Adriana P.O.V.

"So basically you got yourself shot for your man?"

I nodded at Madison as I twirled the straw of my soda around in aimless circles. Madison frowned,

"Well thats a dumb-ass move."

I tilted my head,

"How so?"

Madison rolled her eyes and slapped the top of me head,

"Think about it. You don't even know if this guy likes you and you nearly died for him? Doesn't sound smart does it?"

I sighed and shook my head,

"I guess not. I guess I just acted and didn't think."

"Obviously."

Madison huffed and pulled out her phone, rapidly typing in a message. Not looking up at me, she grumbled,

"You need seriously help girlfriend."

I scoffed and tapped my fingers on the ugly plastic table of the cafeteria. Me and Madison were sitting alone as usual and I was catching her up on what had happened recently. I practically had to shove her back into her seat to keep her from beating the shit out of Norman when I told her about what happened.

I shoved a fry dripping in ketchup in my mouth in silence.

"Hey Mads."

Me and Madison both look up at the same time and see Reece standing behind her with an attractive smirk on his face. His brown hair was ruffled and even I had to admit he was super attractive. Orlando Bloom have nothing on Reece Stiles.

Madison blushed slightly and whispered back,

"Hey Reece."

I felt a goofy grin come across my face as I leaned back in my seat and watched the awkward tension between the two. Reece jerked his thumb behind his head, pointing to his table.

"Wanna come sit with us?"

Madison looked torn as she looked between me and Reece. It made me smile to see she was concerned about me. I smirked and shooed her away,

"Go on I'm fine."

Reece frowned,

"What the hell are you talkin' about, cutie? You can come too."

He added with a wink,

"I'm sure Jake would love for you to sit with him."

I blushed and peeked over his shoulder at the popular table. All the hottest guys in the school were sitting by Jake and Tirana and whore-squad were sitting beside them, giggling and obviously pressing their spilling cleavage against the boy's arms. Had they no shame or standards?

I shook my head politely at Reece,

"Nah I'm okay. I can just go eat in the library."

I picked up my lunch and walked confidentially towards the library. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Reece helping Madison out of her seat, smiling softly at her and she blushed back.

Ah my little Madison was growing up.

Suddenly, something brushed my foot and made me stumble and fall.

"Oh little slut. Falling for me? None of us are surprised."

My face heat up at hearing Tirana's satisfied screech. Laughter broke out at the popular table and when I raised my head even Jake was laughing. Tears began to prick at my eyes. Something in my heart popped uncomfortably.

I quivered slightly as I climbed back up to my feet. Unaccustomed rage flowed through me. I was done with this bitch.

I placed my hand on my hip and flipped my hair as I snapped back,

"Oh sorry I thought you were trying to make me fall. Not a surprise, I always had my suspicions."

The table grew quite as they all gaped at me. Tirana flushed angrily and stood up,

"Well at least I'm not a flat chested nerd no guy with a dick would sleep with."

"Oh please bitch, you are jealous of a third graders boobs. I wonder what would happen if you took off your push-up bra?"

"Guys actually like me. What is there to like about you?"

I rolled my eyes as she flipped her pale blond hair and smirked at me. Her followers were lined up behind her giggling quietly.

"Oh please, doughnut."

"Why the hell would you call me a doughnut, dumbass?"

I smirked and pretended to admire my nails.

"'Cause guys with do anything with a hole, so therefor, you are a doughnut."

A few guys coughed behind me and when I turned around they were trying not to laugh and gave me thumbs up.

"W-W-Well then you are a...a...a...sponge! 'Cause you are dumb and have multiple holes!"

The table starting cracking up, laughing at her. Tirana's face flushed in anger as she glared at me.

She delivered a stinging slap before spinning on her ridiculously high heels and stalking away, swaying her hips. The laughter of the table lapsed into a stiff silence.

"Hey Adriana..."

I felt tears burning in my eyes as I turned around, hoping to see Jake but he was just looking bored at his food, ignoring me. A senior who I had never met before was smiling kindly at me. He stood up and picked up his lunch.

"Common lets go eat in the library."

He stooped and picked up my fallen lunch and walked out of the staring cafeteria, me trailing behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mrs. Snow glared at us as we entered the library. The living mummy was still here I guess. She was wearing a dress that looked like a dress from Little House on the Prairie. Mummified Laura Ingles stood before us. Crazy old librarian...

"Glad to see you too Mrs. Snow!"

I sarcastically blew her a kiss. She glared at me, as cold as snow. I snorted out loud at my joke.

The senior sat down in one of the twin beanbags in the corner. He patted the one across from him and smiled at me. I shyly sat down and asked quietly,

"I'm sorry what's your name?"

He gave a goofy grin and offered me his hand,

"Max Andrews but you can call me Zero."

I shook his hand and titled my head to the side in the confusion. Where did they get a nickname like that for him? Even though I do admit, it was kind off of a hot nickname.

He grinned at me,

"I'm the only one at my table who has gotten zero lays. Some call me Virginia but Zero is way cooler don't you think?"

