Chapter 31

I really hate how technology has shaped the human race today. Like how if I ask five teenagers in this school, right now, if they had their phones on them I'm certain that five out of the five would say yes. Or how if someone wants to know the lifespan of let's say a turtle, instead of asking other people, they would go straight to google for the answer. And if a person didn't know a multiplication fact, they would to the calculator on their device.

And I'm definitely being a hypocrite when I rant and say that, because I'm one of those five teenagers that has a phone on them 24/7. And sure we all give excuses about it when our elders complain, but really, why on earth is this girl on her phone when she should be in class, learning how to multiply rational exponents?

  Spencer pulls away from the kiss, and I almost fall forward a bit due to how much I was leaning into him.

I open my eyes to find Spencer giving a look of such hatred, anger, and disgust. But luckily I soon notice that his deadly glare isn't focused on me. Thank the heavens.

I follow his gaze to find a girl. She's not that much younger looking than us, probably a sophomore or junior, but I'm not at all worried about her age. I'm terrified at how she is holding her phone up to us, as if she just took a picture of us.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Spencer growls as he takes a step forward.

I quickly place a hand on his chest, making sure he doesn't attack the poor girl.

I turn back to her. "I think what he was trying to say was.... Why would you take a picture of us?" I ask in a calm, relaxed voice, when really I'm freaking out on the inside. Can you imagine what this picture could do to us?

The girl utters her words with an obvious look and tone. "Well duh. Just imagine if it goes viral across the school?"

Spencer beats me to it. "You won't be keeping that picture. And we will make sure of that." He huffs from behind me.

I fight back rolling my eyes at him. We all know who's the bad cop here... And it's not me. I guess I'll have to play good cop then.

"Listen, I don't understand why you would want to do that to us....." I trail off, not knowing her name.

"Hope." She finishes. "My name is Hope."

"That's such a beautiful name." I pause as my thoughts consume me. "Hope."

"She's gonna be awhile." Spencer states in an annoyed voice as I think he talks about me, but I'm not sure because I'm in my own world. When Hope gives him a confused look he explains. "Kitten over here zones out a lot. Don't take it personally. But what you should take personally is when I'm going to yell at you."

I snap out of my weird thoughts to smack Spencer when I see that Hope literally looks terrified for her life. "Try not to be rude." I mumble to him.

"Ignore him Hope." I take a kind step forward. "What he means is that we would really appreciate it if you delete the picture of us.... You know."

She looks at me with a pitiful look before sighing. "I wish I could, but I have to make it viral... For her."

I raise my eyebrows. "Who is this her?"

"Oh you definitely know her." She flashes me a sad smile. "This girl is the one who has bullied me since I moved here at the beginning of the year. And I'm not the only one who she's hated since the beginning of school."

I gasp. "Clarissa."

"Please." Spencer huffs in a brace voice. "We can easily take that bitchy bimbo. Besides, why the hell would you even give that picture to the girl who's bullied you for months?"

I look up to her, with a probably sad, defeated look. I know exactly why she would.

"This is nothing personal." Hope begins, using Spencer's own words. "Frantically, I like you two. But I need to end this. I need her to like me. So that I don't have to face the monster inside her that destroys me every single day."

I look down, not knowing what to say to that. But then I find the words to my own thoughts.

I grab her hands in mine, making her look up at me. "Listen Hope. I know what you're going through. Sure I don't experience that daily battle, but I understand. I just want you to know something before you do give it to Clarissa. And that is that we can help you. I'm sure you've seen us stand up to her many times before, and we can do it again for you. You just have to trust us."

I can feel Spencer's eyes burning an intense gaze on the back of my head as he rests his hand on my shoulder. And that's because Hope doesn't reply at first. But I can't give up hope yet.

I lean back as I let go of her hands.

"Are you sure you'd do that for me?"

I slowly look up to see her smiling at us.

Spencer and I beam at her.

"I'd do anything to see that fake cheerleader be defeated even just a little." Spencer says with a grin.

"We just need you to delete that picture of us, okay?" I ask her.

