People didn't know how to act around her. They stared, whispered behind their hands, pointed even, as Bailey walked down the halls that morning. What was most surprising was that it wasn't Grayson, or Kate, or any of the other people she would've expected, that spoke to her first. It was Rajah Lithgow and Harper Grim, two of the meanest girls in school, who'd come to hug Bailey as if she were a long lost friend.

"It's good to see you 'officially back.' You are 'officially back' right?" Harper commented coolly. "It's the first time we've seen you at the beginning of school in months."

Bailey knew she looked awkward because she felt it. Her legs felt restless, literally begging her to hightail it out of the vicinity. But it was her excessive swallowing and her wavering smile that should have warned Harper and Rajah to back off.

Bailey's brows pulled together as Harper gave her one last squeeze. Harper was close enough to Bailey that she found herself focusing on her gray eyes and the subtle sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose.

Stunned, Bailey cocked her head to the side and squinted as she noticed the slightly pointed ears beneath the girls' hair. Harper looked surprising like a fairy and Bailey found herself wondering if she'd been teased about it.

"Harper," Bailey paused to extract Harper's fingers from her shoulders. She pushed the girl back slightly before also taking a step away herself. "Yes. I'd say I'm officially back."

Luckily, Harper didn't notice the sudden forced distance between them and continued. "That's good."

Rajah, however, didn't seem to share that particular thought as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the locker next to Baileys'. Rajah tilted her head to the side as she examined Bailey. When she noticed Bailey had focused on her she gave a cold and insincere smile.

Ignoring the angry black girl, Bailey swung open her locker and shoved her bag in. Reaching for her first period book and notebook, she quickly shut it, hoping Raj would stay silent as she turned away.

"You know I don't like you, Bailey. Never did."

Who did Raj like except for Harper?

"Thanks Raj! I don't like you either," Bailey snapped. The sudden anger and ability to spout out such contempt openly towards Rajah was rather surprising. Normally, Bailey would just ignore it, but apparently today was not that day.

Bailey's shoulders stiffened as Raj fell into step beside her and she clutched her books tighter to her chest, wishing she could be anywhere but at school. "What do you want Raj?"

Rajah reached forward, her hand clamping down on Bailey's bicep, jerking her back to stand solidly in front of her, unmoving. "You aren't the only one that cares. You aren't the only one that's been looking either."

Bailey wondered if Rajah had some Egyptian in her lineage as she focused on the upward sweep at the corner of her almond shaped eyes. Squishing the random thought she asked the real question that was bothering her. "Why are you talking to me?"

A flash of irritation sparked in Rajah's eyes and her jaw clenched. She let out a hiss that reminded Bailey of cold water splashing on a hot surface and turned her head away, shaking it in disbelief. "Do you know Finley Watson and Lucianna Ram?"

Bailey refrained from rolling her eyes and shook her head. "What does this have to do with anything? More importantly, why would I care?"

"Chill bitch," Rajah held up a finger and waved it in Bailey's face. "I'm getting to that. Fin and Luce were Sam's party "hook ups." Are you catching what I'm throwing?"

Bailey suddenly felt very tired and she dropped her gaze to the floor with a heavy sigh. "Not in slightest, unless you're saying Samantha's a lesbian."

"Call her Sam, only her mother calls her Samantha," Harper offered.

Since Harper was the nicer of the two girls, Bailey ignored the interruption. "Well?" she prompted.

"You are dense as hell!" Rajah growled. "Why do you think Sam's parties were always hopping? Drugs!" Rajah finished, offering the last part quietly.

"She was not a drug addict!" Bailey cried out in disbelief. She hadn't known Samantha well. Other than the girls' need to party to death she hadn't come across as a drug addict.

"Of course she wasn't, she was a dealer. Her suppliers were Luce and Finley. Sam owes them money and they've been looking ever since she disappeared."

Rajah had her attention now. Bailey leaned towards her, eyes sharp, body alert, hoping Rajah would continue.

The corner of Rajah's mouth lifted in an amused smile. "That got your attention didn't it? I knew there was a reason I didn't buy this whole act of you giving up. It's because you haven't. Idn't that right?"

Bailey scowled at Rajah's 'cat at the canary' expression.

