Her arms come over my shoulders, and I know it's her from the smell of her perfume.

She leans down and kisses my cheek before coming around to where I could see her.

"Hey," I say as I take off my headphones.

"What are you doing in here?"

"I was 5 minutes late to class, and the teacher wouldn't let me in," I shrug.

"No wonder I couldn't find you this morning."

"Aw," I chuckle, "were you looking?"

"Obviously," she playfully rolls her eyes. "But none of your friends had seen you. I thought you weren't coming."

"Were you looking for kisses or did you need me for something?" I ask.

"Well..." Heather smiles, "I was invited to another deb party, and if you don't have any plans this weekend, I was hoping you'd come with me."

"Um..."

"I know you're the last person who'd ever be caught dead at something so prim and boring, but I don't want to go alone. Unlike Alison's, I won't know most of the guests, so it'd be more fun if you were there."

Why, does your date turn back into a pumpkin at midnight?

"I don't think so, butterfly," I shake my head. "You said it yourself, it's not my thing." I wouldn't be invited if you had another choice.

"Leo," she pouts.

I reach over and give her a peck on the lips. "You'll be fine. Everyone likes you...besides, they're your people. You'll find something to bond over at the party."

"Fine," she sighs. "What'll you do instead?"

I shrug, "probably just stay in." Heather nods in response, but I can tell she's a little upset. "But- hey, the day after all that stuff is over we should go out, just the two of us."

"You want to?"

"Yeah, we'll get breakfast or something. Do you like pancakes?"

She laughs lightly, "I prefer French toast, but yes, pancakes are good too."

"I'll pick you up at 9, how's that?"

"It's a date."

"We haven't been on one of those before," I smirk at her.

"Never any official ones, but I'd say that night at the diner came pretty close," she replies.

"You mean when I didn't really know you, and I didn't really like you...but your shit-for-brains ex left you alone and I wouldn't?"

"Exactly," Heather says with a smile.

"If you considered that a date, then it won't take much to beat it," I chuckle.

"Well, you never fail to impress me."

The bell rings signaling that we have to move to our next class.

Heather sighs, "I should go."

I nod, "Don't be late."

She gives me a sad smile and stands up, ready to walk toward the doors leading out. "Hey-" I stop her before she walks past me, "Come here," I gently pull her by the hem of her skirt to guide her over. I hear her laugh a little when I bring her down onto the chair with me.

"Yes?" She says with her hands on my face and a smile on hers.

You know what I want, butterfly.

My hand lightly trails up her thigh while I stare at her lips. She kisses me before I can say anything, feverishly connecting our lips and moving further onto me.

I love that she does that...

Kisses me like her life depends on it.

"Alright," I say in between kisses, "get to class."

Heather whines, "why?"

"Because I'll see you later."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

She shrugs, "I just want to know when I can and can't see you, that's all."

Is this because I don't want to be your back-up date Saturday night?

"I'll come over after school. And don't forget about our plans on Sunday. We're grabbing breakfast, and after..."

"After?" She starts to smile.

I smirk at her, "wouldn't you like to know." I drag my hand further up her leg as we hold eye contact. The bell rings one last time. "You're late."

Heather groans, "come find me later."

I nod and hold her hand in mine until she starts to walk off.

As soon as she's no longer in front of me, I see the librarian standing with the book cart and staring at me in disdain.

You saw all of that?

"...sorry."

I groan internally when I see who I'm about to pass and the fact that they're staring and whispering to each other about me.

No one dates the tennis players.

They wear sweatbands and polo shirts like they work at a country club instead of belong to one. How embarrassing.

"Hey, Audrey," one of them says flirtatiously.

"Ew, no," I reply in disgust before turning toward my locker.

Where these people gather the nerve to speak to me...I'll never know.

"More impudent than normal, Michaels," Trevor says with a smile. "Something wrong?"

"Everything's fine," I scowl at him.

"See, I doubt that."

"Well, what do you know?" I shake my head.

"That you've been unusually evil this entire week," he smirks. "So, unless you're on your..." his eyes trail down suggestively.

I scoff, "you're such a guy."

"Yes," he nods.

"Misogynistic by choice, and an asshole by default."

"I'm not," Tony says in offense.

"That's because you're more of a puppy than a guy."

"Oh..."

"Come on, tell Doctor Bailey all your deepest secrets," Trevor says deviously.

