Alyssa gasped and a smile lit up her face as she ran towards Taylor. "Bestie!" She squealed, throwing her arms around her. Taylor hugged her back delicately.

"Watch the hair, babe. Just got it done." Taylor told her and Alyssa stepped back immediately. Her dark caramel coloured hair fell in a glossy waterfall and her skin glowed. She didn't look like she'd had a rough couple of days, which I envied and admired.

Taylor observed Tobi, her hazel eyes watchful and calculating as always. "Tobi, could I speak to you outside for a minute?"

Since we were practically shoulder to shoulder, I felt her tense for a moment before nodding and walking out with Taylor. Alyssa turned to me, still smiling.

"I'm so happy she's here!" Alyssa exclaimed and I sat back at the couch, as I'd stood at the unexpected entrance.

"You sure seem like it." I replied. I was on the other hand... wary. I knew we wouldn't be friends, but possibly allies? Melissa had set up Taylor and done something twisted to me.

How did that saying go? Enemy of my enemy...

"She looks real good for someone who should feel the opposite." I commented and Alyssa gave me a look.

"Don't be deceived." She started. "Taylor always likes to look good before she launches an attack. Usually she'd only get her hair done, but that along with the nails and lashes! Phew, Melissa better watch her back."

"Yeah, she better." I agreed with a humourless chuckle. Alyssa was quiet for a moment, watching me.

"How are you taking all this?"

Good question. I shrugged. "Not sure. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I'm trying to not think about it, so I don't burst out crying or something. I've cried enough these past couple days." I rubbed my head just thinking about it.

"Well, you'll be laughing in glee when Melissa gets what she deserves. I never liked her. Always so bitter."

Alyssa started giggling of a sudden, remembering something. "A couple years ago, Taylor and I nicknamed her Bitter Melissa."

I raised my eyebrows. "That doesn't rhyme."

"It did at the time, alright?" Alyssa defended just as the door swung open. Taylor and Tobi walked in, both with neutral expressions. Alyssa looked between them expectantly.

"Are you guys good?"

Tobi looked at an expressionless Taylor who offered a nod. That seemed good enough for Alyssa since she clapped her hands.

"Right, let's get started. Tay, Chloe and Tobi are filled in on everything, so let's hear this plan of yours-"

"Why did she do this to you? Is your relationship that bad?" I cut in, looking straight at Taylor. The curiosity forced me to ask.

If I knew why she'd framed Taylor, maybe I'd have a clue why she hurt me.

Taylor sighed and walked over to the large desk, sitting at the chair so she could face all of us. "If I'm honest, it would take a mind-reader to figure out what goes on in my cousins' head." She paused. "Even then they'd probably be so freaked out that they'd need therapy."

"Insulting her is second nature to you, isn't it?" Tobi piqued up. It wasn't a judgement or a taunt, rather an observation.

Taylor nodded. "It is." Then she sighed, studying her nails for a moment.

"Melissa and I have no siblings, so we were practically raised as sisters. Our parents and family in general are very close, so we spent a lot of time together. Melissa and I were super close, until we were about eight."

"Being suspended has given me a lot of time to think about our relationship-"

"Suspended? I thought you were expelled?" I cut in, confused. At her annoyed look I offered an apologetic one.

"Nah, just suspended, that's a rumour." She replied and I internally rolled my eyes. So much for being accurate, Brenda Mills.

"Anyway, it was afterschool one day and Melissa and I were planning to have a sleepover at my house. I was already there waiting, just chilling with my parents and she came boasting about getting ninety percent on a test." Taylor's lip twisted into a grimace.

"I boasted I'd got ninety five. It wouldn't have been a big deal if my parents hadn't brought it up at the barbeque to her parents. It was meant to be friendly banter but my padre was taunting hers, which was clear as day. And men and their pride." She rolled her eyes.

"When I went the toilet I saw her dad lecturing her. He was saying he was embarrassed by his brother in law because of her. She looked so... sad. A child should never look like that."

