Recap:

Jade punched Aaron and she asked him about Ryan, the man that was her mum's ex boyfriend. She told Aaron that they were the same and Aaron grabbed her by the wrist and dared her to repeat herself. He left a bruise, rumours spread. People dislike Aaron now and they think he's part of some gang and street fights.

Trainer_blue1231 thinks that Aaron gets physically hurt by Jack with footballs since they both are on the football team. She also thinks that Aaron might get caught up in fights he doesn't want to be a part of.

I'm not going to make much more of a comment on it, just read and I'm sure you'll figure it out soon.

∞ Jade's POV ∞

That day, when I arrived home, Aaron was all I could think about.

Not in a romantic way, I'm talking about all the rumours that are being spread around about him.

He's in a gang?

He street fights?

Someone saw him.

I couldn't believe it. I mean, Aaron always had on that straight face and he had bruises nearly every day, but, he didn't seem like someone who would be in a gang.

Wouldn't Calum be in the gang as well then?

I mean, they're best friends.

I whipped out my phone and sent a quick text to Jack in hopes that he'd reply straight away. He's always busy after school for some reason.

J.S - Hey Jack, about those rumours about Aaron...

J.M - Yeah, what about them?

J.S - Is there really any solid proof it's true?

J.M - I don't know, but someone did see him.

J.S - Yeah, but, it's not like they caught a pic or something.

J.M - If Aaron found out about the pic, don't you think that hid gang and he would've smashed the guy or something?

J.S - Really, Jack, after what I did to him and after what you did to Calum. People are talking shit about him and he hasn't even done anything. Gosh Jack, use your brain.

J.M - Maybe his gang are full of nice people...

J.S - I doubt they'd be nice to people that treat their comrade's like shit.

J.M - Fine, we can investigate 2moz after school.

J.S - Cool, now we're talking :D

I smiled to myself smugly. Aaron Phillips, we're going to find out your secret whether you like it or not.

- Time skip -

Jack handed me a pair of sunglasses and a wig. I looked up at him with the wig in my hand and gave him a look.

"You're stupid... you do know that right?"

"Shut up, do you have any better ideas for a disguise?"

"I do in fact," I smirked making him frown. I handed Jack a small bag that I had hidden in my locker and when he peeked inside he frowned straight away.

"You're the stupid one. I am not wearing this." Jack handed the bag back to me.

"Shut up and go get changed," I pointed to the library where we were going to change in. It had a bathroom for both sexes so it would be easier for Jack to change.

"I'm not cross-dressing Jade," He hissed.

"Please," I begged him with my eyes. He gave out a sigh of frustration and snatched the bag off of me, then stomped off towards the library.

"Wait for me!" I shouted after him.

— — —

Jack had changed faster than I did. I wasn't surprised, he was skilled in wearing female clothes because I had always forced him into wearing them. So had his sister, it was a fun thing to do to pass time. He wore a loose polka dot dress with leggings and flat shoes. I put on the wig over his head and caked him with make-up. He looked better than any girl I knew. He hated that, of course.

"I can't believe we're doing this, what if-"

"No one will recognise you, Jack,"

"Yeah but, what if-"

"Aaron won't recognise us, you have to disguise your voice,"

"Okay then-"

"He's not going to fall in love with you for gods sake!"

"I love how you easily predicted that I would ask that," Jack frowned making me shrug.

"Meh, you done complaining now?"

"Nope. How comes you get to wear that?" He whined whilst pointing at the set of clothes I was wearing. It was a simple leather jacket that I wore over my plain tank top. I had on shades and a straight black wig. My hand's were in the pocket of my jeans and they were tucked into my combat boots.

"Shut up, let's hurry, Aaron should be leaving football practice now," I grabbed Jack by his hand and dragged him along with me. He was whining the entire time, complaining about all the cons of my plan.

I ignored him.

I always do that when he complains.

We found Aaron silently walking through the school gates. He had his messenger bag over his shoulders and he was followed quietly by his younger brother. They both had the same hair, only his younger brother had blue eyes and he had brown eyes. Jack and I leant against the walls of the buildings and waited for them to head off in their direction. As soon as they were a couple of metres away from us, we followed after them, being careful not to get caught. It wasn't that hard, we looked like a normal group of girls.

If only they knew.

