LEXA STOOD OUTSIDE Principal Woodsy's office, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door, bracing herself for whatever was coming next.

"Come in," Woodsy's voice called from inside.

Lexa pushed the door open, closing it softly behind her after she strolled through. Woodsy was seated at her desk, her expression a mix of concern and sternness.

"Lexa, please have a seat," Woodsy said, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk.

Lexa sat down, her posture stiff, "How's it going Woodsy?"

Principal Woodsy folded her hands on her desk, looking directly at Lexa, "Aside from how agitated you've been this term, I had been meaning to speak to you. And I actually apologise for it, I reckon if I'd talked to you sooner we might've worked-"

"You don't have to be my shrink Woodsy, just give me the detention for the tackle and-"

"Tackle is a very generous word," Woodsy corrected, "And quite frankly, Lexa, this isn't just about your stunt earlier. Your teachers have been a little concerned, friends even. There's been a shift coming back this term."

"Isn't that like part of puberty?" She retorted, Woodsy rolling her eyes, "Seems there's a lot going on in your world, Lexa."

"When isn't there?" She sighed, still slouched in her seat.

"Well, why don't we get started then?" Woodsy cleared her throat, "Your father notified us you were living with him again, how's that transition been?"

"Fine."

"And your mother?" Woodsy leaned back into her chair, "She never contacted the school."

"Probably in a ditch."

"Right on," Woodsy awkwardly shuffled some papers, "Look, there was a police officer who came by to check in this past week. They mentioned an incident that occurred before term. I don't know the details, but I want you to know that we are here to support you."

The girl sighed, "Ah, well I hope ya told them I was peachy keen and sent them on their merry way."

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Woodsy asked, Lexa rephrasing, "What'd the cop say?"

"Nothing really," Woodsy shook her head, "I apologise if I'm overstepping, but might I assume it had something to do with your older brother?"

"I barely talk to him," She shrugged, "Out of sight out of mind."

"And after the map situation? How are you feeling about that?"

"Woodsy," Lexa leaned closer, "Can we cut to the chase? Just ask what you wanna ask."

"I don't really know what I'm asking, unfortunately, Lexa," Woodsy sighed, "I could go round and round in circles with you and you'll likely never open up. If you don't let me in, then I can't help."

"Good thing I didn't ask for it," She nodded, "Look, it's not personal. You're a good principal, I just think there's no use."

"And why's that?"

She was stumped, retreating, "This literally has nothing to do with what's just happened."

Woodsy leaned forward, her voice gentle but firm, "If you're carrying around pain, it could be affecting how you're handling things now. I'm only trying to give you a way to channel that, someone to talk to. It doesn't even have to be me."

Lexa stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor, "Already told you, you don't have to be my shrink."

Woodsy sighed, accepting defeat, "You'll have detention for the next two weeks for the Harper incident. Do tell if you have an insight on that."

In Lexa's silence, Woodsy continued hinting to her previous words, "Is it connected, perhaps?"

And then she insisted, "My door's always open."

"Open enough for me to take chocolates from your desk?" Lexa tried to lighten the mood, Woodsy shaking her head, "How do you know about that stash?"

She turned her heel, accidentally slamming the door behind her as she left — the girl running face forward into Dusty who'd been leaning in and listening.

"You've got to fucking be kidding me," Lexa groaned, "What do you want now?"

"I was just... I heard you in there," Dusty said, his expression conflicted, "I mean, now I want to make sure your okay. Why was she talking about cops?"

Lexa brushed past him, the boy trailing behind, "Please, don't pretend like this is normal. Just keep to your lane and I'll stay in mine."

Dusty grabbed her arm gently, stopping her. "Lexa, I'm sorry. For everything. I mean, shit, I'm not just going to forget everything about you. Are you alright?"

Lexa yanked her arm away, her eyes blazing. "Sorry means nothing. And seriously, I'm not the one who deserves an apology."

"Lexa-"

"If you ever thought I'd console you over what happened this last week, you're out of your mind," Lexa scolded him, "And no, I guess I can't forget about everything we've been through either but this is seriously done."

Dusty's face twisted with frustration as Lexa rejected his apology. His expression hardened, and the warmth in his eyes faded, replaced by a cold, bitter gleam. His voice took on a sharp edge, dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh, I see how it is," He sneered, crossing his arms over his chest, "One date with Spider and I lose you for good, huh?"

