"Wait." I called to her. Grabbing her by the wrist. "Why did you do that?" I asked, my heart was still beating like mad, and my cheeks were still burning with heat.

"I don't know." Courtney said simply, there was no smirk or smug look on her face, instead she looked confused and perhaps even, a little embarrassed. It was so hard to tell what she was thinking. "I just wanted to." She admitted, giving me a small smile.

The contents of my stomach turned, seeing that smile. It was so beautiful and so natural, not like the usual ones she gave, that were fake. "Okay." I whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. We stood their in silence for a little while, neither one of us quite sure what to say. Then five words entered my mind, five words that now made sense.

"Courtney answer me one question." She nodded but didn't say anything, so I continued. "Did you kiss me just so I would tell you what I had learnt about Arizona?" My heart sped up as her lips formed a small smile.

"I didn't kiss you just to find out about her." There wasn't much distance between us, so it took her only a single step until she was in front of me. "I kissed you because I wanted to. I will still get her back, but you don't have to help me, okay?"

"Okay." I agreed, staring at her perfect lips, remembering the feel of them, the way they moved in sync with mine. I wanted to feel them again, feel how smooth they are. As if Courtney were having the same thoughts, she leant down and pressed her lips against mine. There wasn't a a huge difference in our heights, Courtney was an inch maybe two taller than me, so she didn't really have to lean down that far.

The kiss was just as soft as the first one, this time however her hands made their way to the side of my face, and my hands made their way to her hair, pulling her head closer to me. She gently bit my bottom lip, I hadn't been expecting it so I gasped opening my mouth, like she had hoped for. Her tongue entered my mouth and proceeded to play with my own. I was new to this and didn't quite know what to do, but Courtney took charge, showing me what to do, and soon my tongue was battling with hers for dominance.

She pulled back, her face flushed and her green eyes darker than I had ever seen them, full of lust. I had never seen this side of Courtney, but it was defiantly my favourite side of her. She bit her lip, looking at my lips. Her eyes travelled up to meet mine, "I'm going to go now." She whispered. I dropped my hands from her hair.

What do you say after that? "I'll see you tomorrow." I whispered back.

"Yeah. See you in the morning Mickie." She gave me one last smile, before she turned and left my bedroom. I followed her to the front door.

"Bye then." I said, holding my front door open.

"Bye." Unlike her usual goodbyes, where she would blow me a kiss as she walked away, she gave me a final, farewell kiss on the lips. Her lips lingered momentarily on mine. "Bye." She repeated.

I watched her make her way to her car, and drive off. I closed my front door and leant against it, trying to slow my heart, which was beating so fast I was afraid it was going to burst out of my chest.

Courtney had kissed me, not once, not twice but four times, albeit two were only a quick peck, it didn't matter, I was on cloud nine. I know we should have talked about it, talked about what the kiss meant, but right now I didn't care. I ran my thumb across my bottom lip, thinking about that third kiss, it was so passionate, I had wished for it to happen for so long, dreamt about it even.

I was still leaning on the door when the sound of someone knocking from the other side made me jump. It was probably Courtney, she only left ten minutes ago, but knowing her she had forgotten something.

"What did you fo-" I opened the door, shocked to see Arizona standing there. "Arizona." I said stupidly.

"Hey Mickie, do you mind if I come in?" She asked giving me a sheepish grin, I had been too shocked by the sight of her I hadn't even invited her in.

"Of course." I opened the door further to let her in. I gestured with my hand for her to go through to the room on the right, the living room. "Is everything okay?" I asked her as I joined in the room.

"Yeah everything's fine. Look I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I don't know why I said, I don't even know what I meant by it-" She was doing that nervous talking again. I smiled at her and she stopped talking all together.

"It's fine Arizona." She sighed and smiled at me.

"Good, because I didn't mean anything by it." She rubbed the back of her neck, and sat down beside me on the sofa. "Why are you smiling like that?" Arizona asked laughing, I probably looked like a fool, I was still grinning from having kissed Courtney. I wasn't sure if I should tell Arizona or not.

