I came home to find Jared and Manny our family room watching a movie. They jumped up upon seeing me. "Liv!"

I put my hands up trying to get them to calm down. "Don't get your panties in a bunch. I am perfectly fine."

"Please tell me you didn't do something stupid," Jared groaned, clearly annoyed with me.

"Please tell me you did something stupid," Manny countered only to earn a dark look from Jared.

"Bro, you were supposed to be on my side," he said, crossing his arms.

Manny shrugged his shoulder. "You're her brother, it's your job to make sure she's safe. I'm her best friend, it's my job to laugh at her stupid moments and give her advice afterwards. Circle of life."

Jared shook his head, not liking the answer. He looked back at me urging me to go on.

I dropped on to the nearest couch, throwing my feet up. "You know, for a boy so obsessed with Madeline, you should at least be on her brother's side. Maybe he'll like you if you weren't like all the other rumour starting losers at our school."

Or in other words, his friends.

"You heard what dad said, rumours have had to start somewhere," Jared countered.

I waved him off. "Yeah, yeah. I don't believe that. Karter is too busy for any of these rumours to be real. The boy works like all the time."

"Well maybe in the day time, but he's always asleep in class. What does he do at night?" Jared raised a brow challenging me. I opened my mouth and closed it realizing I had no answer. I didn't know what he did at night.

A look of triumph crossed my brother's face.

"I'll figure it out," I thrust my chin in the air.

Jared's eyes widened. "No! Livia! That's not what I meant!"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Too late, my mind is set."

Manny who was sitting silently burst into laughter. "Watching you two fight is almost better than watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians."

"I'm glad our pain is entertaining to you," Jared and I said at the same time, which only made Manny laugh even harder.

"Man, I love it when you do that," he said. Even though Jared and I were twins, we were very different. Occasionally, our twinness did come out.

"Look Liv," Jared let out a loud sigh. "I'm just asking you to fake date him, don't make it so confusing."

"Confusing?" I asked exasperatedly. I was confusing things? Not the boy who devised this stupid plan. "If anything is stupid it's this deal we made!"

"If it's so stupid then I guess you wouldn't mind if I broadcasted a very specific picture of you?" He threatened once more, a stupid smirk on his face knowing he's won.

I pointed my finger in his direction. "You are a dead man Jared, mark my words."

He rolled his eyes not believing me. He turned to look at the intrigued Manny. "Are we finishing this movie or what?"

Manny looked back and forth between us, as if asking me permission. I sighed and motioned to the door giving him the thumbs up to abandon his best friend duties. I followed them downstairs and threw myself on the couch bringing 43 with me, the book Karter recommended.

I was so into it that I didn't notice my brother, Manny or the the sun leave. I was only aware of the time when my dad found me in the family room. Kissing my parents goodnight, I went back to my room and finished the book. I couldn't put it down, it was captivating. Karter knew his books, I had to give him that.

The next day, I tried going early to class but was held by Carly forever by her Jared interrogation. Carly's obsession had to be unhealthy. She once offered to pay me fifty dollars for a picture of him shirtless, when I told her how creepy that was she laughed it off as if she was joking the whole time. She so wasn't joking.

I caught Karter's eye in class, he hurriedly lowered his gaze obviously trying to avoid me. His whole posture was defensive. Was I becoming a Carly to him? I shivered at the horrifying thought. Well I did sort of good-willingly stalk him.

At lunch time I wanted to go sit beside Karter, but Manny grabbed my arm and dragged me to our usual table claiming everyone has been asking about me. I took my seat next to Manny hearing the boys discuss their upcoming football game and the girls discuss what they wanted to do this weekend. I couldn't help but zone out. I never really belonged on this table, I just sat there in association with Jared and Manny. This group of friends had their benefits, they were entertaining at times. I got the full high school experience with them, I got invited to every party, was in on every joke, went out on all their big plans. But there was always something missing. Their friendship felt like a show, there was no realness. Not how it was with Manny and I, but still I couldn't claim Manny for my own. He was friends with everyone, I couldn't deny him that.

I couldn't help but look at Karter. I had Manny and occasionally Jared. Who did he have? He has always been alone at school. Why did he keep all those walls up? Why won't he even let me have a conversation with him rather than an argument? Karter suddenly looked up meeting my eyes. He looked at my table of friends before looking back at me. A flash of anger crossed his expression before he turned away. He got up and started to leave the food court. I got up hurriedly running after him ignoring Manny's questions. I broke into a jog trying to keep up with Karter's long legs. I finally found him at his locker. Before I could reach him Carly popped in front of my face. Twice in a day? What did I do to deserve this?

"Hey Liv! I just got out of student council, is your brother here? I haven't seen him all day? Is he in the caff or maybe they're sitting outside?" she interrogated.

Ugh!

Karter had now opened his locker stuffing books into his backpack. I needed to reach him fast.

"No, he's in the infirmary. Caught an STD."