"It became sort of a game for our parents over the years. Every time Melissa would come over, we'd be compared about something. How I did more turns than her in ballet, or how I'd been made volleyball captain and she was just a teammate. Whenever I'd do better than her, I'd get a treat, so naturally I always wanted to do better."

"You never let her win?" Alyssa asked.

"I did, once. I flunked a Spanish exam on purpose." Taylor chuckled. "This was stupid in hindsight, because I'm fluent in Spanish and she's not. So the entire family knew what I did and why, making her even more embarrassed."

"Over the years she started to get distant and stopped coming over, ignored my attempts to hang out with her and ignored me at school. I built up the nerve to confront her about it at school and she was so spiteful. Said so many hurtful things at once, literally picked me apart and reduced me to a sobbing mess. The whole class was in hysterics, laughing at me."

Taylor's gaze turned cold. "I vowed to myself I'd never let anyone speak to me like that again. Especially her."

"Nice Taylor – who actually existed – was gone after that. I used to let her win occasionally cos I felt bad, but after that I stopped. She'd get a job; I'd either get two or one someplace more impressive. If she got 100 on a test I'd get 100 on three. If she liked a guy..." Taylor looked down. "I'd make him my boyfriend."

I whistled. "No wonder she despises you."

Taylor shrugged. "I never said I was innocent. She was mean, but I was meaner. I held a grudge and took it to the next level. I always do, but this time she one-upped me." Her eyes were dark.

Taylor sighed contemplatively. "I'm messed up, I know that. I've ruined the one good thing I had in my life." Her eyes glazed over and I knew what – or rather who she was referring to. "Do I deserve this? Is it karma? Who knows. But I know my prima can't get away with this. And there's one reason why."

"Why?"

Taylor leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. "All this time, all Melissa ever wanted was to be better than me. To beat me."

A familiar haughty look appeared on Taylor's face. I realised then it would take more than suspension for her to change.

"She's fighting a losing battle." Taylor said. "She should have focused on becoming a better version of herself."

It was silent for a moment as we mulled over her words. Then Tobi clapped and glanced at us expectantly.

"So, what's the plan?"

Taylor's lips slowly curled into a smirk and she nodded at Alyssa. "Get Jake Reynolds on the phone. We have a public humiliation to arrange."

*****

"Thanks for dropping me off." I told Alyssa gratefully. She didn't look away from the road but nodded at me in response. After going through the details of Taylor's plan, our meeting had ended. I was told to not act any differently around Melissa so she would stay oblivious.

I turned my attention to my phone, replying to the text Benji sent me.

Benji: Hey you at your house yet?

Me: Like 10 minutes away. You still coming over?

Benji: I'll get there before you I'm like 5 minutes away.

I smiled that, the familiar feeling of excitement appearing again. Soon enough Alyssa pulled into my driveway. She slowed down outside my house before coming to a stop.

I was sending Benji a text when the nervousness in her voice caught my attention. "Um, Chloe?"

"Yeah?" I looked up and her but her attention was at my front door. I leaned forward to get a better look and frowned when I did.

There was a hooded figure sat on my porch, clearly a man. The worst case scenario entered my mind. What if it was Dave coming back for revenge?

The man raised his head slightly at the sound of the car parking. Blue eyes I'd recognise anywhere seemed to pierce into mine.

It was John.

"Should I call the police?" Alyssa asked, looking worried. I shook my head, feeling like I was in a trance.

"No, I know him." I whispered and Alyssa glanced at me, uncertain.

"I'll wait in the car." She told me and I nodded, slowly exiting the vehicle. John's gaze never strayed from mine as I slowly approached me.

I stopped walking when I was far enough to run to the car, but close enough to see the broken expression on his face."

"Hey, Clo." He greeted quietly, standing up and seemingly looming over me. I almost flinched at the nickname; it was an unwanted surge of familiarity.

