When I finally finished with Smackle I was thoroughly exhausted. She hadn't stopped pestering me the whole day. The only official pardon I got was when Zay called and she disappeared off to talk to talk to him.

    "Mom, I'm home!" I shut the door behind me and threw my bags at the foot of the stairs. "What's for dinner? I'm starving, haven't eaten anything but ice cream and gummy bears since lunch yesterday, think I'm starting to look like one of those bears, it's not good!" I found my mom in the kitchen, way ahead of me. She beamed at me when I walked in and offered me a carrot.

    "You girls have fun last night? Hope you managed to get some sleep!"

    "You worry too much, mom, but yeah, it was great." I leaned over the counter to dip my carrot in the pasta sauce she was cooking.

    "So?"

    "So what?"

    "I never got the chance to ask you before but—"

    "Oh my gosh! Mom, I do not have a boyfriend! Why won't anyone believe me?" I slammed the carrot on the counter. How did my mom know about this too?

    "Uhmm I believe you, honey! What I was actually going to ask you about was Maya." That shut me up.

    "M-Maya? What about her?" She couldn't know...could she?

    "Yeah, she came to find me yesterday, but you weren't in, so I directed her to the park. Did she find you?"

    "Oh." My heartbeat slowed. "Yeah, she did. Thanks."

    "Was she okay with you? Because I know you two have had your differences!" My mom looked concerned, it was reasonable as Maya had pretty much had it in for me since we moved here, but things had changed.

    "Don't worry, mom, she just wanted to talk. I helped her and Farkle out at school so she was saying thank you. That's all." I couldn't bring myself to tell my mom anymore. I knew she would be supportive, but for now, I wanted to keep this secret all to myself. Well, myself and Farkle....

    "Good, I'm glad you two are getting along. You're so different that you probably just rub each other the wrong way sometimes. Difference of opinion can do that."

    "Yeah, you're probably right, mom, I got to go! Shout at me when dinner's ready, okay?" I dashed up the stairs and slammed my door shut. I leaned against it to get my breath back, but quickly moved away when I started having flashbacks of a certain classrooms I'd been pulled in by a certain blonde.

    This wasn't good.

    I spent the rest of the day with my head buried in books and homework. But that still didn't stop me from checking my phone every seven minutes to see if Maya had texted. It didn't matter if it was on loud, for some reason I didn't trust it to give me the message!

    I guess a watched phone really doesn't really ring, so hearing nothing from her by that Sunday night I decided to take matters into my own hands.

    Hey, you okay? The reply was lightening fast.

    Why wouldn't I be?

    Oh, no reason, I guess. I stayed awake as I could but never got a reply. It looked like I had my work cut out for me at school tomorrow.

    I hurried to school again, determined to avoid both Smackle and Lucas. I couldn't hide in the girls' bathroom anymore because Smackle at least, could find me there, so I opted for the auditorium instead.

    There were a few people in there today, so I slipped in unnoticed and hid in the wings behind one of the curtains. It was peaceful sitting there; the hustle and bustle of the people lulled me to sleep slowly. It didn't last long though.

    Suddenly the curtains beside me started to rustle. I edged away slowly, thinking someone was trying to find something, but then a brunette head appeared and grinned at me.

    "Thought it was you!" Farkle sat next to me.

    "You almost gave me a heart attack! How on earth did you know I was here?"

    He just shrugged and tapped his nose. "I have a gift. Anyway, I thought you could help us out."

    "Us?"

    "Yeah, me and Maya."

    I groaned inwardly. "Help with what, exactly?"

    "As you can problem tell we're having a problem with the song. She doesn't think it's right but she's not sure why. Any ideas?"

    I thought for a second. The song was nice, but too fast. "The lyrics don't fit quite well with the tempo so if you just slow it down they'll flow more naturally, and won't seem so rushed." Farkle nodded thoughtfully before breaking into a smile.

    "You're right, Riles! Why not give us a hand?" Before I could protest, Farkle had pulled me to my feet and dragged me out onto the stage. "Hey, Maya! Riles had a great idea; she thinks it'll fix the problem!"

    Maya looked unimpressed. "What makes you think I need your help?"

    "Uhmm..." I glanced uncertainly at Farkle who nodded enthusiacilly. "Well, if you don't think the song is right the way it is, why not slow it down?"

    "Yeah, and that way it'll sound more natural and not as rushed!" Farkle started scribbling on the music sheets. "Right, Riles?"

    The way Maya was glaring at me, I wished I wasn't right. But I nodded anyway. Maya crossed the stage to stand in front of me, hands firmly on her hips. "I don't know why you get off interfering with my show, but I won't stand for it." Her voice was low, too quiet for anyone but me to hear. "And I don't want you in here again. The theater's my domain, so why don't you go back to the science lab with the rest of the geeky losers?"

    I couldn't believe it was Maya saying these things to me. I know she had to maintain a front for the rest of the school, but only Farkle was around and even he couldn't hear us from where we sat.

    "Maya—"

    "What? Are you going to try and apologize? Well don't bother; I don't want to hear it." She turned to storm off but I grabbed her hand.

    "Wait! I don't under—"I didn't get any further, as she whipped around and slapped me so hard it felt like my jaw was broken.

     "Just go."

    I stared openmouthed at her; the whole world seemed to be frozen because the cold, hard look in her eyes didn't change. I let go of her hand, spun and ran as fast as I could to get away from her.

    Questions took over my mind as I pushed through the crowded corridors. Why's and what's and how's all vied for attention, all wanting answers but I had none to give. I didn't understand it. The only thing I knew for sure was that she hated me even more than when this whole thing between us began.

    Not paying attention to where I was going, I ran head long into someone.

    "Whoa! What's the rush?" Great, that was all I needed, Lucas trying to hit on me again. "Where are you headed in such a hurry? To see your new boyfriend?" I looked at him to find him watching me coldly.

    "New...boyfriend?"

    "Yeah, your new boyfriend. It's all around school, everyone knows! But you know what? I don't care. I saw you first, you're mine and I won't let him have you!" Things finally began to fall into place. "You hear me?" Lucas spun around to address the whole corridor. "I don't care who you are or how much you think she loves you, she doesn't! She still loves me, I know it, she's just too scared to admit it! So back off or I'll have to make you!"

    There was silence as students looked around, trying to find someone that knew who Lucas was talking to. But of course, no one did. Because there was no other guy. And now, there was no other girl either.

    I shoved Lucas away from me. "Am I not saying it right? Am I speaking Chinese or something? I don't love you! I don't want to be with you, so leave me alone!" With everyone still watching me, I turned and headed for Mr. Smith's room, knowing that's where I'd find her.