Zoë

Sara Kays softly played from the speakers in Old Navy as Zoë browsed around in the clearance section with Carden wandering behind her on his phone, oblivious to what was going on around him.

She couldn't help but smile every time she looked over at him. He was officially her real boyfriend now. No more acting. It was all reality now. They were together for real and no matter how hard she tried to wrap her mind around it, she just couldn't.

It was just unbelievable.

Her hand ran over hangers aimlessly. She honestly had no clue what she was shopping for but she came so that Carden would stay for a little bit longer. Once she was done "shopping," he would head back to Clarkston for the rest of his weekend, to hangout with Cam and Andrew who had left the night before, and she would join him Monday.

"Not trying to rush you darling, but are you done yet?" He bounced on the balls of his feet. "Cam wants to know when I'll be back. It's a couple hour drive."

"Yeah, I know." She grabbed a white skirt with a light blue crop top quickly. She so desperately wanted to go try it on and see Carden with stars in his eyes but she needed to hurry.

She searched for a price tag, her fingers fumbling with the fabric. But there wasn't one.

"Shoot."

"What?"

She waved it in his face. "No price tag. We'll need to find somebody."

Carden ran a hand through his hair, glancing at his watch for what seemed the twentieth time. "Alright."

She hurried off toward where a young woman about Zoë's age with long black hair was folding a sweatshirt to put onto a stand. "Excuse me. Can you help me for a quick second?"

"Of course!" Her voice was light and cheerful as she turned towards Zoë. "Whatever can I do for you?"

When her gaze met Zoë's, it was like a laser beam. It made her freeze in her spot and nearly made her stop breathing.

"Z?" Carden put a hand on her shoulder. "You good?"

"Cora?"

The woman stared at her before whispering, "Zoë?"

"Oh my gosh!" Zoë handed the outfit in her hands to Carden before wrapping her arms tightly around Cora. "It's been so long! What are you doing here? How are you? I can't believe it's really you!"

Cora laughed as she pulled away from Zoë. "I forgot how energetic you are."

"I am not energetic!"

The girls stared at each other before bursting out laughing. Forgotten inside jokes and memories swelled inside Zoë's brain as she laughed along with her childhood best friend.

It felt like just yesterday they were making mud pies in the soggy mud and playing family in the basement of Cora's house. But then Zoë's parents had forced her to move away and leave Cora. She never thought she'd see her ever again.

"You look beautiful! I barely recognized you!" Cora exclaimed as she ran her fingers through Zoë's long hair. "Last time I saw you, you had a brown bob!"

She rolled her eyes. "To be fair, I was five years old."

"An adorable one!"

"You were cuter! And with the hairstyle, that was my mother's doing. I had no say in it!"

They embraced each other again as Carden, who Zoë forgot was standing there awkwardly witnessing a reunion, cleared his throat. "Am I missing something?"

Zoë laughed as she hooked her elbow with Cora's. "This is Cora Hood. She was my best friend in Florida until I moved here. And Cora," she turned toward her, "this is my boyfriend, Carden."

Dang, it felt amazing to say boyfriend and Carden in the same sentence in a truthful way.

"Boyfriend?" Cora wiggled her eyebrows with a smirk. "I see little Zo got some game over the years."

"Hardly!"

"Whatever you say."

Carden snickered. "I'm the one that's got game though. She fell for me and my inhumanly good looks and my classic charm."

"You're something," Zoë shot back. "But I'm not sure it's though things. It might be how you can barely survive without me!"

"Oh please, you know it's true!" He leaned toward her with a smirk and kissed the tip of her nose softly. "Stop denying it, love."

She rolled her eyes, attempting to ignore the heat rising in her face. "Whatever."

"He's really cute," Cora whispered. "Wherever did you find a guy like him?"

Those words set a shiver throughout Zoë's body. Cora wouldn't try to flirt with Carden, right? If she did, he wouldn't choose her over Zoë? The way Cora was looking at Carden made her very uncomfortable and maybe a little bit jealous, which she would never admit to Carden.

"Well, um, he's gotta get back to Clarkston so we have to go." She shoved the clothes in his hands to Cora before pushing Carden toward the door. "It was great seeing you Cora!"

"Wait, did you say Clarkston?"

Zoë repressed a sigh as she turned around. "Yeah. Why?"

"I'm transferring there Monday!" Cora smiled widely. "Oh my gosh I can't believe I'm going to go to high school with my bestie! Isn't this a dream come true, Zo? I remember planning outfits and stuff as kids!"

It would be if she wasn't getting very weird vibes from Cora. She loved her but if she was set on Carden, that would cause a very serious problem. They didn't need to be in a love triangle.

"Yes, of course! See you Monday."

Cora waved. "See ya Monday! Bye Carden."

"See ya." Carden waved as Zoë finished dragging him out of the store. "Woah, woah, woah, what's with the speed walking and the," he pulled his arm from hers with a wince, "digging nails into my skin? Is someone jealous?"

"I am not jealous!"

"Then why did you walk out of there like you were fire? I thought you'd be more excited to see your best friend."

She sighed. "I am, believe me I am, but it's just..."

