"Ava?"

The husky disembodied voice immediately alerted me to hide in the corner of the locker room as my heart thumped heavily in my chest.

"Turn around and close your eyes," I commanded, panic-stricken, bringing my hands to cover myself even though he couldn't see me.

This is the most embarrassing moment of my life. I knew I was disliked in this school, but I had no idea they would stoop to this level. Whoever did this wanted me to walk the hallways naked.

"Ava?" he called out. "I won't look," Leigh promised.

With my body pressed against the corner, I cautiously leaned forward to peek and confirm his statement. Granted! He had his palm hovering over his eyes while taking cautious steps towards my direction.

"I couldn't find your clothes," he informed me, and my stomach growled. So, it was over. I would really be walking the hallways naked. "Wear this." Leigh shrugged off his cheetah jacket and held it out for me.

I felt relieved to some extent, yet nervous is an understatement. I was terrified and didn't dare to come out of my hiding place, even though Leigh had turned around with his back facing me. I still wished the ground would open up and swallow my bare skin.

Alright, I'll give an understandable explanation. Look, Leigh Boyce is that guy who takes away all the oxygen and makes breathing difficult. Even with the distance between us, the effect he has on me manages to electrify my whole system. It's more than pathetic that I happen to be standing completely naked in the same room as him.

"Ava?" he called again since I couldn't gather up a logical response. Great, Ava, just great.

He slowly started to open his eyes, effortlessly meeting mine.

Wordless, he crookedly stared at my head. I must look ridiculous. I swear whoever did this to me must be heartless. If you think I'm being overdramatic, you should see the bold statement written on the wall: "Mother Superior walk of shame."

Something in me tells me who must have done it, but my courage was too low to defend my rights, so I swallowed the weapons I never use.

"There you are," he finally remarked after the awkward stare that I almost thought was beginning to become a challenge.

He took a step closer, and my heart sank to my stomach. But then I realized he wanted to give me his jacket, and respectfully enough, his gaze traveled in every direction except mine. How charming of him. I hid myself when I wrapped my body in the warm, soul-comforting blanket that was Leigh's jacket. It had that wild flowery scent that sent a prompt alert to the pit of my stomach and awakened the thousand butterflies, turning the scent into a disco invading my reality.

When I emerged from the angle I had been hiding, I was more than humiliated. I could bet on everything I have that I was entirely transparent right now. After sliding down against the steel locker doors and letting the combined feeling of being unwanted, frustrated, and disappointed turn into liquid and flow down my face, I knew I looked terrible. In all honesty, since I left London, crying had become a daily occurrence for me. But then I shouldn't blame it on moving here; I should blame myself for bringing it upon myself. I was too selfish for my own needs.

Leigh stepped forward with his lips pressed hard into a straight line, which somehow managed to hint at some adorable dimples.

His fingers instinctively began to button up the last upper button of his jacket that I was currently wearing, and when his finger slightly brushed my skin, I felt like I mistook earth for heaven.

Focus, Ava, you're mad at him. He hurt you without reason.

So, what I did next took a lot of effort. You'd think it was something huge, but to me, it meant a lot. Stepping back away from Leigh was a great deal. It was like separating a woman from her womb, you know what I mean?

He attempted to bring his hand back, but I responsively retreated. I didn't mistake the hurtful frown that flashed on his face before he wore a concerned mask again. "What exactly happened?" he queried.

I sighed softly and crossed my hands over my chest, as my eyes darted over to the ink on the wall. Was it a threat or bullying? Whatever it was, it was soul-rippingly painful. It was hateful and something no human should go through. It was something I never thought would happen to me. "Hills High happened."

His fists clenched, and his chest heaved. "Do you have any idea who did it?" His jaw was clenched, and darkness was starting to dominate his once luscious eyes.

I shook my head hopelessly. "Does it even matter?"

"Of course it does," he asserted without hesitation.