"Unless you're buying me lunch, stop wasting my time, Trevor," I sigh. "Besides, no one in their right mind would give you a job where you can write prescriptions."

"Which is shameful considering how good a Valium would do you."

"Fine, I'm a little stressed out about my escort situation. I chose Gregory, but he came down with the flu. My second choice was Vick Carver...but I just saw his new haircut, and no way am I being photographed next to a cockatoo."

"Well, there are worse problems to have."

"No, there aren't," I glare at him.

"Okay, Audrey," he gives up and lets me walk away.

Now, my hour lunch period is only 54 minutes.

I hear footsteps behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to see it's Tony.

"Do you want to go to Monet's?" He speaks.

"Why would I want to do that?"

"So I can buy you a sandwich."

"I can afford my own meals, thank you."

"Okay," Tony nods. "I have a tux on hold at Neiman Marcus, by the way."

"What?" I say in confusion.

"I knew you wouldn't want an escort who just pulled an old suit out of the closet."

"You're right, I wouldn't," I turn to him, "but that has nothing to do with you."

"I didn't say 'yes' to anyone else just in case you needed me."

"Need you?" I laugh uncontrollably at the idea. "Like I'd go through all this trouble just to end up with Tony Milligan."

"But-"

I continue laughing. "God, you are so funny," I sigh. "Enjoy the sandwich."

"Hey," I shout down the hall at the gay kid Zach hangs out with.

"Hey, me?" He and the rest of his friends turn to me questioningly.

"Yeah, what's up?" We walk up to each other. "You seen Zach?"

"Zach?" He laughs awkwardly, his eyes shifting back to the guys he's with.

"Zach," I nod, "likes video games, comic books, and spaceships or whatever— you're besties."

His friends snicker behind him, and I tilt my head curiously at all of them. Who the fuck are these kids?

"We don't hang like that. So, no, I don't know where he is," he avoids eye contact.

"Alright...if you see him-"

"I won't. I told you...we're not even friends, really."

"Oh," I laugh, "I see what's going on." You're scared of what these guys will think. It's okay if Zach gets called gay by everyone— but not you.

"Nothing's going on," he denies. "I've got to get to class, okay? Good luck finding him."

"Yeah, I'll keep looking," I narrow my eyes at him. "And you can pretend you don't know what the fuck I'm talking about, but I'm guessing you'll see him before I do because you were all over the kid like two months ago."

He scoffed and tried to hide the nervous expression that was forming on his face. "That's nuts," he shook his head and glanced over at one of his friends, "I stepped in once before some senior kicked his ass, and he thought that meant we were cool or something. He doesn't have friends."

"I'm his friend. Do you not see me right in front of your fucking face? Am I invisible to you?"

"No, I know-"

"So, you're calling me a liar?" I approach him.

"No, but you-"

"You're lying to me then," I walk up closer.

He sighs and back up, "you just have the wrong idea about me."

"Oh, really? What's the idea?"

"That I actually know the guy...that I like him...like I'm-"

"Gay?" I raise my eyebrows. He stares back dumbfounded, and a wave of silence falls over everyone. "Right," I smile slyly, "I'm going to head out. See you around, Zach's friend."

"Hi, Heather. Are you busy?" Lisa walks up to me with a hopeful smile.

"Uh— no," I push my notebook away.

"Great," she sighs and sits across from me, "because I was wondering if I could interview you for the yearbook club."

"You're in that?"

"Yeah, I thought it'd be fun to have a say in what the yearbook looks like. Plus, I get to leave class to take pictures and talk to people."

"Well, I'm really happy you've found something at Addington that you like." I would've felt awful if I had convinced her to ditch Audrey and then she ended up friendless with no hobbies.

Though...I think that's me.

"Have you started yet?" A girl rushes up, I know for a fact she works for the school newspaper.

"This is Natalie. It's my first interview," Lisa explains to me, "I have to be monitored." I give her a sympathetic smile when I see the other girl's presence upset her. "So, you'll do it? I'm supposed to pick the most interesting person I know."

"I really don't think I'm the right person for it..."

"Really? Everyone else thinks you are."

"Everyone like who?" I say skeptically.

"The rest of the yearbook club, and a few of my friends who convinced me to ask you."

Natalie nods, "it's really about who the people want to hear from."

"You make it seem like a gossip column." I give in, "but I'll do it. I just hope you have time to change your mind after."

Lisa jokingly rolls her eyes. "Should we start now?" She asks but takes a tape recorder out of her bag before I could even answer.

