Meanwhile, back at Natalie's apartment, she had already changed into her pajamas and was staring at her phone. She seemed to have been messaging someone before. And of course, that someone was Jake. But for some reason, he didn't seem to text her back. And she was getting angry at that.

"Ugh! Why won't Jakey-boo text back?!" Natalie yelled in anger. "He better not be with the red haired slut! He's in big trouble, if so!"

Natalie looked down at her phone and looked through the texts that she had sent him.

Hello, Jakey-boo. How's your day going?

Um. . . you probably didn't see that last text. So, how are you?

Really? You're ignoring now? You better not be with April! I strictly told you not to!

Fine. I'll just wait for you.

"Maybe I'm being too pushy on him." Natalie said. "I'll just have a word with him tomorrow at school."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and Natalie got up, put on her slippers, and answered the door. And who was standing there, was none other than Ryan and Trinity.

"Ah, Ry. You actually came." Natalie said, before looking at Trinity. "Uh. . . who's this?"

"I'm Trinity." Trinity said. "I'm Ryan's BFF. It's good to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." Natalie said with a smirk. "Why don't you girls come on in?"

Natalie gestured the two girls inside as they both went inside and Natalie shit the door behind them.

"So. . . what did you call me over for?" Ryan asked.

"Are we gonna discuss out next move?" Trinity asked. "I'm aching for some action."

"Well. . . yeah." Natalie said. "I recently had Jake over here. And we hung out."

"You hung out with Jake?" Trinity asked.

"Yeah, we even slept together." Natalie smirked.

"What?" Trinity asked, sounding angry.

"It's okay, Trinity." Ryan said. "She's getting him ready for me."

"Yeah. . . that's right." Natalie said.

'Like hell I'll believe that. . .' Trinity thought to herself. 'She's playing both of them. Maybe I should tell Ryan.'

"So. . . who wants tea?" Natalie asked.

"I could go for a cup." Ryan said.

"Right." Natalie said. "I'll get that started."

With that said, Natalie went into the kitchen to make some tea. And when she was just out of ear sight, Trinity leaned in close and whispered to Ryan.

"You really trust this girl?" Trinity asked. "She's a weirdo."

"Of course I do." Ryan whispered back. "What's there not to trust?"

"Girl, she slept with your man." Trinity said.

"It's fine." Ryan said. "There's plenty of him to go around, right?"

"No, Ry. . . you're missing the point of all of this." Trinity said with a sigh. "You're trying to get him back, right? If you keep going along with this girl's plan, there won't be any of him left to get."

"Trust me, Trinity." Ryan said. "I know who I can trust."

"I don't know. . . something isn't right." Trinity said. "Let's get out of here before things go bad."

"Tea is done!" Natalie said, coming back into the living room with a platter and tea set. "What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing, Nat." Ryan said.

"You have a nickname for her, too?!" Trinity said in shock.

"Hey, take it easy." Natalie said, pouring some tea for them. "There's no need to get hostile. I just called you two here to have a little talk about our plans."

"Plans?" Trinity asked. "What plans?"

"The plan for your friend to get Jake back." Natalie said. "Obviously."

"Really?" Trinity asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're gonna help her?"

"Clearly, there's too much at stake here." Natalie said. "Jake isn't an easy one to go for. He's a real player, if you ask me."

"Tell me about it." Ryan said.

"So, I have a new idea." Natalie said. "But. . . I don't know if you'll like it that much."

Ryan sighed. "If this is about what we discussed before-"

"No, no, no! Don't get your panties in a twist, dear Ryan." Natalie said with a smirk. "We're not gonna go that far. . . yet. We just need a way to keep him away from anyone else."

"And how do we do that?" Trinity asked. "He has himself clinged on to that red haired girl! He'll never let her go."

Natalie chuckled. "Well, I wouldn't say that." She smirked.

"What did you do?" Ryan asked. "Other than sleep with him, I mean."

"Listen closely. . . I may be a 17 year old, but I've got some connections." Natalie said, holding up her phone. "Connections that allow me to dig up dirt like this here video."

"That's a phone." Trinity said.

