"Not bad," Heather says, "I see you managed without me." She hands me back the graded homework assignment I scored a 'B' on.

"Barely," I shake my head, "I used some notes you left over here and pretty much guessed the rest."

"Oh, hush," she playfully rolls her eyes, "you're smarter than you know."

"No, I know," I shrug, "I'm just not the go to college kind of smart."

"You are to," Heather argues, "what do you want to do after you graduate?"

"Well...I figure graduating is good enough. My dad graduated, but my mom didn't because she had me and it was tough. So...I think I'll stay here, Manhattan, I'll get a job...something in construction maybe."

"Leo," she said sadly.

"Heather, do not give me that teacher talk where you tell me that if I apply myself I can become the fucking president or whatever, it's not true."

"I wasn't..." she looked empathetically at me, "you're not old enough to be the president."

I chuckle and shake my head. "Yeah, that's what's stopping me, butterfly."

"You can't honestly expect me to believe there isn't something else you'd like to do."

"I mean...sure, I guess. It'd be cool to have my own record store."

"Then do that," Heather suggests, "go to school for business. Open up your own record store, it can even be close to home."

I shake my head. "I don't want to waste away in a classroom any longer than I have to."

"So you'd rather waste away ruining your hair with a hard hat?"

"That's what you're worried about?" I smirk, "my hair?"

"Leo," she groans, "I'm serious."

"Are you really going to argue with me about this?" I laugh and lay back against my bed.

"Yes!" She huffs and moves to hover over me.

Suddenly it feels a million degrees hotter in here.

"What do you care, anyway?" I look up at her.

"I just do, okay?"

"Okay," I nod and try to hide my smile.

"Don't look at me like that..."

"Like what?" My voice comes out shallow.

"The way you do...like I'm completely out of my mind and you're the only one who knows it."

I smirk, "maybe I am...but I promise I won't tell."

She smirks in response and starts to slowly back away, but I grab her waist to keep her near. I'm not sure why, I just did...

Heather doesn't move. We don't look away from each other, and for a moment, I swear we might just-

"Where you at, Rylin? I'm here," Danny makes a loud entrance, and Heather retreats to the end of my bed.

I've never heard of such bad timing.

"Fuck..." I sigh, "I forgot to ask for a rain check," I tell Heather. "Wait here," I climb out of bed and head out into the living room.

"There he is," Danny pats me on the back.

"Man..." I look behind him and see Val and Cherry, "did you have to bring them with you?"

"Why not? We're watching a movie, they won't be talking."

"I can't..." I say apologetically, "I'm busy."

Danny furrows his eyebrows, "this was your idea."

"Yeah..."

"...who's here?" He says slyly, catching on, "Amanda?"

"No."

"...Peyton?"

"Come on," I laugh.

"Heather," he narrows his eyes at me. "How'd you do it?"

Val comes up next to Danny, "did you say that Heather girl is here?"

"Babe, tell Cherry we're leaving, okay?" He ignores her question.

"In a minute," she says before I see her head toward my room.

"Don't go in there," I say sternly, "I mean it, Valentina, stay out of my room."

"Babe!" Danny calls out for her too, but she doesn't listen, and Cherry follows behind her.

"Fuck's sake-"

"So, you gonna spill or what?" He asks again.

"I just talked to her," I shrug, "that's all."

"That's all?" He raises an eyebrow, "she missed you too then."

"Shut up," I look down as my face heats up. "Now, go pull your girlfriend out of my room."

"Yeah," he chuckles, "Val, baby, are we done chitchatting or are we planning a sleepover?"

"Don't give them any ideas," I say lowly.

"Would you calm down, Danny? We're leaving," Val huffs as she walks out, clutching her purse to her side. "I told you I don't like it when you boss me around."

"Look at what you've started," he sighs to me. "See you later, man," Danny puts his arm over her shoulders but she shrugs him off and continues complaining.

"Bye, Leo," Cherry eyes me deviously as she comes out of my room last.

Ah, geez...what'd you do to Heather?

"Yeah, yeah, see you," I rush them all out and lock the door behind them before leaning up against it. What do I even do now?

"Hey..." I turn at the sound of the soft voice.

"Hey," I breathe out. "I'm sorry about that. I've got to find a better place to hide the spare key...everyone thinks they live here now."

She smiles and shrugs, "it's okay."

"Were they nice to you? Cherry and Val? I know they can be...kinda bitchy-"

"They were fine," she cuts me off and smiles a bit.

God, are you going to make me ask?

"So...uh...what'd you talk about then?" I try not to seem too interested by straightening up the movie cases on the coffee table.

She smirks, "why do you want to know?"

"I don't really," I shrug, "I was just asking..."

"You want to know if we talked about you," Heather says arrogantly.

