Song: Down by Blink-182. It doesn't go at all with this chapter and would probably be more fitting later in the book. But it's sooooo goooood. And I love it! So listen! Because Blink-182.

The rest of the day was torture. It was like I'd been sucked into a teen drama. Every time I entered a room, everyone would quiet down, turn to stare at me and mutter to each other. It was humiliating. Aimee had definitely been true to her word.

When the final bell rang, I was out of my seat and through the classroom door in record time. Never had I attempted to get anywhere faster. I didn't linger at my locker any longer than I needed to. But just as I was rushing towards my car, a hand grabbed my arm, effectively bringing me to a standstill.

I spun around and let out a gust of air. "Elise!"

She looked at my utterly exhausted expression and just pulled me into her arms. I sighed and buried my head in her shoulder.

"Come on," she said. "Your car is still standing where you left it yesterday."

I cringed. "Oops."

"Oops, indeed," she pursed her lips. "Delilah, will you please tell me what the fuck is going on?"

I sighed deeply and began making my way towards my car, beckoning for Elise to follow. She fell into step beside me. "Can I drive us to yours?" I asked.

"Sure," she said, linking her arm with mine. "My dad dropped me off on the way to work this morning anway."

We reached my car and I hit the unlock button on my key. Just as I was about to get in, I looked up towards the school. My gaze connected with a pair of familiar blue eyes. Wesley was staring at me from across the parking lot, hands stuffed in his pockets.

Paralyzed, I could only watch as he began to move towards me. Suddenly, Aimee emerged from the school doors. As she sashayed towards Wesley the spell between us was broken. I shook my head and slid into the he driver's seat.

Elise looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Okay. You and Wesley just stared at each other for a good fifteen seconds. What the freak is going on, already?!"

I turned the key in the ignition and began driving towards the exit. Before leaving the parking lot, I glanced at my rearview mirror one more time. Wesley's face was expressionless as he listened to what Aimee was saying. Just as I was about to turn away, he looked towards my car, his expression turning to one of regret.

Nope. I was definitely not going to allow myself to ponder that. I turned my attention back to Elise. "Where do I begin?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I told Elise everything that had happened since the cafeteria incident, choosing to leave out my previous panic attacks and what caused them.

Elise's reactions throughout the entire story were pretty comical. Why don't I show you?

Me: I...um...well....I collapsed into his arms.

Elise: awww!

Me: and then *clears throat awkwardly* he carried me--

Elise: *squeals*

Me: --out of the cafeteria. I fell asleep and woke up in his bed.

Elise: *screams*

I'm not shitting you. She screamed. In fact, it was a miracle I kept the car from swerving.

Elise: his bed?! You've been in Wesley's house?!

Me: *shifts back and for uncomfortably* yes?

I had to give her a moment at this point to regain her composure. She took deep breaths and then turned to me. "Okay, continue. I can do this without dying."

"Alright," I said, turning to look at her warily. I took a breath before continuing. "So he woke me up this morning."

Elise's head snapped in my direction.

"Okay! No! I slept on the couch! Calm the fuck down."

She nodded. "Good. We don't need any more Wesleys running around."

"Elise! Seriously? Why would you say such things?!"

We rolled up to the gate of the Rosenquist property. "Hey, Rodger," Elise and I called in unison.

"Hello Miss Rosenquist," Rodger the guard said to Elise. "Miss Lovegood," he nodded to me. Then he gestured for us to go through the gate he'd opened by the press of a button. He tipped his hat (I know) and bid us farewell.

"Bye, Rodger," Elise and I called together as we drove through the gate.

As soon as I'd rolled up my windows, Elise turned to me expectantly.

I rolled my eyes, but continue my story. "So he woke me up and rushed me out of the house because we were late."

"That's his, isn't it?" Elise interrupted me, pointing at the sweater I was current.

"Yes?"

Cue the squeal.