We followed after them until they stopped in front of an old apartment. The area looked dangerous and there were tonnes of graffiti on the walls. The area was dark practically empty. Many cigarette buds were on the floor, stomped on or just left aside. A group of teenage boys were smoking in one corner and one of them spotted Aaron. Aaron caught their eye and both Jack and I stopped to watch the scene unfold in front of us like a dramatic movie.

Aaron walked up to the teenage boy.

And punched him.

Yup. You read that right.

Aaron punched him.

But.

He was smiling.

Aaron was smiling a genuine smile.

The teenage boy punched him back and brought him into a headlock and they were laughing, just like any group of friends would.

"Maybe his gang?"

"Just friendly neighbours," I told Jack still refusing to believe that Aaron was part of a gang.

"Yeah, friendly," Jack scoffed, he clearly didn't like that I denied every evidence that Aaron was part of a gang.

I watched as the teenage boy offered Aaron a cigarette and ruffled Aaron's little brother's head. Aaron didn't take the offer of the cigarette which didn't seem to surprise the other boy. They all were deep in a conversation and that's when I decided to step in.

"Jack act like one of those shy girls that tries to stop her bold friend,"

"Ugh, fine," Jack rolled his eyes as he stumbled after me, holding onto my arm. We walked up to the group of boys making them all turn to face us. I crossed my arms and Jack hid behind me whispering to me that I was stupid. The thick air was filled with the scent of tobacco making it hard for me to breathe, but, I wasn't going to turn back now.

"May we help?" The older boy rose his eyebrow as he took out his cigarette from his mouth and blew into the air. I waved my hand in the air, coughing and annoyed by this gesture making the other boy's laugh. The older guy rose his hand to silence them and they did as they were told.

"Which one of ya are Aaron Phillips?" I asked with my best accent that covered my normal voice. I was just about the height of the older boy and he seemed impressed by my guts.

"This kid here," The older boy pointed to Aaron. Aaron looked into my eyes, his blank face once again painted over it.

"I wanna fight," I told him straight away.

"Wait, what?!" Jack shouted with a high voice. He didn't need to put much effort into it, "You didn't tell me this?"

"Shut up Linda, of course I wouldn't tell you." I frowned through my shades. I turned back to Aaron and asked for his approval.

"I don't fight girls,"

"You do street fighting and so do I. It's a perfect match,"

"You're crazy... Natalie, fucking crazy,"

"I don't do street fighting."

"Yes you do,"

"If you do street fighting, have you ever seen me on stage,"

"No. That's why I wanna fight you, right here, right now,"

"I don't do street fighting. Where'd you hear that from?"

When I didn't answer straight away, he took a guess. The correct guess as well.

"Do you go to my school? That's where you heard those rumours from, right?"

"I've never seen her before, though," Aaron's little brother examined me.

"Yeah, I heard rumours that you're the best of the best. You're in a gang as well,"

Aaron sighed.

"I'm not in a gang, you make it sound like a bad thing,"

I stared at him and his face remained blank, I eyed the other teenage boys and they also looked serious.

So, Aaron was telling the truth.

I turned around and poked Jack in the ribs.

"I told you! I fucking told you! Fuck rumours! I knew he wasn't in a gang!" I shouted.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Can you shut up now?" Jack looked at me, his eyes pleading me to shut up. I stopped poking him and turned back to face Aaron.

"If you're not in a gang and if you don't street fight, then where do you get those bruises from?" I asked. Aaron physically froze, his eyes widened in shock by me asking him the question straight away.

"He was punched by a girl in school," His brother came to his rescue. Technically he wasn't lying.

The other boys laughed.

"A girl punched you, Aaron?" The older one confirmed with him. Aaron didn't say anything, but, I could see the little red blush creeping up onto his face.

"No, I'm not talking about today, I'm talking about every other day,"

"That is none of your business," Aaron answered me with those cold, brown eyes of his. I tried to pull my eyes away from him, but, It was too hard.

It was that scene all over again, only he wasn't holding onto my wrist.

"Come on Natalie, let's leave," Jack tugged on my sleeve. I finally pulled my eyes away and let Jack drag me away from the old apartment area. As soon as we exited and made it to the open area. I took a deep breath of the fresh air that wasn't contaminated by tobacco.

"Well, he could've been lying about the street fighting," Jack spoke first.

"No, he wasn't."

"How do you know?"

"I just do, okay. I saw Aaron's face, he was dead serious,"

"Fine. Whatever you say, can we just go home so I can change?" Jack whined. I rolled my eyes at him. I remember there was a time when he used to love getting dressed up, but ever since he joined the football team, his reputation was all he could think about.

