"Thanks for coming Nina," Aaliyah said as they sat down on her bed together.

"Sure. I️ mean, it's not everyday your cousin from the bougie side of the family hits you up to "hang out"," Janina crossed her arms and glares at her.

"You're upset-"

"Yeah, I'm upset," she snapped. "We haven't hung out since we were fifteen. Now all of a sudden you want something?" She hissed. "Is it cause of that video that's going around?" She brings up.

Aaliyah's mouth dropped. "Oh my god, how did you know about that?" She asks in horror.

"It's on Twitter," Janina simply said. "You're lucky nobody in the family knows how to use it."

Aaliyah sighs and covers her eyes, making her cousins curiously look down at her. "What's wrong?" She asks now in a softer tone. "Come on girl, I️ was just playing about being mad."

"No. No, that's not what I'm upset about," Aaliyah finally breaks down, crying in front of her.

"Then what is it?" Nina asks, soothingly rubbing her back.

"Me and Elijah were never happy. Carolina's giving off weird vibes. I️ don't know what to make of it. I️ lost all my friends last year. The whole school thinks I'm some kind of slut. And the guy I'm really in love with...it's just so complicated," she finishes before hiding her face into a pillow. It felt good to finally let out everything she's been holding in to someone who hasn't been tainted or biased to the mess that was her life.

"Damn...that's, heavy," Janina sighed. "I️ can only relate to one of those," she said.

"Which one?" Aaliyah asked, her voice muffled.

"The last one," Nina answered. "But I'm fighting to make it work. You should too," she points out. "Liyah, there's obviously so much bad energy in your life. You gotta cut some people off, and keep some people in your life. As for the video, it's already done and out there. We can't do much about it without telling Aunt Elisa," she frowned.

Aaliyah shakes her head "no". She definitely doesn't want her mom know about the mistake she's made. "No, she'll kill me," she tells her cousin. She then looks up at her and sighs. "I'm so happy you're here. I️ didn't really have anyone else to turn to," she tells her.

"Of course. That's what family is for," Janina flips her hair. "But what about Carolina?" Janina asks. "I️ haven't seen her in a while but from the looks of her IG, she's been doing pretty good."

"About that..."

Janina narrowed her eyes. "What?" She asked.

"Carolina's going to the school's winter formal with Jackson, the guy I️ like," Aaliyah confesses, making her cousin's jaw drop. "He promised her way back when we weren't on speaking terms so he couldn't get out of it."

"Hold on, does Carolina know you like him?" Janina asks. Aaliyah nods. "And she's still going out with him anyways despite how you two feel about each other? That's so low..."

"I️ know-"

"Aaliyah...that girl is not your friend," Janina breaks it to her, surprising her.

"What are you talking about?"

Janina rolls her eyes. "It's so obvious she doesn't respect you as a friend Aaliyah. She wouldn't be doing this is she did." Janina stands up, catching her off guard. "You know what? You should go to that dance!" She encouraged.

"What? No!" Aaliyah instantly shut down.

"Yes! What better way of saying "fuck you" to everyone than having your head held high as you walk in there looking super hot!" She giggles as she opens her closet and rummages through the hangers. "I️ know you have a cute dress somewhere. I️ saw your homecoming pics!"

Aaliyah sighed. She was not gonna give this up. "I️ don't wanna go. I️ don't even have a date."

"Even better! It shows that you don't need a man!" Janina says enthusiastically. "Or a woman. We don't discriminate here!" She nods as she pulls dresses out the closet and throws them on the bed. "Oh! This is a winter formal, so we definitely wanna wear white..." she pauses, "or is that too predictable?"

"I'm not going!"

* * * *

Aaliyah arrives to the venue with her cousin following closely behind. "We look so good!" Janina squeals as she holds her hand out for Aaliyah to take.

"Thanks for coming with me," Aaliyah breathes out as they walk towards the venue. "I️ don't think I️ could've done this without you."

"Yes you can, you're just scared," Janina sticks her tongue out at her. "But I️ understand, standing up for yourself is not your strong suit."

Aaliyah scoffed as they arrived to the entrance and paid the fee. "What are you talking about?" She asks.

Janina stops and turns on her heels to face her. "Listen, Carolina may tell you what you want to hear. But I'm telling you what you need to hear. And what you need to hear is that you don't know how to stand up for yourself," she tells her.

Aaliyah was about to respond, when she spots Elijah taking pics with Veronica Rome, smiling into the camera. Janina looks behind her to see what she was looking at and realizes who it was. "God your taste in men is so trash," she comments.

"Aaliyah!" A voice behind her cheers, making her turn around to see Carolina happily smiling with her arms outstretched to hug her with Jackson in tow. "Oh my gosh! Dude I️ didn't know you were coming!" She giggles. "Why didn't you text me? We all could've rode together," she says. She then notices her cousin standing by her side. "Janina is that you?" She asks. "I️ haven't seen you since we were in middle school!" She gushes.