I smiled weakly. "I'm never going to fit in here. There's nothing I can do. Not that I'm desperate or obsessed, you know? I just thought I could have a normal school life, some quiet days until graduation. But look at me." I motioned with my hands up and down my body. "I don't even know who I am anymore. No matter how much I thought I've fixed everything, someone finds a way to mold and manipulate my life."

Leigh's eyes softened as he tried his luck once again and stepped closer. But being alert, I withdrew backward. "Why don't you let me help you? I want to help you, Ava."

"Can't you see you're the one they're after? You're what they're chasing."

"No, Ava! You're the one they're after. If only you could stop running." His green eyes pierced into me directly, and I fidgeted under his intense stare. Breathing became harder as I trembled slightly before him.

"Hey?" A voice startled both of us, and we promptly spun around to find the cheerleaders' captain in her classic rich-girl outfit, her quizzical eyes shifting between Leigh and me. "Are you okay, Ava?" Sofia Halt worriedly asked.

Still feeling like I had been caught in the middle of something very disturbing, I cleared my throat and nodded.

"Okay?" She still had her detective eyes fixed on me, and I had to keep my embarrassed head slumped downwards.

"So, since I've caught the treasure in the safe, are you free later?" Her attention shifted back to Leigh. Yes, of course, and I didn't know why I suddenly felt the need to produce excessive sweat and the urge to bite my tongue to refrain from blurting out something I would definitely regret.

Treasure my foot.
I thought we were friends.

"I have to take Ava home and attend a practice," he smiled apologetically.

Sofia appeared determined before a smile spread across her lips. "Oh, the game's this weekend."

Although Leigh only nodded, she smiled at me and seductively patted Leigh's forearm. "I can't wait to see you back on the field. For now, take care of little sis. I'll see you two around," she calmly announced and started walking away.

"I'm not his sister." Shoot... Did I say that out loud?

Immature, Ava, immature.

Mentally hitting my head, I watched Sofia respond with a small smile before she disappeared.

"Come, I'll take you home before the period is over," Leigh suggested, grabbing my belongings while I followed behind him in his big, warm jacket that almost swallowed me.

***

Evie: I can't believe you skipped detention, but I can't believe someone stole your clothes.

Ava: I can't believe it either. It makes me want to switch to homeschooling.

Evie: What? Is that cowardice I smell?

Ava: In this situation, even B. F. Skinner would agree that I need a break.

Evie: Okay, young lady, wake up. That's not happening. I mean, you're related to the Boyce family, the most popular name in Vegas, and you're talking about giving up?

Ava: Look at how the name got me. NAKED.

And then my laptop shut off, and Evie appeared on the screen. Reluctantly, I drew the device closer before pressing accept.

"Ava Lancelot." She studied me as soon as her scrunched-up face appeared.

We were both in our bedrooms. It was evening, and I had finally found some of my own dress shirts.

"What? I could have been seen. Whoever did that wanted to see me walk naked in the hallways and then make my life a living hell. We live in a world where you can lose everything within the span of a nanosecond, thanks to the destructive so-called internet," I whined.

"Yes, you're right. Now I'm scared. I'm never taking a shower in that locker room again. Whoever is after you will strike again and might include me too," Evie's eyes popped out.

I scrunched my nose and shook my head. "Strike again? Seriously, now I'm not okay."

"Honestly, in high school, if you're lucky to get that kind of attention, it sticks with you," she apologized, with a sympathetic expression on her face.

"Wow. So I'm stuck with hate, and God knows how many enemies I have in that teenage world." My eyes dilated as different imaginations came to my head. If teenagers were presidents, cops, principals, just holding all the authorities in their hands.

Okay, the vision is not good, and I began sweating and breathing heavily.

"Ava?" Shit. She has been talking. "Are you okay?" She suspiciously poured her eyes into the camera.

"If you like, come on, dinner is ready, or maybe you can ditch that too," Sawyer's taunting tone came from the door.

