Just like what I wanted, the rumor train has left the station. The word that Erin was what caused the riff between Gray and I spread around like wildfire. This disappointed a lot, because people thought that we were the ones holding the leash for each other.

They have this impression that if we broke up, we'll start going for other people and that meant that we might break some relationships along the way.

Please, we're not that bad.

Nonetheless, I'm enjoying the sweet and slow misery it brought Erin.

Now I just have to step back and enjoy the show. Gray wouldn't be pleased with this and so will Evan, but right now, I'm blinded by pure anger.

The whole team was cackling about it during practice, finding this game as fun as I did. Because we were able to get into the next round, we had to create a new routine. Even though I was injured, that didn't mean I can't bark orders at them.

Alpha bitch? Yes, I am.

I just sat there on a foldable chair, instructing them on the choreography. I was still a little hung up with the show that happened during lunch so I was still light with the practice. They were already planning what prank they'll pull off tomorrow and the more ideas piled up, the more they got excited.

Well, if the dear lamb dared to go to school tomorrow.

I did tell the girls to make sure that I don't see her tomorrow. From the water bottle scene, I'm ninety percent sure that my request will be granted.

When I arrived home, that was the only time I checked my phone. Just like I suspected, I had tons of text messages and missed calls from Gray. Scrolling through them, I paused when I saw a missed call from Evan and a message telling me to call him when I can.

Biting my lip, I locked my phone again and carefully set it down on my study table. Why is it that the second guy to trust me is the brother of the girl I'm currently fighting with?

He probably heard the whole story from Erin already. He's waiting for an explanation and I know for myself that I can't lie to him. What excuse can I say? I simply want to make his sister's life miserable because of my stupid want for the bad boy.

Sitting on my desk chair, I groaned as I ran a hand through my hair. I should really be regretting this right now. But I've dug a hole for myself already, might as well jump in.

I opened my laptop and logged onto Facebook. As I scrolled through the news feed, there were posts from my schoolmates about what happened earlier. I even got tagged on a lot of pictures with me dumping the water bottle on Erin.

Remember those cheerleaders from the other schools? They were actually empathizing with me, even going as far as complimenting me with the classic dumping water trick.

They don't know the whole story, but what they got was that Erin forced Gray to cheat on me. It was the usual perspective and because of the fact that we have this slight friendship, another girl entering into my scene was not something they find acceptable.

As if dumping a whole bottle of cold water over her head was acceptable.

This is when you realize that this world is incredibly screwed up.

My phone started vibrating and I looked at the screen – it was Gray again. Reaching out a finger, I rejected the call before turning back to the computer screen. I should really do the good thing and diminish the rumors, but who are we kidding?

I'm going through the phase of insanity.

I did my homework, skipped dinner so I wouldn't have to handle even a few minutes with mom and Will before I proceeded to bed.

My alarm woke me up at the usual time and I was less than pleased to get up. Just saying, these bedsheets are damn expensive so they're freaking comfortable and warm. Every day is a struggle to get out of them, it's like they're about to cry whenever I do.

Okay, now I know I'm going mad.

I dressed up and headed down, looking around if the two adults in this house were already awake. Sadly though, I heard their voices inside the dining room and I showed them a grumpy face as I entered. Will was already dressed up in his business attire while mom had her office uniform.

"Morning Clara," mom greeted, gesturing to the plate of toasts in the middle of the table along with the different spreads like peanut butter, strawberry jam, and butter.

"How's your ankle?" Will asked, not even looking up from his iPad.

"Good," I replied shortly, reaching out for a piece of bread and using a butter knife to apply peanut butter on it.

To save me from this awkward encounter, the doorbell rang and I quickly went to answer it. When I opened the front door though, I surprisingly found Evan standing there. From the expression he was showing, I know whatever to come next will not be pleasant.

I did expect to hear from him, what I wasn't ready for was him showing up at my house first thing in the morning.

"Should I be scared?" I let out a rhetorical question.

He shook his head before I saw his shoulders slump down, "I trusted you."

The disappointment in his words was enough for make me pause in my actions. I already had a whole speech as an apology, but it was as if I just broke the most fragile thing in the world. It wasn't really mad, I think he was still going through the sadness stage of this and to be honest, I just want to stop everything at this part before anything gets worse.

To be fair, I did break the most fragile thing in the world if you consider this friendship as the world.

"What was I supposed to do?" I questioned, "She was about to steal Gray."

"Not tell the whole school that she's some kind of easy lay and then dump water on her if you're asking me!"

Boy, we're about to enter the anger stage.

I groaned, stepping out and closing the door, "Look, I know it's not really the best route to go with but..."

