[A/N: Songs for the chapter:
- The 1975 // Robbers
- One Direction // One Way Or Another]

"No way Mona, no freaking way!"

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned away from her pleading puppy dog eyes. Focusing on Mr Reid's dreary tone gave me more comfort than her proposition to make Tyler and Blake make up. Sure I wanted to mend their broken friendship as much as she did, if not more, but this wasn't my business to stick my nose into. This was between Blake and Tyler. We had no place in forcing them to reconnect. And by 'force', Mona was willing to take very, very drastic measures.

"Why not?" She whined, dangling a set of stolen keys in front of my face. "We can lock them in the janitors closet and keep them there until they sort their differences out."

The absurdity of her plan made my mouth hang open as I gawked at her in disbelief.

"No way! Absolutely no freaking way!" I hissed, sinking into my seat when our teacher shot me a death glare. "There's wanting to help the boys and then there's creating a big mess. And you, Mona, are overstepping the line here."

Her brown eyes flashed with exasperation and she jingled the keys loudly before shoving them into her pocket.

"Look, I'm just trying to help Blake," Her voice was curt but laced with hurt because I had accused her of making things worse. "After Tyler complimented our cheesecake in the Home Ec. assignment, Blake was on cloud nine and I want him to see him that happy again. Lately he's been moping around, stressed about the games the team have been losing and I wanna make him happy again."

She had a point right there. After my condom prank on our first day back, both my friends forgave me after a day of silent treatment but what never ceased to amaze me was just how elated Blake was that entire week. The small words he and my boyfriend exchanged before the winter break sent him into a spiral of destructive happiness. He chattered constantly about Tyler, gushing with happiness that he had a new surge of hope that he could make things work out with his best buddy again.

Problem was, Blake had no idea how to go about it and I was pretty sure Tyler wasn't emotionally ready to rekindle their friendship. My boyfriend was too focused on getting through his therapy sessions and I wasn't sure if he could handle the painful past that Blake reminded him of. My friends couldn't understand my reasons and I didn't feel comfortable sharing Tyler's personal life with them.

With deflated shoulders and a defeated sigh, Blake eventually gave into my plea to leave Tyler alone but Mona was persistent. She was going to get the two boys to talk if it was the last thing she ever did. I frowned and propped my head up using my elbows to support the weight. Couldn't there be another way she could make Blake happy?

"Buy him flowers?" I suggested.

Mona scoffed and gave me a chilling look.

"Seriously Ash?"

"Seriously." I replied, failing to notice the palm that came crashing down onto my forearm. "Mona!"

"If you don't have anything relevant to say then keep your mouth shut."

I stole a glance at the deep crease between her brows and sighed heavily.

"Listen, I get where you're coming from but we can't force them to talk."

Her deadpan expression made me wonder if this was as easy as she was making it out to be.

"Yeah, actually we can," Mona rolled her eyes and shook the keys in her pocket. "We just have to lure them out of class, keep one occupied and lead the other to the janitor's closet and then throw the other in there and lock the door. Simple."

"No it's not that simple," I protested.

"Yes Ashley," Brown eyes bored into mine. "It really is."

When the bell rang, I trudged out of the classroom, surprised to find Mona still lingering by the door even though I spent the entire lesson shooting down her proposition. Her idea was stupid, reckless and could backfire on both of us. Was she really willing to lose Blake for the slight chance of making him happy?

"Come on Ashley," She whined when we walked to her locker. "Things worked out between you and Tyler. Why don't you want to give Blake the same chance?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped, coming to a halt outside her locker and holding an arm out so she couldn't open it.

She huffed in reply and pursed her lips, readjusting the bag on her shoulders and giving me a flat look.

"I'm just saying that you're getting your happy ending with Mr Grumpy, so how come Blake gets sidelined?"

"I've already told you both million times: Tyler's going through some tough shit lately," I threw my arms in the air before tugging my curls with frustration. "Why are you getting all up in my ass like I'm the bad guy here?"

"I'm not getting up on your ass for no reason Ash, I just want you to put yourself in Blake's shoes. Just think about him for a minute."

I did know what it was like to be in Blake's shoes. That was me at the start of the year, subjected to Tyler's hostility and I knew just how draining it was to look at someone I'd know my entire life and see a complete stranger. It sucked. It sucked a lot. At least Blake didn't get barged in the corridors or receive filthy, chilling looks. All he received was a cold shoulder. Tyler gave me hell.

"Fine," I sighed with defeat, distancing myself from her and heading to my own locker a few feet away.

