Seeing Martin and Nina kiss and tell each other sappy comments was definitely something worth seeing. Especially since Nina is a legitimate badass, you wouldn't expect sweet things like "cute" to come out of her mouth. Because it generally didn't. Apparently, since Martin had to ask Nina out due to his agreement with Alex, he showed up at her house with flowers and a sappy poem that he had written and then read out loud to Nina when she had opened the door.

Nina said that Martin was so nervous, he was even shaking but she couldn't say no to the guy she had liked for the last four years so after the exchange, she kissed him and invited him in for dinner.

Thus leading to the couple in front of me.

It's Nina's day back since her suspension. Since it's Friday, she said she saw no use in coming but her parents weren't having any of it.

So Alex and I are a week into our relationship, too, and I can already feel how my feelings towards him have intensified. I wake up and look forward to coming to school just so that I can see him. I lean against the car as the students bustle around in the parking lot, trying to savour the last bit of freedom we have before the bell rings for first lesson.
Martin and Nina talk quietly to themselves while Cole and Christina do the same. And of course, Thalia and Dylan stand with their same "fuck off" attitudes. 

That leads to Alex bending down to whisper in my ear as we lean against his car.
"Martin and Nina are meant to be." I laugh at his words but nod in agreement.

"However, They're no match for us." He adds and I smile up at him.

"Ugh." I hear someone comment and I look at Nina who has a scowl on her face.

To say Thalia and Dylan are displeased with Alex and I dating would be an understatement. Since they weren't here on Friday, they only found out on Monday and since then only displeasure and snarky remarks have followed.

I roll my eyes at her.

If there's one person who I dislike nearly as much as Courtney, it's Thalia. She's all sorts of bitchy.

Alex scowls at her before I pull him by his shirt back to me, moving so that only he can see me. "Hey," I say, pulling his face towards me. "it's okay."

He shakes his head. "I'm getting real sick of her." He says softly so only I hear and I nod.

"I know but we're happy and that's all that matters, okay?" I say and he nods. I grin and he smiles too before he presses his lips against mine and I instantly melt, wrapping my arms around him.

My stomach somersaults and I smile against his lips just as I hear: "We're going to be late." which comes out of Cole's mouth. Alex and I pull apart, my cheeks burning in embarrassment. I almost forgot we were in public nevermind on school property.

"Right," I mumble, walking to Nina and Christina as we all head inside school.

"I am so happy you and Alex are finally together." Nina says and I laugh. "I was getting so sick of it."

I frown at her. "Of what?"

"The sexual tension." She says in a 'duh' tone and I scoff.

"There was no sexual tension."

She scoffs back, "Keep telling yourself that."

When I finally reach my Chemistry class, Alex pulls me back and I stumble as he wraps his arms around my waist.
"I need to get to class," I giggle and he smiles as he kisses my nose.

"Have a good morning."

I smile back at the boy in front of me. "You too."

He grins, pecking my lips before letting me go and walking away. But not before he winks at me.

I watch him go, my heart thumping and my mind wandering before I walk into class with a smile on my face.

Once we're all settled, Mrs Collinson claps her hands to gain our attention and the chatter instantly calms down.

"Alright, class. I have decided that since a lot of you didn't finish the assignment you did a few weeks ago and for those of you who did, handed in appalling work, I am going to give you one more lesson today." She says, starting to hand out the papers as I look over to Kelcy who has her earphones plugged in.

I sigh and grab my backpack, heading to her table but not before giving the Rebels an annoyed sigh who respond with apologetic looks.

When I reach her table, I take a seat where Chris usually sits and I can still smell his cologne in the air and my stomach tightens at the familiar scent before relief floods through me at the fact that I didn't have to ask him to move so I could take his chair. That's a confrontation I truly want to avoid.

I flop onto the chair just as Mrs Collinson hands us our papers. Kelcy pulls her earphones out of her ears when she realises that I'm beside her and I turn to look at her. I gaze through our assignment, sliding my eyes over our answers and knowing that there isn't much else I can do. I don't understand Chemistry all that well so I've done what I can and I can't do any more than that. I sigh and close our binder before putting it on the table.

