I always thought it would take some major cataclysmic event to break a heart.

I missed you too.

I was wrong.

I missed you too.

Thirteen letters. Four words. One sentence.

I miss you too.

That could be all it takes to break a heart.

I miss you too.

Well, at least that was what it took to break mine.

It was like watching those old, black and white movies with no dialogues. I felt a sense of melancholy and nostalgia as I stood there watching Hunter and Maria.

They didn't say anything else, just held each other tight with an aching familiarity as if they'd done it a million times before.

All the other sounds were muted but in my mind, I could still hear the sound of Hunter's four words echoing repeatedly like a broken record. He said the words so softly, so intimately, that I knew they'd spent countless of nights whispering to each other before.

I almost laughed when it finally dawned on me. Of course! Hunter and Maria were once a thing. How couldn't they be? They were perfect. Even more perfect than Hunter and Heather if that was even possible. I'd ship them if I wasn't so hopelessly in love with that exceedingly annoying, and utterly confusing boy.

I realized I was smiling. Everything just seemed so funny and I was genuinely amused. I didn't even have time to feel jealous. God, I was so stupid. How could I fall in love with someone I didn't truly know?

I clutched the front of my shirt and was surprised when I felt my heart beating normally inside my chest.

Do broken hearts still beat?

"Sky, let's go. We're going to be late."

Shawn's voice woke me out of my trance. I felt him reach for my hand. I realized I was clutching my shirt too tight, my nails digging on the skin of my palms. He gently unclenched my fingers and laced his with mine. With difficulty, I managed to tear my gaze away from the scene in front of me and focus them on my best friend's face.

I didn't expect to see him smiling. He jerked his head towards the crowd discreetly, warning me that breaking down in front of the whole school wouldn't be a great idea. I was impressed. We'd been spending a lot of time with Hunter and his friends that we had already learned how to play their games.

Without taking the smile off his face, Shawn squeezed my hand, telling me wordlessly that he understood, that he knew what I was feeling and that he got my back. I couldn't love him more for that.

"Okay." I said, surprised that my voice didn't crack. I thought I even sounded cheerful in an asthmatic sort of way.

I attempted to move but realized I didn't really know where to go. If I move forward, I'd have to pass by Hunter and Maria. If I turn around, I'd have to pass by Cain. It was like having to choose between a viper snake and a hungry hyena. Joy.

Shawn waited for me to decide. I took a deep breath then turned around. There wasn't really much of a choice. I had to choose the way blocked by Cain and his cronies because that was the way to our first class. Thinking about it, I wondered why Hunter tried to lead me to the opposite way? He wasn't the type to avoid anyone.

As I turned, a pair of silver eyes met mine.

"Nice to see you again, Skylar." said Cain, his head tilted sideways. There was a sinister smile playing on his lips that unfortunately brought my attention straight down to his lip piercing.

Red instantly clouded my vision. If there was one thing more powerful than pain, it was hatred. For a moment, I forgot my broken heart.

I knew everyone was expecting me to duck my head, utter some awkward excuse, and run away from there as fast as I could. No one expected me to smile confidently and greet the newcomer like we were long lost friends.

"Wonderful, indeed. Cain, is it?" I asked in a cheery voice. "You didn't stay long enough to introduce yourself."

I felt the dumbfounded stares of my friends, heard the annoyed huffs of the cheerleaders at the side, and the confused chatters of the students surrounding me.

"You know him?" Shawn asked.

I nodded.

"Ugh. I swear, that girl is always involved every time there's a commotion in this school!" Rachel complained.

I wanted to tell her it wasn't my fault the whole universe was conspiring to make my remaining year in high-school as complicated as possible, but I chose to ignore her. I had more pressing matters to attend to.

If Cain was surprised by my unexpected warm welcome, he didn't show it. He was looking at me the same way he looked at me yesterday, like I was an especially interesting frog he couldn't wait to dissect.

"I was in a hurry." He took a step towards me, leaving Seth and Levi behind. "But I have every intention to continue what we've started."

Cain's voice was smooth as velvet, with just the right amount of fake innocence and deadly seduction.