"Sure," I shrug.

"Okay," I watch her flip through the notepad, "first question: What's your favorite thing about Addington?"

"I'd say...the people I've met. New York is so packed and busy, but being here kind of pauses everything for a while, and lets you make connections you probably would have missed out on...or definitely would have."

"Mhm, and would you say it's changed you?"

"Yes...but in a good way. I like who I am now compared to how I used to be."

"And who were you before?" Natalie cuts in.

"Someone shallow...and unaware of anything outside of my little bubble."

"And what makes you so different now?" She continues.

"For one, I don't care more about purses than people. You'd be surprised about how many people can't say that."

"Second question," Lisa looks over her list, "What's your favorite thing to do that doesn't involve school?"

"Hm, if you'd asked me a few months ago, I probably would have said shopping or going out with my girls— and even then it would have been a lie," I laugh at the thought. "But if I'm being honest, lately I've just been listening to music and hanging out with my boyfriend."

"Speaking of..."

"Here we go," I shake my head and jokingly roll my eyes at the direction this took.

"It's nothing bad, I swear," Lisa says quickly. "I only wanted to ask if you find dating to be a struggle considering the school's social climate."

"Well, yeah. Not everyone is supportive, but I didn't expect them to be. I stopped caring when I realized some things are more important."

"Or someone," she smirks and gives me an amused expression.

"Whoever that may be," I say slyly. "It took me too long to figure out that I'd rather have the guy I like so much that I write poetry in the middle of the night when I can't stop thinking about him...instead of a reputation...or friends who judge me by it."

"So, the poem was about your current boyfriend? There were so many rumors going around claiming otherwise," Natalie said.

"Of course it was about him, but I guess only he could tell."

"Then why did you let the rumors circulate about you and Jace Kendal? On the surface, someone might presume that you are only saying it isn't about him because it failed to get you back together. In which case, your new boyfriend looks to be a rebound...a jealousy scheme, even."

"I never put an end to the rumors before because I was scared. At the time, my boyfriend didn't even know how I felt about him— or at least I didn't think he did."

"Not a rebound, then," Natalie writes. "So, does this mean you realized your feelings for— Leonardo Rylin while you were still dating Jace?"

My eyes widen for a second before I can gather my composure. What gives you the right to assume that?

And did I?

"Ehem," Lisa cuts through the heavy tension. "We should get back to the questions on the list."

I furrow my eyebrows, "...those weren't on the list?"

She presses her lips together and shakes her head, visibly uncomfortable. "Have you always enjoyed writing?"

"Yeah...sometimes it's the only escape I can find. Though, poetry is still a bit new to me."

"If you had to write a poem about something you learned while attending Addington, what would it say?"

"That everyone would be a lot happier if they stopped pretending to be."

"That's a bit cynical," Natalie whispers to Lisa.

"I disagree," I fake a smile.

"Then it's hypocritical. You seem to have such a strong opinion on your peers, but who's to say this didn't come from your recent turn in popularity?"

"Excuse me?"

"This sudden self-righteousness is because you're the one being talked about now when you're used to being the one talking."

I pause and let my eyes scan over her face. "Have I done something to you?"

"Hm, I always wondered if girls like you kept track of who they harassed."

"Should we get back to the interview?" Lisa asks desperately.

"I'm sorry that I don't remember, and I'm sorry-"

"You can't apologize now just because you feel like Mother Teresa dating someone below your social class. Tell me, Heather, when your relationship ends...will you still believe the financially unprivileged are worth your time?"

Lisa pauses the tape.

"Natalie, I think I can do this by myself."

"Fine," she huffs and grabs her stuff from off of the table. "You're printing this on your own then." Natalie shoots daggers at the both of us but walks away calmly to avoid making a scene...

"I'm so sorry, I don't know what that was all about-"

"Don't," I shake my head. "It was probably my fault, I should figure out what I did to her..."

"Do you want to finish?"

"Okay." No.

"If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?"

"...don't let other people tell you what's best for you, it's okay to think for yourself." I sigh, "though, I still have trouble taking that advice now."

"Can you give an example?"

"Just recently I allowed myself to be convinced that I should be more concerned with the impression I give off rather than if I'm enjoying myself. And now that I think about it...it was so dumb of me to listen." I shrug, "there goes my weekend."

"Last question: Looking back on your high school experience, do you have any regrets."

"So far, nothing drastic, but...ask me again later."