Brown eyes lit up with astonishment and I winced when she gasped, "What?"

"I said fine," I grunted, throwing my English books into my locker and leaving my French homework in there. It's not like I was going to go to my next lesson anyway.

"Seriously?" She squeaked, slamming her locker shut and hurtling towards me. "Oh my god Ashley! I love you! I love you! I love you!"

"You won't love me when I rip your tongue out of your throat," I gruffed, peeling her arms off my neck as she cut off my blood circulation and breathing. "Stop screaming into my ears!"

"Sorry," She mumbled sheepishly, scratching her forehead before pushing her bangs out of her eyes. "But are you sure? I don't want to put a strain on your relationship with Mr Grumpy."

I shrugged my shoulders, ignoring my pounding heart and the ominous feeling that seeped through my stomach like poison.

"He'll thank us someday, even if it doesn't work out."

Mona held my conflicted eyes before nodding curtly and dragging me down the corridors. As the number of students dwindled into a trickle of water, we hurried towards the Humanities department before taking a winding staircase down and jogging down another corridor. Finally, I caught a glimpse of the set of stairs that led us to our destination and stopped short.

"Okay, Blake has Philosophy right now so he'll be dying to leave," Mona whipped out her phone and gave me a nervous smile. "You ready?"

I nodded as she quickly sent a text to her boyfriend, asking him to meet her outside the janitor's closet.

"How do I look?" She asked, running her fingers through her freshly trimmed bob.

My eyes drank in her immaculate natural makeup, lingering on her signature thick eyeliner and her curling lashes before I scrutinised her plump, rosy lips. Raking my gaze over her denim jacket and leather leggings, I flashed her a thumbs up.

"Hot!" I grinned with a suggestive wink. "Super duper hot. You know, the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious kind."

She winced at my choice of words, formulating a smartass retort before the sound of heavy footsteps echoed and caused us to freeze. My eyes widened and I began to flail my arms about, shooting Mona a panicked look.

"Hide!" She hissed and I bolted down the hallway, turning the corner and plastering my back against the wall just as Blake came into view.

"Hey babe," He drawled in a sickeningly seductive tone and I felt the urge to gag. "What's so important that you couldn't wait unti–"

Mona cut him off with a kiss. The sound of them making out made me clamp a hand over my mouth and I genuinely retched. Did they have to moan so loudly?

"What was that?" I heard Blake murmur before Mona silenced him with another kiss and tugged him towards the janitor's closet.

Once I heard the door slam shut, I trudged out of my hiding place and pulled a face. That was without doubt, the grossest thing I had ever been forced to listen to. Why on earth did I agree to this wretched plan when so many things could go wrong?

About twenty minutes later, Mona rushed out of the janitor's closet with swollen lips and flushed cheeks.

"Whoa, what went on in there?" I rolled my eyes, tapping my wrist as if there was an imaginary watch there.

"You don't even wanna know," She traced her lips with a dazed grin before focusing on my question. "He thinks I'm going to get a rubber so you need to get Ty–"

I held up a hand and spluttered. "A rubber? You have got to be kidding me! You enticed him like a sexual predator and left him hanging? What kind of girlfriend are you?"

She rolled her eyes and flattened her dishevelled hair.

"The psychotic bitch kind. Now hurry up and get Tyler otherwise Blake is gonna figure it out."

I gagged before a realisation made me clamp a hand over my mouth and giggle.

"Or he's gonna start stripping of his clothes!"

Mona's eyes widened with fear and she glanced at the janitor's closet. "Shit Ash, what if he's getting naked right now?"

The alarm in her voice made me wince and I turned towards the janitor's closet.

"Oh crap, we really should have thought this through," I spluttered, doubling over and letting out a loud hoot of laughter. "Tyler is gonna rip off my head off my shoulders if we lock him in a room with his naked best friend!"

Brown eyes filled with panic whereas I was bursting a lung at the hilarity of our situation.

"Just...Just text Tyler and tell him to get his ass here now," She raked a hand through her ketchup bangs. "The faster he gets here, the less likely he'll be trapped in a room with Blake's member hanging out."

I wrinkled my nose. "That's so gross. How can you guys - hypothetically speaking because I'm praying you've never done this before - do the nasty in the janitor's closet."

The twinkle in her mischievous eyes made me groan as I whipped out my phone and fake gagged.

"Seriously Ash," She laughed at my reaction. "I've had the keys to that room for weeks. If you want, I can get it cut and make you your own pair so you and Tyler can use it whenever you wanna get freaky."

