When I went home very early in the morning, after a chilly goodbye from Autumn, it seemed like I'd gotten away with everything I did. 

Mom greeted me with a smile and asked if I had a good time at Bailey's party. I lied and said I did. I also lied about having a good night sleep (it must've been three hours tops). 

During breakfast, it was hard to keep up the facade of everything being normal. I dreaded going to school and facing Jasmine and the other girls. I'd texted Jasmine the same excuse of my parents causing trouble as Jem, but she hadn't replied. She'd left me on read, making me feel even shittier. 

I didn't want to ask Autumn's advice for every little thing, especially now she seemed a little colder towards me. I had to decide myself how I'd act. I couldn't ask Bailey or Farah either, because they would just tell me to stop hanging out with her. 

Plus, I wasn't going to see either of them to explain the situation until lunchtime. Bailey texted me that she wasn't going to hitch a ride from my mom this morning, though, she was eager to see me to ask how things had went with Jem. Another conversation I wasn't looking forward to. 

At least Mom wasn't being particularly talkative in the car on our way to school, so I was left alone with my thoughts. After carefully weighing my options, I decided to go with casual, uncaring annoyed as my attitude today. The way I'd imagine Jasmine and Autumn would in my situation. 

The closer I got to school, however, the more my palms started sweating. I really, really didn't want to go, and I would've skipped if it weren't for the principal definitely calling my mom if I did. 

Things got even worse when my mom steered onto the school parking lot, and she, out of all places, decided to park exactly in the spot next to two girls I knew all too well: Jasmine and Annabelle.  

I sunk into my seat so they wouldn't see me. As if that made any difference; I had to get out of the car.

"Cece, what are you doing?" my mom asked, raising a brow at the way I tried to disappear. "No jokes now. I'm going to be late for work if I don't leave right away." 

"I know, I know," I mumbled. "I'm going." 

I reached for the car door with a sense of dread settling in my stomach. Any hope I'd had of Jasmine and Annabelle somehow not noticing I was there flew right out the window when I stepped out of the car and they were already looking at me. 

"Oh my gosh, Celia!" Jasmine greeted me with wide eyes after casting a glance at my mom in the car. "Are you okay? Is she very mad at you?"

Jasmine's concern was the last reaction I'd expected to get, and I was thrown off for a moment, before I remembered my plan and went back on script. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, it's whatever," I said. "She'll try to ground me, but we both know I'm not going to stick to that."

"But you were awfully fast to run home yesterday when your mom found out you were at the club," Annabelle pointed out with a smirk, making Jasmine giggle. 

"Yeah," Jasmine added. "I just stopped picking up the phone when my mom or dad tries to call, and they've given up. They know they can't stop me." 

They were making fun of me. Annabelle's smile had been a mocking one from the beginning, while Jasmine let herself get dragged along. Part of me had always admired them for doing exactly what they wanted with no regard, but the other part of me wondered why I thought it was so 'cool' that they wouldn't listen to their parents and had made them stop bothering with them. In a way, it sounded more sad than cool. 

"I'll just make sure she doesn't find out next time," I replied, choosing the middle path rather than agreeing with what they did or laughing about it. 

Thankfully, my final remark ended the topic of last night for Jasmine and Annabelle. It seemed like that was it, too: they weren't asking more questions, already moving on to some new imposter game everyone was playing.

I walked with them in silence, relieved to no longer be the focus point of attention. Not that people in school weren't still casting me glances as I walked with Jasmine and Annabelle. I felt like many people still thought I was the one responsible for Autumn's haircut. A rumour only fuelled by the lies I'd told yesterday evening, which would likely be spread as well. 

I could only hope it wouldn't be counter effective and get Autumn harassed more. It started to feel like everything I did was counterproductive, even walking down a hallway. Because where Jasmine and Annabelle went, the football guys weren't far away. 

