"You look like you fell off the wrong side of the bed this morning."

"The term is got up from the wrong side."

"It's Clara, I'm pretty sure we can make a safe assumption."

I roll my eyes sinking into the backseat of Samantha's car.

"You guys are brilliant friends, you know that right?" I pipe and Rebecca laughs.

"Must have fallen off the bed and realised that it was her time of the month." Samantha says.

I flip them off.

"Okay Sam I think we should lay off her." Rebecca says,"She's in a bad mood."

Oh you don't know the half of it.

"So I'm guessing this is a side effect of the fact that Jake is back?" Rebecca turns back and ask.

What happened to leaving me alone?

"As if he's worth even one second of my time." I snort and both of them exchange look.

"What?" I huff,"It's true."

"Look, Clara we are not questioning the fact that it's not true." Rebecca says calmly,"We are just asking what you think, now that he's back."

"Well he can go fuck himself." I say.

"You are one vengeful ex girlfriend."

"I was not his girlfriend."

I'm really a bitch during my time of month. Okay maybe not usually but combine it with Jake's, 'I'm a master at being a total dick and most confusing little shit ever' act, it became worse.

Alec had to go earlier in the morning to talk to the coach about something related to the game and funding, so he couldn't pick me up. I could have probably driven myself but then I wouldn't have an excuse to come back with Alec.

I was a needy girlfriend, sue me.

To be honest I was dying to see Alec. I had been in such a bad mood ever since my "talk" with Jake that I was losing it.

And it did not help that I got my period in the morning.

My grandmother had already left so I had spent my entire morning hunting for breakfast blatantly ignoring the note that said that I had could always go to Ashley.

But that would mean seeing him. And it would probably result me ending up in jail.

In the end I just gave up on the food and called Samantha and asked her if she could pick me up.

Jeremy had also gone for the meeting cause he was the vice captain. That meant that I had to deal with the both of them, my headache and my monthly visitor.

I was going to end up killing someone by the end of this day.

"To be honest she deserves to vent." Samantha says finally as he parks,"He's a guy who is an absolute ass. But I don't know why it's bothering you so much that he's back."

That makes the two of us.

"I don't know. I don't care." I say firmly,"Honestly I'm over this and I seriously don't want I talk about it because there is nothing to say."

"Fair enough." Rebecca says,"So are you going to the football game this Friday?"

"I don't know." I say,"I'm probably going to have to go for chemistry you know, I screwed up my practical, big time."

"You'll do fine, stop stressing about it." Rebecca says getting out of the car,"But you're like the captains girlfriend it's like obligatory for you to be there."

Samantha rolls her eyes,"It's obligatory for her to go see boys tackle each other over their puny little ball? If that's the case then you can when they are mas-"

"Let's not shall we?" I interrupt shaking my head,"Seriously you could have just called it dumb."

She winks at me as we start walking towards the school,"What's the fun in that?"

"Football is not dumb." Rebecca says,"It's a high school tradition that's been going on for years and this our lat year to be a part of it."

"You talked me into going for tryouts and I was literally chased out of the field." I state drily.

"And you probably enjoyed every minute of it." She retorts back,"Plus Jake is single, currently the head of one of the most if not the richest companies in the US. I'm pretty sure everyone will be watching him."

"To bad they won't know hes an absolute dick."I add

"Amen to that." Samantha supplies.

"Now back to the football game-"

"No way." I say,"Samantha's right it's a dumb sport-"

"What's a dumb sport?"

I stop and turn around to look at Alec who is standing there looking at me curiously.

"Air hockey!" I say as quickly as possible,"Air hockey is dumb."

Rebecca simply sighs giving me an are you serious? look.

"Oh." Alec says laughing,"Okay, note to self, I'm definitely not going to take you to the arcade."

"That's my queue to go." Samantha says hurriedly as she walks away and I stare after her confused.

"Alec aren't you going to ask her whether she's coming to the game or not this Friday?"

I through my best glare at Rebecca and she simply smirks.

"I would but I know that she has to go for chemistry,right?"

I give Rebecca a triumphant smile and she rolls her eyes.

"I do." I say nodding,"But I'll try to catch as much of the game i can."

