"I regret doing this." Bennett muttered under his breath.

"Aw, don't say that Bennett," Abby cooed, leaning her head against Bennett's shoulder.

Bennett scooted away, having Abby be forced to sit up correctly who frowned at this.     

If you haven't guessed it already, yes we have done it. The four- well three -outcasts of the school have been welcomed to sit in the popular table. Yes, the popular table. It has many names, the Land of No Return, Unpopular Left Behind, the Country of Perfect Toys, and of course my favorite, No Naomi Land. Yeah, they specifically made a nickname for me. But that all changes now.

I would have never dreamed of ever sitting here in this very table, surrounded by my bullies left and right. If I was ever dead caught just a few feet away from this table, I wouldn't live to tell the tale. And the same goes for anyone with a social status lower than well, the popular kids. Everyone considered not popular is instantly unpopular. So if you're caught just looking at the table- Bye, it was nice knowing you. It's every unpopular kid's dream to sit here, socializing with the cool kids instead of eating by yourself in your own table or with your fellow unpopular kids. 

I have to admit, it was weird. The only time I'm this close to popular kids is when they're either bullying me or threatening me to do their homework. I guess when choosing between brawn, beauty, and brains, they choose the first two. I was in a middle of both the whole football team, the cheerleading squad, and other popular kids. I was thankful the guys didn't dare leave my side- two of them anyway -and sat at either side of me, well Jordan sat next to Parker who sat next to me. 

Candice sighed. "Yeah, I'm like so glad you guys are here." She hugged Jordan's arm as if it was a teddy bear, and he looked torn of staying like this or chopping his arm off. I think you can guess which one he rather do.

"Yeah," his voice dripping in sarcasm, keeping a bored look. "Me too."

Candice giggled. "You do! Yay!" Then she went back to hugging Jordan's poor arm.

I couldn't help but snort at Jordan. That's what he gets when he gets sarcastic with a popular kid. They either take it literally or beat you up for it. Lucky for him, I mean unlucky for him, she took it literally. To me, I think he rather get beat up. But that's what happens when you've got yourself a little crush than a little enemy.

"Lucky you," Hannah said with a sigh, playing with her salad. "At least your guy is actually here."

What she means to say is Declan isn't here. Of course, the question is, where is Declan? He should be here, suffering as much as the guys. But as we were heading to the cafeteria, he suddenly remembered he had lunch detention. I don't know if it's a lie when he realized eating with the popular kids means the Fearsome Threesome will be there, or he actually did have lunch detention. Either way he left us to fend for ourselves.

"Don't worry," Jordan said. "We'll make him pay for not being here. We will."

Hannah smiled at the assurance. Declan wouldn't.

Everyone in the table seemed to be fine with the three of us sitting in their table. When we first came up, they all stopped talking and stared at us. I was pretty used to the treatment, people usually stare at me like I'm from another planet. But when we all took our seat, they slowly went back to their conversations, not minding us at all. I was at least expecting odd stares with their jaws agape. But they've been surprisingly... okay with us. It's just so weird with all the no bullying and normal treatment. It's a nice weird, but still weird.

Of course, I'm glad one thing never changes.

"What the hell is this?"

Everyone immediately stopped talking once again. All eyes turned to the same direction. And it turns out, the voice came from no one other than Raymond. He looked at everyone in disbelief, his tray of food in his hand. Raymond kept on looking at the table then at the other tables, probably wondering if he was at the right table. I didn't know whether to be happy that Raymond is normal or sad that he is.

"Ray," Parker greeted him casually. "Naomi and her friends are eating lunch with us."

"Yeah, I could see that," he spat, before his eyes glared at me. "What I want to know is, why is Nerds here?"

"I wanted to treat her to lunch," Parker explained. "If you're not okay with that, the other tables are welcome."

Everyone was dead silent. No one dared to say a word, to even breathe. Parker and Raymond were at a stare down, their gazes hardened, trying to intimidate the other. I couldn't help but look at Parker as if he grew another pair of eyes. Both Raymond and I looked at him in disbelief. He actually offered Raymond to go sit somewhere else if he's not okay with this. Did he actually talk back to not only the captain of the football team but one of his best friends?  

Raymond's eyes narrowed at Parker and me who sat side by side. He grunted something under his breath, but said nothing back. He set his tray on the table and plopped into his seat without another word. His eyes was still glaring at me as I awkwardly ate my lunch that Parker had promise to pay for. Everyone slowly went back to talking, only it was more quieter, not as rowdier as before. 

