I suck in a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool night air as I slowly walk down a quiet street in the middle of Southport. There's just something about the city that relaxes me, and relaxation is definitely needed tonight.

After my failed talk with Sean this morning, I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how to execute my plan without his help. I didn't come up with much, settling on asking Elsie and Tally for help tomorrow. With their constant texts, checking in on me, and offering to do a girls' night, I just didn't want to bring it up yet. I need tonight for myself. Clear my head before the first day of school and take a few scenic shots of the city.

Another few more minutes of walking and I finally reach my last destination before I head home. Southport City Park is one of my favorite places to go when I want to be alone with my thoughts and capture some great photos. It's practically empty this time of night too.

I stroll through the iron arched entry and pass a row of swings gently swaying in the breeze. Without the laughter of children, the only sound coming from them is the occasional squeak. I hold up my camera and take a couple of shots before moving on.

Once I reach the gazebo, I switch out my digital camera for the new film one sitting safely in my messenger bag. I fiddle with the settings before trying it out on the empty gazebo. Just with the first click, I can envision time spent in the school's dark room, finding out how the photos look for the first time. I have a feeling after the string of comments I saw online today that I'll be spending a good amount of time in my little sanctuary this coming week.

If Elsie and Tally don't try dragging me out that is.

With each click of my camera, it feels as if a small amount of weight is lifted from my shoulders. Eventually, a smile tugs at my lips as I breathe easier, and continue walking the grounds. I slowly make my way toward the back of the park where its brick barrier meets a thin road that is normally used for parking. It's not much bigger than an alley and the lighting is dim but I sometimes catch a few gems. Last time it was a cat playing with its kittens and the time before that was an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand. I doubt I'll find much at this time of night but I still want to check.

Though the closer I get to the back exit, a smaller version of the iron-arched entryway I had come through earlier, the higher my hopes get for something worth photographing. A murmur of voices travels with the breeze, causing my excitement to rise. Reaching the opening in the brick wall, I poke my head around the corner and instantly spot the source of the voices.

Huddled by the driver's side door of a nice-looking car are three figures. The street light on the corner barely reaches them, making their forms nothing but dark shadow-people among the line of cars. But even though I can see them, sort of, I still can't hear them.

Whispering among themselves, one of the figures bends down and pulls a long object out of a bag sitting at their feet. When he turns his full attention to the car door, I can just make out him trying to shove the object in the frame of the door before the other two crowd around to help.

Oh shit! They're trying to steal that car!

My heart races with panic while I look around as if I'll find a cop or someone willing to help just standing on the sidewalk. Finding no one, of course, I reach into my messenger bag for my phone... which I don't find.

Great job, Mill. You left your phone in the car.

With no phone and no backup, my mind screams at me to go back to my car as quickly as possible. But it's like my feet don't get the message. My hands either for that matter as I reach into my bag again to exchange my film camera for my digital one. Holding up the digital camera now, my entire body shakes. I aim the lens the best I can, filling the little screen on the back with the three bodies trying to open the car door. Zooming in, small details begin to appear.

Each one has longish hair, at least long enough for the dark strands to hang in their faces. The little bit of their hands I can see seem to be covered with gloves. Each of them are in jeans and dark t-shirts too, but with their backs turned, I can't make out any details of their faces.

Even when the door they're fighting with finally pops open, I still can't get a good look at their faces. One hands the long object—that I'm guessing is a crowbar—to another one who puts it into the bag on the ground before sliding into the driver's seat. A second later, sparks pop from below the steering wheel and my vague knowledge of hotwiring from action movies fills my mind.

They're gonna get away with it.

Before I can think better of it, I try to steady my camera and click a picture of them... filling the tiny street with the flash I forgot to turn off.

Shit, shit, shit!

Even though everything happens in rapid succession, for me time feels as if it's slowed down. The flash from my camera illuminates three familiar faces, one of which, being the boy I saw just this morning, now sitting partway in the driver's seat. But the sudden burst of light does more than reveal their identities, it also scares the shit out of them. One by one Eric, Jun, and Sean jolt with surprise. With the sudden movement, a large spark ignites from the wires in Sean's hands, making the car alarm fill the night like a screaming banshee.

Sean jumps out of the car and stomps toward me. "What the fuck are you doing here, Millie?"

Backing up, I speak loud enough for him to hear me over the car's wailing. "Me? What about you?"

His brows knit together and the shadows of the tiny street make his already dark eyes look darker, more dangerous, and angry. But before he can get closer or so anything else, a voice sounds from somewhere in the distance, barely reaching us through the alarm.

"What's going on over there?"

"Shit," Jun says, shutting the car door that Sean left open.

Eric grabs the duffle bag from off the ground and throws it over his shoulder. "We need to go, now!"

Sean bites his lip as he looks from me to his cousins and back again.

