I M M A C U L A T E

D E C E I V E R S

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| Mark's POV |

"Whatever. I'm out of here. Don't follow me." I said directly to Naveah as I immediately started to walk away.

Fuck all of this.

"Mark wait!" I heard Connor shout, but I kept walking.

Once he finally neared me, he spoke up again.

"You're not even going to try to give her a second chance?" He asked, full of surprise.

"What do you care?" I glared, my fists still clenched at my sides.

"I don't, actually. But I know that you still have feelings for her." He stated in a 'duh' tone.

A few moments later, Red appeared.

"How do you know about what I feel?" I questioned, feeling irritated at the entire situation.

Everything is so fucked up.

"Will you stop being so stubborn for once in your entire life and just fucking hear me out." Connor said, clearly beginning to become irritated himself. "I understand that it seems as though she used you, or whatever. But I know Naveah, and I know when she's being serious or not. Back there, she was serious."

"Yeah, because you're so good at reading her. You didn't even know that we were happening right underneath your fucking nose." I said with a raised eyebrow.

Connors fists clenched at his sides as he took in a deep breath.

"Okay can we stop bringing that up?" He glared, "I don't want to think about it anymore. I actually like Marissa now, and yeah she's a royal bitch sometimes, but there's a lot more to her than what everyone thinks. I'm still hurt over Naveah, but I'm not going to let it control my life. I don't know what's going to happen to us, as far as being friends goes, but I am giving you full permission to do whatever the fuck you want. Be with Naveah or don't be with Naveah, but make that decision for yourself, not because of anyone else. Even me." He finally said with all seriousness etched onto his features.

I looked at him for a moment, and really took in his words. I looked over to Red who was just listening to everything and he gave me a brief nod.

"I just... how can I trust her again?" I finally asked, showing a little bit of vulnerability.

Connors features softened slightly. "You just have to start from the beginning again. The right way this time. Rebuild." He replied.

"Maybe. I don't know." I shrugged, "I'm not doing anything right away. I need time to process."

"Understandable." Connor nodded.

I looked around awkwardly. "Uh, thanks."

"Sure." He simply replied, no emotion on his face anymore.

"Well, see you." I said, beginning to turn around and start my walk home.

"See you." I heard Connor say from behind me.

We didn't exactly make up and become friends again, but we certainly reached an understanding and an agreement. Maybe we'll just have to start from the beginning again sometime in the future. Rebuild.

"Bye Marky!" Red hollered and I turned to him with a glare for the nickname. He smirked and blew me a kiss before I rolled my eyes and finally walked out of the doors to the school, a very small smirk beginning to appear on my own face.

I suddenly felt irritated again as I began to walk home, because all I could think about was one thing.

Naveah.

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| Naveah's POV |

After school Lucy, Callie, Riley and I decided to go to Taco Bell to grab a bite to eat and just talk. We sat at a booth while we enjoyed nachos and steak quesadillas inside of the restaurant.

"I'm happy you decided to give Naveah here a second chance, she's been bummed man." Riley stated from beside me, casting me a smirk.

I rolled my eyes while Callie and Lucy smiled from across the table.

"I'm sure she has. We've been bummed too." Lucy replied as she popped a chip into her mouth.

"I just really hope that you guys believe me when I say how sorry I am and that I'm never going to lie again for as long as I live." I said before taking a sip of my sweet tea.

"Well, I don't expect you to become a saint Naveah, but as long as you don't lie to me ever again, I'm cool." Lucy chuckled, "I'm sorry this whole thing dragged out for as long as it did. Two months has been excruciating without you."

"Agreed." Callie nodded.

"Yeah, I know. I feel like I've missed so much." I frowned.

"Lucy has a boyfriend." Callie suddenly teased, which caused my eyes to widen as they snap to her.

She had a red tint to her cheeks as she nudged Callie's side roughly with her elbow.

"Ow! It's true!" Callie exclaimed while rubbing her side.

"Well, who the hell is it?" Riley asked excitedly.

I loved how well Riley fit in with the rest of us. She didn't even need to try, both Callie and Lucy loved her right away.

"His name is Dean, and I met him at the movies last night with Callie." She shrugged, waving her hand as if to say that it was no big deal.

"Dean. Hm, I like it. What's he look like?" I asked with a smile.

"Hey, back off Barbie." Lucy smirked while pointing her finger at me, and my smile faltered.

"Too soon for jokes?" Lucy sheepishly smiled as the entire table erupted in laughter.

I laughed too, as I nodded my head yes.

"Anyway, he's about Red's height. He has dark brown hair and light blue eyes surprisingly. He's gorgeous." Lucy took her phone out and pulled up a selfie she took with Dean during their time at the movies.

"Wow, Luc. I'm so happy for you!" I smiled genuinely.

"Thanks." She blushed while putting her phone away.

"When do we get to meet him? Ya know, to make sure he's worthy." Riley asked after finishing her last bite of her steak quesadilla.

"Our first official date is coming up here soon. He's taking me to dinner for Valentine's Day." Lucy smiled dreamily just thinking about it, "You all can meet him after that if it goes well."