"But you were so wrapped up in your little bubble that you didn't even think of the consequences," he angrily accused, "I think that crown on top of your head is already covering your eyes because you're completely blinded."

Oh great, it's as if we reverted back to the first time we met.

I have this limit of how many arguments I can handle in a span of forty-eight hours and I'm about to reach it. First with Gray, now with Evan.

Alright, I'll admit that it's mostly my fault, but everything piling was creating some major stress on me.

"Why are you so concerned about her?" I yelled, tugging at the ends of my hair, "She's not even fully related to you."

He froze when I said this, surprised that I was aware of this fact. He took a cautious step back, taking in a sharp inhale before speaking, "How did you know?"

"I figured it out with when I looked at the pictures in your house."

There were photographs of Erin and Evan together as children so that meant that they didn't grow apart. It's impossible for them to be real siblings because they're at the same age and unless all those science classes were wrong, there should be at least a year apart.

They can be fraternal twins, but the idea I got out from the mystery that their father was nowhere to be found is that there's something going on. The picture in the living room showed Evan's father, Erin also shared most of her features with him.

Evan looked like the perfect blend between his parents, but Erin resembled her father more and lacked the features from her mother.

Conclusion? Erin and Evan has the same father but different mothers.

I felt it in the air when they first visited this house. Their mother showed outmost care and seemed to dot on Evan here, but the whole time, Erin was silent. It was as if the air between the two females in the household had this tension between them.

Mrs. Matthews must have accepted Erin after a series of events but was still disappointed with her husband. I still couldn't figure out the reason for their move, but all will be revealed in due time.

"Am I correct with my assumption?" I spoke, "Mothers not the same?"

He didn't respond, he just uneasily turned around and slowly went back to his car. He didn't even looked back as he drove away from my house and when he was out of sight, I fell down and sat on the porch steps.

This is what you call more trouble than what it's worth.

Keep your head up, your crown is falling.

Slapping my cheeks, I stood back up and pumped myself up. I started it and now I have to go through with it. I'm a woman of my word.

When I reached the school, I saw the girls waving to me, telling me to come over to them. I flashed them a bright smile, walking to them but before I did, a tall figure blocked my path. I stared at this chest too many times to know who this person is.

Tilting my head up, my blue eyes met Gray's brown ones and let me tell you, he wasn't happy.

Just give me the blow already so I can head on to class.

"Clara..." he said lowly.

"Gray," I matched his tone, my stance perfectly straight.

You can't intimidate me, you might as well punch the mayor in front of me and you still can't intimidate me.

Because I know Gray will never harm me. He can yell at me all he wants but he will never lay a finger on me. That's a fact that nobody should ever forget.

"I told you not to do anything," he spoke gruffly.

And I told you not to get any funny ideas. Did any of us followed? Of course not.

"She did nothing wrong so I want you to apologize to her," his voice demanding.

I wanted to laugh at the sudden claim. Like hell would I apologize, I'm too committed to my pride to do that and just because this guy is telling me to do so doesn't mean I will. Come on, he should know me better than that.

"Gray, we both that's never happening," I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, "And did you just indirectly took her side?"

You're always my ally, you shouldn't be questioning me like this.

"I'm not taking any sides," he groaned, "I'm doing what's right."

That's gold coming from the guy who practically cuts at the lunch line every day, almost went to juvie, basically thinks that his charms can get him out of anything, and is currently starting to betray the one girl who has been by his side through his shitty reputation and playing ways.

"Okay, then go to her if you care so much about her," I growled, making a move to walk around him. He snatched my arm and stopped me, pulling me back to where I was standing before.

"We're not done yet!"

We're not? Then please explain why we're fighting like this. Please tell me why you haven't said a single apology when back then, you would have done it because you felt like I was being left out. Please, just say the word and I'll drop all of this.

Just say that you're by my side and not by Erin's.

"Stop acting like the hero when you've been the devil for all this time!" I yelled.

People were starting to look and I don't really blame them. The two people who had everyone's attention were currently lashing out on each other in the middle of the school parking lot right before the start of classes.

"Talking to you is useless," he concluded for himself, "At least I'm trying to change, you're still here parading around like the self-centered chick that you are."

I was shocked by his words. I don't really mind hearing that insult from anyone else, but the fact that Gray was the one who said it took me off guard.

Finally realizing what he just came out of his mouth, his expression softened as he tried to fix the damage, "I'm sorry, that was out of line."

You know what? I'm done. I'm so fucking done.

I lifted up a finger and jabbed it at his chest, trying to get my point across, "We're done, Gray. I'll stop meddling with your life, but when you fucking get that heart of yours broken once again, don't come running to my doorstep."

