When winter break was over, I was so tempted to miss the first day back to school, just out of spite. I hated everything going on in my life. My friendships were shaky. I couldn't talk to Lucas, whether I liked it or not. And Mitchell and Jacqueline seemed to be on the brink of a fight.

A week into winter break, Jacqueline had called furiously to tell me that Mitchell and Celine had been arguing again, but then their argument had been turned on her, and she wouldn't speak to either of them. Somehow, Celine had turned the argument between her and Mitchell to demanding to know why Jacqueline forced Mitchell and Celine to put up with each other. Mitchell, in the heat of the moment, had taken Celine's side, and now Jacqueline was really mad at both of them. The Package Deal was about to be sold separately, and Only One Left In Stock (i.e.: Walker) seemed distracted every time I even tried to talk to him. And Mitchell refused to talk about what happened; from shame or anger or sadness, I have no idea. And it had pretty much been like that the whole break.

Even worse, Jasmine had called me last night and said that she wouldn't be able to make it to school, because she was in the hospital. After I was done panicking, she explained that she had a higher than usual fever, so her parents had checked her into the hospital just in case. She assured me she was fine, her sisters were with her, but I couldn't help but worry.

It was Fiona who convinced me to come to school. "You're gonna leave me with heartbroken Delphine?" She said over the phone. "Come on, Y/N. I know it sucks right now. Please let me help. I can't stand to see you like this. Come today and miss the rest of the week if you want. Just come today."

She still had to talk a bit more than that, but I agreed eventually. I threw on a cream-colored top, a cardigan, and some jeans, because Fangirl School was heated anyway, so there wasn't any need to dress warmly.

I hardly got through the first few classes. To her credit, Fiona never left my side, helping me with my assignments and- thankfully- keeping Delphine away from me. She was just about the last person I wanted to know what was going on.

Finally, recess came. I watched as Fiona separated from Brandon, who she'd apparently been hanging out with in recesses when I was with Jasmine. She squeezed his hand and led me away.

Wait. Since when were they on hand holding terms? Oh, geez, I'm a horrible friend.

I made a mental note to ask about it later, but for now I allowed Fiona to lead me to Mrs. Golde's classroom, which was empty. She sat down on the teacher's desk and gestured for me to sit on the spinning chair.

"So," she started after I was settled. "What's bothering you, Y/N? Please tell me. Tell me everything."

So I did. I told her about how I felt like I couldn't talk to her and Delphine normally anymore, how worried I was about Jasmine, and, of course, how much I missed Lucas. I sugarcoated nothing and just let it all out, allowing myself to truly come to terms with my situation for the first time.

Fiona was silent the whole time. She was either nodding or just holding my hands as I yapped on numbly. Once I was done, she finally spoke.

"And what are you going to do about it?"

My head snapped in her direction. I was beyond confused. "What?"

"What are you going to do about it, Y/N? You're in a, forgive me, very shitty situation. But sitting here and crying about it, while it is completely valid, won't solve your problems. Let's take it one at a time. What's the main thing bugging you right now?"

"Mitchell and Jacqueline," I answered, although that wasn't true.

"You liar," Fiona retorted. "Let's take care of your Lucas problem. Why aren't we talking to him?"

"Uh...girl code?"

"Yes," she said. "But the girl code also states we don't have to ghost him if Delphine says we don't."

"Jacqueline said the same thing," I told her. "Didn't change much, did it?"

"No," Fiona said impatiently. "You told me Jacqueline said you can talk to him if you want to, and she'd back you up if Delphine got mad. I'm telling you I'm sure Delphine would be mature about you talking to Lucas. I know you don't like hiding things, so we can just go straight to Delphine and ask her."

"You think she'll say I can?"

"I don't doubt it. Delphine's been surprising us a lot lately, hasn't she? She can be very mature when the time comes."

I nodded slowly. She had, indeed, given me more than a little shock when she'd simply gotten over me hugging Lucas.

"What about Mitchell and Jacqueline?" I asked Fiona.

"Those two? Keep them the fuck away from each other. Pardon my language."

"Why?" I questioned. Fiona wasn't someone I'd expect to be telling me something like that.

"Because," she began, "these two could take over the world together, but wreck it if they're apart. Think. They know each other's deepest, darkest secrets. Jacqueline keeps Mitchell safe from anyone who'd ever even want to stick their tongue out at him. Mitchell can literally predict what Jacqueline is about to say next, judging by that flawless timing on his bleeper button. How screwed do you think all of us are if those two got in a fight?"

I blinked. She was beyond correct. Planet Earth was in danger as long as Mitchell and Jacqueline were mad at each other.

"How do I fix it?" I asked. Fiona was solving all my problems today.

"You told me Mitchell took the wrong side of an argument, right? Make him understand that. Have him realize how bad he messed up, to the point he's groveling at Jacqueline's feet begging for forgiveness. You cannot, under any circumstances, let those two stay mad at each other. And not just because they're too iconic. It's a waste of ten perfectly good years of friendship."

I nodded like a bobblehead. "And Jasmine?"

Fiona sighed. "I'm not a magician, Y/N. The best you can do is try and be there for her. Positive energy is good for health."

"Positive energy..." I muttered, because I just had boatloads of that at the moment.

Fiona offered me her hands. "See? I'm getting better at empathy. Please tell me stuff from now on, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed, taking her hands and letting her pull me up.

As we were leaving the classroom, someone else stepped in. A slightly tall, messy-haired, blond someone.

"Hi, Lucas," Fiona said.

"Hey," he replied, hardly looking at her. "Y/N, can I talk to you?"

Fiona glanced at me. It was a glance that said, Do you want me to make up an excuse?

I looked at Lucas. "Sure."

Fiona stepped back from me carefully. "If you need me, I'll be outside."

"Thanks," I said as Lucas stepped fully into the room.

He turned to face me. His hair fell into his eyes like it always did. Yet, unlike always, I had the strange urge to brush it away from his eyes.