"I don't think there's anything else we can really do. Unless you want to re-do certain questions?" I ask her. She shakes her head curtly, her black bob swaying in the process. I stare at her for a moment too long; the black hair she's chopped into a bob, the striking makeup she wears and the gold earrings hanging from her ears being all to familiar. To think I once called this girl my best friend.

I look away before I seem strange and stare aimlessly at the board in front of the class before pulling out my phone and heading into Temple Rush, anything to pass the time really.

I die a couple of times and continuously restart, trying to beat my high score. Suddenly, a clearing of the throat catches my attention and I pause the game to glance at Kelcy who is sitting rigidly in her seat and picking at the chipped wood on the desk.

"So," She starts, "you and Alex, huh?"

My eyes narrow in suspicion slightly, knowing full well that she can be behind a little scheme of Courtney's. I nod. "Yeah."

She purses her lips in response.

"Courtney isn't happy about that." She says in an almost warning tone.

She finally looks at me and her eyes seem to hold a kind of desperation to them. I shrug, "Too bad." I answer simply, going back to my game. I have no intentions of talking to her if all she's going to do is tell me that she's against Alex and I. I know. I don't care. Simple as that.

We fall into an awkward silence at that and continue to brood in one before the bell rings. I instantly spring up from my chair and pack my bag up hastily, wanting to escape this uneasy feeling.

When I reach the hallways I wait for the Rebels, letting out a sigh of relief. Hopefully this day will only go faster.

****

Maybe it was just paranoia or maybe my gut was onto something, but I felt like something was going to happen. I feel so uneasy and worried. I keep asking myself why Kelcy felt the need to point out that Courtney didn't approve of my relationship with Alex when I already knew that.  The way she said it was like a warning, too.

Of course, sitting next to Alex under his arm provided me a sense of security but since the Elite are sitting a few meters away from us in the cafeteria, it does little to calm my nerves.

"So, do you guys want to go watch a movie tonight?" Cole asks us. Nina shakes her head. "I can't, but you guys go ahead." She says.

"Why not?" Alex asks. She shrugs.

"My parents don't want me to."

I frown, "Is it because of your suspension?" I ask and she nods.

"Yeah."

"I thought you said your parents believed you?" Martin comments.

Nina scratches her neck. "They do, they just have a little bit of doubt because... well... I can be a little..." She thinks hard, trying to find the right word.

"Wild." Christina pitches in.

"Crazy," Alex adds.

"Rebellious." Martin says.

"Bitchy." Thalia scorns, causing a glare from Nina.

"Mischievous," Cole smirks

"Rebellious." Martin repeats.

Nina glares at all us before rolling her eyes. "Yes, I can be rather rebellious." She mumbles.

Alex snorts. "No kidding." I elbow him in the rib and he winces just as Nina gives me a thankful smile which I return with a friendly one.

A loud scrape of the chair catches everyone's attention just as Courtney steps onto it before taking her place on the table. Her red heels make her seem even taller and matched with a black flare dress, she looks ready for an evening out. Alarm bells go off in my head but I stay frozen in my chair, my mind racing in anticipation. Negative anticipation. Her red lips stretch into a smile as she claps her hands and everyone watches in curiosity.

"I have some interesting news," She starts. "I love how some people create a status for themselves that are completely false. Never mind that they don't deserve it." She says, a sweet smile still plastered to her face as she paces up and down the table as the Elite look up at her. She doesn't care that they have to remove their lunch from the table so she can walk along it.

She stops pacing and looks at everyone in feign shock, not once gazing in my direction and my stomach churns.

"Did you know that one of our very own, renown and highly thought of students is actually a charity case? Comes from a mother who's a gold digger and a deadbeat of a father.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce Alex Rosewood and expose who he really is. His biological father was a drunken and idiot who impregnated Alex's mom who gave birth to a little girl. They had no money and she eventually kicked Alex's dad out the house. She lost her job and ended up working for- wait for it- Ryan Rosewood! Who later married her because she was a broke, single mother. She was married into wealth and luxury, a little suspicious, huh? Oh and let's not forget why exactly Alex Rosewood is a player... He's exactly like his dad. An alcoholic, womanizing  fuck-up."

