The next day, it feels like an invisible weight has being lifted off of my shoulders and I feel myself feeling lighter than I have in quite a while. Don't get me wrong, I still feel a certain amount of guilt and shame after everything that has happened but I can forgive myself and am willing to move on. I'm on the road to healing. However, there are a few things that I have to do if I really want to let go and move on. Alex trails after me as I walk to my locker and I can't help but smile at our intertwined hands.

"Are you okay?" Alex asks me when I pull it open, exchanging my books. I look up at him briefly as I flash him a small smile.

"Actually," I say, licking my chapped lips. "I'm good." I add. Alex stares at me intensely for a moment but my smile doesn't falter. He grins at me and leans against the locker beside mine and nods almost as if he knows what I mean when I say that I'm good.

A hint of pride is clear in his eyes and I feel myself heating up as Alex scrutinizes me. My eyes slowly move passed his shoulders as Courtney walks through the hallway. My smile immediately drops and Alex turns to see the reason for this. As always, Courtney looks perfect; curled hair, heels and a fancy skirt and blouse. You'd never suspect that one of her friends just lost the use of her legs. However, she doesn't look at me. At all. It's as if I'm completely invisible as she walks passed us. As much as I'm grateful about that, I'm stunned. She actually, for once, has nothing to say.

I watch her go by before she's out of my sight and then face Alex again with a surprised look. Alex looks just as confused as I am before he shrugs, grabs my hand and pulls me to class.  Once we're seated in class and Miss Rosely has started her lesson, I realize how close I am to finishing school and I suddenly feel a little sad. Sure, I hate school in a sense but it will be a whole chapter of my life closing while a new one begins.

I push those thoughts aside while I stare at the board as she teaches her lesson and I take down notes.

****

I can feel it. Something isn't right. There's a tension in the cafeteria that I can just sense. And I just have a gut feeling that it's by the Elite table. Maybe I can feel it because I was once an Elite and I have some unknown sixth sense to tell when something is wrong at the table but today, something is definitely not right.

"Can you guys believe it? We only have a few months left of school. Then we're free." Nina says, her eyes twinkling in excitement.
"We're fucking free! We're done with all this shit." She bangs her hands on the table in excitement and I chuckle at her antics.

"I honestly can't believe it, though." Cole adds but I don't listen to the rest. My gaze is pulled back to the Elite table and I can see how tense everything is. Ashleigh seems to be pursing her lips and I suddenly have a fearful feeling of what is actually going on at the table. I try to ignore it and cast my attention back to the Rebel's conversation but I can see Dylan staring at the Elite table, too. He is not paying attention to the topic of conversation at all and is completely consumed in his own thoughts as he stares absent mindedly. My eyebrows scrunch together and I find myself watching him closely, the noise around me drowning out as I start glueing pieces together that I should have figured out long time ago.

The Elite some how always knew what was going on with the Rebels even when we weren't scheming. Dylan knew I tried Khat when only the Elite were there, Thalia said to me there was more to their relationship, Dylan was just as unsupportive of my relationship with Alex as Courtney, he insulted me and then tried to kiss me at the beach, he miraculously wanted to share a room with Alex over our stay, Courtney received a strange message from an unknown number, Logan always seemed to have dirt on her and, somehow, the Elite knew we were going to the party on Friday even when we said we weren't. It's like someone was always tipping us off; like Courtney had a connection.

Dylan.

Dylan was double crossing us.

My eyes involuntarily widen and my mouth falls agape. As if sensing me, Dylan looks in my direction and we just stare at each other, daring the other to look away first but neither of us do. He raises an eyebrow at me in a silent question and I cock my head to the side as I study him. How did I not put it together? It was so obvious. He, along with the Elite, hated Alex and I being together and I doubt that's just a coincidence. The answers were laid out in front of me this whole time. I can't believe I never saw it.

His eyes widen for a second, him catching on to the fact that I know that he's been lying to everyone for who knows how long. Dylan's gaze is now panic-stricken and he is holding Thalia's shoulder in a tight grip. When I slide my eyes over to Thalia, hers widen with worry before she masks it over with a scowl.