"What...?" I couldn't finish my question. The shock of seeing him had temporarily made me forget what I'd discovered the last time I did see him. The betrayal and anger from that night hit me full force and I took a step back.

"Could- can we talk?" John asked, hesitantly. After a moment he pulled down his hood, revealing a black beanie on his head with unruly curls peeking out. And a painful looking cut on his eyebrow.

I crossed my arms, resting the urge to ask him what happened. "I don't want to talk to you."

John's eyebrows furrowed and I put myself in his position. I realised he wasn't aware I knew about the bet, and still thought we were on good terms.

"I know, John." My voice came out strong and unwavering. The complete opposite of what I felt inside. "I know about the bet."

John's eyes widened in surprise and his mouth opened slightly. I watched him closely, wondering what lie he would use to spin himself out of this one.

"How?"

I took a step forward, my arms crossed to keep myself together. "After we spoke at your house, you avoided me. And it hurt." My voice cracked and I cleared my throat.

"I saw you one night and followed you to where you met Cyrus and Ian. I heard everything, the bet, the ambush, how you hid-"

In a flash, John was right in front of me, his hands on my shoulders. He shook me lightly, the look on his face crazed and worried. "You were there? Are you insane, Chloe?" He shouted.

I looked right into his face. "Yeah, maybe. I trusted you after all."

John's expression fell to one of guilt and he stepped back. I stared at him long and hard as he looked at the ground.

"You heard me say I wasn't going to do it, then?" His voice came out soft. My arms dropped and I nodded.

"What made you change your mind?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

He couldn't make eye-contact. "When you told me about what happened in Australia... I felt so bad. I knew I had to call it off."

"If I didn't tell you, would you have gone through with the bet?"

Silence.

"What do you want, John?" I asked, swallowing my hurt. He finally looked up at me, his blue eyes seemingly earnest. But I wasn't fooled.

"I came to apologise. I was so consumed with hurt and anger I needed to lash out, and I chose you to be the target. You don't deserve it Clo, I've realised that now." He dared to softly take one of my hands in his. I didn't pull away.

"I meant what I said, you know. You deserve the world."

I stared at his shoes and took a deep breath, pulling my hand away. "What do you want, John?"

"I-I need your help, Chloe." His voice was pleading. "I have to go on this ambush. I thought I could escape it but they always find me. I only have a couple of days and I don't know what to do."

He carried on frantically. "I know I don't deserve it- but- I... I don't want to die, Chloe. Not when I have so much to live for."

My eyes met his glassy ones. "What do you have to live for?"

John stared at me with a depth of emotion that surprised me. He gently cradled my face with his hands. I looked back at him with tears in my eyes.

He already told me the answer without saying it.

The slamming of a car door made me jump and I abruptly pulled away from John, turning around. A familiar silver car was parked near Alyssa's.

I soon spotted Benji walking up to us and my blood ran cold. I forgot he was meeting me here.

I tried to meet him halfway but a hand on my wrist stopped me. I turned to look at John's whose expression had changed dramatically. It was filled with rage, his eyes fixed on my boyfriend.

"What is he doing here?" John spat, venom coating his question.

"I should be asking that." Benji responded, his voice carrying a similar amount of anger. He took the final few steps before he was directly in front of John and me.

"Chloe, what's going on?" Benji asked, turning to me with a cold expression. I was too dumbfounded to answer immediately.

"What's going on is I'm trying to talk to her and you're interrupting." John replied furiously. Benji's eyes narrowed.

"You mean trying to manipulate her." He retorted before stepping closer to me. I relaxed under his warm, familiar gaze. "Chloe, what is he saying to you?"

John let go off me and stepped towards Benji. "None of your business."

"It is considering she's my girlfriend."

John froze. "Girlfriend?" He turned to me for confirmation, betrayal and hurt showing on his face.

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

"You don't deserve her." John snapped and Benji chuckled, the laugh holding no humour.

"What and you do?"