"Clara..."

"Remember that?" I muttered, "Who was the one who stayed by you through it all? Who was the one who sat there with you when you felt like your whole world started crashing down? Who was the one who let you do whatever you want because she knew that you were depressed? Who was the one that did things she absolutely regret because she cares for you?"

I didn't even let him answer as I continued on, "If you were too thickheaded to get it through your head then I've realized that all I've been doing has been a complete waste of my time."

I glared at him before walking away, leaving him standing at the parking lot. I shouted at the girls to follow me when I went inside the school building so they can create a barricade around me. I swear, if someone even touches me right now, I'll explode.

Okay, so I may have promised Gray that I'm going to stop meddling with this life, but that doesn't mean I'll stop with Erin. She's the freaking reason why I'm in this hell right now and if I'm staying here, I'm dragging her along with me.

Reaching into my bag, I tore off a page from my notebook and jotted down a locker combination, "Here, that's Erin's locker. You know what I want you girls to do."

One of them took it from me and nodded. Since I was locker neighbors with her, I've seen her unlock hers for a few times now and my sharp memory and obvious suspicion led me to memorize her combination. Then again, I have access to half of the lockers in this school just because a lot of people have cross mine and the girls' paths.

When she opens that thing, she's in for a huge ass surprise. I don't know what yet, but from their long streak of horrible pranks, it's going to be good. Well, good for me. For Erin? Not so much.

Although as the day went by, I learned that my wish came true. Erin didn't come to school and because she acted like she was so affected by it, this sparked more rumors. Gray was also starting to be talked about ever since the huge argument we had this morning.

For the first time in forever, they were taking the cheerleader's side.

Because I was still upset, I was in no mood to practice and the girls used this as advantage to drag me to the mall. I've prevented them from doing their usual after-school activity for a long time now since I've been so concentrated on training.

"Shopping always helps you cool your head," Vivian commented as she pulled me along with the group as we entered the mall. I groaned and dragged my feet, but I complying with their wishes.

I'm in no mood to spend hundreds of dollars to get some ugly ass sweater that would probably be out of style in a few weeks.

As some girls wanted to buy things from this place that sells home design furniture, I got pushed into that as well. I spent my time being a grump at the side by the shelf, sipping on the coffee I bought earlier.

That was when I noticed the same girl who caused this slump walk into the store with her friend. She looked so casual in her baggy hoodie and jeans, following her friend around as they looked through the shelves.

I ducked behind one of the displays and shushed the girls who were talking loudly, pointing towards the two. They got the signal quickly and started acting naturally, trying to blend in with the other costumers.

"How did everything go today?" Erin asked, fumbling with the hem of her hoodie.

Her friend looked at her with pity, "They were talking about you."

She blew out a stressed out sigh, "Should've known."

"And Clara officially broke it off with Gray," her friend added, "At the parking lot for everyone to see."

"She's going to blame me for everything again," Erin groaned.

Oh, she's good at guessing.

Her friend showed her a plastic bunch of flowers, trying to change the topic, "How about these?"

"I'm allergic to sunflowers so I'm quite biased," Erin smiled weakly.

"You're allergic to everything," her friend rolled her eyes, placing the plastic flowers back onto the shelf, "First peanuts, then shrimps, and now, sunflowers."

An idea popped into my head and I smirked, watching them as they went farther into the store. When they were out of earshot, I stood straighter and turned to my teammates, "Want to drop by the flower shop?"

And maybe I'll got do some grocery shopping while I'm on it. How about I make the lamb an apology lunch tomorrow?

Am I saying sorry? Nope. The laugh I'm going to get from it will be her apology to me after ruining my relationship with Gray.

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

Story time! I was studying at about eleven in the evening when I thought that I needed a break. I grabbed my phone to check on the comments on the last chapter and guess what was the first one I read. A comment saying that Erin and Clara should just go start a yuri romance (you know who you are). First reaction: WTF. Second reaction: Okay, enough of this shit and time to go back to studying. You people will forever surprise me.

Only got three hours of sleep each day during this week but at least my exams are finally over! But hey, I managed to get a chapter up so we got that far.

Is this the end of Gray and Clara as we know? Will Evan never trust Clara again? Will Erin die?! Nope. No. Maybe (just kidding).

 Question: Every book of mine, I always have this Q&A portion so let's do that now. Comment any question you have for me, whether it's about the book, about me, or any random thing you're curious about. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take a long awaited sleep. I love you guys and I will see you next chapter. Comment, vote, and follow!

P.S. Those who passed the USTET, congratulations! See you next sem, baby tigers!