"Bullshit." Rebecca coughs and then looks innocently at me.

Alec simply gives a confused stare and I look very pointedly at her an say,"Isn't Jeremy looking for you?"

"Nope." She says popping the 'p'.

"Okay." Alec says as he gives me a kiss on the cheek,"I'll catch up with you in calculus?"

I smile,"Yup."

He gives me a nod and walks ahead joining his group of friends and turns around for just a second and gives me a smile before going entering the hallway.

"Well that was fun." Rebecca says and I turn around and glare at her.

"God you're such a cockblocker."

"I did you a favour." She says,"You look liked you were gonna jump him, if no one was around."

"I'm not you." I state and she rolls her eyes.

"If you were me you wouldn't say, Oh Em Gee Air Hockey is so dumb."

I elbow her this time and she laughs and says,"Believe it or not that's exactly how you sounded like."

"I did not sound like that."I defend.

"You did." She says nodding,"Besides you always become like this shy little I don't know what to say next when you're with Alec."

"That's not true."

"Maybe not always but in general." She says,"Don't get me wrong it's cute and all. In fact its pretty hilarious seeing you like that again. But seriously? You are one of the smartest people I know, At least most of the times but whenever you are around him you take a one eighty degree turn. "

"I used to." I correct,"I mean Bec he is all I've ever wanted since.... Well a very very long time and it's just so weird actually having him."

"You've had him for way longer than Valentine's day and we both know that."

My mood instantly darkens,"Let's not."

"He's perfect Clara, I get it." Rebecca says,"Seriously he's like an entire rom com hero wrapped under one neat bow. Anyone sane would be like that. But then again you're not very sane are you?"

"I'm perfectly normal." I snap,"I'm like every other girl, who is perfectly and totally content with the fairytale I've been handed."

She gives me a weird look and says,"Okay?"

"I'm sorry." I sigh,"It's just that I-"

"Its okay I get it."

"No you don't." I insist,"It's just everything is getting to me, he's getting-"

I stop midway and shake my head,"You know what let's just forget it."

"Okay fine." She says,"Why did you lie about the football thing?"

"He loves football Bec." I say,"What kind of crappy girlfriend will I be if I don't learn to like it for him."

She opens her mouth to say something but then shuts its almost immediately.

We walk towards my locker silently until she finally breaks it.

"Fair enough." She says after sometime,"Jokes aside, PMS aside and everything honestly what do you think now that you know who's back."

"He's not Voldemort." I deadpan,"Please he wishes he was that awesome."

She steps in front of me and stops me on my tracks,"Im serious Clara. No jokes."

"I'm not joking." I say,"And I really, really don't want to talk a bout it."

"How long are you going to keep running away from this?"

As long as it takes.

I bite my lip and look at her knowing there is no way out of this.

"I'm over it." I say,"I don't care. Whatever happened between Jake and I happened and it's over. I don't think it even started for that matter, seriously im done thinking about it. I've moved on and I'm happy. Alec's perfect and I can't ask for a better boyfriend. Even you know that after all you were the one who gave me the last flower, it was because you were also telling me to move on, wasn't it?"

She looks at me thoughtfully for a moment and then says,"Yeah, thats why."

________________________________________________________

"Oh come on Clara, two minutes?"

I smile up at Alec finally setting the book neatly down.

"You don't need to feel guilty, go."I say and he rolls his eyes and sits next to me.

"I don't care about guilt, Clara."He says,"It's just that you need to meet my friends."

"They will kill me."

"You're over exaggerating." He groans,"Come on, are you seriously embarassed of me?"

My mouth simultaneously drops open and I say incredulously,"What?"

"Are you embara-"

"I heard you, it's just so ridiculous that I couldn't believe it."

He grins,"Please Clara?"

My resolve wavers,"Alec, They are also Natalie's friends and they've pretty much hated me since, well freshman year."

"They are my friends too." He says firmly,"And they never hated you at least never in front of me."

There were a lot of things that happened behind his back.

"Please?"

In the end I nod. There was no point arguing with him on something that I knew I wouldn't win.

