Something about the next day makes pain worse. The whole healing process comes with bullshit "getting worse before getting better."

I open my eyes to Heather at my side. "How are you already dressed?"

"I woke up an hour ago."

"Can you give me more pills?"

"Of course." She reaches over to her bedside table. "Does it hurt a lot?"

I shake my head 'no,' as she pours a couple in my hand. "Thank you."

She kisses my cheek, "you're welcome."

She spent the whole night trying to kiss me better until she fell asleep.

I stayed up a little longer than her and kept waking in the middle of the night. No wonder I'm tired now...but I at least want to give her the impression that I won't skip today. She should be in class, and she'll skip with me if she knows. I don't want to be bad for her.

My clothes are in her drawer. My washcloth has a place in her bathroom. I have a toothbrush next to hers.

There's a dull ache in my face from the bruises, but I'm glad I can brush my teeth without any stinging.

Part of me knew throughout the chaos to shield my mouth from being hit, not only are mouth injuries a bitch to deal with— but man, Heather would've been pissed if I couldn't kiss her.

She wraps her arms around me and peeks around to where I can see her face in the mirror. I should've put a shirt on so she couldn't frown at all the purple blotches.

"I'm okay," I reassure her.

"Okay," she still pouts.

"You've left worse marks on me."

"Out of love."

I chuckle and turn to where we're face to face. "Out of something."

"You're not still involved with whatever Matt's doing, right?"

"I told you I'd stop. I only got beat up because I was there too. You trust me, don't you?"

"Do you have to ask?"

"So, believe me," I cup her face in my hands, "I'm fine, we're all good."

"I love you."

"I love you back. Even if I can't say it as nicely as you can."

"I like the way you say it."

Yeah, but what you said last night made me really wish I wasn't lying to you about why I won't talk to the cops.

"I owe you."

"No, you don't."

"I do. We were supposed to have a good night—and it was good, but it wasn't supposed to be like that."

"We'll have plenty of good nights."

I don't doubt it but- "I'm going to do something really fucking romantic. I just have to figure out what."

"You can...take me stargazing," she happily suggests.

"You wanna look at the stars...in New York?"

"I guess not in New York..."

Aw, don't worry. "I'll find you some stars."

"It's a date," she smiles.

"Yes, baby," I tease.

Heather smirks, "Baby?"

I nod, "You're mine too."

Her eyes fixate on me, and I feel like I can read her mind...our eyes locked, and I'm lucky you fell for me. I smirked at her, and she got shy, pulling away from me like if she didn't we'd stand here forever.

"Are you hungry?" She asked. "You need to eat something."

"I will, I promise," I chuckle at her concern. "Are your parents gone?"

"Mhm, I heard them leave out earlier. So, meet me downstairs when you're ready."

Heather smiles, content with our morning routine, and I see her about to leave the room.

"Wait-" I grab her neck and bring her lips over to mine. She gasps at the suddenness, and I delve my tongue into her mouth. Good morning, butterfly. Her hand falls gently against my chest, and she follows my lead. Who needs coffee when you definitely get my blood pumping. "Okay." I step away and get a look at that gleam I knew would be on her face.

It's the little things...like keeping you happy.

The least I can do.

She leaves the room as I'm leaving the bathroom. That's good considering I'm not gentle enough with myself not to wince at least once as I put on clothes.

I slipped the button-up shirt over my arms but kept it unbuttoned while I put on my jeans. She left the school tie for me too— but fuck no.

"Butterfly?" I say as I walk toward the stairs.

"Yes?" She answers from the first floor.

I start walking down to see her as I fasten a belt through the buckles. "Is it a bad idea to wear a white shirt before breakfast?"

"Do you think you'll spill?"

"I don't know-" I freeze, wide-eyed staring at the dining room table lined to the ends with food. "Oh my god."

"I didn't know what you'd want, and I didn't want to wake you— and I didn't want you to have an excuse not to eat..." Heather explains.

"So, you held a potluck?"

"It's too much..."

I laugh a little and pull her over by her waist. "You're too good of a girlfriend, I need to step up my game."

"Just so you can top me?"

"It's always fun when I do," I said suggestively, moving closer to her.

"Shut up," she jokingly held me back before she could be attacked with kisses.

"Good morning," a deep, intimidating voice cuts through our moment.

"Father...I thought you left."

"I was going to, but then I saw my daughter ordered hundreds of dollars worth of food. Why go to a restaurant for a meeting when you've brought a restaurant into my dining room?" He gives me a once-over as I try to quickly button my shirt without messing up. "Hello, Leonardo."

"Hello...sir."

"Surely you didn't expect to be able to eat all of this yourselves?"

"I got carried away," Heather admitted.

"Yes, well-" He focuses in on me again, "does your mother know where you spend your nights?"

"Kind of," I scratch the back of my neck. "She knows I'm with Heather...but I don't think she likes me staying over...neither do you, I'm guessing."

He crossed his arms, "What exactly do you do when you stay-"

"Sleep! Just sleep and watch movies." If you heard anything last night, it was the sound of peaceful...sleeping.