"We kissed." I blurted out, still grinning like a complete fool.

"You and Courtney?" She asked, her eyes were wide and she was staring at me in shock.

"Yeah." I said nodding my head enthusiastically.

"Why? I mean did you tell her that you are in love with her."

"No I didn't tell her, we were talking, and she kissed me."

"Oh Mickie." She sighed, shaking her head at me. "Don't you see it."

"Don't I see what?" What was she talking about? I thought she might be happy for me, or at least pretend to be.

"She's using you."

"Of course she's not-"

"She is Mickie, you're playing right into-"

"What the hell do you know?" I practically screamed at Arizona, I was angry at her for trying to make Courtney seem like an Evil Genius.

"Mickie, what I told you about Annabelle-"

"Courtney is not Annabelle Arizona. Courtney is kind and sweet, and unlike Annabelle and you, we are really good friends."

"Don't be so thick Mickie." The way Arizona was starting to talk to me was getting to me, it was mean and quite cold, so unlike the Arizona I had got to know. "You stand up to her, and in return she kisses you." How did she know I had been standing up to Courtney? Oh of course she thinks me spending time with her was 'standing up' to Courtney.

"I think you should go Arizona."

"I doubt she even cares about you Mickie, she'll drop you as soon as you're no longer useful to her."

"You have no idea what you are talking about."

Arizona laughed and shook her head at me, "Don't I Mickie, I have been exactly where you are right now. Do you know what I think Mickie? I think you're being a fool. Courtney's going to hurt you and you're going to need someone. I'll be that someone, I just hope she doesn't hurt you that much." Arizona didn't add anything else or even wait for me to reply, she just left.

I sat there and thought about Courtney and I. Thinking about the days we spent together and all the stuff we shared. Then I remembered what she had said to me monday. That it was just me and her, and how she asked me if I was choosing Arizona over her. She was right it is just me and her, it had always been me and her, and will always be me and her, and I was choosing her over Arizona.

I pulled my mobile phone out of my pocket and sent a quick message to Courtney,

Need 2 talk 2 U. x

Within seconds of sending it, I got a reply,

On my way 2 urs. x

I smiled and waited for her to arrive. About fifteen minutes later there was a knock at my door. Courtney. "Hey Mickie is everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah everything's fine I just need to talk to you. Come in."

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Courtney said, when we were sitting on the sofa.

"You were right Court. It is just me and you."

She smiled at me, "Good Mickie, I'm glad to hear it, but if that's all-"

"No." I said quickly interrupting her. "I wanted to tell you what I know about Arizona."

"Mickie it's okay you don't have to tell me." She put her hand over mine, the small touch sent shocks down my spine.

"I know, but I want to help you." I swallowed nervously, I wasn't even sure if I was doing the right thing. I looked into Courtney's eyes. People say that the eyes are a window into the soul. I just know that looking into Courtney's eyes right now I realised that I was doing the right thing. "Arizona's gay, her mum kicked her out. That's why she moved here."

"She's gay." Courtney repeated standing up. I watched as something burned in her eyes, it wasn't happiness, anger maybe? "Did she try anything with you?" Courtney asked, she wasn't smiling anymore.

"No Court, she didn't try anything with me."

"Good, if she does, promise me you'll tell me."

"I promise Court." Courtney was acting almost like she was jealous, but she can't be, if she is did that mean she liked me. "Court what's going on between us." I know there is a chance I might not like the answer, but I have to know.

She sighed and sat down next to me, "I don't know Mickie. I like spending time with you and I liked kissing you, but..." She trailed off.

"But what Court?"

"But I don't want to be..." Gay. I'm certain that was how she was going to finish that sentence. I know what she means, the way people act in our town if you are gay make any gay person wish they were straight.

"It's okay Court, I get it." I smiled at her and she smiled back. "What about Arizona?"

