"Oh come on he's not that bad at dating" I argued back Aubree giving me a pointed look. It was a lunch time as we sat in our normal spot just above the oval where a big tree sits. We love sitting here because of the shade the tree offers during the summertime. And it's also a cool hang out area.

She gave me a pointed look. "If it wasn't for his good looks I would've ran out immediately"

I sat down next to Trent as I looked at what he was eating. "Seriously what's with you and egg rolls" I recalled the lunch that Trent keeps eating.

A few words to describe Trent is loud and outgoing. He loves to talk and is the positive guy in our group. Whenever your down he's your go to guy. It's especially helpful when there's an awkward situation as he'll just jump in.

In the middle of a mouthful he spoke. "It taste good" I managed to hear as I gave him a disgusted look. He smiled, putting all of the food in his mouth on display, I gave him a small playful glare as I knew he was doing it on purpose 

Spencer sat done in front of me looking quite stressed.

"What is it?" Aubree asked her knowing there's something on her mind.

Spencer is a perfectionist. She needs everything to be perfect and tries her hardest to be perfect. She takes on almost every committee at high school and on top of that does cheerleading. Most people hate people like Spencer because apparently they complain too much yet and are obsessive freaks, but I love hanging around Spencer. She may be annoying at times but then you get to know the real her.

"The formal is gonna be a disaster. The dj just butted out as he had something else to do. Like what's more important than our formal? A formal without music is a disaster and a formal is the the most important day for all highschool students, it's all ruined now" she bursted out as her sadness overwhelmed her.

Spencer had been working so hard on this formal, it was her life mission at the moment.

"I'm sure everything will work out" Trent told her rubbing her back with his hand in a comforting way.

This didn't make anything better for Spencer.

My line of sight spotted Matt as he sat down next to Spencer with a charming smile. 

I immediately looked down as I finished my lunch.

Matt is perfect. That's just it, he's just perfect. He's kind, caring and funny and it's hard to spot his negative assets. When we broke up I didn't know what to feel other than a pang of guilt. He didn't do anything wrong and I just broke up with him. Matt may seem perfect but his family is the opposite. His father is a drug addict and abused his mom. I was always there for him in those times. Their father left them so his mother started getting drunk on daily basis as Matt took care of his little brother. 

"Doesn't your uncle know someone?" I asked Aubree.

She nodded. "Yeah, my uncle knows this apparently famous DJ and he kinda owes us a favour, I'm sure he'd do it"

Spencer sighed in relief and gave her a huge smile. "Thank you so much, your a life saver!" She crashed Aubree with a hug.

The bell rang as Trent and Spencer stood up and left. All that was left was Aubree. "See you after school" she said to me.

I nodded as the dread started to fill me. It's just Matt and I. We've never actually been alone together since the break up, I've been avoiding him. I didn't know what to say to him.

I stood up brushing my legs as I made my way to leave yet his voice stopped me.

"Wait Hazel" his voice was urgent.

I waited as I turned around to face him acting normal "Yeah?"

"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked frowning.

I suddenly felt bad. No, I can't feel bad, I let him go for the right reasons.

I ran my hand through my hair frustrated at myself. "I can't do this Matt"

"Do what?" He asked. "Did I do something wrong?" He asked as guilt started to creep into his voice.

I willed myself to not look into his eyes but I couldn't help myself. "No you did nothing wrong, you've been perfect the whole time" I immediately replied.

"Then what is it?"

I knew I had to tell him, I couldn't hold it in any longer. "I don't want to do this Matt" I started as I tried blocking out the emotions as I knew I'd break down. "I can't look at you anymore without feeling guilty. I'm scared that if I spend more time with you, I'll be stringing you along and I want you to move on Matt. I won't feel at peace until I know your not into me" I truthfully spoke. I could feel Matt staring at me yet I tried looked everywhere but him.

There was a long pause and frankly, for some reason I didn't want a reply. Matt's too nice and he'll start to feel bad, which is definitely something I don't want.

"I like you Hazel" he started.

I cut in. "And that's the problem Matt. I want you to move on because I don't know how much longer it will take until I'm ready to date. And I don't want you to wait for me because I want you to be happy" I tried explaining.

"Look, I get what your going through, and it will take some time for me to move on. But I will be devastated if I lose you as a friend because of this" He replied in an honest tone.

"Is there any way we can try and be friends?" He asked hopeful.

I stood there taking in his question. I wanted to say yes, yet I knew it would be wrong. For some reason telling him all this gave me closure, something I needed. 

I know being friends is fine, except it shows the risk of him not moving on. Which means it will be difficult for Matt. But why would he put himself in such a difficult situation just to be friends with me?

"Why do you want to do this to yourself?" I asked shaking my head.

He glanced away showing a sense of pain. "Who was there for me when my mother would get drunk on daily basis? Who was there for me when my father left? Who was there to help me take care of my own brother? And who was there to talk some sense into my mother when she needed it the most? You gave her a wake up call and if it wasn't for you my mother wouldn't have gotten a job and stopped drinking. I need you in my life Hazel, and if it's as a friend then I'm happy with that" he repeated the events.  I knew it was hard for him to say as he hated the truth that his family was broken.