Her jaw fell as she stared at me in horror. I held myself back from rolling on the floor in laughter. Karter, on the other hand, seemed to have heard me because small smirk crept on his face. Carly, however, closed her mouth before walking away in a hurry.

Priceless! I should have done this sooner!

Jared was going to give me an earful about this later. Definitely worth it.

Karter was now closing his locker and walking away. I followed him outside as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his sweater.

"Karter!" I called after him but he didn't stop.

I jogged after him finally reaching his side. I tried catching my breath before talking, but god it was taking some time. He was ignoring my presence. Finally, my heart rate seemed to decrease to a normal one allowing me to speak again.

"Karter," I tried again.

"What do you want Livia?" he sighed tiredly, finally acknowledging me.

"I think we need to clear the air," I offered. "Like why you hate me."

"Besides you following me everywhere?" he said exasperatedly.

I linked my hands behind my back nervously. "Well yes, other than that."

"It's not that I hate you, I hate your type of people?" he said casually as he continued walking.

"My type of people?"

Other than the hurtful jab, I was confused. What did he mean?

He gave me a side look, as if offended I didn't know what he meant.

"You know? The whole ruling the school, driving your little sport cars, throwing your privilege money around like you are important. Thinking you are above everyone, not caring how you affect those around you as long as you get something out of it. Bat your pretty eyes or flash a smile and expect everyone to do what you want. The only time you talk to people like me is if you want something," he said in this annoyed tone.

I went to stand in front of him stopping us beside some skate park. I jabbed my finger in his chest angrily. "You can't talk so hypocritically as if your words don't hurt us too. You hate me because of the people I hang out with? You are so ready to judge. Are all muslims terrorists because a few extremists change a peaceful religion to match their radical goals? You are just as bad as the people you hate."

Despite all my yelling and the storm in Karter's frowning eyes, I heard a cry nearby. I looked at the skate park and found a group of teenage boys surrounding this little girl holding her black skateboard to her chest. They did not look so friendly. Just what I needed, more trouble. I was awkward with kids, but I hated bullies more. I looked back at Karter who still had wheels clicking behind his eyes.

"Stay here," I ordered him before angrily marching up to the group of boys. "Hey!"

They all looked at me curiously as I reached the little girl's side. I looked down at her worriedly. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "They told me I'm not allowed to skate here."

"She has the right to skate here as much as any of you jerks! It's a public park!" I yelled at them, I was still angry at Karter and was taking it out on them. "Do you own this park? I don't think so. It's for all ages and sexes. If a little girl wants to skate here then she will. No one, not even her parents can tell her what she can and can't do. Got it?"

Some of them looked at me as if I was crazy, others looked amused, almost entertained.

"What are you going to do about it?" asked the one in the middle. His friends seemed to like this standoff because they were now laughing.

What was I going to do about it? I was easily outnumbered, my skinny arms couldn't punch him hard enough even if I tried, the only thing I had for me was my angry high from my argument with Karter.

"Is there a problem here?" Karter's voice came from behind me.

I clenched my jaw. So not the time for him. "Go away Karter."

The boy that challenged me was eyeing Karter, probably sizing him up. Compared to them, Karter's towering height and wide shoulders put their thin postures to shame.

"I am going to ask again, is there a problem here?" he asked taking a step beside me, pulling up his sleeves to expose his strong forearms. I looked up at Karter's face to find a dangerous expression, a shiver ran down my spine. He looked like he could cause some damage, I was just glad he was on my side this time.

The boy shook his head and took a step back. "No man, there is no problem."

"Good," Karter spat waiting for them to leave. They did, and in a hurry.

I turned to look at the little girl, putting my hands on my knees to reach her height. "Are you okay?"

She nodded her head before smiling widely, flashing a mouth of braces. "Thank you for helping me!"

I matched her smile with one of my own before patting her blue helmet. "Now go show them who's boss."

She nodded her head before going to skateboard near the railings.

I turned to find Karter standing there awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "You didn't have to save me, I was fine on my own."

I lied. Thank god he saved me, but I was still mad at him. I couldn't believe he judged me so easily. I was offended and angry to the point of tears.

"As impressive as you were, you're welcome," he said, earning a scoff from me. He ran his hands through his dark hair frustratedly. "Listen, I guess you were right... Maybe you are not who I thought you were. Maybe we should clear the air... if you even still want to."

My eyes widened in shock. Was he... Was this an extended hand? I couldn't believe it.

His lips formed into a straight line as he clenched his jaw. "Fine, yeah, I get it. You don't want to talk to me anymore. It's fine."

He turned to leave, I shook my head finally forcing myself out of my shocked state. "Wait! Yes! I want to clear things up!"

Karter stopped in his track turning his head to look at me. "Okay, then come along."

I took a few steps landing beside him before he started walking. "Where are we going?"

"Momo's."

"For some chocolate cake?" I asked. Last time he made me cry he bought me cake as a way of apologizing. Was he trying to apologize now?

"Sure... something like that I guess," he shrugged, a small smile on his lips.

I think I finally brought down his first few walls.

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