Lexa's glare matched his intensity, "Don't you fucking dare make this about that."

"How am I supposed to ever talk to you again? You're pissed about the Malakai thing, you're pissed because Spider's gonna get his feelings hurt-"

"We're broken up!" She yelled back, silence fading over the two, "I'm the one who fucked up Dusty. I don't know what to tell you, I don't know why I cheated, I don't know why I want Spider, I don't know! I don't know what you could possibly want from me!"

He threw his arms up in defence, "Whether I'm your boyfriend or not I've always cared about you. I'm not giving up on that, and more than anything I'm fucking hurt you are."

"It's not fair to Spider-"

"It's not fair to me!" He spat, selfishly as Lexa shrugged, "Life isn't fair."

Her hands were balled into fists, her nails digging sharply into her palms, "I can't handle this right now."

She felt cornered, a mix of anger and desperation boiling over inside her. The frustration in Dusty's eyes mirrored her own turmoil, but his expression held something more; their old, unyielding connection that refused he refused to let break despite everything.

And still, Dusty couldn't shake their history, the significant moments and memories; it made it impossible for him to let go. The thought of being alone, of starting over with someone new had only grown worse; being that he only thought of making her jealous when he was with Harper.

As Lexa's tears welled up, her anger momentarily gave way to vulnerability. Dusty's face softened, the sarcasm in his eyes replaced with genuine concern and longing. He took a step closer, his presence a stark reminder of their shared past. He couldn't stand seeing her with Spider, the jealousy and hurt gnawing at him. He fucking hated it.

"What happened over the break?" Dusty pressed, his tone shifting from anger to concern.

"Pardon?" Lexa's voice was icy, her eyes narrowing at him.

"Woodsy mentioned something about the cops before the term started. What happened?"

"Back off," She snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

Dusty stepped closer, his frustration bubbling over, "Why won't you just talk to me?"

"I said back off!" Lexa shouted, her voice echoing in the hallway. She could feel the tears threatening to spill over, but she refused to let them fall in front of him.

Dusty's face twisted in frustration and helplessness, moving closer, "Just let me back in. Please."

Her breath halted as she took a step back, trying to create some distance, "I can't."

"Why not?" Dusty demanded, his voice breaking, "Talk to me."

Lexa's resolve finally crumbled, and she turned away, her shoulders shaking, "Just drop it, Dusty. I don't want to talk about it. It's none of your business."

Dusty reached out, but stopped short of touching her, "I'm right here."

"Oi! Lex!" A shock of relief hit Lexa the second she heard Cash's voice from the hall, the boy jogging over, "We're gonna be late, let's go Lex."

——

"YOU'RE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM," Cash continued his enormous tangent, one that had lasted them a car ride from school back to his house.

"Shit, Lex... Are you crying?" Cash blurted out, despite the boy reaching out to wrap her into the tightest of hugs the second he heard a sniffle, "Nah, nah, you're not crying over their bullshit. No way."

"This is fucked!" She said, her head nestled into Cash, "And I just keep making it worse."

"This isn't your fault," Cash paused, "Well, maybe it is with the cheating but-"

Lexa chewed at the inside of her cheeks as her salty tears fell down, "I really fucking like Spider. I really do. The more Dusty opens his mouth the more I think I'm not supposed to just let him go."

"Do you want him around?" Cash gulped, "Forget everyone. Do you think you're missing Dusty?"

"I don't miss him as my boyfriend," Lexa sniffled, "He's just making me think that-"

"Lexa."

"I wanted to talk to him about the festival, he asked and he asked and he asked," Lexa said, "I felt like I shouldn't. Even though I wanted to, I wanted him to hold me for a few seconds. Then I remembered why I was upset with him, what he did to Malakai with Harper. I feel like I'm doing the wrong thing by everyone, then by Spider. I just don't know what the right thing to do is."

"And I've made so many promises to Spider," Lexa crumbled, "I've told him so many times I can't promise, I can't guarantee anything. But I'm trying to. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me Dougie. Why do I keep doing this?"

