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Chapter 52  

Lacey

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Post 1 (Added to Favorites 9/2):

The Daily Gawker

Back to School Edition—September Secrets

Good Morning Gawkers,

Welcome back to Mission Bay. We're here for another year of scandals, secrets, and insider stories that'll have you begging for more before the week's out.

Lucky for you, we've got an exclusive scoop that'll have the halls buzzing before the first bell.

Summer might be coming to a close, but this morning's post is sure to set off heatwaves across campus.

Turns out that a certain former royal favorite of ours has stepped back into the social spotlight after a long absence, but this time he's not alone.

Last spring, we leaked a rumor that the King himself had finally decided to share his throne with a mysterious gal-pal.

The problem?

We were told that the infamous kiss was nothing more than a fairly convincing photoshop job which we believed—until now.

As fate would have it, the Gawker inbox was recently graced by the presence of a certain majestic monarch.

When we saw his email, we didn't know what to expect.

But the shocking news he broke lived right up to his heartbreaker reputation.

Ladies and gents of Mission Bay, The King is officially taken.

Tragic, we know.

But, before we had the chance to dig up the details of his new lady, he did all the work for us.

That's right, Gawkers.

The romantic Mr. King wrote us a love-laden letter gushing about his new lady.

Are we jealous?

Absolutely.

It's not everyday that royal boys fall for soft-spoken softball sluggers. But as much as we'd like to hate on the King's new squeeze, she's as stunning as she is kind.

We have the pics and her solid gold history in community service to prove it.

Curious about her?

You should be.

Sorry, gawkers, we've been sworn to keep the royal couple's photos off our channels, but we're sure you'll spot them in the halls or on social media.

No more hiding for these two. According to the King himself, him and his lady will be stepping out publicly for the world to see.

Still skeptical about a former bad boy turned boyfriend?

We get it.

But maybe a good girl with a spotless reputation is just what the doctor ordered.

Time will tell.

But as of this writing, Mission Bay's hottest summer couple has our seal of approval.

Until next time,

- The Daily G

***

Post #2 (Added to Favorites on 10/22):

The Daily Gawker - October

Homecoming Issue—Unconventional King & Queen

Happy Monday Gawkers,

Still nursing that homecoming hangover?

Don't worry, we've got a gossip cure-all that'll have you right as rain.

We all know that homecomings at Mission Bay are famous for never being short of drama, drinks, and drunken mistakes.

Last year, a fight between a certain member of the royal family, E, and MBH football's newly crowned QB, J, had everybody talking. Rumor had it that the two former besties brawled it out over a certain drama queen, T, who's known for causing trouble.

After the fight, Terrible T seemed to choose MBH's now QB, J, as her main squeeze.

All seemed to be well with the popular pair, at least until this past weekend.

Word is, Terrible T is up to her old tricks again and was caught cheating on her quarterback boyfriend, J, with another guy on the football team.

Looks like our QB should've put bros before hoes back in his freshman days.

But, as the saying goes, all's fair in love and war, and, while J was busy fighting with his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend over fidelity, our King was busy falling head over heels for his faithful queen.

We were slightly shocked not to see our new favorite couple cozied up in the stands at Friday's football game. Everybody who's anybody usually shows up at half-time to watch the school crown their homecoming king and queen.

But apparently, traditional high school spectacles aren't for these two.

According to our sources, the King and his queen had a homecoming ceremony of their own just outside the stadium. We've been told that a crowd of a few lucky parking lot stragglers spotted our favorite royal, E, wearing a custom made MBH baseball jersey with his girlfriend's name printed on the back. Talk about team-spirit.

Not only did he show up dressed like a baseball stunner at a football game, but he went on to draw a crowd so he could crown his lady love homecoming queen right outside the stadium.

On top of handing her a bouquet of sunflowers with enough future seeds inside to last her the entire softball season, the King delivered a speech to his rosy-cheeked queen that people have been quoting on the Twitterverse all weekend long.

Apparently, our boy's a poet, and now his girlfriend and a handful of lucky bystanders were the first to know it.

A writer, a royal, and a romantic?

Talk about a catch.

And we think his lady knows it too.

E's girlfriend, L, was spotted after half-time wearing a make shift crown constructed out of Double Bubble gum wrappers while E sported one made from sunflower seed wrappers.

Unconventional or unconventionally adorable?

