It was far too early for class, but Chloe was in the hallway heading for her classroom. She figured that if she was early she'd see Prince and have the chance to pass him a note or tell him to meet her by the tree of the Seven at the end of the school day.

     As Chloe passed by students, she could hear their conversations die and them reduce to whispers. With the first three, she didn't pay any attention, but suddenly it was everyone doing it.

    She turned on her heels to look at them and be sure she wasn't just paranoid.

    The teens had their phones out and were glancing between their screens and then Chloe.

【BUZZ. BUZZ. 】

    Chloe's phone now was sending a text alert. She swiped the screen on.

【omg omg omg!! I was on the school forum and there was a pic of you! omg! I am sending it to you now! -SOLARA 】

    An image loaded just below Solara's text. It was a picture of Chloe and Prince standing close enough for her innocent touch to be misinterpreted. His cranberry jacket was just visible under his coat from the angle, but his face was blurred out. At the bottom of the picture, there was writing on it stating: CHLOE WHITE LIKES TO SEDUCE ELITE BOYS.

    She felt all the color drain from her face. She had hoped that she was mistaken about the camera, but here was the proof staring her in the face.

    Chloe had never seduced anyone; she didn't even know-how. She hadn't even received her first kiss!

     Before, Chloe walked the halls feeling vaguely camouflaged, but now everyone noticed her. She'd never been more visible in all her life. As each student passed they gave her a different look. Some looked on her with pity, others with strong disgust.

     "Desperate much?" A boy laughed as he passed her.

    The laughter felt louder and louder in her head. She couldn't take it anymore, she had to escape it. Chloe kept her head down and went into her empty classroom. She found a seat close to the back and buried her face into her arms.

     She had told Prince that she didn't want to be a secret, and he had warned her this would be the result. So she wasn't surprised, but that didn't mean that it didn't still hurt to be labeled by the entire school as a gold-digger.

    The classroom door opened.

     The sound of frantic footsteps rushed up the stairs followed by the squeaky voice of Solara saying, "I knew you were here! Sanford said you should still be at breakfast, but I was right and he was wrong."

     Chloe hadn't been crying, not yet anyway. She lifted her head up and looked into Solara's eyes. Solara threw her arms around Chloe, hugging her like a best friend.

    "Don't worry, Chloe. No matter what they try to do to you, we're here for you. They can't attack all of us." Solara was trying to be comforting.

     At least she wouldn't deal with this alone. They weren't like Henry, who was so quick to disbelieve her. There was some comfort in that.

     More students showed up for class, each delivering a pointed look in Chloe direction. Everyone who was supposed to be in class arrived. Even Sanford was clueless about the picture being passed around because he'd spent the better part of his morning flirting with a Finnish boy from his dormitories.

    Everyone showed up, except for the one person Chloe needed to see.

    Mrs. Apple was the last to enter the classroom. She wore a bright red blouse, with a black pencil skirt. Her long fingernails were jet black.

    If vampires were real, they'd look like Sara Apple.

    "In three minutes anyone who isn't present in this classroom will be considered as absent and issued a demerit," she announced.

    The door opened just as the teacher finished speaking. Prince had finally arrived. He looked stressed and exhausted. Had he even slept?

    "You were almost late, Mr. Price. Have a seat."

    Once again Mrs. Apple gestured towards the open seat in the front row with all the other Elites.

    Unlike last time. . .he actually sat there.

    He didn't even give so much as a glance in Chloe's direction. He gave her no recognition at all.

    Now she felt like crying.

    "Open up your books class, I hope everyone was listening to me when I told you to write down the information I had on the board. I've asked Miss White to be my class assistant. Miss White, please come down here in front of the whole class and write what we covered yesterday. . ."

    Really? She was expected to stand in front of everyone and somehow hold herself together?

    Solara gave Chloe's arm a squeeze and a look that seemed to say 'you can do this'.

    Chloe took a deep breath, stood, and began her descent down the steps towards the front of the room.

     Whispers followed her like a shadow at her back.

    Chloe stopped in front of the chalkboard. She decided it was better to stare at a board than to stare into the faces of everyone who was mocking her.

    Mrs. Apple slapped a yellow ruler against her desktop. "Quiet down class! As for those of you who might have seen a certain incriminating photo on the schools' forums this morning, I've had the post removed and the school is investigating the culprit. We will not tolerate our school websites being used for slanderous gossip column trash."

    This was turning into a bigger issue than Chloe thought. She had to keep her hands steady and write out the information despite how weak her legs felt.

The class passed by like a blur. Chloe's wrist hurt from all the constant writing and erasing she had to do. It'd given her a distraction though, a chance to clear her mind and not think of Prince.

    The classroom was clearing out, but Chloe felt a strong bolt of courage that drove her to follow behind Prince. He stepped into the hallway and took a moment to look through his books. This was her chance.

    "Prince, we need to talk, please," she quickly spoke.

    Prince kept his head down, his eyes skimmed through the texts. Was he pretending he didn't just hear her? No, he wouldn't do that. Prince wasn't like that, he was a nice guy. She just had to get closer, that was all.

