"Here, I brought this red one for you." Briana held out her red nail polish for Trish, as she glanced at the white one questioningly, her face displaying uncertainty.

As we sat by the stairs near the corridors, Trish started applying the red nail polish to her pinky finger and smiled to herself.

"It's so pretty."

"Tyler, what do you think?" She asked, her smile still lingering as she raised her eyebrows at me expectantly.

I returned her smile. "It goes really well with your skin tone."

Shelby's head snapped in our direction and her eyebrows furrowed in what seemed to be confusion and annoyance.

"Since when are you guys close?"

Trish, Briana and I exchanged glances before I decided to break the silence.

"We recently hatched all the bad energy and decided to be friends." I told her. "You should be happy you won't have to be in the middle of us again, since we get along now."

She quietly glanced at us. "Whatever."

I rolled my eyes at that before I could stop myself.

My phone pinged.

Miles: Where are you?

"Um guys, I'm going to head to class first. I need to hand in my Calculus assignment." I told them, as I stood up, getting ready to leave. They sent questioning glances my way, but just settled for nodding at me in response.

When Miles gets here, Shelby's going to be all over him just to mark her territory. She's going to try and kiss him, hug him, hold his hand and caress his face. In front of me.

I'm not going to just sit and watch.

And besides, I haven't spoken to him at all in a little over two days. He's been trying to get a hold of me over the weekend, but I kept my responses to a minimum. I needed to breathe and think things through, without my feelings getting in the way. I've practically given him my heart when he's not even officially my boyfriend yet. I don't even know if he's going to hurt me or not, but I am scared. Apart from that, I'm blatantly stealing my bestfriend's boyfriend from right under her nose. I like him, but I don't want to hurt Shelby by having him leave her for me.

Would he even do that? Pick me over Shelby?

That would be a first. Definitely one for the Guinness World Book of Records.

I was almost at our first period class when I passed the area near the bleachers, to find a couple making out—or better yet, trying to make babies. Spencer and one of the girls on the cheer team. I momentarily froze, Spencer unexpectedly turning to look in my direction. That's when I closed my eyes shut, covering them with my hands as well for good measure and ran into the empty classroom.

Ew, ew, ew!

Soon, I heard a sound of laughter and I looked up to see Spencer walking into the room.

"My beloved bestie, you look like you've been scarred for life." He took a good look at my face, shaking his head slightly.

"You finished?"

He burst out in laughter, picking up on the double meaning.

"Well, not entirely. But maybe through the course of the day, we'll finish what we started." He shrugged.

I threw my pen at him and he ducked, picking it up from the floor and putting it back on my desk. "You need to work on your anger issues."

I scoffed at that.

"Spencer Hastings, you have a home, don't you? Why not make babies there?"

His brows raised in disbelief as he chuckled. "You're telling me this? Funny because last time I checked, you were doing it in the nurse's office."

I swallowed and he laughed as my face flushed.

"I was not doing it!" I weakly defended.

"Same difference." He shrugged yet again. "Just making out or having sex here in general."

"Fine, you got me."

Catching sight of Oliver, Derek and Miles walking past the classroom we were in as the bell rang, I instantly laid my head on the table, hoping that they don't see me.

"Trouble in paradise?" Spencer voiced out his thoughts once they were gone, making me lift my head.

"What do you mean?" I played dumb, putting a few strands of my hair behind my ear as some students began to come into the class.

He tilted his head at me, studying my face.

"You're avoiding your boyfriend."

"I'm not."

He pursed his lips. "Who do you think you're lying to?"

I breathed, giving him a dry look.

"Spill."

So I did.

"Seriously?" He rolled his eyes. "Would Shelby do the same for you? She's shown you time and time again that she's going to put herself first, no matter what, and you're worried about hurting her feelings? No, fuck that."

"Spence, maybe she and I aren't even that different. I allowed everything to happen, knowing very well that she likes him." I argued, the guilt taking over.

He face palmed in annoyance.

"Tyler, for goodness sake, have you ever considered that this was her karma?" He looked defeated.

My eyebrows raised slightly. Hm.

Spencer noticed that he was finally getting his point across and he nodded.

