"I still can't believe he said all of that," Isla frowns as she leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Who the hell says stuff like that anymore?"

"Assholes?" I smirk before sighing, tucking my hair behind my ears as I go back to scribbling in my notebook. My mind running in aimless circles trying to figure out what I do from here. "It's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal," Isla shakes her head.

After convincing my mom to give her marriage the rest of the year, I went into my room and talked with Isla and Robyn until two in the morning. They were in utter disbelief of what happened. Isla concerned about how I was feeling with it, while Robyn just wanted to kick his ass. A part of me didn't care anymore.

I got my mom to give my dad another chance, and that's really the only thing I care about. My family is the most important thing to me and my first concern over everything else.

Now it's lunch period and the two of us are sitting in the news room in the library waiting for Mrs. Arthur to get here for the meeting. It's not unusual for her to call meetings outside after school activity, but it never usually happens the same day we have meetings after class. Whatever it is she wants to talk about requires all of us to be here and is clearly urgent if it couldn't wait until after hours.

"It's really not," I shake my head. "It's basically forgotten. Felix is the least of my worries, trust me."

"Do you want me to get Miles to kick his ass?" She asks.

A laugh falls from my lips. "Don't tell me I have to convince you it's fine. I already had to talk Greyson, Riker and Isaac out of giving him a piece of their mind."

Isla smiles gently. "They're just looking out for you, Vee."

"I know."

She nods in response before moving up in her seat. "How are things with your parents?"

I turn my head at the mention of them, realizing I spent so much time talking about Felix with them the night before that I never got the chance to share the news. My brothers didn't even know I had convinced her to try harder, for at least a little longer. Maybe nine months is a long time to try, but I know it'll be worth it. They got lost along the way but they can find their way back to each other.

I just know it.

"They aren't going to file for divorce yet," I smile softly. "I managed to get my mom to hold out until the end of the school year, at least. I still haven't talked to my dad though."

"You have to give him a chance to explain himself."

I nod, but I still can't face him.

He hurt me.

More than anyone in this whole world ever has.

My favorite person. My protector. My hero.

He made me a promise and then threw it in my face. I know I'm being harsh on him, but he needs to understand why what he did hurt me so badly. I need time to figure out my own thoughts before I can talk to him, even if I do miss him.

"I will," I assure her. "Just, not yet."

"Okay."

"Hey guys," Miss. Arthur comes into the room, stopping at the front of the room with the white board and a clipboard in her arms. "Sorry for giving you all such short notice, but we need to add a few things to the issue going out this month."

"Why? What's wrong with it?" One of our fellow writers ask from her spot at the front, her notebook open ready to jot down anything important.

I turn my head in Isla's direction who just rolls her eyes at me before laughing quietly. Isla only joined the paper because she needed something to add to her college applications and didn't want to be alone, so it was either join the paper with me or cheer with Robyn. Thankfully for me, Isla has no sense of rhythm or athletic ability.

"Nothing," Miss. Arthur shakes her head. "Nothing at all. You guys have done wonderful work on the pieces I assigned, but something's changed with the self-help piece and we're going to need to hold it off until next month's issue. With that being said, I thought this would be a great time to fill it in with a piece on the big homecoming game and the announcement of the court."

"Is there ever anything the football team doesn't have to take over?" I whisper my sarcastic question to Isla who just snickers, pressing her lips together as she tries to focus her attention on Miss. Arthur.

"So, what I'm thinking is we'll knock the pep rally piece from the front page and do a write up on the team and an interview with their star player and nominee for homecoming king, Felix Montgomery," she explains her thinking and I try to contain the eye roll that comes at the mention of his name. "Sound good?"

"Who's doing the piece about Felix and the team?" Another one of the writers ask.

"That's the next piece of business we need to discuss. With the issue going out on Friday, I need them in by Thursday which doesn't leave much time. I know it's a time crunch, but would anyone like to volunteer?" She asks and I look around the room as a few of the writer's hands shoot up, all girls. All probably wanting one on one time with the school's golden boy.

"Janelle, why don't you take this one?" She asks one of the senior writers. "And Stevie, I'm going to need you on the field to get a few shots of the team and Felix."

"What?" I frown. "Why me?"

"You're our head photographer, Stevie. I'm depending on you," she pleads.

"Okay, but what about Max? Or Camille?" I point out two of our other photographers.

"Stevie," she says my name firmly and a sigh falls from my lips. "Come on, I need you to do this for me. Felix is their star player and your ours."

Bullshit.

It's just words to guilt trip me into giving into her demand and I don't have a choice. It's my job and I have to do it, no matter how badly I don't want to. I'm the head photographer and I'm in charge of front page photos, so no matter the reason or my feelings, I know I have to do it.

"Fine."

"Thank you! I'll let Coach Davidson know to expect the both of you and that means you'll both be excused from our after school meeting, alright?" She asks and we all nod in unison. "Great. You're excused. Go enjoy the rest of your lunch."

"What is my luck?" I groan as I get up from the table with Isla, collecting my notebook.

"Maybe it's the universes way of telling you to work it out with him," she hums out and I glare at the suggestion.

"Well, the universe can screw off," I growl as we head out of the library, heading for the outdoor courtyard to meet up with Miles and Robyn. "I hate that I accepted this stupid job."

"No, you don't," she shakes her head. "It's going to look really good on your application for college that you were head photographer your junior year."

"It wouldn't have made that big of a difference," I argue, though I know she's right.

I'm still not even sure I want to go to college after high school. I know it works for a lot of people but I'm not sure how beneficial it'll be for me to go to school for photography. Being out in the world seems like such a better option for me, and I know for a lot of people their dreams die because they can't afford it. A shame to the world, thinking there are people in the world that could have the cure for cancer but can't afford to go to med school.

The thought scary to think about.

"Hey, you two," Miles cheerfully looks up from his tray of food when we walk up to the table. "That didn't take very long."

Isla shakes her head as she sits down next to him. "Nope, she just wanted to talk about changing the front page article because of the football team. Stevie's overjoyed."

"Why?" Robyn laughs.

"It's nothing."

"Not nothing," Isla shakes her head, eyeing me with gently eyes. "She has to go to football practice after school to take pictures of the team and Felix."

"Seriously?" Robyn asks. "Can't one of the other photographers do it?"

I shrug my shoulders. "Apparently it has to be me."

"You couldn't explain the situation to Miss. Arthur?" Miles questions and I sigh softly.

"I probably could have but she would have made me go to the principal to talk about the situation," I roll my eyes. "It's not that big of a deal. I'll get in there, do my job and get out. Quick, sweet and to the point."

"I'll be there if you need back up," Robyn assures me.

"I'd come keep you company too but you know how Miss. Arthur gets if you miss a meeting without reason," Isla rolls her eyes, annoyed and I smile.

"Thanks guys, but I can handle myself," I tell them. "Really. Felix Montgomery isn't about to take me down."

a/n;

It is presently 12:44am and I'm just a ball of energy right now, so, I'm going to work on another chapter and hopefully do a double update when I wake up...? Don't hold me to that.