"Oh it's so gonna go well. He couldn't keep his eyes off you last night." Callie smirked toward Lucy.

"Hey Naveah..." Lucy began slowly.

"Yeah?" I smiled.

"Do you think you could come over the night of, and help me pick out an outfit for the date?" She asked shyly.

"You don't even need to ask. I'm there." I smiled wide, handing her another packet of hot sauce for her nachos.

"Awesome!" She cheered while taking the hot sauce from my hand.

"Hey Cal, what are you and Red doing for Valentine's Day?" I asked, turning my attention to Callie. I still felt a little bit of awkwardness whenever it was just her and I talking, but I knew that soon it would fade.

"I honestly don't know. He won't tell me anything, said he's got something 'up his sleeve'." Callie mocked Red and I let out a chuckle.

"Well, I hope you love it." I smiled and she smiled back to me.

"I for one will be having a hot date with my bed and Netflix come Valentine's Day. Try to contain your jealousy girls." Riley announced proudly which made all of us laugh.

"I may be joining you Rie." I said, before taking another sip of my drink.

"Hey, the more the merrier. Just make sure you bring your own blankets and snacks because I'm a hog who doesn't like to share." She shrugged, which made me roll my eyes.

"Whatever you say." I laughed.

We all finished eating and continued talking for what seemed to be hours. Eventually, we all headed home, going in opposite directions. Riley gave me a ride home and Callie gave Lucy a ride home. I hugged them each goodbye and felt happy for the first time in a long time.

I may not have made things work out with Mark, but at least I had my friends back in my life. I knew it would take a while for them to trust me again, but I was willing to wait however long it took for them to do so.

They're worth every second.

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When I finally got home, I heard my mom and dad both in the kitchen.

I didn't make a lot of noise as I sneaked into the hallway to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Do you think Naveah is alright? She's hasn't been herself lately despite this morning when she actually looked normal again." My mom said to my dad.

"I think she's just going through something with her friends. She's a teenager after all, something that no parent ever fully understands." My dad actually chuckled.

I saw my mom smile over at him, and the look that was in her eyes was pure love and admiration. Maybe I was wrong about their relationship all along. Yes, my dad can be kind of a hard-ass, but he genuinely cared for his family. I may not have always agreed with him, but I knew he did everything he could for us in the end.

"You're right. What do we know about teenagers anyway?" My mom teased as my dad smirked in reply.

"Maybe we could try to remember?" He asked seductively. He walked over to my mom who was washing some dishes and he placed his arms around her waist from behind. He began to nibble on her earlobe as she giggled and told him to stop.

My eyes widened as I witnessed what was about to take place, so I internally gagged and hurried up the stairs to my room. I shut the door kind of loud and I realized that they didn't even know that I came home so I probably scared the crap out of them.

Sure enough, I heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs until my bedroom door swung open. There, standing with a wooden bat, was my father with wide eyes.

"Dad!" I shouted with a small smile on my face as I took in his ridiculous appearance.

"Jesus Naveah, you could have said something when you walked inside! You about gave your mother a heart attack!" He gasped as he lowered the bat in his hands.

I began to laugh and soon after, he joined in. My mom appeared in seconds and saw dad and I laughing. Her face turned upright into a smile and she shook her head.

"What am I going to do with you two?" She said while dad went to put his bat away with a sheepish smile on his face.

"Me? Dad's the one who was about to attack me with a bat!" I laughed some more, soon after mom began to laugh as well.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better sweetie." My mom finally said after the laughter died down. My dad reappeared beside my mom and placed a hand on the small of her back, rubbing small circles.

"Yeah, today was actually a good day." I smiled.

"Did you sort everything out?" My dad asked, referring to our one on one session yesterday in his office.

I gave him a nod. "I did, for the most part." I admitted. I knew that I was rebuilding my relationships with Callie and Lucy, but I decided I wasn't going to tell him about Mark. I didn't even want to be thinking about him, but I just couldn't seem to stop.

"Good to hear, kiddo. I'm happy for you." My dad smiled.

"Hey, come down in about thirty minutes and dinner will be done. We all get to eat together." My mom said happily while pulling my dad down the stairs with her.

"Alright." I replied, smiling while watching the two.

I went over to my bed and jumped onto it after kicking my shoes off. I pulled my phone out from my pocket and switched it on, pulling up Mark's contact.

I sent him a text, and just hoped that he would actually read it and agree. I think we needed to talk privately, without anyone around. Maybe that's the only way I could get him to really talk to me and open up. Without other people staring, he tended to show me sides to him that he didn't show anyone else.

Although, the thought that he probably hates me, caused me to doubt that he ever would again.

I sighed with defeat, but sent the text anyway, hoping that by some miracle it happens.

Me: Meet me in the janitor's closet tomorrow before lunch. No funny business, just talking. Please?

I waited a couple of minutes for a reply, but when I didn't get one, I sighed and got up to go downstairs. 

At least I tried. That's all that matters.

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Sorry that the chapter is a little short. We are nearing the end so I am trying to wrap everything up as best as I can. 

What do you think about this chapter?? 

Stay tuned until next Week. 

xoxoxo