[ 38 ] 2013

-

"I decided that I will help you. I want Harley for myself and I'll do anything to have her."

-

Luke found his sister outside of school grounds. She was in the parking lot, waiting by Luke's car. Cindy Hemmings often had permission to miss cheerleading practice because of her mandatory tutoring she had with Billy Quinn. Billy also had the same permission from his extracurricular activities, and he was involved in many of them. He was on the basketball team, as well as the gridiron team, and cross country. Billy Quinn was an all-star athlete, with outstanding grades, while his younger sister could manage only average grades.

When Cindy saw her brother, she reached into her book bag and got out a flyer she had picked up off the floor. The moment he was close enough, she pushed the sheet of paper in his face.

"What is this, Luke?" She asked.

"Hazel's just bitter." The boy with blonde hair shrugged his shoulders.

Crumbling the flyer into a ball, she stuffed it into her book bag again. "This is what you get when you play with girls' feelings. Remember Kylie killed herself because of you?" She said the last question in a whisper.

He shook his head. "Kylie did that on her own. I didn't force her."

"She was my best friend." Cindy reminded him. "And she adored you."

Luke groaned, looking up to the sky. "Don't tell me you're going to take their side now, Cin. I don't have mum and dad's support, I can't do without yours."

Cindy's expression didn't soften. She knew her brother well. When he wanted something, he didn't care if he had to play with people's emotions to get it. "I'm not taking anyone's side, and you know well that I always support you. But I can't just applaud you when you do something wrong."

Her brother thought about it. This was the perfect time to drive a wedge between Cindy and Billy. "Oh, you mean like your boyfriend Billy?" He raised an eyebrow at his sister.

"What does Billy have to do with any of this?" She eyed him, confused.

"You're talking about people who do wrong." Luke argued. "And I just found out that your boyfriend is seeing someone else behind your back."

In that moment, it was as if he could see Cindy's heart break at the news he had given her. And he felt bad for hurting his sister, but his desire for hurting Billy Quinn was bigger. Billy was Luke's best friend and he felt like he was being betrayed. 

"Who is it?" Cindy said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Phoenix." Luke said matter-of -factly. "You know how much she likes attention. She wanted to have the two most popular guys at St. Genevieve's fighting over her."

Pulling her book bag off and throwing it to the ground angrily, Cindy told her brother, "Well, lets see how she likes stealing boyfriends after I yank all her hair out." Her blue eyes were now darkened with anger and she pushed the sleeves of her red blazer up to her elbows. Cindy Hemmings had never actually physically fought someone, but her anger was so much that she was determined to end Phoebe Nixon.

She stormed off towards the entrance of the school in search of her target. Her brother Luke went after, trying to stop her. 

Cindy only stopped when she ran into Billy Quinn.

"Hey babe." Billy smiled at his girlfriend.

"Billy Quinn!" She barked.

And he was taken aback by her change in attitude. Cindy Hemmings was normally a sweet girl, and nice to everyone. He knew he was clearly in trouble due to the angered glares she was shooting at him.

"Yes?" His eyebrow knitted in confusion. Behind her stood Luke, watching everything unfold.

"I heard what you've been doing." She told him.

"What have I been doing?" He asked, confused. He had no idea what she was talking about.

"Don't play stupid!" She yelled at him.

"I'm not." He argued.

"You," She pointed her index finger at him, "You have been cheating on me with Phoenix and you though I was never going to find out. Well, I may not be very bright academically, but I'm not totally stupid."

Luke shook his head at the boy he once thought of as his best friend, feigning disappointment. "How could you, Billy? My sister loves you."

"Whoever told you that is lying!" He swore. "I haven't even talked to Phoenix since she arrived in Sydney."

"But she's staying at your house." Cindy pointed out.

"Because she's Harley's friend." Billy reminded her.

"How do I know that's true?" The blonde haired girl challenged. "How do I know that's not a cover up to hide the fact that she's your secret girlfriend?" To her, it made sense that Harley would be involved, keeping her brother's secret. Sure Cindy and Harley were friends, but Billy was her brother and Phoenix was her best friend.

"Because I have no secret girlfriend!" Her boyfriend snapped. 

"Well now you don't even have an un-secret girlfriend." Cindy said to him with a glare before she turned and left with her brother Luke, leaving Billy there, confused.

-

Billy Quinn was left to walk back to his house. Cindy and Luke normally gave him a ride home, but since he no longer had a girlfriend, he also no longer had a ride home. The first was worse than the second. 

He walked up the path that led up to the house.

