It has been a day since I stopped speaking or at the least, look at the popular kids plus Jayden. Kayla and Avi still speak with me but with Jay, it's a different story.

I don't even know what sort of a character Aaron is. Competitive, maybe. Stubborn?

Very stubborn.

I squint my eyes further at the miniature texts on the book, trying to give him a sign that I am busy. He doesn't get it.

Ouch.

I rub my arm and bend down to pick up the crushed paper ball now besides the leg of the table. I straighten it surreptitiously under my desk but immediately pause. If I look at whatever message he has written he might think I am ready to converse finally. I won't let that happen. Sighing loudly enough, I loosen my grip on the ball, letting it fall softly on the floor.

The teacher has gone out for some minutes for an immediate meeting, leaving me suffer with Aaron. As far as I know, the messages might most probably be death threats. No sensible person would ever speak to someone whose friend just beat them up.

Seems he isn't.

From the moment I stepped inside the school grounds, he kept on trying to converse with me. I found a sticky note on my chair during the assembly stating how horrible Jay is. I crushed the note and threw it away. He still didn't get my sign. He kept on coughing loudly, wanting me to notice what he is doing somehow. Instead, I ignored both his group and Jayden and walked off with Kayla and Avi.

Obviously Aaron was met with frustrated glares from his friends who might kill me if they had the chance to. He still somehow ignored them, speaking softly and shushing them up, pointing to me and blabbering something.

Kayla and Avi were another problem.

They were very hesitant to leave Jayden and come with me. I begged them, telling them how kiddish both of the boys were. They accepted that Aaron was immature. Not Jayden. I begged them again, telling them that I wouldn't speak with them as well.

They called me immature.

And so it ended with us four hanging together again but I still spoke only with the girls. Thankfully Jayden stopped after tying to ask me once during the assembly. Luckily, he doesn't share any classes with me today except for English. It will be hard to ignore two people at once.

I suddenly feel the presence of Aaron shifting slightly from his chair. I bowed my head, biting my lower lip and praying that he shouldn't come here. He pulls down his navy blue beanie, ruffling his hair and heading out the door. I sigh a breath of relief.

My eyes unconsciously drift to the paper ball down on the ground. Should I pick it up now? He might not know if I did, since he has gone out. His friends are not here as well. I take a look at Kayla, who raises a brow curiously at me. I lower my gaze to the paper on the ground, meeting with her eyes again. She widens her eyes, realizing that Aaron wanted to speak with me. Clearly she doesn't know what else he tried to make me speak earlier.

Her features immediately turn into disgust as she rolls her eyes and snarls her lips.

"Is he serious? He just beat up Jayden and he wants you to speak with him? " she asks, shaking her head for a more dramatic effect.

He just beat up Jayden.

And vice versa. But I don't tell that aloud, knowing that she won't like it. Even if she won't mind, I do. After all, it's his friend that attacked me. Why would I support him?

I shrug at Kayla, dissapointing her. I knew she wanted me to blame him, degrade him and roast the heck out of him. But I don't. It's both of their fault. As much as I hate him,I am disappointed in Jayden as well. It's after all both of their mistakes. Not one person alone.

I look at the door now ajar, wondering if he will come inside quickly before I could read the paper ball. I tap my feet, now my curiosity getting the best out of me. It's now or never.

I take a quick glance at Kayla who is now distracted by the kid sitting at the corner of the class. Bending down, I am fast to grab the ball and push it in my bag. I zip the bag tight, taking a look at Kayla just to see her still distracted. My hand immediately retreats back, tapping awkwardly on the table. Her gaze shifts at me at he very instant, cocking a brow and looking at me suspiciously. I lay out a smile.

She shrugs thankfully, going back to whatever she was doing before the bell rings. I shut my eyes harshly at the annoying sound of the bell. As the ringing stops,I find Kayla standing up and swinging the bag over her shoulders.

"Not coming?" she asks, immediately sensing something up. I shake my head, thinking of all the possible excuses.

"I am not feeling well... No canteen food today..." I drag my sentence, looking at the ground before glancing up at her curious face. Her eyebrows knit, the frown on her rosy lips deepening further.

"Are you sure?" She asks, looking at me up and down. I cringe at her scrutinizing gaze.

"Yep," I say, nodding in approval.

"Mhm," she says finally before walking out of the class. I sigh again, immediately looking around if anyone is still sitting in the classroom. Noticing noone that crucial, I dig into my bag, now unzipped and feel the crunchy paper on my hands. I take it out and place it on the desk, uncurling it and flattening it out.

I squint at the now slightly faded pencil marks.

My arm hurts. Thanks to your friend.

I groan. So naive of me to think that this is some mysterious creepy letter. Obviously it's another of those 'your friend' ones. I am fed up of both of them blaming each other in every chance they get. It's annoying me to the core.

I ball the paper again, walking to the nearest dustbin and throwing it. A sound grunts from my stomach, an announcement to the upcoming mini storm inside. I wince, clutching my stomach softly as it performs more sommersaults.

I need to have food right now.

But you messed up your chance. Now they will really get suspicious if you walk in.

But-

Fine, get caught.

I shake my head, wondering how I contradict myself so often. I lean on the wall, thinking whether or not to eat in the canteen before another storm sets in.

That's the final call.

Not bothering on what Kayla will think, I jolt off to the canteen, hitting random strangers and muttering apologies.

*

I sit down on my chair, ignoring the impatient Kayla.

"Do you know what she told me? She told me that she is ill and won't appear. Look at her, now! Do you think this lady is seriously ill?" Kayla asks, biting into her chicken breast and pointing a finger frantically at me. I lower my gaze.

