The next day, I spend the morning surfboard shopping at local shops since Hayley is out and Jackie is surfing. I finally found an amazing Roxy board which was perfect and so me. I buy a matching swimsuit to go with it and go back to the Greenhouse trying to make it for lunch.

I arrive and park my dad's car before walking into the cafeteria to see the Eagles. I notice Sophie eating by herself and walk to get food with Alex whispering to him, "Why is Sophie eating alone?"

Alex looks back and sees Sophie eating at a different table than everyone else, "They are mad that her video on the news yesterday and how she is still working with the news channel."

"What? Parker is just embarrassed and is acting like a child because of it. I can't believe the Eagles are doing this. What about Brooke?"

Alex gives me a sorry look before saying, "Brooke totally embarrassed Sophie and disagreed with her."

I pay for Alex and my food, "She has been acting strange lately..."

Alex and I go to sit with Sophie, "Thanks for buying my food. You really didn't have to do that."

"Come on your my friend", I tell him giving him a small nudge and a smile. He smiles back at me before we sit with Sophie.

She gives us a smile as I try to distract her from the Eagles, "I love the dance routine you are doing for cheer but I was thinking we could add a few more stunts."

🌱

The next morning, I wear blue shorts, with red boots and a white nautical tee. I walk into the clubhouse and begin to read a book Brooke used to love before she changed. I am reading my book when Leo walks up to me ignoring Aspen who was talking to him, "Great Gatsby. Great book Angel. What is your opinion on Fitzgerald so far?"

I give him a small smile before taking a quick glance at Aspen, "I find it interesting. I mean I can't tell you much since I just started but I like it so far. So how have you been doing with your music?"

"Good. I heard you were writing a song maybe I could hear it sometime", Leo tells me before Aspen walks up to us with a glare.

"Lee, Louis just sent us a text asking us all to report to the exam room now", Aspen says before looking at everyone.

Leo nods before going to tell everyone we need to go. Aspen smiles at him before quickly turning to me, "I thought we had a deal you do not talk with Leo and he gets to go to college. You don't want to hurt him do you?"

"You can have Leo, Aspen. I don't care but go ahead and tell your mom to ruin his dreams. Imagine what will happen when I tell him you did this. You know he trusts me. You can not threaten me. Not anymore, after that earthquake, I realized I don't want to be with anybody right now. I want to find myself first and I can't do that with a boy. I have never been by myself ever since I had my first boyfriend. I need this", I walk away from Aspen as Leo comes up to us with a smile while Aspen is shocked.

I walk into the exam room to see the news reporter sitting on the stage. I go to sit close to Alex since lately, he has been the only sane person in. the greenhouse and he is also a really good friend. He gives me a smile and we begin to talk before Michelle begins his class.

"Today, as a leader, if you don't know how to deal with the media, you have no chance of reaching people. During the next hour, you will experience a one-on-one interview with me. This will not be a softball interview. This is your chance to practice answering my questions without falling into traps, losing your cool, and most importantly, without being boring. Um, and before we start, I just wanna thank Sophie Cardona for helping me out with the background checks. Thank you, Sophie."

Parker interrupts her with an angry expression still hurt about the report, " Why are you filming this?"

Michelle smiles with a look of annoyance, "You're Parker, right? It's all part of the workshop. It's all about getting used to being on camera. It's not a problem, right?"

She looks at my dad who crosses his arms, "It's fine. Oh, good. You know what? Since we've already met, why don't you join me as my first interviewee? Parker Grant, come on up, please", Parker walks up to the stage and sits down, "How did you feel when you saw yourself in Sophie's news item after you confessed your feelings for her?"

Parker sighs looking away, "I felt like crap."

Michelle nods before saying, "An honest answer, but it makes you a target. It could end up online as a humiliating meme, which would ruin your image. Try again."

Parker struggles to come up with another answer clearly uninterested, "Um, I don't know, uh I trusted my friend, and she betrayed me, okay?"

Michelle continues much to everyone's shock, "And that's what caused you to recruit everyone to ostracize her? Answer my question, Parker."

Parker gets angry at Michelle and Sophie before getting up, "You know what? I'm sick of this. I'm done."

"Getting defensive is never a good idea. A smart leader keeps his cool."

Parker looks at her, "You know, this is why people hate the media."

Some Eagles clap for him as my dad intervenes, "All right, quiet down, please. All right. Who's next, Michelle?"

Alex looks at me, "Did you see that? Seriously, I think something's going on - between my sister and Daniel."

I look and notice the two are gone, "Do you think this has something to do with Brooke?"

Alex shrugs before I hear my name called and look up to see Michelle waving to me with a fake smile. Sophie encourages me to go up trusting Michelle.

I sit down on the seat as Michelle begins the interview, "So, I heard that you were caught in a whirlpool during the earthquake. What was that like?"

