It took Skaii and Nicholas fifteen minutes to get on the road to school after they collected his car. Skaii and Mr. Harvey spoke almost the entire way there and Nicholas ignored them as if he was in his own world. So far had gathered so far that he was snappy, mean and self absorbed. Just as she knew the entire young adult populous to be. She glanced over at his hard face as he focused on driving, his Mustang ate up the road in front of them. His hair was shorter now, she noted, the last time she saw him, it fell a little at his nape. Now it the sides were cut low and the brown locks were a mess of curls on his head. It was a nice haircut though, it suited him.

"You got your wish princess, what else do you want?" He asked pointedly without looking at her. He must've noticed her lingering gaze.

She rolled her eyes, couldn't he open his mouth and not be so harsh? Granted, it was kind of justified, she did insult his aunt but she still felt the burn from his words each time. She chose to ignore the temper he obviously held and spoke lowly, "So you and Matthew?"

He was silent.

"Are you friends?" She went on to ask.

He didn't answer, he was mute for so long she thought he wouldn't even bother to. "We're far from friends."

"It didn't look that way to m-" She started.

"Why do you care?" He bit out and she shrank back. Those were the exact words she used on him last night. Is Nicholas being petty? "Afraid he'll share your dirty secrets?" He asked with a smirk.

She sighed in defeat. Why did she bother? It didn't matter to her if they were friends? He looked like he had the money to match her step brother's. His house and car were glimmering center pieces, plus he played a sport, just like him.

There was a deep hum as the car rolled into the parking lot of Trinity Vale High. Skaii did not realize that they were so close. Nicholas looked up at mirror the girl behind him who was now sitting in the middle of the seat, she was unconsciously stroking her injured arm with a distant look in her eyes. Without a word, he opened his car door and hopped out. Skaii reached forward to open the door, but it flew open before she could reach it. Nicholas was standing there, holding out his hand.

She looked up at him and then back down to his outstretched hand warily. She didn't mention her injuries to him but somehow he knew she would have trouble getting out of the car.

"I don't have all day." He urged. Hesitantly, she took his hand and regretted it almost instantly. What she felt when their hands met took her by surprise. Her lips parted and she slowly breathed. A wave of heat rushed down her spine.

She quickly to shrug off the feeling as quickly as it came and got to her feet.

Nicholas cleared his throat, completely unaffected. "About last night-" he began to say.

"It didn't happen." She brushed off any other words he had to say, as much as it angered her that he thought she was a slut, it already happened, plus he saved her from Matthew this once so they were even. Nicholas pulled his hand away from her and stood up straight.

He slammed the door shut. "Good, neither did this?" He growled out and strode away. What was that supposed to mean?

Skaii stared after him, mouth agape until he was out of sight. 

Sure enough the full parking lot witnessed their exchange, even though Nicholas was out of sight some girls were still frozen in that direction, starting longingly.

Soon those vultures turned toward her, she was hoping to avoid the prudish eyes but she was standing beside a freaking red Ford Mustang!

Their face glazed over with very new blossoming expressions. Some eyes held a look of pity and best of all ridicule. Oh right- she was supposed to be the girl that almost fell to her death at the hands of her non existent boyfriend. 

Could these people be more shallow?

Well, she did say today was the day for her to start feeling like herself again and that was still her intention. She was used to people staring at her. She chuckled lightly and inhaled, basking in the attention. She was one hand down but not even then could any of them match her radiance, let alone voice their opinions out loud.

She walked towards the steps of Trinity Vale High School, eyes trailed her from every direction and she was met with even more when she entered the school. She noted the additional decorations in the pristine halls, golden shawls hung above the lockers and the white walls were coated with streaks of dark blue. At the end of the hall was a centerpiece with a golden football on it, for an immaculate and established private school, they sure loved the hardcore sports. 

She could feel the stares on her and the not so discreet whispers that passed between some of the higher class girls at the school. They were the ones that stood clear of most of the kids at school and stuck to their social group, they walked with their heads held high. Kind of Skaii- but never held that much power. In the past, they made it clear that cheerleaders were all awful persons that used their body for privileges and Skaii was their leader. So she could guess that that group was having a field day with what they heard. One of them was even daring enough so cough out slut under her breath. It was not that she didn't hear, it was that she didn't care. 

At the beginning of the semester, she memorized her timetable so it wouldn't overlap with any practice she held so she knew what subject she had first. As she carefully walked down the hallway, she reached over to her caste bound arm for her bag and that's when she realized-

Shit!

Since she didn't plan on going to school, she only had a small tote bag that held her purse and phone. What was she supposed to do for the rest of the day? 

She ended up not reporting to her first class for the day, her disappearance got everyone in a frenzy. Those who shared a class with her just wanted to witness her speak, maybe that could indicate show how she was feeling. 

