"What the hell was that?" I hissed, as we reached her car.

  "What was what?" Grace asked, playing innocent as she opened the door of her blue Mini Cooper S. A car she had wanted ever since Devon's friend had dropped him off at her house in one, on her thirteenth birthday. So naturally her parents got her one on her sixteenth, because that's what rich people do.

They buy unnecessarily expensive brand-new cars for their kids.

"Oh don't play innocent with me," I hissed back as I, too, opened my door.

"Oh like you did, with your drinking, huh?" Grace hissed back, before she got into her car and closed her door. With a scowl, I got into her car and turned to glare at her.

I forgot to put on my sunglasses when I left the house, causing the bright rays of the morning sun to burn my retinas, so much so that my hangover now throbbed at an ungodly level. Add onto the fact that Grace was now pissing me off, well let's just say it all caused for a really shitty mood.

And I was in no mood for Grace's antics and bullshit.

"I didn't play innocent, I told you I had a little party," I argued, staring her down with my icy blue eyes as she glared back at me with her hazel ones. "I admitted to drinking the whiskey, you however just blatantly drooled over Devon. Which is new."

"So what?" She asked, her voice going up a little, "He is hot, plus he knows how to cook."

"Oh, and that makes it better. Grace, you have a boyfriend, or did you suddenly forget that when you saw my brother in nothing but his boxers?" I asked, shaking my head disapprovingly.

I knew Grace had a crush on Devon when we were younger, but she had outgrown it really quickly, or so I thought. Clearly seeing my brother half naked and cooking had brought those feelings back up to the surface, because how else would I explain the drool falling from her lips earlier.

"I know I have a boyfriend, thank you very much. That doesn't mean that I don't have eyes. Your brother is hot, the last time I checked, so what's the harm in admiring?" Grace shot back, as she turned to start her car.

"You have a boyfriend, that's the harm," I answered.

"There is no harm in looking, Devon is attractive, plus we're just friends anyway," she shrugged as she finally started the car and pulled away from the curb.

"Just friends. You and Devon are just friends. Since when?" I scoffed.

Grace glanced at me for a second as she drove us down the road at a moderate speed. "For a while now, ever since you decided to up and disappear on me," Grace said with a great amount of animosity in her voice, that ever so slightly covered the curiosity that I knew was there too.

"So what? You got close with him while I was gone, is that it?" I asked with a hard look at her, "Replace one Mercer for the other, because they're both the same right?" I snapped.

"What? No!" Grace protested.

"Then what Grace?" I asked, fuming at the idea of my best friend and brother being close. Fuming at the idea that she would dare get close to him behind my back. That she would dare replace me with my brother, like it was natural.

"I don't know," she said in a small voice.

The betrayal left an acrid taste in my mouth as I glared at her, "You don't know?" I asked in a harsh tone, "You literally just said it happened because I was gone. Doesn't that seem like getting a replacement to you, because from where I stand, it does," I hissed, each word burning the back of my throat as the acid in my stomach started churning.

Bile slowly working its way up my oesophagus.

I took in slow, deep breaths while Grace sat silently next to me, not daring to say a word. Not daring to make a peep. I sat there and stewed in the silence as I looked out the window and watched the city passing by.

We lived on different sides of the city, with our school situated closer to her house than mine. I lived a forty-five minute drive away from our school, depending on traffic. Something I had mastered over the years, as I always seemed to arrive just in the nick of time.

Today however, we were extremely late. Mainly because of me, but then again Grace pitched up at my house pretty late as well.

"So you're not going to say anything?" I asked, not sparing her a glance.

"What is there to say, Leah?" Grace asked. "I speak to Devon, so what? It's not like I replaced you. I couldn't find you, I didn't know where you were, so the logical option was to find out from your brother," she explained.

"Oh cause that's what you were doing this morning. Just getting information from him." I rolled my eyes.

"Well it's not like you were here to talk to anyway. You were gone and he was the only one I could talk to. The only one I could tell, how I was feeling, since you were bloody gone!" Grace snapped back.

"What about Alexander? What about all those other phony friends you have? Why couldn't you talk to them, huh? Why did it have to be Devon?" I shouted back.

"Because he was the only one I could vent to about my frustration with being your damn best friend," Grace hissed.

I reeled back at her words as if stung. My mouth instantly dried as the words I had to say died on my tongue. Her words were like a slap to the face, as I sat there in a numbed state. Grace, deathly quiet beside me as she carried on driving, her focus on the road ahead.

Silence enveloped us as we sat there, the only sound being the purr of the car. I was at a loss for words at Grace's outburst, at a loss for words at what she dared to reveal. She had every right to be angry at me, I had disappeared without a word, I had left her hanging for a long time.

That, however, didn't mean she had to go digging around for the answers. That didn't mean she had to confide in my brother, when she had a perfectly good boyfriend to confide in. That didn't mean anything when she knew I would tell her almost everything when I got back.

