"You know I was thinking" Molly looks at the camera "if Ryder doesn't want to risk being more than friends, then you should make it hell for him to be friends"

It's now Sunday night and Mollys just finished a long shift at the hospital, yet she's spending her time on FaceTime with me.

I rest my phone on my desk and swing in my chair "how do you suggest I do that?"

She laughs "I mean with your sexy self you do it everyday, but make sly comments, wear a little less clothes, make him regret his friendship comment and in a few days he'll be on his knees begging for you to give him a second chance"

"Then what about Sean?" I ask "you still happy just being his friend or are you going to join me on the journey of trying to bag myself a boyfriend"

"You bet I'm hopping on that train next stop"

I grin "sounds like a plan. First step accidental photos"

"Your up first" she tells me "we can't both do it at the same time, they'll notice"

"I'll text you when it's sent"

"Can't wait"

I hang up and click onto snapchat. After changing into the perfect outfit which is basically just a lacy white lingerie set, I snap a picture. I don't put a caption and press send on his name

After a few seconds I take a blank picture and use the typical 'wrong person' caption. Pretty obvious right? But I'm definitely not a subtle person.

The second stage of the unsubtle approach that many of us girls take to get a boys attention starts to kick in: nerves and regret.

"Have I just made the worst mistake of my life" I mutter to myself and throw on a hoodie before pacing around my room, but I freeze when my phone pings

I click the Snapchat after a few seconds

I totally don't mind

I grin and take a photo

Too bad we're just friends right? Photos like that all day everyday, that sounds like a win

He snaps back another photo with the caption of '🥺🥺' and I just send back a photo of me sticking my tongue out

"Honey, I'm home" mom shouts from downstairs

I jump up from my chair and go downstairs. I haven't seen much of my mom lately because we both seem to have busy schedules

"Hey mom" I say sitting down at the island

"Hey sweetie" she grins sitting down across from me "I seen your Instagram, you look like you had a wild weekend"

I laugh "that it was"

"How's Ryder?"

"He's good" I respond "what about you? How are you?"

"I'm great" she smiles a genuine smile "I actually wanted to tell you something"

"Hit me"

"Well.... I've met this guy" she says suddenly acting nervous

"Do tell" I grin. Moms been single for ages now and she deserves happiness

"His names Frank, I work with him and our first date is tomorrow night"

"Eeekkk, I'm so happy for you mom"

She looks shocked "you are?"

I nod "of course I am, you deserve this"

"Thank you Talia" she moves around the table and wraps her arms around me "you deserve it too you know"

___________________

"Hey Talia, let's sit outside today" Shay walks up to me in the corridor at lunch

I nod "that sounds good"

We walk outside and the heat from the sun hits us straight away. The weathers been getting hotter and hotter so I opted on wearing a black bodysuit and denim shorts and throwing my hair into a messy high ponytail.

"Over here" Loren shouts waving her hand in the air and I immediately notice her and Dani are sitting on the same table as Ryder and Sean

"Hey" Shay says sitting down

I sit down across from Ryder "hey friend" I throw him a wink

He rolls his eyes, smirking nonetheless

"Did any of you hear about the beach party on Friday?" Loren asks

Sean nods "it's party season alright"

"Ooo I can't wait!" Shay grins "you're coming right?" She turns to me

I shrug "probably"

"Oh come on! We need to find you a boy" Dani exclaims

"She shouldn't go if she doesn't want to"

I look over at Ryder who's just spoken

"What if I want to go?" I say, even though I have

"Then I'll see you there"

"Can't wait"

And then everyone's phone goes off

"Yay gossip!" Shay laughs already knowing who the message is from "it's been ages since we've got any"

I open my phone and click the message

Long time, no gossip! But when Larry season comes around so does the gossip.

If you've been living under a rock then you probably missed the fact that the schools queen Helen had her 18th birthday party last Friday. Where slutty Talia decided to gate crash and Cammy decided to expose her true colours. Let's not forget Ryders childish tantrum because he's wrapped around T's little finger.