    She raised her voice a little more and stepped a little closer. "Prince—" But she didn't get to finish. Two attractive boys in cranberry blazers and one pretty girl in a cranberry skirt were grabbing hold of Prince's arms and laughing.

    "Wow, in a way, I kind of feel sorry for that girl, but that's what she gets for trying to go above her level," the girl said while holding Prince's forearm.

    "Yeah. Who do you think the guy was in that picture? There are not many Elites who go to our school," a tall boy with brown hair asked Prince.

   Prince delivered his winning smile to the trio and said, "I have no idea."

    Chloe slowly back stepped from the group of Elites. Her chest felt tight. Her heart was hurting. What did she expect though? He was safe, his face was blurred in the photo. No one would believe it was him.

    She could feel ringing in her ears, and everything sounded like it was underwater.

    She wished she could go home.

    She wanted to cry on a familiar bed, and tell her mother how much she hated school while eating cookie dough fresh from the bowl.

    Chloe missed that so much. She needed to be held and told everything would be okay and she'd get through this.

    She wanted to be strong like her mother, she really did.

    Chloe hurried down the hallways. She passed the classrooms and the atrium. She could see the doors ahead that led to outside. And though it would be cold there, she needed the fresh air. She couldn't breathe.

    She threw open the doors and stood outside with her eyes closed. She inhaled hard enough for the winter wind to sting the back of her throat.

    She felt an icy chill run through her. Darkwood had cold winters, really cold winters, but this kind of chill was like nothing she felt before.

    Her eyes fluttered open.

    She was soaking wet with ice water.

    As she looked above, hands holding a bucket retreated from the window followed by loud laughter.

    Now she shook with more than just a chill, she shook with disbelief. She started to walk towards the trees. She had to get away from everyone; as far as the campus would let her go.

    "White! White, where are you going? You're soaking wet!"

    She knew Dominic was calling to her, but she kept walking. She wanted to get away from him. At least soaking wet, no one would see her cry.

    He grabbed ahold of her shoulders and spun her to face him.

    "Stop it, you're going to freeze out here!" He looked angry and worked his overcoat off his shoulders to place it on top of hers.

    She couldn't stop shaking, she didn't even know what to feel. Staring into Dominic's eyes she felt her defenses completely lower. The hot tears and mascara started to roll down her cheeks and lips.

    "I can't, Dominic. I can't! I'm trying so hard to be strong and hold it together, but I miss her so much. I can't stand it. I hate it here and I hate to leave here. Every day, it tears me inside how much I miss her and h-how much I need her. I wish I could call her and tell her I need her, but I can't—I can't!" Her words were sobbed out between gasps and shudders.

    Dominic rubbed the coat against her shoulders to warm her. He seemed so calm right now. He lifted the long collar to wipe the water from her tear-stained face.

    "Then tell her. Right now. Just say it like she can hear you."

    She sniffled loudly and shook her head with refusal.

    Dominic tugged the opening of the coat surrounding Chloe and pulled her close against him to hug her into a protective embrace.

    "Tell her. . ." He repeated.

    Chloe choked on her tears and whispered, "Mom, I miss you."

    "Louder, it has to reach the sky," He encouraged her.

    She took a deep breath and shouted out, "Mom! I miss you so much!"

    Dominic pressed his hand against the back of Chloe's hair gently as she buried her sobs into his uniform blazer.

    "She heard you, don't worry . . ." he coaxed. ". . . she heard you."

    She didn't feel the cold anymore, she couldn't tell if it was because she was numb or if it was because Dominic was so warm to hold. She knew that when she released him the embarrassment would settle in, but for now, she needed this.

    They stood together for several minutes. Her tears dried up, and her breathing returned to a controllable level. He let her go, and she let him go in return.

    Now they stood awkwardly in front of each other.

    "I'm kind of offended that no one took a picture of you and me together instead . . . you know I'm pretty photogenic . . ." Dominic's voice trailed. He was obviously joking to lighten the mood.

    She wanted to be annoyed with him for making a joke, but it actually made her smile a little.

    "Don't worry . . . I'm sure they're getting lots of good shots right now," she said after a sniffle.

    "Oi! Get my good side! Don't blur out my face either! I will Photoshop it back on, I have the software and I'm not afraid to use it!" Dominic called out.

    She laughed.

    He reached out to ruffle her hair but stopped at the red bow. Instead, he began to lead the way towards the student living spaces. "I'll walk you to the dormitories. Don't get sick, White. I don't think I can swagger into the girls' dorms and deliver you onion soup unnoticed."

   "So, I have a confession." She joined him at his side. "I don't really like onions that much either. I only have them when I'm sick, so I don't really like them anymore."

    He clicked his tongue. "See? We already have so many things in common, evil mothers and evil onions."

    Dominic walked her right up to the door of the building.

    She clutched his coat around her shoulders and gave him a small wave. He waved back.

    She turned to face the door and as she went inside she felt something. . .butterflies.

________________

Author's Note: Is Prince really giving Chloe the cold shoulder? Who posted up the pictures in the first place? Does Dominic's feelings towards Chloe make things better or worse?

NaNoWriMo is STILL kicking my butt! Can I make it to 50k words?? ;_; I DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYMORE!!

Thanks for reading, you're all GOLD STARS!