My head is pounding and my mind is racing back and forth as I stare at her who is now looking directly at us. At me.

"Behold, everyone, the real Alex Rosewood." I flinch as Alex slams his hand down on the table before scraping his chair back and storming out of the cafeteria. I watch the looks of the students as they laugh at him, whispering amongst each other. I feel a wave of anger wash over me.

Everyone knows. All because of Courtney.

Because of me.

I look at the Rebels who are all sitting in disbelief at what happened but also confusion because they didn't know the full story either. I stand up and grab my backpack before jogging after Alex but not before turning to Courtney who is still standing on the table.

"He is nothing like his father," I spit before walking out.
I try to think of which way Alex would've gone when I hear heavy breathing from around the corner. I walk over to see Alex leaning against the lockers, his hands tugging at his hair as his eyes are closed.

My heart aches at the sight.

"Alex," I say softly and he looks up at me with so much anger, humiliation and pain in his eyes that I suck in a sharp breath.
He gets up from the locker and runs a hand over his face, turning his back to me. I can see how tense his back is and I just want to kiss him until everything is okay.

"Just leave me alone, Sophie." He hisses and I frown at his tone of voice. I shake my head.

"I'm just trying to support you." I say matter-of-fact. "I'm sorry they did that," I say softly and he suddenly whips around.

"Why do you feel the need to apologise, huh?" He asks, coming closer to me. "Did you do something that you should be sorry for?" He asks in an accusing manner. I stumble back slightly, my eyebrows furrowing. He stares at me coldly, an eyebrow raised and his arms crossed over his chest.

I let out a breath of air through my nose that could be considered a laugh and shake my head. "You think it's me, don't you? You think I told them?" I ask, hoping he says no.

He gives me an extremely sarcastic look. "I don't know, Sophie. Who did I tell the story to?" He asks rhetorically.

He might as well have stabbed me in the chest, twisted the knife, pulled it out and done it all over again because his words hurt that much. He thinks I told them. He thinks I gave them the story.

"Why would I do that?" I ask.

He shrugs. "Maybe because you're one of them!" He yells and I scoff.

"I am not one of them!" I hiss and he nods.

"Yeah because sharing something I secretly told you isn't something an Elite would do." He says sarcastically.

I flinch. Those words, his words, sting like a bitch. "I didn't tell them!" I stress.

"Then who did?!" He exclaims.

"You could've easily slipped up to one of the Rebels when you were drunk or high!" I yell back and he shakes his head.

"I thought you were real." He says seriously. "But you're nothing but a liar, fake and user." He hisses with so much venom I shrink into myself.

It's like somebody knocked the air out of me as he says those words. The tears begin to sting my eyes and I grit my teeth. "What about all those times you told Dylan I wasn't, huh?" I ask shakily.

Alex shakes his head, "You never seemed like that but I guess some people are good actors."

I shake my head, the hurt becoming overwhelming. I step towards Alex and look him dead in the eye.

"If I truly meant anything to you, you would know that I never would've done something like this."

He just looks at me blankly, not answering me and my heart feels like it's breaking piece by piece.
"This is not you." I grind and he smiles bitterly.

"Oh, am I like my deadbeat father?" He spits and I groan, the tears becoming harder to keep in.

"You are not your father!" I respond and he scoffs.

"Whatever, Sophie. It doesn't even matter."

"You know I wouldn't haven't done that. You know that." I try and bring him to his senses. Maybe he's just spilling these words out of anger and not honesty.

He chuckles dryly. "Do I? I mean, you are awfully good at lying Cooper."

I purse my lips and shake my head. "I can't believe you don't believe me."

His hazel eyes are stoney when they glance at me. "Life's shit. That's just how it fucking goes."

I bite my lip and shake my head at him. He looks at me one last time, the way he used to look at me when I was an Elite; cold, blank and lifeless before he punches the locker beside him and walks away.

I stand alone, the tears falling freely and hitting the floor of the hallway.

Waiting.

Watching.

Wondering if maybe he isn't only walking away from the school but from me.

From us.

Dayum that was some heavy stuff.

Are you guys mad at what Alex said? I think it was rather selfish but we all say things we don't mean when we're angry sometimes.

Let me know what you think!

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