"How come you're not eating, Bennett?" Abby asked with a pout. "Do you want me feed you?" She offered, her face looking at his seductively.

Bennett pushed his tray of uneaten food away from him. "I lost my appetite."

"Me too," Jordan said, pushing his tray across the table.

Parker sighed. "Five bucks down the drain." But he still wore a smile, the waste of money not letting him down.

"More for me then," one of the football players said, sliding the two trays toward him, and starting with Jordan's food first. 

"So Jordan," Candice mused. "Have you always been this cute?"

"Yeah, Bennett." Abby agreed, looking at him. "Where have you been all my life?"

The two of them looked at me for help, their eyes pleading. I couldn't help but pathetically shrug. They were on their own, I don't know how I could help them. When they're in the trap of the Fearsome Threesome, there is little to no chance of escape. Either you fall for them or they get tired of you. Neither of the choices seemed to be likely to happen anytime soon.

Abby and Candice noticed that Jordan and Bennett were looking at me, instead of paying attention to them. So instead of batting their eyes flirtatiously at them, their eyes zeroed down at me. I visibly gulped, and it wasn't for swallowing my lunch.

"Naomi, how was your day so far?" Candice asked me with a smile.

"It was good, I guess," I said unsurely, taking an awkward sip of my carton of milk.

"You mean, nothing happened?" Abby asked in disbelief. "Nothing in... particular?"

I was too busy being surprised they actually know a big word like "particular". But once again, I shooked my head. Of course, I know where they're going with this. They want to know what going on with me not getting bullied all day. And as much as I want to know myself, I don't want to give them the pleasure of talking about this. I much rather discuss about something else, anything else.

Too bad they don't.

"Really? Well, that's weird," Hannah said, joining the conversation instead of playing with her salad, depressed that Declan isn't here. "I heard that no one's been bullying you, Naomi. That's a good thing, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so..."

But it was then I realized something. I remembered back at the cafe we went yesterday. The guys told the girls how they didn't like the school because of the bullying. How big the problem bullying was in this school, they were thinking of even transferring schools. Of course, the girls laughed at the idea of this of course. They thought something like bullying isn't that major, given they are the ones who do the bullying. But maybe this whole day is so different because of this. Did I really think that they actually did something? That they actually did something to stop my bullying, just like- snaps fingers -that?

Of course, it sounds stupid, but it makes sense. Sure, they don't care about me. They care about the guys. Whatever makes me happy, makes the guys happy, makes them happy. It's pretty much a simple chain reaction. And it was then I realized another thing, how powerful popular kids are. Yeah, they're already powerful. They rule the school, they're royalty while you're the peasants. They're the ones who bully you, who make you know how pathetic you are, so much you actually bully them. But if they like you, or they have to like you, having popular people at your side can change your life. If you have popular people by your side (either against their will or not) they can change everything. They can turn you from the most bullied kid to the most popular kid. They can take away the bullying you've been suffering through, that they gave you. 

People have always thought, always known that if you become popular, your life changes. And it's true. Only, I didn't realized until later that my life didn't changed when I became popular. It changed when I signed my name on a contract.

"Hey, Nerds." Someone said. "Nerds."

I blinked and looked up from my lunch. "Huh?"

Raymond glared at me. "I was asking you something."

I glared back at him. "Well obviously, I wasn't listening because it's probably going to be some stupid question."

Once again the whole table said, "Ooh." I smirked at the comeback, proud of this. Raymond ignored this and instead of beating me up for the comeback, he let it slide.

"Well what I was asking is, what do you mean no one is bullying you?" 

I looked at him in confusion. "You mean, you don't know?"

"Don't know what?"

One of his friends nudge him at the side. "You didn't get the e-mail update from the website?"

"The website?" Raymond repeated. He thought for for a moment, and the look on his face told me he remembered. "No, I didn't get it. Actually, I unsubscribed."

Everyone looked at him weirdly.

"Why would you do that?"

"Did you accidentally click it?"

He shook his head. "I got tired of my inbox being filled with the stuff. If I want to know something, I'll check the website with the app."

I blinked. "Wait, I have an app?"

Raymond smirked at me. "Yeah, the Nerdy Naomi app, the most popular social media website that's rated five stars. You should download it." I glared at him at this.