"Yeah, no shit." Natalie said angrily. "It has a video on it that I can use against the boy. In fact. . . I've already got him n tied to my finger because of it."

"What's on the video?" Ryan asked.

"If you knew. . . would you still want him?" Natalie asked.

"Well. . . I don't know." Ryan said. "I don't know what's on the video."

"So. . . you're saying you have some sort of blackmail against him?" Trinity asked. "And you made him sleep with you to keep it from getting out to the public?"

"Yep." Natalie said.

"That's sick." Trinity said.

"But she's making him feel comfortable for me." Ryan said. "Right?"

"You can put it that way." Natalie said. "But what's most important is that Jake isn't going to get any closer to April with this damning information in my possession."

"Damning information?" Trinity asked. "It's that bad?"

"Yeah, it is." Natalie said. "His reputation will be ruined if anyone sees this. I bet even his own sister would hate him for it."

"Why not put that out now?" Trinity asked. "You know he's not gonna listen for long."

"Oh, I'm well aware." Natalie said. "But I'm flexible when it comes to multiple offences. Starting tomorrow, I'll have him near me all day at school. So he can't even *think* about that red haired homewrecker!"

"But what about me?" Ryan asked.

"You'll have your turn." Natalie said. "Otherwise, his secret will be exposed."

"You're twisted." Trinity said.

"She's helpful." Ryan said. "I'm finally gonna get my chance to redeem myself and get Jake back."

"How can you be so sure?" Trinity asked.

"Because I am." Ryan said. "I trust her. Why can't you?"

"It's suspicious." Trinity said. "Don't you think so? Even a little bit?"

"Hmm. . . nope." Ryan said.

"Wow, you're more empty-headed than I thought." Trinity said. "But you're still my bestie."

"Anyways, we're all clear on the plan, yeah?" Natalie asked. "I get Jake for a day tomorrow, and then Ryan can have him for a day. And we alternate."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Ryan said.

"Alright, I've had enough of this." Trinity said, standing up. "I'll be seeing myself out now."

"Wait, I thought you'd stay a little longer." Natalie said. "We haven't even hung out for that long."

"All of this is too much for me." Trinity said. "I don't want to stay another minute."

"I've got pie." Natalie said.

"Ooh, pie?" Ryan said as her eyes lit up and she looked at Trinity. "Come on, please stay?! It'll be fun."

Trinity sighed. "Fine, I'll stay for pie." She said.

"Well, it's already pretty late." Natalie said. "And it's dangerous out there at night. So. . . maybe you two could stay over for the night?"

"I should've left." Trinity sighed.

"That sounds fun." Ryan said. "But. . . we don't have any pajamas or anything for that."

"It's okay, I've got you covered." Natalie said. "Literally."

__________

After a few minutes, Ryan and Trinity had changed into some pajamas that they were borrowing from Natalie for the night.

"Wow, they fit really well." Ryan said. "I like them."

"Well, we're all a similar body type, so I thought you'd fit in my clothes." Natalie said, before looking at Trinity. "Although. . . Trinity looks a bit exposed. The shirt isn't supposed to be *that* small."

"Well, forgive me for having a slightly longer torso." Trinity scoffed as she covered her stomach.

"No, it's fine." Ryan said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You look great."

Trinity blushed as she slowly moved her hands down to her sides. "Thanks, Ry." She said with a smile. 'She's so kind to me. I don't deserve a friend like her. Especially since I'm helping her get her ex back. . . and I'm ignoring my own feelings for her while doing so.' She thought to herself.

"So. . . the plan." Ryan said. "It sounds great to me. However, what will Jake think about it?"

"He won't have a say in this." Natalie said.

"Oh. . . I see." Ryan said.

"So, were supposed to believe that he'll fall for it?" Trinity asked. "That's stupid. He won't go for it. I think it's better to just go along with constantly trying to talk him into it."

"That hasn't worked yet." Ryan said. "If I'm gonna get him back. . . I need to do this."

"Ry, Natalie manipulated Jake into sleeping with her." Trinity said. "This whole idea is idiotic. It's not like you have anything to hold against him if he doesn't listen."

