Jake's Pov
We were having fun at the school stable the next morning. It was kind of an extra curricular activity. People broke out in small groups - some feeding and others riding horses.

"Jake!" I turned to the sharp voice that called my name "Hey Garcia" I smiled, waving at her. My smile vanished when I noticed she was angry "Is there a problem, Kristen?"

"You are my problem!" she snapped "All three of you"

"I don't understand" I raised my brows, confused "What's got you so mad?"

"Do you really not know why I'm mad? Tell me who gave you three the right to meddle in my life. Are you the boss of me?"

"But...." Bella started to say and she cut her off.

"I have parents, so what was the need to bring your meddlesome mom over to lecture me?"

"We just wanted to show you how much we care for you" Laura replied calmly.

"Is it so hard to understand that I do not need your friendship? Have your brain's gone blur that you cannot understand a thing anymore? Aren't you just cheap and shameless?"

"You better mind your language, Kristen!" Bella retorted angrily.

That hit me real hard, but I couldn't utter a word. Why was I so helpless when it came to her?.

"You insulted my values by bringing your mom over to give me a speech"

"Values you say" Bella scoffed "Oh please Kristen! If this is the kind of values your mom taught you then you should go to her and tell her she failed as a mother!"

"Bella!" I yelled.

Even if Kristen started this, it still wasn't right for Bella to bring her mom into it. I turned to Kristen whose angry eyes had now been replaced with tears. She stared at Bella with hurt in her eyes.

"Kristen..." Laura called softly.

"You...You're crying?" Bella said, shocked "I'm sorry Kristen. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean that" she reached for her hands, and she shoved it aside.

"Just stop it" Her voice softened.  "I got that loud and clear"

"Kristen" I called to her as she slouched away.

That really hurt her.

"Why did you say that to her, Bella?" Laura stated.

"Bella, you shouldn't have said that about her mom"

"I didn't mean it. I just lost my temper"

"It's okay, Bell" I said, trying not to make her feel worse than she felt already.

"Kristen drama again?" Rebecca said, appearing before us "Even I am completely fed up with her. Why do you even tolerate her? She needs to be taught a lesson ASAP, don't you agree?"

I ignored her while we continued to feed our Friesian stallion. She was such a beauty, and I so wasn't in the mood for Rebecca's absurd drama

"You're right girlfriend" Chloe echoed "We should give her a dose of her own medicine"

"I don't care about whatever she poses to have. I will put her in her place" Rebecca continued.

"Don't you all find Kristen strange?" Bianca asked "I mean, she always brags about the greatness of her family's fortunes, yet there's nothing to show for it" she looked at Bella, Laura and I as if waiting for an answer.

"She's so wierd" Chloe added "If she has so much then she should put it to use. She hasn't ever worn a single designer clothes since I've known her, and she comes to school in the same chevrolet Impala every single day. Seriously, is she being selfish on herself"

"I don't believe her pathetic simple heiress lifestyle act" Rebecca said, brushing her hands over my horse "Something feels off about her and I'll get to the root of it"

I shot them a dirty look before turning to my horse. They fail to realize that not everyone is as lavish and wasteful as they are.

   *******
Biology class was in 20 minutes. I walked over to my locker to grab my Biology assignment.

"Hey pretty"

I knew even without looking that that was Ray's voice. He was the flirt of Nevaeh. Charming, basketball captain and rich. Girls hovered around him.

"Do you see a talk to me sign on my face?" I turned away from my locker when I heard Kristen's voice.

"What?" He laughed, showing off his teeth.

"Are we friends? Why are you acting familiar with me? Do you know me?" she ranted.

"You know what, your arrogance is what makes you beautiful" He had his hand in his pocket and nervously rocked back and forth on both legs, still wearing that flirty smile on his face.

"Can you cut to the chase, Ray? Don't try to use those bad boy lines on me"

"Okay, Okay" He laughed "I saw you leave yesterday. You looked mad, and I got worried" This time he looked serious and genuinely concerned "Are you okay?"

"Why the hell should you care?"

"I know we didn't start off right, but I do care about you a lot more than you think. Just forget everything and let's start off as friends. Let's...Let's just say we just met for the first time" He extended his hand to her "Hi, I'm Ray Dermot, and you are?"

"Get lost!"

"You've got such a pretty name" He laughed, grabbing her hand before shaking them "Nice meeting you get lost"

"You think you're funny?" she grunted, pulling her hand away.  "I am not interested in being friends or anything else with you"

"Come on Kristen"

"Besides your charming face, what else can you give me?"

"So you do agree I'm charming" He said, flashing a cute smile.

"You're the son of a mafia Lord. You don't have a future, Ray. First try getting good grades before you even gather the guts to speak to me" she walked away, into the science lab.

"I'll never let you go, Kristen" He mumbled to himself before leaving.

There was something about a guys' eyes that couldn't hide what was in the heart. I saw it in Ray's eyes.

  *******
"Hey kids" mom smiled as we walked in "How was school?"

"It was fine" Laura responded.

"Let's have lunch then"

"Thanks mom, but I'm not hungry" I said.

"Why? Did you have a late lunch at school?"

"No. I just don't feel hungry. Excuse me" I said, dawdling to my room.

"What's wrong, Jake?" She held me back "Laura, did something happen at school?"

"It's Kristen mom" Laura replied.  Her usually bright, gay face was dull "She got mad at us for bringing you over to talk to her. I...I felt so hurt hearing her say does horrible things to us. No one has ever made me feel as shallow as Kristen makes me feel"

"It's frustrating how she berates our honesty" I continued. I was exhausted from pretending like I wasn't affected by all her harsh taunts "We have tried our best to change her by showing her kindness but she won't compromise. How can a person be this cold?"

"We have being patient and understanding enough" Laura said, her eyes sparkling with tears "I don't think I can take it anymore. If anyone spoke to me the way Kristen does I would never have let it slide....but because it is her, a friend we love even when she doesn't care the hell about us we feel helpless"

"We must seem like nothing but a joke for caring and tolerating her. She's just a girl we see in school everyday" I breathed.  "There's no reason to like her at all. She's rude, selfish & doesn't give a shit about the feelings of others, but- but still I...I care crazily about her and my heart aches when she's in pain. I feel stupid mom"

"No, No honey " my mom said, pulling Laura & I into her arms.  "You three have a beautiful heart and I know Kristen will see that someday"

"When mom?" Laura asked, looking innocently into her eyes.

"I'm certain your love for her has hit her somewhere in her heart; even just a little. It takes time for a wounded heart to heal completely. She'll come around soon"

"I don't think so"

"Don't give up yet Laura. Hang on just a little more. I'll support you and together we'll make Kristen a new person" she smiled sweetly.  "What do you say?"

"We could use some help" I replied "Thanks mom"

"Now cheer up and let's go have dinner. My stomach's crying for help"

"Now I finally understand where Jake got his lame jokes from" Laura beamed "Like mother like son"

We all let out a thunderous laughter.

"And that's why I'm the ladies man" I joked.

"Ladies man my ass" Laura teased, laughing "Bella and I are the only girls in your life, and maybe Kristen. You don't even have a girlfriend"

"Hey, don't make fun of Jake" my mom said chuckling "He'll get a girl soon. Tell her Jake"

"That's right. I'm going to meet the girl of my dreams soon" I said, poking my chest dramatically "I feel it in here"

"A troll girlfriend perhaps" my mom said, both of them giggling.

"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side mom"

"Whatever you say, baby" she echoed, laughing.