"...they don't like me too much," I give in.

"I can tell."

"Swear you won't believe whatever they said."

"You mean about you using girls until you're bored of them?" Heather tries to hide her smile.

"Cherry told you that, didn't she?" Sounds like something she'd say.

"So you admit it then?" She teases, "Leo Rylin, teenage heartbreaker. Who would've known?"

"No," I shake my head, "you know me well enough not to believe that."

"Well, sure," she nods, "but they know you well enough to warn me not to be alone with you."

"That's crazy, we're alone all the time."

"I know, but they're worried we have a connection or something," she laughs.

"Is that so?" I try to laugh with her.

"Yeah, I told them that was ridiculous."

"Plan on getting off the bench any time soon, Carey?" Tony taunted.

I sigh, "coach says I'm suspended for another week."

The headmistress pretty much forced the coach to pull me. I got benched for 3 weeks just for almost fighting Trevor at the dance.

"You should've at least broken his nose then," Tony smirks, "Trevor didn't get anything but the girl."

I scoff through laughter, "he did not get her." I may have royally fucked up by trying to win the car over Alison, but Trevor didn't even have a reason to play her...he just did it for fun. She knows that, she has to.

"Then why did I see her leaving his suite the other day?"

I look up at him and scowl, "you didn't."

"Yeah," he laughs, "I did. She was wearing his shirt too."

"It wasn't her," I shake my head. "Trevor always has skanks leaving his room. The maid service is on his payroll and his dick."

"This was no maid," he insists, "I said: 'Hey, Alison,' and she said," he pretends to tuck hair behind his ear and look shy before imitating her voice, "Oh, hi, I was just...leaving."

I huff and my jaw clenches, "because that makes sense," I roll my eyes. "People are always so stupid!"

"Aw, don't talk about yourself like that, Ethan," Tony chuckles and runs back onto the field to pick up his gear.

"Showers, boys!" The coach calls out, ending practice. I stay seated on the bench, my lacrosse stick tightly gripped in my hands. "That means you too, Carey! Get in there!"

I huff and throw my stick to the ground and head for the locker rooms. I can't play but I still have to come to practice and get yelled at and train just as hard as everyone else, and for what? I should have broken his nose.

"Everything alright?"

I look over to see Jace with a concerned expression on his face.

"You know..." I open my locker as I speak to him, "I've been really nice about a lot of shit lately," I sift through my things, "the whole Audrey trying to ruin my life situation, the being pulled off the field, but I'm getting tired of being screwed over, Jace. I really am."

"...what do you mean, buddy?" He talks to me as if I'm one trigger away from going off the rails.

"I never showed anyone these," I take out the three infamous Alison polaroids that were definitely Rated-R.

"Are you insane?" Jace rushes over to cover me, "Put those away before someone sees,"

"Why should I care? It's not me in the pictures."

"You took them, they're in your possession," Jace explains.

"Prove it," I smirk, "maybe Trevor took them. It was his camera...and if they end up in his locker, then they're in his possession."

"Ethan," Jace groans, "it's not worth it. You only have one more week probation."

"...fine," I take a deep breath. "You're right," I toss the photos up into the air and listen to them fall in different places.

"Why would you do that? Don't you still like her?" Jace says in...what might be horror...or just embarrassment on Ali's behalf.

"Doesn't matter," I shake my head. "You always like someone until you get your hands on someone else. But why am I telling you this, you already know."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not an idiot. I know about you and Evelyn."

He sighs worriedly, "that's private, okay? So don't tell anyone."

"There's no shame in getting over someone by getting under someone else...speaking of," I stand on top of the bench closest to my locker, "will one of you please bone Audrey Michaels so she'll leave me the hell alone for once?"

"Ethan, stop, what is wrong with you?" Jace pulls me down. "Have you been drinking?"

"Why, want some?" I smile.

"I've barely seen you in weeks, and you come to practice drunk?"

"I'm not drunk," I shove him away, "I had like two drinks. Get off my back."

"Yeah whatever," Jace glares at me.

"So uptight...you should fuck Audrey, you'd be perfect for each other. And then Milligan over there could fuck Heather...he's put in enough work. Or...better yet, let me...I've been through all her friends. After that, I'll be able to rank them."

Jace walks up on me, fists clenched, "When you're sober...remind me to kick your ass."

"Mom, can I have some friends over?" Or just one.

"Sweetie, ask Peyton. She'll be doing the babysitting tonight, I told you I have a date."

I sigh in annoyance, "I don't need her to babysit, I'm 15."

"And if you knew what I was doing at your age, you'd understand. I can't have you bringing home any babies."

"Who are you going out with anyway? It's not the bank guy again, is it?"

"It is," she smiles to herself.

