Hmmm, what should I wear on my first day back to school? I rummage through my closet, picking out my favorite striped t-shirt and ripped jeans. It feels good to be wearing my clothes again instead of the clinic's awful hospital gowns. 

"Good morning sunshine." Elena barges into the room, grinning from ear to ear.

"It's the morning. Why are you so cheerful?" I say, brushing my messy waves.

"My best friend is coming back to school today!"

"Yay," I mumble. (No enthusiasm.)

"Oh, come on, it's going to be fun and everyone is dying to see you back. You're already Miss Popularity."

"I'm not interested in being Miss Popularity."

She scoffs. "You're insane."

"I'm well aware." Swinging my way too heavy knapsack onto my shoulders, I march out of the room, bumping right into Derek.

"Good morning." His hands are on my shoulders to steady me, bringing me back to the clinic. To all those times he held me up with those too warm hands.

I take a step back, so his hands fall awkwardly at his sides. "Good morning to you too. How'd you sleep last night?" I ask.

"A lot better than the past few, thank you."

"You're welcome, now if you'll excuse me, I have a school building full of rowdy guys and giggling girls waiting for me."

"Have a good day then."

"Um, thanks."

I leave him standing alone in the hallway.

"He stayed the night?"

I look at Elena. "Yeah, why?"

"Just curious. So where'd you meet Mr. Smokin' Hottie?"

I glare at her, annoyed that all she's interested in are appearances. "The clinic."

"Nice! Is he available or taken?"

"Go ask him," I reply, nonchalantly.

We enter the kitchen and I grab a red, juicy apple.

"Have a good day at school," Danny calls after us.

Biting into the apple, I lock the door behind me and follow Elena to her hullo, which is parked down the block.

...

The enormous school building that I hate so much looms before us, hundreds of girls and boys milling through the large, glass doors.

"Why am I back?" I groan.

"Because you've been cured."

If only you knew the truth, my dear friend.

We join the stream of teenagers entering the building.

"Alison Margaret Rose Peterson is that you?"

Uh oh, I'm doomed.

Conner Knight heads toward us. Conner Knight, who believes with his whole heart and soul that he's God's gift to humanity.

"It is you." He smiles, flashing off his perfectly straight, white teeth. "Welcome back, you have been missed."

I meet his emerald green eyes. "Thanks."

"You actually returned perfect timing; tonight I'm having a party at my place. You're invited to come and you can bring Elena too if she could face my broken-hearted brother."

"We'll be there," Elena says before I have the chance to. Her jaw is clenched.

"Good, see you then." He begins to walk off, but then stops and looks back at us. "The party's called for eight."

"I really hate that guy," I mutter under my breath.

"Me too. I can't believe I dated his brother Logan. You know, I think he was one of the guys I actually liked until he cheated on me with Lizzy."

"Oh, poor Elena, the girl who can't find true love," I singsong.

She shoves me in the side. "Do shut up."

I laugh. "So are we really going to show up at his party?"

"Heck yeah."

We enter room one-zero-three, where we'll be taking Nutrition with Miss Star. (S.M.S: Save My Soul.)

...

I gaze at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, large bags circling my green, almond-shaped eyes. The lack of sleep is really taking a toll on me.

"Ahhh, these bathrooms are disgusting," Kayla whines, stepping out from one of the bathroom stalls. Kayla is another classmate of mine that I can consider as a friend.

Her hazel eyes land on me, widening. "So the rumors are true." She grins. "You're back!"

"Yeah, in the body, not in soul."

She laughs. "Oh, Alice, have I missed you." She pulls me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Kay, you're breaking my bones."

"Sorry." She blushes, releasing me. "So what's up? How are you feeling?"

"Nothing much and I'm good. How about you?"

"Much better, now that one of my best buddies is back!"

I smile. "Awe, stop it."

That's when the bell rings announcing our next class.

"Better run." Kayla is already off.

Sighing, I drag my feet to the next class.

...

"Hey." I slide into the seat beside Elena, who's already busy eating her burger and fries.

Lunchtime is my favorite time of day.

