Luke had been giving the silent treatment since the fitting and I could barely take it. At least Scarlett came over to that Sunday so I had someone to talk to who wouldn't shoot me glares and frowns. She was only here for an hour but to me it might as well have been a year long vacation from hate. We were picking out our clothes for the finals. We decided on this for her.

And this for me. (Minus the sunglasses and scarf and backpack).

I could legit have cried when Scarlett left. She waved goodbye with a sympathetic smile when I closed the door. I spent the rest of the day in similar misery and after a lunch filled with stony silence, I escaped to my room to Skype the Australian squad once Luke and Christine had left.

I had called Murphy's laptop but it was Campbell who answered. After a minute of girly screaming and excited shrieking, Murphy came on screen.

"Is it safe now?" he joked.

"I'll go get the others. They're in the pool," said Campbell.

Her words caused a twinge of jealousy and pangs of homesickness.

Barely thirty seconds later had the whole crew jumped onto Murphy's bed and started talking. Murphy, Campbell, Tyler, Lexi, Calum and Vic. All of them were here! Not surprising since we usually used to go to one of our houses every Sunday. I wished I was with them.

Our chat lasted two hours. I fulled them in on the talent show and how, in a weeks time, I would be striking the next blow in the war and hopefully winning. Lexi filled me in on her new boyfriend I helped her get, Campbell showed me her skating trophy and Vic updated me on his wrist. It was killing him to put his swimming on hold but for risk of permanently damaging his wrist, was holding on. Daisy's puppy had chewed up her iPhone case and Tyler had been chosen for the regionals in gaming. Lastly, Calum said that our school's team had come second in the league, beaten only by our arch rivals. Murphy just smiled and nodded throughout everything. Why was he acting so distant?

The call ended and I hung up. What was up with Murphy? I was the most excited to see him and yet he barely said a word. This stung me more than I would have liked. I showered and with upset and hurt thoughts, I tumbled into bed.

☆☆☆

Monday morning and Scarlett and I were at school, a half hour early. My dad had left even earlier than usual so I had no need to leave a note. Our posters were stuck up all over the school, from the gym to the principal's office. There was a photo of Drew that Kat had managed to procure with the words 'Herpes Support Club' emblazoned above it. Underneath was a meeting time and a made-up quote of Drew's that said 'I've been struggling with genital herpes for many years. Now I want to share the support I've had with others suffering from the same thing. Stay strong!'. Now all we had to do was wait until everyone else arrived, especially Drew.

As usual, Drew strolled in at ten minutes to the bell. Everyone was staring at him and sniggering but he decided to ignore it. When he got to his locker, he found a poster stuck to his locker door. Scarlett and I watched with glee as his face turned a bright red then purple then white with fury. Drew looked ready to murder. Kat walked over to his locker and tried to calm him down. This only worked enough for him to return to his normal colouring by homeroom.

The rest of the day passed with many sniggers and jests aimed at Drew. We didn't see him at lunch and he bunked all his classes with me that day. Last period was Geography with Mr Greane which I decided to bunk as it was pop quiz day and I hadn't been paying attention in class. I strolled past the lockers, somehow knowing who I'd find there. And I was right. I heard someone behind me and whirled around, only to be slammed against a locker. Really, I was getting far too used to this.

"Very well played, Jay," Drew said, his face dangerously close to mine.

"Thank you. So ready to admit defeat?" I taunted. Big mistake.

Drew pushed me harder against the lockers and I winced. That boy is strong. He leaned in really close and my heart started to race. I wanted to.....kiss him? No! I needed to....just a little closer....

But instead he whispered in my ear, "I don't lose. Ever."

Drew let go of me and laughed. "Watch your back, Wilde." And with that he sauntered off as if nothing had happened. I stood there blinking for a few moments and then the bell rang. I could hear footsteps stampeding toward lockers and exits and forced myself to run. I went to my locker and grabbed some things before running home.

***

Guys I apologise for all the chapters jumping around and being published then unpublished and then republished. My phone is giving me he'll right now. Also, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR 1,05K READS!!!!