Lewis
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"Happy New Year, man" one of my classmates said to me. His name is John and we literally never talk.

"Same to you" I smiled before looking back down at my work. John sat with me however.

"Uh" I said, watching John, "something up?"

"Aight so you know how I work at a pizza place?" John asked me, I shook my head.

"I didn't know that until now" I replied, "but good to know. Go on with the story." John nodded.

"I was making a pizza delivery over Christmas break" John went on, and when I pulled up, the house had like those glass sides where you can see what's going on inside." I nodded at John's little tale, why was he telling me?

"I seen Nick Rosa, your friend, literally throw some light skin bitch across the room. She was bleeding out of her mouth. I thought she was dead." I went wide-eyed at what I had just been told, John was describing Naya. I thought of how I wanted to ask my question for a second.

"Did you hear what was being said, if anything was being said?" I asked John, "or nah?"

"Something about Nick asking Naya where she put something, that's it" John informed me. "He answered the door mad subtly, she was laying face down on the floor. Seeing there hasn't been news about his arrest around campus thus far, I would like to assume that she's alive and well." I shook my head, unable to speak. As much as I didn't want to believe it, I knew that John was telling the truth.

Hailey

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I felt someone grip my body as I walked through the corridor. They quickly covered my mouth so I couldn't talk. Next thing I know, I'm in the janitor's closet? Oh dear, I have PTSD from Norwood high.

"It's me" Jason said, turning me around. I furrowed my eyebrows at him, he couldn't just text me?

"I know, this was weird" he went on, "I wanted to talk to you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." I rolled my eyes. Let me guess, Jason was about to go on and on about how he doesn't see me that way but still loves me as a person.

"I know" I cut Jason off. "You don't like me like that. You already told Zach and he told me. No need to repeat any of it to be honest Jason." Jason looked at me funny, as if he didn't know what I was talking about. Then he made a squinty thinking face.

"I talked to Zach" Jason informed me. I nodded dramatically, "yeah" I said, "I think I freaking know."

"But I didn't tell him that I don't like you" Jason informed me. "He was trying to like, guilt me into saying we did something that we didn't do. I told him that I respect you two's relationship, that's all. I never said anything about how I feel about you to any capacity. He was worried I'd steal you."

"Oh?" I replied, pushing hair behind my ear. So it seemed that Zach lied to me then. "I'm sorry."

Jason scoffed, "don't worry about it" he insisted. "I just wanted to talk to you because Nova told me that Zach dumped you. Are you okay?"

"I'm over it" I guaranteed Jason. "We're young, no need to trip, you know? Plus, this isn't me and Zach's first rodeo. I'm not scared of separation. Maybe we just need that for good."

"Aw Hailey" Jason replied, resting his hand on my shoulder. "Don't say that. Y'all are young. I mean, looked at Nick and Nova." I cocked an eyebrow, that was the most terrible example he could've come up with in this situation. Jason folded his lips in.

"Okay, bad example" he said, "but time tells all."

"Yeah yeah" I said, "can you tell me why we're in a janitor's closet? And do you like me or not?"

"You were walking by so I grabbed you" Jason answered. "I don't know who Zach's cool with outside of our group and feared that someone could overhear and tell him everything. And yes, I like you." I folded my arms, that wasn't good enough.

"But Hailey you need to also realize that I have a kid with Brynn and a rocky history with Madison. This whole situation is messy and it's hard to be with you, not because of you at all but because of my involvement with others" Jason went on. "So I'm trying to suppress my feelings. Unless you just wanna be fuck buddies or something." I nodded.

"Are you sure?" Jason went on, "I don't want you to feel like you're being used or degraded."

"I just want to be around you" I insisted, "in whatever way that be, so be it. I like sex anyways, it'll be our little secret. I don't mind it, as long as we can still be friends in the midst of it all." Jason smiled.

"Of course we can" he insisted, squeezing my cheeks with just one hand. Unexpectedly, he leaned down, still squeezing my face, and kissed me on the lips. I hesitated at first because I didn't expect it, but then accepted and kissed him back. He lightly pushed me against the door and slip his hand up my shirt. I can't believe I'm about to fuck Jason! Who would've saw this coming?

***

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I met Lewis at Nova and Aubrey's front door. It seems that he might've lost the key that they gave him. He looked me up and down. "I could ask you the same thing."

