First day after break, we changed seats in every class. I know I should be following my resolution, but I couldn't help but hope that I would get assigned to sit next to Vincent. Each time, it only seem like we got further apart, except for biology. Everyone had seen the video of Vincent punching Bryan in the face and taking me to his car. I guess they thought we were back to normal, but when Vincent wasn't talking to me every two minutes in class, they knew something was wrong. So when I got the seat right beside him, everyone looked and observed, curious if he would finally talk to me. He didn't.

Maybe I shouldn't be turning every five seconds to look at him, but I can't help it. Every glance makes my heart flutter but ache at the same time. Is having his seat lucky, or am I just torturing myself?

"Wendy, are you feeling okay?" My biology teacher asks, tapping gently on my empty worksheet.

Realizing half an hour already passed, I panic and start to write my name at the top.

"Yeah, sorry."

"You look tired, sweetie. Sleep early tonight."

"I will. Thanks," I respond, quickly scribble down answers. Peering over, I check to see if Vincent looked at me, but not yet. Not a single glance all day so far. Nothing. Maybe if he was angry at me or yelled at me I would feel better. Then he would be at least talking to me, but I'm as good as invisible.

"Hey, Wendy!" someone calls across the classroom.

"Yeah?" I ask, turning to the dude in the back.

"I saw the video from Sam's party. You were pretty badass."

"Um, thanks?" I'm unsure if I should be complemented for violence.

"Yeah, that was so funny. Bryan's an asshole. He deserved it," a girl adds.

"Yeah, he cheated on Ally didn't he?"

"Yeah! With a freshman."

"Dang. What an idiot. Ally's way hotter."

"I knew it all along too. You know, I had a feeling he was lying when he said you were flirting with him. He does that a lot to me too," she continues. These were obvious lies since she was whispering about me non-stop a few months ago when the rumors were started. Though, I'll gladly take her hypocrisy any day over any more rumors spreading.

"Man, if I was at that party, I would've totally beat his ass for grabbing a girl like that."

"Yeah right," she teases. "He's on the basketball team and you can barely open a jar of pickles."

This sends him into a flurry of stories in an attempt to give his strength credibility. I give them an awkward laugh to excuse myself from the conversation and continue to work on my packet. I can't believe Bryan did that to Ally! Well, I guess I could believe it since he's a major jerk. But that's still horrible. If I knew that during Sam's party, I would've kicked him in the balls while I was at it!

The one time my wish is granted, it isn't even what I wanted, because Bryan found me after school and dragged me off to where the dumpsters were. I wasn't really hoping to kick his balls!

"I thought I made it clear I wanted you leave me alone!" I exclaim in exasperation and attempted to yank my backpack out of his grip.

"You know how much shit you got me into? My coach threatened to throw me off the team!" he angrily yells, shoving me slightly to throw me off balance.

"You did that to yourself. Don't cause anymore trouble for either of us and just ignore me from now on."

"Ignore you? Hah! After you made everyone think you actually beat me up? I wasn't going to beat up a girl!"

"Funny because I remember pinning you and you couldn't slip out. You didn't have to punch me, just throw me off. "

"Fine, if you want a real fight, bitch," he goes to grab my shoulder but his knees suddenly buckle. The next thing I know, he's on the ground, hands over his crotch and moaning in pain. Panicked, I check my feet, which has stayed rooted in the same place the entire time.

"Fucking asshole. You're the worst, Bryan," Ally rolls her eyes, showing no remorse.

"Oh my gosh! You actually kicked his balls!" I gasp.

"Fuck, Ally! Fuck! Why the FUCK did you kick my balls, bitch?" Bryan growls while he rolls on the ground.

"One ball is for cheating on me, the other one is for messing with Wendy," she retorts.

"FUCK!" Bryan cursed in agony.

"Piss me off one more time and I'll make sure to kick the whole sack all the way to China," Ally warns. She nudges me to walk away with her and we leave Bryan groveling on the pavement.

"Um, are you sure you're not going to get in trouble?" I ask, looking back at Bryan.

"Yeah, he won't say anything unless he wants to get in trouble for harassment."

"How did you find me?"

"Well, since I hit you last time near the dumpster, I just tried going there first."

"Oh, thanks."

"You shouldn't thank me."

"Why not? You helped me out..."

We get behind the track bleachers that are made of thick concrete, totally out of Bryan's view. Ally finally stops and spins around to face me.

"I'm sorry I slapped you. You were right. Bryan is an ass."

"It's not your fault. You didn't know."

"Still, I should've given the benefit of the doubt."

"It's hard to believe me anyways with all those rumors about me flirting with Vincent," I sigh.

"Still, you were so nice when we hung out. I was actually starting to like you."

"Thanks. Let's forget about it and call it even." I hold out my hand and she shakes it in agreement.