"Hey back to you." She smiles, biting into another fry. Her eyes begin to scan over the cafeteria, obviously searching for someone.

"Who are you looking for?"

She looks back at me, blushing. "No one."

"Oh my God, is my Elena searching the cafeteria for some guy?"

"He told me not to tell you."

"Who?" She's making me really confused, which I don't like.

"No one."

"ELENA!"

She ignores me, finishing up her fry in one bite. My eyes shoot sharp knives at her, she pretends not to notice. I scowl, peeved.

"Is everything okay?"

I glance up startled, my eyes meeting Derek's dark ones. "What are you doing here?"

He flashes me a charming smile. "I got myself enrolled."

"You have to be kidding me," I grumble.

He sits down to my right. "Nope."

"And Elena, you knew about this?"

She smiles sheepishly. "We share American History."

Biting my lower lip, I turn to Derek. "And how'd you manage to get enrolled, you're nineteen?"

"Nope, I don't turn eighteen for another month," he replies, without batting an eyelash.

I glare at him, you filthy liar.

Upset, I stomp out of the cafeteria.

"Alice," Derek calls after me.

I ignore him, my hands balling into fists.

"Hey, Sugar, is everything alright?" Arms wrap around my waist, drawing me in close. "It's good to have you back. This place was so lonely without you." Cold lips tickle my ear.

My body tenses. "What do you want Richard?"

"You."

"We broke up four years ago. Now get off of me." I struggle to get away, but he's got a really good grip on me. Dang, it.

"Oh come on Baby, don't you miss me too?"

"No." I jab my arm backward, elbowing him in the ribs.

To my success, he grunts, releasing me.

I begin to run and he grabs onto my hair.

"Let me go," I cry, attempting to kick him.

He chuckles. "You're adorable, especially when you're upset."

That's when my savior shows up. "Get off of her now!"

My eyes land on Derek, whose eyes are ablaze with anger.

"Who are you?" Richard questions, pulling me closer to him.

Derek is silent, as he punches Richard right in the nose.

"What the...?" Richard curses, clutching at his bloody nose.

Derek steps forward, so he's blocking me. "I don't want to ever see you touching her again. Do you hear me?"

Richard nods. (Smart boy.)

"Good." Derek then takes hold of my arm and pulls me after him.

"You're going to get into a lot of trouble for punching him," I say, pushing his hand off of mine.

"It was necessary."

"I was dealing with him on my own."

He stops abruptly and I almost walk straight into him. His eyes hold me in place. "Yeah, that's why he had a handful of your hair in his fist. Please tell me you didn't date that jerk?"

I can feel the heat rising up my neck. "It was four years ago before he went on drugs. And we were only together for a few months."

"Aha, I see."

I rub the sore spot on my scalp. "I have to go to class, but first I need to ask you to please leave me alone, by dropping out of this school."

He smiles. "Not today sweetheart, sorry."

"Ahhh!" I march off exasperated, leaving him far behind.

...

"You can't go in that," Elena squeals.

We're in my room, getting ready for the party.

I frown, looking down at my black tee and jeans. "Why not?"

"Because it's blah. Wear this." She hands me a red leather mini-skirt and a white lace shirt.

"Why? I don't like it."

"Too bad, go hurry and change." She ushers me into my walk-in closet.

I emerge five minutes later.

"You look so much better." Elena smiles. "Ready to go?"

"I hate Connor Knight. Do we really have to go?"

"Yup."

Well, here it goes. I can't argue with her since I'll most probably lose. And who knows maybe this party will be fun. When was the last time that I went to a party? I can't even remember.

Sighing, I follow her out of my room.

...

Connor Knight's home is huge and modern, with smoked glass windows lining the front, and glowing lights illuminating the winded driveway.

"I haven't been here in a while," Elena whispers.

"Same." I climb out of the hullo, onto the cobblestone walkway.

"You came." Connor smiles when we step over the threshold.

"I told you we would."

He glances at Elena. "Logan's in the lounge, I advise you to stay clear from there."

She glares at him as he walks away.

"You still want to stay?"

Her eyes are dark. "Yeah."

We enter the kitchen to find it full of drunkards, the strong stench of alcohol breath, and sweat tickling my nostrils. 