"Exactly. I mean... play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Steal your friend's crush and your friend will steal your boyfriend right back. I say the bitch deserves it honestly." He shrugged.

"And she's done it more than once." I voiced out my thoughts, spacing out momentarily.

Spencer scoffed. "Yep. Think about how insane that is."

"Not once did she say she was sorry." I added softly.

"Tell me about it." He shook his head as he sighed in disapproval. "And you didn't retaliate. You kept being a good friend to her, for universe knows what, and I've been telling you that she dated those guys only because you wanted them."

"But, I'm with Miles because I genuinely like him."

"I know that, hence I'm telling you to stop considering the feelings of someone who's never even felt sorry for the things they kept doing to you." He said.

"Dude, I promise you, she doesn't even like him. It's all because he's the hottest guy in school."

I breathed. "You're right."

"Thanks, but I already know that, so just steal him and stop overthinking the whole thing!"

I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips.

Okay. No more thinking about Shelby. No more Shelby. No more Shelby.

Got it.

I think.

***

"What did she say after that?" Shelby asked as she listened intently for what I was about to say next.

"Nothing," I said. "She left, but something tells me she's up to something." I told her suspiciously. "She gave me a weird look, it's like she was telling me I'd never get away with what I did."

She held my hand so we both came to a stop in the school hallway. She frowned at me. "Don't be frightened. I'm here. You know I'll look out for you. I won't let Denise do anything to any one of us as long as I know about it," She promised and my heart squeezed.

No. No. No. She can't start being all nice when I had already thought I'd made my mind up about being with Miles.

"Thank you, but you don't have to worry about me, I'm a big girl." I told her with a snort. "Besides, she was just projecting, and she always does that, so it's not a big deal."

My fists clenched by my side.

I will put myself first this time. I will put myself first this time. I will put myself first this time.

She scowled. "None of that, I'm going to make sure she doesn't try anything on us. Besides, Denise is too stupid to use her brain, let alone to come up with a plan that actually works." She ended with an eye roll.

I laughed at that, but a part of me was worried that she was just using this as an opportunity to screw Denise over, and somehow reeling me into it as well. I want no parts. Although Denise was rude to me yesterday, I haven't really had any ill intent towards her and I wasn't going to start now. Whatever she and Shelby have going on is none of my business.

"But don't you worry, we'll get her back for everything she said about us," She said with finality.

My eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Why? What are you going to do?"

She gave me a smirk, followed by a wink. "Don't you worry."

Okay, I have a bad feeling about this.

***

"Pssst!"

I turned to my right to see Shelby looking at me desperately as she gestured to the Biology test in front of her.

Looking up, I see my Biology teacher paying attention to the other side of the classroom. That's when I detached the second section of my test, which I had already written on and folded it a bit before passing it to her.

She lifted her empty paper and compared it to mine, which was filled with information on every question. After scanning the two papers, she looked at me as if I was crazy. I just shrugged and continued finishing off the rest of section one while she copied the answers from my paper.

It wasn't long before I heard her whisper-yell my name, catching Denise's attention to her right. I quickly grabbed my paper from Shelby, not paying much attention to Denise.

As soon as I locked my focus back on my paper, I heard Denise's voice yell out, "Mrs Roberts, they're cheating!"

Every single head in the class turned to look at her questioningly.

Mrs Roberts narrowed her eyes at Denise as she walks closer to her desk. "Who? Who have you seen cheating, Denise?"

"Tyler and Shelby." She said without hesitation. I panicked, turning to Shelby immediately. But Shelby was far too relaxed for someone who just got exposed for cheating.

This will drop our grades, and I really need good grades to get into Princeton University. As if she hadn't said more than enough already, Denise goes on, "I saw Shelby pass Tyler's paper back to her after copying her answers."

Suddenly Mrs Roberts' face turned pale and she looked at Shelby and I, making me swallow harshly.

"Is this true, Shelby?"

Shelby simply remained unfazed as she kept her arms folded and shook her head before turning to look at Denise with a look of disappointment and hurt. "Why would you say something like that, Denise?"

"Shelby, don't even try lying, you've been caught out!"

Shelby raised her eyebrow slightly but kept her cool.

