I bumped into Chris as I headed towards lunch. Honestly, I expected it to be more awkward. Maybe he could have rushed away, remembering what happened while he was in a drunken state. But, he didn't. He walked straight up to me, smiling. Then, as his gaze landed on his sister next to me, he scowled.

"Hey, Tal, I'll meet you at the table," I quickly muttered, ushering her away as she simply rolled her eyes at her brother. I wasn't sure how two siblings could have such a deep dislike towards each other, especially when both of them seemed like amazing people.

Chris smiled warmly. "Hey, Ada!"

I smiled back, trying to keep my cool demeanor. It was just a kiss, right? I mean, popular people had boyfriends, but I didn't feel like dealing with that. Not yet, anyways. Or was I? Either way, the next guy I dated I wanted to be genuine and a good hearted person.

"So, do you wanna sit with me and my friends today? I can introduce you to them if you want."

I blinked, the shook my head. I'd rather sit with my friends though the offer was appealing. "No thanks. I'm going to sit with my friends."

He shook his head, which took me by surprise. "They're not your friends, Ada. Haven't you watched the movies? It's all just a popularity contest. You don't have to dislike my sister just because I do. That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that the people she hangs out with are shallow and all they care about is your looks and your social status. I see so much more than a social status in you. I see a friend."

A bunch of emotions jumbled up inside of me and I wasn't sure which to broadcast on my face. I mean, I was the one using the others for popularity, right? Did I even want this anymore? Al I wanted was some friends and some respect. But, what if they were playing me too, and what if I wasn't earning anything I was fighting for? Could Chris really be trusted?

I sighed, mulling this over in my mind. What about Asher and Tala? Yes, I'd agree the others could be quite- annoying. But, what about them? What about J? We didn't talk that much, but he seemed cool. So what a few people could be jerks? I'd actually made some friends, earned some respect in a sober state. But, what was all of this for? Was I still faking it, or was I even making it?

I let out a puff of air. Then, I glanced back at Chris from the floor and smiled slightly. "I guess I'll meet your friends."

His whole face lit up and he grabbed my arm, practically dragging me into the cafeteria. I made sure to shoot Tala a text that I would be sitting with her brother for today. As we pushed past the line for food, I started to wonder how much of this was real and how much was fake.

I didn't even argue about skipping the food line. I wasn't very hungry anyways. So, as I plopped down in front of two large pizza boxes, I shied away. Chris, however, didn't notice my hesitation for he had his friend scoot down so I could sit next to him.

He introduced me to two well built guys a grade above us. They both had light blonde hair, but the difference was in the eyes. One had deep, dark brown eyes while the other had sparkling blue ones, light like ice. The one with blue eyes also had a scattering of freckles right across his nose and cheeks. He was introduced as Logan, while the other as Nathan. They were both across from Chris and I.

Chris's friend that scooted over, now sitting on his other side, was introduced as Justin. He was skinny, with dark brown hair and eyes. He also had glasses perched in his nose, but they actually looked very good on him. The style matched his eye and face shape perfectly.

"His here is Ada," Chris introduced lastly. Logan shamelessly checked me out while the others looked over and smiled. Surprisingly, they all shook my hand, and I awkwardly sat there, basking on the attention of four boys who I barely knew.

"Ada? What's that short for?" Justin asked.

I shrugged, trying to stay as lighthearted as possible. "That's for you to figure out." Or, you know, not.

Logan raised an eyebrow. "A mystery. What'll it take to figure it out."

Okay, he was officially my least favorite. He seemed like a pervert in all honesty.

Chris rolled his eyes from beside me. "Now that the king is here, you shall eat."

I couldn't help but snort. The others rolled their eyes, but logged out nonetheless. Well, except for me.

"What, got something against pepperoni?" Logan asked with his mouth full, pizza crumbles flying everywhere.

I cringed. "One, I actually don't like pepperoni. Two, I'm not hungry. Three, ew."

Logan shook his head. "-ts -goo...." That's all I could make out.