I shoved her backwards as she let out a deranged cackle. Scrolling through my most recent text, I clicked Tyler's name.

SOS. Meet me by the janitor's closet. I have something really important to tell you.

Seconds later my phone buzzed.

Sure munchkin. I'll be there in a minute.

I slipped my phone into my back pocket and trained my focus on Mona, holding out my hand for the set of keys which she dropped into my palm.

"You need to disappear otherwise he'll know it's a set up."

She nodded, tousling her red hair so that it fell into her eyes as she quickly darted behind the corner. I cursed at her to shut up but she continued to giggle into her palms until footsteps came from the opposite end of the hallway. Two minutes later, Tyler rushed down the set of stairs, panting with his phone in his hands.

"What's wrong Ash?" His voice was laced with immense panic and I bit my lips to keep my frown in place as I looked up at his with sad eyes.

"I need to t-tell you something," I whimpered and took his hand.

A flicker in confusion passed over his face before he pursed his lips at my obvious distress. I tugged him towards the janitor's closet and ignored his questioning glances when I slotted the keys into the lock and turned to him.

"No matter what happens, promise me you won't get mad at me."

Tyler stiffened at the fear in my tone.

"Ash? What's going on? What's wrong? Did someone hurt you?" He paused and cracked his knuckles. "Tell me...who do I have to kill?"

I shook my head, catching a glimpse of a redhead shooting me a glare in my peripheral vision.

"Hurry up!" Mona mouthed, tiptoeing out of her hiding place.

"Just promise me Ty. Promise me you won't get mad."

"As if I could ever get mad at you," Tyler shook his head fiercely and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead. "Just tell me what the hell is upsetting you. I promise I won't get mad, unless it's Jonah again. Then I'll fry his fucking member and hand it to him with bacon and eggs. He can have a full English breakfast."

I mentally gagged at the image. With a sigh of relief, I nodded and turned the key so that the door unlocked and creaked open. Just as Mona's head peeked over Tyler's shoulder, I flashed her a curt nod and kicked the door open. In the space of a nanosecond, she shoved him with all her strength so that he careered into the darkness and I quickly slammed the door shut, turning the key with shaky hands before Mona gave me a swift high five.

Her face was pink from the exertion and I was just about to return her grin when the light was switched on inside the janitor's closet.

"Ow! Ashley! What the fu–" There was a series of crashes and swear words before Tyler began to go crazy with curses. "HOLY KANGAROOS BLAKE, PUT THAT SHIT AWAY! PUT IT AWAY! WHAT THE HELL! NOW! NO! I SAID AWAY! BRO DON'T TOUCH ME!"

A girlish scream came from Tyler before there was a series of grunts and crashes.

"I'M NOT FIGHTING YOU NAKED BRO! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" He roared.

There were curses before a deafening crash sounded. Someone grunted before crying out with pain and I had an ill feeling that my boyfriend landed one on Blake.

"MONA HASTINGS!" 

I recognised Blake's bellow and Mona's manic eyes flickered with immense fear. She gulped and shot me an uncertain grimace.

"Jesus! Buddha! Allah! Freaking Guru Nanak! I'm gonna throw up...Stop that bro! Cut that shit out! Can you put on some fucking pants now!" My boyfriend groaned and I jumped out of my skin when his face suddenly appeared in the small circular window, eyes blazing with fury.

"YOU!" He pointed at me and I hid behind Mona. Only problem was that her head came up to my nose so I was still in line with his glower. "What are you playing at? He's fucking naked! I'm gonna kill you Ashley! I'm gonna end your damn life when I get out of here!" Tyler's roars were muffled by the door but Mona's hysterical laughs deafened me. "Ashley Rose Martin! I'll beat you with the soggy end of his sausage if you don't open this door! Get me the hell out of here!"

Mona jumped up so that she could see into the room, whipped out a post-it note and stuck it to the window. I read it and spluttered when Tyler's eyes grew wider than saucers.

Time to kiss and makeup boys!
Kisses
- A

"Mona, why didn't you sign your name? They're going to think I'm the mastermind behind all of this!" I narrowed my eyes and her eyes sparkled.

"Aww come on Ash, haven't you always wanted to pretend you're in Pretty Little Liars too?"

I shook my head with disbelief and flipped her off. Tyler's gaze slid to mine and I was overwhelmed by the level of betrayal in his eyes. Gulping nervously, I hid behind my hair as he turned his focus back to Mona and threatened to murder her with his bare hands. Her silvery laughter only seemed to piss him off especially when she dangled the keys in front of his face.

