It physically pained me to keep secrets. Especially, if there was a possibility that my secret wasn't actually a secret. Yet, instead of coming clean to Faye about Derek, I kept my mouth shut. Allowing this secret to crush me even more with every passing second.

We sat outside in the quad today due to some idiot setting off a stink bomb. The first bell didn't ring for another thirty minutes, so the four of us sat at one of the picnic tables. It was Club Rush Week and the grassy area of the quad was full of all the different club booths. Students were scattered around, checking out the different clubs and signing up.

I normally signed up for the newspaper. At first I wasn't sure that I wanted to apart of the staff this year, but my love of writing was urging me to sign up. It would be nice to document something other than the chronicles of my life.

"So, you two," Faye pulled me out of my thoughts, pointing at Ellen and I. "Who are you taking to homecoming?"

Another secret to add to my every growing list was Alyssa and Ellen's. The idea of them together was still a lot to wrap my mind around. Alyssa was still into Ellen and I wondered if Ellen felt the same way.

"Jared Garcia," Ellen gushed, glancing up from phone.

Guess that answered my question.

Suddenly. all eyes were on me.

"What about you?" Jasmine probed. "Who is on Mia Perkins radar?"

There was only one name that came to mind, but that was one secret I happily kept.

"No one," I shrugged.

"I thought Kenton asked you?" Ellen wondered.

"He hasn't," I informed them. "And I don't want to go with him."

"Why not?" Jasmine questioned in between sips of her iced coffee. "That boy is fine."

"Maybe she doesn't want him, because he's not dating one of us," Faye chimed in with mischievous smirk.

She knew. She had to know that I was with Derek last night. I never should have gotten into that car. Another knife in her back, courtesy of me: the worst friend in the world.

Faye burst into laughter, Jasmine and Ellen joining in as well. "Oh my God, you should see your face right now." She howled.

"Oh, hold on," Jasmine used her phone to capture the moment and turned it so I could see as she laughed.

"God, Mia, it was a joke," Faye said, sobering up. "But is there really no one you're interested in?"

"No, I'm just enjoying my single status," I replied.

"You don't have to like with the guy to attend the dance with him," Ellen said matter-of-factly.

"That's true. Go with Kenton, have fun and then tell him you just want to be friends," Faye suggested. "That's what I'm doing with Trent Sloan."

The idea seemed harmless enough, but I couldn't stop thinking about Calvin. Was it crazy for me to want him to ask me? Probably, since I haven't dropped a single hint that I liked him. Even if I did there was a chance that he didn't feel the same and I never handled rejection very well.

"I'll think about it," I say, knowing that they weren't going to drop it if I just flat out said no.

"Finally," Jasmine sighed in relief. Following her gaze I see why she's so happy.

The homecoming court sign up booth was finally set up. Jasmine ran every year, but always lost out to someone else, despite being fairly popular. This year she more than determined to win. She has been talking about it so much that I didn't want to hear the stories and rants again.

As the girls got up from the table and made their way to the homecoming booth, I broke away from the group. Leisurely browsing the clubs as I inched my way over to newspaper booth.

Being the head of the photography club, Alyssa also had a booth set up. She was laying out pamphlets and throw away cameras when I walked over.

"Hey," I greeted as I picked up one of the cameras and looked through the view finder.

She took the camera from my hands, "Those are for initiated members only."

Her eyes flickered across the green and I already knew who she was looking at.

"Why did it end between you two?" I asked, stepping aside to allow someone to sign up to be a Panther Photographer.

"She afraid," she replied after giving the guy his complementary camera and pamphlet. "She told me that I brainwashed her and threatened to sue if I told anyone."

Alyssa frowned as she placed another camera in place of the missing one. "It just sucks because those few weeks were crazy amazing and I know I wasn't the only one who felt it."

"Well, it is a huge lifestyle change," I say in Ellen's defense. "Her fear is understandable."

"Yeah, I get that," she exhaled. "But wasting your time being afraid also means missing out on amazing opportunities. For example: Getting to make out with me."

"Poor Ellen. How will she survive?" I teased.

Two more people stepped up to join the photography club so I told Alyssa that I'd talk to her later and slipped away. By the time I made it to the booth for the newspaper club I had made up my mind. I wanted to rejoin The Paw Print.

"Hi, Andrew, did you get taller?" I questioned, examining the editor of The Paw Print. He'd always been vertically challenged, but it appeared that he finally hit his growth spurt over summer break.

His face broke out into a wide grin as he stood taller, "Yeah, I did actually. Mom put on a strict diet – wait a second, are you bringing your advice column back?" His face lit up even more.

"No," I stated, that light in him going out.

"Please? Your column is what reeled in eight percent of The Paw Print readers," he negotiated.

"I'm not in the best place to give out advice," I explained. "I do want to join the paper again this year, though."

His hazel eyes narrowed in on me as if he was trying to use mind control to change my answer.

Realizing that it wasn't going to work, he slid the signup sheet my way. I happily scrawled my name across the line. Writing was my biggest passion and writing for The Paw was one of the best parts of school. Although covering school and local events wouldn't be as much fun as giving advice on life, friends and love, I was excited.

"Since you won't give your fellow peers advice," he said with a look of disapproval. "What do you want to write about?"

"Doesn't matter," I replied, looking over the list of available positions. Most of the subjects I knew nothing about, but I was willing to learn. "I'll take anything but homecoming."

His lips spread into a sly smile and I realized I had said too much.

"Andrew," I plead.

"This is payback for taking away the best part of The Paw Print," he said with a smug grin.

Great, as if I hadn't heard enough of about homecoming already. Taking the flyer that had all the important times and dates on it I walked away, stuffing it into one of the side pockets of my backpack. Too distracted, I collided with someone almost stumbling to the ground, but I was caught before making contact with the grass.

"You should really watch where you're going," Calvin smirked as he help me to my feet.

"Shut up," I laughed, nudging him in the ribs. "Did you join a club?"

"Yeah, art club."

"Wow, look at you being social," I teased.

"Mr. Webb suggested I join and by 'suggested' I mean forced. What about you?"

"Newspaper."

"Starting up your advice column again?"

"No and because of that I'm being punished," I replied, glaring over at Andrew. "I've been assigned to cover the homecoming election."

"And that's a punishment?"

"Yes, because Jasmine's been talking about it none stop," I complained.

"I guess your double life wasn't exposed last night?"

"Shut up," I rolled my eyes as I turned to walk towards my class.

"I didn't say anything," he defended, falling into step beside me.

"You don't like them, I get it, but they're my friends," I explained to him as we entered the main building.

I stop at my locker to grab my calculus book. Calvin stopped as well, leaning against the locker next mines. "I might not have a lot of friends, but I'm not so afraid of telling them the truth that I would jump out of a moving vehicle."

"Why do you do that?" I questioned, feeling slightly annoyed.

"Do what?"

"Talk to me like I'm a little kid who needs guidance," I spat. He seemed taken aback by my words. "There's nothing wrong with my friends and I don't need your advice!"

I slammed my locker shut and left. That sick feeling returned to my stomach as I made my way to class. What was I thinking when I was fantasizing about him taking me to the dance. He wasn't someone I wanted to be with. He was so judgmental. It was safe to say that my crush on him has completely fizzled out.

//

Hey everyone! What did you think of this chapter?

Should Mia confess about talking to Derek?

What do you think about Alyssa & Ellen?

Or that blow out between Mia and Calvin?

Let me know your thoughts & don't forget to vote! <3