"Look at him over there, cuddling up to Thalia and acting like nothing ever happened, fucking piece of shit," Amanda sneered from beside me. I rolled my eyes. I closed my locker and hugged my books to my chest.

"Stop staring Amanda, it's rude," I scolded.

"I don't care, Dillon deserves more than a death stare, if only my glare could set fire to him," she grumbled.

"Behave, now is not the right time to kick his ass, later will be," Sarah smirked. I sighed and rubbed my temple. This is bad considering she's talking about her own brother. But maybe that's because he threw her under the bus by exposing her the day I caught him cheating.

"No, none of you are to do anything to him, I'm over it, he moved on, he chose who he wants to be with and it's his loss," I reassured them. They both looked at each other then at me with hesitation. "I'm fine, I promise."

"Fine," the two said in unison.

I hate to admit that my heart clenched at the sight of Dillon and Thalia wrapped in each other's arms and making out by her locker which was coincidently across from mine. Walking into school this morning killed me because of the public display of 'affection' or whatever they want to call it that awaited me once I entered those front doors.

People kept giving me stares of sympathy. Those people are probably the ones who knew we were dating and saw us around school or something. I hate their stares. I'm getting over it. I mean, It's funny how he was so quick to try and get me to forgive him when I found out but not long after and he's switched. I guess it shows how much I cared to him.

I didn't want to start any more fights so I was going to ignore the pair. Everything is over and done with and that's how it's going to be. They will not ruin my day. Jack was still getting shit from the school and I wanted to help him clear his name but Wayne has been hiding like a coward. It's like he just completely stopped coming to school to avoid us. But I'm not letting him get away with this so easily. Running just means he's guilty.

I jumped when I was poked at the waist. I glared at John, who was laughing hysterically, as Jack walked up to stand next to me. I gave John the middle finger.

"I hate you John, I really do," I grumbled. He ruffled my hair. I groaned and swatted his hands away. Well, there goes a couple of hours of doing my hair out the window. Hours for nothing. He will pay for that.

"You love me pipsqueak," John teased. I punched his arm lightly.

"Shut up," I muttered.

"What's up with grumpy face over there?" Jack asked, nodding his head towards Amanda, who was glaring over at Dillon and Thalia with immense hatred. It's like she was trying to kill him with her eyes, which is truly terrifying. Having her hate you would be quite nerve-racking as she does bite when poked.

"It's because of them two," I said, pointing in the direction of where Amanda was giving the death stare at.

John and Jack turned to see the two walking down past us with their arms around each other. I noticed the smirk Dillon shot over towards me as if he'd won. I glared but didn't say anything. I will not act on my urge to wreck his pretty face.

I will not use violence and stoop to his level. They want a reaction but they're not going to get one out of me. I am woman enough to not do anything stupid and simply leave it alone because it's something I have to move on from.

"I wonder if I-"

"Don't even go there Jack," I warned. He huffed in annoyance as he crossed his arms and shot daggers at Dillon and Thalia's backs as they became further distant from us. Finally, a break from seeing them together; it's nauseous.

"If my fist accidentally collides with his face, it wasn't my fault," John joked. Amanda smacked him upside the head. John winced as he rubbed the spot where she hit him and glared at her. "What was that for? Weren't you also threatening him?" he complained.

"Yeah, but I just wanted you to shut up and I felt like smacking you again," Amanda shrugged with a smirk. John began grumbling under his breath as the bell rang.

"Stop flirting you two and let's get to class," Sarah interrupted.

"We're not flirting," John and Amanda said in unison. Sarah rolled her eyes and grabbed Amanda's wrist to drag her away. John turned to me and opened his mouth.

"I know, you weren't flirting," I muttered.

"And we don't care," Jack finished, rolling his eyes.

Jack and I walked away to our class, ignoring John as he went to complain further. At this point, we both could predict what Amanda and John will say about each other. They're a dynamic duo and work well together. Sometimes, they flirt with each other but don't even know it. Not even John is aware of the fact. Even if they were, they'd ignore it.

While me and Jack were in chemistry class, we kept laughing quietly at Mr Hayes due to the trail of toilet paper stuck to his shoe.

"How long do you think it'll take until he notices?" Jack whispered.

"I'd say give it until the end of class," I replied quietly so the teacher wouldn't hear us.

"And I'd say give it about five minutes before he notices," he guessed.

"Want to make a bet on that?" I challenged with a raised brow and a smirk.

"You're on," he accepted, shaking my hand with his own smirk.

"Reece, Prescott, what's so interesting that you couldn't wait until after class to talk about it?" Mr Hayes interrupted, walking up to stand in front of our desk with a stern glare. Jack and I looked at each other before staring at the teacher. "Well?" he snapped impatiently.

"Uh sir," a random student squeaked. Mr Hayes turned to the girl with the same stare. "Your shoe," was all she said.

When the teacher looked down to see the trail of toilet paper, which I still don't know how he missed, and completely flushed with embarrassment. The class began to laugh as the teacher ripped the paper off the bottom of his shoe.

I looked towards Jack again with my mouth agape and eyes widened. It hasn't even been that long. What? Did he predict that shit with his crystal ball that he was hiding? Or was he a psychic or something? There was no way he could have just guessed this.

"I'm that good," he winked. "You now owe me," Jack whispered.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. I should have seen that coming. How the hell do I keep losing? Unfair but I guess it's my fault since I'm the one who initiated the bet.

Our first half of the day rushed by quickly and soon it was my favourite time of the day whenever I have school, which was lunch. We decided to sit outside since people kept staring at us. Some with sympathy and others with complete judgement. But many gave Jack specifically glares as if they were trying to hurt him with their stare alone.