On the front porch was Phoebe Nixon, reading the desperate texts she was receiving from Luke Hemmings. She surmised that he had a problem. He had an almost insane obsession with new girls that joined St. Genevieve's. And he would never rest until he had Phoenix, just as he had gotten Hazel and Kylie. 

Setting her phone down on the small table next to the chair she was sitting at, a smile formed on her lips when she saw Harley's brother. "Hey Billy." She called.

Phoenix had nothing else to do. Mr. Quinn, Harley and Billy's dad was away at work, Mrs. Quinn had gone out to get some groceries, and Harley was a few houses down with Calum, they were visiting Hazel. Harley wanted to make sure she was okay. She had asked Phoenix to stay at home because she had done enough damage to Hazel and they were all afraid Hazel could try to harm her.

"Hey Phoebe." Billy barely waved at her.

"What's wrong?" She immediately noticed he was in a bad mood.

He sighed and went to sit at the chair across from her. Maybe talking it out with someone would make him feel better. "Cindy broke up with me because someone told her I was dating you behind her back."

Phoenix froze. 

She knew that was Luke's doing because he was the only one who knew she was in love with Billy Quinn. Only Luke and Harley, but Harley had no motive to sabotage Cindy and Billy.

"I'm so sorry." Phoenix frowned.

She never meant to cause him any problems.

Reaching across the small table between them, she set her hand on his knee, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "If you need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to talk to me." She shot him a half smile.

He placed his hand on top of hers and replied with a nod, "Thanks Phoebe."

A few feet off, a pink mini cooper had just pulled up in front of his house. From it emerged Cindy Hemmings, now more calm, and she was willing to listen to her boyfriend. She hadn't given him a chance to explain back when they were at school. But when she saw the two of them on the porch, seemingly holding hands, she let out a gasp.

"I caught you in the act." She yelled, getting the attention of Billy and Phoenix, who both pulled their hands away.

Billy shot up from his chair, hurrying to Cindy's side. "Its really not what it looks like." He told her.

"I don't want to hear it." Cindy shook her head.

She rushed back to her car and climbed in, driving down the street.

Billy went into the house without saying another word. Phoenix stayed outside, feeling horrible about Billy and Cindy's break up, as well as Luke and Hazel's break up because she knew both had been her fault.

-

The very next day, Harley went to school with Calum. And since Cindy didn't show up to pick him up in the morning, Billy was allowed to take the family car. Harley had offered Billy to get a ride with them, but he refused. He didn't want to be the third wheel on the ride to school when he knew well that Calum liked Harley. He wasn't all that thrilled about it, but it was her choice after all.

Niall and Andrea finally showed up after several days. 

They had been at their new home, putting their things away and refurnishing the entire home for their house warming party. They did it so that Calum wouldn't have painful memories brought back if he were to decide to attend their party.

The two blonde shifters were giving out invitations throughout the day. The students of St. Genevieve's were reluctant at first. They all knew people had died in that house.

But Niall and Andrea convinced everyone that it would be fun. It was a costume party and everyone would be able to dress up however they wanted to.

And after several days, Ashton was finally able to gather the courage to tell the lie. He showed up at Calum's house during school hours and called for Claire. He knew he needed to make himself seem like he was hiding from the teens because he was going to be helping Claire with her plans.

She appeared in a moment, a smile on her face. "Have you thought about my offer?" She immediate asked. Claire was happy to see him because she knew it meant something positive for her.

Ashton could never resist her, or so she thought.

"I did." He nodded in regards to her question, and took a short breath before continuing. "And...I decided that I will help you. I want Harley for myself and I'll do anything to have her."

Though his words sounded so out of character in that moment, Claire didn't seem to notice.

She was too happy to notice because she thought she would be getting what she wanted.

-

so ashton's finally back in the loop. i know we haven't seen much of harley and calum either, but we will soon. so thank you all loads for reading. it really means a lot. and i know i updated rather fast this time, but its because i planned out each chapter from here to the end of the story. and i came to the realization that there might be a need for a third book. which, after thinking a lot about it, i thought should be named 'mortalis'. and the blurb will be posted when this book is near its end. im already working on the cover and everything.

im very excited for it.

so yeah. question of the day: who is your best wattpad friend? i have many (im so popular, lol jk). i wish i could tag every single one of you bc ur all fab, but i dont know ur usernames. but yeah. my top two are prob brandy and ellie ^.^ i dont know how to tag ppl on here. we talk all the time, especially brandy and i.

and just, tell me anything in the comments section! lets socialize!

i feel like i haven't been very social with you all on here.

oooh, and one last thing, guess the song with just this one line: "you know that you're dreaming about being loved by him. too bad your chances are slim." (they were two lines actually).

first five people to get it, will get chapter dedications ^.^

i love youuu.

-clary xx