"It was terrifying for anyone to be caught in a situation like that. I am just glad that I am okay."

Michelle nods at me before looking at everyone else, "Notice how because Angelina does not feel comfortable telling me her experience she directs it towards the watchers. That is a very risky move because if you play it wrong you can sound defensive and closed in. Angelina, however, was lucky enough to be able to make it sound like she is more concerned about others which helps her image."

"Now. Angel, can I call you Angel? I heard that is whatever---"

I interrupt Michelle deciding I don't like her, "No. You can't."

Michelle looks shocked by this and so does my dad who about to intervene along with Michelle who has found another teaching moment but I continue, "You know, Michelle, I have a question for you. Since I have heard so much about your work. Why is it that your ratings have been so low? I mean here you are giving us facts on how to handle the media but, just this week you were about to lose your job if you didn't get an amazing story. Thanks to Sophie. I mean am I wrong?"

Michelle nervously laughs, "That is not exactly what happ--"

I interrupt her turning to the class, "Did you notice the way Michelle worded that speech? You never what to start with anything that would seem to be an excuse or an opinion", I turn back to Michelle since my father isn't stopping me, "So do tell me what exactly did happen because your boss just verified the other day that your job was indeed hanging by a strand? I mean I know how hard it was for you to get that job in the first place. Oh the rumors about how you achieved your fame are indeed horrible but some must be true right?"

Michelle is speechless for a second before she collects herself and calls for Leo and Aspen not sending me a single glance. Everyone claps as I go to sit down.

We sit back down as Michelle begins to listen to Leo and Aspen's interview, "So what's it like to be a couple in the Greenhouse?"

Leo looks at me before calmly saying, "Look, I don't wanna discuss my private life with you."

Michelle gives us a knowing look, "Good leaders know how to share some of their personal lives to make the public identify with them."

Leo nods uninterested in keeping his cool demeanor, "That's great, but, um"

Aspen interrupt Leo before giving us all her 'charming' smile, "Do you mind if I take it from here, Lee? Michelle, the truth is, it's not easy being a couple at the Greenhouse. Especially when your partner's captain. So much responsibility, Michelle."

Michelle looks at us all again to give us another 'fun' fact, "See how cleverly Aspen uses my name. There is nothing an interviewer loves more than hearing their own name. It can subconsciously earn you points. But your relationship seems strong enough to get you through tough times. Tell me about the time you saved Angelina and Leo from drowning."

Aspen looks at me with a shocked guilty look before responding to Michelle, "Oh, um I was standing there at the beach when it all happened, minding my own business when, out of nowhere, I saw them in the water, caught in a whirlpool. It was horrendous. So I didn't think at all. Just the thought of losing this guy. It tore me up inside. I just I just jumped straight into action."

Leo shockingly throws Aspen's hand out of his before looking at Aspen, "I can't do this anymore. I can't go on like this."

'Does he know?'

Michelle pushes Leo trying to get more of a story, "With the interview or with Aspen?"

Leo looks at Michelle and I can tell he is angry although nobody else knows," With both."

Michelle crossed the line with my dad and he walks up to her, "Michelle, I think we've learned enough for one day."

Michelle gives him a smile looking through the crowd of students, "I just have one more interview. Jackie Sanders?", Jackie gives Max a confused look before going up to sit, "So, Jackie. Are you happy being a Greenhouse student?"

"Yes", Jackie responds confused.

"Never answer with one word. It sounds terse and dull. Try to answer with at least three sentences", Michelle tells the class before looking at Jackie.

Jackie looks annoyed before looking at us with a fake voice saying, "Um, I'm happy, elated. Honestly, I feel fantastic. There's no greater honor than being part of this renowned institution, standing majestically along the Santa Ynez cliffs overlooking the ocean."

Michelle keeps her cool, "So, when did you first hear about the Greenhouse?"

Jackie casually says, "I think it was last year."

Michelle continues, "And did you take the entrance exams like everyone else?"

"Sure. Why?", Jackie obliviously asks as I give my dad a look trying to tell him what Michelle is doing.

"You did come to the admissions exam in handcuffs. You'd been sent to prison just a day earlier, weren't you? How did you know about that?", Michelle asks leaning forward trying to get a new story.

"That's enough, Michelle. Don't answer her, Jackie.", my dad tells her finally getting a hint.

Michelle pushes Jackie knowing she is about to be kicked out, "Weren't you?"

My dad begins to lose it, "I said that's enough!"

Jackie finally understanding what is happening screams at Michelle, "You know what? I was in jail. I robbed a bank! You can go to prison for that! There's a lot of things I'm not proud of. But thanks to Louis, I left that in the past. Are you happy? Did you get what you want to hear?"

"I want you out of here. Now. Marcus! I need you to escort this woman back to her car. I never wanna see her on school grounds again", my dad tells Marcus as I give her a small wave.