"So, how's everyone this fine day?" Blake asked with a cheeky smile.

"It's fine thanks for asking." Megan said smiling back at him. Blake looked towards her and winked. I watched as Ethan stiffened and took Megan's hand in his.

"What do you want Archer?" Jessie asked Blake with a dirty look.

"Nothing from you Calloway." he smiled. Blake sat down in the empty seat next to me and everyone just stared at him. "What, it's like you guys have never seen me before."

"Well not at this table." Ethan stated.

"I wish I've never seen you before." I added with a blank look.

"Well that wasn't very nice, now was it Zara?" Blake asked in a tone meant for a 6 year old. 

"Ok enough of this shit! What the hell are you doing here Blake?" Jessie asked looking aggravated.

"Jess, don't yell at him. He just wanted to hang out with us. I'm sorry Blake, it seems my friends here still think you're a jerk. But I know you've changed." Megan reassured him. I rolled my eyes while Jessie nearly choked on her sandwich.

"Changed!? The only thing he changes are the girls he sleeps with every night." Jessie yelled.

"Jessica! Be nice!" Megan yelled back.

"Are you kidding me? Megan, are you fucking blind? This jerkoff will never change, why can't you see that?" Jessie fumed.

"Don't be so heartless Jessie, he's just here to-" she began but got cut off.

"Alright ladies that's enough. I just came here to ask Zara a question then I'll be out of your hair." Blake said stopping the argument.

"How about you get out of the country." Jessie mumbled to herself.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Anyway, Zara?" Blake asked

"Yes?" I said turning to him, waiting to hear what he has to say.

"Will you go out with me tomorrow night?" I heard a couple gasps from some nearby tables, Megan's being the loudest.

"No." I watched as Blake's face turned into a smirk instead of a frown like I expected, which made me slightly confused.

"Great, I'll pick you up at 8." he then got up and walked away.

"Wait! I said no." I yelled to him jumping out of my seat. Blake just kept on walking, attracting a couple of girls to follow him like a bunch of lost puppies. I sighed and sat back down. "What the hell just happened?"

"Well, Blake just asked you out and you just said no and-"

"Ok -thank you Megan!" I snapped. "What do I do? I don't want to go out with Blake."

"Then don't, when he comes to your house just lock the doors and refuse to go anywhere with him." Jessie answered. Just then the bell rang indicating that lunch was over. Megan grabbed my hand and dragged me to the auditorium.

"I'm so excited! I love this period, we get to decorate and get things ready for the prom. This is going to be so much fun!" Megan squealed. We entered the auditorium and once again everyone's eyes bore into me. Please, no autographs. Megan leads me towards a supply closet and opens the door.

"This is where they keep all the decorations. The theme this year is black and white." Megan explains to me while she grabs a box of lights.

"What kind of theme is black and white?" I ask also grabbing a box full of streamers. "It seems so plain."

"What do you mean? Black and white is a great idea, considering I came up with it. I think it's very elegant." she smiled.

"Why is it elegant?" I dumped the streamers onto the floor and started to untangle them.

"Because, everyone has to wear long ball gowns and masks!" Megan nearly screamed from excitement.

"Ok, that does sound fancy."

"Who are you going with?" I watched as Megan's fingers slipped under the bundle of lights, untangling them like it was a piece of cake. Me on the other hand felt like throwing the mess of streamers into the trash and just buying new ones.

"No one, I don't really do the whole prom scene."

"Oh come on. What if someone asks you?" Megan got all of her lights untangled and starts helping me with mine.

"No one's going to ask me." I stated.

"But what if someone asked you. Then will you go?" she looked at me with hopeful eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Maybe." I answered honestly.

"Yay! Oh I hope someone asks you soon so we can go dress shopping." we finally finished untangling the streamers and set them aside. I got up and followed Megan looking for something else to do. We walked towards a bunch of people huddled in a group.

"Alright I don't want this prom to suck like the last one, so here's what we're going to do. I need a bunch of black and white silk drapes so we can hang them around the auditorium. I also need some of you guys to try and find black and white diamond chandeliers." a girl with dirty blonde hair ordered.

"Where are we going to find black and white chandeliers?" a boy with green highlighted hair asked.

"I don't know, just find it. I don't care if it's made of plastic, I just want some freaken chandeliers!" she yelled. Everyone turned around rolling there eyes and walked out of the auditorium. Just when I was about to ask Megan a question about the chandeliers the bell rang telling everyone to go home. I picked up my backpack and walked towards the exit.

"So," Megan said smiling.

