"End of story."

"Oh my gods Annalise. That's insane! That explains why you were so upset when I left the next morning. I didn't know what was wrong, but I was too hungover to ask or understand what was going on." Hazalen took a sip of her peach tea. It was lunch time, without Veronica of corse.

I decided to go to school the next day, my confrontation with Damien giving me reassurance. All I needed to do now was ask Veronica why she deliberately went behind my back and obviously drugged Damien.

Wait... who else would you get drugs from?

I know a creepy psychotic guy!

"Annalise, I can't believe she would betray you like that. That's why she ditched me for lunch yesterday and she's been hanging out with Isabelle."

"What-Isabelle?" Confusion crossed my face.

"Yes, they are supposedly 'best friends' again. I thought it was a complete rumor, but now I know it's true." Hazalen shook her head. So Isabelle used Veronica to get through to me.

"Hazalen, it was all a trap." I stopped eating my turkey sandwich. Realization glazed over her eyes as she halted her eating as well.

"Your right!" Hazalen had a fury in her eyes I've never seen before," Shes always manipulating and messing up people's lives! Just like what she did to me, now to you!" She snapped, tearing out pieces of the grass below and throwing it random places. "I've had enough! She thinks she can use her family money to get her way. Well guess what bitch! I have money too, but I won't use it-"

"Hey there- calm down Hazalen. We don't need Veronica. I have you and that's all I need. I'm honored to be your best friend, I can rely on you with anything. Forget about Isabelle and Veronica. Sure they've got money, but we have something much more. Friendship." I smile bright as her breaths start evening out.

"Your right. She had no friends when I was her henchmen, she has none now. Nothing has changed." A small smile creeped up on her lips.

I felt a presence behind me I knew all too well. I squinted my eyes, realizing she heard some of our discussion.

"Playing hard to get, huh? I didn't have to do that to get my way."

Oh.

My.

Gods.

I do not have time for this today.

"Veronica, I'm really not in the mood to talk to you. I don't think I can forgive you for what you have done." I smiled sadly at her.

"What if I don't want to be forgiven?"

"Well then you have done a great job, well done." I smiled brightly at her and turned away.

"You are nothing at all, Annalise Woods. You may think you have it all because the prince is at your feet. But soon enough he will have you at his feet. Your just another conquest, a challenge. He always wants something he can't have and right now that's you. A little innocent girl he wants to take advantage of. He's going to grow tired of your pathetic act, and when he has you wrapped around his finger he will leave you. You want to know why? Because he won the game. This is all a game to him. You are nothing, Annalise Woods. Nothing but a fatherless family and the tailor's girl. A pretty face and body he wants all to himself just for one night. You will never be royalty or anything special. So stop trying to act like it." Veronica spat in my face.

I was shocked to say the least. She had brought out all of my little insecurities, things I don't want people to think, things I've even been thinking that I don't want to be true.

I guess after being best friends with her for a month she knew me well. I should've noticed the snappy comments and the fake kindness. She had truly known me inside out, yet her life was still a mystery to me.

I still think at times she was truly being sincere. Like when she talked to us about her grandpa, or when she gave us compliments; I actually think she meant them. We seemed to have fun tougher and I honestly trusted her.

The problem was, I should have listened to her from the beginning. She warned me to never trust anybody, for the only reason why people associate in others is so they can get something out of it. Yet she was only referring to herself. It takes one to know one you could guess.

I picked up my items, and left her standing there. My face a mask, just like the one I wore at the ball. She looked very proud of herself as I spared one more look at her.

But I had nothing to say.

\\\\\\\\

Damien didn't talk to me for five days after our encounter.

One step back.

Our classes together were quite awkward. We would each meet each others eyes, then hesitantly look away.

Music class we ignored eachother.

Homeroom, he always showed up as late as he could.

He would skip every dance class we had together. I had to dance with a guy named Garth who always had clammy hands and was around my height. He smelled faintly of cashews and I had no idea why.

This guy couldn't even lead, I was the one leading all the dances with confidence and now wet hands. As much as I hated to admit it, Damien is an amazing dancer. And I learned from the best in the kingdom.

Damien's heart has good intentions, he just doesn't know how to use them. He doesn't know wrong between right yet, confidence between arrogance and selfishness until it becomes disrespectful.

He's not used to a challenge.

So me.

He pushes past boundaries a little too far, but he's trying to continue on a good path, which I can see.

The answer fell right into my lap that day.

Yet again...

Literally.