"I'm calling the cops!" The voice calls this time.

Leaning around the brick wall that surrounds the park, I see a man quickly crossing the grounds, lured by the screeching car alarm as he heads right for us.

Ducking back behind the wall, I lock eyes with Sean. "Just go."

"What?" His eyes narrow.

Not sure if he's confused or just can't hear me over the alarm, I place my hands on his chest and lightly push him back. "Go! Now, before he gets here!"

"What about you?" Sean asks, nearly stunning me in place.

I don't know how he can go from irritated to worried about me in mere seconds. Just like I don't know why I'm covering for him. He was trying to steal a car for crying out loud!

Yet here I am, urging him to run from his crimes even after everything that happened this morning.

"Don't worry about me," I say, my eyes pleading with him to listen. "I wasn't the one doing anything. I'm not going to get in trouble for simply witnessing an attempted car theft. So go, please."

Hesitation lines his face as he partly turns away from me.

"Sean!" Jun shouts.

"Come on!" Eric adds, the two of them stuck in mirrored positions of ready to run and waiting for their cousin.

With one last look in my direction and a nod from me, Sean sighs heavily and takes off after his cousins. The three of them manage to reach a connecting alley and disappear from my sight just as I'm tapped on the shoulder.

"Holy crap!" I jump, my hands rushing to the center of my chest as my heart beats erratically.

"I'm sorry, miss," the man says as I turn to face him. "Is that your car?"

Using the little acting skills I have from that class Elsie forced me to take with her last year, I lie through my teeth. "No, that's not my car. But I did see some guys running off in that direction." I point to the opposite end of the street from where the guys went.

"Well, not sure calling the cops is going to help. They're probably long gone now." The man says, sliding his phone back into his jacket pocket as the car's alarm dies. "Did you get a good look at them?"

I shake my head. "No, it was too dark." 

Entering the halls of South Shore High, I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans and take a deep breath. Both Elsie and Tally give me looks of concern, keeping me sandwich between them as we walk. They're my security blanket and my shield from the looks thrown my way.

To be fair though, I'm pretty sure I'd stare at me too after witnessing such a public betrayal.

"I swear it's like these vultures have nothing better to do with their morning," Tally huffs, wrapping her arm with mine.

Elsie grabs hold of my other arm and shoots threatening looks at a nearby underclassman that's staring at me. "It's the first freaking day of school. Go get settled in. Shove your face in a book. Do something, damn!"

"Guys, it's fine, really," I tell them as we turn down the hall that leads to our lockers.

But I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince more, them or me.

The looks and whispers following us are unnerving but that's not what has me so anxious this morning. My mind is swimming with images of Jackson and Andrea together, as well as Sean and his cousins trying to steal that car. I'm still struggling to process all of it and more than anything, I'm dreading having to talk to any of them.

Andrea isn't so much an issue. We don't talk anyways since she started dating Sean and began acting like I don't exist. But I have a feeling Sean is going to wanna talk about last night and Jackson's been blowing up my phone since the party. There's no way I can avoid both of them today.

Elsie scoffs at my previous denial. "You can say it's fine, but it's not. The Seniors should at least have better things to do. It's our last year before we have to enter the real world and I can promise you, we have a lot of classmates who need to milk this year for all it's worth or they won't survive after graduation."

I can't say I disagree with her there, especially when we pass a group of Senior boys doing pullups on the frame of a nearby door like a bunch of animals.

"Good going, guys. Super impressive," Elsie sarcastically cheers them on.

Tally rolls her eyes but can't help adding, "oh, so strong."

Elsie nudges me with her elbow and leans in to whisper, "Hey, maybe one of them could be your fake boy toy."

"Elsie!" I whisper-shout as my eyes widen and search the halls. "What if someone heard you?"

She shrugs. "That's why I whispered."

"I don't think Mils wants to date a meathead, even if it isn't real," Tally whispers back.

I shoot her a look next. "Really? Why don't we just broadcast this to the whole school?"

I ran my plan by them on the way to school this morning, and while they're both supportive, they're also shit at keeping their voices down.

"Relax," Tally says soothingly. "We know how to keep a secret. No one's gonna know."

"Though we might wanna start narrowing down some options," Els adds.

I can't disagree with that either. If I want Jackson to be hurt by my moving on so fast, then I need to find someone fast. But I was really hoping Sean would be able to help with that. Even a suggestion on who he thought might work would've been great.

But, nope. He shot me down so fast that I nearly got whiplash.

I won't lie and say I hadn't thought about using what happened last night to get his help. I had... for all of two seconds before my conscience slapped the crap out of me. I might have a picture of them stealing that car, and I say might cause I haven't been able to bring myself to actually look, but I can't use that. It would only make him hate me more and I don't want that.