"Well, here-" Another guy said, taking out his phone and handing it to Raymond "- check this out."

Raymond took the phone and opened the app. Everyone was watching his expression as he clicked to the most recent status update. I watched as his eyebrows furrowed together, his face turning to different emotion from funny, to disbelief, to total seriousness. When he was finished reading the update and a few comments, he handed back the phone without another word. No one said anything because well, what could we say? Until Abby broke the silence.

"It's pretty something, huh?" She mused.

"Yeah," Raymond muttered, looking at me. "Yeah it is."

I stood up from my seat, all eyes followed me as I did. 

"I-I'm going to go," I said. "Excuse me." I turned to leave the table, but someone stopped me. 

"Hey, Naomi," Jordan said, one arm holding my wrist, the other arm is still wrapped by Candice like an alien grabbing its next victim. Yeah, you can hear the similarity in the two, and you can tell which one you rather meet.

"Is everything okay? Bennett asked, concerned, ignoring Abby like he always had.

"Yeah, I'm good. I just, I want to get something by my locker."

Bennett and Jordan tried to stand up from their chairs too. "Let me come with-" The were cut off short when both Abby and Candice pulled them back to their seats.

"No, it's alright, I'm fine."

"Are you-?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." 

I looked at the two of them. I remembered when I went to Starbucks when I first signed the contract. They told me how everyone avoided, no one wanted to be friends with them, even the girls wouldn't talk to them. And now they have it. They can have as many friends as they want, popular kids, just like them. They already have girls with big crushes on them. Sure, they don't like them back, but what about the other girls who will and do like them, and the chance they will like them back? This is the life they have, should have. Not being stuck with some selfish nerdy good girl, with a low social status and is bullied everyday of her life. I looked at the table, and saw the life they could have, would have, should have.

And I wasn't in it.

I wasn't a part of this. I can't be a part of it. Can you imagine? The most bullied nerd in Dartwell High was actually welcomed to the popular table that held the elites of the school? It's not natural, it's not right. This- the image of Jordan, Bennett and Declan hanging out with these people -is. Me being added in it is obvious. The picture has been obviously photoshopped. One of these things is not like the others. Sure, it was a nice dream of hanging out with the popular kids. But even I knew it would last, that is wasn't possible, not for long anyway. It may seem like I was welcomed, but I wasn't. I'm not a part of this, and I never will be. 

"Naomi."

I turned and saw Parker, who wore a confused look. I gave him a sad smile, knowing he did his best to help me, to change this. But it was all for nothing.

I left the cafeteria without another word, it going back to it's normal state as if nothing happened.

-

I was at my locker, like I told them I will be. I was exchanging my books, cleaning out my locker, passing the time. Of course, I wasn't going to go back to the cafeteria. Nothing will be there to welcome me, except maybe a trash can. I was planning just to maybe hang out in the girl's restroom the rest of the lunch period and head over to my fifth period. And it sounded like a pretty good plan. Until they messed it up.

"Hey Naomi."

I jumped back when my locker door was suddenly slammed shut right in front of my face. If I didn't have quicker reflexes, I would have gone to the nurse's office for an ice pack for my hand, telling the excuse that my hand ran into a pole this time. Abby's hand let go of the door and she began to study her perfectly manicured  hand. Hannah and Candice appeared right behind her, doing the same thing as well. I unconsciously took a few steps back. The three of them were taller than, almost as tall as Bennett because of their too high high heels.

"H-hi you guys," I said nervously. "How come you're not at lunch? Where are the guys?"

"We went to find you," Abby replied, snottily. "I told them to wait at the table, but I bet they're looking for you too."

"I wasn't planning to come back," I told them. "I was just going to wait until lunch was over and go to my next class."

"Good," Candice said harshly, making me flinch.

"So if you're trying to find me, but don't want me to bring me back to the cafeteria," I said, "What do you want?"

"We want to know, what your deal is, Naomi." Hannah demanded, hissing my name.

"My deal?" I echoed.

It was then they began to circle around me. Like predators ganging up on a weak prey, circling around it. They walked in an agonizingly slow pace going clockwise. I could hear the clicks of their heels, echoing the hall. I kept on whipping around, not wanting to once have them get a chance to jump me from behind, if they will. 

"Yeah," Candice said. "You're the most unpopular girl in Dartwell High, we bully you on a daily basis."