When is she going to drop this attitude? If only she knew how my night went, she wouldn't keep pressuring me about Halloween.

"Evie, I have to go," I announced before slamming the laptop shut and getting my feet off the bed.

"We are in the kickoff stage—that's what they call it, always practicing and destroying pans," Sawyer explained about her cooking competition to Christian and Mom, while Lilith focused her eyes on her phone screen, and I, on the other hand, inspected the peas in my dish.

"Well, you have plenty of time to prepare," Mom responded, and Sawyer agreed.

"This weekend would be more fun. Christian and I decided to take you kids to Bellagio. Who's excited?" Mom's slivery voice affirmed.

"Count me out. I have errands to run," Lilith asserted without so much as a glance.

"What's Bellagio?" Sawyer asked at the same time.

"I'm not doing this with you, Lilith. No one is asking you. It's a command, and everyone is going," Christian admonished.

Lilith placed her phone beside her untouched food and pursed her lips. "Really? Why aren't you telling that to Leigh? Or let me guess? Dear perfect son doesn't want anything to do with you, so he left the house, even though he's not even seventeen yet. Living with you must be exhausting. All of you." Lilith threw the heavy statement, and the table became quiet for a moment before a loud slam followed.

"You should learn to have respect and know how you talk. I am..." Dad's words were cut off.

"What, tired? Exhausted? No, you're not, Dad. You're so happy and enjoying life. Look who's got a new wife? Do I get a new mother? No! That's because wives can be replaced, and mothers cannot."

The harsh, abrupt creak from the chair when Christian shot upright almost gave me a heart attack. "Enough, young lady." Mom was downcast, with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Of course, it's enough. It's been enough since Mom died. Have a great family," Lilith sarcastically bowed to her dad and stomped out of the dining room, leaving everyone quiet, and only our breathing was audible.

Leave, my instincts suggested, and I did the same.

I headed up the staircase to my door when I stopped to stare at the opposite door facing mine. I wished he had come in when he dropped me off earlier. I wished he always came back, just like he used to.

Despairing, I turned to unlock my bedroom door when I heard low sniffs from Lilith's room. It stopped me in my tracks.
I'm mad at her—actually, I hate her, but my whole body turned against me and directed me to her doorknob.

Shoot.

Creaking*

"Hey?" I surreptitiously peeked into her room through the quarter-way open door.

"What do you want?" she croaked.

"Can I come in?" I asked cautiously.

"No, go away. I hate you, remember?" she spat and sniffed.

I ignored her and walked into her neatly arranged room, seating myself opposite her. Although she was lying on her stomach, her face buried in a pillow.

"I'm sorry about what happened." I looked down at my laced fingers.

She snorted. "The snake herself."

Rolling my eyes and huffing with annoyance. "Why do you hate me?"

"Why did you betray me?" she fired back.

I swallowed, knowing I had no answer to that, or at least knowing I couldn't tell her why. "I didn't betray you. I just... I'm sorry."

Lilith raised her head from her hiding place, and her tear-stained face studied me for a while. "Why are you apologizing?" She looked confused.

"You apologize when you've done something wrong."

"You told the truth, that wasn't wrong." Her questioning eyes arched beneath her lashes.

I had no words. Nothing made sense without a good explanation, and for me, explaining would only lead to one path, to Leigh, and that should forever remain a secret. "I'm sorry." I swallowed the ball that rose in my throat and stood up.

"Stop apologizing, irmã," Lilith said.

I swirled and narrowed my eyes at her. "What does that mean?"

"You can guess." She shrugged reluctantly.

"Sister?" I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "In Portuguese. Ava." I emphasized, instantly smiling.

"Oh, cool."

"Truce?" She held out her hand.

"Truce." I replied with a smile and shook her hand.

"Do you want to stay a little while?" She offered.

"Okay."

"Why did you call me today at school?" She folded her legs on her bed.

The memory of the locker room came back to my head. "Long story, never mind." I responded in a quiet tone.

