"Is that her?" I can hear the girl's voice from afar, not even having the decency to whisper behind my back like everybody else did today.

"Yeah, that's her," the other girl says before she giggles.

"No wonder she got dumped." The dark-haired girl looks at me with demeaning eyes, her lips curl slightly as if she's trying to hold back her laughter.

I let out a sigh. Dropping my head low to hide my face from the crowd, I clutch on the paper folders I'm holding and pace up my steps. All day long, people have been gossiping about me, laughing at me and even calling me names. Some called me stupid, some called me matchstick, and some even called me hoe.

How did this happen?

Just yesterday, I was a normal girl who had a group of good friends and a seemingly perfect boyfriend. But now? I'm the joke around the campus.

And the worst part is, it's not even my fault.

I'm not used to being the center of attention. Sure, I was a valedictorian back in my high school, but other than that? I'm not exactly a popular girl. I was known as the smart girl and that was it. But today, it's like my whole world has turned upside down.

Ugh. I can't wait to start my lesson with Sophia.

Although, I can't help but wonder, can I actually be a bad girl? To be honest, I've been good my whole life and being bad seems like a really tough job to do.

No, stop being so pessimistic, Mackenzie! I take a long deep breath. I can do this. I have to do this. I must do this.

I speed up my steps even more, heading towards the parking lot, where Sophia is waiting for me. Yesterday, she suggested I should get – and I quote – a major makeover. That's why, we agreed to head to the mall after our respective classes are finished.

"Mac!" a familiar voice calls out from behind me, causing me to stop and turn around.

I can't help but smile when I see Dylan is waving his left hand while running towards me. His right hand is holding his backpack which he wears on one shoulder. He's wearing his favorite red checkered shirt and a white t-shirt underneath. It's nice to see him sporting his usual neat, red hair instead of that creepy green wig he wore yesterday.

"Hey!" He stops right in front of me. A ray of sun shines down his face, making the faint freckles around his cheeks come to light. Dylan used to have lots of freckles on his face, but they gradually disappear as he grew up. Now, they can only be seen under the sunlight.

"Why haven't you returned any of my calls?" he asks.

Why? Because my phone kept ringing all night long with tons of mean comments mentioning me on Instagram and Twitter! I had to turn off my phone so I could sleep and by the time I turned it on again, I didn't bother to check any messages.

"Never mind that." He shakes his head before I can answer. "I'd like you to know, your grudge has been avenged." His lips curve up into a proud smirk.

I chuckle. "Avenged?"

"You're welcome!" His smile grows even bigger as he straightens himself. "Now everyone in this campus will know not to mess with you"—he points a finger at me before clutching it into a fist—"or else."

I let out a long sigh, unsure if that's a good thing. "More like the whole world," I mutter as I shrug.

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you check your Instagram? Or Twitter? Or, I don't know, Youtube?"

That's when I can sense people's stares at me are getting more and more intense. I can tell they're waiting for another headline for the day. Unable to stand the unwanted attention anymore, I decide to continue walking towards my car.

"You know I don't check my social media unless I want to," he answers while walking beside me.

"Well, you should. Because I" – I tilt my head and glance at him – "am officially trending."

"You? Trending?" He paces his steps and turns around to face me. Now walking backward ahead of me, he narrows his eyes and observes my face. "Are you high?"

"No." A small smile is formed on my lips as I shake my head lightly. "And FYI, part of my newfound popularity is yours to blame."

He lets out an exaggerated gasp. "Me?"

"Yes, you," I reply, my annoyance can be heard slightly even though I try to hide it.

"How come?" he asks, absolutely oblivious as to what happened.

"To put the story short, what happened last night was all over the Internet and now, I'm officially Westwood College's number one most hated person."

"Huh? That's absurd!" He draws his brows together as his looks turn surprised and annoyed. "Why?"

"Beats me." I shrug. "You should ask them about it," I continue, gesturing to the group of girls and boys whose gazes are fixated on us.

He rolls his eyes. "Just ignore them, Mac. They don't know a thing about you."

"Yeah, well" – my lips form a straight line – "easier said than done."

A glimpse of remorse is seen in his emerald green eyes for a split second. Then, he slows down his pace, turns around and continues to walk beside me again.

"So, where are you going?" he tries to change the subject.

"Sunset Mall."

"And you didn't invite me?" he asks with an over-exaggerated betrayed look on his face.

With a small smile, I shake my head lightly. "I'm going with a friend."

"Oh, okay." The way he utters the word sounds weird. He makes it sound like he doesn't believe that I have other friends apart from him.

Raising one brow, I protest, "What was that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!" But his tone makes it clear there is something. "It's just... your only friends were me and that purple-haired girl, and after what happened last night, I didn't think you're hanging out with her again. But, I guess–"

"Of course not! Even if Hayley's the last person on earth, I will never be friends with her ever again!" I raise my voice, anger spreads through my voice as the memory of what happened last night floods through my mind.

That's when I spot Sophia standing on the sidewalk, leaning on a stop sign. Her beauty and style make her stands out in the crowd. Today, her long brown hair is straightened, making her face looks thinner than it really is. She's wearing a black crop top and a white bomber jacket with white skin-tight leather pants. While blowing pink bubblegum, her eyes are fixated on her phone.

"Sophia!" I call out her name.