"We should write down some names and go over your options during lunch," Tally suggests as we arrive at my locker first.

I nod and reach for the lock. "Good idea."

Getting the locker open, I dig in my messenger bag when my phone buzzes in my pocket for the millionth time in two days. With Elsie and Tally leaning against the walls and lockers on either side of me, I pull my phone out of my pocket. Their eyes immediately flick to the screen as I begin scrolling.

Jackson: Baby, I'm so sorry! Please talk to me!

Jackson: I'm garbage, an idiot, a total jackass, but I love you. Please don't give up on us!

Jackson: Millie, please!

Jackson: What do I have to do to get you to talk to me?

Jackson: Just hear me out!

Jackson: I Can't sleep. Just talk to me!

Jackson: Please, baby!

I turn off the screen, not bothering to read the rest. I already know it's just gonna be more of the same.

"Have you answered him at all?" Tally asks softly, looking at me through her lashes with sympathetic eyes.

I arch an eyebrow at her. "Are you saying I should?"

"Don't get me wrong." She holds up both hands defensively. "I'm not saying give him another chance. I'm not even saying you should hear him out. But you should let him know for sure that things are over with if that's what you want."

Elsie nods. "Yeah, you know how Jackson is, he won't stop until you spell it out for him."

A heavy sigh escapes me and already I feel too tired to push through the day.

Hanging my head, I slip my phone back into my pocket. "I'll make sure he gets the message next time I see him."

"Well, I hope you know what you're gonna say, 'cause here he comes now," Elsie announces, pushing off of the wall.

"What?" My head whips up to find Elsie staring off down the hall with a look that could kill.

I quickly spin around, my gaze instantly meeting a determined pair of dark chocolate eyes as Jackson marches straight for me.

"Shit." Turning back around, I rush to grab what I need from my locker and dump what I don't. But my scrambling only messes me up. I drop a couple books and several loose sheets of paper spill across the floor. "Damn it."

The three of us crouch down at the same time to clean up the mess and we nearly have everything shoved back into my backpack when a shadow falls over us like an ominous cloud.

Deathly slow, I stand back up and turn around. I don't know what I was expecting but this isn't it.

For someone who supposedly can't sleep, Jackson looks relatively put together. His curly brown hair is styled just right and there's not a single shadow or bag under his eyes. Even his clothes from his letterman's jacket to his jeans are neat and stylish. He's a vision of upperclassman perfection. The "it" boy that most want to be and most girls want to be with.

And for all I know, he could've entertained each and every one of those girls while I was away. I wouldn't put anything past him after Saturday night.

"What do you want, Jackson?" I try to steal my voice, sound tougher than I feel.

His gaze softens, brows pulled tight. "Baby, please just hear me out. I've been going crazy..."

"Save it for someone who cares," Elsie says, moving to semi-block Jackson from me while Tally throws a protective arm around my shoulders and hugs me close.

Jackson's face shifts from that soft look to something more irritated. "Nice to see you too, Elsie."

"Get lost," Tally says before Elsie can try to do physical damage.

As much as I love how much they care about me and want to protect me, I can't let them fight this battle for me. I have to be strong—at least on the outside—and shut this down once and for all.

"Guys," I say, slowly slipping out from under Tally's arm and placing a hand on Elsie's shoulder. "I got this."

Elsie stands firm, staring Jackson down despite the fact he's a few inches taller than her.

Tally tugs on Elsie's arm. "Come on, Els. Millie's right. She's gotta handle this. Let's go to my locker."

She looks back at me and once I give her a reassuring smile, she huffs and reluctantly nods. But she doesn't step back before shooting Jackson a look and pointing down the hall. "We'll be right down there. If you so much as make her shed one tear, I'm coming back. I might only be armed with office supplies and makeup, but I can use my nail file to turn a pencil into a shiv in two seconds, so don't try me, bud."

"Okay then," Tally grabs hold of Elsie's arm and begins pulling her away. "Now, now, Els. Remember what your anger management counselor said, violence is never the answer."

Halfway down the hall already, with her eyes locked on Jackson and Tally dragging her along, Elsie shouts above the noise of the hall, "No, she said it's the last option but that still makes it an option!"

Jackson rolls his eyes at her threat but I can't help smiling. She might be crazy but she's my crazy and I love her and Tally for who they are.

Of course, the second Jackson shifts back to that sad puppy dog look and turns his attention to me, my smile vanishes into thin air.

Reaching for my hand, Jackson looks me right in the eyes. "I'm so sorry. I fucked up, big time, but I swear it's only because I missed you so much."

"Seriously?" I yank my hand from him and cross my arms. "You missed me so much you had to go and fuck another girl?"

"I know it sounds bad..."

"Sounds bad? Jackson, I was scheduled to come home the very next day. You only had to wait one more night to see me. And not even that since I came home a day early to surprise you!"