"Friends?"

"Sure." We plop onto the grass in relief. After some silence, I find the guts to ask her. "Did Bryan really cheat on you?"

"Yeah. Fucking dipshit. Sam caught him making out with some freshman near the locker rooms during basketball practice."

"That sucks."

"Yeah. With a fucking freshman too! I help her practice for the cheer team since she's knew and that's how she repays me."

"Wow."

"I know!" Ally throws her unassuming up in frustration. "Anyways, let's not get me started on her cause I could go on for days. What about you Wendy? What did Bryan do to you for you to beat him up?"

"Well, I wouldn't say I beat him up..."

"Jeez, give yourself some credit. You looked totally badass."

"Well, he was bothering me about you so I called him a jerk multiple time and told him to leave me alone. He grabbed me so I had no choice. I didn't even know I could overpower him."

"It didn't look like it was your first time pinning someone."

"Well, my dad made my sister and I learn self-defense techniques. It never worked on practice with my sister."

"How strong is your sister."

"I don't know. She could probably beat anyone at school in any sport."

"No wonder you didn't know how strong you were. You always wrestled with the Hulk.your dad sounds fun though."

"He is. Just super protective. Won't let any boys near us."

"Even Vincent?" Ally asks.

"Well, I think he likes Vincent. He won't be seeing him airing anymore though, so it doesn't matter."

"What do you mean? You and Vincent broke up?"

"We were never together."

"Oh, come on. It's obvious you two liked eachother. I even saw you guys hold hands when we went to the lake," Ally teases.

"You saw that?" I jump in surprise and cover my glowing face that now resembles a lava lamp.

"Yeah, everyone did."

"Well, his hands were cold," I try to defend.

"Wow, what a cheesy excuse. Anyways, don't change the subject. Back to you and Vincent."

"Well, we're not even friends anymore. Something happened and it's so complicated and I don't even know anymore."

"I get it. I won't push you to tell me."

"Thanks..."

"But personally, I think you two are perfect for each other."

"Don't you like him?" I ask in suprise.

"Vincent? No, not anymore. I want to find someone who actually likes me for me. Not my cheer squad uniform or my boobs."

Hmm, sounds familiar. I feel like someone I know said something similar.

"That's why you and Vincent are perfect for each other. He is absolutely crazy about you," Ally coos.

"Not anymore."

"Sorry, I keep bringing it up."

"It's okay. It was going to happen eventually."

"Well if it makes you feel any better, you can come talk to me any time," Ally offers.

"Will do, thanks."

"Well, I have to meet up with some friends at the mall. Wanna come?"

"No, I'm good. I have a biology packet I have to finish."

"Okay then. See you tomorrow." Ally slings her backpack on one shoulder and walks off, waving to me before turning the corner.

I start to gather my belongings when I noticed a white backpack with roses on the other side of the bleachers. That looks like Vivian's. Maybe she forgot it. I walk over, intending to check its contents I'm familiar with Vivian having. However, once I look over the corner, I find Vivian's face face buried behind her knees. Her hair draped over to hide her face so well I could barely recognize that it was her.

"Vivian?"

She jolts her head up, mascara streaking down her face and a red and runny nose at the center of it all. Embarrassed, she burrows her face again.

"Are you crying? What's wrong?" I kneel down next to her, rubbing her shoulders while she continues to sniffle. It takes a while before she finally says something.

"Did you know all along?" she musters.

"Knew what?" I asked, genuinely confused.

Another long pause ensued.

"That Vincent didn't like me?" she sniffles before going into a wild sob.

"What? Who told you that?" I try to hide.

"Vincent!" Vivian wails. "I asked him out today and he rejected me. He said he never was or will be interested! Why couldn't he let me down nicely?"

"I'm sorry," is all I could manage.

"It's okay. You were just trying to protect me. You probably knew he was a jerk all along," she continues to cry. "Why did he have to be so mean? He could've just said 'Sorry, I'm not looking for a relationship.'"

"He took that necklace I borrowed from you too, saying it was his."

"He dropped it at the diner. That's why I had it, so don't worry about it."

Vivian sniffles and tucks her tears-dampened hair behind her ears. Turning to me, she reached out her arms and pulled me into a long and tight hug.

"Thanks, Wendy. I'm sorry I got jealous when I'm the one who asked you to help me go out with Vincent. Don't worry, I'm over him. You don't have to talk to him anymore for me."

"Yeah... I won't." I hugged her back. Seeing her in such emotional hysteria, I couldn't bear to tell her the truth about everything that happened.

"You're a good friend, Wendy."

"Don't cry anymore," I try to comfort.

"I know you were trying to protect me, but next time just be honest. I promise I won't blame you."

"Yeah, sure. I'll be honest..."

❤️