Chris sighed. "He's always like this, trust me. It never gets better."

Nathan shook his head, offering me a small smile as he finally spoke up. "Is there anything I could get you. You know, since you don't want pizza."

I shook my head, but appreciated his kindness. "No. I'm not very hungry."

"It's these idiots, isn't it." He reached across the table and thumped Logan on the head, causing me to laugh. "He's going to die alone."

"I have a girlfriend!"

Chris's eyes widened. "No way! Since when?"

"Since hell froze over."

I snorted at that. Nathan was officially my favorite.

"So, what do you guys do besides eat pizza and act annoying?" The old Adalaide couldn't contain herself any longer. Well, it's not exactly like the nice part of me was fake. It's just, I was a bit more snarky before all of this happened.

Nathan laughed. "Well, let's see. We like long walks on the beach-"

"Oh shut up," Logan grunted. I rolled my eyes at him.

"Wow, I didn't know you could be so snarky, Ada. I mean, I like it. I like it when you seem genuine, not plastic, not fake."

I stiffened slightly, but shook the negative thoughts away. "I'm still Ada-" I caught myself. "Just Ada."

Nathan raised an eyebrow, yet didn't press the matter further. It was almost like he could sense a part of my inner turmoil, but refused to pick at it.

"Well, if you haven't noticed, every school has their cliches, their groups, and all that jazz." That was the most intelligent thing Logan had said all day. "We're the 'bad boys'. We're not in any gangs if that's what you're thinking."

"You're just trying to look cool."

"No! We are cool! We get girls, we street fight, we're feared." He sounded like some type of character out of a novel. The thing was, I didn't fear him. I didn't want to be with him. I just saw him as a person trying to make it in a world where reputation is everything, just like me. For a moment, and just for a moment, I felt like I could relate to him. I felt kind of sorry for him. But, he had to open his mouth and remind me that he was a jerk and a pervert.

"Come on, don't deny it, girl. I'll figure out your name, and-"

"Oh, shut up," Nathan sighed. "You're scaring her."

I noticed the other guys and girls sitting around them, one scooter closer to Logan, who smirked. It didn't seem like he was familiar with the word 'loyalty.' I rolled my eyes then turned my attention back to Nathan, who seemed to be a genuinely nice guy. Genuine. Who's really genuine anymore?

"Let me guess. You ride a motorcycle?" I felt like I was actually slightly out of character, even more than usual.

He sheepishly nodded. "Yup."

He grabbed another slice of pizza, the last one. At that same time, Chris reached for the same slice. They both tugged, determined looks plastered across their faces. I stifled a laugh as their glares intensified, each one gently tugging and swiftly gaining the upperhand before it was cruelly ripped away from them. Then, of course, the pizza ripped in half. Nathan gasped, glancing down at the half with the crust, a sorrowful expression plastered on his face. Chris just shrugged, plopping his half into his mouth whole and chewing with his mouth open. He caught me glaring in disgust and laughed, although that didn't turn out so well. I ended up cringing, trying to put as much space between the pizza crumbs and me as possible. I ended up bumping into a guy that glared at me. This guy, unlike the others, kind of scared me.

I narrowed my eyes at the muscular guy, his dark cocoa skin glistened with- water? Sweat? It was then that I realized he was holding a bottle of water and I had forced him to spill it all over himself. I sheepishly (and fearfully) backed away, accidentally bumping my back into Chris. I didn't expect the three idiots behind me to save me, so I simply grabbed a handful of napkins from near the pizza and shoved them in the guy's direction. He gruffly took them, but not before burning holes through me with his eyes.

Nathan burst out laughing and I glared at him. "You're next."

He held his Coke towards his chest protectively. "Hell no, not the Coke."

"Coke is for babies. Dr. Pepper is the best."

Justin, whom I had forgotten was there because he rarely spoke, said, "No. Rootbeer all the way."

While I agreed with the Dr. Pepper part, I still disliked Logan. So, I simply picked up a few napkins and thew them at Chris's face, which was full of pizza crumbs.