She was their queen bee and right now the queen's wing was broken, could she be hiding from the rest of the school? Some wondered. Everyone was anticipating her reaction but right now she was nowhere in sight.

~

Meanwhile, Emma was drowning in the sea of students bustling to their next class, they only had one name on their lips- Skaii Holder. She heard she was back, but she didn't see her anywhere. During her three weeks at this school she learnt how not to be heard or seen unless it was necessary. But hearing these people talking about Skaii so openly made her want to break her usually calm demeanor and yell at them. 

She ducked into the bathroom nearby to get away from the noise and immediately started to cough as she was engulfed in a cloud of smoke, her throat started to burn. Three girls were standing there, professionally twirling a cigarette between their fingers. Another girl was sitting on top of the counter, she was more thick than the rest of the girls, her back was arched against the wall, blowing smoke towards the ceiling. She was obviously their leader.

They never turned to look at Emma once as they continued to speak.

"I kind of feel sorry for her, I mean, she can't cheer anymore." One said, Emma didn't have to guess who they were talking about. The larger girl chuckled softly, it wasn't clear if she was laughing at her friends words or if it was the nicotine taking effect.  She went towards the sink to wash her hands, her head bent away from their view.

"I wonder who the guy is, he must be hot." She then said. "She is way too hot for him not to be." Her friends nodded in agreement. Could these girls be more shameless, they didn't even know if any of this were true but they were here making more assumptions. 

Emma scoffed softly. She came in here for some peace and quiet, not for this.

"Peter says he spots her a couple times by Green Oak at a small café. Do you know how far out of the county that is?" Green Oak was one of the most volatile communities in this part of the country, they had a high crime rate and countless drug rings, so when the other girls heard that, they went wild. The queen of the most decorated high school in the county was involved with a gang banger.

"Looks like princess likes a little whiskey in her milk." The girl on the counter smirked and slid down from her spot. "Maybe even some coke?"

The girl inhaled and closed her eyes, as if feel in thought. Her eyes snapped open after a while. "Coke can do some crazy shit to you, especially during sex. And just the legs on that girl can f**kng break a man."

"You have got to be kidding me." Emma growled out, voicing the thoughts she had been trying to hold in. Their heads snapped in her direction and she shrunk back when the heat of the girl's gaze hit her. She finally got a chance to look at the girls properly, all had short brown hair and were tall. They looked so much alike-almost like cousins.

"Who is this chick?" The one who had a nose ring asked the rest.

"A transfer." One snarled, obviously Emma was a nobody to them.

"For a transfer, she seems to be very interested in our business." They closed in on her and stopped just before any of their bodies touched her. The girls were taller than she was so they towered over her. Emma was a little intimidated but she was not about to showed them that. 

"I think she went mute." The thick one laughed mockingly and threw the cigarette she had in her hand to the bin behind Emma, it almost brushed pass her face, she could feel the heat off it.

"I don't want any trouble." Emma began and stepped back instinctively, she could see, from the number of cigarettes they smoked, that these girls didn't have a problem getting into trouble.

"You should have thought about that before you opened your f**ng mouth!" Their ring leader shouted before she reached for Emma's face, before 

"Alisson!" A voice thundered above the chaos. Everyone turned to the person who spoke, their eyes grew wide. The very person they were discussing just moments ago was standing in the opened handicapped stall. Her phone in her hand. Skaii was in there all along and didn't say anything? Emma stared at her incredulously. 

"Well go on." Skaii urged with a sharp glare. "Touch her, I dare you." She stepped out into the bathroom fully, even though she wasn't as tall as the rest of them, the aura she held was powerful. The girls who were just ready to attack Emma were silent. Allison, the leader looked absolutely terror stricken.

"Skaii-" Allison 

"No need for that." Skaii cut her off. "As co council to the student body president, it's my duty to report anything illegal happening on school grounds, within school hours. Smoking is forbidden in school and as minors, it's also illegal." Emma was slack jawed for a while, they were minors? They looked about 20. The hidden threat in Skaii's voice, Allison looked as if she was about to cry, deep down she knew this girl could make or break her future in Trinity Vale. 

"We didn't know. you were in there." One of the other girls spoke up, completely forgetting that Emma was standing there. So they didn't know Skaii was in there, did that gave them to right to talk about her like that?

"Whatever, I expect you to explain this to the Head Master before I do." Skaii rolled her eyes and pushed pass them and exited the bathroom. Emma didn't stick around for the aftermath of the anger the girls clearly had. She rushed out behind Skaii.

"Thanks," she said to Skaii when she caught up. If she wasn't there, those girls would have surely hit her. "Why didn't you let them know you were in there?"

"I don't care what people say about me." She replied simply. "Just keep your mouth closed from now on. It'll less painful for you." Skaii added as she walked away from her and she didn't bother to follow.