Steam blew out of his ears. Uh-oh. Tyler slid a finger across his neck and then pointed at me. I shuddered, meekly mustering a faint smile before he turned his head to the side and began to swear at Blake to put his clothes on faster.

"We should pack our bags and leave the planet," I whispered to Mona when her boyfriend's head popped into view. "I don't think we're gonna live to see another sunrise."

Pale green eyes landed on her, livid with enough fury to set her hair alight but she just blew him a seductive kiss. She held up her two hands and pressed her fingertips together so that they were making out each other. Suddenly Blake was shoved to the side and I winced at the sound of bottles breaking. Tyler's head appeared and I found it hard to keep a straight face when he was miming death threats at me.

So far he had threatened to chop of my boobs and feed them to sharks before shaving off my hair and force feeding each strand to me in a bowl of cereal. Mona just continued to dangle the keys in front of his face which made him turn shades redder. Soon both guys were purple with fury and it took a full hour of threats for them both to realise we weren't going to let them out.

Tyler even tried to sweet talk me and I nearly fell for his charm until Mona smacked me upside the head and dragged us away from the door. We slid down wall a few metres away and sat shoulder to shoulder in silence.

"What happens if they kill each other?" I asked and Mona chuckled.

"They won't. They need each other to kill us first."

I smiled at the thought before smacking myself mentally. Why was I grinning at the thought of Blake and Tyler strangling us? Maybe it was because they'd be doing it together - finally as friends. Then I smacked myself in reality, right on the forehead. Mona shot me an amused smile and I knew that she was thinking the same thing as me. Holding out a hand, I cupped her small fingers and met her chocolate eyes.

"If we die tonight, I just wanna thank you for being a better friend than I was to you after Taylor died," I confessed with a sheepish smile.

The honey flecks in her eyes flickered with amusement before they brightened earnestly. She squeezed my fingers and we leaned into his other, staring straight ahead at the peeling graffiti on the walls.

"You don't have to thank me Ash," She nudged her shoulder against mine with affection. "You and Taylor welcomed me into your friendship circle even though I was the new kid in sixth grade. Michelle was making my life miserable and you both stood up to her for me, and I'll never be able to thank you for that."

My chest warmed at the memory of shoving Michelle to the ground for chopping off Mona's long honey-brown braid. After that day, my friend had to even out her hair by cutting it into a sharp bob and since then her hair has always been chin length.

"It's hard being the new kid," I replied casually. "Michelle should have been grateful that it wasn't Chloe who stood up to her."

"Chloe would have broken her fingers in the slowest way possible," Mona laughed.

I giggled because the visualisation of her older sister pummelling Michelle's face was extremely enjoyable to imagine. After chattering about middle school for an hour, Mona slipped out her iPod and handed me an earbud before we closed our eyes and listened to The 1975.

Two hours later and the guys were no longer fighting each other. Remnants of their conversation drifted towards us although the door muffled most of it. It was easy to figure out that Blake was yelling at Tyler for icing him out but the rest was hard to make out.

Now that we had time to wallow in our own thoughts, I couldn't help but think about just how far Mona was willing to go to make Blake happy. She was risking their relationship without batting an eyelash just so that the guys could have a second chance at being friends.

"You really love him, don't you?" I broke the silence and stole a glance at her. 

Her brown eyes flickered, wavering like a candle flame until she nodded slowly. I handed back her earbud and she stuff her iPod into her bag. The soft curl of her lips and the light laugh that followed made me wonder if I would have done the same for Tyler if the roles were reversed. Was I as courageous and dauntless as Mona? I rarely ever did anything reckless whereas she threw herself into ever situation head first without considering the consequences. With her, it was either all or nothing. She never settles for in between. She's braver than I am.

"I know you do too," She broke through my thoughts and I blinked at her.

"Well duh...of course I love Blake. He's the brother I never had," I waved my hand dismissively but Mona rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Not Blake dumbass. I'm talking about Mr Grumpy."

I froze and watched her twinkling eyes drink in my panic before I rearranged my shock into an impassive mask.

"I've only been with him for a month Mona," I chuckled nervously when she arched an eyebrow. "The L-word won't make an appearance for at least another year. And who knows if I'll be with Tyler by then. I mean, we might go to different colleges and...I don't know, I don't like thinking about our future."

Her hand disappeared into a river of red locks and I studied the flat look she flashed in my direction.