I wasn't the only one who was not convinced, though.

"You son of a bitch." cursed Parker as realization dawn on him. I saw him took a menacing step forward but Cal and Pen stopped him.

"Don't." Cal said, gripping him by the shoulder.

"Please, Park, not here." Pen hissed, holding one of his arms.

I guessed they knew Cain well enough to know that our first meeting couldn't have been anything but horrible. That explained the panic in Parker's voice.

Unable to move, Parker couldn't do anything but throw an accusatory glare towards Hunter's direction. What for, I didn't know. I fought not to follow his gaze. I didn't want to see Hunter's face. Not now. I'd deal with him later. This moment was mine.

It was silly, trying to avoid Cain. Didn't I wait for this moment? Played it over and over again in my head last night? Now that Cain was standing in front of me, I wouldn't let this opportunity pass.

It wasn't Parker's nor Hunter's fight.

I'd had enough of knights and kings.

I wouldn't be a pawn in this game.

I unlaced my fingers from Shawn's grip and gave him a look that says: I got this, which probably came off more like: I peed in my pants.

I gave my friends a reassuring nod as I walked to meet a thoroughly amused-looking Cain at the center.

I was perfectly aware of the curious stares we were getting from all the people in the hallway, and I fought my natural instinct to cower. The small, timid part of me was dissuading me from what I was about to do but a sense of renewed determination pushed all the fears away.

"Welcome to Diamond Crest." I said amiably. I gave myself a mental pat on the back for keeping my cool. It wasn't easy acting all friendly while plotting someone else's murder.

"How about an intimate welcome party, then?" said Cain, his silver eyes blazing, challenging me to take the bait.

How about I intimately throw you to a swamp full of crocodiles?

"Right here is fine." I beamed.

I took another step forward and crossed the distance between us. Copying the moves I learned from the master of seduction that was Hunter Cole, I stood on tiptoes, ran my hands on the length of his arms before resting them over his shoulders. I felt him shivered, making my smile widened.

I leaned closer so that I could be sure my breath would fan the side of his neck when I speak.

"This is for the kiss you stole from me yesterday." I whispered in a sexy, husky voice I didn't know I could manage.

Then I kneed him in the crotch.

***

I'd like to say I won that round against Cain. I'd like to say I emerged as the victor. I'd like to say I walked out of that scene giddy with triumph.

For a moment, I thought I would.

It was a scene that would no doubt be included in the top 10 most jaw-dropping moments in the history of Diamond Crest High school, a scene that would be immortalized in every school campfire, a scene that would be passed down to future generations of students.

That was what it seemed like after I introduced Cain's balls to my kneecap.

A chorus of: "Ouch!" and "Owww!" echoed through the hallway, coming from basically everyone there with XY chromosomes. Poor boys looked traumatized.

Cain fell on his knees, gasping in pain.

"F-fuck!" he said through gritted teeth. If looks could kill, I would've already dropped dead at that moment.

"Sorry, can't hear you." I said, crossing my arms over my chest, not in the least guilty.

Seth and Levi immediately ran towards the whimpering Cain and dragged him away from me. Seth looked like he was trying hard to keep a straight face the whole time.

"You think we should ice his balls?" I heard him whispered to Levi. Levi just shot him an annoyed look.

The cheerleaders looked shocked.

"I hope she didn't damage the goods permanently!" Gushed Jessica, fanning herself with her hand.

Parker was almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Even Rush had a small, amused smirk on his lips. Shawn just looked confused while Cal looked... well, bored.

Pen, Natalie and Heather rushed to my side, as if they were expecting some instant retaliation from Cain's side.

"Are you crazy?" Hissed Pen. I thought I heard a mixture of worry and admiration laced in her voice.

"Crazy awesome, she is!" Heather giggled.

Natalie held my hand. She was looking behind me.

"Don't panic but Maria's walking towards us now." She said in a hushed voice.

That instantly made me panic.

"Why did do you do that?" said a voice so cold it could freeze the Sahara.