"Sophie?" Alex snaps me out of my little detective moment and I look at him expectantly.

"Are you okay?" He asks me, concern lacing his voice. I snort.

"I'm good." I answer and look at Dylan before Nina looks between the both of us.

"What's going on?" She asks in curiosity. Dylan's jaw tightens and Thalia sits up straighter.

However, I don't have time to answer because someone lets out an "Excuse me" and I turn to see Ashleigh standing up from her seat with a wicked smile. She stands up on her chair and Courtney glances at her in confusion. She mutters something that seems like a demand to get down from the chair but Ashleigh just shrugs her off.

"What's going on?" Alex whispers in my ear and I shake my head, not having an answer to his question. Ashleigh said she wasn't going to let Courtney get away with this but how she was intending to do that, I didn't have a clue.

"Wow," Ashleigh grins at all of us as if she received news that we're all being given a million dollars and a new house. Her smile is so wide, I feel myself growing uneasy. What is this girl doing?

"Isn't funny how we have so many hypocrites sitting in this room?" She asks rhetorically and Courtney tugs at her arm to make her sit down but Ashleigh just laughs as she pulls her arm away from Courtney's grasp.

"I'm not here to be all dramatic and shit so I'm just going to lay it all out. You've all been lied to. Every single one of you. This whole idea of the Rebels and the Elite hating each other has been a complete lie." Ashleigh drops her smile, all traces of humor disappearing from her face and I see the Rebels looking at each other in question.  Except for Dylan, of course. who stares directly at Ashleigh.

"What are you doing, Davis?" Logan sneers at Ashleigh and she waves a hand in the air to dismiss his comment.

"In fact," she says, picking up a pocket folder from the table in front of her. "It's quite the opposite actually. Why? How? Well, this only rivalry has only occurred due to Logan Ross having an undeniable hatred towards his cousin, Alex Rosewood- because we all know who is the better guy between the two of them- and not for any valid reason." She rolls her eyes and Logan's eyes harden. "But that's even the most shocking news! Did you know that our famous Courtney Smith is actually a mother?" Ashleigh spills and I hold my breath as she lays everything out for the whole school to see. Gasps are heard around the cafeteria and Courtney's face pales as she gulps, never removing her eyes from Ashleigh in front of her.

"But that's not even the part that's most shocking," Ashleigh jeers, pulling out a piece of paper from the folder and holding it up as she gazes at it. She looks up at everyone and something like hysteria passes through her eyes. "No, no. That's not the part I find most absurd. It's the fact that it's Dylan Harris's baby."

Still.

That's what it is in the cafeteria.

So still that it feels like time has being frozen. I can't seem to focus on anything other than how Courtney slowly, robotically almost, turns to face Dylan with pain in her eyes and I feel somewhat bad for her. I wanted this to be over. I wanted the Elite to end. But not like this. I didn't want to fight fire with fire. I didn't want to ruin anyone else's life.

Ashleigh snorts. "So while you were all hating Sophie for being with Alex, think about how Courtney was doing exactly that and lied." She takes the piece of paper in her hands and throws it on the table in front of Courtney. "Next time, don't discuss family matters at a party." Ashleigh sneers, her voice thick with emotion. She then looks up and catches my eye, giving me a small nod before climbing down the chair, grabbing her bag and walking out the cafeteria as if she didn't just drop the biggest bomb of the decade. I suspected this, not Dylan being the father part, but Courtney been a mom. The picture of her holding the baby that I saw just gave me too much suspicion. Courtney stares at the paper Ashleigh threw in front of her before wiping her cheeks with her wrist. She picks up the documents and stuffs it in her bag before zipping it and standing up. Her glossy eyes connect with Dylan and I can admit that I have never seen her so emotional. She's been stripped of her identity and security, left exposed and vulnerable in front of everyone in the school so that everyone can see it. She's been stripped naked emotionally. Logan stands up and tries to reach out to her but she shakes her head before walking away, out the cafeteria with her chin held high.

