Tension is as thick as it can possibly get and it hangs heavily in the air.

Dylan stares back at Alex in feign innocent and I say 'feign' because the slight glint of amusement in his eyes is what gives this whole idea that he didn't know it was us away. Oh, and the way Thalia snarls at me from under Dylan's arm.

Alex just stares at them, his face stoic but the slight tick of his jaw and his rigid posture displays his anger clearly.

"What the actual fuck?" Alex hisses at Dylan. The man who scolded us- the owner of the game booth- gasps.

"Watch your mouth, boy."

Alex ignores him and continues to glare at Dylan who holds his hands up in defense. "I didn't know it was you and Cooper, bro."
Alex chuckles humorously and I watch the whole encounter while standing beside Alex.

"My question is," He says taking a step forward, "since when did you start to give a shit about PDA? It never bothered you before."

Thalia scowls. "That's when it's not someone we know."

I frown at that comment. "I thought you said you didn't know it was us?" Alex spits.

"You kids need to move a-"

"We didn't." Dylan lies smoothly. Alex takes another step forward, closing the distance between the two before I grip his arm. However, he spares me no glance.

"I don't know what game you're playing, Harris, but I'm not having any of it." Alex scowls. Dylan lets go of Thalia and steps towards Alex too.

"I'm not the one playing games. Wish I could say the same about you though." He spits. Alex is about to hit him when the Rebels find us and Martin runs between the two of them.

"What the hell is going on here?" Nina asks. Alex scowls.

"Harris decided to be a fucktard."
Alex spits and I recoil at the venom in his voice.

Is he really that upset that we didn't kiss? Butterflies erupt in my stomach and I kick myself for doing that during a time like this.

"I will fuck you u-" Dylan says taking a step forward.

"You two need to sort whatever shit you have out, because the rest of us are getting tired of it." Martin scolds them.

"Until Alex can drop Cooper, I don't know if that's possible." Thalia scorns. I glare at her. Why can't anybody leave me be!?

"Build a bridge and get the fuck over it." I snap suddenly, causing her eyes to widen slightly in surprise before she masks it over with a scowl.

"Oh, so she can talk without having to get permission from Smith." She hits back.

"Dylan you better control Garcia before-"

"No it's okay, Alex." I tell him, cutting him off. I rub his arm and he stares at me in confusion before I nod. I turn to Thalia and Dylan, them all watching me curiously.

"I don't know what it is about you guys that makes you feel like you need to continuously hate on me and bring me down. Hate me. I don't care." I spit. "But stop interfering with my life. You two think you're so much better than Courtney but you're not. You're exactly the same; you can't accept something you don't like. Well, news flash! The world isn't always fair so suck it up!" I exclaim in exasperation.

I turn to Dylan specifically now and I shake my head at him. "And you," I laugh humorlessly "are a pathetic best friend." Dylan's eyes widen before Thalia steps forward and lifts her hand to slap me and I ready myself for the impact. However, the pain never comes. Instead Alex is gripping Thalia's hand so tightly that it looks like it will snap if he presses any harder, his eyes dancing in rage. Thalia looks up at him, trying to stare him down but the fear in her eyes is evident.

"Let her go." Dylan commands to Alex.

Alex doesn't remove his eyes from Thalia. "Don't you ever," He says in a dangerously low voice which makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand up "and I mean ever try and lay a hand on Sophie because I will not hesitate to break you, Thalia. Don't forget who I am. I have enough dirt on you. Leave her alone." He lets go and Thalia brings her wrist to her chest.

We're all staring at him now, not knowing what to do. The cranky old man returns with a security guard, none of us noticing his departure.

"This kiddo, over here." He says pointing to Alex. The guard walks up to Alex and Alex glares at him.
"Do you know who I am? Lay a hand on me and you'll be hearing from Ryan Rosewood."

The guard hesitates but the old man scoffs. "And what if you're not?"

Alex laughs. "Do you really want to find out?"

The old man gulps before pursing his lips. "Just move along." He instructs, calling the guard off. Alex gives Dylan and Thalia one last menacing look before they both turn around and walk away.

When they're gone, Alex turns to the curious yet perplexed gazes of the Rebels.

"What happen-"

"Drop it," Alex cuts Christina off.

"But what did Dyl-" Cole starts.

"I said, drop it." Alex snaps.

