"I don't think that Seth should be in charge of Avery today," Sophia commented as we walked into school.

Just like that last time, everyone in the hallway turned their attention towards us. Before, I was just walking in with three of the most popular kids at school. Now I'm walking in with three of the most popular kids at school on crutches. What we went through before was a walk in the park. Literally. Because now I have to maneuver through the crowds on crutches.

"Hey!" Seth protested. "I think that I did a good job yesterday. She's alive isn't she?"

In his defense, I'd say that Seth did a pretty good job; I interacted with Chris, and he didn't lay a single hand on me. However, by the dirty looks on Drake and Sophia's face, I could tell they didn't after.

"So what if I wanted to lock you in a closet, without any food, and then called that taking care of you? How would you feel about that? You'd be alive wouldn't you?" Sophia berated, getting into Seth's pale face.

While Seth and Sophia argued over the definition of being alive, Drake snatched my backpack from Seth's shoulder.

"Let's go." Drake mouthed at me, starting to creep away from the duo. I nodded in agreement and began following him.

Unfortunately, there's no way to be stealthy on crutches. Drake and I made it about two feet away before Sophia and Seth's uproar of protest started up. Drake grabbed my arm and continued to usher me down the hall despite them.

"Don't worry guys! Avery will be fine! We'll take the secret passageways!" Drake called out, weaving between the crowds. His promise did nothing to quell their worries. If anything, the two got even rowdier.

"There are secret passageways?!" I heard Seth yell from afar. Glad to know what he's more worried about. All Chris has to do to get Seth to hand me over is offer him the wardrobe to Narnia.

"So where are these secret passageways you were bragging about?" I asked Drake, noticing that we were taking our usual route to my locker.

Drake threw his head back in laughter. "There are no secret passageways Avery. It will just take those two a while to figure that out." He joked.

He was right about that. Sophia wouldn't believe it for a moment, but Seth, on the other hand, would at least consider it. Sophia will call Seth stupid, and he'll get offended. Then the two will start fighting about something completely different. Drake has expertly bought us at least 15 minutes.

"So I think I found a way for you to come along tonight." Drake approached slowly, putting in my locker combination.

My mood sank at the mention of today's plan. I let out a sigh of despair, leaning against the nearest wall.

Tonight Sophia is going to meet with Chris. No one was able to talk her out of it, but somehow Drake convinced her to let him come with her. I don't know how she was extremely adamant about doing it all on her own. The boy has magical persuasion skills.

Now if he could only use those on Ethan.

"Sophia would kill me if I came. Or I would end up killing Chris. Either way, someone would end up dying." I muttered bitterly. Sophia and I were already on edge with each other because of the whole Marisol thing. She doesn't need any more reasons to be upset with me.

"If she doesn't know that you're there, then she can't kill you." Drake countered, and I shot him a look.

It's obvious that Drake is Sophia's favorite. Therefore he's never been on the other side of Sophia's wrath. If he had, he'd know that crossing Sophia is a terrible idea. Seth would've never suggested such a thing.

"You want me to lie to Sophia Helms?" I asked judgementally. Drake rolled his eyes and turned to face me.

"No. I'm the one doing the lying, so you're fine." Drake clarified. Somehow that didn't make me feel any better.

"All you have to do is leave class ten minutes early, go to my car, lay down in the back, and cover yourself with the blankets I've got back there," Drake explained confidently. "Any questions?

"Yes. Why do you have so many blankets in your car?" I asked slowly and then watched Drake's face turn pink.

"That's not the point here Avery." He deflected. "Now, when Sophia asks where you are, I'll tell her that Seth gave you a ride home. Since Seth is an awful liar, I'll make sure he's nowhere near. The plan is bulletproof."

As against lying to Sophia as I am, Drake had a point. And I can't lie and say that this won't make me feel a million times better. I'd get to see with my own eyes that Sophia is actually safe.

"Fine. But I refuse to take the heat for this. You better be the only person she screams out later." I caved, pointing my finger at him. Drake rolled his eyes and nodded for me to start walking down the hallway.

"Even if Sophia does get pissed, I can handle her. She's tiny, what's the worse that she can do." He dismissed with a wave of his hand.

"Debatable." I drawled out, sliding in next to him. "So about those blankets?"

Drake turned tomato red again. "No comment."

"But-"

"Silence!" He exclaimed, bracing his hands on my back. I laughed all the way to class.

Δ

"Are you sure that Seth's driving is safe? It was kind of crazy yesterday," Sophia commented before I heard the click of a seatbelt and the roar of the engine coming to life.

I focused intensely on trying to keep my breathing slow and quiet, which was probably only making it worse. It didn't help that I was petrified by Sophia finding out. All she had to do was turn around, and this would all be ruined.

"Hear me out. If someone tried to kill you while you were driving, don't you think that'd impede your driving just a little?" Drake asked in a teasing tone.

I saw Sophia hit him through the threading of the blanket. However, Drake didn't even flinch at the impact. Dumb jocks and their muscles.

"He failed to mention to me where he was taking the at-risk girl on crutches. He's lucky I didn't poison his food last night." Sophia hissed under her breath.