She pops her bubblegum as she turns her gaze at me. She throws her gum to the ground before waving at me with a smile. Waving back, I intend to approach her when Dylan suddenly grabs my arm, stopping me.

"What?" I turn to look at him to protest. His surprise is written all over his face.

"You're hanging out with her?" he says between gritted teeth, masking his words while his eyes gesture at Sophia.

"Yeah. Why?"

His lips form a straight line as he lets go of my arm. "It's just... a little odd, that's all." Before I can answer, he continues in a rather fast pace, "I mean, yesterday you barely knew each other. Then suddenly, right after our little incident yesterday" – his brows raise for a quick second as he utters the word – "you and her are suddenly best friends?"

"Our little incident?" I draw my brows together. He shoves both of his hands in his pocket jeans and raises his shoulder, his eyes moving rapidly while his lips are stretched out of regret.

"D..." I say with a small growl. "What did you do?"

"I..." He shrugs a little. Then, he purses his lips together before they curl down slightly. Knowing him all my life, I'm sure he did something awful that he now regrets. Still avoiding my gaze, he continues, "I taught her a tiny lesson. That's all."

Dylan would never hit a girl, I know that for sure. So, although I'm not exactly sure what he did, he might have humiliated Sophia last night, probably for causing the fight between the Angel and the Firefighter.

"D!" I punch his bicep and he gives me a fake, over-the-top pained look. "One of these days you'll end up hurting yourself if you keep picking fights with everyone around you!"

"I know, I know." He rolls his eyes. "But that's not the point!"

He places his hands on my shoulder and forces me to turn around, shielding ourselves from Sophia's gaze. He leans down sideways to match my height before he continues with a whisper, "It's just, I can't help but think she's using you to get back at me."

"Do you know how paranoid you sound right now?"

"Yes, but with a girl like her, it might be true!" he tries to convince me.

"Relax." I try to comfort him with a smile. "She's just helping me with some girl stuffs."

"What stuffs?" he asks curiously while retracting his hand to his sides.

"You really wanna know?" I tease him.

He narrows his eyes, stopping to think for a while, then he shakes his head rapidly. "Okay, maybe not."

"But Mac, she's absolute trouble! Who knows what she'll do to you?" he insists, his concern is written all over his face.

"D, you don't even know her," I try to defend her.

"I know her kind," he answers, his voice is cold and flat. A glimpse of sadness and disappointment can be seen through his eyes even though he tries to hide it. Considering what he has been through, I can't really blame him for judging people before he even knows them. After all, he has been betrayed by the person he trusted the most.

I let out a sigh. "She's not her, D. Sophia is nicer than you think."

"I find that really hard to believe."

"D..." I place a hand on his shoulders. "You realize your whole female allergy needs to be cured sooner or later, don't you?"

He scoffs, clearly trying to run away from his true feelings. "Who said I'm allergic to girls? I mean, you're a girl!"

"But do you really think so?"

"Of course I do! I mean" – he gulps, his eyes rapidly move side-to-side – "you have boobs, don't ya?"

With a frown on my face, I raise my brow.

"Okay, maybe not really," he quickly adds, causing my frown turns into a scowl in an instant. "But, the point is, I still like girls, if that's what you're asking."

"Yet you never have the courage to talk to the ones you really like."

"Well, I'm talking to you right now, aren't I?" His ever-present teasing smile finds its way back to his face.

"Hey, you two," an unmistakable voice of Sophia's is heard from behind me.

Dylan and I quickly turn around and there she is with her usual careless attitude.

"Ready to go?" she asks.

With a smile full of determination, I nod. Then, I turn slightly to face Dylan. "I gotta go. Talk to you later?"

"Mac-"

I give him a few pats on the back before I start walking to the direction of my car. I can already see my old blue Volkswagen from here.

"This way," I say to Sophia.

She flashes a polite, calculated smile at me in return. Then, on the corner of my eyes, I can see her turning her head slightly and throws Dylan a wicked smirk.

Oh, Dylan, what did you do?

With a small sigh, I brush the thoughts away. Whatever it is between the two of them, it's none of my business. In fact, I can use it to my own advantage. After all, I need her too.

Finally arriving near my car, I take out my car keys from my pocket and open the car's locks. That's when suddenly, I see a pale hand grabbing the passenger door's handle and opening it. Before I know it, Dylan has already thrown himself into the backseat of my car.

"D, what are you doing?" I protest.

Instead of answering me right away, he takes off his backpack and puts it on his side. Then, with a carefree tone, he answers, "I'm coming with you."

"What?" I raise my voice, irritation spreads through my voice. I turn my gaze at Sophia, slightly embarrassed of my childhood friend's action.

"Hold on a second, okay?" I say to her before shifting my gaze back to the guy who's now sitting comfortably in the middle of the seat with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"D–"

"It's okay," Sophia chimes in. "He can come with us. After all, the more the merrier, right?" A mischievous smirk is formed on the corner of her red lips.

"But–"

"You heard her," Dylan adds. "Let's go!"

I turn to Sophia, silently asking if it's really okay for him to tag along, and she answers with a playful smirk instead. "Ready?"

I'll be lying if I say I'm not scared. But, I have a feeling this is going to be the start of something great.

I take a long, deep breath before I answer, "Let's do this."

Author's Note:
Hey, guys!

So what do you think about this chapter?

The fun will start in the next chapter, so stay tuned!

Hope you like this chapter and thanks for reading! :)