I sat in the café after school chatting to Rena while I waited for Lauren. I told her what had happened with her.

"Wow, I'm kinda curious to see what her excuse is" she chucked "Speaking of which, here she is now. Good luck!"

She walked off just as Lauren came in the door.

Lauren took the seat opposite me, looking sheepish "Hi"

"Hi Lauren"

She sighed "I guess I should explain myself"

Not really waiting for a reply, she continued talking.

"I live next door to you and I was sick for a few days. I saw you with Hayley and I got jealous because she's had a crush on you for like a few months and she didn't even notice me, the girl who's had a crush on her since elementary school. I got jealous. I asked her for your number and...well, you know the rest"

"Right, so you did this out of jealously?"

She nodded slowly "Yeah. I'm really sorry Ashley. I knew you'd blame Melanie"

"So it was you?"

The both of us jumped up and Melanie stood behind us, her arms crossed.

"H-Hi Melanie" I said.

Melanie completely ignored me and looked at Lauren "I got blamed for what you did, you know. And I don't appreciate being told I'm wrong when I'm not. I admit, I've done hurtful things to Ashley before but I don't appreciate ever being accused of something I didn't do"

Now, it was Melanie's turn to look sheepish.

By now, the entire café was staring at the three of us.

"While we're confessing and apologising, Ashley..." she looked at me "I've something to say"

"About two years ago, you and I were in the same class. We didn't really know each other but I liked you and you're blue hair and I wanted to be friends but I was shy. Then, I heard you telling Jenna about your crush on Hayley. All my hope of ever being friends or something more with you vanished and I got angry and took it out of you for years. I thought maybe it'd make you forget about Hayley but it didn't you became so fixated on her. I didn't mean to hurt you but it was the only way I could see you every day." Melanie had started to cry now.

"I know that now nothing will ever happen but..." she let out a shaky breath "I'm s-s... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for hurting you. I regret it all and I just want to be friends."

She took out a plastic bag from her school bag stuffed with dollar bills "Here's all the money I made you give me. I kept every dollar"

My eyes widened as the bag landed with a full thump on the table.

Melanie wiped her eyes, now becoming self-conscious of the crowd staring "Im gonna go but I'm sorry Ashley. I hope you'll forgive me. I don't expect it to be tomorrow or next week or next year even. Just, someday. I hope you can"

She left.

I internally breathed out a sigh of relief.

Guess she'll no longer haunt me anymore.