"Well don't worry. Avery's somewhere completely safe." Drake reassured her in a smooth tone. Technically he's telling the truth. I feel pretty safe with Drake here.

"Seth isn't my idea of safe." Sophia disputed. Seth probably isn't anybody's idea of safe. He's about as responsible as a three-year-old.

Drake made an indifferent noise. "He can surprise you every now and then. He's pretty protective over the people he cares about."

Sophia hummed. "Like his brother. Speaking of Ethan-"

"Nope, don't even start Sophia." Drake cut off immediately. I had to resist the urge to snort. He's been super touchy lately about us bringing up Ethan.

"Let's talk about what's going to happen when we get to his house." Drake decided firmly.

"Well you can wait here in the car, and I'll yell if I need anything," Sophia suggested.

"Absolutely not." Drake shot down without a beat passing, and I silently agreed. Going mad and drowning in a self-made pit of anxiety is my job.

Sophia sighed, before shifting uncomfortably in her seat. She redirected her attention to the passenger window before speaking again.

"You know who it is. Don't you?" Sophia asked quietly.

"I do," Drake answered at the same volume. "But it's best if you don't know. For your own safety."

Sophia chuckled darkly. "Yeah, that's what everyone keeps telling me. And I'm just supposed to trust all of you?"

Sophia's voice was laced with hurt, and I could understand why. Her best friends are keeping secrets from her. The maybe relationship we were trying to build, was being built on top of lies and secrets; it was no way to start a relationship.

"Yes. I'm asking you to trust the people who love you." Drake spoke, almost like a reminder.

Sophia turned to face him with guilty eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry." Sophia apologized sincerely. Drake relaxed again, giving Sophia a small nod of acceptance.

"Chris was a mistake," Sophia murmured sorrowfully. "I should have never dated him."

"We all make mistakes Sophia." Drake tried to reason, but Sophia just shook her head.

"This was too long of a mistake. It was three years I spent with an awful, awful person. That's so much time that I could have spent with Avery, wasted on him." Sophia breathed, her voice cracking towards the end.

I wanted more than anything to reach out and hold her. To give her for wrongs she never committed. I dug my hands into the fabric of Drake's seats to keep myself grounded.

The car came to a stop, and Drake's hand fell onto Sophia's shoulder. He squeezed it tight in reassurance.

"That's the past now Soph. You get as much time as you want with Avery now. You can move on." Drake avowed, rubbing a gentle hand up and down her back.

Sophia took a few calming breaths before nodding intently. "You're right. Let's do this." Sophia agreed, reaching for her door handle.

Drake did the same, but then abruptly stopped Sophia from fully opening her door. Sophia started an uproar of protest, but Drake hushed her with a wave of his hand.

"How many people live here?" Drake asked cautiously. Sophia's mouth pursed in confusion.

"Just Wyatt and his parents. He's an only child. Why?" Sophia asked incredulously. At that, Drake threw his seatbelt back on and started the car up again.

Sophia began assaulting Drake's arm. "Drake! What are you-"

"Three people don't need five cars, Sophia!" Drake barked. "He's up to something."

Sophia groaned in frustration. "You're being paranoid. Turn around and-"

"No! If you want to talk to him, tell him that you're going to meet him somewhere else!" Drake snapped, pulling down the street.

Sophia cursed a few insults at Drake but pulled out her phone anyway. I, on the other hand, was very grateful for Drake's intervention. Chris could've been in there with the entire baseball team and their bats. There would've been no way for Drake and Sophia to handle that on their own.

"He said that there is a coffee shop a little ways away," Sophia grumbled angrily, shoving her phone back in her pocket. "I don't understand Drake. I know he's terrible, but there's no need to be so freaking paranoid."

I watched Drake's hands tighten on the steering wheel, and grab a chunk of his cheek between his teeth. I know that Drake knows Sophia can't find out about anything. However, I can see how hard it is for him to keep it contained when Sophia is pushing him the way she is.

Drake had yet to respond after a few moments, so it was safe to assume that he had decided to stay quiet. It was the smart option, but Sophia wouldn't let it rest.

"Chris would never hurt anybody. He gets angry, but he would never actually hurt anybody." Sophia continued to push.

I watched Drake's expression shift from emotionless to angry. His grip on the steering wheel had become so tight that I was sure he was going to tear it off. He had to be tasting blood right now with how hard he was biting his cheek. The tension in the car began to build, and all I could do is pray that Sophia backed off.

"He still cares about me. He just wants to help me find out who's hurting Avery. He's on our side."

"Chris still cares about me. He just wants to help us find out who's hurting Avery. He's on our side." Sophia scowled.

And that did it.

Drake veered the car off to the side of the road and turned towards Sophia, seething with rage.

"On our side? Sophia, you don't know what you're talking about. You don't know anything. You need to shut up before I say something I regret." Drake roared. "You should listen to us because we're the ones trying to keep you safe. Not Chris. You think you know him, but I promise that you don't. So just shut up."

Drake's voice carried anger that I had never heard from him before. And by the look on Sophia's face and the tears welling in her eyes, I could tell that she hadn't either.

If Drake noticed the tears, he ignored them and began driving again.

I finally got the silence I was looking for.