"C'mon Eline. Tell us what's up," Avi says, her voice curious and excited as usual. I shake my head, not wanting to utter anything. If they know what I did, the damage might worsen. I ignore Jayden's presence as well, knowing that if he sees me, he will immediately know something behind.

He is that observing.

"When did you start hiding stuffs?" Avi pouts at her cupcake, before meeting my eyes.

Since you people started to.

"It's not important, Avi. Please leave it," I say, not wanting to come off too bossy. It's then that I heard the worst sentences to come out right now.

"Knew you won't won't read my letter!" Aaron yells in my direction, smiling cockily before sitting down on his chair. My stomach twists itself into million folds as the whole canteen drops silent. Obviously everyone knew of what is going on right now. It became a major issue, after all.

But that's not the reason I am dead scared right now. It's Jayden's venomous glare burning through the side of my face that I am afraid of. How did he know that I read the letter? He clearly didn't see me stuffing it in my bag. Noone was even there.

Wasn't he in the washroom?

Oh wait, that's it. He was in the washroom. Which meant he had to come to class to pick up his bag and while going outside saw the rolled ball in the dustbin. Obviously I dropped it on the ground when he saw me.

I am so dumb.

I reluctantly tear my gaze from Aaron's table as the sound of my name escapes Jayden's lips.

"Why did you lie?" he asks as I turn back, facing his green eyes. I sip my orange juice.

"I didn't lie. I just didn't tell it to you guys," I say, finally opening my mouth. A nerve pops in his neck.

"That's not the point, Eline! You won't speak to me someone that fought for you, but you will speak to that bastard whose friend fought with you?" He spits, shaking his head and curling his fists. I widen my eyes.

"I didn't speak to him! I just read the letter!" I say, standing up and wanting to walk away. He follows pursuit.

"Whatever that is! You still want to be friends with them, don't you?" he yells immeidately alerting Kayla and Avi to stand up. I notice some movements in the Popular Table as well.

"Jayden.." I pinch the bridge of my nose, shaking my head and looking around. Every single head turns to look at us. I lower my head, backing away from the closing Jayden.

"******* idiots, you are friends with," He says, casting a dark look at his enemies.

"Did I hurt your feelings, shortie?" Aaron yells, his voice loudening as he steps closer to us. I take a second to register he fact that Jayden has just swung his fist towards Aaron.

A gasp escapes my lips as Aaron thankfully ducks the punch, raising his hands and backing away.

"Chill, dude. Didn't know you were short-tempered. Get it?" he says, laughing maniacally at his own lame joke. Jayden gets more furious by the second, walking closer to him before a familiar figure stops him in his tracks.

Astra?

The brunette places an arm in front of Aaron, shielding him as though he is an infant. Jayden cocks a brow, at the two of them before laughing humorlessly.

"Need your mama?" He says, immediately triggering Aaron. But Astra shoots him a sharp look to which he reluctantly obeys. Astra's eyes itself are a mixture of hurt and worry, replicating Aaron's but she quickly puts up her facade.

"Jayden, stop this fight. We can sort this all out," Astra says calmly, looking at both of them as though they are just born out of the womb.

Jayden tightens his brows and runs a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Bullsh*t. Look what you've caused , Eline! If you could've only listened," His eyes immediately jolt to mine, as I find more heads looking in my direction. Tears glaze my vision. It's always me that causes everything. I should've listened. I should've never opened that stupid letter.

I roll my fists, taking a deep breath and forcing my tears to stay in bay. Immediately, a warm hand grabs my arm, forcefully yet gently pulling me to their side.

"Don't speak to her. " Astra threatens, each word so slow that Jayden lifts his brows in surprise. I look down at her hand slowly unreleasing my arm and she smiles at me. My stomach twists again.

Kayla immediately shoots up behind Jayden, her voice echoing through the canteen.

"Please, Astra. Drop your graceful act. We know why you care about her so much, " she says, folding her arms and boldly stepping besides Jayden. I widen my eyes at her and look at Astra. Astra bows down her head while Kayla smirks satisfactorily.

Why do they care so much?

Bile rises to my throat, threatening to spill out. I feel my head alarming wildly, each part of me aware of how unaware I am. In a split second, someone grunts out loud, stepping pridefully in front of Astra and I.

Alma's sleek hair is all that faces me as she starts speaking.

"Don't forget your part in this Kayla. Do you want me to spill the beans?" Kayla's eyes widen for a split second before resuming back swiftly. Avi lets out a small gasp, one that is easily stopped by Jayden's venomous glare.

What does she mean? My friends have a part in this something, as well?

Talk about being clueless.

As if on cue to retort, Jayden immediately steps a daring inch forward, challenging Alma with his own stare.

"Well, you guys legit mistreated her. She was almost cornered up by you. The same way-" Jay is immediately cut off by Luke. I feel my breath getting hitched. They didn't mistreat me at all. Now they all will know how I lied. Guilt drowns me again. I try to keep a straight face but can't. I avert my gaze everywhere but at them. But involuntarily, my eyes fall on Luke, who now speaks out of the blue.

"Did she tell you that?" is all he asks, as he refuses to look at me and stares straight into the blonde's eyes.

"Are you deaf? You heard what you heard," Jay snorts, looking at me tauntingly . I cower my gaze as Astra's warmth leaves my side. Her rich brown eyes meet my hesitant ones before leaving the hold. The place becomes silent once again, Jayden now satisfied and folding his arms in pleasure at how the tables have turned.

"I told you not to trust this brat," Alma screams, throwing her hands up in the air and walking away with a huff. A small tear rolls down my cheek. Emma doesn't appear in front of me, but Aaron does. With one sad smile, he walks away, tugging at his beanie and slightly hitting me on the shoulder.

I look back at Jayden, Kayla and Avi. The only question I could manage to say is "Why?" , before I rush out of the canteen, refusing any further talk.