She nods her head. "I just have to ask though, why don't you want everyone to know about you two? I mean you were adorable right from the very beginning, not to mention every student, except Clarissa, loves you two."

I make a slightly surprised face. "Everyone loves us?"

Spencer rolls his eyes at me. "I'm not trying to sound cocky here, but yea everyone does love us."

I ignore him as I turn back to Hope to answer her question. "So why would Clarissa even want to make Spencer and I go public? I mean I bet that she absolutely despises the idea of Spencer and I together. So why would she humiliate herself?"

Hope thinks for a second before responding. "I don't really know. But would it have anything to do with why you two were keeping it secret in thing first place? Because, not to sound snoopy or anything, but it looks like you guys have liked each other for some time now."

Spencer and I look at each other, trying to speak with facial expressions.

Spencer turns back to her. "Well, we haven't really told anyone at all yet."

I fight the strong urge to tell him that I may or may not have told Nathan. But I don't because I know it's not the time. I'll tell him after.

"And that's all because it will create chaos here. And everywhere for us. Our friends will go crazy. I also know for a fact that every gossip girl in school will attack us. Not to mention a certain blonde will try to destroy kitten here. Or that's what we thought at first." Spencer explains as Hope nods her head in understanding.

"I know what you mean that I guess." She pauses. "Anyways I'm going to delete the picture now."

I smile at her in appreciation. "Thank you Hope. That means a lot to us. And we will be sure to tell our friends and family soon. And then the school will all know. I'm certain Spencer and I will return the favour by helping you with Clarissa."

"Oh no," She brushes off. "Thank you. I'm curious though, when shall this happen?" She smirks.

"Tomorrow morning." Spencer and I say in unison.

"That sounds like a perfect time for destruction." Hope smirks evilly before she turns around, leaving us alone in the hallway.

Little did I know that she wasn't even talking about us standing up to Clarissa.
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"I missed you kitten." Spencer states after Hope leaves us.

I look down guiltily. "I'm still sorry about that."

Spencer tilts my chin up, making me look at him. "Hey. Don't be sorry. You told my why you went back and I completely understand. You needed to go back and I wish I could've went with you but I understand why you couldn't tell me too. I was clueless as to what happened with Coraline. So I would've been no help whatsoever and I would be more or less extra baggage."

I look at him with a serious look. "You will never be extra baggage."

He smiles as he leans into my ear to whisper. "I would so love to kiss you right now, but there could be another random girl roaming the hallways right now."

I smile back. "And I understand that completely." I use his own words.

"Anyways," He looks back down at me. "Let's talk about the fact that one of the most important events this decade of your life was kissing me."

I groan. "Oh shut up."

I really want to smack that cheeky grin of his face, lightly though.

"Because kissing me is a magical, powerful event that just so happens to leave you, the it girl here, so bliss." And I thought his stupid grin couldn't have gotten bigger. Well, at least it's not as big as his ego.

"Why don't you drive more than 14 hours down to Madison, Georgia and knock on Coraline Sarafian's door questioning her fortune?" I attempt at stopping the ego from growing as I cross my arms intimidatingly. That's a very hard thing to do when you're probably one of the main suspects for making the ego grow all the time.

"Well, you did." Spencer smiles after he pecks me on the cheek. "And I'm glad you felt the same way about the kiss as I did."

I feel the red attack of embarrassment erupt on my cheeks in a deep shade of blush. "You're lucky I won't make fun of you like you made fun of me."

"Then I sure am lucky." He brushes a loose strand of hair away from my face. "In more ways than one."

With that he quickly spins me around by my hand as we set back our friends.

And there was no more clicks of any cameras, for all anyone could hear down the hallway was the laughs and giggles made by Spencer and I.
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"Mom.... Dad?"

I squint into the light.

"Hello Jessa." The voice of my father appears as the figures of my parents come into sight.

"Where..." I try to look around my surroundings, but for some reason I can't seem to move. "Where am I?"

"Why, you're not really here Jessica." My mom gives me a sad smile. "You're not dead."

My mind is confused, yet I can't seem to control what I say or do. "Then, why? Why am I seeing you."

