Mateo's Pov

"What in the hell are you talking about?" I reply harshly pushing her back softly so she's in front of me again

"I can help you," She repeats shrugging and crossing her arms

"With what?" I ask taking a step towards her making us dangerously closer

With anyone else, our proximity would make them a sweaty bubbly mess, but she doesn't seemed fazed.

"Oh please, you don't think it wasn't obvious seeing you chase the Golden Girl of this school?" She questions sassily with an edge of her own and I can't help but sense another kind of feeling than curious

My eyes widen feeling horrible for momentarily forgetting about her, but then my blood runs cold.

How does she know I'm after her?

Turning my attention to the dark blue lockers that has uniquely black ink littering each one, I try to calm myself before replying.

"Huh?" The word falls before I can stop myself, and I feel like an idiot

She senses my uneasiness and smirks realizing my tone wavered slightly. Only because I want to get information about the mystery girl, but I also want to keep the secret to myself. If this sitaution is what I'm thinking it is, the least amount of people who knows, the better.

Her stance and facial expression stays the same and my curiosity increases. At my old school, all the kids stayed away from me. Why isn't she doing the same? She continues to look at me, with an unimpressed look and hand on her hip, and the gesture makes me feel like a child being scolded for stealing candy.

"Please don't act oblivious. A blind person could tell what you're doing, and for the third mother fucking time, I can help you,"

An eyebrow quirk up from her words and tone and my jaw clenches suddenly seeing her face taint my mind again.

"Well I said I don't fucking need--" I repeat only to stop myself to reprocess

She's not her.

My mind blurts, but I keep my gaze heavy on her. No one has seriously wanted to help me, especially her, and ever since she left my life I've been emotionally bound to her. And now that she's back, my trust issues will be too.

"I mean, if you don't want some dirt on her then go ahead, chase after her until you're 50. Just know her boyfriend won't be too happy about it," She responds walking off leaving me stunned

My blood boils as my thoughts go back to when we first bumped into each other. What if that sick fucker put his hands on her? What if he's the reason why she was so quick to run away from me?

My eyes widen at the same time my fists tighten and something in me clicks.

"Wait!" I call after her and she stops then slowly turns around with an evil grin

The reaction gives me pleasurable chills and I have to focus on my plan ten times harder to get rid of my sinful thoughts.

"I'll allow you to help me on one condition," I state firmly and she looks to the side unimpressed

"That is?" She asks walking closer to me knowing she's playing with fire

A smirk crosses against my features and I grab the straps of my book bag and lower my tone.

"Do not say shit to anyone, and I mean anyone. Do you understand me?" I demand looking at her and she nods biting her lip again

Smirking I nod towards the empty hallway telling her to lead the way and she smiles turning around to walk.

Hopefully history won't repeat itself this time.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Emma's Pov

Walking into the cafeteria I check around me to see if the mystery boy is here and smile when I see that he isn't. I'm just going to dodge him for the rest of the year. Who knows he might give up eventually.

"Emma, over here!" Sarah screams and I nod walking over there smiling softly

Sarah Webster; The Drama Queen and Party Hoster. She's in charge of the drama club and takes "small career" very seriously in her words. She also has all of the school parties at her cousins house since she's the Mayor's niece.

We started being friends in freshmen year when I helped her in her classes and we've gradually opened up to each other since.

"Hey girl, how was your summer?" She asks flipping back her long natural brown hair over her shoulder

Sometimes I envied her. Her careless attitude. I wanted to have that. I'd compare us when I was at my lowest but I kept it to myself, not wanting to ruin things. But it's been holding a special position in my depression as well. Making it impossible to forget.

"Oh ya'know, same ole same ole. Helping around when I can," I reply vaguely taking a seat at their table

Truth is, Nathan and I have been going back and forth because it's our senior year, and we still haven't, done the deed yet. I told him that I wasn't ready, and he hasn't been taking it lightly.

"Oh come on Em, you always had the most juiciest stories. What happened to them?" She asks curiously and I chuckle nervously

I hate being put in the spotlight and when I am I kind of shut down not wanting anyone to talk to me. And she knows that. My radars are heightened but before I can say respond, Holly gasps making the table look up.

Holly Whitherman, the newest addition to the group since she joined late last year with her older brother, Jackson. She's mixed, with a hyper-energetic personality and over motherly attitudes. Even though she joined late, she's been called the parent of the group, despite being the youngest.

"What is it Holls?" Sarah asks looking over at her breaking me out of my daze

"Oh um, nothing," She whispers smiling softly, looking down, and we turn back to follow her line of sight

"What are y'all talk--," I ask but cut myself off realizing who she's referring to

It's the same boy from homeroom. The same one who saw my cuts. The mystery boy.

Mateo.

Quickly turning around in my seat, I sit crossed leg hoping he didn't see me, but I can sense his gaze burning on the back of my head.

"He is so fucking hot," Mya, another girl who has been with us for quite some time exclaims lowly

Mya Hart; The Slut. She's bluntly the school's slut and can never stick with one guy but she's okay with it. She joined the group our 10th grade year I believe, when she started sleeping with boys off the football team.

Then there's me.

Emma Clark; The most popular and richest girl because of her parents and boyfriend.

"Mya, you have a whole ass man," Holly scolds glaring harshly

"And?" She questions cutting her off angrily and bitterly

"Who is my brother," She finishes and crosses her arms making Mya scoff rolling her eyes

"Anyways girls, the boy has to be new. I haven't seen him around before," Sarah points out and I look at my phone scrolling through my apps not wanting to engage

"Yeah, he's still hot though. Damn, look at that frame. There's gotta be some muscles under that pullover," Mya gushes almost drooling and I roll my eyes mocking her inwardly

Laying my head on my fist, I look towards the students coming from the line with trays filled of different foods, I notice Sarah roll her eyes from beside me and turn back to see Elizabeth grabbing the new guy by the wrist, leading him out of the cafeteria.

Right, I forgot about her.

Elizabeth White; Springfield's 2nd Most Popular Girl and my competition.