"Let's she how she deals with her little secret being out." In a flash the old Courtney was back, a smirk on her face and her eyes looked cold. "I'll see you tomorrow Mickie, it's going to be an eventful one."

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Arizona's P.O.V

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I groaned internally. You'd think people would have gotten over the whole 'stare and gossip' about the new girl thing. Yet here I am walking down the school hallway to my form with students from all years staring at me, whispering something to the person beside them. I rolled my eyes, and turned my music up louder so I couldn't hear any of there stupid comments.

I got to form early as usual and stood outside the door. I closed my eyes and leant against the wall, I was too tired to even function properly today. Damn Lee Child for writing such addictive books, I was up half the night finishing Killing Floor. I could really do with another hour or two of sleep.

As my luck would have it, my form tutor arrived earlier had opened the door, yay. Note the heavy sarcasm. That meant I would have to take my earphones out and listen to the crap my peers had to talk about. I sighed, taking my earphones out and stepping into the classroom. I took my usual seat at the back of the classroom, there were only a few of us here so early. But by the time the bell rang the classroom was full.

When I first started on Monday, everybody was fighting over who would sit next to me, who would be the first one to befriend the new girl, of course my attitude put them all of by Tuesday. Resulting in me sitting alone, honestly I preferred it this way, but today a tall brunette sat next to me. I couldn't remember her name, I think it was the name of a flower.

"Hey Arizona." She said her voice so high and full of energy.

"Hey..." I didn't know her name to say it.

"Lily." She informed me smiling. She was a pretty girl but way too happy.

"Hey Lily." I said, giving her a small smile, as not to seem rude.

"How are you?" Oh God, she was making small talk. There was obviously a reason she came over here to talk me, but now she was too nervous to tell me.

"No offence Lily, but you obviously want something, what is it?" I hadn't heard Miss call my name, I told her I was present and turned my attention back to the girl sitting beside me. She was blushing slightly now.

"We all just want to know if it's true." She whispered. I looked up and noticed that a lot of eyes were on us now.

"If what's true?" I asked her. What the hell was she talking about? Did she have to talk in riddles.

"You know that your..." She prompted me. Still I had no idea what she was talking about.

I sighed, "Just say it." I was getting frustrated now, it was clear that whatever it was she was trying to ask me the whole class was interested in knowing the answer. Conversations had stopped, heads were facing our direction.

"Is it true that you're gay?" What. How did she know? Wait if she knew that meant everybody knew. I had only told one person. Just breathe. I told myself over and over. You know how to deal with this.

"Yeah it's true." There was no point in lying, it's pretty obvious who they would believe. "Has anyone got a problem with that?" I said to the whole class who were now all watching me.

"Miss Levy." My tutor warned me. I closed my mouth and turned to face the flower girl.

"Is that all you wanted to know?" I was furious, not because of her or even because of everybody knew, no, I was furious because I had, yet again, laid my trust in the wrong person. The girl nodded, I could tell she was embarrassed. "Now tell me who told you." I already knew the answer, but I wanted to make sure.

"..." She mumbled something incoherently.

"What was that I didn't hear you?"

"Courtney Diamond." She repeated louder this time. I slammed my fist as quietly as possible on the table, but it was still loud enough for Miss to hear, she shot me another glare, which I ignored. Usually teachers love me, I got all their work done I was an A* student, what more could they ask for, but my form tutor hated me for some reason.

"Be careful Lily, she may try to kiss you." One of the more popular boys on the table in front of me said. It begins. All the names, the rumours, the sarcy comments. I could cope with it better now, but still I hated knowing that I was one of the school rejects.

I stood up, a thousand different insults sprang to mind, but I didn't even have a chance to try one out. "Miss Levy, please leave my classroom."

"Miss, he-"

"Now Miss Levy."