I get up from my secluded table in the cafeteria, where I had been sitting for the past four years with Samantha and Rebecca. Rebecca was missing as usual during lunch hour along with Jeremy, they had been getting food out for the past few weeks and Samantha used to disappear a lot these days.

As he leads me towards the table that I have avoided to the best of my ability for almost my entire high school career.

What had happened to me?

A petite short brunette steps in front of me and smiles. For a second I think she's going to scratch my face out but instead she simply hugs me,"Hi!"

I'm frozen in my spot staring at Melanie gap mouthed.

"It's amazing to finally meet you." She says,"Come sit next to me."

She grabs my hand and I'm dragged along with her.

Amazing to finally meet me? You've been in the same grade as me since middle school.

"Oh hi, you must be Clara." Summer Morgans says,"I mean I know you're Clara."

Giselle Davids, AKA the Karen of our school looks at me confused,"But she doesn't look like a freak."

Summer rolls her eyes,"Natalie used to bullshit a lot, Gis all that's she's been saying all these years about everything is probably a lie."

Giselle's eyes widen,"That makes sense, Hi Clara."

An then she hugs me too.

What the actual fuck.

"You don't say much do you?" Melanie observes.

"Nah, she's just nervous." Alec says siting down next to me.

Nervous? Try completely and absolutely shocked.

"Don't be." Melanie says,"We are not Natalie."

"Not anymore." Summer says kindly,"All of us are really sorry for everything we've done. I mean we were just following Natalie, we never knew she could be that wrong."

"Yup." Giselle says,"You're totally normal with skin and all."

"Thanks?" I manage to get out at last.

"You're welcome." She says.

Melanie speaks this time,"No we really do mean it. Sorry about everything. Like what Natalie did at the Valentines day ball wasn't cool. At all. I'm sorry but you don't mess with anyone's date or hair. It's just against girl code."

"Besides we are just happy that Alec has finally stopped with Natalie." Summer says,"You seem really nice and we are totally happy."

Melanie nods gravely,"The ex agrees. Besides we love Rebecca-"

"Hi I'm Jared." A boy puts forward his hand.

"Do not touch that god knows how many STDS it has." Melanie warns and Jared glares at her.

"At least I'm not a-"

"Hey guys." Alec interrupts,"Just a heads up we are trying to make a good impression here."

Even Jared looks embarrassed,"Right, sorry."

He then nervously waves in my direction,"Hi I'm Jared. That's Melanie, she's a freaking gem."

Melanie smirks,"Oh baby I'm the diamond."

"Where are Katie and Kelly?" Summer asks looking around,"They were supposed to be here too."

"That's okay." I quickly say,"I need to go and do some research anyway."

"You finally got yourself a smart one." Summer says,"I mean the IQ level of your previous-"

"Hey I was one of his..." Melanie darts to say,"You know what never mind."

Alec looked fairly mortified and that me smile just a little bit. Maybe they weren't that bad if you got to see but then gain it was only because of Alec they were behaving nicely I supposed.

"Again we really are sorry." Melanie looks surprisingly genuine something I had never noticed about her. Back when she used to be with Alec she was with Alec I used to be terrified of even going near her.

"That's okay." I say finally,"I get it what it's like being friends with Natalie."

"The bitch is a total dictator." It's Summer's boyfriend Derek who speaks up,"And I'm adding the tator just to be nice."

"Is it because you banged her too?" Jared pipes and that earns him a glare from both Summer and her boyfriend.

"What?" Jared shrugs,"All of us have and I'm pretty sure of Jeremy was here he would attest to that."

"Haven't you heard?" Melanie pipes,"Jeremy is a changed man."

"Yeah he couldn't even come for a quickie." Giselle pouts,"And I totally put out this time."

Everyone laughs and Summer puts her hand on Giselles shoulder,"Oh you poor baby."

"Why doesn't anyone ask me?" Jared asks.

"Because A) Eew Gross." Melanie says,""And B) everyone's too busy trying to get the ice prince in bed."

"Are we still on for that?" Summer asks,"I think he's starting to melt."

Derek simply sighs and Summer gives him a kiss,"Babe you know I love you, I've just got to prove that I've still got it in me."

"Clara any advice? After all you are the only girl he's even looked at in this school."