That's for you to decide.

But all we can say is, the more we watch these two, the more swoon-worthy they seem.

Watch out football favorites and cheerleading ladies, if our king and his queen keep wowing us with their underdog love story, they just might steal your homecoming crowns next year.

Until next time,

-The Daily G

***

View Today's Post:

The Daily Gawker—December

Winter Break Issue—Trouble in Paradise?

It's another Manic Monday Gawkers,

Sure, school might be out at the end of the week, but the winter wind has blown some news our way that'll be sure to have you talking over break.

Strangely enough, one half of MBH's star studded couple has been MIA since early last week.

Despite being left all on her lonesome, the King's lovely lady was spotted smiling non-stop into her phone day in and day out even in her boyfriend's absence.

We assumed her romantic partner was struggling with a bout of the seasonal flu and would be back this morning to grace our halls with his good looks.

But from what we've heard so far, he's nowhere to be seen.

And his usually smiling queen, seems beyond uneasy this morning.

Our Gawkers in the halls spotted her ducking into the nurse's office before second period. Is she lovesick? Or is something more serious going on?

The jury's out little G's.

But maybe we're reading into things.

Let's just hope the King and his Queen have simply come down with a bad cold and not a case of cold feet.

We'll see what break has in store.

Until next time, Gawkers,

-The Daily G

***

New Text Message from Maddie at 11:45 AM:

MW: Helloo? Earth to Lace-face? Is everything okay with you or is the Gawker blowing things out of proportion?

LS: I'm fine. Just feeling a little under the weather today.

MW: Or—are you missing out on being under Elias? ;)

LS: Maddie! You know we're not like that.

MW: Oh really, Ms. Make-out-with-my-boyfriend-all-over-Mission Bay? You guys probably got sick from each other with all that tonsil hockey you've been playing lately. It's gross.

LS: It's not gross, Mads. It's just—hard for us to get one-on-one time together outside of school these days so we try to make the most of it.

MW: Well, congrats on reaching your goal. Call me when you're planning the wedding.

LS: You're ridiculous...

MW: Not as ridiculous as a certain someone who looks like they're skipping the rest of the day to go see a certain boyfriend of hers. You're just lucky you're smart enough to skip classes for love and keep a perfect GPA.

LS: As a matter of fact, I'm not skipping today.

MW: Then you're actually sick?

LS: No, but I am worried about Elias. He seemed okay last week. We were talking everyday. He'd call me after school and things seemed fine. He said he was coming down with something, but that didn't stop him from being in touch. But I haven't heard from him since Friday, he was MIA all weekend and last time this happened things were bad at home.

MW: He's probably fine, Lace. Maybe all that cutesy talk wore him out to the point where he needed to recharge for a few days.

LS: No, he doesn't usually go silent like this. If he knew he was going to be out of touch, he would've told me. Something's off.

MW: Or maybe you just feel like something's off because you're not used to him not being around anymore.

LS: What do you mean?

MW: I don't know. I love you guys together, and you know I'd fight anyone who'd try to get in the way. But if I'm honest, I feel like we don't really get 'us' time anymore,

you know? We haven't had any wild adventures of Maddie and Lace since the summer! I miss our movie nights and our girl nights in general.

LS: I do too, and I'm sorry...it's just hard trying to balance everything. This is my first real relationship, Maddie, and I know I can get caught up in it sometimes,but...

MW: Sometimes?! Dude, ever since you and Eli became Mission Bay's "favorite" couple you guys are inseparable at school. I went from feeling like I belonged to feeling like a third wheel like all the time.

LS: That's never what we intended, Maddie. Eli and I love it whenever you hang out with us.

MW: Yeah, but sometimes it comes off like you guys are sort of playing into what people wanna see instead of just being who you are, you know?

LS: No, I don't.

MW: Like, there are days when hanging out with you guys feels like I'm hanging out with local celebrities. Like you're this "it" couple making appearances around school—and that isn't us. The three of us used to eat on the softball bleachers every lunch and be as weird and nerdy as we wanted. Now you guys sit front row center in the cafeteria, and everybody stops by to say hello. I get that Elias used to be really into all that attention, but I didn't think you would be too.

LS: I'm not! You know I'm not!

MW: C'mon, Lace. You used to hate The Daily Gawker and now you follow and favorite their posts when they're about you. You care about what people think these days. You dress up more when you didn't used to.

