"Lexi..."

"LEXI!" I blinked my eyes and saw Emily in front of me, shaking my shoulders. "Lexi, listen to me, take deep breaths with me... Breath in breath out."

I did as she said, looking around, I got my senses back and remembered I was in the bathroom, but this time I was sitting on the floor with my back leaning on the wall. I didn't know how long I blacked out, but Ivy and Vanessa were gone.

"Lexi?" I glanced into Emily's big brown eyes. She put her hands on my cheeks, wiping the tears which I didn't realize fell. "She didn't leave you, Lexi. It wasn't her choice." Emily whispered, looking at me softly. I nodded, calming myself.

Only Kevin and Emily knew about my mother and no one else. When dad and I came back, dad buried himself in work and always been busy, and when I came to high school, I told no one. I kept it to myself and let them make rumors about my mom leaving us or that dad and she got a divorce and others.

Ivy knew about my therapy, but she doesn't know about my mother. I used to go to the therapist because I couldn't control my anger. I had anger issues since I was a kid and after mom things got worse.

It took a lot of time and medicines to get me back on track, and now I tried to control myself so I wouldn't burst again.

"How long was I out for?" I asked, leaning my head on the wall.

"For a few minutes." She whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good." I sighed.

"Does it hurt?" I frowned. She gestured towards my hand and my eyes widened when I saw it in blood.

"What-" I tried to clench my hand but winced when the pain shot up my arm.

"You punched the mirror," Emily answered looking up, I followed her gaze and saw the mirror with my blood all over it, I didn't have the power to break it, it was just a crack.

"Let's get this clean." She lightly held my wrist, pulling me up, and took me to the sink.

She opened the tap, and when the cold water hit my cracked skin, I flinched. "Shit! That burns!" I winced in pain.

I didn't realize the pain before.

"Did Ivy see this?" I asked wide eyes at Emily. She already knew about my outburst, I didn't want her to witness this too.

"No. She left before you did it." She peeked at me. "When was the last time you blacked out like this?"

"It's been a while," I mumbled and looked at my hand. "That's going to leave a scar."

"We'll go to the nurse's office, I'm sure they'll have something for this." She let go of my hand and grabbed our stuff.

I looked in the mirror and observed my tired face. Ivy got me this time, I haven't lost my senses like this for a while. She seriously got on my nerves with her words.

Facade? I scoffed. I was just doing what my mom told me, 'To be strong and don't let anyone make you feel less'.

My eyes darted around my face, and I adjusted the glasses. Now I really look like Miss Mad, except I didn't have my wig on. Searching around, I found it on the floor and picked it up. I put it on my head again and winced from the pain in my hand.

I inspected my hand. My knuckles were bruised and cut, blood was still coming out of them. I glanced at the mirror which I punched and saw Emily cleaning it.

"We'll just leave quietly." She looked at me and smiled. "No one will notice I'm sure." I watched my friend and remembered the first time we met.

I was in the office to get my schedule on my first day when I met Emily. She was like a fragile new kid standing with her schedule looking confused.

I walked to her and snatched the schedule from her hands. "We have almost every class together," I said looking at her.

She blinked at me with her innocent big brown eyes, which were behind thick rim glasses.

"Let's go," I said and strode towards our class. She followed me quietly. "BTW, I'm Lexi." I smiled at her.

"I'm Emily." She pushed her glasses back.

"That's a cute name," I beamed. "I'm going to call you Em. How's that?"

"It's... good..." She mumbled, looking confused.

I halted and turned towards the class. "This is your first class and here's your schedule." I gave her the paper.

"You know about this place?" She asked, taking the schedule back.

I bobbed my head. "I was on a vacation but now I'm back and this is my territory." Smirking, I turned the other way for my next class.

"Thank you!" Emily yelled from behind.

I whirled my head and smiled at her. "Friends don't thank each other." I winked at her. "I'll meet you in the next period, Em." She smiled and nodded her head.

"Let's go." I blinked, getting out of my thoughts. "We should get that check." Emily signaled towards my hand.

I went towards her and wrapped my arms around her neck. "Thank you, Em, for everything."

She hugged me back tightly. "Friends don't thank each other." She repeated my words. I let go of her and grinned.

"Admit, it was an amazing first expression," I smirked and Emily laughed, shaking her head.

"Yeah. I was really confused. I thought I was getting ragged." She giggled as we left the bathroom.

"Really? I didn't know I looked that cruel."

"You're not cruel, Lexi." Emily smiled at me. "You are just... bit*hy." We both laughed.

It's hard to find friends like Emily, who keep all your flaws from the world, help you get better, and tell you what you need to hear and when. I was lucky to find her.

"You have changed since the first time we met." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.

"I have?" She twisted her head towards me.

I bobbed my head. "You were like a scared little girl and now you're confident and you stood up to people," I said referring to the video scene she did in the bathroom.

"You have been a significant influence on me, I guess." She shrugged and smiled.

I returned her smile, and we went towards the nurse's office. "And you on me." I patted her shoulder and stepped inside.

* * * * *

After getting the bandage on, we went to our classes. The nurse asked about how it happened and I simply told her I was in Home Ec. class, she looked at me worriedly and I just shrugged.

I sat in my last class, which was calculus, waiting for it to end. My eyes went towards Ivy who sat there smirking at me. She may have not witnessed what happened in the bathroom, but I think she got the idea after seeing my hand.

I narrowed my eyes at her. If what she said was true about Jax taking her to the Homecoming, then I needed to do something about it. I would have given zero damn about him taking her before, but now she got on my nerves and I want revenge.

I was planning to go with Noah, and since he was not even interested, the only one left was Jax. I texted him to meet me after school in the same class we made our deal.

That class has become our secret meeting room.

Jax: I can't come today. I have to do something important.

I reread his text. Important? Was he planning to ask Ivy today?

Me: It's a life and death situation, Jax!!!

Jax: Don't exaggerate.

Me: I'm serious! Come straight there without stopping anywhere!

I waited for his text for a minute, but he didn't answer.

Me: I'm serious, Jax.

Jax: Fine.

I sighed in relief and glimpsed at Ivy, who sat like she won a battle or something.

You just wait, Ivy. I will not let you win that easily.

I impatiently tapped my foot as I waited for Jax to come. The door of the class finally opened, and I rushed.

"Who are you taking to homecoming?"

He stepped inside, grinning. "Hello to you too, Miss Maddox."

"Answer the question." I crossed my arms around my chest.

"It's creeping me out that Miss Maddox is asking about my homecoming date." He chuckled, giving me a once-over.

"Who. Are. You. Asking. Jax?" I repeated my question, boring my eyes into his seriously.

"I was going to ask Ivy before you called me here." My lips twitched at that.

She was right. He was seriously taking the bit*h! And I will not let that happen. I have to show her what I can do.

* * * * *

A/N
The chapter might be a little boring but I had to show a little bit of Emily and Lexi's friendship.