They all keep quiet and I frown. I knew that Alex was basically the leader of the Rebels but I've never seen how well they knew or listened to him. I want to say something but I don't know what. I'm scared too. It looks like he'd punch me. Although I doubt that would happen since he just saved me from been slapped.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Sorry guys. I just... I just don't want to talk about it." He explains. He spares me a brief glance."I'll see you all on Monday." He mutters before turning away and walking between the crowds, heading to the exit.

I watch his retreating figure and sigh. Was it really just a coincident that Dylan and Thalia were here?

I don't know what the answer is but what I do know is that they can't be trusted.

Because the Elite are not the only ones with dirty tricks up their sleeves.

****

Sometimes living in Miami can be such a pain. It's always hot and sometimes it can get a bit bothersome. Like today.
Despite the fact that my hair is in a pony and I'm wearing a white tank top with a short denim skirt, I still feel incredibly hot.

When the whole class is finally settled in chemistry, Mrs Collinson puts her briefcase down.

"We will be writing that pop quiz I warned you about." My eyes widen in alarm and I look to Nina in panic.

She doesn't seem surprised and that's when I realize that I probably forgot about it. I've being so distracted lately and I haven't really being remembering all that I should be. Damn it. I can't afford to do bad in Chem. I'm already barely passing.

Mrs Collinson hands me the paper and I hold my head in my hands as the panic bubbles up inside of me. I don't even know the answer to the first question! How am I going to complete this test? I blink back my panic-striken tears and pick up my pencil when my teacher tells us to start and I write.

A whole load of shit, at that. I try to rattle my memory for any answers but nothing comes to mind.

My soul, I'm going to fail.

Thirty minutes later, a barely filled in test, and a flushed face; I hand in my paper and leave the class.

"Sophie!" I hear someone call.

I turn to Nina. "How was the test?" She asks me. I roll my eyes.

"Don't even ask. I probably failed." I grumble as we walk towards the cafeteria. She laughs and rubs my shoulder in comfort.

After everything on Saturday, Alex returned to school yesterday totally fine. Of course we didn't discuss our nearly-kiss but I didn't really think now is a good time to bring it up since the tension between Alex and Dylan is overbearing.

Al I do want to know is if Alex likes me or not.

Before we can reach the cafeteria though, a loud booming voice calls Nina's name out, making both of us turn around. Clad in a suit, Mr Green- our principal- stands in the hallway with a grim look on his face.

Nina and I give him a perplexed look as he strides towards us.
"Yes sir?" Nina asks him.

"Can you please show me to your locker, Miss Williams?"

Now I frown deeply.

"Why?" Nina asks suspiciously.

Mr Green purses his lips, "I have received a tip-off that you have some substances we don't allow here on school premises in your locker."

My eyes basically bulge out of their sockets and Nina scoffs defensively.

"I do not have anything like that in my locker!" She exclaims.

Mr Green looks at her blankly. "Then you should have no problem in showing me."

Nina glares at him and sighs, walking pass him. "Fine."
He trails after her and I whip out my phone, texting Alex.

Me: Mr Green is checking Nina's locker. Got some kind of tip-off.

After clicking send, I head in their direction to find Nina talking animatedly to Mr Green.
"Please just open your locker," He asks in annoyance. When I reach her side, I notice how her hands are balled into fists. Her face is an example of pure rage and she turns to her locker, hastily unlocking it. Once it's done, she steps back with an annoyed look on her face as Mr Green looks inside.

"Don't be surprised if you find a used tampon, sir."

He sends her a warning glare and I nudge her. After a few seconds of scratching around in there, Mr Green lets out an "Ah!" as he pulls out a packet of joints.

Nina's eyes widen and mine do too. "I swear I have no idea how that got there." She says, eyeing the plastic. Mr Green tsks.

"I'm going to have to call your parents."

"What? No! I told you I didn't put that in there!"

Before our principal can respond, footsteps from the Rebels can be heard as they appear in the hallway. "What's going on here?" Alex inquires when they reach us.

Mr Green scowls. "None of your business, Mr Rosewood. Please leave Miss Williams and I alone."

"He found joints in my locker! I didn't put them there!" Nina exclaims at Alex. Martin sighs.

"Sir, Nina doesn't smoke nor does she deal."

Mr Green sighs. "I can't take your word on that. And even if I could I wouldn't, considering you don't have a particularly good record either, Mr Leigh." He says to Martin.

I just stand there, watching Nina try defend herself while the Rebels try to convince Mr Green that it's all one big mistake while I let my mind put two and two together.