"Remember our last words Jessa."

"We want what's best for you. And sometimes you messed up, but you learned from those mistakes." My mom grabs my stiff, frozen hand.

"This time is different. This won't go your way again. But it's not you're fault."

All of a sudden they start fading away. "Dad, mom?" I give them a panicked look.

"She's waking up." My father rushes out.

"Remember Jessica, don't mess up even when others try to mess you up."

I jump up from my bed with a choked out breath. The first thing I hear is the birds near my window. I look around my room, still not fully okay.

I sigh. "It was just a dream."

I run my fingers through my crazy morning hair. It wasn't real. But it felt like it was.

The things they where saying....it made sense. Except for the last few seconds. Don't mess up even when others try to mess you up. What would that even mean?

With another sigh I get up and start my day like any other.

I try to brush off my worries and freaked out senses as I quickly get ready and get Lily ready. And because of that dream I'm sort of rushing around trying to get ready for school quickly.

I didn't even have time to check any social media.

  I drop Lily off exactly at the right time so that I would be able get to school early. The reason I have to be at school is because Emma made a new rule for everyone. We now have to meet five minutes early everyday and talk to each other. It's not that different from everyday when we usually show up early anyways, now it's just reinforced into a small oath.

"Perfectly on time." I make a small smile to myself after I park my car in one of the few empty spots.

I grab my bag happily and exit my car. I'm in a extremely positive mood for having such a bad morning. And I'm not even a hardcore morning person.

Today is going to be a good day, I tell myself as I slam my car door.

But holy guacamole, I knew I was wrong from the moment I took a step away from my car.

For everyone around me turns their heads to me, their faces all filled with different emotions. But this seems different then what happened yesterday when I returned. And I don't like it.

  A nearby large group of girls whisper to each other as they look at. And they definitely don't seem happy, for they each glare at me as if I just stole all of their favourite designer purses. Yes, they are those girls.

  I awkwardly look down as I ignore the lols and quicken my pace to the school. Yet, I sense that it will just get worse when I enter.

  I walk through the hallways and past everyone as they glance at me with different looks. Some look betrayed, some look outraged at me, some look cheerful, very few though, and some look disgusted. And by the sounds of it, this better not be because of what I think it is.

  But what I see next as I take the next step into the next hallway is what destroys me the most.

My friends fighting.

And it's not like they are fighting over something stupid like whether skittles or m&ms are better. This is real. And it's not Nova and Jace arguing pettily. But it's all of them ganging up on the person I would least expect.

Spencer.

"I though we were all friends here!" Nova yells at him as he tries to stand his ground.

I rush over to stand in the middle as I ignore the audience of students.

"Hey... What on earth is going on?" I put my hands between Spencer and the group.

"Oh you know exactly what's happening." Emma snarls out at me and I can see the look of hurt and betrayal deep in her eyes.

"Soccer stars secret relationship!" Parker states his own betrayed tone as he strolls through his phone.

He flips it over to show me the picture.

And that's it. The one picture that could change everything for us. It could either break us or make us. In more ways than one.

My shoulders slack and I sigh deeply as I see the extremely familiar picture. It's the picture. The one that Hope said she deleted.

And I thought I saw enough looks of betrayal today. I thought I felt enough betrayal in my life. But this is the worst.

Hope definitely didn't delete the picture, for there the picture of Spencer and I kissing shows up on his screen.

"Where did you find this?" I strain out as I look down and take a step back, standing beside Spencer. I don't even have to look up at him to know he has the same facial expression as I do. Defeated, betrayed, and broken. We know it's going to change things for everyone.

"Where do you think?" Jace begins in an outraged tone. "It's all over social media. Everywhere."

"You guys weren't suppose to find out like this." I try to get out as I feel the pain in my voice. "We were going to tell you all first at the right t-"

"And when would that be?" Nova growls out. "In like what another two weeks? Hell, don't even try giving the lame excuses Spencer tried giving. Like how you two were going to try and ease us into the idea of you two dating? Because please, we knew you were going to date from the moment we all first met."