I mean, look at Aaron, he's the captain but he couldn't give two shits about what people thought of him.

Oh my god, I just complimented Aaron.

I'm never going to say that out loud to Jack.

"Ugh! This is so frustrating! All I can think about is Aaron and those eyes of his!" I shouted, pulling on the long strands of the wig. Jack stared at me with shock.

"Do you like him... in a romantic way?"

"No, of course not you idiot! Why would I like him?"

"Just saying, because it sure does sound like that," Jack shrugged.

"You seem so casual with with it," I frowned.

"I couldn't care less. I trust you so if you do like him then I guess I'll support you,"

"For the last time. I do not like him,"

"Ok, ok, geez. Didn't have to take it personally,"

I gave Jack the finger causing him to laugh. I cannot believe that my own best friend thinks I like the guy I vowed to hate.

He was just like him.

I am not going to make the same mistake as mum.

Instead, I'm going to get revenge for mum.

That's right, I'm going to get revenge.

The first step is getting Aaron to break.

— — —

As I stared into the chocolate eyes of the boy that stood in front of me, he sighed, clearly not keen by my presence.

"What do you want Smith?" He asked me. I thought about an answer before I opened my mouth.

"You should know why I'm here."

"For an apology," He blurted out making me glare at him. He realised that wasn't the reason and kept his mouth shut.

"I'm here... to talk about... you know," I told him, hoping he's get the idea. He just rose his eyebrow.

Was this bastard playing dumb with me?

"Don't play dumb with me. You know exactly what I'm talking about." I shouted at him. He stood back, obviously not wanting to talk to me.

But, he was cornered.

He had no choice but to talk.

"Look, Jade," He spoke my name like it was poison, mind you, I was named after a gem, "I told you that he is dead to me. Do you not understand what that means?"

"Uh... since when did I say I care about what he is to you, I want to know everything you know about him."

"If he's dead to me, don't you understand that I don't want to talk about him!" Aaron rose his voice at me. He was loud, but, no one heard what he said. They were all giving weird glances as to why I was talking to him but, I didn't let those put me off.

"Aaron." I narrowed my eyes at him, "You will tell me, or else,"

"Or else what?"

"Don't you remember what I said to you before?" I asked him. He thought about my question, but, his face remained blank, telling me that he didn't remember. I walked closer to him and then whispered in a low voice so only he would hear.

"You don't mess with me and get away easily Aaron."

He froze.

The words affected him so deeply I couldn't understand why.

He was frozen, but, he stood still. His eyes didn't leave mine for a second.

His eyes were full of hate. Did he hate those words that much?

"You gonna start talking now?" I asked.

"No. My decision won't change," He told me, leaning forward so his cold, brown eyes glared at me.

I gritted my teeth.

"You're mad if you think that I'm going to give up so easily,"

"Alright then, show me what you've got. Gem." He made fun of my nickname. I clenched my fist and as I remembered the people that were passing by, an idea popped into my head.

"No!" I shouted, backing away from Aaron, covering my ears with my hands, "Don't hurt me," I whimpered. People began whispering as they glanced between Aaron and me.

"What's the matter Jade?" Someone asked me. I kept on my scared facade and refused to look them in the eye as I dropped to ground.

"He... he threatened to get his gang on me..." I trembled with fear. This caused more people to whisper and soon these whispers could be heard by nearly everyone.

"Oh my god, he threatened her?"

"He's really in a gang?"

"Poor Jade."

People were throwing sympathetic looks at me and glaring at Aaron. I glanced up and saw Aaron nervously standing in the middle of the crowd with me on the ground. He caught my eye and sent a deadly glare. I would've smirked, but, I wouldn't want anyone to see.

A teacher arrived and made everyone head towards their lesson, not questioning what was going on. I swear these teachers are terrible. Well, it's not like it's a bad thing for me.

People began heading towards their lesson, not forgetting to pat me on the back and tell me that I was going to be fine. Aaron disappeared into the crowd but, I could hear the insults people were saying even though he wasn't there.

"I always thought he was a monster,"

"Same,"

"Don't worry Jade, you'll be fine."

"When Jack finds out, Aaron will be in deep shit,"

"Do you think he'll get expelled,"

"Only if the school find's out."

A monster, huh. Let's hope he spills about the real monster.