It's so stiff and tense in the cafeteria that I can barely breathe.

Logan turns to look at Dylan and he unwraps his arms from Thalia's frame before he stands up. He purses his lips and looks at Alex for just a second but the emotion in his eyes makes my breath hitch.

"I'm sorry, bro." Dylan mutters before jogging after Courtney, leaving all of us speechless; unsure of what to do now. Thalia stares after him, her mouth opening and closing as if she's trying to say something but it just comes out as a croak. She blinks before looking at me and I give her a weak smile. The shrill bell rings through the cafeteria and slowly everyone stands up before the chatter of what just occurred begins to surface. Thalia stands up hastily and Alex tries to talk to her but she holds her hand up to stop him.

"Leave it, Alex." She snips before walking ahead of us. I turn back to the Rebels and they all seem, maybe even more, as clueless as me because the question is:

What happens now?

****

I didn't see Courtney the whole two days after that. Nor was Dylan at school. Maybe they had to attend to some parenting duties. Who knows? The Elite are no longer together, which in all fairness has changed things a lot. They've all sort of been floating around the school, not really having anywhere to go at the moment. Logan seems unphased and I've begun to wonder how much he really did care about Courtney. I know that Courtney's relationship with him, and Dylan's with Thalia, was all just for show but you have to come up with some sort of feelings when you're constantly showing affection like that to someone, right? Maybe not. I always knew Logan was shallow but I didn't take him as someone to stoop this low.

There was also an unspoken thickness in the air surrounding the Rebels as Thalia avoided us like the plague. But out if all of us, I'd probably say that Alex was hurt the most. I know that it was the fact that one of the most important moments of his best friend's life was hidden from him and because of that, he pushed Alex away. When I asked Alex how he felt, he merely shrugged and said "I guess he did what he thought was right at the time."
I didn't understand how could be
so understanding of Dylan. Maybe that was his way of coping with the news.

Besides all of that, everything is fine. The chatter and gossip about what happened with Courtney and Dylan is still going around the school but everyone seems to have accepted that the Elite is no more and the rivalry between us two groups is over. I think we're all grateful in our own ways. I laugh a little harder now knowing that I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder in case Courtney decides to pull one of her stunts on me. I guess you could say I was mad that she had been so hell bent on breaking me and Alex up when she herself, was involved with the Rebel in much more intimate way. Alex and I weren't busy like... that, when she was. If anything, she was probably more invested in them than I was in a sense. However, I still had a few questions that I needed answers to. Like why Dylan tried to kiss me and tear Alex and I apart. Or why he constantly felt the need to knock me for been an a Elite when he had a child with one. But I don't think anyone other the couple had the answers.

However, I had to thank Ashleigh for ending everything, given she didn't do it in the nicest way possible, but she still did it. She stood up for Kelcy and I appreciate that wholeheartedly. That is what drove me to stand outside of her last class this Friday afternoon and wait. She had stayed behind, since the bell has long since rung, to discuss something with her teacher. When I hear the door open and close, I get up from off the wall and stand up to my full height.

Ashleigh's eyes widen in surprise as she hitches her bag further up her shoulder. She pulls a wad of gum out of her pocket and pops it into her mouth.
"Sophie," She acknowledges me, her blond hair bopping in her ponytail as it moves from side to side. "what are you doing here?" She asks me.

"Thank you." I start. "For ending all the shit we've had to deal with the past four years."

She chuckles lightly although it's not really laced with humor.
"I think we had our time to shine." She responds with a tight lipped smile. I nod in agreement before voicing what I've been wondering for a while now.

"How did you figure it out?"

"What?" She asks. "That Courtney and Dylan had a child?"

"Well, yeah."

Ashleigh shrugs. "That day at the party, I, erm, was kind of busy in one of the bedrooms." She mumbles in embarrassment, looking away for a moment and I avoid pointing out that since it wasn't James from the Elite, or else he would have joined the show, that means she was sleeping with someone other than her boyfriend. I guess she's done the least dirtiest thing amongst them though so I don't say anything. "It was dark and Courtney and Dylan decided to discuss their family matters in the room. It was a quick conversation but I heard all that I needed to hear. She left shortly after since Logan texted her about Kelcy. After Dylan exited the room, I too went to go check up on Kelcy but I had already heard the lie she was putting up.