I know it's Courtney. She's going to get to me through any one I care about

I catch sight of Alex and our eyes connect. I try to tell him that I'm sorry; that this is all my fault but all he does is frown. That's when a thought hits me. If this is part of Courtneys revenge, she would've left something for me. She always leaves a mark.

I push pass all of them as I struggle to get to her locker, looking through everything.
"Miss Cooper, what are you doi-"

"Here!" I say, holding up a white sticky note.

It reads:

xoxoxo.
Your turn.

I give it to Mr Green hastily as he reads it with a frown.
"And what is this supposed to be?" He asks incredulously.

"A letter from the person who left the stuff in her locker."

Mr Green sighs tiredly, handing back the piece of paper.

"This could have been Nina for all I know. I'm sorry but I have to do what I have to do."

"No-" Martin starts but is cut off from Nina.

"No. It's okay, guys. There's nothing we can do anyway."

She gives us all a sad look before following Mr Green down the hallway as we all stand and watch.
It's silent at first before Martin breaks it with a long string of profanities.

"Do you think he'll suspend her?" I ask, looking at Alex.

"Most definitely. Mr Green doesn't tolerate drugs here." Alex answers and I sigh deeply. Why couldn't I have a normal high school life? No drama, just me- a nerd- living below the radar with a perfect family.

I guess that doesn't sound so normal though, does it?

I look at the piece of crumpled paper in my hand, realising something I didn't before since I looked at it so hastily. I bring it closer as I squint at it, my eyebrows drawn together and my lips pressed in a thin line. Instead of the usual, curly and neat handwriting of Courtney Smith there is an untidy sprawled one; definitely not Courtney's. It looks as if whoever wrote this was in a rush. The letters are squiggly as if they were shaking.

Courtney asked someone to put the joints in Nina's locker for her. And that person wrote the note.
The thing though is that it could have been anyone. The Elite, a gullible sophomore. Anybody really.

Alex steps closer to me and his chest presses against my shoulder, making heat rush to my cheeks but I don't say anything as he looks at the note in my hand.

"Whats wrong?" He asks me. I look at him, surprised at our close proximity. I bring the note up to him and he takes it, reading over it with a frown.

"What about it?" He asks me.

"Courtney didn't write that. Somebody else did."

He looks at me with curiosity before squinting at the paper again, recognition lighting up his face.

"What?" I ask.

He grabs it with both hands. "I've seen this handwriting before. It's familiar."

I frown at him. "Who do you think it is?" I ask hopefully. He looks at me with scrunched eyebrows.

"I... I don't know but it's definitely someone familiar." He folds the paper and hands it back to me, our fingers brushing and I blush. I stare at his hazel eyes as I gulp.

"Hold onto this, Soph. It might come in handy."
I nod and he moves away slightly as the bell rings, and I breath in deeply.

"Let's go, bro. Mrs Emmery is already on our tails."Cole says. Alex nods and then looks back at me.

"I'll see you around, Princess." He says, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Don't worry about this. We'll figure it out."

With my breath caught in my throat, I nod at him and he gives me a small smile before walking away. I watch his retreating figure, my mind swirling with so many emotions.

I look at Christina who's smirking at me and I roll my eyes. "Don't start with me."

I grab her arm and pull her to class, her laughter filling the air.

****

♛ALEX ROSEWOOD♛

I lift the cigarette up to my lips and inhale before letting the smoke come out of my mouth as I sigh. Skipping Economics was probably a bad idea but after everything with Nina, and the way things are going with Sophie, I don't really care.

I stare up at the blue sky as I rest my back against the bonnet of my car. I parked it right at the bottom of the parking lot so that the guys and I could chill on it if we skipped any classes. Needless to say, it was a good decision. Although my car is parked under a tree it only offers semi-shade, leaving me in the burning sunlight.

I sit up on my elbows and pass the cigarette to Martin who takes a drag and blows the smoke out.
We sit in silence, on the hood of the car as we watch the few kids out of class moving here and there. There's not many in the parking lot though.

My mind slowly drifts to Sophie and I let out a deep sigh. When we were at the carnival, I had nearly kissed her- and damn did I want to so badly- but besides been interrupted by that dick I once called my best friend, I'm scared shitless that she doesn't like me like that and I ruin my friendship with her. Never mind the rejection and awkwardness I'll then have to face.

When did I become such a wuss? I used to have a new girl every second day. Yet here I am, thinking about one girl and how I'm going to get to see her smile later today.

I love her smile so much. It could light up the whole universe.