"It reeks." I scrunch up my nose, trying not to breathe it in.

Elena smiles. "That's the smell of alcohol baby!"

"Revolting."

"Delicious." She hands me a beer bottle.

"Not if you paid me." I place the bottle on the marble counter, just as Elena walks away.

With her gone, I analyze my situation of being all alone with a bunch of drunkards, who stink to high heavens, with sweaty bodies pressing up against me. I'm dead.

"Not much of a drinker?"

Oh no, what is he doing here?

"What are you doing here?" I stare Derek down.

He looks put together in a neat, orange button-down tucked into his jeans.

"I was invited." He picks up the bottle I just placed down, flings the cap off, and takes a sip, "Want some?" He points the bottle my way.

"No."

"Your loss." He takes another sip, watching me with those extremely dark eyes of his. At the moment this large house begins to feel tiny.

I look away, uncomfortable. Aware of how close he's standing and how good he smells as opposed to all the drunkards. "You're going to get drunk."

"One of these bottles is nothing."

"If you say so."

We stand here in awkward silence until Peter Smith announces the ice bucket challenge.

"Sounds fun." Derek's lips curve up on the sides into a smirk.

"Not really." I watch Peter fill up the bucket with icy water.

"Now who's going to volunteer?" Peter grins, his eyes landing on me.

Uh oh.

"Alice, please step forward."

"Uh ah, I refuse to." I try to escape the room, but two smelly, sweaty boys grab hold of me and drag me over to the center, where the bucket lies on the wood table.

"Alice, Alice, Alice," everyone cheers.

Oh no, I'm going to die!

Peter picks up the bucket and raises it above my head.

"Peter I'll kill you if you pour that on me. I'm wearing a white shirt and it'll become..."

He smiles, tipping the bucket of icy cold water right onto me. It's like falling through the thin ice covering the freezing lake.

I hug my arms around my now see-through shirt, attempting to keep myself warm, but it's useless--- I'm an ice cube.

"Nice bra, Peterson," Mia Green snickers.

Glaring at her, I head for the bathroom. Of course, it is packed with drunken guys.

Connor sits shirtless in the deep bathtub, his long legs swung over the side. And Will Berman leans over the toilet, puking.

Disgusting. Trying not to gag, I begin to head up the mahogany stairs to the bathroom there.

"Here." Derek appears before me, a blue fluffy towel in hand.

"Thanks," I manage to say through chattering teeth.

He drapes the towel over my shoulders. "You're welcome."

"Where did you find it?"

"In the towel closet."

"You stole it?"

"More like burrowed it." He winks at me, before staggering off, leaving me extremely dumbfounded.

...

"There you are." Elena smiles, wobbling on her five-inch heels.

"Oh no. How much did you drink?"

She shrugs. "Not sure." Taking hold of my arm, she begins to pull me after her.

"Uh, where are we going?"

"I want you to meet my new boyfriend," she says giddily.

I push her hand off of my arm. "You're drunk Elena and most probably so is he."

"No," she hiccups, "He's completely sober."

I follow her into the living room, which I'm surprised to find mostly empty, except for two boys lounging on the snow-white sofa.

"Elena baby," one of them grins.

I check him out, long, dark brown hair pulled back in a pony, leather jacket, and studded boots. One glance at him and you can already tell that he's a bad boy. I will not allow him to play around with my best friend's heart.

"Elena we're going." Now it's my turn to take hold of her arm and pull her after me.

"S-s-s-t-o-o-p ___ i-t-t," she stutters.

"I don't like the looks of that guy. He's a pure bad boy with one goal, so we're going to leave him far, far behind."

"No, I want to stay!"

"Do you even know you're new boyfriend's name?"

"No," she admits, looking away.

I shake my head at her. "Sometimes I really don't get you."

We reach my hullo and I help Elena into the passenger's seat.

"You're so mean," she pouts.

"You'll thank me tomorrow if you're in school."

"Why-why won't I-I-I-I be in scho-o-ol?"

"Hangover darling, remember?"

She groans.

We reach her house and I wait until she safely gets inside, before heading home.