I swallow. We're they seriously here betting on as to who could get Jake into bed first?

"Well he's into a lot of foreplay and preferably as kinky as possible." I say taking a bite of my sandwich as everyone stares at me gape mouthed.

"I'm kidding." I say shaking my head and everyone starts laughing.

"I like her." Summer say and then looks at Alec,"Can we keep her? Please, please-"

"What the fuck is she doing in my seat?"

The entire table grows silent as Natalie stands with her tray of salad icing me a murderous glare.

"I was just leaving-"

"She's here because we asked her." Summer interrupts.

"It's my seat." Natalie repeats looking slightly shocked.

"It was your seat." Melanie says calmly,"You are of course welcome to join us providing you apologise to Clara and to all of us for acting like a pricey bitch yesterday during practice in which you weren't even supposed to be in."

"It's my squad." Natalie says,"And how can you be friends with her?"

"Because she's my girlfriend Natalie." Alec says,"And messing with her means messing with me."

"And we are his friends." Summer says,"Because unlike you he is nicer and so is Clara. And because of you we've bullied this girl through out high school just because we were friends with you. I'm done being that terrible person."

"And it's not your squad, it's our squad." Melanie says firmly.

I felt bad. I honest to god felt horrible because I knew what it felt like to be boycotted by your closet friends in front of the entire school.

Maybe in Natalie's case she did deserve it but none the less I felt terrible.

But not terrible enough to do anything about it. I should have probably done the right thing by just calling this off now but honestly what could I do?

Clearly her friends are sick of her, I mean sure she would still have her army of followers but her reputation would definitely be tarnished.

My plan hadn't been that much. It was stupid compared to what Alec had just set into motion.

I was simply going to get her levy come to prom and make sure that in the end she won't win queen.

It was stupid but to Natalie something like that mattered more than you would imagine.

But what Alec had done must have hit much closer to home.

"Fine." Natalie huffs,"You think the skank can run the cheerleading squad then let it be. I quit and I'm pretty sure Katie and Kelly would do. And as for Clara-"

"Sorry babe." I say the words tumbling out of my mouth,"You can't give me chlamydia too."

Everyone laughs at that and I join in as Natalie turns red. I turn around and see Jake standing at the edge of the cafeteria, leaning against the wall looking at me intently.

His gaze flickers to Natalie and then Alec for just one second and then he simply shakes his head and exits the cafeteria.

____________________

"Wow Ashley went all out didn't she?" I say looking at the buffet in front of us.

"She was cooking the entire afternoon." Nate says from across the table,"Word of advice don't interrupt her while cooking."

I laugh at that and Alec simply shrugs as he takes a spoonful of mashed potatoes on his plate,"Hey I'm not complaining."

He piles my plate with Ashley's veggies and potatoes. I debate as to telling Alec that I really didn't want the vegetables and all I wanted was the deep fried chicken which would probably give me a heart attack by the age of forty but I decide against it. It was a sweet gesture and it would be really rude of me to dismiss it like that.

Honestly could I have asked for someone more perfect?

He holds the door open for me every time and says,"after you." He dragged the chair out for me and waited till I was seated and then pushed me back in.

I mean don't get me wrong I'm all for the feminism movement that a guy doesn't have to hold the door open for a girl because thy are equal and do stuff like that but it's nice to see chivalry.

That and I'm really lazy.

"So how do you like the food?" Ashley asks finally siting down.

"It's amazing." Alec says after swallowing his mouthful,"Like really amazing."

"Clara?" Ashley asks and I look up.

"Sorry I was to busy stuffing my face with your food."

Ashley grins and is about to say something when Jake finally comes down the stairs yawning.

"And Sleeping Beauty finally awaken." Ashley announces and he rolls his eyes.

"Sorry nobody gave me a true loves kiss to wake me up." He responds.

He comes and sits across Ashley at the spot furthest to me. I don't say anything and as I continue inhaling my food and doings best to just keep my mind blank.

"Hi Alec, Hi Clara." Jake says casually as he piles on the chicken on his plate.

"Hi." Alec responds back in the same tone and then looks at me expectantly.

"Hello."