"Do you mean it when you say you're not going to Bellagio?" I asked.

"Just wanted to irritate them, but who could ever turn down a weekend at Bellagio?" She whispered, and we both giggled.

Well, that night Lilith and I resolved whatever was between us, and in some weird way, I felt so much better.

***

"Where on earth is my flask?" I huffed in annoyance as I started my morning by disorganizing the kitchen.

Sawyer sipped her tea, pretending to be lost in a food magazine, which only pissed me off more because we both knew she was intentionally ignoring me.

"Where is my flask?" I crossed my arms over my chest as I halted opposite her, but of course, she didn't respond. "Sawyer?" Ignore. "Sawyer?" Ignore.

Alright, I've had enough, so I violently yanked the magazine away until a slightly torn piece was glued to my fingers.

"What is wrong with you? You just tore my assignment!" She yelled.

"If you tell me where my flask is, you won't have to strain your throat in the early morning," I retaliated just as Christian showed up in a business suit.

"What's happening here?" He questioned.

"She started it," we said in unison, exchanging murderous gazes.

"Who decided to make my life hell?" Mom whined as she stepped into the kitchen. I'm sure she meant the china, spices, and foodstuffs I had scattered in search of my lifesaver.

"I'll give you a hand," I heard Christian offer to Mom, but she declined.

"Mom, Sawyer kidnapped my flask, and she won't give it back," I reported, still not giving up on the staring contest.

"Liar. Aunt Susan, she tore my assignment book. Now I don't know how to practice today's dish," she whined, pretending to be on the verge of tears.

"Sawyer, Ava? I don't even understand the two of you anymore. What's wrong?" Mom asked, exhaustedly taking a seat to study the two of us with skeptical eyes while Christian used the time to clean up my mess.

"She took my flask."

"She tore my magazine."

Mom's eyes narrowed as she asked, "Really?" Just as Lilith's clinking heels alerted us to her arrival from the staircase. She had her backpack over her shoulder, her high-waisted leather trousers clinging to her skin, just like her crop blouse.

"Lilith, breakfast," Mom suggested.

"Nah, gotta go. See you at school, Ava," she waved as she left through the front door, fooling everyone except me, as they all believed Lilith was serving her punishment by walking, while she had her bad girlfriends picking her up around the corner.

I must say, I'm the only one carrying the burden. So much for confessing the truth.

"My flask?"

"Did you take her flask?" Mom's attention returned to Sawyer and me.

"No, auntie, she must've left it somewhere."

"You're going to pay for the magazine, and I don't want any more arguments."

"But, Mom..."

"Enough, Ava. I have patients to treat this morning. You kids have no idea how much rest the body needs. Instead of being grateful to God for another day, no! You start it with bickering," she complained and stood up to find her fiancé almost done clearing. "Told you I would do it."

"It's sixty-five dollars," Sawyer claimed when she faced me.

Christian was smiling at Mom as he began making coffee. Meanwhile, I wanted to strangle the girl smirking at me.

I only had six dollars in my account. I couldn't see myself giving them away.

"Ava, don't you have school?" Mom reminded me.

With an exasperated grunt, I headed to the door for my leave, with no tea or anything to shield me from the outside world.

Here we go.

I arrived at school on time and found Lisa Austen had resumed her usual looks, although she didn't have anything to say or maybe she's preparing something much heavier for me. Whatever it is, I don't care. I am more concerned about Leigh's whereabouts. I even tried texting him, but my brain always talks some sense into my heart, and I always end up shoving the mobile phone into my backpack.

The rest of the week, the tension that used to radiate and make me fear each step I take around the hallways seemed to cool down. Not that Lilith and I hung out together at school, but her friends crucifying me seemed to wear off. Embry had been minding her own business even during cheerleading practice. I wanted to believe it had to do with Lilith and me making peace, but I would be lying if I said she wasn't more concerned about losing her spot on the cheerleading team, so she devoted herself to obeying Sofia Halt, which meant staying away from me.