"You caught me," Bailey spoke sarcastically rolling her eyes. "Now, why are you telling me this?"

Rajah fiddled with one of her braids and licked her lips appearing as if she was considering her next move before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small piece of paper. "Here, it's Luce's number. I let 'em know you might be calling so they shouldn't get too amped up that you have this number, but I'd do it sooner rather than later. They are drug dealers after all."

Bailey stared dumbly at the piece of paper before fumbling with her books to clutch the folded scrap in her hands. "They've been looking since Sam disappeared haven't they?"

There must have been something Bailey's voice at that moment, because Rajah's harsh facial expression softened before she responded. "Yeah, they have. Let's pool our information together."

"If you already know this information that these girls have, just tell me," Bailey pleaded softly.

Rajah shook her head and took a step back. "Not here! More importantly some of that information isn't mine to tell and a lot of what they got was done illegally. That's why we need to call them this weekend. Some of the shit they found makes my blood run cold."

Bailey nodded and licked her bottom lip. "Okay, this weekend."

Rajah pursed her lips together. "Black people always die first," she grumbled under her breath.

"That's not true," Bailey started; suddenly worried that Rajah may not help.

"Relax. This weekend," she nodded and then jerked her head indicating that Harper should follow.

"Raj, thank you," Bailey hollered down the hall.

Rajah raised a dismissive hand, not even bothering to turn around. Bailey smiled widely. Things were looking up.

The piece of paper with the drug dealers' number on it proved to be the only thing that could keep Bailey's attention throughout the first periods of the day. In second period Bailey had just kept it unfolded, resting on her book, gazing intently at the numbers. What she expected to see, she didn't know, but her legs jiggled with anticipation and she decided she wasn't going to wait until the weekend. She'd do it after school. She needed the information now. Today. Gwen's life depended on it.

--

It was in fourth period that she started rethinking her decision. Speaking with other people, trying to pretend to be normal seemed to be calming her enough to make her think a little more rationally. And the questions she planned on asking Oliver before class started would probably reiterate the need to wait until Saturday.

Bailey gave a slight nod to Oliver as she took the seat next to him. She bowed her head, glancing down at the book she'd just placed on the desk top. He looked awful. Like he hadn't slept or bathed in days. His clothes were horribly wrinkled, definitely dirty, and if she knew anything about Oliver it was that wrinkles gave him hives. What was more curious was that no innuendos fell from his lips when he noticed her and gave her a half hearted smile.

"Hey, Oliver," Bailey said cautiously.

He raised two fingers in greeting as if it was all he could manage and said nothing as he kept his eyes down, focusing on his Lit book.

"Damien told me that you and Gwen had a pretty steamy relationship." She started.

He stiffened and his jaw clenched. His fingers clenched at the sides of the thin desk so tightly Bailey wondered if it would snap. "And?" He snapped.

She wasn't going to beat around the bush. Bailey didn't have time to worry about his feelings. "I want to know what happened."

"None of your business, Roberts." He snarled.

She'd never heard Oliver speak that way to anyone, so when Bailey continued she didn't feel so bad anymore. "I need to talk about Gwen. I miss her and I want to know more about her. You can understand missing her, can't you?"

He thumped the top of the desk hard enough to cause an echo in the mostly empty classroom. He turned his head to the side, glaring at her. Bailey flinched slightly at the angry wet glistening brown eyes that focused on her and for a moment she thought that he would leave. That he would collect his books and make an escape before everyone and the teacher came, only he didn't. The tear that escaped left a wet trail and he sniffled, quickly wiping at it with a finger.

He shifted down into his chair, letting his legs lounge out from beneath, leaning towards Bailey as he started. "We were good together, never had any problems until my mom found out," he licked his bottom lip and swallowed before continuing, "didn't want me dating a rich white girl."

That had been the farthest thing from Bailey's mind that she almost asked him to repeat what he'd said again. "Wait, aren't you rich too?" seemed to be the only question Bailey ask though.

He shrugged. "Not originally and her parents were old school. Interracial relationships, whoooh, ya know?" he snorted, tapping an index finger against the desk surface. "As a strong, successful black woman who had to struggle to make it into a decent law school," he paused and Bailey wondered, by the way he said it, if those words were exactly what his mother had said. "She feels that other young black women deserve even stronger more successful black men."