"Have I now?" She laughed humourlessly to herself, her beautiful sound of laughter echoing in the room, captivating every single person.

"Okay, let me not argue. But please answer this one question of mine, how have I been caught out for something I haven't even done?"

Wow. She's such an excellent liar.

How is she so confident and calm?!! That's when I came to a conclusion that Shelby had planned this whole thing after all.

If Denise's face gets anymore red, it would burst. She turned to Miss Roberts in desperation.

"Miss Roberts, she's lying! You believe me right?"

Before Miss Roberts could even reply, Shelby interrupted, "Denise, why do you hate me so much? We have been at this since the eighth grade. I know you're not ready to, but just think about it okay? Denise, I'm trying to be the bigger person and offer a truce first. Please just accept it, and we can put this feud behind us."

I swear I just saw a few tears escape from Shelby's eyes and I swear I also saw Miss Roberts nod her head at what Shelby was saying. My jaw automatically dropped to the floor. Shelby definitely has Miss Roberts on her side now.

This girl is good.

Denise banged the table loudly as she stood so abruptly that the chair she was sitting on got knocked over.

"Bullshit!"

"Denise, language!" Miss Roberts shouted out angrily, "I will not tolerate such brusque behaviour in my classroom, am I clear?"

"Oh, but you'll tolerate cheating?!" Denise shouted back, equally aggravated.

Shelby suddenly clears her throat loudly before Miss Robert's could say anything else.

"Well you're one to talk, Denise." Shelby said, matter of factly.

Denise scrunched her eyebrows together, looking at Shelby questioningly. "What do you mean? Are you trying to say I cheated? Because I really studied hard for this test!"

No no no, please no. Please tell me this isn't Shelby's idea of revenge... this is going too far.

"Studied hard for the test itself? Most definitely not. Studied hard to memorize the answers? yes." Shelby openly accused, causing gasps of shock to escape most students in the class.

Even Denise's best friend, Yolanda, frowned at Denise worriedly.

Denise narrowed her eyes at Shelby. "What are you playing at?"

"Do I look like I'm playing?" Shelby asked before looking at Miss Roberts.

"You know, Miss Roberts, I didn't want to say anything because Denise warned me against exposing her this morning when I called her out for her cheating. I saw her put her Biology cheat notes under her table. When I called her out on it, she said she'd make my school life miserable if I dared to say anything." Denise's eyes widened in shock, matching my gaze.

Shelby just let out a breath. "Miss Roberts, I don't like dishonest people. It's not fair that the rest of us go home and study while Denise steals the test memo."

"What?!" Denise shouts out, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "I've never spoken to you earlier today!"

"Wrong." Shelby simply stated, "Just give it up and tell the truth, Denise."

"Miss Roberts, you can turn over my table right now. I haven't cheated, I promise!" Denise said, desperate for Miss Roberts to believe her.

"You heard her, Miss Roberts." Shelby said with a small victorious smirk.

Shelby can be brutal if she wants to, I know this because of the things I've seen her do over the years. Some boy used to bully Shelby in the eighth grade and she managed to get the junior jocks to gang up on him and give him a wedgie in front of the entire school.

When that boy's cousin confronted her later that day, she got her entire cheerleading team to terrorize her. They would take her lunch money, at lunch when she was eating, they'd sneak up behind her and shove her head down onto her food. They would trip her whenever she walked into the class, and even force her to do their homework.

I've seen it all. And trust me, that's just the surface-level stuff.

I watched nervously as one of the guys in the class, Marcus, turns over the table for Miss Roberts. A small folded white paper is taped under the desk.

Everyone was shocked, but not Shelby. She knew this was coming. She knew very well. Because she's the one who did it. Miss Roberts clenched her jaw and Shelby turned to smile at me victoriously as if saying, "It's done. See? I told you I'd deal with her."

I looked back at Denise, she looked like she was about to cry. This is an SBA task, if this goes on her permanent record, she could be expelled and she might not be eligible to go to college for the next five years. It could ruin her life! Miss Roberts pulled her out of the classroom, probably taking her to the principle's office.

Suddenly, I was suffocated. I couldn't stand to see Shelby's face anymore. How could she do something like this?