I mentally facepalm for not recognizing Jay's number. Surely, he would not have called for asking me about what happened. It's more likely that he already knows. If all these years with him has taught me something, it's this. He will know something if he wants to.

Still hesitating, I hear him reply.

"Hey! So.. I know about," he pauses, and I feel my heart skip a beat.  I press the phone closer to my ear.

"Alma and you. Seriously, Eline?! She treated you like trash and you still didn't care to tell us?!" I distance my ear from his yelling voice.

"She actually grasped your arm, that hard! You do know that it is low key bullying, right?" I blink, as though realizing what he just said. And to say, it's actually kind of true. That is sort of bullying. And I know that if someone messes up with her, she will make sure to bully you on a daily basis.

"I know Jay. I tried to avoid them. But she somehow decided to attack me. I still don't know what's her problem," I say knowing full well that it's no use lying to him. he might've heard it from Kayla anyway. Does that mean that someone videotaped the whole incident...?

My head begins to feel a bit dizzy. I want to ask him that question so bad. But I am too scared to know the truth. I decide to shut up.

"God , I am so furious right now. Alma wont know what's coming for her,"  He screams through he phone, making me panic as he cuts the phone. I have always known him as a hot headed person. But he has never decided to act on his anger. But he has done it now. Why is he getting so worked up? A part of me tells me he there is something deep than my issue. After all they seemed to know the popular kids, how hard they try to cover it up. Am I just an excuse now?

My mind screams at me. Telling me that it's only Alma. Others are innocent. But I can't do anything. I don't even trust a single person here. Anyway, I don't really care about any of them.  It's not my bother anyway right?

If only I could convince myself so easily.

I plop back on my bed, bouncing slightly. I stare empty at the glowing stars I had stuck long back on the ceiling. I hold back a smile.

Max had bought it for my eighth birthday. I remember telling him that I will stick it when it's the right time to. When I get a room of my own. I remember him crying, telling Ma and Pa that he will never leave me . Even if it's just a room. We used to sleep on the decker bed, eating the small candies that he had stolen when I used to tell him not to.

"It's fine, Eline! Loosen up!" he used to say, shooting me a warm smile. We would not even remember when we slept, we will be staying late up talking and talking.

Now, our rooms are separated by a thick wall, our hearts by our ego, our late night talks by restless studious nights.  I feel tears again pricking my eyes. A lump forms in my throat.

Does he worry like I do?

Does he still miss me like I do?

I doubt it. Or he never would've  walked away from me. He would've never changed schools. He would not have done any of this if he missed me. Yet he does.

And thinking just about this, I find myself unconsciously crying in a curled up place.

#####

I want to run from this place. Gone are my achievements. If the teachers even knew that I am involved in this, I would immediately be looked down on. My heart races fastly, all my nightmares coming true.

A dark red spot forms on Aaron's face. He presses his hand against his cheek, his once innocent eyes filled with hatred that gives me creeps all over. He lunges back at Jayden, who being shorter than his height is quick to move under his arm.

"Jayden, you messed up big time,"  he seethes again, not noticing Jayden's other flying punch, straight to his stomach.

"Say that to yourself, bully boy. Bully Boy. How does that sound, kiddo?" Jay laughs, psychotically, trying to push away Aaron. I try not to cringe at the nickname he used.  Jayden's skin is patched up with red swells all over. I could see Nora frantically pulling back Aaron. Kayla and Avi stand besides me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Alma shooting me death glares. Her hands tucked slouchingly in her hoodie pockets. I awkwardly shift my gaze.

"I am so gonna record this!" Kayla says, clasping her hands and pulling out her phone.

Okay, wait a second.

I already feel bad that this overly typical fight is about me and that I am doing nothing to help the situation. But Kayla?

"Come on, Kayla! Can't you at least stay still, call teachers or something?" I shake my head at her , a bit disgusted.

"You got to record drama when you see it." A sly smile forms in her lips. Sometimes, I feel like she might be the perfect evil sidekick of Lora.

I roll my eyes, trying to take a step forward but instantly freeze as I catch Aaron's gaze.

"Eline."

I feel my air supply cutting off. His eyes speak everything. A mixture of emotions. Hatred, confusion, worry?

I take a breath as I hear the high pitched voice of Ms. Preeti.

"Boys, stop this right now!" she screams, immediately witnessing both boys untangling from their fight. She shoots a sharp look at us, motioning us to go back to our classes. The bell rings, as though agreeing.

"Come to my room, right now. If this should not reach the principal, hurry up. " I feel my stomach twisting in guilt.

Not wanting to even meet their eyes, I walk off slowly.

"You too, Eline."