When he paused again Bailey thought he would stop, but he continued with a shrug of his shoulders. "And maybe she's not wrong," he concluded.

Bailey shook her head. Thinking about Damien and how, even though he'd disappointed her, as much as she would like to, she couldn't squash down her feelings. "You can't help who you fall in love with, Oliver. I just want to know if you loved her so much why would you break up with her for that? You mom would've eventually understood."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "I didn't break up with Gwen, she broke up with me. I told Gwen that it didn't matter, but Gwen just couldn't deal. She felt she was disrespecting my mother and her choices. Gwen even told me that Mom had told her how she'd practically broken her back to get where she is today so that I could have the opportunities I do. Gwen said she wouldn't stand in the way of that. She made a promise to my mom that she'd break up with me."

Bailey blinked rapidly. "What?"

He tsked his tongue and clenched his jaw. "I was angry, but not at Mom because I understood where she was coming from. I was pissed at Gwen. She gave up so easily," he let his shoulders drop, "so I did too. That's how we ended. The next day we just went on like nothing happened, but everyone understood we weren't together anymore. No one but you has talked about it since."

Bailey felt an uneasy feeling settle in her stomach as she felt the moment become awkward. Now she was wondering if she should do something to comfort him, before she hadn't cared. She leaned forward and patted his hand. She eased back quickly pulling her hand away.

"Wow Bailey you should consider being a therapist," he supplied sarcastically. "You aren't very good with this whole emotion thing are you?"

"Shut-up, Oliver," Bailey said with a small smile threatening to escape.

"How's Grayson?"

Talk about 180 degree change in topic.

Bailey shrugged. "I don't know."

His eyebrows rose. "Yeah, you know, that's cool. You are his girlfriend right? But no, I guess it would be too strange for you to know how he's doing. Maybe I should ask you how Damien's doing?"

Bailey bit her lip. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Ever heard of quid pro quo?"

Bailey heaved a sigh and glanced up when she heard the warning bell ring. Should she feel guilty about Grayson? Maybe, but what Oliver didn't know was that her relationship with Grayson was fake, merely a tool in trying to help Damien notice her. It seemed childish now. She didn't even know if she still wanted Damien to notice her in that way.

It was clear she still had feelings for him, even if it was against her will, but that ship had long sailed when Damien had told her he didn't see her that way.

"Planet Earth calling Bailey Roberts...I haven't seen Damien since I heard you slammed him into the locker. Kinky," he wiggled his eyebrows.

She let out a sigh and ignored him, knowing eventually she would have to apologize to Damien for that.

"He's all hot and bothered looking for you too," Oliver interrupted her thoughts.

Bailey fully turned towards him. "Excuse me?"

"If he hears your name he tenses up and looks around."

Hot and bothered? Bailey scoffed, more like scared and wary of Gwen's crazy best friend. "Great, one person I need to be afraid of me."

"Look on the bright side..."

Bailey lifted an eyebrow when he didn't continue. "No bright side?"

He shook his head, "None whatsoever."

Bailey nodded in agreement.

By the time lunch came around Bailey's stomach was grumbling so loud she knew every one could hear it. Of course, having other things on her mind, she hadn't bothered to get any cash or pack a lunch. She cast a longing look at the pizza and Dr. Pepper on the tray of a guy walking by.

A Chinese box popped in front of her face and she jolted back. Glancing up the last person she expected to see was Damien. He gave her a cautious smile before jiggling the white plastic bag in his other hand, indicating he had more where that rice box came from.

"Lo Mein and Mongolian beef, got plenty," he offered, shoving the white rice box back into the bag. "Come on," he said, giving her shoulder a nudge in the direction of their table.

Walking side by side with Damien after what she'd done had to be the most awkward moment of her existence. Figure out what to say, how to apologize didn't help either. "Look, Damien, I'm really..." the word caught in her throat.

How she hated apologizing.

"Don't worry about it," he spoke softly just before they settled at the table.

He plopped three boxes in front of them and offered her a set of chopsticks before flipping the lid to the shrimp Lo Mein and digging in. Apparently he expected her to eat with him from the same container. She pulled away when his broad shoulders bumped into hers as he leaned forward to capture a shrimp. This was strangely intimate...Bailey frowned before her stomach made a demand she couldn't refuse.

