Isla had yet again ignored and done everything possible to avoid the two boys her life had been paired with. She mostly stayed behind in her room and managed her schoolwork from there.

It all began to get to her. It nagged at her temper, but being held up in her room, all the days that passed wavered her even more. She felt as if she was suffocating within the four walls, and the tension between her and Ava turned unbearable.

She was sitting on her bed, with her books in her lap to study.

''It's exhausting to date someone, you know?'' Ava grinned from her own bed, rolling over to her side, ''How is it going for you—''

''I didn't even know that you were dating anyone.'' Isla snapped. Her eyes were glued to the book in front of her.

She refused to look at her best friend.

''Shit—'' Ava mumbled, propping herself up slightly, her legs folded over the edge of the bed, ''I meant to talk to you—''

''Before or after you left me at the party?'' Isla slammed her book shut, annoyingly narrowing her eyes at Ava, ''Because I don't remember you telling me anything about it then.''

''Isla—'' Ava said, her note desperate, ''I was going to talk to you about it, but it didn't really seem like a good time to do so.''

Isla's mind battled between the sudden urge of running out of there and rushing to the one place she always felt safe in or staying behind and listening to whatever excuse she believed Ava would fill her with this time.

She sighed loudly before her head tilted towards her friend. Nodding in a swift move.

''So...'' Ava managed, ''About the party, I didn't mean to run off. I thought you were going with me, and then I saw you with Nott, so I thought—''

''You thought what? That Nott and I are such great friends that I would casually hang out with him at a party?'' She shot back, ''Or that I was so eager to play some stupid game with Malfoy?''

Ava's eyes widened.

''I didn't even want to go, but you made me go, and it turned out...'' Isla quieted, standing flat on her feet, ' It was horrible, and I got humiliated.''

Ava nodded, slowly before she stood tall on her side of the room, ''I didn't mean for that to happen, and if I knew that Nott and Malfoy planned to play you like that, I would've—''

''They what?'' Isla's face fell into utter confusion and her shoulder sunk, ''Theodore too?''

Her stomach twisted as her arms folded over her chest.

''You didn't know?'' Ava rose, ''I heard Draco tell him all about it the day after—''

''And you didn't bother to tell me?'' Isla gritted. Her fingers curled up to fists.

''I told you that I wanted to tell you about it—'' Ava started, but the instant she did. Isla's head shook, and she turned around vividly before storming out.

It disappointed her to a point where it was hard to decide right from wrong. Deeply within, Isla knew that Ava meant no harm in what she'd done. Still, it nagged her.

Her feet stumbled as she rushed her way up to the Astronomy Tower — one of the few places she believed that she'd find some peace. Her breaths were heavy from walking up the stairs, and her heartbeat scored loudly in her ears.

Isla looked out over the dim surroundings, and she huffed to herself. Trying to catch her breathing as she slipped down one of the pillars.

It was quiet, pleasant up here, where no one seemed to be these days. Her eyes sealed as the wind lightly tugged at her hair.

She rested there in the silence for minutes before she caught a loud groan, making her flinch because of it. Her eyelashes strived her hooded sight, and her gaze landed on the tall boy standing at the top of the stairs.

Isla gulped, pushing herself off the floor to match his doings.

''What are you doing up here?'' Draco snapped at her rudely, ''I thought Nott told you it's dangerous for a girl to be out alone at this hour?''

Isla blinked quickly and a feeling of fear pushed through her veins, ''I was just—'' Her head tilted forward, her sight grounded as she sought to walk past him, ''I'll just go.''

''Not so fucking fast—'' Malfoy gripped her shoulder, dragging her back to where she stood, ''You have no manners, have you?''

Isla frowned at the statement. Her lips pushed into a firm line, ''I?'' She hissed, almost, ''You're asking me if I don't have any manners? If I don't, what do you have, Malfoy?''

Draco merely grinned at her failing temper, enjoyed with how easy it looked to crawl beneath her skin, ''You need to watch that filthy tongue of yours,'' His hand slipped off her shoulder.

''Well, I wanted to leave, but you always hold me back from doing so. I don't know what you expect from me, Malfoy?''

''Stop saying my fucking name,'' He pushed her back, causing her spine to collide with the pillar behind her. His gaze studied hers from up close, ''Or maybe you're practicing? Perhaps you're rehearsing saying my name because you think it will be yours? Is that it?'' He mocked her.

Isla's eyes rolled, ''You're so full of yourself. You know that, right?'' Her voice uncertainly low, ''But if you'll excuse me—''

Draco pinned her to the pillar, his hands bored into the wood on each side of her head. Towering her as his tongue rolled on the inside of his cheek provokingly.

''I'm full of myself?'' He hissed. His eyes flickered, ''If I'm full of myself, what the hell are you?''

''I am trying to leave,'' Isla's teeth clasped together, and her chest felt heavy, ''You're the one not letting me go.''

Malfoy's eyes burnt her skin as his breaths fanned her lips. He was standing awfully close to her. Too close for comfort, almost.

He didn't say anything else. He simply let the tension thicken as he bit his lower lip, still staring at her.

''Malfoy—''

''What did I say about my damn name?'' He growled, his fist striking the pillar behind her, making her flinch, ''I told you never to speak my name.''

Isla's hands pushed into his chest, attempting to force him away from her, but the act only provoked Draco to stand more solid.

Her hands fell to her sides again, and her eyes matched him, ''Why do you keep doing this?'' Isla groaned, annoyingly, ''I don't understand why you keep—''

''Shhhh...'' Draco's finger found its way to her lips, and he gently pushed against them, ''Good girls know when to shut up.''