This seemed to stump John. I prepared myself to intervene when John lashed out and shoved Benji. "Piss off, man!"

Benji came back with full force, shoving him back. "Leave her alone! You've hurt her enough!"

I watched them, panicked before running over to Alyssa's car. She immediately got out. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, but it's my entire fault!" I exclaimed, breathing heavily. "They're going to hurt each other, Alyssa."

She didn't seem calmer than me. "Okay, um- let's just-" The sound of someone hitting the ground interrupted her and looked to see John on the ground and Benji standing over him.

"Benjamin!" I shouted, sprinting to him. I grabbed his arm, pulling away from John. He let me do so but their glaring match didn't break.

John slowly stood up, dusting himself off. His eyes shifted to mine and I stared into them, on edge.

Then, he said three simple words that seemed to shift the world underneath my feet.

"I love you."

It was no louder than a whisper but I heard it as if he'd screamed in my ears.

Silence settled on the four of us, as thick as a blanket of snow. My eyes were still locked with John, my heart beating hard.

"You don't hurt the people you love." I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes. Defeat appeared on his face instantaneously and he took a step back.

I turned to Benji who was still glaring at him. "Let's go, Chloe." He said, gently grabbing my wrist and leading me to his car.

"This might be the last time you see me!" John called out, stopping me in my tracks. Benji tugged on my arm and I looked at him.

"Ignore him. He's trying to manipulate you, mess with your head."

"I have to know what he means, Benji."

"He's lying, Chloe. He's a liar."

"The ambush is a death wish, Chloe." John followed up after seeing we had stopped. Alyssa was watching us, confused before she approached us.

"Chloe, are you alright if I go?" She asked and I nodded, giving her a small hug. I then turned to my boyfriend hesitantly, who already looked unimpressed.

"Benj-"

"No, Chloe. He's hurt you enough. Whatever happens to him now is his responsibility, not yours. You don't owe him anything."

"He might die, Benji." I pleaded but he was unmoving, his brown eyes hard.

"So how are you supposed to prevent that?" Benji retorted. "He just wants to lure you into his trap, Chloe."

"I just want to talk to him."

"What, so he can claim he loves you again? If he really did he'd piss off and leave you alone."

I shook my arm out of his grip. I couldn't live with myself knowing something would happen to John I could have prevented.

Benji watched me closely, his lips pressed into a firm line. "He's messing with your head, Chloe."

"I'm sorry." I said, my mind made up. Benji looked away from me, hurt clear on his face.

"Don't be." He muttered, walking to his car. I watched him go, feeling extremely conflicted.

I walked back up to John. "How am I supposed to help you?"

He thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. Maybe if we see Cyrus and Ian you can convince them I broke your heart?"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "I'm not going near those guys. And plus, you called off the bet, so why would they believe you?"

John ran a hand down his face before looking into the distance. I watched him silently. We both knew there was only one outcome.

He would have to go on the ambush.

"You'll survive it." I told him quietly. He glanced down at me with a crestfallen expression.

"I won't."

"You will." I said forcefully, grabbing his hand. "You have to."

He frowned but there was a glint of hope in his eyes. "I thought you hated me?"

I shook my head, biting my lip. "Ever since you've been in my life all you've caused is hurt. There have been good times... but they eventually get spoiled. You betrayed me and broke my trust, John."

"But I could never hate you." I finished. John looked away, his eyes glassy with tears.

After a moment of hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him for a short hug. He embraced me tightly, conveying all his feelings through the hug.

"I did mean it, Clo." He mumbled, resting his head on my shoulder. I stiffened.

"I-"

"Tell me when you come to visit me after the ambush." I cut him off. I pulled away and looked at my best friend closely, holding back tears.

I could have never left things on bad terms with him. Despite the sadness he'd caused me, there'd been a time when I looked forward to seeing him every day.

"Bye, John." I whispered, glaring down at my shoes and willing myself not to cry. He walked off and I watched his hooded figure stroll down the street.

*****