"One year, one month, one day, whatever. Who cares how long you've been dating? It doesn't change the fact that you love him. I've only been with Blake for three months and we say the L-word all the damn time. Love and time are independent of each other, and no one can tell you that it's too early to fall in love. The only person who knows that is you. Plus you've known him for what? Thirteen years?" She gave me a pointed smile. "You really shouldn't hold back your feelings for Tyler because you're never guaranteed a tomorrow. If anything, that's the best thing I learnt from Taylor. Life's too short for safety and security. If you love someone, tell them today because how can you be certain they'll be here to hear it tomorrow?"

I let her words wash over me like a hot shower after a long, exhausting day. She stared at me, waiting for a reaction that I couldn't give her because there was no way I would ever confess something so game-changing to Tyler and risk a relationship I spent years yearning. I was more than happy to wait, even if tomorrow wasn't guaranteed.

Suddenly my phone rang, and at the same time Mona's cellphone blasted Thrift Shop. She raised her eyebrows at my ringtone for Tyler but sheepishly smiled when I mouthed "Hypocrite!"

"What do you want Blake?" She raised her phone to her ear, paused momentarily before wincing when a series of curses came from Tyler. "Yeah, yeah, other than my life...You hate me? Great, I love me too...uh huh...Why is the other ape grumbling about Ash's boobs? Well tell him to fuck off too then...Whatever...No, I'm not gonna tell her to pick up her phone...Why would she want to when he wants to go Hannibal on her ass?"

I looked down at my own blaring phone before I slid my finger across the screen and held it to my ear.

"You. Are. Eating. Your. Hair. For. Breakfast."

I giggled at Tyler's meaningless threat.

"Are you guys done?" I asked but he was yammering insults down my ears.

"I'm gonna give you scissors and you are going to cut it all off and eat it while I watch you."

I choked a laugh. "What do you have? A hair fetish? Geez, calm down and just tell me if you guys have made up."

Tyler grunted an affirmative and I held my hand out for Mona. She gave me a triumphant high five, scrambled to her feet and sashayed in tight circles like a belly dancer. The bent over to twerk and I dissolved into giggles.

"Have you guys kissed as well?" I asked as the redhead began to grind and fist pump as if we were at a club.

"Boobs or hair?" Tyler growled in a tone that should have made chills ripple down my spine.

I wrinkled my nose in confusion before it clicked. He really does have the potential to be Hannibal.

"I don't get it," I hummed a chirpy tune even though I knew he was giving me an ultimatum. Either I lose my boobs and keep my hair or vice versa. "You do realise that the note said 'kiss and makeup' so–"

"Ash?"

"Yes sunshine?" I sang in a lilting tone.

"Boobs or hair?"

With a manic laugh, I ended the call and let Mona drag me to my feet before she swayed her hips around me. In comparison to her smooth moves, I just jumped up and down on the spot in complete glee until we realised the guys were still waiting for us.

"You're gonna slide the keys under the door and then we'll run, okay?" I voiced the plan and Mona made no attempt to disagree. This was a life or death situation.

"Got it captain," She saluted me.

Grabbing our bags, I stood at the foot of the stairs as she kicked the keys, watching them disappear under the door. The ominous sound of the door clicking open made us jolt and bolt towards the staircase leading to the main school building.

Just as I was about to grab her hand and aid her short legs, a black haired figure swooped over us and stole my friend like Jeepers Creepers. I squealed in surprise and spun around, startled to find Mona's heels screeching in protest as she was dragged away.

"Save yourself!" She screeched, flailing her arms about as Blake slammed her into the wall. "Run! Run for your life and don't stop Ashley!"

I dropped our bags and sprinted up the stairs as blood-curdling screams came from my friend. She was tackled to the ground just as a mop of blond staggered out of the janitor's closet like a Minotaur stepping out of its labyrinth. My heart lurched to my throat and I couldn't breathe when sea green eyes locked onto mine, livid and dangerous. We stared at each other, stuck in a trance similar to a cowboy showdown until I blinked and suddenly it was happening all too fast.

Fast, he came. Faster than the speed of light. And I just stood there. It was like my head was submerged in water and Mona's screams washed over me, barely reaching my ears. When I blinked again, I snapped out of my daze but it was too late.

Tyler threw his arms out, bowed his head and lunged for me and I just stood there. I stood there and all I could do was scream.

I just, screamed.

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[A/N: Oh god, what just happened lmfao... So what did you think? Vote and comment your thoughts so I can laugh my arse off and consider a double update ;)

Chapter 52: "Are You Trying To Friendzone Me?"

See you tomorrow lovelies even though it's 4:28am and I have two exams tomorrow - a clash, so that three hours of Further Maths. Kill, me, now, pleaaaaaaaaaase.

- Kaddy]