"I HEARD THEY HOOKED UP IN HIS CAR," A student whispered, loudly of course, as another laughed back, "They were off eachother for what? 2 seconds?"

"This used to be the fun part," Lexa whined as she reached her locker with Cash, the boy rolling his eyes, "You do realise you two went to the place literally everyone goes afterschool? There's no maccas for like-"

"I wasn't really thinking that far ahead, I just left with him-"

"And to be clear," Cash paused, "Cause you know I'm your defender anyway... You didn't hook up with him?"

"No I didn't!" Lexa reached into her locker, pulling her heaviest textbook out to smack across Cash' shoulder — which partially winded her. She squinted her eyes harshly, a scowled look Cash knew to be fearful of, "That's near slut-shaming, Cashy. Go fuck yourself with a cheese grater."

Cash raised his arms, as if he were proving a point, "Really seems like you've got everything under control here."

Lexa groaned, slamming her locker shut with more force than necessary. Before Lexa could make a remark, she saw Spider walking down the hallway. Her heart skipped a beat, hoping for even a glance from him, some sign that he wasn't going to shut her out. But Spider walked right past them, his eyes fixed straight ahead, ignoring her entirely.

Lexa's shoulders slumped, the rejection cutting deeper than she expected. Cash squinted his eyes with fear, "That's cold, even for him."

Cash bounced around the subject, sarcastic as ever, "It'll blow over. He just needs time to cool off. Like, you're Lexa-fucking-Madden."

"That doesn't mean shit," She hissed as Cash felt her head for a sudden temperature, "You've genuinely lost your mind, haven't you?"

"Did we not have a talk recently about trying to be less self-centred?" Lexa swatted his hand away. It was as if Cash was counting down though, the boy mouthing 3,2,1 in perfect timing for Lexa to really speak her mind.

"He ignored me, right?" Lexa gulped, "Like on purpose. It's not that he didn't see me. Fully just walked by, didn't he? As if I'm not right here. As if he doesn't know this literally isn't where my locker is."

"Yes, Matt Murdock, he cut you," Cash ended up laughing as Lexa turned to him, "My track record hasn't really been helpful, has it?"

"Leaving when Dusty grovelled at you was the big one I reckon," Cash teased, Lexa slamming her locker shut, "Do I go talk to him or is that just going to make it worse?"

"Of course you go talk to him, you dickhead."

So she turned to him, putting on her biggest pout, "But I don't wanna."

"Kiss that relationship goodbye that," Cash lectured her, "Do you really want Dusty to be the one who speaks to him first?"

"Dusty won't say shit, he wouldn't dare."

"He's Dusty," Cash reiterated, though he'd nearly forgotten Lexa never really understood it. He sighed, "If you think Dusty pulled you yesterday because he was sad and miserable and needed a shoulder to cry on, you're more down bad than I ever thought."

"That's exactly all that was!"

"So what'd youse talk about then? His deep dark psyche?" Cash crossed his arms, "Or your relationship?"

"It's all sort of intertwined!" She rebutted, "Can you just sugarcoat this shit for me? Preferably, after that day I'm having, in coke?"

"It's 9am," Cash put his hands on her shoulders, "Put on your big girl pants Lexa and sort your shit out."

So, Lexa did. Sort of.

She walked through the crowded hallway with nerves she'd never quite felt before. She spotted Spider near Ant's locker, whose jaw slightly dropped when he saw her. Taking a deep breath, she pushed through, determined to talk to Spider.

"Spider!" she called out, her voice sharp and urgent.

He looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly when he saw her approaching. Suddenly, an amused look was plastered across his face, "What's up, Lexa?"

"We need to talk. Now," She responded with demand, grabbing his arm and pulling him away Ant.

Spider sighed but followed, speaking up with a dismissive tone, "So, what's the drama this time?"

Lexa swallowed hard, letting out a deep breath afterward, "It's not true, and I need you to know that."

"What is?" Spider slighted her, crossing his arms as he watched her squirm, "The bullshit about me hooking up with Dusty. It's not true."

Truthfully, he didn't think he'd hear the words out of her own mouth — not so soon at least, Lexa was never one to fall. Though, Spider still stuck to his mood, brushing her off, "Why do I care?"

Lexa's eyes widened, an annoyed scoff escaping her, "You're gonna play it like this?"

"Time I acted a bit more like you," Spider shook his head as she went to reach for him, "I thought you'd know. I really, Spider, I thought-"

Spider deflected her, "That's fucking hilarious."

She continued to plead, "I need you to believe me. Nothing happened."

Spider finally met her eyes, cold, "So what if it didn't? It's not like we're anything special, right? You and Dusty, me and you... It's just whoever you feel like in the moment, yeah?"

She clenched her jaw at the sound of it, "That's not fair. You know it's more than that."

"Do I?" Spider sneered, "Because it sure doesn't feel like it. One minute you're with me, the next you're off with him. Maybe you did hook up with Dusty. Wouldn't surprise me."

They went quiet — Lexa couldn't see past his facade anymore, though Spider was now stuck with a pit in his stomach for the grave he just begun to dig.

"Well," Lexa analysed his expression for a moment, contemplating whether she'd match his upset, "Thanks for proving me right then. That your ego's too big-"

"My ego?" Spider's face was burning red, "You've been playing me from the start."

"Just because you're upset doesn't mean-"

"Upset? Who said I'm upset?" Spider laughed bitterly, "I'm just calling it like I see it. You can do whatever you want. I don't care."

"Yes, you really fucking do," Lexa said, "You're just too stubborn to admit it."

Spider's jaw tightened, but he didn't reply.

Lexa took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "I came to you because I do care about you, and I didn't want this stupid rumor to ruin everything."

Despite hearing didn't instead of don't, Spider continued in spite, "Should've thought about that before you left with him. Hell, before you threw your phone and dodged me."

"I don't need to tell you where I am and who I'm with!" She defensively argued, all well knowing she didn't even believe it that way, "You're just an insecure asshole who I shouldn't have even given a chance."

"A chance?" Spider hovered over her, "You never gave me one. It wasn't fun for you when it wasn't a secret anymore. So why don't you run back to Dusty and find someone else to sneak around with-"

"Spider-"

"You wouldn't have hooked up with me all that time if you were so completely in love with him," He added, "So think about that when we you wonder why we don't talk anymore."

Midway through storming off, he halted, "Or, think about it when people start congratulating you 'cus you dropped me. Hope I didn't embarrass you too much."