"I have something that I urgently need to tell Nova and Aubrey" I answered, "how about you?"

Lewis shrugged, "me too" he said, "but I was here first so I'm going first." I shook my head.

"They're my best friends" I insisted, "so, me first."

"No way" Lewis scoffed, knocking on the door again.

I folded my arms, "yes way" I said, with Nova opening the door just as I finished speaking. Lewis tried to run in but I grabbed the back of his shirt and ultimately fell on him as his running pulled me forward. Nova squinted as she looked down at us.

"Nova!" I said, as Lewis tried to roll me over and cover my mouth. "I need to tell you something" he said, while I made incoherent noises.

"Ow!" Lewis said as I slapped his forearm. I stood up, "Nova, I have serious, serious, tea!" I looked to the side and saw both Jason and Aubrey sitting there, saying nothing. I nearly jumped out of my socks. Thank God I didn't start speaking.

"Hi guys" I said casually, with a fake smile. "What brings you two here today?" Aubrey cocked an eyebrow at my question.

"Bitch" she said, "I live here."

"And Nova needs an actual donor since Nick's sperm failed, as expected, so we were just going over that" Jason answered. "Now tell us, what brings you here? What was that serious, serious tea you had?" He had a slight smirk on his face. I shook my head.

"I can't even remember right now" I lied, "Lewis? Did you have something that you wanted to say?"

"I found out through a random classmate that Nick beat the fuck out of Naya over Christmas break" Lewis informed us, making everybody gasp.

"I-is she alright?" Jason asked, sounding worried. I have to admit, he's the most caring out of all the men I've encountered in my life. Lewis shrugged.

"I haven't gotten a hold of her" he said, "neither has May. I'm really worried about her you guys. And now that I think about it, I haven't heard much from Nick either." Everybody nodded in agreement.

"But, Nick did get surgery not too long ago" Aubrey defended him. "Not saying it means anything, but I'm sure that if I had surgery, I would just wanna stay lowkey for a little bit. Get some rest, you know?"

"Okay forget Nick" Jason shook his head, "he's not the victim here. I'm almost one hundred percent certain that he's fine. We need to go see Naya."

"All of us?" Nova asked, "or just one of us? I don't wanna scare her, you know." Jason nodded, "I know."

"But I think we should all go anyway, as a way of showing support" Jason continued.

"And what if she asks how we know?" Nova questioned Jason, who looked at Lewis. "What exactly did the kid tell you, Lewis?"

"He said he was delivering a pizza and as he got to the door, he heard and saw things" Lewis answered, "but if Naya asks, we should probably just tell her the truth. Because if my guess is correct, that kid's gonna go around telling people anyway."

"Okay" Nova finally agreed, "she probably does need our support. Anyone know where she lives?"

Jason sucked his teeth. "I dated her, Nova."

Right as we turned back to the door to leave, Maddie appeared. I made a face, turning slowly to face Jason. "You've got company" I said cheerfully.

"Maddie?" Jason asked, "you came to see me?" Maddie nodded, and I could feel my chest starting to burn. "Oh-okay" Jason said, "can you guys all go to the car? I'll be out in a second. It took everything in me to suck it up and do as was asked.

Jason
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"Hey," Maddie said shyly, I smiled at her.

"Hey," I replied, "I'm sorry this might sound bad, but can our conversation wait a second?" Maddie furrowed her eyebrows, I could tell that she wasn't happy with that response.

"Of course" she replied, "let me guess, something involving Brynn? About to go diddle with her one last time and you're postponing this conversation so that it won't be considered cheating?"

I folded my arms, "no" I answered, "not even close."

"Then what?" Maddie asked, "because I'm finally over it and you're showing me why I shouldn't be."

"Do you fucking hear yourself?" I asked Maddie in a very calm manner. "Like, honestly. Maddie, Naya got beat up bad by Nick. We're trying to make sure she's okay because we can't get a hold of her. I'm sorry that I'm stuck trying to undo all the damage that your deluded lying cousin has been causing."

"Deluded?" Maddie asked, "lying? Jason, what the hell are you talking about? And why would Nick hurt Naya? Those are serious accusations."