He dragged her bottom lip down as a puzzled expression mantled her features.

Isla's head shook before she had any chance to get lost in his embrace, ''I can't—'' Her neck snapped, causing his touch to fall off her, ''What are you doing?''

''What?'' Malfoy smirked, yet standing close, ''This?''

His thumb found her lip again, but this time — this time, he slightly forced it in between her lips, raising a brow at how warm her mouth felt, ''Damn it, Clarke,'' Draco mumbled as he pulled away.

Her eyes were broad in pure confusion.

He let his thumb up to his own mouth, gently sucking it off without once tearing their sights apart, ''You're even easier than I believed you to be.'' His tone harsh, and he snickered amusingly to himself, ''And to think that Diggory never got you to sleep—''

''That's enough,'' Isla cut him off, ''I don't know what you're talking about—'' Her spine arched off the pillar, in complete disbelief of what he'd done, ''But even if I did, that's none of your business, Malfoy.''

His last name tasted disgusting on her tongue as a bit of grimace came with it.

''Now—'' She strode past him, ''Leave me alone. I won't pick you, and I won't tell anyone. So do us both a favor, and just leave me alone.''

He stepped to the side, standing in her way again. His hand shoved into his pockets as he glared at her, ''Are you denying the fact that you and Diggory—''

''I'm not denying anything, but it's none of your concern, so just—''

It ached.

Thinking about Cedric as much as she'd done these last few days hurt, and her mind felt more than worn because of it.

''Don't lie,'' Draco endangered, his eyes once again caught hers, ''I told you not to—''

''And again, I told you to leave me alone, so now do us both a favor, and do just that.''

Now, she was the one to shoulder her way past him, quickly before he had any chance of stopping her, and she disappeared down the spiral stairs.

Isla felt as if she was going to be sick. She didn't know where Draco got all the intel he had on her. No one knew about Cedric.

Not even her best friend had a clue about her and the relationship she'd lived in before he passed.

It turned a bit overwhelming for the girl as she ran through the dungeons, down to the Slytherin common room, and the instant she stepped inside, her eyes snapped.

She looked blankly at the brunet, sitting with a girl on his lap, straddling him. Her hands tangled in his brown locks and his mouth left sloppy kisses down her neck.

Isla instantly tore her sights from them and her head lowered to make herself invisible. She tried at her best capacity to sneak past the two, going unnoticed not to cause anything else, but the very second she stepped into view for Theodore, he looked right at her.

''Clarke,''

She halted for a slight moment before she awkwardly continued her way up the stairs.

What she just witnessed caused a rocking feeling in her stomach. She couldn't quite put her finger upon what she'd felt, but something dropped in her chest as she stepped upstairs.

''Fuck—'' She heard him grunt behind her.

''Where are you going?''

''Just get the fuck out.''

''But Nott—''

''I said leave.''

Isla panicked, and she practically sprinted her way up.

She was still upset with what Theodore had helped Draco with at the party. He was in on the plan that humiliated her, and she didn't want to see him, nevertheless speak to him.

''Clarke, wait—''

Isla caught the severe steps behind her as her hand closed around the doorknob. She shoved her door open, and just as she was meant to seal it — his foot made it impossible.

''Nott—'' Isla muttered, standing on the other side of the timber, ''I don't have time—''

''The hell you have,'' Theodore gripped the edge of the door, shoving it wide, making her stumble back into her dim room.

Her sight clocked that Ava had left too, leaving her all alone within the four walls. Theodore stared at her uncomfortably as he scratched the back of his head.

His cheeks flushed from running up the stairs and his lips swollen from the girl he'd been enjoying his time with down in the common room.

''What do you want?'' She questioned. Isla felt a flood of disgust as it pounded through her vessels, ''It's late, and I want to sleep—''

''What was that?'' His hand gestured to the hallway, ''Why didn't you wait?''

''Wait for what?'' She fired, ''You?''

Theodore's eyes rolled, frustrated with her attitude, ''Yes, who else—''

''Because I don't have to. If I don't want to speak to you, I don't have to.'' She walked past him, holding onto the door as her eyes flicked to the corridor, ''And if you don't mind, I'd like for you to leave.''

The pinning eyes narrowed as he turned around, facing her, ''You don't get to be upset with me. I told you that I don't want you to fucking choose me—''

''I'm not upset with you,'' She frowned, looking bewildered, ''I never said that I was upset with you for kissing that girl. You're the one standing in my room trying to justify yourself for it.''

Theo's mouth fell open, tasting dry.

''Perhaps you need to get your own actions in order before you storm in here, accusing me of things you obviously have no clue what they're about.'' Isla stood her ground and again aimed towards the hallway for him to leave.

Theodore's arms dropped to his sides, taking a long stride closer. His eyes observing hers, ''Clarke,'' He said her name seriously, ''Did I do something to upset you?''

She forced a smile, trying to hide the fact that he did.

''No,''

''Are you sure—''

''I'm sure,'' She stated, her fingers clenched around the wood, ''But if the shoe fits.''

''What is that—''

''Just leave.''

It turned quiet, and he slowly nodded as he combed a hand through his hair. His eyes darkened slightly.

''Suit yourself then.'' He spat, turning visibly upset before he marched out, and she slammed the door shut. Locking it immediately as she caught his spine striking the wall next to her door.

''Suit your fucking self then, Clarke!''

_____