amber. You've had so many different names but you've been followed. We are trying our best to give you a moment alone to se your mother's grave by we just don't have any available time."

I sigh and mess with my thumbs. "Why did Sapphire get moved? Is she really... Sapphire? Do you think that she's the one...? I mean, she seems like Sapphire but she's not. The Sapphire I know wouldn't hurt a fly..."

"Amber..." He sighs softly. "We won't know anything. This Sapphire might not be who we think, but maybe she is and she's just been hiding it. I want to give you answers but I can't. On a side note, how is your little 'ghost-busting service' going? Found anything?"

"Actually, yes." I grab my phone out of my bag. "Tuesday at school. It followed Summer for awhile," I reply. "But then it moved onto Tristian from lunch and afterwards. If... If I can get this ghost... maybe... maybe it will help me. But if it refuses, I'll-"

"You'll 'bust it'. I get it, Amber. I do. I'm your friend, but you know I do't believe in that paranormal crap."

I roll my eyes and punch his arm. "Quiet. I'll get it, especially if it continues messing with those that it was."

"What am I going to do with you Amber?" he asks, parking at the front of the police station.

"No clue, Henry." I reply, getting out of the car. He hands me the file with all the information they've gathered as if currently.

"Good luck, Amber," Henry says as he looks around. "I'll tak you home later. I'll be on the other side of the glass, watching everything."

"Right," I reply, standing outside the door. I take a deep breath and walk into the door when I feel a cold spot on my arm.

"Keep walking. I want to see the person that got my sister sent away." I turn to see myself staring back at me. "Who... Who are you?"

"Liza," she replies and I suddenly remember her. The dead girl. My identical twin from another mother... another country. "And Sapphire got my sister sent to Rhode Island. I'd love to meet her."

"You're the ghost on my scanners and-" I start but she interrupts me.

"And you are going to do anything about that. Now, move."

I turn around and walk into the door, sitting in front of Sapphire. Liza keeps her hand on my shoulder and I meet Sapphire's eyes.

"So, shall you start explaining or shall I have to use force?" I ask, leaning forward, setting the file on the table.

"You tell me, Megan," she replies, not with a French accent. "What shall we do?"