I wasn't sure why I was sitting there or what was happening to me. Did I feel more- genuine? Chris's words had a truth to them and I knew that. Maybe I felt guilt. Maybe I didn't know what I was feeling anymore.

Finally, lunch ended. I smiled at the boys before scurrying off. Immediately, Tala was at my side, seeming slightly annoyed. She still plastered a smile on her face, but I had know her long enough (and well enough) to realize it was fake. She smiled at the people around her. She complimented some girl's shoes, who gushed her thanks. She smiled at Cara, who glared at me like her eyes could shoot out lasers to roast me with. And, while all this occurred, I felt a little older, a little wiser, and a little bit more like a complete jerk.

Cara smiled her own artificial smile. If there was any cliche mean girl in this group, it was her. "Hey, Tal, I need to talk to you. We need to catch up. You won't believe who I saw at the mall, or the makeup steals I received." With that, she grabbed Tala's arm and dragged her away. Tala just let her, shooting me an apologetic smile. She was too nice for her own good. Poor Tala couldn't even see the truth beyond the lies. Then again, who could? Or, who was I to talk, or, um, think.

"Ada?"

I turned to look at Asher who had a weird look on his face. "Why are you hanging out with them? They have hormonal teenage girls for dinner and ride motorcycles so loud you need two pairs of earmuffs and to become deaf to block it out."

I snorted, glancing at my friend. Well, the boy who I was sure was my friend. His tanned skin made me look like a ghost (thanks a lot mom's Italian genes), and I could tell he was pretty fit. Suddenly, I sighed, glancing away from him. "Why did you help yesterday? With the whole fight?"

He shrugged. "Drew deserved it, and I couldn't let you or your friends lose. I mean, that was the fight of the year."

"Year?"

"Year."

I shook my head, passing by my locker and picking up what I needed for the next class. As I followed Asher to his locker, I felt Déjà vu thinking of what happened in the morning. I smiled slightly, but it dropped as we shoved our way to his locker. High school hallways could be worse than traffic jams.

"Asher- are you- forget it."

He raised an eyebrow, shutting his locker and looking at me quizzically. "Am I what?"

Really my friend, I wanted to finish. But, I couldn't. I couldn't make myself do it. "Never mind. Let's get to class. We're still on for after school, right?"

"Right," he confirmed, seeming unsure of the words leaving his mouth. We both shoved our way through the fleeting crowd as the warning bell rang. As a teacher yelled at two students, I felt bad for them. The girl, as one was a girl and one was a boy, was practically in tears.

"I had Mrs. Ramez last year. Let me tell you, I don't want to go through that hell again. And she has ears like-"

"What was that, Martinez?"

"Oh, I was just telling my fellow student how much I miss your class."

The elderly lady glared at him, making him cower. I laughed, continuing to walk towards my next class. Asher muttered something under his breath as he caught up with me, something that sounded like "Old witch."

I shook my head, still smiling.

"You scare me. It's like you've done this before."

I smirked. "Well, having an older, boy-crazy sister has it's perks."

"We're actually breaking into her house? Ada, I think this is crossing a line. A very bold, dark line-"

"Oh, shut up. I'm the mastermind here, not you. I don't even know the girl."

He muttered something under his breath from the bushes to the side of the huge mansion. How we scaled that gate will forever remain a mystery. Just kidding, but I'm not very athletic, Asher was about to pee himself and- we climbed it like the champions we are.

No, we actually snuck through a hole in the fence. Same thing.

Asher let out a breath. I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach, but I also felt exhilarated. "So, you're sure her parents are out of the country?"

"Unless she was lying, yes."