I scoffed. "Not for nothing Maddie, but you aren't really liable in this situation. You're Nick's cousin, you will naturally take his side because of that. You've been oblivious entirely because of that. Your cousin, he's on drugs. We don't know what kind, but he is. And because of that, he's been making a lot of questionable decisions, because he can't think straight. Now I don't know why he hurt Naya, but we're about to find out from her. So you can either stay here and cry 'cheater' or you can come with and maybe have your questions answered too." Maddie looked at me, clearly stunned.

"I just have one question" she said in a low tone, "then I'll get in the car with you guys." I nodded.

"Are you saying that Nick lied about you cheating?" Maddie let out. I huffed in slight annoyance, "yes Maddie" I answered. "That's exactly what I'm saying. It's what I have been saying."

***

Nova

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"Naya?" Aubrey banged the door, "Naya. It's me, Aubrey. And Jason, and Hailey and Nova and Lewis and Maddy. We're here to see if you're alright."

Slowly, footsteps could be heard making their way to the front door. "Hi," Naya mumbled, the door only slightly crept open. "What's up?" I debated just pushing the door wide open, but I chose against it. "Can we come in?" I asked before Aubrey could, "we heard some things. We're here for you Naya."

Naya sighed, seeming to comply against her better judgment. She opened her dorm door to let us in, and displaying bruises on her face and shoulders. Everybody displayed a sign of shock, from looking around to gasps. Naya shrugged, "yeah," she said.

"I think he was too high to realize what he was doing," Naya further defended Nick as we all made our way inside. "He's dependent on drugs and I took them. I know that drugs can change people. I know that they make us somebody that we aren't." Lewis shook his head, his arms already folded. "Anybody that knows me knows," Lewis began, "I don't condone violence on women. Nick had a run-in with this in the past. He's always been wishy washy with girls." I looked at the ground, hoping Naya didn't ask who said run-in was with. Surely, Lewis was referring to me and Nick's huge argument while we'd been students at Norwood high.

"Well, what do I do?!" Naya asked. "He ate pizza and kissed up on me after like what he'd done was normal. He never even said sorry." Lewis and Jason looked at one another, while I looked at my wife, confused. Was there some "gotcha" moment I missed? Jason put his hands on his hips, before looking back at Naya.

"So you give him back the drugs."

"Woah!" Maddie interjected, "this is my cousin we're talking about. I hope everybody has their story straight." Jason rolled his eyes at his sort of ex girlfriend's commentary. "Wake up, Madison."

"You yourself know that Nick hasn't been normal" Jason continued, now facing Maddie. "But you're doing all in your power to make this whole ordeal about you and how it affects you." Maddie, a natural blonde but currently sporting copper red hair, scoffed at Jason's comment. "And how is that?!" she hastily asked Nick's kind of former, kind of current, best friend.

"You wanna believe that Nick is sober because you can't believe that he would lie to you about me cheating on you with Brynn!" Jason yelled. "Shit, Madison, if you knew that you were gonna make this whole situation about you, why'd you bother even coming along?!" Maddie was very clearly upset by Jason's claims. "I'll be the car," she mumbled, trying to leave. Jason stopped her, "okay I'm sorry" he groaned, "I'm just tired of feeling like I'm talking to a wall, Maddie." This was cute and all, but we're here to support Naya, not listen to these two fucking babble about their never-ending love-hate relationship.

"Take it outside" Hailey snickered at Jason and Maddie, but her face, and her tone, they weren't normal. I knew Hailey well enough to know that something was on her mind. She still liked Jason I'm sure, but Hailey was never one to make her crushes obvious. But wait! She also claimed to have tea earlier, then backtracked when she noticed Jason was in the room. Holy shit! Jason and Hailey hooked up and Hailey is upset because she doesn't want Jason and Maddie to reconcile!

"To answer the question," Naya went on as Jason and Maddie left the room, "yes, I gave Nick his pills back. He was literally beating me, what was I supposed to do?! Sit there and continue to claim that I don't have them?! Let him beat me senseless?!" Well, knock off me did have a point.

"Forget that" Aubrey interjected with a sigh, "it's whatever. He was gonna get another batch anyway I'm sure. I think it's time we pull some really drastic measures." Lewis looked down at Aubrey, "I been waiting for the day I had an excuse to punch this nigga." Aubrey squinted at Lewis, "what?" she asked, "no! I mean giving him the cold shoulder. If we all ignore him, tell him that we aren't being his friend until he gets help, he'll have no choice."