LS: So now wearing dresses more often instead of my softball clothes is a problem?

MW: No, it's not the clothes themselves. It's you. You're just—different.

LS: People change, Maddie. And the person I was before Elias was always sad and lonely and outside of everything. But this year, I'm actually happy. I actually like going to school. I like having a boyfriend. I like having more friends.

MW: Even if they're fake?

LS: That's not fair.

MW: But it's true! All of these people who invite you and Eli to these parties and hangouts are only doing it for popularity points. They don't care about you, Lacey! I do.

LS: Honestly, if you cared about me, you'd at least try to support me. There's a lot that goes on between me and Elias that you don't understand.

MW: Because you don't talk to me! Look at us right now. We're "talking" one-on-one for the first time in months, and it's still at a distance. You won't even call.

LS: I can't call you from the nurses' office, Mads.

MW: But you barely call me at all anymore. It's Elias all the time.

LS: Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know my relationship bothered you this much.

MW: Your relationship only started to bother me when the buzz from it started getting to your head. The Lacey I know doesn't sneak out of school because her boyfriend didn't text her back.

LS: Then, maybe you don't know me as well as you think. The situation with Elias isn't that simple or shallow, Maddie.

MW: Really, Lacey?

LS: Yes, really. If me being worried about Elias is going to be this big of a deal, then I don't know what else to say to you. You're my best friend, Mads. You know how much I care about you, but right now I think Elias is in trouble and helping him get through that is my priority.

MW: He's always your priority, Lacey. You just can't see it.

LS: And, you just don't get it. There's a lot going on with him that you don't understand.

MW: Then talk to me! Please explain so that I can make sense of things.

LS: I can't. I'm sorry. He wouldn't be comfortable with me talking about his situation to you.

MW: Wow, okay. Then I guess, I'll just mind my own business from now on.

LS: Maddie, that's not what I meant.

MW: But it's what you're saying.

New Email from Elias King at 12:01 PM:

Subject: Urgent—please read. Don't text. Dad has my phone.

LS: Look, Maddie, can we talk about this later? Or tomorrow? Elias just contacted me, and I think it's important, but you're important to me too so let's schedule something, okay?

MW: Schedule something? That's a riot. Well, I guess I'll just have to see if I can pencil you in.

LS: Maddie, please don't be mad, okay? I promise I'll explain things to you when I can.

MW:...

LS: Maddie?!

MW: I'm sorry, Lace, but I don't know if I want to wait around forever. Just go deal with your boyfriend, and I'll see you around.

LS: Maddie, please.

MW: Oh, and just a final heads up before you disappear into Eli-land again. Coach Calloway's daughter's back.

LS: Cassie?

MW: Yeah. He stopped me in the hallway this morning and asked if I could help her "get back into the swing of things" now that she's here.

LS: I thought she moved away in the spring. She wasn't around by the time I got back from Mountain View.

MW: Apparently, she's a split custody kid. She spends six months outta the year with her mom out of state, but she's back now, and, somehow, that makes her my new responsibility. Who knows? Maybe I'll make a "new" friend. Later, Lacey.

LS: Maddie, c'mon.

LS: Maddie, I'll call you later. Just give me some time.

Welcome to Gmail!

You have (1) Unread Email:

To: laceyj252

From: [email protected]

Subject: Urgent—please read. Don't text. Dad has my phone

Hey Lace,

Greetings from prison.

Kidding.

Kinda.

I was gonna start this whole thing with the huge apology I owe you, but I know how you feel about me apologizing first and explaining my reasons for it later.

So, as tough as this is, I'm gonna try to lay out why I've been MIA before I beg you to forgive me for it, cool?

First off, I miss you. I miss talking to you. Texting you. Seeing you. Kissing you. Being with you.

But that's the thing. The last time I saw you, I didn't think I'd be missing out on any of those things. I thought I'd get to spend the last week of school before winter break being all kinds of pre-holiday romantic with you.

But obviously that didn't happen.

I didn't even get a chance to talk to you about everything that was and still is going down at home that lead to this. And I'm sorry.

I wish I could say that the current situation isn't partially my fault and just blame my dad for all of it like I want to, but that's bs and even I know that.

I'm grounded. Badly.

Partially, because I've been taking Mom's side every time they fight (which is daily at this point), but mostly because I screwed up my grades, and my dad found out.