"Ah," he nods and looks to Heather for confirmation. She gives him an innocent smile. "That's good, then. Try to remember we have guest rooms, though."

"Yeah," I pressed my lips together, "okay."

"Enjoy your breakfast."

"Still feel like yakking up your insides?" Natalia hands me a glass of water.

"Yes."

"Well, I have to go to school, so...I'll call you a car. Tell your dad you have the stomach flu." I watch her grab her bag and briskly head toward the door, disregarding me as if I'm some annoying house pet she never wanted.

"Wait..." I stop her.

"What?"

"Are you angry with me?"

"I'm not pleased," she admits.

I sighed, "It's not like I planned to drink that much and end up hungover at your house."

"No, but that's not all that happened, is it? Trevor told me that you went on a drunken rant at Ethan and his girlfriend before he could drag you out."

Trevor, you idiot. "Why did he tell you all of that?"

"Because he figured you wouldn't remember and he didn't want you to be blindsided at school. Apparently, Ethan is going to be out for blood with you."

"I don't care."

"Obviously you do," Natalia glared coldly.

"Honey..."

"I knew he would be an issue eventually. He had to be. It couldn't be Tony because it had to be Ethan."

"Oh, my god, Ethan is not an issue. I just had some things I needed to say."

"Things that were triggered by his girlfriend," she crossed her arms.

"You don't understand. I've played nice with him for so long. After everything he did, I'm supposed to forgive and forget? It's not fair— he's never even apologized."

"You shouldn't need that from him anymore. If I'm not enough to make him not even exist to you at this point, then what are we doing here?"

"Natalia, you're the only important person in my life. But, why does that mean I can't still be upset about what he put me through?"

"Okay," she says in disbelief, "If he told you he was sorry and said he had feelings for you, would that change anything between us?"

"Of course not. I don't want him."

"You have a tell, Audrey," she shook her head at me. "You look away when you're lying."

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Trevor leans against the locker next to me and Evie. She rolls her eyes and walks away. "Still trying to lick that lollipop, I see."

"Making amends," I correct him. "Some people are harder than others."

"Evie's always been easy."

"You missed dinner."

"Of course, I did, you invited me on a date, Jace. Didn't you get my message?"

"Yes, you invited me to a bar, I'm sober, Trevor."

"From everything?" He furrowed his eyebrows.

"Seems safer that way."

"Right, well..." He trails on, edging close to an uncomfortable silence. "Your dad is in Australia, yes?"

I nodded, "Because of the merger with your dad."

"He hasn't signed the papers yet?"

"They're being looked over but he said he should be back in a couple of days, so he's probably signing tomorrow."

"Unless you get him to hold off."

"Why?"

"This just in: dear old dad is planning to marry the bitch."

"What? Arthur is getting remarried?"

"I found the ring. Too many carats for her to say 'no.' I would say yes if a guy showed up with that."

"So, what do the contracts have to do with this?"

"It will worry Arthur into taking a trip to Australia to rush your father's hand. I need him gone for a few days, and he won't pop the question if he has to leave right after."

"How do I stall my dad?"

"Ask him if he really thinks he's getting enough money out of this."

"And if he says 'yes?'"

Trevor shrugged, "Question his manhood."

"You're not just using me, are you?"

"Of course I'm using you," he pats me on the back. "That's what friends are for."

"Really?"' I smiled. "We're friends?"

He chuckled and rolled his eyes, "yes, and don't make a thing of it, I'm not going to kiss you."

"Let's discuss the differences between the film and the novel," Ms. Carter announces and then points to a raised hand in the back of the class. "Yes?"

"Sybil Vane is a singer instead of an actress," the person says.

"Dorian Gray is straight," someone snickers causing others to laugh as well.

Before she could respond, the phone rang on her desk.

"Ms. Carter speaking," she greeted. "Yes, of course, right away." After she hangs the phone up, she looks directly at me. "Alison, you're needed in the headmistress's office."

My heart drops, and the class fills with simultaneous "Oohs."

I glance over at Tony and he shakes his head in confusion.

She hands me a pass, and I almost feel too sick to stand up. There's a chance I'll start walking to the office and instead make a run for the front doors. This is terrifying.

"May I go to the restroom?" Tony asks.

"Yes, you may," Ms. Carter responds, naively not making a connection between the two of us leaving.

He waits until we get into the hall to say anything, but the nervous look speaks on his behalf.

"Hey."

"Hi..." I hug myself for comfort.

"What do you think it's about?"

"I don't know."

"Alison," he says disappointedly.

"I don't know," I huffed.

"They're not going to like that answer..."

"Okay, I panicked, I lied...I told gossipy Nancy that I caught Alex with a student and that's why I switched out of his class. It was too embarrassing having people think I was the student— I didn't know it'd come back to me like this."

"Come clean," Tony suggests.

I shake my head, "That will be the last straw..."

"No, Alison-"

"Going after him was bad enough. I tried to date him, and now I've lied about him."

"You can't lie anymore."

I know that...