"I needed physical proof though or else she could have easily denied it, so, I put my computer hacking skills to use and got ahold of the birth certificate of their daughter." She concludes. "That's what I gave her in the cafeteria."

"You're good with computers?" I ask in disbelief. I never knew that.

She shakes her head with a tight smile. "Yeah, not that I was expecting you to know that." She mumbles and I suddenly feel ashamed. I avert my gaze to the floor and sigh. Maybe we weren't very honest with each other but still, she was my friend and I should have made a point to know more about her. I guess I was a little selfish too.

She sighs. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I know that out of everyone, you would have been the most accepting." She replies honestly. I look up and give her a genuine smile before she looks at her watch on her wrist.

"I got to go but it was nice talking to you. I'll see you around. Oh, and by the way, I think you and Alex look good together." She winks before strutting down the hallway and out the school. I sigh and make my way out the school as well, looking forward to going home.

****

I stretch myself across the couch in front of the TV that is currently playing 'The Vampire Diaries'. With everything going on lately, I haven't really had time to watch my shows as frequently as I used to. However, I was adamant on changing that this afternoon.

The ring of the doorbell catches my attention but before I can go get it, my mom does so while casting me a smile. She's letting me relax.

I hear my mom talking to someone outside before calling me to come to the door. I internally thank the universe that I haven't put my pajamas on yet. I drag myself to the door and after my mom chuckles, she moves out the way so I can see who the visitor is. The minute I see the person, my eyes widen and I feel on edge. I don't want my mom to hear or see anything that may cause her idea of me to change.

"I'll see you," My mom gushes with a smile before leaving us alone. I look over my shoulder to make sure that my mom is out of hearing distance before turning to Courtney with pursed lips.

"Courtney, uh, what are you doing here?" I ask. I take in her appearance and am taken aghast at how... imperfect she looks. Her face is void of any makeup, leaving her bags exposed. Her hair has been thrown up into a bun that looks untidy while her shirt is creased with the skirt she wears. It even has a hole in it. Besides that, her shoulders are slumped in defeat and her usually done nails are bare. I didn't realize how much what happened would affect her. She looks at me nervously.

"Can we talk?" She asks me hopefully and I almost shake my head. I almost tell her to get the hell off my porch. But I can't bring myself to do it. I just can't.
I stare at her for a moment before nodding silently.

"Let me just go get my car keys." I mumble, heading inside to grab them. After letting my mom know, I head back outside and to my car. Courtney suggests Starbucks and I silently agree. We travel in different cars, trying to avoid the awkward silence that would probably fill the atmosphere if we went in the same car.
When we're both parked at Starbucks, we slide into a booth at the very back. We both have drinks in our hands and Courtney doesn't look at me.

"I think you deserve an explanation," She says softly. I'm surprised to hear her speak at first but then register her words and nod. She plays with the condensation around her drink.

"Dylan and I had been speaking for a while before we actually did anything." She begins and I don't take my eyes off of her. "We were drunk the night we did it, anyway, and thought that using a condom would prevent it. After finding out I was pregnant, my parents sent me to Spain on an exchange student program so that nobody other than our two families would know about the baby. They wanted me to... get rid of her but I refused. I mean, she was our child. I couldn't take an innocent life like that." She looks up at me briefly and I'm left speechless at the emotions swirling in her eyes.

"Logan and I were still together since he didn't know but when he did find out, he said if I were to continue as if we were a couple, he wouldn't tell anyone. He often held it against me. I didn't want the school to know but I could deal with that. I couldn't let it happen because my parents threatened to disown me if word ever went around about it. The daughter of Smith Enterprises can't be pregnant at eighteen." She snorts and I feel myself feeling sympathetic for her.