I laughed and nodded. Zero smiled at me before looking down at his food. I took the opportunity to admire him. Like all the boys at the popular table, he was dashingly handsome. Zero had soft looking bright blond hair and striking emerald green eyes. He really stood out, I wonder why I had never noticed him before.

"How come I have never noticed you before?"

Zero looked up from his burger in surprise,

"I just moved here. Didn't you hear about me?"

"Don't act so shocked dummy."

He chuckled when I rolled my eyes.

"So, why are you sitting with me?"

"Because I don't care who it is, bullying is not acceptable. Though, I do have to admire you standing up to her."

He paused and shivered in disgust,

"Tirana kept telling me she could change my name to One. Doesn't roll of the tongue as easy does it?"

I laughed at the cute indignant look on his face.

"Well, just saying, you are committing social suicide here."

Zero twisted in his beanbag and propped himself up on his elbow,

"Oh why is that?"

I gazed at him in shock,

"Because I am the nerd Tirana has made sure everyone hates. She made everyone think I am slut so no guys like me. The only person that I'm friends with is Madison."

Zero just rolled his eyes,

"Well now you have two friends. Me and Madison. And is for you being a slut..."

He leaned forward and flashed me his pearly whites,

"Would you make my name One?"

I scrunched up my nose in disgust,

"Um no."

Zero grinned and leaned back in the beanbag, crossing his legs.

"There you go, not a slut. What slut could resist,"

He motioned down to his body slowly and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively,

"This?"

I laughed,

"Oh a lot because you are a big fat zero."

I held my fist up in a zero and Zero pouted adorably, giving me puppy eyes. Then we looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Adriana."

A different voice broke through our laughter and I eagerly looked away from Zero, hoping to see Jake. Again, my dumb hopeful heart plummeted when I saw Norman leaning against a bookcase, smiling softly at me.

But I was never going to fall for that fake smile again.

"What do you want, Norman."

I asked him flatly and monotone, keeping my face passive. Norman pouted,

"Am I not allowed to see the girl I want to date?"

"Go eat some dates if you are that desperate."

My anger did nothing to deter Norman, if anything it only amused him.

"Ah but surely a pile of fruit would not be as...fun as date with you?"

His attempt at a seductive purr made my skin crawl in disgust.

Norman suddenly noticed Zero, who had been watching us with narrowed green eyes. I noticed how familiar those green eyes looked. Like I had seen them somewhere before.

"What are doing here with my Adriana?"

Norman placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. The possessive gleam in his eyes was enough to scare any girl. Unpleasant chills bloomed where he touched me. I slapped his hand away in panic,

"I am not your anything!"

Norman's creepy grin finally fell at that. He wrapped an arm forcibly around my waist and pulled me close. He placed his nose in the crook of my neck and whispered,

"Ah but you are, my beautiful sweet Adriana."

He pressed a kiss to my collarbone and I shivered and tried to pull away, feeling my heart pound with fear. Zero's deep voice cut through my haze of fear,

"Hey man the girl said no, back off a bit."

Norman glared at Zero and snarled almost animalistic,

"She is mine, not yours."

"She just said herself shes not."

Zero looked more serious,

"Seriously. Let her go."

"No."

I took a deep breath and sent up a quick prayer,

'Dear Lord, please forgive me for what I am about to do. I know this a shi- I mean crappy thing to do.'

I drew my knee forward slowly. Zero noticed and winced slightly. I closed my eyes and slammed my knee back, nailing Norman in his baby making parts. Norman didn't even breath as he collapsed. There was a stiff silence that was broken by laughter. But not by me or Zero; the laughter came from Mrs. Snow.

Her yellow teeth were showing in a gruesome smile as she crackled. Me and Zero glanced uncertainly at each other, feeling uncomfortable. Zero mouthed,

'Lets get out of here.'