The moment the noodles touched her tongue she couldn't stop the moan of pleasure that escaped. "I feel like I haven't eaten in years," she mumbled around her mouth full.

"Um," Damien reached for the white box, fumbling to open it. "Here, have some rice."

"Good to have you back," Oliver said suddenly from behind her, slamming a heavy hand against her back that forced her to jolt forward.

"Hey. I'm eating here! I could've choked." The sting of the slap vibrated through her body, causing a wetness to gather in the corner of her eyes.

Oliver shrugged nonchalantly and walked around the table, sitting opposite of Bailey. He plopped his garishly red tray down and gave the pitiful piece of pizza a glare. "Couldn't have gotten Chinese for everyone? Bailey let's switch places. I know how much you like this pizza."

It was true, she loved the schools pizza, but Chinese food would always win hands down. Before she could even reply Damien was voicing his opinion. "I am not eating my food with you."

"I can get a plate," he offered.

"No," Bailey spoke around a piece of Mongolian beef.

He held his hands up. "Okay fine."

Had Damien not been sharing her food it would have seemed like all three of them were just going through the motions. Really, it's what they were all doing, but the difference between them and her was that they were moving on.

"Bailey. Hi," Kate's sweetly melodic voice came from the side. "I saw you today in first period, but I-um..."

Bailey wanted to tell her she didn't have to finish. She knew she'd been hard to be around. When she had been forced to come to class she'd snap at people, of course she never would stay long. Kate had gotten the brunt of her lashing out the last time.

"I know Katie. I'm better," Bailey lied.

She would act better for the sake of the people who'd known Gwen longer, so that they could move on just in case Bailey was wrong. Just in case. They didn't need to know she hadn't really given up.

Bailey watched Kate swallow nervously, rubbing the tips of her fingers together. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

Bailey knew this was an answer she couldn't lie about. She couldn't be miraculously better over night, so she played it safe. "Horrible, drained. I think if a zombie could feel...it would pretty much be like this, but I'm sure you all feel the same," Bailey stopped and frowned when Grayson slinked up behind Kate, pinching her side.

"Why are you just standing here? Sit down," he mumbled, nudging her out of the way so he could sit by Bailey. "Bails, I heard you were here and that you actually came in the morning. It was your choice wasn't it?"

Bailey chuckled and nodded. "Yes."

"So I guess this means you're back? Are you going to stop looking?"

Grayson wouldn't know any tact if it bit him on the ass, Bailey decided as she clutched the chopsticks in her hand.

"She's gone, Grayson," she managed through gritted teeth. "I need to come to terms with that. Denial is just one of the many stages of grief. You know how I am with emotions; I don't really handle things well. So yes, I've stopped."

It was as simple as that. They all believed her. She found it rather funny that the only people who didn't believe her were Rajah and Harper, two people she kind of hated. The sound of chopsticks dropping against the table caught her attention and she turned towards a trembling Damien.

"Are you okay?" she whispered into his shoulder.

The question remained unanswered as she watched tears slip down his cheeks. He was crying. He looked so broken as he dropped his face into his hands, like his world was ending and he just figured it out.

"Damien?" Bailey felt the surprise rising in her as she shifted closer, turning towards him. She cleared her throat and reached out, awkwardly patting him on the back. "It'll be okay..." because she's alive and I will find her. I haven't really stopped looking, she added silently.

He jerked her into his arms, hugging her, clutching him to her chest so tightly her breath escaped her mouth in a whoosh. He cried into her shoulder, hiding his face behind her black hair, which she'd chosen to keep down that morning.

She swallowed and allowed her arms to rise up. Wrapping her arms around the back of his shoulder blades she held him closer, squeezing just enough to let him know she was there.

"She's gone. She's really gone," he whispered repeatedly against her damp neck.

Bailey didn't know what to say, what could she say? She couldn't give him false hope anymore. Bailey knew she wasn't wrong. Gwen was still alive. Sam was too. She didn't know how she knew, she just did, but until then she had to let them all grieve. They had to go through the motions for sanity's sake.

I haven't given up Damien. I won't ever. Bailey wondered, if she thought hard enough, if Damien would hear her.