Ah, yes. There goes my reputation. I have never been called to a teacher's room except for some appreciation. I want to badly strangle Jayden even if he had done all this for me.

Gritting my teeth and lowering head in shame, I follow her and the other boys, staying some steps behind. It's good that she had sent the other students away. It would've just made my embarrassment public.

Aaron shouldn't have tried to talk when I had told him not to. The moment I stepped in the school, he decided to talk to me about what Alma did. I then understood that Alma might've either blurted it out or someone must have told this.

I had no idea that it was Jayden..

And I had no idea that he actually threatened Aaron and his group to not speak to me anymore.

But Aaron does not give up that easily. I realized that he took it as a challenge more than anything else and hence remained stubborn in speaking to me. We were already causing a scene. But that just worsened when Jayden interrupted by arguing and then meeting his fist with Aaron's face.

Not to forget, Alma's death stares.

I walk slowly, not even realizing that we reached a classroom before she alerted us. Swallowing spit, I head in, grumbling softly. She takes her seat in front of the whiteboard, motioning us to sit on the chairs opposite her. She takes a slight sip from her coffee cup and dabs her pink lips with a tissue. She adjusts the specs on her dark rich skin and observes us.

After hesitating, I take a seat between both the boys, not wanting both of them to be within any distance.

"Miss Pre-"  I am interrupted by her stern voice.

"I already know what happened, Eline," she says, shutting me off.  She spares a quick glance at both the guys before it lands on me.

"Still bother to explain why you, of all people have been involved?"

I gulp.

"I- This- I am sorry miss. I didn't purposely fall into this situation. It started with something silly and ended in this disastrous event. I feel extremely bad for being even slightly involved in this immature case," I say, trying to sound as serious as possible. Aaron slightly widens his eyes at me. I ignore his stare. It's his dumb friend's  fault for getting involved in this.

"Started with something silly? And what is that?" she asks, slightly interested in the matter at hand. I lower my gaze under her calculative eyes and bite my lip. I feel Aaron shifting uncomfortably in his seat. This is my chance. If I call Alma out, all of this can be solved.

But she might bully you. This will just make the whole thing worse.

I mentally conflict, finding both right and wrong.

I might call her out but she won't stop. If I save her this time, she might be a bit soft on me. I can even use my topper card.

I slowly mutter,  forcing the lies out.  I hate lying . I hate lying especially for her.  After all she did,  she deserves punishment.  But I know its effects. I know it very well. 

"Alma bothered me for doing her project work, I rejected and this caused both of them to fight. Jayden was mad at Alma for using a person just like that. Aaron was frustrated because..." I stutter,  wondering how I managed to lie this far.  Jayden slightly kicks me,  indicating his fury.  I press his palm,  telling him that I know what to do.  His green eyes hesitate before they fall back on the teacher's face.

"I am her friend and it annoyed that a nerd like her wouldn't bother to do work," Aaron finishes.

Expected.

It's Alma. He would've surely rescued her somehow. I roll my eyes slightly. But I can help but think that if that's what they actually had thought of me.  A nerd. Is that all there is to my identity?

The teacher slightly leans front, narrowing her eyes at all of us.

"What do you say, Jayden?"

Jayden meets her eyes, immediately looking away.

"It's true miss. It won't happen again," he says, tapping his feet nervously. A snarl forms on her face.

"Don't use such words. She is the best our school has got. And you decide to use her for works?" She narrows her eyes at Aaron, who slouches back, slightly bored. A small part of me lighten up,  knowing that she somehow decided to stand up for me.

"And you decide to fight for that? That's sweet and all, but this is school. We have strict rules here. We expect all our students to be like Eline. That's exactly why I was slightly surprised to see you involved,"  she says, slightly parting her lips. Her eyes scan me.

"I would let you people go away this time. But I have some work pending here... So, detention for both of you.  Eline, keep your distance from such students," She says, not looking at us but typing rapidly on her laptop. My heart skips a beat as she doesn't ask me to stay for detention.  I might probably leave the country if she did.  I still keep replaying all that happened in my head.  Aaron decided to speak to me just to prove Jay that he doesn't follow his rules.  How messed up I'd that?  Am I just some sort of toy for them to play with? Thought s run wildly in my head before I am interrupted by her curious state.

I immediately look at her and mutter a thank you,  not bothering about the other two teens as I leave the room.  As much as my heart is racing so bad,  I still blame myself for this.  Is should've never crossed paths with Emma.  If it was not for my clumsiness,  none of this would have happened.  Jayden would now be more pissed at me.  He tried to help me after all.  But here I am causing all of us trouble.

I shake my head,  my breaths coming off short and wobbly.  I would hate myself forever if something happens to our friendship.