He reached for her hand, swinging their arms as they walked toward the massive parking lot. "Are you scared she's gonna come for me or something?"

"Maybe..."

"Don't worry. I won't let her get to me, got it?"

"Okay. I trust you."

"I'm glad you do."

*****

Cora was like the new queen of the school. From her long black hair to her green catlike eyes and the goth style clothes she wore, she got the attention of the school very quickly. From one glance, you could tell she was cool and she knew it.

Even Chloe gravitated towards her.

"Aww, what's the matter?" Amber teased as they overlooked the large crowd gathering around Cora from the track. "Are you jealous of the new girl?"

"She's pretty," Andrew chimed in which resulted in Cal kicking him hard in the shin. "Ow! I mean, she's moderately good looking but obviously not as gorgeous as Cal or any of you guys."

"Much better," Cal said. She glared down at the massive crowd. "I hate when there's a new Barbie Doll in town. Everyone treats her like royalty but I guess it would be nice to have a new queen that's not a blonde. Time to break the stereotypes."

"Yeah." Zoë toyed with a strand of her hair. Had she become a high school stereotype? The popular blonde girl who dated the quarterback? The "princess" because Chloe was the queen? What had become of her?

Her life used to be so simple before Carden started spreading lies. But if he hadn't, they more than likely wouldn't be together.

The bell rang out loudly and the giant crowd moved with Cora as she walked. She had every person brainwashed. She wasn't the little "I'm going to be a bunny doctor when I grow up" kind of girl anymore.

Amber tugged on Zoë's arm. "Hey, we gotta go. We're gonna be late for class."

"I don't want to go to class today."

"Wait, what?! What happened to my nerdy best friend? I didn't lose her in all that beauty, did I?"

"No. I just...I really don't want to talk to the new girl right now."

"The new girl? What does she have to do with anything?" Amber leaned against a banister with a small smirk. "Is someone worried she's gonna try and take your throne?"

"Something like that." Zoë turned around and walked toward the stairs, throwing the hood of her hoodie up over her head in the process. "You can go to class but I'm not. I'm going to the boardwalk."

"The boardwalk?" Amber was jogging to keep up with Zoë's quick steps. "What's going on with you? Shouldn't you keep going to class cause your mom wants you too?"

"I should but I just don't want too." She sprinted quickly across the student parking lot to her car. Amber climbed into the passenger seat and Zoë made a beeline out of the parking lot as the tardy bell rang out loudly behind them.

*****

The beach was nearly empty by the time the two girls got there. The only people on the beach were an elderly couple, giving wise advice about life. High schoolers were in school while elementary kids more than likely were studying addition or learning how to write in cursive. Adults were at their jobs or at home, taking care of the younger kids.

Zoë sat at the waters edge, letting the water run over her bare feet as Amber walked around in the water. "Is there a reason we're ditching school? I'm pretty sure the boys are going nuts wondering where we're at."

"Cora."

"Cora?"

"Cora."

"Who's Cora?"

Zoë sighed. "The new girl."

"Okay...? What do you have against her? You haven't even met her and you've already decided you hate her guts. Aren't you the one who keeps telling me to look at peoples bright sides?"

"Yes, but this is different."

Amber started to unweave one of her braids. "Different how?"

"She was my childhood best friend but she's different now. I saw her over the weekend in L.A. and she ended up moving here."

"Shouldn't that be exciting? You haven't seen each other in over a decade! If I had someone like that, which I do," she smiled at Zoë, "I'd be over the moon at seeing them again."

"I am, believe me! But there's a catch."

Amber waited for her to continue as Zoë zoned out staring out at the sea. "And?"

"I think she wants Carden. When we saw her, I saw this look in her eye. She wants Carden all to herself."

"Ugh, girl are you becoming one of those overprotective girlfriends?" She nudged her arm when Zoë didn't respond. "Jeez, chill out. I'm joking. But seriously, your boyfriend is one of the most popular guys to ever roam the halls of Clarkston. Girls practically worship the guy and I'm telling you this as your best friend. There are always going to be people who like him. But if Cora is your friend and respects you, she'll back off."

Zoë's phone rang out with a text. "But what if she doesn't? She's way different than when we were kids."

"She grew up. Every person does." She chuckled. "Remember when we were both so obsessed with Winx Club? Now that was a dark time."

"Our life dream was to find Sky and the Specialists!"

They laughed as Amber's words set in. She was right. If Cora truly cared for Zoë, she wouldn't come for Carden. She would be supportive of Zoë, that is if that part of her that cared for Zoë was still there deep down.

She was just being paranoid.

Her phone rang out with another text. One from Carden and one from an unknown number.

Captain Flirt - Where are you? Did I do something :(

Unknown Number - How did you get Carden to fall in love with you?

"Umm, Ambi?" She shoved her phone towards Amber. "I think everything you just said is one hundred percent wrong."

"Well then, looks like I'll have to take things into my own hands." She snatched Zoë's phone and quickly sent a text before handing back her phone.

Zoë- Wanna go on a date Friday night?

Captain Flirt - Course! Seven?

Zoë- Perfect