He sighs heavily, reaching for me again only to grab air as I step back. "I know, I know. But with missing you and then drinking way too much, I just...it was hard, okay? I love you and I know you love me. Let's not throw away years together over something like this."

Shaking my head, I take another step back until the cool metal of my locker chills my spine. "I didn't throw this away, you did...and in case ignoring your texts wasn't obvious enough, we're done."

His brows snap together. "You don't mean that."

"I do."

That slight hopeless look of regret and longing in his deep brown eyes quickly shifts. Yanking a hand through his hair, he huffs and looks around as if someone else in this hall has the answers he's looking for.

I'm a second from walking away when Jackson's gaze widens once again before filling with anger. I turn to look at the object of his heated attention only to see Sean walking down the hall. He passes Elsie and Tally with a small nod before stopping at his locker just a few doors down from mine. The second his hand reaches for his lock, it's as if he can sense someone staring. Or in this case, two someones.

He straightens up and looks our way, but he doesn't even acknowledge Jackson, his eyes finding mine right away. That midnight gaze narrows but not in the same angry way I've gotten the last few years. Instead, it's as if he's staring at a difficult math equation and can't figure it out, can't figure me out. Then again, maybe I'm just seeing what I want.

Or maybe he wants to talk about last night.

"Is this about him?"

I spin to face Jackson, my brows rising so high they could touch the ceiling. "What? No!"

"Sure about that?" He asks, his posture straightening with hostility as he stares me down. "Cause I heard you two went home together after you left the party."

A mix of feelings rushes through me all at once. Sadness and self-pity for being made such a fool of. Anger for his audacity to blame all of this on me being gone. But the stronger one of all is...complete and total astonishment.

He's seriously pissed that I left with Sean! 

A bubble of laughter rises up my throat, pushing its way out until I'm literally chuckling in Jackson's face. Though luckily my laughing isn't too loud or over the top, no matter how ridiculous this all is. I'd rather not draw more attention than we already have.

Crossing his arms, Jackson's dark brows knit together. "So did you?"

I hold my hand over my mouth, slowly getting myself under control before answering. "Yeah." I nod as another short laugh escapes. "Yeah, we left together."

It's not like I'm lying. We did leave together, same Uber and all. And then he went into his house and I went into mine.

Jackson doesn't need to know that last part though. If he wants to think I spent the entire night with Sean, despite knowing me and him don't really talk, then screw it. It's not like he has the right to know the truth anyway.

"I can't believe you." Jackson shakes his head and steps back, his lip curling in disgust. "I expected better than that from you."

My amusement in this whole situation vanishes in the blink of an eye. "Excuse me?"

"I said—"

"I don't give a fuck what you said," I snap. "I expected better from you. I expected you to not cheat on me or at least break things off before you start screwing other girls. But you don't get to expect anything from me anymore. You lost that privilege the moment you stuck your dick in another girl. So now, if I want, I can go screw the whole damn school and there's nothing you can do about it."

Regret dances in his eyes but the rest of his face is still tense with anger. Shaking his head, he says, "You wouldn't do that. You're not that kind of girl."

I hate that he's saying the same thing I told Sean yesterday morning. But at the same time, it's also the confirmation I need. If I want to hurt him, I need to make him believe that I've fallen head over heels for someone else.

"Maybe not," I say slowly, my voice lowering. "But I'll find someone one day and forget all about you."

His head jerks back as if I've physically slapped him, but I don't give him the chance to say anything else. I'm done with this conversation.

Turning my back to him, walk past Sean's starring, and head down the hall toward Elsie and Tally.

"Millie!" Jackson calls from behind me.

Tally and Elsie both flip him off before hooking their arms with mine and leading me around the corner.

Now if I can just figure out this payback plan, I might actually get the biggest meathead here to feel a sliver of how I feel. It's the least he deserves.

Hey, loves! Thank you so much for checking out chapter 8 of GGB. If you read the old version you might recognize some of the last half, with some minor tweaks but I hope all of it was enjoyable for all readers. So, let's get on to the questions!

What did you think of Millie catching Sean and the others trying to steal a car? Were you surprised she covered for him? Do you think that picture she took is going to come into play later? What did you think of Jackson's "apology"? Do you think he made any valid points or is he just a scumbag? Did you enjoy Tally and Elsie giving Millie support and standing up to Jackson? Do you think the girls will be able to find Millie a fake boyfriend? And what do you think is going to happen next?

Leave your thoughts in the comments and if you like what you read, please hit that star button!

I normally post teasers for upcoming chapters on my Twitter and Instagram(I didn't this time, sorry, I finished the chapter too quickly to do one), so follow me there or here on Wattpad for any announcements. I'll do my best to have a teaser up before the release of chapter 9.

💜 xoxo