About this time, a brunette with striking blue eyes walked towards a Corvette parked in the driveway. It seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, as did her sunglasses, which she pulled down over her eyes. Her medium short hair, which fell in messy waves, seemed to dance as she walked. She was also pretty thin, but not so thin then it looked like she starved herself. She actually looked like a normal girl, more normal than half the people in Richbrooke. Looking beside me, I could see the admiration and love In Asher's eyes. I could tell that I really cared about her, flaws or not. I'm sure he was an amazing boyfriend. If she hurt my friend, she would pay dearly. Richbrooke style. Kidding, but in all seriousness, I would ask Carl and Shell to gang up on her.

Speaking of them- were they okay? Were they out of the hospital? I shook away the worry, deciding to worry about that later. About this time, the girl had pulled her car down the long, winding driveway. Now, it was just Asher and I.

"Since we're talking about a freaking mansion and not a regular house, are there any cameras?"

Asher shook his head. "They're not big on security. Her parents believe in living their lives without constantly fearing the worst. They do have bodyguards and staff. And guns, and they can use them."

I sighed in relief. Well, not at the guns part. I mean, what kind of town was this to let a high schooler have a gun on campus? Then again, nothing really made sense in Richbrooke.

"How do we get in? I'm not climbing up to her-"

I was already ahead of him, climbing the steps to the lovely home. Then, I pulled two bobby pins out of my hair and- tada. Yes, Amelia could pick locks. Why? Well, let's just say my sister was a bit crazy.

I swung the door wide open and whispered. "We're home- in someone else's home."

Asher shook his head, fear and worry shining in his eyes. I gently shut the door behind us.

"Lead the way."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

He did. Up the grand stairs right in front of the intricate door, up a few flights, and down a few winding hallways. There were family pictures all around of a mother, father, son and daughter. The son seemed a few years younger than the girl, and they all looked eerily similar, all flashing their pearly whites in every framed photo.

Finally, Asher pushed open a plain white door, which was the same color as all the hallways we had passed through. There was a king bed full of deep blue sheets, baby blue walls, and a plush white carpet. The room was actually very- nice. there was even a mesh chair hanging from the ceiling, full of pillows and everything.

I pointed at the white chair. "Get me one of those. That's my payment."

Asher rolled his eyes, softly shutting the door behind us. "Not too loud. She still has a brother somewhere in this house. Ada!"

I had hopped onto the bed, and down had my back against the mattress with my arms spread out wide. "Ahh, so comfortable."

"Focus!"

"Alright, let's see what we could find. If only she left a phone."

"She has two phones."

"I got two phones, one for the plug and one for the-"

"Don't."

"Load," I finished, smirking as I hopped off the bed. "Where is this second phone?"

Asher shrugged. "I don't know. It's for when her parents take away her regular phone. Which happens once a month because her brother is always tattling on her."

"So, can I put a name to a face?"

"Amara."

I smiled. "Pretty name."

He had such a glazed look in his eyes that I knew he was whipped. But, I could also tell he was hanging by a thin thread, and anything we found could snip right through it.

I started going through Amara's things, starting with her white, wooden bed table. I accomplished nothing but almost knocking over her jewel encrusted lamp.

"Found it!"

I glanced behind me to see Asher holding up a jewel encrusted phone in victory, the white dresser drawers all yanked out and overflowing. He looked uneasy and excited at the same time. It was like he was going into battle, and he wasn't sure if his relationship would come out alive.

"Well, there's a passcode," he muttered as I knelt beside him.

"She never told you her passcodes?" I asked in disbelief. "I am, when you're like serious, serious-"

"Got it," He grinned triumphantly. "She's told me some, and she doesn't change them around much." He laughed to himself. "Gosh, what a horrible boyfriend I am."

I awkwardly patted his back. "Hey, you need to know. Everything else about this town is messed up either way."

He shrugged. "True."

Just as we were about to go through the messages, we heard a door slam. I'm pretty sure that was the front door. "Ugh!"

"Welp, Amara's back, and something made her angry."

"Where did she go?" I muttered, frozen in place.

Asher tugged on my arm and forced me to my feet. "How the heck would I know? Now, we're going to get caught and-"

"Out the window or in the closet."

"Excuse me?"

"Pick one."