I haven't seen Leigh since he took me back home on Monday. He was nowhere in sight, not even to get his jacket. It kept me wondering where he is since my body won't lie about missing him, even though I don't want to admit it.

Let's say I admit it. Would it stop the ache in my chest?

***

It was Friday evening, Christian and Mom had come back from work. Although Mom was utterly exhausted, she decided to stay in. Christian and the three of us hurried to get ourselves into Mom's SUV. We were heading to the game, and Christian, who was so eager to leave, had to rush us, so we had to finish getting ready in the car.

The Boyce family and sports go hand in hand. But Christian wanted to find his elusive son more than just for the game. He wanted answers.

By the time we arrived at the school, it was hard to find a parking spot.

Lilith and I hurried to meet the squad, while Christian and Sawyer left to find themselves seats.

"Ken says the girls are in the gym," Lilith told me.

"Alright, you can head over. I'll catch up in a minute." I wanted to check my makeup before facing the girls, at least. Getting ready in a car wasn't something to be proud of for spoiled-rich girls like us in the cheerleading team.

"Hey."

Turning, there he was, in the sexy cheetah football uniform that clung to his skin and made me weak in the knees. "Hey!" I mumbled.

Leigh wrapped his fingers around my wrist and pulled me into an empty classroom, cornering me with his body.

He had that heavenly smile on his face, and his eyes were too bright that I instantly felt nervous and blurted out, "Your dad is here."

"Oh!" He frowned and looked away briefly before regaining his smile.

"He missed you." I quietly said, locking our eyes.

"I missed you." Okay, that caught me off guard, and I'm sure my cheeks turned red, so I gnawed my lips and looked at the alphabets on his shirt.

"Did the school design this outfit just waiting for a British fifteen-year-old brunette to come rock it? Because no one ever slayed the cheerleading dress the way you did." His voice was slow and deep. Shoot... It gave me a billion and one emotions that I couldn't explain.

"I don't know about that." I peeked a glance and saw him grinning. Then again, I couldn't take my eyes off of the god-like creature.

"That's because you can't see your reflection." His expression became my mirror, and I saw the lust and longing in his eyes as he swallowed.

"Thank you." I mumbled shyly.

He shook his head. "Don't thank me for being beautiful."

Okay, I can't take the compliments anymore, or else I am going to attack those red lips attracting mine. The best choice I have is to change the subject. "You're playing tonight. You must have improved your grade. I'm sure you aced the makeup test."

"I'm playing tonight." He slowly repeated and looked away from me. If I'm right, I think I saw a sudden change of emotion in his face.

"Will you come home today?" I pushed further, trying my luck.

"Do you want me to?" His deep green eyes found mine once more, and they looked hopeful.

That's when I said what I felt inside. "Yes."

"Would you let me sleep with you in your bed?"

"Yes." I breathed softly without disconnecting our locked eyes.

"Will you let me hold you?"

Swallowing, I nodded. "Yes."

I missed Leigh, and right now, I'd give anything to have him back. I wanted him more than anything else. I needed him to sneak into my bedroom and hold me in his arms until sunrise.

***

After minutes of cheering and floating in the air, the game was about to start when my bladder decided it needed to be relieved. So, I made an excuse to Sofia and ran off to the bathroom.

Or more accurately, let's say I went to rip my soul apart, for what I saw was the opposite of heartbreak—it was life termination.

I became frozen, even though inside me, I wanted to do something. Maybe run? Call someone? Or even barge into the door and stop the illicit scene. But then again, whatever I was witnessing wasn't something that needed rescuing, for both parties were enjoying it.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't cry. I was just numb. I felt pain from the torture, an ache from the wound, and bruising from defeat.

How can life possibly hurt this bad?

I watched the boy who had just promised to hold me tonight, the boy I thought I could have again. I watched Leigh screwing the female teacher from the other day.