I spotted Jem on the other side of the hallway standing at his locker, and despite our message exchange yesterday my heart was in my throat and my skin crawled with nerves. The feeling diminished ever so slightly when Jem noticed me and smiled like he always did, giving me a little wave. 

 "Aw, it's so adorable, you two together." Jasmine, who was walking on my right side, shot me a lopsided smile. "I'll be honest: I didn't think it would actually happen between you two because you're so different than Autumn, but you guys are cute." 

"Thanks," I replied, returning her smile before I paused to think. 

Wait a moment, what did she mean exactly with that? I shouldn't look too deeply into it, she could simply mean 'you're different' in a neutral way, but... it never quite felt that way.

Luckily or unluckily I didn't get much time to think about it. Jem had started making his way over to us the moment he spotted me, and it only took him a few seconds to close the distance.

Jem grabbed my hand. 

"Hey, morning," he greeted me, pressing a short kiss to my lips. "Are you alright? How did things end with your parents?" 

"Pretty well we suppose," Annabelle answered before I could open my mouth. "Her mom drove her to school today. She didn't look mad." 

I inwardly cringed, feeling caught out. I didn't have a quick, witty reply ready, but it was Jem to the rescue.

He tugged on my hand. "I was wondering if we could have a moment alone?" he asked with sparkling blue eyes. 

I darted a glance at Jasmine and Annabelle. Anything to get away from the awkward parent conversation. I'd much rather walk with Jem than with them until they forgot about how last night ended.

"Yes, of course," I said. 

Jasmine winked at me, but she and Annabelle didn't say anything as Jem and I walked off together. Jem lead me outside to the bench in front of the school, never letting go of my hand. Last night at the club I'd felt awkward and cornered, but in broad daylight where there was no tension or promise of sex, I was comfortable. I was fine with Jem holding my hand and kissing my lips.

We sat down together. Jem reached out and also took my other hand, so both our hands had entwined fingers and we were facing each other. He smiled at me. 

"There's been something I wanted to ask for a while now," he said. "But yesterday evening,  while being at the club together, even if the evening ended on a kind of bad note, I realised I shouldn't put it off." 

There was a pause in my breathing. Jem looked deeply into my eyes and was he about to ask what I thought he was about to ask. 

"Y-yes?" I prompted Jem to continue, my voice wavering slightly. 

Jem smiled nervously and let out a chuckle. "This is always harder than I think it is. But what I wanted to ask: do you want to be my girlfriend?" 

I couldn't stop a smile from spreading across my face. Even if Jem was absolutely gorgeous and one of the most popular guys in school, it was adorable he was still so shy about asking. 

I should really give him a chance. Even if the feelings weren't as strong as I expected them to be, they could grow. It also showed me he was serious, so when I gathered the courage to talk to him about sex, or rather not wanting it yet, I felt more like I could be honest to him now. 

"Yes," I replied. "I'd like that." 

Jem breathed out through his mouth clearly relieved. Then he smiled a million watt smile at me and leaned in for a kiss. 

"Awesome," he said. 

"Yeah, awesome," I replied, unable to keep a giddy grin from tugging my lips up. 

Jem leaned in for another kiss, and then it was time to go to class. We walked together until Jem had to take another turn. We kissed one last time, and then we parted ways. 

I took out my phone, eager to text Autumn now. Our plan came together after all, and I couldn't wait to tell her. 

Me: Jem just asked me to be his girlfriend!

Autumn jumped online immediately. Then, offline, and online again. I didn't understand what was going on, and kept staring at my phone on my way to class.

Finally she started typing. 

Autumn: Good. Then you don't need my help anymore.

I waited for the rest of her words, but... they never came. When I took a seat in my English class, and the teacher made me put my phone away, there still weren't any more messages from Autumn. 

What was going on? I didn't feel like I no longer need Autumn's help or her company anymore at all. I'd hoped things would go back to normal with this news, but Autumn only seemed to have grown even colder, entirely ditching me.  

 I definitely felt like I was on my own now.