"Is your shirt even allowed for school?" I asked Lilith, whose gaze remained fixed through the windscreen.

"If you simply minded your own business, we'd be cooler. Didn't I warn you about your obsession with adherence to rules?" she retorted, putting on her sunglasses.

Unfazed by her words, I persisted, "Your stomach is exposed. Isn't that inappropriate according to the dress code?" I expressed my concern.

"Ava, for starters, I am the school. Even the principal wouldn't take a chance. And now I see why you are referred to as Mother Superior. If you don't stop, I guarantee one day you might be referred to as the Holy Mother of Hills High, is it Pope?" She glanced at me inquisitively.

"Yes, it's Pope. And what's wrong with it?" I fired back.

Letting out a sigh, she rolled her eyes. "You just don't get it. Your reputation will fall apart. And we're practically siblings, so I don't want to be associated with your downfall. That's why I have to keep you from going down."

Her explanation didn't make sense to me. "So, because I find certain things that others consider trophies illegal, I'm going down?" I asked, confused.

"You just have to mind your own business, and that's all. Let everyone do what they desire," she advised.

Sinking back into the leather seat, I muttered, "The movies are totally right about this continent."

"Pardon? Did you just accuse my country? Is that what I heard?" Lilith asked firmly, trying to divide her attention between me and the road.

Shaking my head, I murmured, "Not at all."

"Good, because America is a great place. We rule," she said with a wink as she pulled into the school car park.

"Fucking get out of my spot, or do I have to crush your bike?" Lilith stuck her head out of the window to vent her anger at an innocent boy trying to park his bicycle.

I heard him apologize and quickly disappear. After Lilith finally parked in her designated spot, we made our way towards the Chevrolet and Honda where Quinn and Suri were waiting.

"New day, bitches," Quinn greeted us as soon as she noticed our arrival.

"Hello, Ava. Hello, Lilith," Suri politely smiled at us. I liked Suri because she never addressed me with derogatory names like the other girls who lacked any trace of respect for me. "Gosh, I love your shirt," Suri complimented the daring outfit, and I instantly retracted my kind thoughts about her. Lilith, with a smirk, shot me an "I told you so" look.

"She's not here, is she?" Lilith asked the girls, referring to someone I knew they were talking about. I had read the group message last night before falling asleep, and mighty Embry hadn't bothered to respond to her concerned friends.

"Maybe she's already left the school to avoid us," Quinn speculated.

"And leave Leigh with Sofia? No way," Suri scoffed.

Looking irritated, Quinn blurted, "I can't believe her. Her audacity these days is infuriating me."

"She's been silent all weekend. I mean, she's hanging out with my brother. She should at least have the guts to reply to my messages," Lilith leaned on Suri's Honda bonnet.

I wanted to tell them to calm down, that Leigh didn't go anywhere on Friday, and Embry was just a replacement and a distraction for attention. That's why she's avoiding them—out of shame. But then, Embry's red Ford pulled over in the spot opposite the girls' cars.

And not one, but two people emerged from the vehicle—none other than Leigh Boyce in a cheetah jacket.

"You have to be kidding me!" The immediate response of my heart almost brought me to my knees as I witnessed the unfolding event. I paid no attention to the murmurs around the car park; all I could comprehend at that moment was "Leigh rode in Embry's car."

"Hey, bitches and sluts," Embry's voice brimmed with energy and joy as she spoke. Unable to move, respond, or even breathe—I watched Embry peck Leigh on the cheek, and he returned the gesture with a polite smile before making his way towards the school building, avoiding any eye contact with us. What the fuck? Yes, I said it. I mentally said the swear word.

"You two are definitely an item," Quinn covered her mouth with her palm.

"He's a god," Suri giggled like a middle school girl.

"I know, right?" Lilith boasted.

Although Embry and Leigh's appearance failed to quell Lilith's anger, she still called out to her friend, "Seriously?"

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, girls. I had to help my dad the whole weekend. He had tons of work to cover. That's why I couldn't reply," Embry explained.

"And you had time for Instagram?" Quinn challenged Embry, her hands on her hips.

Inhaling and exhaling, Embry began, "I literally used the IG camera for the pictures. It wasn't hard to post."

"So, you posted immediately after taking the picture?" I found myself asking, trying to prove my conscience wrong.

Embry stared at me for a while as her lips twitched. "No, I posted it after Leigh drove me home."

With that answer, I felt my heart shatter into pieces, each fragment falling apart differently. Leigh had lied to me. He wasn't at home the whole time on Friday; he had just returned from the Eiffel Tower restaurant when I went to pick up the plant. And he had acted so innocently, making me believe that we... I couldn't make sense of it all. Even mentally, I couldn't find the right words.

Forcing my body to function, I announced that my literature class was about to start and swiftly walked away from the girls, wanting to be as far away from Embry as possible.

Modern literature was boring that day as Mrs Murphy expected me to answer questions. I remained dull throughout the entire class. Honestly, everything felt tedious. The lecture only added to the stress I was already experiencing—my confused thoughts and wounded heart. Evie noticed my state and eventually gave up trying to engage me in her enthusiastic discussions about rumours that I thought I knew about.

Today, I didn't have any tea, nor did I receive a single glance from Leigh. He focused his attention on his phone in the cafeteria, surrounded by his teammates at the cheetah's table. Every part of me felt torn, knowing I had been deceived, realizing that I was just Ava Lancelot, a typical British religious teenager with no self-esteem, no experience, and no confidence.