"Good. How about we keep it that way?" Janina shamelessly shades. "Alright, I'm gonna get a drink. I'm suddenly feeling sick...of the bullshit," she mutters the last part before walking off.

Carolina glares as he cousin walks off. "What's up with her?" She asks.

"Nothing...her and her boyfriend are having issues," Aaliyah quickly covers.

"With an attitude like that? Figures," Carolina huffs, making Aaliyah look at her is disbelief. "What? You know it's true," she laughs.

Aaliyah and Jackson make eye contact before Carolina squeals, "Oh! I️ love this song!" And drags him off towards the dance floor.

Janina finally reappears with a Coke in her hand. "Is she gone? Is the torture finally over?" She asks, making Aaliyah roll her eyes. They walk together to a table, but suddenly someone bumps into her cousin, making her almost spill her drink.

"Yo! Watch it!" She shouts at them. The guy turns around, revealing to be Jay.

"My bad mamas," he tells her, laughing goofily.

Aaliyah furrows her brows in confusion. "Jay, are you okay?"

"Of course he's not. His stupid ass is drunk," Janina points at him.

Jay shushes her before stumbling off, making Aaliyah and Janina look at each other. "Your classmates are weird," Janina comments, making Aaliyah laugh. "So are we just gonna stand here and look pretty all night or are we actually gonna dance?" Her cousins asks, making Aaliyah giggle as she takes her cousin's hand and follows her onto the dance floor.

Jackson watches miserably from his spot against the pillar as he watches Aaliyah dance with some girl she brought as her date. "Who's that?" Jackson asked Carolina.

"Who?" Carolina asks, taking a selfie with a classmate before turning her attention towards Jackson, who was staring at Aaliyah and her date. "Oh that's her cousin Janina," Carolina rolled her eyes. "She's like so ghetto. From her dad's side of the family."

"Is it cause she's the only one not afraid of you?" Jackson says, making Carolina glare at him. "I️ like her."

"Who cares?" Carolina scoffs. "She's trash."

Jackson sighs and decides not to talk to her anymore, putting his attention elsewhere. He finally spots Vijay, who was talking with Kentrell Owens, a classmate of theirs. He then watched as Kentrell pulled out a flask and pours some liquor into Vijay's cup. He then turns and walks off. Jackson takes off, hurrying behind Vijay to catch up with him. "Hey!" He yells over the music, reaching out to touch him.

"Hey! Jackson!" Jay smiles as he take another drink from his cup. Jackson could just smell the peach flavored vodka coming from his cup. "Yo, Kentrell hooked me up! You want some?" He asked.

"Nah...I'm good," Jackson declined. "Hey, are you okay?" Jackson asks.

"I'm great! Why wouldn't I️ be?" Jay shrugs off.

"You're drinking at a high school dance Jay. If that doesn't say anything, I️ don't know what does," Jackson points out.

Jay looks over at Jackson in annoyance now. "Maybe I️ just like to have fun," he said defensively. "Just cause you're boring doesn't mean I️ have to be to," Jay says before walking off.

"Hey, Jay-"

"There you are!" Carolina interrupts. "Come on! We gotta take a picture!" She tugs on his arm, leading him away from his trouble friend. He huffs as Carolina drags him over to the photographer and the cheesy snow covered background.

Just smile Jackson, soon it'll all over.

"Attention everyone!" The principal of their school announces from the DJ stand, making everyone look up. "We are now gonna announce your pick for this year's Snow King and Ice Queen!" She announced.

Everyone eagerly awaits for the results, the tension in the room so thick you can cut it with a knife. "And the winner for Snow King is...Elijah Hamilton !" She announced, making everyone cheer as Elijah's best friend and right hand man goes up and wins his crown. "Okay! Okay! Now, for the winner of Ice Queen is...drum roll please..."

The DJ plays a drumroll beat on through the speakers before announcing, "Carolina Hernandez!"

Carolina almost loses her cool as she squeals in excitement and runs up to get her crown and sash. She takes the mic from the principal, and opens her mouth to speak. "Wow...thank you guys so much for voting! I️ almost thought-"

"Wait! Wait!" Vijay shouts, interrupting Carolina, making many people gasp and whisper in confusion. He hold his hand out for the mic and she hesitatingly gives it to him. "Carolina I️ just, I️ just wanna say congratulations," Jay announces, making everyone "aw". "Listen, it's no secret I've had a crush on you since day 1," He jokes. "And I️ wanna thank you for letting me have the get the chance to know you," he sincerely says. "And now that I do know you personally, I️ know that you are...a shallow, manipulative, back stabbing bitch."

Everyone gasps and some even laugh at his statement. Aaliyah and Janina look at each other while Elijah chuckles to himself. Carolina's eyes go wide at hearing this. Even Jackson was caught off guard.

"Yeah, I️ said it!" Jay speaks into the microphone a little bit louder now. All that alcohol making him bold. "I️ also know she's the one who that leaked Aaliyah's video on purpose and is sleeping with her own best friend's boyfriend behind her back," he exposes.