"And then three of the most hottest guys I have ever seen transfer to this school." Abby said, still in disbelief. "Then just before we were about to make our move, the first thing we see is them hanging out with someone no other than... you."

I was backing away from them until I accidentally hit the lockers. Great, now I've been cornered by them.  

"What is going on with the four of you?" Abby demanded me. "Are you dating one of them? All of them at the same time, you cheating skank?-" I flinched at the words, I never been called that before "-Cause there is no way that any one of those three will ever be into someone like you!"

I held my arms up in defense, shielding myself from an attack that never came. "I'm not dating any of them!" I exclaimed as I did this.

Nothing happened. I slowly lowered my arms and saw all three of them with a confused look on their face.

"You're... not?" Candice asked, cocking her head to the side.

I shooked my head. "I'm not, I swear. We're just friends."

There was a long pause. All three of them were staring at me with the same dumbfounded look. Then all of a sudden the burst into laughter.

"How can you actually be friends with guys that... hot?" Hannah asked in disbelief.

"No girl in the world can ever be just "friends" with guys like them," Candice said. "It's not possible."

It was then Abby paused from laughing. "Unless..."

"Are you like," Abby took a moment to search for the right word, "gay?"

I blinked. "Like happy? Not at the moment." I mean seriously. How can they ask me if I'm happy when I got three popular girls with nails as claws ganging up on me? 

"No, no, no," Hannah said. "Not like that gay. What she means to say is, do you play for the other team?"

I looked at them in disbelief. "Why am I going for the Mustangs when I know for sure the Paladins are going to win?"

"What are you talking about?" Candice asked.

"I'm talking about sports," I said slowly, just as confused as the three of them.

All three of them wore the same disgusted look on their faces.

"Of course, we're not talking about sports!" Hannah said.

"Then what are you talking about?" 

"We're asking if you're homosexual, y'know, lesbian." Abby said in a duh tone.

"Oh," I said, finally getting it. Then I really did get it. "Oh. Yeah, no, last time I checked, I'm into guys." I assured them.

From the looks of their faces, they didn't looked reassured at all. Actually, it seemed like the whole opposite. As if they want me to be. It was then I got it. I can't believe I was so oblivious to the fact.

I gasped. "Why? Are you? Because I'm totally cool with that. Go gay pride!" I said pathetically, pumping my fist in the air.

Now they looked like they just wanted to kill me. I know the look because I've been well acquainted with it more than once. Sometimes the people were close, but they didn't want the burden of having to bury the body so they let me live.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Are you demented or something?"

"We're into your so called "friends" if you haven't get that already!"

I shrugged innocently. "Sorry. But it could have made sense. You openly flirt with a bunch of hot guys when you secretly go for-"

"Just shh, stop talking," Abby said in annoyance.

I obeyed and didn't dare anything else.

"So let me get this straight," Hannah said. "You hang out with three of the most hottest guys ever born, and you're not dating them and you're not gay."

"Yup," I answered, then regretting it when Abby shot me a glare. Then I just stuck to nodding my head in reply.

"Okay so she's either the most stupidest girl I met which is weird for a nerd." Candice said. "Or she really doesn't see them like that."

They looked at each other with the same conclusion. "It's definitely the first thing," they all said in unison.

"Okay, Naomi," Abby declared, walking up to me. "I want to make this very clear. Are you listening?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but then I remembered I shouldn't. So I just nodded my head.

"We-" she said, gesturing to their girls "-like your friends. You-" gesturing to me "-are in our way. Now two things can happen, and either way we're going to get them. So either you back off... or we make you." 

"T-they're all yours," I told them. Of course, I didn't tell them that their feelings have a 99.9% of not being mutual. But I like to live, so I decided not to. Better have them figure it out themselves. 

"Good. And for being such a good sport, we'll let you be bully-free," she said, before adding, "for now."

They all began to walk away, leaving me dumbfounded. I was leaning against the lockers, watching as they walked away, their clicks of their too high high heels echoing the halls.

"Wait." I called out to them. "So are you guys the one who made the website, who wrote that status to stop... all of this?"

They all paused, but only Abby was the one who looked back at me.

"Of course not, Nerds," she said with a smirk. "We just control the one that does."

I watched once more as they left me in the empty halls, their footsteps fading away. What just happened? First they threaten me, ask if play for the other team, then threaten me again before letting me bully-free. 

