The next day, Jade arrives to school much more optimistic than before. Because now she's closer than she would've expected to finding the person behind Bimil-ui Dobag.

Greeting her at the lobby when she enters, is Jaebum. They still haven't properly spoken about what happened in the shoe closet, but Jade feels like they don't have to. It's not awkward between them. And she likes that it's not, boy drama is always the worst.

"Rich boys eat donuts?" She speaks up, standing in front of him. He raises his brows, mid-munch.

"You know what." He says mouth full, then clears his throat. "I can appreciate when something tastes good. And this is heavenly. Donuts and coffee are the only things that motivate me to wake up in the morning."

Jaebum offers her the rest of his donut, and smiles to himself when she takes it from him. "You're in a good mood today."

"You noticed?" She grins more, taking a bite from his donut. "Yeah, I guess I am. It just feels good, I feel like I'm close to figuring out who is behind revealing everyone's deepest and darkest secrets."

"If you're in a good mood, you should stop by Five Crowns later tonight." The boy offers. Jade looks at him. "Is there another party?"

"One of Hyunjin's cousins is throwing a huge party at the club. It's open access to everyone that hears about it. So expect a lot of people to be there."

"Will anyone I know be there?"

"Yeah. Jeongguk should be there, courtesy to being friends with Hyunjin. Ryu said she might stop by, she doesn't know for sure though. And I'll be there. JK wants me around."

"He must like you a lot." She nods. "Yes, I'll try to be there."

"Great." And a genuine smile spreads across his handsome features, then he wraps an arm around Jade and squeezes her shoulder gently. By now, they're in front of her homeroom. "I'll catch up with you at lunch."

"Bye." The brunette watches him leave, then shakes her head, entering her classroom. Ryu is leaning over her desk uncomfortably, while Jeongguk is actually here earlier than usual, sketching in his book.

"What was that?" Ryujin grins slyly, sitting back comfortably when Jade takes the seat across from her.

"What was what." She tries to busy herself with taking out her things, but Ryu's annoying grin stops her. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Did he just walk you to your class?" She fans herself. "I mean, he had a few girlfriends here and there, but this is just too cute. Even when you guys stand near each other my heart just stops."

"Ryu, you're being weird. You should go get some water." Jade flips her notebook to an empty page and dates it at the top. "He was just telling me about the party at Five Crowns tonight."

"You plan on going?" Ryu shakes her head. "I don't think I will."

"Jade you should come." Jeongguk looks at her. "It'll be fun."

"You said that about your house party and Hyunjin almost attacked me." At her words, he shrugs. "You should be there still. Hyunjin is a loose cannon when he's drunk."

The look in his eyes is different from earlier. Now she gets what he means.

"But be careful Jade. He might be a loose cannon, but he will do whatever he wants since it's his dad's club." Ryujin warns.

The warning goes through one ear and out the other. "I'll be there." Jade decides, eyes still firmly set on Jeongguk. To others, this was a simple party invitation from the Jeon Jeon-gguk. But to her, it was a little nudge, just like Jaebum asked.

§

Lately no one seems to be leaving the rooftop alone. When she climbs up the stairs, the short brunette is standing where Jade usually does, staring at the empty pavilion below. It's currently towards the end of their second period, but Jade excused herself to use the bathroom, and is here instead. She's surprised Jisoo is here as well.

"Why are you here?"

"Is there a sign that says I can't be?" She answers back, then after a moment, turns. Jade always wondered who was Vicki's second hand, whether it was Jeongguk or Doyoung. But she was wrong, it was neither. She was standing right in front of her.

Jisoo's stupidity probably wasn't obvious because of the way Jade described her. Because Jade knew better, she is a lot smarter than she looks. But Kim Jisoo would purposely play dumb, ask superficial questions so no one doubts her. Sometimes it's better if the world didn't know she was smart right? That way if something happened...no one would suspect her.

Now she just needed a good enough reason.

"I guess not." She leans over the railing like her. "You know you're skipping class right now."

"I'm not even supposed to be at school." Jisoo explains. "I skipped today."

"For what reason?"

"None that concerns you." Then Jade laughs. None that concerns her. How funny. Even after all this, they still see her as a fourth. It irritates her a little, that they still think that they will be at the top of the pyramid even after all this is over.

"How close were you and Vicki?" She brushes off the previous topic.

"Oh, closer than she was to the rest of them." She smiles wistfully. "We were so close, did everything together." But why does Jade feel like this girl is lying? Jisoo turns her chin to her.

"What exactly did you have in mind by befriending Jeongguk?"

"Nothing." She narrows her eyes. "Why would you assume I had something in mind?"

"I know people like you Jade."

"Really? Are you one of them?"

Jade watches Jisoo slowly smirk. "You're funny. But no. I would never be like you. You're just a scavenger, using other people's remains to lift yourself up."

"Out of all the Five Crowns I've met, you are the most honest one. And that's saying a lot."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Jisoo grins. "Listen to what Doyoung said. Stay away from Jeongguk. Don't believe a single thing he says about us, because it's not true. He will do what he wants to bring us down."

"And tell me why he cares so much about bringing you down?"

"That's simple. Because we know things about him that he doesn't want anyone to know." The girl continues to smile, and it sends a chill down her back. "You know, the law always makes room for the rich to squeeze around. And Jeongguk is no exception. The things he has done could put him in jail, if people find out."

"And you're telling me this...?"

"Because I care about you Lei. I'd hate to see you become like his other fourth girlfriends." That's definitely a lie if Jade ever heard one. Jisoo does not care about Jade, nor should she want that girl to.

"For your own safety, please do not meddle with him. You're just a twenty, you won't understand how to deal with rich boys like Jeongguk." Then Jisoo pauses. "Don't mess with status Jade. Everyone belongs where they are for a reason."

She looks at the older girl once, then smiles coldly.

"Not me."