My feet move down the corridors despite my mind trying to talk me out of going. Tony walks next to me, and I know if I asked, he'd probably help me escape undetected...which is why I won't.

"Do you think I can still get into Dartmouth if I get suspended?" I ask once we're standing in front of the office door.

"Sure," he smiled sympathetically.

I knock once before pushing the door open slightly. "Headmistress?"

"Come in, have a seat," she frowned.

Upon entering, I glanced around the room. Oh, God..."Mom?" She turned away from me.

"We've called you down because of some disturbing comments that have been brought to our attention." I keep my head down as the Dean speaks. My parents, the headmistress, the dean, and Mr. Faust are all in one room...it's so much worse than I thought. "This is the second time this year you have been reported for an offense regarding Mr. Faust."

"I know, but it isn't how it seems, I swear."

"She's in counseling. It's been a particularly tough year for her. They said she's making progress," my dad comes to my defense.

"We are sympathetic to her struggles, however, it is in the best interest of our students and staff-"

The door swings open in haste and Tony rushes forward, "I did it. I told everyone he was sleeping with students because I was jealous that Alison liked him instead of me."

"Mr. Milligan," the headmistress gasps.

"It was rash...I'm sorry, Alison...Mr. Faust."

"Is this true, Alison?"

I stare in shock at Tony, and he nods, urging me to say 'yes.' "I don't know..."

"It's true. I said it in the locker room, and it must've spread from there."

"You're going to be facing athletic suspension, possibly academic suspension as well. You already have an offense this year."

"I know."

"Tony-"

"I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Alison. I didn't want to hurt you."

"Anthony, please have a seat outside and wait to be called in."

"Yes, headmistress," he holds his head down and closes the door back.

There's a long sigh before anyone thinks to speak again. Headmistress Sanderson closed her eyes— imagining how she can kiss up to my parents and keep her job, I'm assuming. Mr. Faust and the dean look as if they're trying to telepathically tell us that they're only here because they had to be, somehow communicating that the blame is on the head of the school.

"My sincerest apologies Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair for this misunderstanding," she finally says.

"Is this school going to be an issue for my daughter's education?" My dad snaps.

"No, Mr. Sinclair. We will do whatever possible to make this right."

"Yes, you will," he says sternly. "We're leaving, Alison."

Thank you.

I opened the door as quickly as I could and looked for him.

"Tony." He looks at me, and I want to yell at him for saving me.

"Let's go, darling," my mother links our arms and walks forward, scowling at the one innocent person here.

Aaron is at a table with some guy. I went by his store, and Jackie told me he took an early lunch break. I see he took it for this guy.

"No, they're really good," I hear him say from a distance.

"Mean it?"

"Yeah, I love this. I could eat a hundred," he bites into a cupcake.

"There's only 5, but they're all yours."

"Thanks."

"You're a mess," the boy smiled, wiping cream off of Aaron's nose.

He laughs, "It's the icing. There's like— no way to avoid your face."

"I'll go easy on it next time."

"No, I like it."

"Hi," I stand awkwardly by the table.

"Hey," Aaron said in surprise. "Cupcake?"

"Maybe later."

"This is Scott," he points to icing boy.

Scott who likes my boyfriend 'Scott?'

"Hey, you're Zach, right? I'm sorry I missed you at Huey's house."

"Huh?" I pretend I have no clue who he is.

"I'm— I'm friends with them. I was supposed to be there that night but...I was swamped with homework...and projects and stuff."

"Oh, yeah. They mentioned you," I side-eye him, "...I think."

"It's nice to meet you."

"I bet. I heard we have some things in common," I said while staring at Aaron. "We're both into...cupcakes."

"I can make you some. I let all my friends be Guinea pigs whenever I cook something new."

"Looks like you have enough Guinea pigs then. You can keep your baked goods to yourself."

"Zach?" Aaron raised an eyebrow at me.

"Yeah?"

"Follow me for a second," he got up from the table. I followed him until we stopped in front of Delia's. "Wanna explain what's up with you?"

"You were jealous of Evan, so you're trying to make me jealous with Scott," I crossed my arms.

"I'm friends with Scott, why would you be jealous?"

"Probably the same reason you were jealous of Evan."

"I was never jealous of Evan. Bothered by the fact that you and your ex are together all the time? Maybe— so, it's a good thing I never dated Scott, huh?"

"He likes you. Your friends said so."

"Something tells me you're projecting."

"What?"

"Did something happen with you and Evan?"

"Yeah, we're not friends anymore. It bothered you."

"You're not friends because of me?" He said skeptically.

"Yes," I replied. "Well, not because— more like for. For you. I choose you."

"There was a choice?"

"I didn't mean it like that..."

"Zach," he sighs, "I think...it'd be best...if we took a break."

"You're breaking up with me?" Too.

"No, no— I'm not breaking up with you, but you need some time off to figure things out."

"No, I don't."

"You've been weird. These past few weeks you've been different. Clearly, you have some things on your mind."

"Aaron-"

"I'll still be here, you know— when I'm not a decision you have to make."