"Fine. Whatever." I said in defeat, I grabbed my backpack off the floor and left the classroom. As soon as I was a fair distance from the classroom I threw my bag at the wall. I ran both hands through my hair. I refuse to let it get to me this time, I refuse to let someone like Courtney Diamond boss me around.

"Damn it." I screamed, lightly punching the wall. My dad was right, if I only I had just told Mickie the truth. I looked up as the sound of giggling bounced around the empty hallway. A couple of girls who were late to form were giggling at something. I rolled my eyes, I was being paranoid if I believed they were whispering about me.

"I am not going to take this lying down. I am going to go to Law, I'll tell them all what they want to know and I'll make sure they all know that I don't care what they have to say. Great I'm losing it, I'm now talking to myself." I said out-loud to know one.

I sat through two hours of law being quizzed on my sexuality. I mean how many times to I have to say 'yes I am a lesbian', before they got it through their thick skulls. It was the usual reactions, some of the boys believe I am a walking abomination, the others think it's 'hot'. The girls act as if at any moment I might throw myself at them. I just about got threw it knowing that there was someone I had to see at break.

I practically ran to the common room at break. Everybody's eyes were on me. I didn't care though, they were already gossiping about me. I wasn't surprised to see the person I wanted to talk to was already there, sitting on the sofa as usual, except this time she was smirking at me, like she had been waiting for me.

"You really think you're something don't you Courtney." I said, slowly walking towards her.

"I don't know what you mean Arizona." She said feigning innocence. I resisted the urge to rip out her blonde hair.

"I suppose I should be flattered. You were so jealous of me that you had to start rumours about me." I smiled at her.

"Are you saying it's not true?" She tilted her to the side, a smirk playing on her lips. God, I wished I could slap that smirk off of her face.

"Oh no it's true. I'm gay alright." I made sure I said it loud enough for the whole common room to hear, I wanted to show her that I wasn't bothered by everyone knowing. I took another step towards her and she stood up copying my movements, we were just inches away from each other now. We were roughly the same height, neither of us having the advantage of towering over their 'opponent'.

I lifted my hand as if to touch her face, knowing how she would react. She hit my hand away. "Sorry I don't bat for your team."

"Don't you?" It was my turn to smirk now. Something changed in her expression, and she quickly turned to face the person who had been sitting beside her. Mickie. Mickie was staring at the ground, she looked she was hurting. Seeing her like that made me think. Why the hell am I doing this? Even if I told Courtney what I knew, there could only be two consequences, nobody would believe me and both Mickie and Courtney would brush it off, or Mickie would end up getting hurt. "From what I here your boyfriend dumped you for another girl." I quickly changed the subject. No matter what I wouldn't let Mickie get hurt because of my big mouth.

"That's none of your business." Courtney snapped.

"No, and who I like is none of yours. So, keep your big mouth shut." I was only making her more angry, I had a feeling that any minute now she was going to jump at me.

"Whoa girls, calm down." The blonde guy, whose name I had again forgotten, stepped in between us. "Come on Court, she's not worth it." He said putting his hand on Courtney's shoulder. He then turned to Mickie. "Hey Mickie, take that thing out of here before Court kills her."

"W-what?" Mickie stuttered nervously looking up. She looked at Courtney who now had her back to me.

"It's fine Mickie, I'll see you after English." Courtney told her. Mickie nodded and walked towards me. I didn't want to leave but I know that if I don't I'll end up doing something that I regret. I followed Mickie out of the door and into the hallway. When we were alone, I turned her to face me.

"How could you Mickie?" I asked her. She didn't look up to meet my eyes instead she stared at the floor. She didn't say anything. "It's funny I know Courtney is capable of something like this. But you Mickie?" I shook my head.

"I'm sorry Arizona." Her apology was so quiet.

"I mean after what you said to me and what I told you, you still told her." Again she didn't say anything. "How would you feel if I told everyone that you were gay too?" I whispered, it wasn't a threat, just a question. She looked up at me, her green eyes pleading with me.

"I told you Arizona, I would losing everything, I would be a nobody-"