"I enjoy life, so-"

The footsteps got closer. I grabbed Asher's arm and ran towards one of the two doors besides the one we entered from. Bathroom. Darn it. The next one had to be the closet, and it was. It was a walkin one, and I had to admit it was stunning.

Asher swiftly yanked me inside and shut the door, just in time.

"No, I'm angry with you! It's not my fault your-" insert some not so kind words here, "girlfriend found out."

Asher froze, and I think I could hear his heart breaking.

"Pfft, he's obvious. All good looks and money. But, baby, I-"

She was just cutting Asher's heart into smaller and smaller pieces, and I had to stand there, silently, while it happened. Anger burned inside of me.

"Whatever. I'll find someone better than you. In Richbrooke, plenty of guys want me. And, even if that-" again, insert words, "decided to mess with me, I'm better. I'm Amara Jones, and you don't mess with me." I heard her phone make contact with the wall and jumped.

Before Asher could stop me, I pushed him into the shelter of some hanging coats and let the door fly open. "Well, I just did, bitch." Well, I mean, she was one.

The girl gasped. "Who, this is my-"

I waved my phone in front of her face, which I had been using to record her voice. "If you want me to release this so everyone in Richbrooke to know what a lying skank you are, please, by all means, call the police or whatever. If not, shut your trap."

"Why are you in my-"

"Why are you cheating on someone who deserves so much better than you?"

"It's just, like, friends with benefits."

I scoffed. "Whatever you call it." I walk towards her, raised my hand, and slapped her. Yes, I slapped Amara Jones, a girl I didn't even know existed the day before.

"You wouldn't tell-"

"He's my friend, and it's already been done."

She stormed out of her room, crying, cussing, and probably heading to get a new phone, completely forgetting about her backup.

"Asher?"

He sighed, walking out of the closet. He looked so broken that I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him. He buried his face in my neck, and his heart just kept shattering more and more.

"Why do people suck, Ada?"

"Because," I gulped, feeling my past coming to mind, "they just do."

After that, we broke apart and rushed out and towards Asher's motorcycle a few blocks away. And, no, I didn't forget Carson's food. We even got some for Asher and I. However, he didn't want to stay with me, he wanted to be alone. So, after he dropped my off, I returned his spare helmet and gave him one last hug, clutching the warm bag of food in one hand and Carson's drink in the other once I gathered it. How it survived the motorcycle ride I'll never know.

"Ada?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

I smiled slightly. He shared a vulnerable part of himself with me, trusted me with something so- huge. I don't know why I blurted it out, but I did. 'Adalaide."

He blinked. "What?"

"Ada-laide."

"That's your-"

"Name," I finished. "You shared a part of yourself with me, I figured I'd share something with you."

"Thanks for that, lemonaide."

I gave him a stern look as he chuckled, but I was secretly happy that he was showing an emotion other than extreme heartbreak.

"No."

"Yes."

"This was a mistake."

"By Lemonaide."

"No."

"Bye!"

__________

Wow, this was interesting to write. Poor Asher. What inspired me to update was this amazing book I finished by RubixCube89201 It's called The Good Girl's Bad Boys but it's not some cliche- you guys should know me better lol. It addresses the serious issue of bullying and is not only hilarious but it's amazingly written. Definitely give it a read if you're looking for some humor (with a splash of wisdom) this summer.

I planned some of this but not all. To be honest Nathan, Logan, and Justin just- appeared. Anyways, please tell me what you think and thank you so so so so so much for 10.5k reads! Oh my gosh! Thank you guys for all the support and 669 votes and amazing comments! Please feel free to point out any mistakes I'm too tired and lazy to read over it right now.

For ship names I have (so far, and please vote or add new ones! It's up to you guys, but the official vote won't happen yet since I'll give you guys a chance to pitch any more ideas.)

Ada + Chris= Chrada and Chadalide by @itz_nat

Ada+ Asher=Adsher by LovernDreamer and Ashalide by itz_nat

-Sarah