"We knew you were going to freak out." Spencer defends. "So we thought we could slowly get you into the idea of us together."

Parker and Jace look to each other and roll their eyes at him.

"I know you're my best friend and all, but seriously what kind of an excuse is that?" Parker huffs at Spencer who looks destroyed that his best friends for years and years is lashing out at him. "Besides we all know you were pathetic from the very beginning when it comes to Jessica."

Spencer looks away. I can't take this anymore even though it just started.

"Listen...." I start off with a begging tone. "We're so sorry we didn't  tell you in the first place and I know they are all lame excuses. I understand why you're all mad, but I just want you to listen to us for a second."

They stand there impatiently, Nova and Jace glaring and Parker and Emma having their arms crossed.

"We also didn't just do it for the first reason. We did it because of the pressure that comes with attending NorthWood High. The gossip girl. Heck Emma just after we first met you mentioned to me that there was even basically a gossip girls club."

Emma just stares at me blankly, but I see it. I see her cracking.

"I bet Hope is one of them." Spencer mumbles so faintly beside me that I can even barely hear him. At least I know I'm not the only one thinking about our so called new friend.

"Anyways, we all know this school is crazy." I turn to face the awkward audience formed on the sides of the hallway. "And not in the feel good way."

"The way that makes you worry about how you could be the next. The next victim fallen into the traps of this school. Especially the social media." I continue then pause, looking down. "I guess Spencer and I are the latest victims."

"What's your point Jess?" Nova stops me.

"Not everyone has been a victims Jess." Emma starts. "Not everyone is so fortunate to be high and mighty like you. Not everyone has the social status that you and Spencer do. Not Parker and I."

I don't respond right away and that's because I'm at loss of words.

"I thought we were all equal here." Spencer says for me. "We're friends and we shouldn't be fighting."

"Well I wonder who started that?" Parker grumbles.

"We didn't necessarily start it." I defend. "I mean, you guys could... I don't know... Actually be excited and accepting of us?" I glare at them.

"We are sorry if we aren't very accepting of our best friends relationship because.... Oh I don't know... They didn't even tell us after two weeks?" Nova replies back with a glare of her own too.

"Please in lighten us Jessa," Jace begins and I can feel myself getting faint. "Tell us more about you're pathetic excuses of why you didn't dare tell us."

I hear Spencer shuffle behind me, and that's when I know this has to stop. He's going to attack him. Spencer is going to attack Jace.

I put my hand on his chest, keeping him from taking another step. "I got this." I peer up at him for a second before turning back to the gang.

"Like I've said before, we did it for our friends and families. We did it for you guys. And I'm sorry that you guys can't be accepting of our decisions. I'm also sorry for all the petty and pathetic students out here, including Clarissa Simmons, who has to destroy us and bring us down just to get some strange sort of satisfaction." I turn to the crowd where I know she is hiding in.

"Oh I loved that introduction... Pizza girl. Honestly, you make it sound like I'm so wicked. But I'm nothing like you think I am. For I'm just a simple girl that you hate for some reasons." The female Satan appears. "By the way, didn't you just love how my friend Hope tricked you?"

I look away when she says my so called name, fighting off my screaming mind filled with sadness and anger. Don't mess up even when others try to mess you up.

"It's so nice of you to talk to me again Clarissa. I was beginning to hope that you left Eberly and NorthWood High for good." I give her a fake smile. "I'm sure the rest of the school was all thinking that too."

I glare at the girl wearing all pink designer clothes and high heels that make her look like a giant.

"Oh please Pizza girl." Clarissa snarls. "I was always here, you just didn't know it. And that's because you were to busy sneaking around with Spencer here to even care about me, your worst nightmare."

I contemplate spitting on her and beating her up, but then I get amuck better idea. "Well duh. I mean isn't Spencer just the hottest guy ever?"

She tries giving me a blank, nasty stare, yet I can see right through it. I'm going to get to her.

"I'm sure you would know. You secretly wish you could have him. Although..." I pause putting a finger on my chin to pretend I'm deep in thought. "It's not much of a secret anymore. It never was. The way you gave him stares, the way you tried to destroy Spencer's friendship with me. It's all because you're jealous."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Clarissa hisses.