And yet, here we were, at a crossroads. Butting heads over what... I don't know.

The silence stretched on longer, as I laid my head against the cool glass of the window. My forgotten hangover now returning at full force at the silence between us. The pain that resonated from my head and other body parts, a small feat to the pain I felt in my heart.

"Where were you these past six months?" Grace asked in a small voice. Breaking the silence as we entered the South Side of our city. The side of the city where the rich stayed in their big fancy houses - correction mansions, and where those who didn't have money were frowned upon.

I scoffed at her question, "Oh so now I'm a good enough friend to talk to, huh?"

Grace visibly cringed as she drove, "Please just answer me," she begged in a low whisper.

"Why should I? Why not ask your Mercer replacement, I'm sure he would be happy to help you."

"Leah, come on, please," Grace begged, driving slower than before so that she could glance in my direction.

"Please what, Grace. I'm a hard friend to have, clearly that's bothering you. If so then go on your merry way," I scoffed as I threw my hand out in emphasis. "You know what, to make it easier, why don't you stop the car and I will walk from here."

Grace did a double take at my words, my words seeming like a slap to her face. As she practically slammed on the breaks, before whipping her head in my direction. Hurt shone in her hazel gaze with anger mixed in.

As I stared at her and she stared back, it was like the world slowly faded into nothing. Our famous staring contest starting up, at one of the most inconvenient times. Grace's hazel gaze locked with my icy blue ones and it was on.

We stared at each other for what felt like hours when it was only about two minutes, before Grace gave in and blinked. Turning away she let out a frustrated scream, as she hit her steering wheel before turning to glare at me.

"For God sake Leah," Grace huffed, "You're my best friend and yes, you're damn hard to deal with. Yes, I get frustrated sometimes when I know you're hiding stuff from me. But don't you dare think I would replace you, don't you dare think I don't care!" she shouted at me, anger blazing in her eyes.

"I was worried about you for months on end when I couldn't get through to you. Alexander wanted to hire a stupid PI to find you and Devon was of no bloody help at all. All he said was you were gone," she carried on, her voice screeching to higher octaves as she went.

"And now you're finally back, and you think I would replace you. I was pissed. You were late, hungover, and had a bottle of whiskey near your bed. How did you expect me to react huh?" she bellowed, "I had just gotten word of my best friend being back, only to find out she's late - not totally unusual, and that she drinks like a damn fish."

I opened my mouth to say something when a car horn blared behind us. Bringing us back to the present and to the fact that we had stopped in the middle of the road, on the way to school - which we were late for.

At the sound we jumped, as Grace once again began driving while I went back to staring out the window at the familiar sights of South Side. A place I didn't miss all that much to be honest, other than for a few people in my life.

"I don't drink like a fish," I mumbled into the silence.

"You drank a whole bottle of whiskey," Grace retorted, with a glance at me.

"Half a bottle," I mumbled.

"How is that better?" she asked, her voice near shrieking, once again.

"Because it's only half," I explained with a smirk.

Grace glared at me for a second before looking back at the road, her knuckles white as she held onto the steering wheel. "I care Leah, but look at what you do to yourself. You can barely hold yourself together, so please just tell me what's wrong?" Grace begged.

I sighed in irritation at her words because I hated when she started to baby me. Acting as if she were my mother, when I had a perfectly good one at home. I could also take care of myself and have been doing it for a long time. Sure, I don't always do a bang up job of it, but I can and do take care of myself...

"Wait, did you say Alexander wanted to hire a PI to find me?" I asked with a frown.

"Uh... yeah," Grace answered.

"Reid, wanted to hire a PI to find me? Really?" I asked in disbelief.

Grace rolled her eyes and nodded, "Yeah, because you dropped off the face of the earth."

I chuckled at her words and at the thought of Alexander Reid- Grace's boyfriend, offering to hire a PI to find me. It wasn't something I would expect from him, as we didn't talk, let alone cared for one another. But I guess for Grace's sake he would do anything for her, even if it meant finding me.

"By the way, where were you?" Grace asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

Her question caught me off guard, slightly, as I sat there. Unable to answer her question on my whereabouts as it would just lead to more questions. Ones that I wasn't willing to answer. Ones that I couldn't answer, as I had specifically chosen to keep her out of the loop for a reason.

A truth she didn't need to know.

I stayed silent hoping that I could dodge the question. Hoping that she wouldn't push for an answer, but who was I kidding. She is Grace Lancaster, the curious finder of secrets, and there was no way that I could dodge this.

"Leah, where were you?" Grace pushed.

"Uh- I was- uh- away," I shrugged, hoping that was an adequate answer.

Grace glared at me for a second as we finally pulled into the school's parking lot. I narrowed my eyes as I took in the sights before us. Students pulling their cars into parking spaces, as parents dropped off younger kids, their cars standing in a long line to leave the school property.