A huge part of me believed he was texting Embry because they were both engrossed in whatever they were typing, making my stomach churn. Today, I swam faster than the fastest swimmer in the school, leaving the coach and other students surprised by my speed. Today, I walked all the way back home, barely saying goodbye when Evie arrived at her house.

Without finding anything to eat, I lie on my stomach, burying my face in my pillows, and scream at the pain in my heart. Why do I care who Leigh goes on a date with? Why do I care who he rides with? Why do I care who he texts? Why do I feel like crying? Even though I warn my hormones not to let me down, I can't cry for someone I barely know, someone who just yesterday told me I mean so much more to him, and today allowed Embry to kiss his skin.

I pull out 'Anna Todd After' and start reading. Perhaps it will distract me from thinking about my practical stepbrother. And indeed, it does, as I thought. I immerse myself in the complicated love of Hardin Scott and Tessa Young, feeling somewhat relieved, though the relief doesn't last long.

I am in chapter nine when I hear a car engine pulling into the driveway. I promptly get to my feet, forcefully sticking my head outside the window, hurting myself just to catch a glimpse of Arlen or Tyron dropping off Leigh. "Please let it be Arlen or Tyron," I mumble to myself.

Unfortunately, though, it is a red Ford—the same one that crushed me earlier this morning, and it has returned to crush what little remains.

The front door opens and closes. I hear footsteps getting closer until a door opens and closes again, a door opposite to mine. So I gather the courage to stand up for once.

Before I know it, I am barging into Leigh's room.

"What the fuck?" he exclaims at the thud of the door against the wall, shirtless.

"What the hell is that about?" I boldly demand an explanation.

"What the hell was what?" he plays oblivious.

"You know exactly what I am talking about," I sternly say.

"The fact that you barge into my bedroom without knocking?" he fires back, enraged.

"The fact that you are a liar. You lied to me about Friday. You went out with her, you fucking idiot," I yell. I don't know how the courage came, but I am glad it did. I need it right now.

"Why the fuck do you care about what I fucking do and who I fucking do it with?" His voice is just as angry as mine. That's when I realize Leigh isn't as calm as everyone thinks he is.

"Because you're a big fat liar. At least have some inclination, to tell the truth, and stop pretending to be the perfect son and brother or the school's most perfect sweetheart when everything you say is false," I spit out, barely breathing.

Growlingly, he fires back, "Don't you dare judge me. You ain't no perfect either. Acting all polite and naive and religious when here you're swearing and there you're getting drunk and kissing your mother's fiancé's son. At least my flaws aren't as huge as yours."

His comeback is harsh, and I can barely muster a response. With a lump in my throat, I embarrassingly scream, "You fucking liar."

"To refresh your memory, I never said I didn't go out with Embry. I only asked why you care about the date. So don't fucking accuse me of lying to you," he smirks.

I stand by his door, trying to replay our conversation from Friday evening. He was just downstairs wearing joggers and a plain T-shirt. He didn't look like he had just come back from an expensive dinner. But then, if I remember correctly, he didn't give me a definite response about the date. He never said he didn't go, nor did he say he did. The memory hurts so much, but his following words hurt even more. "So get out of my room," he dismissively instructs, with no trace of the Leigh who was looking at me with passion and soul last night.

Turning on my bare foot, I weakly push myself back into my bedroom. That's when the walls I had built earlier collapsed. That's how burning tears run down my face. I hate it here. Why do I have to move here? I should be with Sawyer or back at school with everyone, reading in the library.

I cry for hours until my cheeks are soaked with tears, and I can't produce any more liquid from my eyes.

Today, I lie in bed and allow Mum to bring my dinner upstairs, having lied to her about being homesick. She worriedly hangs around with me until ten at night when Christian comes to collect her, politely shooting me a smile.

Tuesday, I almost consider not going to school. My face looks miserable, and I am miserable. But I have no excuse to make up, so I put on some makeup and ride with Lilith, who fails to cheer me up. "We could go somewhere later after school," she says when I stay silent throughout the whole drive.

"Maybe I should stay indoors after school," I tell her. "Thank you for thinking about it, though," I say while leaning against the door. I can imagine Lilith rolling her eyes at me for being polite, but I don't care. Leigh thinks I'm two-faced, throwing myself at my practical stepbrother. What could be worse than that accusation? Only I don't know if it's an accusation or the truth.

When we arrive at school, I notice Leigh's Bugatti is parked neatly, which means he didn't ride with Embry. But it doesn't alleviate the pain I'm suffering. If anything, it worsens, knowing that I will have to see him even after avoiding him all of yesterday evening. Today, I don't wait for the girls. I head straight to the classroom and grasp nothing from human geography and French. Lunch is similar to yesterday, but today it's even worse. Embry isn't sitting with us. She's at the cheetah's table, next to Leigh. Unable to bear it, I retreat to the empty locker room where I can eat and breathe, despite the faint smell of sweat and bodies.

Today, I walk home just like yesterday, and I don't respond to any of Evie's words.

When I arrive home, I make tea for myself and go up to my bedroom to continue reading 'After'.

I also skip dinner.

Honestly, the week feels like an imitation of Tuesday. Only it keeps getting harder and harder to bear. I wish I could just switch off the feeling of caring about how Leigh behaves towards me as if I don't exist, but I can't, and it annoys the hell out of me.