I knew he would eventually, I just didn't think he'd punish me and my mom for it.

Things have been pretty terrible at home. I barely slept last week because of the fights, but at least I had you to talk to. But Friday, me and Dad got into it so now I'm on a "no contact" order. No phone. No girlfriend. No nothing.

Luckily, my mom snuck me her computer so I could write you an email before you decided to dump me for disappearing.

I'm sorry, Lace.

I don't mind taking crap from my dad, I just hate that it's affecting you this time. I hate that I looked like I bailed on you outta nowhere when he's the one preventing me from leaving the house or even talking to you.

I know I should've done better this semester. I should've listened to you and actually studied.

But honestly, when it comes to school vs. spending time with you—you're gonna win out every time :). Any maybe that's crazy and stupid, but I don't regret a second that I spent with you this semester, Lace. I don't regret movie hopping around the theater every other weekend with you. I don't regret sneaking out to the softball field and kissing you like crazy on the pitch. I don't regret spending my Fridays at Shoreline letting you and Mrs. Nora beat me (and cheat) at poker.

These have been the best few months of my life, and I'm not gonna apologize for them.

Sure, maybe that means my dad grounds the balls outta me from now until eternity, but as long as you know that I'm willing to accept house arrest for you, I'm happy :P.

The good news is, my jail sentence ends next week.

December 23rd I'm a free man.

Dad ditches me and Mom for business up in LA, which means, I'm inviting you over ASAP.

Things will be better here once you're back in the house, and Dad's gone.

No more all-day fights.

No more Mom watching.

Sounds weird, but I have to keep an eye on her when Dad goes off just to make sure she's safe.

Tanner's not here till next week, so it's just me and the monster right now and somebody's gotta keep him in check. If he keeps going after Mom like he has been, I'll snap.

I'll put him in his place.

And I know you'd prefer not to have a boyfriend who looks like a prize fighter, but it could happen. But hey, swollen lips means there's more to kiss right?

I'm sorry. That was stupid. Joking's kind of the only way you get through shit like this sometimes, you know?

I tried joking around with my mom and wearing a smile for her all last week so she'd think I was okay. So she'd think I wasn't worried. But I think she knows I'm faking it.

These fights are off. Worse than they used to be.

I don't know what it is about this time of year that makes some people crazy, but my dad's lost it.

Some nights he doesn't come home.

Other nights he shows up at 3:00 am and my mom blows up at him for it.

I get it.

I get her.

It's just hard seeing her sad all the time because of him.

You remember how she was at Thanksgiving? All smiles and sunshine like always?

She's nothing like that now.

My mom's even short with me sometimes, and there have even been nights where she'll look at me like she's seeing my Dad. I'll walk in the kitchen to eat and she's got all this broken hope in her eyes like Dad's finally decided to come home on time. But then she sees that it's me. And her whole face changes. It's a different kind of sadness. The kind that sinks under your skin so you won't forget it's there. And it's killing me. Mostly because I don't know how to fix it or her.

But I hope it's temporary.

I hope all of this chaos is temporary. Otherwise, I might have to make your dad's year and ask him to let me move in :D.

Kidding.

I know he still doesn't really approve, but whatever, he'll like me eventually.

Anyway, sorry that was kind of a downer, but I just needed to talk to someone and you're the best someone I know so—thanks for listening in advance.

You always do.

Well, now that my winter sap fest is over let's talk about the good stuff.

In case you were wondering, next week's definitely still on no matter what. Dad leaves around 1:00 and my mom's gonna stick around and help me prepare a couple things for you once he's gone so I'm stoked. You should be too.

Anyway, it's late and things are getting louder downstairs, but I'll see you next week, as scheduled. Promise.

Sloppy email kiss <3,

-E

***

Thank you guys so much for reading/listening to this week's chapter! I'm working on jumping right into the next one so it'll hopefully be finished on time for next weekend! I wanted to send a huge thank you again for those of you who extended your congratulations & well wishes after my announcement about CFTM joining the Paid program. The book officially will be launched on Paid on Jan. 6th  and I'm super excited to share the new and improved version of CFTM with you! 

#RealTalkQuestionoftheWeek

1. If you had to choose a side in Lacey & Maddie's falling out, who would you agree with and why? 

2. Do you believe that your friendships should always come before your relationships?