And here is the proof - Last Saturday brainwashed Ryder and slutty Talia were spotted getting cozy at the beach - we bet it was after spending the night together. Here's a photo for extra evidence

Remember don't get to slutty Talia

Xoxo

"Do I even want to know how they got that photo?" I laugh, because quite frankly what else can I do

"Very picturesque" Ryder grins

"Maybe I should ask if I can keep the photo, it'd look really good on my instagram" I joke

"Does anybody even believe their stories anymore?" Sean asks

"Helen and Cammy like to believe their lies, but that's about it" Loren responds

"Didn't you tell them to leave you out of their childish acts?" Shay asks directing her question to Ryder

Ryder let's out a small laugh "I may have said it and meant it, I knew it wasn't going to happen" he throws me a quick glance "I also needed a way to get out of kissing one of them remember?"

A few seconds later all our phones beep again

"Oh for fuck sake" Ryder runs his hand through his hair not even attempting to look at his phone

I laugh to myself before picking up my phone and suddenly my grin is replaced by my mouth opening in shock. A crease forms on my forehead as I study the text

A photo of Ryder and I kissing outside the party Friday night

Everyone around the table - except for Sean look just as shocked as I am and none of them say anything. Scrap that everyone's that's outside eyes dart to our table

"What's up with you?" Ryder asks snatching my phone from my hands

"Shit"

"Maybe everyone was wrong by not believing Helen" Shay says and we all look over at her "what? I'm not saying I believe them, I'm just saying the evidence is building up and it's not going your way"

"Even if we were dating - which we're not, we shouldn't have to announce it to the whole world. We're not Kylie and Travis"

"But you guys are as close as it gets in this school"

"Oh look it's the lovely new couple" Helen leans against the end of the table "you two didn't think you could kiss without us knowing did you?"

I shake my head "with those huge eyes of yours, I really didn't"

She gives me a fake smile but I can see the anger behind it "watch you words, I heard there's an explicit photo of you that you sent lover boy over there that could make its rounds"

I shrug "Do that and I'll just post a naked one" I feign a confused expression "or was the photo you guys have naked I can't quite remember? You seen it right, you wouldn't mind telling me, would you hunny"

"Whatever" she rolls her eyes and rests her hand on Ryders shoulders "when you realise she's a piece of trash babe, I'll be waiting"

"There's no point, because it's never going to happen"

Helen turns her attention to me "just because he doesn't want me, doesn't mean he won't drop you for someone better because trust me he won't have to look too far"

I pull a bit of skin beside my nail to distract myself because I couldn't just ignore that one. What I didn't plan was the drop of blood that hit my leg because I ripped the skin

"I've got to go"

"Tal, wait up" Ryder shouts once I'm near the bathroom

I stop in my tracks when he steps on front of me. I keep my left hand over my now bloody right one, but Ryders seemingly a psychic because the first thing he does is grab my hidden right hand

"Damn" he mutters "I didn't expect it to be that bad"

I'm about to ask him how he knew but he instead uses my good hand to drag me to the bathroom.

He runs the water and checks the temperature before putting my hand underneath it. He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a plaster. I look up at him with a raised eyebrow and he throws me a smirk "always be prepared"

"You sound like a dad handing his son a condom before his first date"

Ryder laughs "with that too" after my fingers securely wrapped in the plaster he gives me a serious look "don't tell me you believed anything she said"

I sigh and rub a hand over my cheek which seemingly was answer enough for Ryder

"Tal, you're amazing, smart and beautiful. There is no someone better"

"And you Ry? You're a sexy sarcastic idiot" I grin and he smirks before I cross my arms realisation hitting me "but your also the reason we're still just friends"

A conflicted expression passes through his face and I take it as my answer that nothings going to change anytime soon so I done the one thing neither of us wanted me to do

I walked out