"You are jealous of me." I state with a small smirk coming onto my face.

"You know what Pizza girl?" Clarissa tries to pick herself back up, but I know I already got her. "You think you all that. I listened to your friends fighting with you and Spencer. You two thought that the students here, including me, were going to destroy you guys over something so stupid as us all finding out you are dating? It's because you think you high and mighty. Well, news flash get off your fake throne."

I give her a disgusted look.

Spencer, who is standing beside me, is the first to talk while Clarissa and I exchange nasty glares.

"This was exactly what we were worried about in the first place. And we thought right. You are trying to destroy us for your insane sort of satisfaction because you are a jealous, lying bitch." Her face hardens as he says all this, which I absolutely love. "And yes you are jealous, don't deny it. Because kitten is so much better than you at everything. She's kind, truthful, and doesn't try to destroy other people just to feel better about herself."

I smile at him.

"I will destroy you." Clarissa changes. "Since that's all what you think I will do. I will be jealous, because Pizza girl doesn't deserve anything yet she has everything. And I will lie, because that's what you did to your friends."

Spencer glares at her as I look away.

"Hmm..." She tempts. "Speaking of which, where are they? It seems as if they left because they couldn't stand looking at you despicable pair anymore."

I look up to find that Clarissa is right. All of them left. They didn't bother staying. They didn't bother watching us anymore. They couldn't stand us and our lame excuses.

I open my mouth to speak back, but then the bell rings.

Clarissa got saved by the bell. Or so she thought.

"I feel sorry for you Clarissa." I rush out. "I really do. Because you are nothing but a worthless, wretched gossip girl."
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"It's been awhile since you've eaten pizza."

I give Spencer a sad smile. "It has. But it seems fitting to order pizza today especially when Clarissa keeps calling me that again."

"Don't think I didn't notice that you stopped eating pizza back when she first made you Pizza girl." He turns back to his own pizza.

"It seems so quiet out here." I change the topic to how we are eating outside alone against a tree.

"That's because we aren't with the group like we used to be." Spencer's tone saddens.

"I miss them already Spence." I look up at him as I lean against his shoulder. "I didn't expect them to be this mad."

All throughout the morning they ignored us, leaving us alone. Not even giving us a second look.

"We will get through this." He looks down at me as he gently plays with my hair. "They will forgive us."

"But when?" I whisper. "Not that I don't like spending alone time with you, but I don't want to wait weeks before they do."

Spencer looks away and I know he is thinking is thinking about Parker.

"Hopefully soon."

"I'm sorry Spence." I fumble with my freezing cold hands. "You agreed do this because you thought of me. And now Parker and you are fighting. I haven't had much unbreakable friendships so I don't exactly know what you feel right now, but I'm sorry you're hurting more than I am." I grab his hand.

"You're hurting too kitten." Spencer defends. "Earlier when you tried to talk to Emma and she left you that's when I really saw it."

Just after English I tried telling Emma I was sorry again, but she walked away. I even begged her to talk to me. To say anything. The only thing she did was didn't look back when she left.

I simply nod.

Then Spencer takes my other hand. "Jeez, you're frozen."

I shrug. "Yea my pockets aren't very helpful, and I didn't remember to bring mittens this morning."

I watch him intensely as he brings my hands up to his mouth as breathes into them.

I giggle as I feel heat slowly warm my hands.

"Hello soccer stars." A voice interrupts my giggles and Spencer's smiles.

We both look up quickly to see a familiar girl standing in front of us.

And no she's not Clarissa, but she sure does look a lot like her now.

"Hope." Spencer says with a hateful look.

"What do you want?" I strain out in a calm tone.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry for what I did." Hope says as she holds her fancy coach purse and straightens her pink fluffy coat. "It really wasn't personal on my part. I do like you two like I said, and I really did have to do it for her. The only difference was that I really wasn't bullied by her and I've been friends with her for quite some time now."

Spencer let's down my hands but still firmly hold onto to one protectively.