I nodded and we rushed out of the library, leaving Norman behind with the librarian crackling with amusement.

~~~~~~~~~

Zero and I panted as we braced out hands on our knees. Zero gasped,

"Ex-boyfriend?"

"Possessive freak who took my first kiss."

"That's some deep shit."

"Amen."

When we had caught our breath we looked at the clock, happy to see we weren't late to class.

"What class do you have, Zero?"

"Trigonometry."

I smiled,

"Same here want to walk together?"

Zero laughed and winked,

"Depends. Is some possessive freak gonna fly out of the lockers and try to kill me?"

I pretended to think before replying,

"I think your safe."

Zero chuckled,

"Then yes I would love to."

"Love to what?"

Me and Zero both groaned as Jake walked up to us, looking bored. Zero whispered so Jake couldn't hear,

"Common another possessive freak? Really? How many men are in your harem, Adriana?"

I mumbled back,

"More than I thought apparently."

Zero threw his arm around my shoulders and grinned cheekily at Jake,

"We were just talking about Adriana delicious milkshakes weren't we? She asked if I wanted a taste and I said I would love to."

I gasped and slapped his chest,

"Zero!"

Jake looked peeved as he crossed his arms across his chest. My eyes against their will flickered to his bulging biceps. I tried to remember that I was annoyed at him for treating me like a stranger all day but damn those muscles. I could see the outline of his six-pack through his tight white t-shirt with his classic black leather biking jacket.

'No no no bad estrogen!'

I mentally slapped myself and stepped away from Zero.

"He's lying Jake. We were just about to go to Trigonometry."

I gave Zero a teasing glare,

"As if you can taste my milkshakes."

Zero smirked at Jake,

"Have you tried these infamous milkshake, Jake?"

I felt my face redden and I slapped his arm. Hard.

"Shut up Zero!"

Jake simply smirked back,

"Why would I need those if I have an entire Baskin Robbins at my disposal? Now, if you excuse me, I have a couple milkshakes to get to myself."

As he walked away I gaped at his back. My heart tore a little with every step he took away from. Tears stung my eyes as didn't turn around and look behind him. Not even once.

Zero looked uncomfortable as he raked his fingers through his long blond hair. His eyes shown with distress.

"Was that your boyfriend Adriana...?"

A single tear fell down my cheek when Jake faded from sight. My whole body felt fuzzy and light, as if I wasn't real.

I wanted to cry, to yell, to do something. But all I could think of was the look on his face as he laughed at me lunch. I felt like I was meeting him for the first time all over again. However this time, there was no admiring buzz and screaming love in my heart. I only felt deflated and tired.

"L-L-Lets just go to class Zero..."

He reached out hesitantly, as if I was smoke and I would dissipate if he touched me.

"I am so sorry Adriana..."

I felt like I was in a dream. No, a nightmare.

"It is alright. He's not my boyfriend."

I walked away from the worried baffled Zero and ran to class when the bell rang loudly.

'He isn't worth it. He isn't worth it Adriana.'

I furiously swiped at the persistent tears as they fell. It hurt so much to love. For years, I had warded off love but then when I saw him it hit me like a freight train. There was something blissfully painful about it. But the pain always there, and the only one that could make the pain go away was the touch of the one I loved, the one that didn't love me back.

~~~~~~~~~

"I am here!"

Panting, I slammed open the door to Mr. Martin's Trigonometry class. He paused in writing an equation on the board and glared at me. The class laughed.

"So you are. Congratulations, Miss Layman, do you want an award?"

At Mr. Martin's dry sarcastic comment I made the mistake of saying,

"Yes."

Mr. Martin methodically set down his marker on the whiteboard, the equation half finished, and sat down at his desk and pulled out a yellow slip of paper. After writing on it briefly, he stood up and walked over to me. He looked to the class and asked,

"Drumroll please."

The class laughed and did as they were told. Mr. Martin turned to me and said loudly,

"Here, in my hand, Miss Layman, is the priceless, much coveted..."

He voice went flat and bored,

"Detention slip. Be here after school."

The class laughed loudly when I went to my desk and snapped under my breath so Mr. Martin couldn't hear,

"Damn."

Mr. Martin didn't even turn around as he said blandly,

"Swearing is not acceptable, Miss Layman. Another hour detention."

Does he have robot ears?! What the hell?!

"Double damn..."

"Excuse me, Miss Layman?"

"Oh I said 'Double Fun' Mr. Martin!"

He only grumbled and continued to write.

I sat at my desk with a sigh. Guess a teacher hating you has it consequences sometimes.

I turned around to the normally empty desk beside me to see Zero sitting there smirking at me.

"Only bad girls get detention, Adriana."

I hissed quietly,

"Just how the hell did you get in here Scott-free?"

"Called taking advantage of another's strife."

"So, you basically snuck in when he was giving me detention."

Zero raised his hands in surrender and winked.

"Guilty as charged."

When I opened my mouth to talk my chair suddenly vanished from underneath me. I let out a startled yelp as my tail-bone smacked against the hard tile floor.

A syrupy fake voice squealed above me,

"Oh my are you alright? How clumsy of you!"

I glared at Tirana standing above me, smirking in triumph.

I hauled myself up to my feet,

"Whatever, doughnut."

She spat at me hatefully,

"I am not a doughnut! Will you stop calling me that? I can always make you stop."

Her voice turned threatening and I shivered. Whatever courage I had drained away. I remembered why I had been her doormat for all of high school.

I mutely sat down in my chair and Tirana only sneered in my ear,

"Thats what I thought bitch. Why don't you go back to the ugly fatty in hoodies and jeans? Life was so much easier that way don't you think?"

I felt tears threaten to fall but I refused to let them fall. When she failed to get a reaction, she withdrew away. I let out a sigh of relief when suddenly pain exploded in my neck. I reached up and found a deadly sharp pencil protruding from my neck. Ignoring the throbbing pain, I set down the bloody pencil and let my tears silently fall. The pain was sickening but I could handle this. I could handle this. I had lived with worse pain for years. This was nothing.

Zero reached over and placed his hand over mine soothingly. I looked up in surprise and he mouthed silently,

'Me. You. Ice-cream after school. Not a date.'

I smiled, sniffled and nodded back.

'Sounds good.'

~~~~~~~~~~~