"Who says she doesn't?" Natalie asked.

At that moment, Ryan's phone dinged in her pocket and she pulled it out to see a new attachment from Natalie.

"That's the video." Natalie said. "Don't watch it, though."

"Ooh, now I've got the blackmail!" Ryan smirked.

"Uh huh. Now Jake will have no choice but to listen to you." Natalie said. "You can ask him to do whatever you want. And as long as you threaten him with that video, he's all yours."

"Awesome!" Ryan said with a wide smile.

"Wait. . . isn't that kind of like cheating?" Trinity asked.

"Huh?" Natalie asked.

"I mean, I'm down for this idea, but. . . doest it seem a little bit. . . low for us?" Trinity asked.

"If there's one thing to know about me, it's that there's no low I won't sink to in order to get what I want." Natalie said with a sinister smile. "That's why I'm so good at what I do."

"You're the best, Natalie!" Ryan said happily. "I could kiss you right now."

"Yeah. . . thanks but no thanks." Natalie said. "Anyway, it's rather late. I think it's time for bed."

"Already?" Ryan asked.

"Where are we supposed to sleep?" Trinity asked.

"There's a guest room and my father's room." Natalie said, pointing down the hallway. "But seeing as my father doesn't even let *me* in there, it's safe to say you'll be sharing the guest bed."

"That's fine with me." Ryan said.

"Yeah. . . me too." Trinity said, while blushing.

"Anyways, I'll be up in my room, texting Jake." Natalie said. "You girls have fun."

With that said, Natalie got up and went to her own bedroom while Ryan and Trinity went into the guest room.

Once they were in the guest room, they noticed that it was smaller than they thought. And the bed was only a twin size.

"Okay. . . it'll be a little cramped, but we're both pretty skinny." Ryan said. "I think it could work."

"Are you sure?" Trinity asked. "I-I mean. . . we don't have to, if you're not comfortable with it."

"It's fine." Ryan said, getting onto the bed and under the covers. "Come on, it's cozy."

"Um. . . Ry?" Trinity asked. "Can I, uh. . . say something."

"Sure, what's going on?" Ryan asked.

"Well. . . I know it was my idea to try to help you get Jake back, but. . . maybe I'm having second thoughts." Trinity said. "I mean, I want you to be happy, but. . . I don't know about this anymore."

"It's okay, Trinity." Ryan said. "You're my best friend. You've never steered me wrong before. I'm gonna keep trying to win Jake's heart back and everything will be normal again."

"Well, we can stop if you want." Trinity said. "After all, there's other people out there for you to give your love to."

"No. . . I want Jake." Ryan said sternly. "I owe him a many apologies. And trust me. . . once I get him back, I'll do everything in my power to make sure he's happy. I'll never leave him again."

"Well. . . that's nice." Trinity said. "But, maybe it would be better if-"

"No. . . I'm gonna do this." Ryan said. "Jake is my everything. And I took advantage of it before. But not anymore. Jake will be mine. I won't have it any other way!"

"Well. . . you're bisexual, right?" Trinity asked. "Maybe you'll have better luck with a girlfriend?"

"That's an idea." Ryan said. "But it'll only be a last resort, if I fail miserably. And I won't."

'Oh boy. . . I really got into her head, didn't I?' Trinity said. 'What have I done?'

"Anyways, are you coming to bed or not?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah. . . sorry." Trinity said as she got under the covers next to Ryan.

With no other words, Trinity turned away from Ryan as she was left with her own thoughts.

"Goodnight, Ry." Trinity said.

Trinity waited for a response, but all she got from Ryan was a loud snore. She looked behind her and saw that Ryan was already fast asleep. She smiled as she got back into position to sleep.

Suddenly, Trinity felt a chill down her spine when she felt Ryan roll over and wrap her arm around her body as she slept. Trinity felt her face go warm as she blushed madly from this. But she tried to keep her cool and not wake up her sleeping friend.

Heart pounding in her chest, Trinity soon drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.

To be continued. . .

Ryan, Trinity, and Natalie Heartstrings belongs to me

All rights reserved