"Okay, Elise. It's a cool sweater and I'm going to wear it purely for that reason... Alright, maybe I don't want to give it back to him out of spite. But that is absolutely it. I don't know what kind of fairytale story you're imagining in your head right now, but wait until you hear what happened today."

That effectively shut her up.

"Downside one: we listened to Bon Jovi in his car and Livin' on a Prayer is still stuck in my head. Then, the 30-something-year-old secretary hardcore flirted with him. Ew."

"Jealous!" Elise sang.

I let out an annoyed huff, but couldn't stop myself from laughing. I had no idea how Elise was able to make everything seem okay in any situation. But she could and I was extremely grateful.

"Whatever you say," I replied, deciding to drop it. "Anyway, we parted ways and I got to history class. Speaking of which, you don't still feel the need to kill me, do you?" I asked anxiously.

"No comment. Now get on with it."

"Later, I wanted to talk to him in the hall, but he was all cold and poopy--"

Elise snorted at my choice of words.

"--so I told him I wanted to talk to the actual Wesley to which he said that I don't even know him, he just helped me out, we're not friends. I got mad and told him that he was exactly like I'd though he was. Then I walked to the band room."

"That's harsh. What a booty head."

It was my turn to laugh at her words.

"But it doesn't end there. This is where it gets a little violent," I told Elise. She raised an eyebrow at me.

I parked the car in front of her "house" and we began walking inside.

"So there was this group of kids talking in the band hallway. They were discussing me." I stopped short, chewing on the inside of my cheek. This part was extremely embarrassing. I still didn't know what had possessed me to act so rash and violent.

"Well?" Elise asked. She turned to look at me. "Delilah. Come on, you don't need to be embarrassed about anything. I'm Elise. You've embarrassed yourself plenty in front of me."

"Thanks for the confidence booster," I muttered as Elise pushed the large oak door open. We greeted Frau Cambeis, who offered to make us a snack which we accepted all too eagerly.

When we got to Elise's room, I tossed all my stuff into a random direction and threw myself ungracefully onto her bed.

"Please, make yourself comfortable," Elise joked.

I stuck my tongue out at her. "So, these kids were talking about me. And I was already extremely pissed. Anyway, this girl was informing her gang that I'd had a panic attack and then this punk-looking dude told them that I was probably just doing it for attention."

"He didn't!" Elise gasped.

"He did," I sighed.

"So....?"

"Well, I tackled him and punched him repeatedly in the face."

Elise stared at me dumbfounded.

"And then someone pulled me off him. It was Wesley."

"Plot twist!" Elise cried.

"This whole thing is one giant plot twist, Elise."

"Stop stalling!"

"Fine. I slapped Wesley and he tried explaining himself but his arguments were really bad. Like 'it's not like that,' and 'I'm sorry.' So I left him there."

"Wow. Remind me to never get on your bad side, Lilah," Elise said softly.

"I will," I promised. "Aimee is the reason people all have these crazy ideas about what happened. She's been spreading false rumors, as you probably know."

"Yeah." Elise rubbed my shoulder. "Don't worry, Lilah. People will calm down. Aimee will get over it. Things'll be back to normal in no time."

"I hope you're right."

"Now, explain to me why you're having panic attacks in the first place," Elise said, pulling her fluffy comforter over our bodies.

Damn, I thought. I almost made it.

"Well... My first one was the day of the fight."

Not a lie. Mental self five.

Thankfully, Elise dropped it. My secret was safe once more.

"I'm gonna have to go home today," I sighed after we'd eaten all of the cookies Frau Cambeis had made for us.

"Okay," Elise looked at me searchingly. "You'd tell me if something else was bothering you, right?"

"Of course," I lied.

"Good," she nodded approvingly. "I'm here. Okay?"

"I know. Thank you," I said, pulling Elise into a tight hug.

"You don't need to thank me."

I grimaced into Elise's shoulder. Lying to her was going to be extremely difficult.