Over the next two weeks, the ugliest, stupidest dispute swept the school. Excited by the prospect of prom in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Texas, the seniors decided to pick a theme. Tears were shed, friendships ruined as stupid ideas battled other stupid ideas for the chance to be the stupidest idea.

Finally, it was between A Night at the Oscars and Superhero Showdown. Girls wanted Oscar worthy dresses, boys wanted girls in skimpy superhero outfits.

Kathy didn't care much. She was still too busy being mortified over thinking Kyle had been in jail and actually letting it slip.

She was convinced the only reason the ground hadn't opened up to swallow her whole already was his reaction. He'd been amused. Sure, he made fun of her, but he hadn't gotten angry, hadn't walked away in a huff.

As she obsessed over the issue, she realized Donnie wouldn't have taken something like that so well. He would've been angry. Why wasn't Kyle? Sure, they hadn't spoken or seen each other since then, but it felt like they were okay when he left.

"Take that down!"

Kathy jumped. She had been absently watching a girl from her English class struggling to put up a poster supporting the superhero theme when the command had come.

Cecily marched down the hall, her high heel boots clicking on the tiles, two of her plastic friends in toe.

Poster girl jumped too, and dropped the thing. "Really?" she asked in a trembling voice that was at the same time filled with awe.

"Yes, really. Are you deaf or retarded? No one wants to see your stupid ideas plastered on the walls," Cecily snapped, folding her arms across her generous chest.

The girl just stared as if Cecily was a goddess and not a bully. "But I think getting dressed as superheroes would be awesome," she finally squeaked.

Kathy cringed and turned away. She didn't want to see this.

Cecily let out a cruel laugh. "You think? How adorable. People like you shouldn't think." She snapped her fingers. "Lucy, Mia!"

Kathy focused on the keypad of her locker, trying to zone out, but she clearly heard the poster ripping, grunting and Cecily's cronies sniggering. The girl screamed in surprise, and when Kathy peeked over her shoulder, she was rolled up in her own poster, while Cecily had a permanent marker in her hand and was twirling it around.

"What would teach you a lesson?" She turned to her friends, but their only input was a giggle. "I know."

She marched forward and started writing on the other girl's forehead. When she pulled back, the word Dumbass filled the girl's forehead.

"I don't mind a difference in opinions," Cecily said on a sugary tone, "but pathetic little girls like you need to know where they belong."

Kathy cringed again and she ached to go over and slap that annoying smirk off Cecily's face. You should! You're just sitting by and letting bullying take place. But standing up now would probably leave her tied up next to that poor girl. And she sure as hell didn't want that.

I'll get you one day, it's a promise, she thought, watching Cecily and her friends walking away, laughing about what they'd just done. Sighing, Kathy headed for the girl and started pulling at the poster, trying to unstick it.

"Thanks," the girl mumbled, finally managing to pull her hands loose. "I'll go to the bathroom and sort myself out."

"I'm sorry for not helping earlier," Kathy muttered.

The girl gave her a tight lipped smile. "Don't worry about it. I wouldn't have helped you either." And with those words, she left for the bathroom, already rubbing her forehead, the poster trailing after her like the train of a grotesque wedding gown.

Kathy watched her go, feeling disgusted with herself. She was part of the reason people like Cecily got away with anything. She should've done something, not just stand there and avoid eye contact, praying not to draw attention, not to be seen.

"There you are!"

Kathy snapped back to attention as Kelly flew towards her, her arms filled with books.

"You have to help me," Kelly said desperately. "I'm so behind with homework and we have that massive history essay due tomorrow and I haven't even read the source material, let alone start it."

Kathy's eyes widened. "What have you been doing all week?"

"You're right!" Kelly dropped her books and threw her hands in the air. "I have an unhealthy obsession with Joey. But please help me out and I promise I'll work to get it under control."

"We have Home Ec right now."

"I know that. I was hoping you could pretty please skip class and help me?" Kelly joined her hands in prayer.

Kathy sighed, trying to keep in all the nasty words about her obsession and how it was turning her into an idiot. Kelly was lucky Kathy actually liked Joey, or she'd be giving her friend hell. And one missed Home Ec class wouldn't be the end of the world. It was a filler class anyway. She could already bake a pound cake.

"Okay, fine." She opened her locker and pulled her books out.

"Thanks sooo much!" Kelly said, racing to the library.

Kathy trailed behind, hoping she wouldn't regret her decision. But Kelly was more important and she should learn to loosen up.

The library was almost empty seeing as the majority of students had classes. Only a few desperate souls like Kelly filled the seats, searching frantically in books and notes.

"Let's go further back, please," Kathy whispered.

She didn't want to be seen in case a teacher walked in. Even if the library was the safest place to skip class, it could still get her a detention, and that was the last thing she needed.

Kelly complied and sat down at a square table hidden behind walls of library cases. Kathy pulled out her history essay and passed it over to her friend who started reading it immediately. She sat down and slouched in her chair. Since she was up to date with her homework, she was only there to answer Kelly's questions.