Students stood around the parking lot or the grassy knolls surrounding our school, standing in groups as they chatted, hugged, talked and laughed. Some of them pushing each other around, as they caught up on the long holiday that we had just come back from.

I sat there and stared out at the scene, as we drove in. My face scrunched up in confusion, because none of this made sense.

One, the time on my alarm clock had been around eight, while I was getting dressed. Two, the time on my phone when we left had read past eight, and finally, the time on Grace's dashboard a few moments ago had just turned to nine.

So why the fuck was no one in class, and what the fuck is the actual time? And on another note, who the fuck changed the fucking times on everything?

I stared out at the scene in front of me as Grace pulled the car into a parking space. Taking in every student and every car that I could, I sat there and stewed in anger at this fucked up situation.

"Care to explain?" I asked Grace in a hard tone. Knowing she clearly had something to do with this bullshit scene in front of me.

"Grace?" I said in warning, which was only met with fidgeting silence.

"Grace, explain," I bristled with anger.

She stayed silent as she took off her seat belt and finally turned towards me in her seat. Her hazel gaze not daring to meet mine as she bit on her lip nervously.

"Spit it out woman."

"I was angry at you okay," she started off.

"Well we clearly know that, the whole car ride was just filled with anger. So what the fuck is this?" I said motioning towards the commotion outside the car.

"I was angry and Devon had some issue with you. Which isn't really unusual considering the rocky relationship you two have," she explained.

"Okay, now get to the point," I said rolling my eyes at her obvious rambling.

"Look we came up with a plan to wake you up early and make you believe we were late. Knowing that you would rush and stress as you know I hate being late, so Devon changed all your clocks while I had to change mine," she explained, finally giving me the full story without trying to beat around the bush.

"So what is the time?" I asked, my nerves frayed as I felt my anger build up again.

"Uh... just after seven," Grace said as she glanced down at her phone.

"Uh huh," I said looking at her and then back out at the school grounds. Students still milling about and chatting with their friends. "So... we're not late?"

"Nope," Grace chirped.

"And it's past seven?"

"Yup," she answered, watching me carefully.

I stayed silent for a long while as the anger I felt bubbled up slowly, before I finally snapped. "So you're telling me, this was some fucking prank and I could have slept later?! You're saying I could be in bed right now, sleeping, and yet I'm here!" I yelled glaring at her, "What fucking assholes!" I shouted, shaking my head.

I groaned as my head throbbed in pain at my outburst, before I grabbed my bag off the floor of the car and pushed the door open. Needing to distance myself from Grace, before I said or did something I would regret.

"Leah!" I heard Grace call, but I ignored her as I slammed the car door shut and began walking towards the school.

Gazes of many people fixed upon me as I stalked towards the school building, while people gave way for me. Grace's calls fell on deaf ears as I carried on walking with purpose. Her high heeled shoes clicking on the asphalt as she followed behind me, at a slower pace.

"Leah! Come on!" Grace called, but I continued to ignore her. Not interested in anything she had to say.

Whispers and conversations started to pick up around me as I walked away from her. Each one a rendition that contained me as the subject head. Something I was far too used to when it came to attending South Side High.

A prestigious school built on a small hill top in South Side - West Mount. Within close proximity to the South Side district and its rich residents that lived there. It was a parent's greatest dream to send their child here, if they had the money that is.

And being someone from the North Side of the city, well I stuck out like a sore thumb. However, since I had gotten into this school with not only good grades, but also the help of Grace's parents and some minor prestige from being my mom's daughter. I had no issues with being one of the black sheep.

"Leah!" Grace called again.

Stopping, I turned to glare at her, as I finally took in her full appearance, clothes and all. Dressed in dark blue jeans, a pink blouse with a dark blue jacket, paired with a pair of pink kitten heels. Grace could have been mistaken for a real-life Barbie, alongside most of the school.

Since most kids in our school came from filthy rich families, they had money to splurge. And with money came their need to keep up appearances, in the form of expensive cars, make-up and clothes. Dressing to the nines for an eight hour day in our stuffy, yet preppy, school.

"Leah," Grace said again, appearing in front of me.

Shocked at her sudden appearance, I raised my brow at her. Not deeming it necessary to say anything, as many eyes rested upon us. As drama that involved me, the Bad Girl of West Mount was always the hottest topic.

"You didn't answer my question," Grace stated.

"Yeah, maybe later," I said dismissively, as I turned on my heel and walked towards the building. Ignoring Grace's constant calls, I watched out of the corner of my eye as her boyfriend and his friends made their way over to her, while the rest of the school watched me, their eyes tracking my every move.

I was back, and this year was going to be epic.

That I could guarantee.

* * * * * *

The end of the new and improved Chapter 2. I hope this one is to your liking, as I've received many an issue with the last being way to long winded when it came to the dynamics of Grace and Leah's argument.

Please let me know your thoughts in the comments as I love to read those and will reply if you have any questions or thoughts.

Hope you enjoyed.

Orlaith