Cash shifted in his seat a little, forcing the two to sit up, "You're human, Lex. And it's okay to feel like that, feel mixed up. I know you're trying, just let Spider know that. And if he's too much of a dick to listen, he didn't deserve you anyway... Dusty? Tell him you both gotta work on yourselves, if he cares, he'll back off."

"Cash-"

"And you need to back off too," Cash added, "The both of you have been playing a game, even if he was playing harder. He's an idiot but he's always cared about you, he'll let it go if he knows you're not playing."

"Yeah, well, this game shits all I've ever done at Hartley," Lexa admitted, quoting gossip she'd always heard about herself, "Who am I if not a drama starter?"

"I haven't seen that this year," Cash shrugged, "So fuck the rest of them, I got you."

"And I got you."

Together, they sat in silence, the weight of Lexa's troubles lingering in the air, but somehow feeling a little lighter with Cash's comforting presence beside her. As the afternoon faded, the two were disrupted by Nan walking in the front door, rushing to her bedroom, "I've got a date!"

Cash and Lexa shared a look before she bolted for Nan, the two fighting as they climbed over the couch to the hallway, "What was that Nan?"

"Ooh! Yes, I've got a date!" She beamed, looking Cash up and down before flicking her eyes to Lexa, "You guys should really invite someone over, maybe Darren perhaps."

Lexa sighed, "Nan, he's cooked it."

"Well, he needs to uncook it then," Nan replied to Lexa despite staring down Cash. The girl lunged for Cash's phone as Nan continued to get ready,
opening it to see a nude from Darren, quietly scolding him, "Oh my god he sent you a nude and you didn't reply! You little bitch, you could've at least replied!"

"With what!" Cash objected as Lexa facepalmed herself, "I'm not saying ou have to drop your pants and do a full frontal but some acknowledgment would've been nice!"

Lexa let out a disappointed breath, "They're coming over and I'm going for a walk. It's settled."

"Lexa don't you dare!"

She strolled out of the house when it was time, her mind a mess. She needed to clear her head, to escape from the chaos of her thoughts. As she walked through the park, the cool breeze and rustling leaves provided a moment of solace.

She heard footsteps approaching from behind and turned around. She froze as she came face to face with Malakai. He stood there, looking uncertain and vulnerable, just like the last time she saw him, "You nearly scared the shit out of me."

"My bad," Malakai nodded as he tried to lighten their very clearly saddened moods, "Tell me I didn't happen to scare some tears into you."

"Oh, no, no... I was just-"

"Crying?"

"Sure, you can call it that."

"Y'know, that's a very human emotion to have," Malakai replied, "Not sure if you're cool with that."

"Oh really!" Lexa retorted, "I'll let my coven know."

"Witch? I took you more for a Vampire vibe,"
Malakai let out a short laugh as Lexa stretched out his arms, "Nah, Spider just always called my old friend group a bunch of witches."

"You had friends other than them? You learn something new everyday."

"Yeah, well," Lexa shrugged, "One day everyone woke up and decided I wasn't a girls girl anymore, that I valued boys more. So, I guess that's just what it was."

"High school's shit, isn't it?" Malakai sighed as Lexa pouted, "Didn't suck so much till this term."

"You saying that was my fault?" He teased as Lexa rolled her eyes, "Pretty thankful you transferred here with at least half a brain."

"I'll take it," He replied as the two went silent, Lexa opening her mouth after the moment, "What were ya doing? Going for a walk?"

"Amerie and I met up, we uh, we cooled things off," He said quietly, his eyes meeting hers, "Feels like shit."

"She's a loyal one, she'll be around," Lexa replied, her voice softening, "You won't need to stress."

"I feel like shit that I hurt her, not so much that I let her go," Malakai admitted, shying away, "Feels like I don't even know myself right now."

Lexa struggled to find the right words. She wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but she didn't know if she had the right to. Before she could respond, Malakai glanced up, his eyes widening as he noticed her expression. "Lexa, are you okay?"

"We were talking about you Mr Change The Subject," Lexa shook her head as Malakai answered, "I just want to forget about that night. Focus on basketball, if I can. Focus on other things."

"Well, I'm rooting for you," Lexa relaxed as Malakai looked over at her. Despite the smile forming on her face, her expression fell when she saw the car that had flown by; Chook's, with Josh Beckett sitting passenger side.