I stared at the ground speechless. He thought he owed me for something I did. I did it out of the kindness and because Matt deserved better. I did it as Matt didn't deserve such poor disrespect from his own parents. It just wasn't fair.

"I guess we could try" I stated unsurely.

"And a Matt-less life sure is dull" I replied.

He smiled in relief as he hooked his arm around my shoulder as we started walking back.

"I did miss our daily smoothie catch up" Matt stated.

I laughed at this. "That's because I pay for it every time"

××

"I need a distraction" I stated as Aubree agreed.

"Well you've come to the right person. Do you want to go to a party? Go for a holiday? Maybe oversees?" She asked rather excited as I gave her a pointed look.

"What about school?" I asked as her eyes deflated.

"Oh right, we do school" she understood.

I stretched down further as we warmed up our muscles.

Our cheerleading is finishing up next to the oval where the guys team had rugby training.

I wasn't a big fan of our cheerleading outfits but I didn't mind it.

Our captain Riley picked it and told us to deal with it. What a great captain she is.

Speaking of her, our whole team is cooling down whilst she's nowhere in sight.

Emily stood near us trying to call her yet by the frustrated look she had, I could tell she was having no success.

"Hey Em, where's Riley?" I asked.

Emily might be in the popular group and be one of Riley's minions but has to be one of the kindest I've ever met. I have one of my subjects with her so I sit with her, she doesn't judge nor think she's superior to us. 

She sighed as she ran her hair through her hair. "I have no idea, I can't seem to get a hold of her" she replied.

She seemed cautious and gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about you and Matt"

It happened recently so I knew I had to prepare myself for the inevitable.

I waved her off. "Its fine"

Riley came into view walking towards her. Her eyes looked slightly puffy and her make up had been carelessly applied.

"If you need anyone to talk to, I'm always here" Emily yelled over her shoulder as she walked to Riley.

"And the princess has arrived" Aubree introduced Riley as we tried to read out what they were saying.

They were having an argument and by the looks of Riley seemed to get angrier and angrier every minute.

Emily turned to us. "Girls, practice is over" she said as she walked with Riley the other way.

"What was that all about?" I asked clueless.

"I have no idea" Aubree replied.

All of our phones suddenly beeped. It was a message coming from Bec.

Seems all is not right for our favourite couple. Our star quarterback Grayson has been dumped  and Riley seems to be right in this scenario. Ladies, Grayson is officially back on the market but be careful, he was dumped for a reason. - B

I was confused. I was going to tell Grayson to try and end things with Riley because he can't be a double agent yet it seems as though she beat him to it. Although it was weird considering Riley has been infatuated with Grayson.

"That's weird" Aubree frowned as she reread it.

I agreed as I walked over to the bench and gulped some water feeling the cool water hit my mouth.

Aubree grabbed her backpack and waved a bye at me and left as the rest of the girls followed suit.

I hooked my bag around my shoulder and walked up to coach Stef who stood  there with a frown as be stared at the guys play football. You could tell Mason had the running legs as he sprinted to tackle the opponent. As soon as he grabbed the ball he threw it to Grayson. Grayson on the other hand had the running legs and the strong built as he knocked out every guy who stands in his way and makes a touchdown.

"How's the game coach?" I asked.

After every cheerleading game I'd always talk to him just talk to him to check on the guys.

He sounded frustrated.  "Not great. They have a game on Friday and it's not looking good. They have to PICK UP THE SLACK" he yelled out the last bit to the guys as most of them groaned. They all looked tired and worn out.

"Do you reckon I'd be better than some of them?" I asked although I knew the answer. I had asked him many times and he's always ask the same question. I just like to boost my ego.

"You'd even be better than your brother" he said knowing Mason could hear us. Coach liked to fuel his players especially Mason with our sibling rivalry.

"I can hear you" he glared at us as he panted from running.

"Round it up, go hit the showers" he yelled out to them as they sighed in relief.

Mason walked straight past me as I yelled out to him. We always went home straight after as I hated waiting, yet Mason sometimes seem to slip away and shower, taking way too long.

"I'll be quick, I swear" he turned around and yelled out as he walked straight to the change rooms.

"Quick my ass" I mumbled under my breath as I saw Grayson heading towards his bag.

I quickly ran up to him and walked in front of him backwards. What can I say I'm talented.

"I heard the rumor, is it true?" I asked keeping in mind that half of the stuff Bec posts is just rumors, sometimes random people making up lies but they're always believable.

"Is what true?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my phone and showed it to him. "Don't act dumb"

His eyes scanned my phone and a look of anger and frustration cross his features. "It's a lie"

I frowned. "So you didn't break up?" I asked.

"No we did"

"Ok now I'm confused" I stated.

He looked in my eyes with a look of annoyance. "I broke up with her and she didn't like the fact that I did so she turned the whole story around. This way she looks like the victim and I look like the villain" He walked straight past me not waiting for a reply.

The only thought  running in my head: this whole thing is turning straight into a real life gossip girl.

××

As promised another update. So what are your thoughts on this chapter? Hazel's history with Matt, seems as though there was another motive for their break up, as though there's more to her story. And Riley and Grayson, status really does make people do awful things.

Another chap coming soon.

Remember to comment and vote xx

- Ash.