"So, what?" I raised my eyebrow. Just then Ethan caught up to us and took a hold of Megan's hand.

"So, you and Blake huh?" she giggled.

"No, there is nothing going on between us." I tried to explain, but this is Megan we're talking about. So she obviously didn't get it.

"Then why did he ask you out? He so likes you, trust me. Oh my god, what if he asks you to go to the prom!?" she squealed.

"Alright babe. Calm down, let's not get too carried away." Ethan said laughing.

"So what are we talking about?" Jessie asked appearing out of nowhere.

"Zara's date with Blake." Megan smirked.

"I'm not going on a date with that asshole, ok?" I reassured them. We all started heading our separate ways. Ethan and Jessie heading towards their cars and me and Megan to hers.

"You are going on a date with him. You won't be able to resist it." I looked over at Megan like she just told me she was secretly a boy. How could she say that, I will not go on a date with him and he can't make me. I don't care if he's the freaken president, I would rather stick needles in my eyes then have dinner with that lying dirtbag.

I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't realize we already reached my house.

"Thanks for the ride." I said opening the car door and stepping out.

"Anytime." I closed the door and watched Megan pull out of my driveway and into hers. I turned to my new house that had freshly coated blue and green paint on it. I walked inside and saw my aunt talking to a bunch of guys.

"Oh, Zara. You're home. How do you like the house?" Patty asked me. I looked over at the three guys and saw that they were covered in paint.

"It's really cool." I said setting my stuff down on the couch and heading towards the kitchen. I heard the door shut and knew the painter people left. "Well you're home early."

"Ya, I had to leave work to pay them." Patty said going into the fridge and taking out a cheese stick.

"So how was your first day, Watermelon?"

"It was good, thank you very much." she answered glaring at me for calling her by her work name. I smirked at her expression and started towards my room. "Dinner will be ready in about 2 hours." she yelled up the stairs.

When I got to my room I sat on my bed and stared at the wall. Holy shit, Blake Archer asked me out today! It just hit me believe it or not. An overwhelming feeling of happiness tookover. I really shouldn't be this happy but I honesty can't help it. I'm freaken excited! What am I going to wear? How will I do my hair? What kind of perfume do you think he'll like? Whoa there girl, calm down. You're suppose to be laying low remember, not prancing around with the schools most popular jock. Damn it and I was getting so excited. Now that's what you call false hope. Hope. What a silly word. Do you know what hope spelt backwards is? Epoh. That has nothing to do with anything but still it's a silly word. The last thing I need right now is hope, it's just a waste of time. 

I got up from my bed and got my laptop out. I opened up my backpack and started on my math homework.

2 hours later Patty called me down stairs to eat dinner. When I got to the dining room the smell of mac and cheese hit me and my mouth started watering.

"So, how was school? I forgot to ask you earlier." Patty said setting 2 plates of mac and cheese on the table along with a bowl of salad.

"Eh, it was ok. Some guy asked me out today." I took a fork full of macaroni and put it in my mouth, the all too familiar taste of melted cheese overtaking my tastebuds.

"Really!? What's his name? What does he look like? When is he taking you out? Where is he taking you out?" Patty asks nearly falling out of her seat while attacking me with questions.

"Whoa, chill. Don't hurt yourself, I'm not going anywhere with him." I stated. I watched as my aunts face turned from a smile to a frown then to scowl.

"Why not? This lovely boy, who ever he is, asked you out today. You are going whether you like it or not. No ifs, ands, or buts." Patty crossed her arms and stared at me. Daring me to argue with her. Which I gladly did.

"No, I'm not and nothing you say or do will make me." I got up from the table and stormed up to my room, slamming the door.

"Oh come on Zara, this is a once in a life time opportunity!" I hear from downstairs.

"Ugh! You wouldn't understand." I mumbled. Patty doesn't understand how it feels to be shut out by an entire city and then have to move, and have that city shut you out too. For no reason! Just because I'm new they don't like me, they think I'm some kind of psycho killer. I sighed and got up from my bed and walked over to my dresser taking out a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. When I finished changing I crawled under my covers taking the pills my doctor gave me from under my pillow. He said they'll stop my nightmares, and they do. But every time I wake up I have to puke, which isn't a fun feeling. Then after I finish throwing up I'm grumpy the rest of the day. But I don't care, I don't feel like waking up at 4 in the morning because of these damn nightmares. I opened my hand and shook the bottle, 2 white lima bean sized pills falling out. I popped them into my mouth and swallowed them dry, the bitter taste of iron settling on my tongue. I closed my eyes and fall asleep not looking forward for tomorrow morning.