And just like the party, all eyes were suddenly on her again.

Tears welling up in her eyes as Aaliyah felt so many emotions run through her at once. Betrayal, hurt, anger, disappointment.

"Aaliyah..." her cousin reaches out for her, but she shoves her aside and runs off, not being able to stand it there anymore.

Jackson was in shock. How did Jay even find out about that? The principal and security tackle Jay down, ripping the microphone out of his hands and escorting him out. Everyone cheers as this whole thing goes on, entertained as Jay smiles in self-satisfaction. Jackson follows them both out the door as Carolina gets down from the stage, humiliated.

"Aaliyah!" Janina runs after. "Wait! Are you okay?"

"No I'm not okay!" She yells back before composing herself as best as she could. "I'm sorry for yelling, this isn't your fault."

"No but we know whose it truly is," Nina wipes her tears and pulls her in for a hug.

"Aaliyah?" They both heard someone call out. Jackson rounds the corner and runs up to them both. "Aaliyah are you-"

"Aaliyah?" Carolina calls out, followed by Elijah. Oh great. Jay soon joins the party, leaning against the wall as everyone now confronts each other.

"You got a lot of balls to show your face mijita. You better take your fake ass crown, along with that fake ass personality and get to stepping before I️ break your face BITCH!" Janina threatens.

"And I'm not gonna stop her," Aaliyah crosses her arms. "Is it true? Did you really do all that Jay said you did?" She asked.

"No-"

"Stop lying!" Jay yells at her now. "I️ heard you two in the bathroom at the party okay? You and Elijah both wanted to make her life miserable," he reveals. "You're a shitty fucking person bro."

"But why?" Aaliyah pushed. "What did I️ ever do to you? I️ thought we were best friends!" She practically screams.

Carolina scowls at her. "Everything's always about you!" She spat.

"What are you talking about? Of course it's about me! You literally sabotaged everything!" She yells at her. "My reputation, my relationships-"

"Hey, your relationship was already shitty. You didn't need any help from me for that one," she ruthlessly points out, making Janina pounce, but Jackson quickly catches her and pulls her back.

"Let me go white boy!" She fights against him but her 5'3 frame was literally no match for 6'1 football player. But what he couldn't stop was Aaliyah's hand from flying across her face once she said that. Carolina reaches out to retaliate only to have Elijah pull her back this time.

"Well finally you see that life isn't always gonna be all sunshine and rainbows," Carolina scoffs.

"So what? You did this to teach me a lesson?" " Aaliyah asks in disbelief.

"Honey you have it so easy," she hissed. "Oh Aaliyah's such a great student', 'Oh she's so sweet', 'She and Elijah are the perfect couple!' 'She's gonna be prom queen. Valedictorian. Student body president!" She screams back.

"So you were just jealous?!" Aaliyah shrieks back. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Why couldn't just talk to me like a normal person?!"

"Yeah, I'm jealous! You get everything you want and I'm just your sidekick! Will I'm not doing that anymore!"

"You're right, we're not. Cause we are not friends anymore!" Aaliyah points at her. "You're dead to me!"

"And who's gonna want to be friends with a slut like you huh?" Carolina bites.

"The only puta here is you! She's not the one who slept with her friend's boyfriend!" Nina points at her. "And she don't need fake ass people like you and someone's future broke ass baby daddy over here," she points out at Elijah.

"Man fuck you..."

"Fuck you bitch! I️ hear you like to beat women? Well I'm right here! Let's go!" Janina shouts at him. "Yeah that's what I️ thought. Keep your mouth shut."

"Bitch-" Elijah steps up, but Jackson and Jay both step up to defend her.

"Back off," Jackson warns. "Before I️ join her."

"Don't you act all high and mighty Jackson," Carolina sneers. "You are bad as anyone else here."

Jackson shoots Carolina a warning glare but she ignores it, since she has nothing to lose anyways. "You think Jackson's your friend?" Carolina scoffs. "He knew I️'m the one who showed everyone the video, and he didn't even tell you," Carolina drops, making Aaliyah's mouth drop.

"What-"

"And you wanna know the real reason why he switched schools?" Carolina asks sinisterly. "It's because he killed someone and basically got away with it."

Jay, Aaliyah, Janina and even Elijah all looked at Jackson with a combination of surprise, shock and horror as Carolina tells them his darkest secret.

Aaliyah turns to face him. "You...killed someone?" She whispers.

"No! No, it's not like that. It was an accident!" Jackson tells her.

"And you knew who leaked the video and didn't tell me?" She asks him again. "So everyone's lying to me? Is Jay the only one telling the truth here?" She frowns. "Everyone stay away from me," she points at the three of them before walking off.

"Should be ashamed of yourselves," Janina points at everyone before turning to leave, following after her cousin.

__________________________

I've been having a shitty time and it motivated me to write this chapter. Funny how that works.

Anyways comments? Questions? Concerns?

Janina may or may not be the basis of a sequel. I'll think about it.

Thank you all for reading.