I scoff, "don't be out too late, Marcia. Your curfew is 10 o'clock."

"Zach," she says fondly.

"I mean it," I give her the stern parent look.

She puts her hands up in surrender, "you're strict, but you got it, 10 and not a minute more."

"Good," I cross my arms, "and have fun...but not too much fun, I'm watching the clock."

"Go ask Peyton about your friend," she laughs and turns toward the mirror to put on lipstick.

I probably shouldn't ask...if Evan...or anyone comes over, Peyton won't care. My mom thinks she like...cooks for us and tucks us in at night or something. Peyton literally forgets that I'm here.

I come up to her bedroom door and raise my hand up to knock, but pull away when I hear talking.

"Do I meet him?"

"Yes, say yes," Peyton says excitedly.

"Where?"

"Um...he can come here," Peyton replies.

"Okay, so I'll see you tonight then? Yeah- okay, bye."

I hear the phone being put back on the hook, followed by the sound of squealing excitement from three girls.

"Wait— Sharon, you have to be careful with Will, you know. He just dumped Gwen for being too frigid," I recognize the third voice as Lydia's.

"But I'm not frigid," Sharon says in defense.

"We have different opinions than guys on what it means to be a prude," Peyton chimes in. "Will thinks frigid means waiting longer than a week to have sex with him."

"If it makes you feel any better, I heard he's pretty good though," Lydia says nonchalantly.

"...that kinda does make me feel better," Sharon responds and silence falls over the room before being interrupted by a fit of laughter.

"So, what about Vince?" Peyton questions.

"What do you mean?" Lydia says in confusion.

"Big hands...big feet..."

"Oh, big is right," I can hear the smile in her voice.

"Woo!" Sharon cheers and claps, "send him over here then."

"Shut up," Peyton says jokingly as she scoffs, "you're getting Will."

"I'm sorry, not all of us can have med-school boyfriends to sweep us off our feet. Some of us need to play the field," Sharon says teasingly.

"I think I'm still on my feet," Peyton sighs, "Josh is great...usually."

"Usually?"

"What gives guys the right to make us feel so bad sometimes?"

"I think their hearts are in their dicks...it only works when they're hard," Lydia laughs, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

"Do you ever wonder if we actually matter to any of them at all? It's like...we eventually reach the best-by date we didn't know we ever had, and they don't want us anymore."

I furrow my eyebrows, "best-by date?"

"...Zach!"

I jump back from the door, but it's furiously swung open only a second later.

"Peyton, I-"

"You eavesdropping creep, what the hell do you want?" She says harshly.

I almost begin to stammer, but I look past her and see Sharon rolling a joint.

"Does mom know you're smoking weed in here?"

Peyton rolls her eyes and pulls me into her room before shutting the door.

"Boys are assholes at all ages, exhibit A," she motions toward me.

"Hey, I'm not the guy avoiding your calls every night," I scoff, "and you should stop leaving those sad messages and writing all those dumb letters, he's throwing them away. It's just a matter of time before he starts sending them back."

"What do you know?" She scowls and pushes me.

"Guys don't like it when you're clingy. If he's ignoring you, it's on purpose."

"Get out!"

"Wait- no, don't," Lydia interjects.

I turn to her, "why?"

"So what if the guy you're into is like...confusing? Mixed signals and all...and you're not sure if he really likes you or it's all in your head," Lydia says.

"If you have to ask...then he probably doesn't," I shrug, "some people just think it's fun to lead you on..."

"Do you do that?" Peyton crosses her arms.

"No," I glare at her, "but I see it happen a lot."

"His friends," Peyton tells the girls, "Leo and the others."

"They're not like that," I say defensively, "if anything, you are. Leo liked you and you used him when you were bored."

"Liked?"

"I don't think he does anymore, I don't know, ask him."

"Alright, what about the guys who like you but don't want people to know?" Sharon changes the subject, "it's not fair. I was so in love with this boy named Wesley a couple years ago, and he liked me too, but whenever we were around his friends or anyone else, he'd pretend he didn't know me...or care that I existed."

"Yeah...I don't get that either," I take a seat in the circle with them. "He didn't want to lose you...Wesley or whatever. I know he didn't." I shake my head, "it's a life or death situation for them in a way. You or death. Life and not you...so death."

Sharon laughs, "then I hope he still feels like death."

"Me too," I smile.

I'd like to think that Evan would feel like death if he chose everyone else's opinion over being with me.

"You're Mr. Perfect, aren't you Zach?" Lydia wrapped me in her arms and I laughed in response, "why aren't you old enough to be my boyfriend?"

"I'm not perfect...and if I was, you wouldn't want me then."

"Why not?" She tilts her head in confusion.

"No one ever wants what they should. That's why guys are assholes."