I still didn't get why they asked me that. Why would they think I would date the guys? Or the guys would date me? And they called me stupid. I mean, yeah, I'm not blind. I know for a fact the guys are like Calvin Klein models, most likely are. I'd jump at the chance to date them, if it weren't too weird if I did. After going through so much with them, the last thing I saw were something more than friends. And I honestly just see them as friends, I want to just see them as friends, nothing more, nothing less. But I know that this is still going to make me wonder.

Letting out a sigh, I was about to open my locker and go back to organizing it. But something stopped me. Well, not just something, a sound, a song. It was a low, slow melody that played softly, echoing the halls. It was familiar, but I couldn't remember where I heard it. I abandoned my locker and began to follow the music.

It was harder than it sounds (Oh, ha ha ha, very funny) but it really was. The song was so soft, I can barely hear it. Maybe it was muted by the door and was actually louder than it sounded. I wandered through the school, walking up and down the halls as I tried to follow the sounds. The tempo was getting slightly faster, but still keeping it's rhythm of pace. It was then I realized that I was doing it all wrong. I can't see the music, I have to listen for it. I closed my eyes and began to hear the faint music and followed it. The music began to get slightly louder and louder until I swear it was ringing my ears. I opened my eyes and found a door that's been ajar, slightly opened. 

I was torn whether I should open it or not. But curiosity won and I slowly opened the door, it creaking as it did. But the sound drowned out from the real music, the beautiful music. And I had to held back a gasp when I saw the player.

It was Declan. He was in the music room that's only used in Tuesdays and Thursdays when the band or the glee club use it. He was the only one in the empty room, and he didn't seem to mind it at all. He was seated right in front of the grand piano a parent donated a few months ago. So this is where he's been. He didn't have lunch detention, he never did. He used that as an excuse to not go to lunch, and maybe he stumbled into the music room and began to play. If the guys were here, I knew for a fact the would have killed him for abandoning them just to play the piano. I just still can't believe I didn't know he could play the piano. But then again, I didn't know much about him or any of the guys.

I watched in awe as he played the music I was listening to beautifully. His fingers playing the keys as if it was magic. He played the keys like a writer typing on a laptop. It was in a fluid movement, playing it almost gracefully. The piano was position so that the pianist was slightly faced towards the door. I saw that Declan's eyes were closed, not opening even once to watch the keys. His eyes weren't closed in pure focus, they were closed to hear the music more clearly, to feel the music. What I wanted to know is if his eyes were closed, how is he reading the- There was no music sheet. He was playing the song from heart. I closed my eyes once again, listening to the music, trying to rack my brain of playlists of what song it was. Then I realize that it was no other than "Secrets" by One Republic. I can't believe I haven't realized until now. 

I watched as he continued playing the song, not noticing the intruder listening in. He seems so engrossed with the song, he didn't notice my presence. It was like watching an artist paint, or a dancer dance. He played the piano as if he was born to do it, as if it came natural to him, and it may have. I slowly closed the door, not all the way though, just as I found it, slightly open for the music to escape, to be free. I slowly sank to the ground, my head leaning against the lockers. I knew I couldn't have him know that I was here. I planned to leave as soon as the song ends. But until then, I might as well enjoy it. My eyes were closed, having the music engulf me. For once my troubles and worries were washed away by the music.

And I was so grateful for that.

Yeah I did it. I just posted two chapters in two days. I'm aiming to make a chapter a day, to keep slow updates away. How did you guys like the chapter? Was it good, I hope you enjoyed it.

This chapter is dedicated to _RaeRae__, another Wattpader I met here on Wattpad. I met her through Alecia_Bae. The two of them are both best friends, and are really nice. And it was _RaeRae__ that suggested that Zac Efron should portray Raymond. I know, she's a genius. Thanks a lot Raven, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

At the right is a picture of the actor and model that portray Raymond and Naomi, Zac Efron and Barbara Palvin. And also at the right is a music video of the piano cover for "Secrets" by One Republic. This is my favorite song to listen to on repeat, to sing (in the shower), and just to be proud of knowing. You do not know how many times I've played both the real song and the piano cover. I can sing this in my sleep like Declan can play it in his. Now I got to go and work on the next chapter among... other things. Wish me luck for this unknown thing I must do, I'm going to need it. And yeah, I'm on a roll and I'm not going to break the streak anytime soon. No promises though.

RubixCube89201