"Thalia and Logan both just became a cover-up." She confirms my thoughts "Dylan and I tried to keep everything under wraps. But then you switched over," she looks up at me, her brown eyes pleading. "and all I thought was that you were clever enough to put the pieces together and wouldn't hesitate to hold it against me after everything I had done.

I open my mouth to say something but she beats me to it.

"I know you wouldn't have done it, Sophie. You're too kind. But I was scared and paranoid because I couldn't risk it. So, I did everything to try and break you two apart. Dylan interfered, I interfered, Thalia interfered. Yet you and Alex were so damn adamant to go against it and prove me wrong." She laughs to herself and my lips quirk into a smile.

"I think you guys are good together," she smiles at me. "Dylan always spoke about what a great guy he is."

I'm surprised at this. "Why did Dylan cut him off then?" I ask softly.

Courtney shrugs. "We tried to keep it from anyone at school. We couldn't risk any more people finding out, not even his best friend. And with the amount of time they used to spend together, Dylan had no choice but to push him away. But don't think for a moment that it didn't hurt Dylan, Sophie. Dylan didn't want to let Alex go. Nor did he want to hurt him." She explains to me and I purse my lips. I think Alex would be happy to hear that Dylan didn't want to do that.

"If Dylan didn't want to hurt Alex why would you go as far as to try and frame him with drugs at party?" I ask tersely. Courtney looks down in shame before sighing softly.

"I knew the party was my last shot. My last shot to get you guys apart. But then Kelcy ended up having a stroke," She shakes her head at herself and I can sense how emotional she's becoming. "and now she's paralyzed and it's all my fault, gosh, I had taken it too far." A stray tear falls out her eye but I don't say anything. I don't know what to say right now.

"Yet, this whole time I thought it was you who was the threat when the actual one was right in front of me. The Elite were the ones who wouldn't hesitate to destroy me." She says, looking up at me with glossy eyes. "I should have never done what I did to you and Alex. And Kelcy. I'll never forgive myself for that."

"I guess it's over now." She mutters, stirring her drink before taking a sip. I don't touch mine, and fidget with my hands in my lap. I don't really have an appetite right now.

"What's her name?" I ask softly and Courtney pauses before slowly looking up to me with a smile.

"Melody,"

"That's a really pretty name. Why'd you choose it?" I ask, generally interested.

Her lips stretch into a wider smile and I feel lighter watching her being happy while talking about her child.

"She has black hair and blue eyes just like Melody from The Little Mermaid 2."

I chuckle at her choice of names before falling silent again. "Did your parents cut you off like they said they would?"

She sighs. "Yeah. They refuse to have any relationship with Dylan, me and their grandchild."

I feel my heart squeeze for her. Nobody deserves to be left abandoned when they have a child- not even if they're eighteen. I can't imagine how difficult things must be for her.

"Do you love Dylan?" I whisper and her eyes snap to mine before she smiles with watery eyes.

"More than you could ever imagine." She utters honestly, making me nod. I smile gently at her. That's all I needed to hear. She's answered my questions and I'm okay with them. I slide out of the booth and stand up, looking at her with a gentle smile.

"Thank you for telling me." I say and she nods, not moving from her seat. I'm about to walk away when I look back at her and tell her something I've needed to get off my chest.

"Oh, and Courtney?" I call out.

"Yeah?" She perks up.

"I forgive you. I actually did quite a while ago. I think you'll make a great mom." I grin before turning around and walking away.

This is the closure I needed.

She had her reasons for what she did just like I had mine. Courtney is as much a human as the rest of us and was just protecting Melody.

I slide into my car seat and drive home having one thing on my mind.

I need to finish cleaning up my mess.

There you have it! The reason to the whole mess! Are you surprised? Or were you expecting it? I hope this was a surprise and that you enjoyed the chapter! Please let me know what you think :)

I hope you all had a jolly and festive Christmas filled with love from God :) I know it's late but Merry Christmas 💕
Thank you for all the comments and votes! I love you all so much!

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Quick Q: how do you feel about this whole situation?

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