Squaring my shoulders, I dropped Natalie's hand and spun around. I saw Maria giving me an intense glare, one of her perfectly-arched eyebrows raised. Hunter was standing beside her, his expression unreadable.

"Your brother deserved it." I said. I could feel the weight of Hunter's stare, demanding for my attention but I stubbornly avoided eye contact. As a matter of fact, I planned to avoid any contact with him for the next twenty years.

Maria's eyes narrowed and the room's temperature dropped to freezing point.

"You don't know who you're dealing with." she said. She looked even more perfect up close. She was like the softer, more angelic version of Cain. They looked so alike that they could pass as twins.

I shrugged.

"I don't need to listen to his life story to know that he's a jerk."

Maria's lips twisted to a snarl and I almost groan out of the unfairness of it all. She still looked beautiful even when she was acting like a YA-book villain!

"You're going to regret this." she said and I knew it wasn't merely a threat. There was something about Cain and Maria that made me sure they were an entirely different league from the bullies of this school.

Hunter chose that moment to step forward and switch to my side. He put one arm over my shoulder casually, like he wasn't just canoodling with another girl exactly five minutes ago. I felt my knee itched for another action.

"Don't threaten my buddy, Maria. It's not nice, and I don't like it." His voice was friendly but there was an obvious edge to it, sort of like a warning.

Maria's icy expression turned sour. Then her gaze focused on Hunter's arm over my shoulder and her expression turned to steel.

"I see." she said. I could see the pain of something akin to betrayal flashed her eyes but it was gone as soon as it appeared. She gave me one last menacing look before she walked over to her brother's side.

Without a word, I jerked my shoulder brusquely and stepped away from Hunter.

Hearing him defend me made my blood boil. How dare him? How dare him act like he like me one minute and have a major PDA moment with another girl the next? How dare him play with my feelings like that?

He was the worst, best thing that ever happened in my should-have-been-invisibly-normal life and I was so tired of trying to figure him out.

I walked over to Shawn.

"Let's go." I said.

"Cain, Seth, Levi and Maria." I heard him muttered thoughtfully. "Let's just call them the biblical four."

I thought that joke was hilarious but maybe God wasn't amused because it was at that moment when things turned from bad to worse.

"What the hell happened here?" said a very irritated voice.

When I lifted my head, I knew I was screwed.

Great. Just great.

It was Principal Freaking Curtis.

***

I didn't feel triumphant sitting on a hard mahogany chair with only a wooden desk separating me from the Principal. It was extra-humiliating to sit across the guy I just kneed in the nuts.

I wished one of my friends was here with me but Principal Curtis shooed them all away to their classes, with threats of detention and community service.

"I am so disappointed at you, Ms. Daniels." I heard Principal Curtis said for the tenth time. All the other time he refused to call me by my right surname.

"I'm sorry, sir." I said, not really sorry. I would do it again, given the chance. In fact, seeing Cain's smug face made me want to do it again ASAP.

Principal Curtis made a clucking noise as he sorted out some papers on his desk.

"You are better than this, Ms. Dillys. You should have known better than to resort to senseless, violent attacks." He was talking to me as if I was some sort of a dangerous terrorist gone loose. I fought not to roll my eyes.

"I promise it will never happen again, sir." I said, putting on extra-effort to ignore Cain who was doing his best to act innocent and pathetic in front of the old man.

Principal Curtis put the papers down, adjusted his eyeglasses, and gave me a stern look.

"You don't understand, Ms. Donaldson, physical assault is a major offense and having that on your record would hurt your chances of being accepted at NYU or any other reputable school."

It took me a moment to reorient myself after hearing what the principal said. My whole body hummed with an emotion I wasn't able to identify at first but later realized as desperation. Panic quickly came after.

"No, please, please. Don't do this." I almost begged. I was aware how pathetic I sounded but I didn't care. NYU was my dream and I was so horrified how I'd managed to fuck up that one good thing I was looking forward to in the future.

"Please, sir, I'll do anything. Just... just don't."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Davidoff, but you have to accept the consequences of your actions."