"You still lied to us Hope. We trusted you to delete it... And you didn't." Spencer says for the both of us.

"I'm sorry for that. All I really did was give the picture to Clarissa, she did the rest. Well, technically you guys did the rest by fighting with her and your friends. Also not telling them." She looks at her perfectly manicured nails.

"We will take some time to forgive you." I begin. "So if you could please do us a favour and leave us alone for now?"

She nods her head. "Take all the time you need."

With that Hope walks away.
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"Well," I plop down on the couch with a jump. "I hope you have fun at the beach house."

I hear Spencer sigh over the phone. "Are you sure you don't want to come? My mom insisted you could join us and I really want y-"

"I'm sorry Spence. I promised Lily I would play all the Frozen and story time games with her this weekend because I left her last weekend." I find the remote for the tv.

I really wish I could go to their beach house though. Even though there won't be any swimming they said since it is the middle of November. Not only do I have to stay with my own family this weekend, I also don't want to intrude on another family.

"Okay then..." He pauses for a second. "Sorry I gotta go. My mom is yelling at me because, well, I haven't really finished packing yet."

I chuckle and roll my eyes. "You are literally leaving in half an hour and you haven't finished packing yet?"

"Don't even get me started." He grumbles as I hear him fumbling, probably trying to pack more things. "Anyways I'll miss you kitten."

"I'll miss you too Spence." I smile. "But it's only Friday night and you'll be back just in time for school on Monday."

"That's true. Bye kitten. One hundred and ten percent."

I grin at our funny way of saying always. "One hundred and twenty percent."

"One hundred and whatever percent." He adds, messy it up.

I grumble. "You were suppose to hang up."

"But I don't want to."

I blush and luckily he can't see me turning all mushy and gushy. "I guess I will have to."

"You do that kitten." Spencer coaxes and I know he's not the only one who doesn't want to hang up.

"I'll miss you Spence." And I don't have time to here his reply because I've already hung up.

I stare at my phone for a few second afterwards.

  I miss him already. I know it's crazy but then again it's really not. These past couple of days we have been together practically 24/7 except at night when we go to our own houses to sleep but other than that.

  Since they all basically banished us nothing much has changed. We have talked occasionally, but it was forced and they haven't yet forgiven us. Though I think they are warming up to us again. I get the same deadly looks given by the female Satan. But the loos of passing students has decreased. But only since today.

  I start watching some good old Netflix, more specifically Supernatural which I've just started watching. I'm trying not to binge watch it though, but that's very hard when you have the whole night to yourself and you are already in you're pyjamas and have some junk food in the area.

After I finish the season one final I finally look at the clock.

My tired, sleep deprived eyes widen. 1:32 AM.

"Oh jeez." I mutter to myself as I decide enough is enough and I should really get upstairs and into bed.

I start stretching and practically jump at what I hear next.

A knock on the door.

Do they not know we have a doorbell..... And that its fudging 1:30 in the morning? 

I make a confused, freaked out look.

I slowly wake over to the door.

I open it to reveal one of the four people I thought would never talk to me again.

"Jace?" I blurt out, my breath appearing in the cold air.

"Jessica, I have to tell you something." He slurs and stumbles as he tries to get up the step to the inside of the house.

I let go of the door as I rush to catch him. "You're drunk." I state to him and myself.

"Jessica..... I have feelings for you. Feelings I shouldn't dare have for so many reasons."

My eyes widen in shock.

"I like you, like a lot."

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Hey perfect!

In shock, in complete shock! Not only did everyone find out about Spencer and Jess, but all of us and Jess found out about Jace's true feelings! And the cliffhanger though!

Sorry I'm probably but you all in complete distress about this but don't worry you all will find out what happens on Wednesday and you don't have to wait tell next Sunday!

Anyways what did you think of this chapter? Will they forgive the soccer stars? Will the soccer stars forgive Hope? And what the heck will happen with Jace and Jess? Don't forget Spencer (yikes)? And Nova? Wait isn't Jace like in love with Nova? Let me know in the comment section! Please don't be a silent reader!

Bye for now my lovely bookworms,
                                                                   Ashley🌸