I run a hand through my hair frustratedly. I should be focused on what happened with Nina and how joints miraculously landed up in her locker. I know for a fact that Nina doesn't smoke nor does she sell that shit so what is the logical reason for her to have them in her locker? Besides, Nina wouldn't lie to me. Never mind to Martin, so it's clear she was set up.

I'm further reminded of the note that was left in her locker; clearly from Courtney but not written by Courtney. The handwriting was so familiar to me. Like I had seen it many of times but I couldn't quite place my finger on it. It was more like a memory of the writing rather than a recent event. I just wish I could pinpoint who it belongs to because the boys and I wouldn't hesitate to punch that person's face in.

That brings me back to Sophie; she had this guilt-ridden look on her face as if it was her fault even though it wasn't. Sure, her moving along to us has caused a lot of shit but it's not her fault. And even if it was, I wouldn't really care. I care too much about Sophie. She means a lot to me.

"Yo, you see that girl over there?" Martin asks me, thankfully distracting me from my thoughts.
I sit up, squinting in the sunlight to try and spot the subject of conversation. I lean back on my hands and spot a girl with blonde hair in a ponytail with a pencil skirt and an almost transparent white blouse.

"What about her?" I ask.

Martin smirks. "She's fine don't you think?"

Cole roles his eyes and I shrug, not really in the mood to be checking girls out when my mind is stuck on one. Martin and Cole give me an incredulous look and I frown at them.

"What?" I snap.
They both look at each other before looking back at me.

"Why are you guys looking at me like that?" I ask, getting annoyed that they aren't answering me.

"You going to tell us what happened on Saturday?" Martin asks.

"Or at least what's bugging you because you haven't been yourself, man."

I sigh and look up at the sky before looking back at all of them.
"Nothing is wrong, alright? I'm just pissed off about what went down with Nina."

Martin scoffs. "Don't bullshit us, bro."

I glare at him and he just stares blankly at me. Then my wall resolves.

"What do you think it is?" I ask incredulously.

Martin smirks as he gazes back at the school. "More like who it is,"

I roll my eyes.

"What about her?" Cole asks, his voice laced with curiosity. I shake my head at myself.

"I can't get her out of my head, man." I mutter.

I was expecting shock or at least a snarky remark to come from one of them- especially Martin- but neither do anything. They just look at me.

"You got any reason why?" Martin asks. I chew on my cheek in thought.

"She's special, bro. She just gets me. She can always make me laugh. Her smile lights up my world and whenever she sings, I want to sing with her. She just makes me shine, you know? I feel alive when I'm with her."

It's silent after I've realized I poured my heart out. I snap my head in Martin's direction to see him with a shit-eating grin.
"That was some sappy shit, man."

I feel my ears burn a little. I guess it is strange that I actually said something like that considering I never have.

Cole punches Martin's shoulder and he winces.
"Ignore him, Rosewood."

I sigh. What am I supposed to say?

"You're whipped, bro." Martin mutters with a loud hoot. I frown at him. He looks at me and raises an eyebrow before laughing again.

"Just admit it, bro." Cole says.

I roll my eyes.

"I like Sophie, okay?" I blurt. They both look at me with a smile and I groan with my head in my hands.
I just admitted one of my deepest confessions to these two dumbasses.

"Bro, it's chilled." Cole says, slapping my back.

I look back at them. "I've never felt like this, guys. Shit, I never thought I would ."

They laugh, "You found someone who can make you feel emotions you never have before. You're lucky, Alex. Don't give that up." Martin responds. I look up at him and nod.

He's right. I am lucky. I'm lucky I ended up at Sunny Smiles doing community work, messing paint on Sophie's boots and letting her slowly nudge her way into my life. Shit, I was lucky I had Sophie in general.

"I guess you guys are right." I answer.

"Of course we are." Martin says.
I roll my eyes.

"So what are you planning to do now?" Cole asks. I shrug.

"I don't know. I don't want to just act on this. What if she doesn't like me that way?"

They both start laughing and I frown in confusion.
"What?"

"Dude! She's just as whipped as you are." Cole says.

"How do you know?" I ask.

Martin gives me a knowing smirk.
"Just trust us on this dude. She likes you."

I purse my lips. "Alright."
"What do you guys think I should do?" I ask them.

Martin shrugs. "Don't make her wait."

I nod. "Thanks, man."

I hop off the car and turn to them. "I think we should get going,"

They both nod and hop off the hood of the car, too, as we walk inside the school. However, I walk with one thought in my mind; not only do I want Sophie, I need Sophie.

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