While eating eggs the next morning, Simon remembered Ms. Hill promising to talk to his teachers. But as he left, he overheard another group talking about Jarrod and a plan they had. Their words haunted him even now.

Upset talking to the principal didn't work out the way he wanted, Simon brought breakfast for Kirby when his step-father owned the other door.

"Umm, Kane. I mean, dad, sorry."

"No it's okay, you're still getting used to it. Kirby said things weren't working out."

His darker skinned, boxed face step-dad with a nice chin and wavy hair was enough for him to lower his guard.

"Tr, dl, someone tried to frame my friends and I, I snapped at one of my friends, and I'm worried something bad's going to happen. But I could get in trouble."

"Is it about a girl?"

"What, no? Okay...um, partially."

"Do whatever your heart tells you. Just make sure it doesn't end with your suspension."

"I promise...I'll try."

At Empire High School, Felice sat by her lonesome for the duration of the day, holding a note that said, "I want to meet you after school." Hopeful, any time she looked around, all she saw was faces of people who would never like her. This was a chance to change that.

But who was willing to fall for her she wondered as Mince argued with Edith before needing her help to get work done.

At lunch, Felice attempted to find her own seat at the cafeteria:

Mince was about to call her over, but Edith slapped his hand away, pulling him and getting the Zes, and MK to snicker at her.

Devlin and Len were sitting with Anthony for their own protection. The former swallowed down so much food she questioned if his stomach was a wormhole that could stomach even the deadliest food. The latter brought out his own home cooked meal to eat instead.

Arlene had an open spot, but was filled with too much anger, stabbing at her food so much she broke the tray in half.

Bennett, Haejin and Jarrod also leaned into their tables, quickly talking with Sharell, Nikia, and some girls from other classes.

With no seats available and the haunting faces of too many unknown figures, Felice went to the bathroom stall, eating her own food in the stall closest to the bathroom, and swallowing the sandwiches while the water from her eyes gave the dry salad more fluids.

She kept quiet to swallow when the door opened.

"Ugh, who does Felice think she is talking to my man when she's not around," from Edith's voice.

"She's such a tryhard," Nikia said. "Mom won't shut up about how she wants me to be like her."

"Don't say that," came from Jenzie's voice. "Maybe she just likes helping people."

"Only for the guys," Elize's voice added. "She's either a pick me or a slut."

While they snickered on that, Mary Kane opened the door, only for a camera flash to blind her from behind. Felice got a text from a number she didn't recognize.

Cover your head, now. She took off her vest seconds before water splashed over her onto her verbal villains and onto their face and eyes. While they tried wiping it off, a gruff voice told her to get out. Felice slipped, but a hand caught her, getting her out of the bathroom and pulling her on the supply cart.

She felt the rush of her savior driving her away and resting her on the elevator. As she turned around, Felice saw the doors close, sending her upstairs.

Stopping at the fifth floor, she went back to the room, finding Kirby there, sweating.

"What happened," spotting her clothing in paint.

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

Was she the person who-

Simon walked in, holding his lips shut.

"Hey."

"Yo."

Awkward silence permeated between them, forcing him to open his mouth first.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that yesterday."

Felice shook her head. "You're not mad?"

"I just didn't want to see my rival be so down," approaching his seat, holding his chest before plopping down, eating his food while catching up on the work he had to prove he worked on.

"Ask her," Kirby whispered.

"Ask me what?"

"If you want somewhere to go to lunch, the teacher said anyone who wants to work can come up here. And if you're up here, that means you can't complain when I score higher than you.
Felice thought about the fun she had at the party, lying her head down.

"In your dreams," laughing until his stomach roared. "You didn't eat? Where were you?"

"I was here, trying to finish this."

"My mom packed some sandwiches," handing him one that didn't have her tears, allowing him to fight his hunger for just a bit. "But Kirby-

"I got a note from someone saying I wanted to meet you after school," telling them how she went around the school to see where, only to end up with a bunch of paint balloons on her.

"Maybe someone wanted to pull a cruel prank," Simon guessed.

"But why," feigning ignorance. He had a good idea of what was going on.

At lunch, Devlin and Len were ready to pack their things after Anthony split off from them, as they were approached by Bennett's crew.

"So, we'll make you a deal. Help us with our homework, and you won't have to worry about any bullies anymore. It'll be water under the fridge."

"You mean bridge?"

"Whatever, refridge, refresh. You two interested in Felice?"

"Please, she's too good for us."

"Don't worry, we've got a plan to make sure she falls right into our hands," he said, leading them to a section in the courtyard, stunned.

"Didn't you set things up?"

"I did, someone must moved it."

The other classes came out for recess, pelting water balloons at them.