**Morgan (Britt Robertson), Lana (Olivia Holt), Wynona (Shay Mitchell) and Colby (Gabriella Wilde)**

Colby

"I'm going to have a crease in my hair for the rest of the day from that stupid perimeter your boyfriend made us run," Lana complains, shooting Morgan a dark look.

"Shut up, Lana!" Morgan hisses, placing a finger to her lips. Her eyes dart around the gym nervously. Nobody is paying us any mind, but I guess I'd be paranoid too if I were the one sleeping with Mr. Carter. "Just be glad he's letting us out of the scrimmages. You didn't actually run the perimeter either, so I don't know why you're whining," she adds sharply.

"I jogged some of it," Lana says, unaffected by Morgan's snippiness. She glances over Morgan's shoulder, eyeing another group of girls who are stretching in front of our teacher. "Looks like Mr. Carter might have some volunteers for some side action," she adds, nodding toward them.

Morgan peeks over her shoulder. "Okay," she scoffs, grinning wickedly. "He may like his girls a little younger, but he's certainly not a blubber lover." They both laugh, beginning their stretches.

I watch Lana and Morgan, feeling a bit agitated. I swear a lot of people can't even tell the two of them apart. They've passed themselves off as twins more than once and lemme tell you, the boys love that...

The thing is, while they're always together, they pick at each other constantly. I think their friendship emerged solely out of their disdain for everyone they find inferior to them, which is pretty much every person at this school excepting Wynona and me and, of course, the football team.

I love them, I really do. They have their good points, their nice times. Sometimes they're just so... catty. To Lana and Morgan, nobody is better than Lana and Morgan. I think I only make the cut for BFF status because I resemble them so closely, all platinum blonde hair, tan skin, and blue eyes. Actually, we'd look like triplets if I wasn't so short. Wynn makes the cut because she's drop dead gorgeous— more exotic with her long dark hair, though. Definitely the most beautiful member of our little quartet.

Wow. What an incredibly shallow reason for the formation of a friendship. Still, what's followed has been a solid decade of loyalty and support— even if you do have to occasionally watch your back.

"How old is he anyway?" I ask, dropping my voice so the girls next to us don't overhear. That's some top tier gossip for sure.

"He's twenty-four," Morgan replies at full volume.

She met him before school started during the summer when her parents forced her to go to her brother's freshman orientation. Supposedly he didn't know she was also a student here. I guess that's probably true since it seems so ridiculous to jeopardize a new job before it really even starts.

"I mean, once we graduate, nobody will even think about the age difference, right?" Morgan continues, shrugging.

"Sure," I say, doubtfully. "Probably not."

Morgan nods, seemingly pacified by my dubious response.

"Like, I totally agree with Colby, Morgan, but..." Lana utters leaning closer to Morgan and me, and I brace myself, certain she's about to drop a bomb. Her face says it all. "Well I was chatting with Wynn this morning, and she said she thinks you're playing with fire." Lana smiles in smug satisfaction. She knows what she's doing.

"OMG, that whore!" Morgan shrieks, drawing the attention of half the gym. She waves the attention off, smiling. "I knew she would never support us," she sighs hopelessly.

"Don't worry, babe," Lana says cheerfully. "We've got your back. Wynona's just jealous 'cause she hasn't had a date in, like, forever." Lana cackles then, and Morgan joins her.

Gee. Isn't it always great to have fun at someone else's expense? I roll my eyes without thinking, and thankfully avoid being caught. Operation backstab-Wynona-in-her-absence is complete, I suppose. One of the four of us is always on the hit list. I guess its Wynn's turn.

"Anyway, what's this new diet, Lan?" Morgan asks, apparently over her previous crisis.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, startling me. The timing couldn't be better, though, as it saves me from another inane diet discussion. Like either of them needs it.

I slide it out of my jacket pocket and see that it's a text from Cole.

It was dumb to kiss him earlier, especially since it was only to make Wyatt jealous. I've been trying to keep Cole at an arm's length because I'm just not that into the idea of being exclusive right now.

...Which I guess means I'm using him...

Guilt sweeps through me. Cole's very sweet to me, and he's a breath of fresh air compared to most of the horn-dogs at this school. He's always been respectful of me and my boundaries. I know he wants more than the casual friends-with-a-few-bennies thing we've had going for the past couple of weeks, but I don't know if I'm feelin' it.

Maybe it's because I'm afraid a big part of his interest in me is out of expectation. We run in the same social circles and enjoy similar status here at school. As much as I hate to admit it, it's the most cliché pairing imaginable: captain of the football team, and captain of the cheer squad.

Maybe it's because I'm not ready to fall in love again.

Maybe it's because I can't forget my first love...

I strangle the flood of memories struggling to the forefront of my mind, choosing to distract myself with Cole's text.

Hey, gorgeous. Wanna grab dinner tonight?

That might be a good thing. I still want to talk to him about the other night. Wyatt didn't seem convinced that what happened was really Greg's fault, but I'm nearly a hundred percent certain.

Greg has had a thing for Wynn for years, but she's always turned him down. Maybe he thought he'd give roofies a shot since he isn't man enough to land a date in his own right. He handed solo cups to me and Wynn at the same time— which makes me think I got the one intended for her.

Even though Cole can be an uppity a-hole at times, he's not desperate. I resolve to fill him in on my theory.

Dinner sounds great! I respond.

"I've literally looked all over, and they're sold out everywhere," Lana sighs. It sounds like we've finished talking about diets, thank goodness.

"Sorry, I missed that," I say, attempting to be somewhat participatory. "What's sold out?"

"The Stuart Weitzman Highland boots," Morgan replies, rolling her eyes. "But I think they're still available in black."

"That's because nobody wants them in black, Morgan. Besides, they only have sizes six and under left, even in black," Lana snips, flipping her platinum hair behind her shoulders.

Clearly, these two could argue all day. I'm about to excuse myself to go play some ball when my phone dings. It's Cole.

Great! I'll see you after practice, beautiful.

An involuntary smile spreads across my lips.

"Which one of your toys are you texting," Morgan teases, waggling her perfect eyebrows. "Cole or Wyatt?"

"Cole. There's nothing going on with Wyatt," I add sharply.

"Sure there isn't," Lana giggles, grinning. "I don't care who you talk to as long as it's not the new guy. Don't even glance in his direction, sweetie. I have never seen a face as perfect as his, and I want a fair shot."

Morgan chuckles. She pulls her thick, mostly fake, hair up into a skillfully crafted messy bun on top of her head. "In other words, she'll definitely cut you if you speak to him," she stage whispers.

"Truth," Lana smirks.

"Lucky for you, he's not my type," I chirp, knowing she'd go full psycho on me if I ever tried anything.

"Of course he's not," Lana says, nudging me with her elbow. "He doesn't play football."

She has a point.