I stared at him, hard and unblinking, trying to keep my tears from spilling. How could one stupid decision result to a major disaster that would haunt me the rest of my life? And how did he even come up with that surname?

God, what would I tell my parents? I'd hate to see the disappointment on their faces when I break the news. I knew they would try to hide it. They would try to comfort me, tell me it wasn't about the school. They might even google successful people who weren't accepted at NYU just to make an example, to make me feel better. And somehow, that was even worse.

My head was throbbing. I wanted to shout. I wanted to cry. I wanted to break that lame Cricket championship trophy sitting on top of Principal Curtis' filing cabinet. Who even plays Cricket in this school? Who even plays cricket in America?

A cough brought me back to the present. I saw Cain rest his arm on the desk.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I think there must have been some misunderstanding here." he said, his voice apologetic.

Both Principal Curtis and I gave him a suspicious look.

"What do you mean, Mr. Potpourri?"

Cain's lips twitched, obviously annoyed at the principal for butchering his surname.

"It was an accident, nothing more. I know Skylar didn't mean to hurt me." Cain then shot me a pointed look. "Did you?"

I didn't expect him to defend me so I just gaped at him like a moron for the next thirty seconds before I managed to get the gist.

I nodded eagerly, feeling a surge of hope blossomed inside my chest.

"Yes. I mean, no. No, I didn't mean to hurt him."

Cain let out a good-natured laugh.

"There you go. I hope that clear things up. No one's trying to hurt anyone here."

He gave me a meaningful look, a look that says he would come to collect my debt soon.

Principal Curtis sighed.

"If you say so, Mr. Burgundy. I hope this incident didn't negatively affect your views of this wonderful school."

If I didn't manage to negatively affect Cain's views, I was sure the principal would have more success if he continue to call him with the worst surnames he could think of.

"Of course not. It actually made the exchange more exciting."

Principal Curtis nodded.

"I'm very glad to hear that, Mr. Morpanty."

Cain ran a tongue over his lip piercing, his eyes gleaming.

"Having said so, I think it's just right that Skylar be my personal school guide during my first week here." It was clear it wasn't a request.

Principal Curtis raised one of his bushy eyebrows and pursed his lips.

Please don't agree, please don't agree.

I chanted, eyes closed.

"Okay."

Well, damn.

I opened my eyes to the sight of Cain's triumphant smile. It was unanimous, sore balls or not, he won this round.

***

"What do you want from me?" I demanded as soon as we exited the Principal's office.

Cain who was walking in front of me, stopped. He looked at me over his shoulders.

"Everything." He simply said before he continued walking. I had to run to keep up.

"Wait!" I called. I grabbed his arm to stop him.

"What do you mean by that?"

In a split second, Cain managed to remove my hand from his arm and gently shoved me on the wall. The classes had already started so not a single soul was there.

"I want you to do something for me." Cain said, all the traces of humor gone.

I lifted my chin in defiance.

"And why would I do something for you?" I challenged.

Cain smiled darkly.

"Because I don't take no for an answer."

He pressed his palms on the wall on either side of my head, trapping me in. I could feel the heat coming from his body and it worried me that it made me feel... something.

I shook my head. No, impossible. I couldn't possibly be attracted to this pervert!

"Does it have something to do with your testosterone-filled rivalry with Hunter?"

Cain's lips twitched upward. His eyes roamed over my face, stopping on my lips. His gaze was almost... tender. Or maybe it was just an act.

"I could see why he's smitten." He murmured.

"You can't use me against Hunter. I'm not that important to him." I said, feeling waves of sadness and hurt crashed over me as I say that out loud. "I don't want to be a pawn in this sick game of yours." I whispered, suddenly feeling very tired.

I felt Cain softly brushed his finger over my right cheek.

"You're wrong." He said. "You are the queen. And Hunter is your pawn."

Then he dropped his hand and walked away.

"See you later, Skylar."

I waited a moment to even my breathing. I was so confused and tired and I hadn't even attended my first class yet. I just wanted for this day to be over.

I spun around to walk towards Physics and came face to face with Hunter.

"I have to tell you something, Sky." He looked serious. More serious than I'd ever seen him before.