Amanda still has the video but we have no idea if it's enough. We can take a shot in the dark and use the recording with the small hope that it will work but I don't know. If we could get him to physically confess to everyone himself that would be better. Maybe I can convince him to tell the school the truth since it seems that now that Thalia is with Dillon, she would have dumped Wayne.

I decided to go talk to Wayne when I noticed him talking to his friends as he walked by, telling my friends I'd be back since I didn't want them to know. It was time I tried a different route in clearing Jack's name.

Might as well try, and if it doesn't work out, well then, we hope that the video works or else we're the ones that get shit on. There's probably little chance that he will listen to me but it's worth a shot.

"I need to speak to you," I said once I caught up to him. Wayne and his friends all paused to look at me as if it was strange that I was speaking to them, well, mainly Wayne.

"Why?" Wayne asked with a raised brow.

"Because I need to," I stubbornly replied. He narrowed his eyes but I didn't back down. I was not walking away from this.

"Listen here princess, he's not going to-"

"Fine."

I grinned in triumph. I then stuck the middle finger up at Wayne's friend before turning around and walking off. Wayne trailed behind me.

"What did you want?" he asked bluntly, crossing his arms and leaning his back against the tree behind him.

"For you to admit to everyone that the book Thalia used against Jack was yours," I demanded, standing my ground and being firm. His eyes widened and his body went tense.

"No," he simply said, shaking his head. I glared at him.

"Why not?" I questioned.

"Because it's not mine," Wayne lied. He didn't even look me in the eyes. He was staring at the ground as if that's where my face was. There was no way I could believe someone who not only looked guilty but practically admitted to it not long ago at the party.

"You and I both know that's not true," I said. He huffed in annoyance.

"What do you want me to do?! You have your stupid video; use that shit!" Wayne seethed.

"Don't you yell at me! You need to own up to what you did yourself like a bloody adult!" I snapped.

"No!"

"Why not?" I interrogated with narrowed eyes.

"Because Thalia will tell my secret to everyone!" he blurted out. My eyes widened at the admission. Thalia? What does she have to do with this besides the obvious? Now I'm curious about his secret but I can't pry. "I can't," Wayne muttered.

"She can't hurt you," I told him.

"Yes, but she can ruin my life," he pointed out.

Unfortunately, that's true, though I wish it wasn't. People are scared of her and I don't know why. She does a lot of nasty things to people but it doesn't mean it's not easy to beat her at her own games. Sometimes, it's a hard battle but the 'Queen' can always be knocked down by standing up to her.

"You can't be scared of her; she doesn't have that much power," I reassured him. He glanced up at me.

"But she did offer me a proposition for helping me get back at you and Jack," Wayne mumbled quietly. I crossed my arms and frowned.

"And what was that proposition may I ask?" I questioned, sternly.

"Her father is on the board at Ohio State University so she told me she could get me in on an early scholarship if I planted the book that day for your friend or you to find and for what I and the others did on the day the school celebrated Christmas," he admitted.

I went completely silent at that. She planned this whole shit out. I must admit, I give her a little credit for the shit she's able to pull. I didn't think she would be capable of doing this but I guess I was wrong.

I have no idea what I did to end up in her line of fire in this battle but whatever it is, it gives her no right to mess with me with the way she's gone about it. That day was horrible. And then she planted the stupid book. It was smart but it makes me despise her even more now, if that's even possible.

"So you planted your own book to get into college?" I repeated, still trying to process the information given.

"About that ... it's not mine; it's a fake; Thalia wrote it up, she knows everyone, she knew people who could get numbers; it was easy."

Another bombshell confession, what's next?

"But Jack heard you say that you had a book full of numbers or some shit like this one?" I said.

"I lied."

"Why?" I demanded. I put one hand on my hip and glared up at him.

He's lucky I haven't slapped him right now. As much as I get that it was for his own future, to get into a college but it was not the right way to do it. To fall for something like that. I doubt Thalia would fall through on her promise. She probably lied to trick him into helping her. Or more like trick him into doing her dirty work so she does nothing but sit back and watch everything burn in flames.

"Because I'm a virgin," he muttered. I almost didn't hear him but I did. He looked ashamed at the fact.

I don't see anything bad with it. But it seems like it bothers him. I wouldn't be surprised if it was because of people targeting those kinds of students as an 'easy target' to pick on. Unless this is what he meant Thalia will tell his secret.

"You know that's not a bad thing," I told him.

"Yeah, well, you admit that here and you might as well be shark bait," Wayne bitterly said. I believe him on that. Some of the students here are not the kindest in the bunch. Especially if they follow Thalia and listen to her every lie.

"But if I were to release that recording and people believed that book was yours, you'd be alright with it? With taking the fall for something that's based on a lie?" I questioned, tilting my head so I could look him in the eyes. He huffed as he looked up to the sky and ran both his hands through his hair, messing it up.

"I kind of have to, I'm the fallback if Thalia's plan fails," he replied.

"And you think you can get into whatever college you want to go to after it if they find out?" I asked. He went silent for a minute as he stood with his hands in his pockets.

"No, I guess not," Wayne admitted.

"Listen, I'm not forcing you to admit any dark secrets, all I'm asking is for you to tell the truth and clear Jack's name," I pleaded.

"I'll think about it," he nodded. I sighed with relief. It's not a definite answer but it's something.

"Thank you," I smiled. I turned to leave until he spoke again, this time saying something that made me halt a couple of steps away from him. My body went tense as my eyes widened and heat rushed to my cheeks instantly.

"You must really have strong feelings for Jack if you're going to these lengths to clear his name when he deserves it," Wayne called out. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew what he was implying; I just didn't want to hear it. It's not true. I just think people don't deserve to be accused of something that's not true.

"It's called caring," I simply said before walking away.