"So, what do you want the theme for prom to be?" Kelly asked, her nose still buried in the essay.

"Seriously, Kelly? You're way behind on your homework and that's what's bugging you? You deserve detention."

"I was just curious," she answered, pulling out a sheet of paper and starting to write her own essay. "It's much more interesting than the possible reason for the production flunk in the twenties."

"Production flunk?" Kathy rolled her eyes. "Please promise me you won't write that down. And I don't really care about the prom theme."

"Me neither," Kelly said, scribbling away. "But Joey and I were thinking that if the superhero thing wins, I can be Catwoman and he'll dress up like Batman."

"Yeah, I don't think Donnie would like the costume party idea," Kathy said, trying to read what Kelly had written to make sure production flunk was not in it.

"Speaking of which, isn't that him?" Kelly asked nodding over Kathy's shoulder.

"What?" she asked confused, looking back. As far as she knew, Donnie was supposed to be in class. But she did catch a glimpse of him before he disappeared behind a row of books. "Excuse me for a second." She got up and rounded the bookcase.

The study area was filled with empty tables and chairs. There was no one there except Donnie, Pete and Jackson, the last two slumped over a table in the back as if unconscious. Donnie was swaying towards them, his feet barely able to hold him.

Blood rushed to Kathy's head so fast, she almost toppled over herself. She marched towards her boyfriend just as Donnie took a seat a few chairs away from his friends.

"Donnie," she hissed. "What are you doing here?"

He turned to her lazily, an unfocused look in his eyes and a crooked grimace he tried to pass off as a smile on his face. "Hey there, sugar." His drawl was worse than ever.

"Don't you sugar me, Donald Royce! Why aren't you in class?"

For a second, he just stared with empty eyes, but then that annoying mockery of a smile fell back in place. "Why aren't you?"

Kathy gritted her teeth. "I'm helping Kelly with homework."

"I'm also helping my mates with homework." He waved his hand in the general direction of his friends.

He was too uncoordinated. It gave her the creeps. "What's really going on? Why are you here?" Donnie stared at her stupidly so she pressed on, "Are you drunk?"

The question earned her an eye roll. "No."

She wouldn't have believed him, except he didn't smell like alcohol. If he were as drunk as he looked, he'd be reeking. "Then what's wrong with you?"

Jackson picked that precise moment to lift his pumpkin off the table and grace them with his opinion. "Nothing's wrong, Kathy. Just leave us alone," he slurred.

Kathy stared at his glassy, bloodshot eyes, his limpy physique and ice ran down her spine. "Donnie, they're stoned," she whispered. Sheer terror grabbed on to her as she fought to ask the next question. "Are you... Did they give you anything?"

Donnie looked much more sober than his friends as he glared at her. Suddenly, he frowned and a snarl replaced his confusion. "No, and they're not stoned. Jesus, Kathy, I've had it with this! Why do you always have to be such a boring, annoying nag?"

"Annoying nag," Pete echoed.

Kathy took a step back, her hand covering her chest as if it could protect her heart from his hateful words. "What?"

"Books, books, books. Study, study, study. You're boring! You're no fun! All you do is nag me all day long. I can't see the guys, I can't have any fun with anything because you're always there, breathing down my neck, accusing me of the most stupidest things..."

"You can't say most stupidest..." Kathy whispered, trying to hang on to anything but the real meaning of his words.

"See?" Donnie yelled, gesticulating wildly towards her. "I can't even speak how the fuck I want without your constant criticism. All you do is judge me. I've had it! Just go away and leave me alone, you pretentious, frigid nag!"

Kathy stared at him, her eyes stinging from the suppressed tears, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Not after what he'd just said. She didn't know who this asshole was, but it was not her Donnie.

She shouldn't be standing there and taking his verbal abuse, but the pain building up inside her blocked any rational thought. All she knew was that she had to get out of there, away from him. Before she broke down. Before she sank her hands into his hair and pulled as hard as she could. Before she scratched his glassy eyes out.

"You'd better be drunk, Donnie," she said between her teeth, whipped around and stomped off. She needed to get out of there. "Come on," she said to Kelly. "Grab your stuff, we're going to the café."

Kelly stared at her with wide, fearful eyes. "But Joey..."

"I don't give a shit! Grow up!"

Kelly started gathering her stuff immediately and Kathy felt horrible for snapping at her, but she was so angry. "I'm sorry, I..."

"It's okay," Kelly cut her off, watching her with sad eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. I don't want to think about it. Let's go!" She whipped around and they stalked out of the library.

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Hi everyone,

This is a pretty heavy chapter because it puts a lot of things in motion. I'm not sure how much I'll focus on the bullying problem, but it should be there because it happens way too often. The bullied girl's attitude should show why people like Cecily get away with everything.

How do you feel about Cecily now? How about Donnie and Kathy? What do you think is up with Donnie?

Thanks so much for reading. Don't forget to vote and comment. I love hearing your thoughts. ;)