The next morning, I walk into school exhausted from no sleep the night before. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get my brain to shut off. It kept me up throughout the night, asking questions about Liam's silent thoughts and showing me his perfect face with that stupid million-dollar smile. I tried so hard to not think of Liam, but thought of nothing else. When my alarm went off, it felt like I had only been asleep for ten minutes.

I walk straight into my biology class and plop into the hard blue chair, putting my head down onto my crossed arms. I feel myself starting to dose off when the sound of a chair sliding across the tile startles me.

"Good morning, Ellie!" Liam smiles as he pulls up next to me. I frown at myself for noticing the fitted red crew neck that flatters his chest and I almost feel like I am cheating on Derek. I shouldn't be noticing how good Liam looks in his black Levi's.

"Well hello there, how are you today?" I ask before adding, "Actually, from how cheery you are this morning, I'm gonna guess you are doing alright." Liam cheerily pulls out a pen and notebook while ignoring my mood. Either he's an annoying morning person or he's already had his Redbull.

"Doing well, and you? Well...besides being tired, that much is obvious," he replies before pointing to my frown. I pull my hands down my face and then start rubbing my temples.

"Yeah, tired. Didn't sleep well," I mumble, apparently unable to use complete sentences. Last night I decided that even though I don't want to fawn over Liam like he wants, I can still be friendly with him. I don't mind the extra attention from him anyway. I hear Harper come in and she spots Liam right away.

"Hey El! Who is this?" She coyly asks. She is grinning and trying so hard to be cute. She even flips her hair and bats her eyelashes. This might be my homecoming date Harper wishes.

"Hi, I'm Liam. Just transferred here from Houston. Met Ellie yesterday," he says with a wave. And Ellie didn't tell me? Harper fumes. I forgot to call her yesterday after all of us decided to ditch the rest of the day. We just hung out at Derek's until I had to race home after my mom received a message from my school informing her "that their student failed to appear for class." Harper closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in, already twitter-pated at Liam's smile.

"Oh well, I'm Harper, Ellie's best friend. If you need anyone to show you around or take you to all the cool spots around HP I am totally the one to help!"

"Oh, um Ellie did a good job showing me the school yesterday, but yeah, maybe this weekend you can show me the town?" Liam asks with a shrug. It takes everything in Harper not to squeal with glee. She tries to look put together, but any second she could burst at the seams with excitement.

"Yes, absolutely, I'd love to," she eagerly answers. I look to her massive grin and wonder if Liam is asking Harper out on a date? Or is this just a casual hangout with a new friend to explore Highland Park? I feel the need to investigate.

"Wow, you're here two days and already have a date this weekend," I say with a little attitude. Harper is hoping I'm jealous but I refuse to give her the satisfaction. I add, "Maybe Derek and I can join you guys. Do a movie or something?" I see Harper deflate a little when Liam replies, "Yeah sounds fun. Maybe Friday?" Harper nods but I cut off her excitement.

"Harper and I cheer Friday night for football, remember?" I glance to a forgetful Harper, "So it would have to be Saturday. But you should come down to the game, we usually do something after."

"Do something after what?" Derek asks after I fail to notice him walk in. He sees that Liam is in his usual spot and stands there confused for a second. Harper notices too and pops out of her chair.

"Here Derek, have my spot so you can sit by Ellie, I'll move to the other side of Liam." While Harper and Derek trade places I answer Derek's question.

"We were talking about the game on Friday." I lower my voice and lean into Derek, "Harper wants Liam to come." Good get Liam into Harper and away from Ellie. So Derek is clearly jealous. "And Liam asked Harper on a date Saturday night, so maybe we could double?" I plead. Derek does nothing to hide his scowl at the thought.

"Why? Let's just do our own thing. I don't want to watch them make out all night." An unwelcome image of Liam kissing Harper floods my mind and unexpected jealously fills my body. Derek has a valid point though, Harper and Matt Barnes made out the entire movie a couple weeks ago and I know Derek spotted her hand coming out of his waistband when the theater's lights came up. He was grossed out by both of them.

I'm unable to respond as Mrs. Hagar walks to the whiteboard and starts writing out our lesson. She starts talking about test results and our grades, but I am too distracted to hear a word she says. I can't get the image of Harper and Liam kissing out of my head. I really shouldn't care. Of course, Liam would like her, she's cute, sassy and has big boobs. If anyone should be jealous it should be Lily. Me with Derek and Harper with Liam, who does that leave her with? She's going to heat up with envy when she sees who Harper is going out with this weekend. I look over and see Harper and Liam passing her notebook back and forth. Clearly writing notes to each other as the notebook is only passed when Mrs. Hagar turns around. I try and listen in to his thoughts, but I can only hear Harper's. I can't wait for homecoming now that I will be with the hottest guy in school. He's much hotter than Derek and Ellie can't claim this one. Will Liam ask her to homecoming? It's still weeks away and they haven't even hung out yet. That and only twenty-four hours ago, Harper was hoping Nick would ask her. I think she's getting ahead of herself here. I try and focus harder to pick up Liam's whispers when I hear the anonymous whisperer from earlier in the week again.

It's going to be great. These people won't be able to ruin anymore lives. They'll get what's coming to them. I look around the room to try and pin these thoughts to their owner, but I can't tell.  These tories deserve it. They need to pay for their actions. Especially Mike and Aaron. I'm now awake at the mention of Derek's friends and I continue to scan the room. Several students are writing in their notebooks, a few are zoned out and some are trying to text under the table.What is this person planning and why? They've now mentioned Aaron and Mike so I'm determined to figure out what they're up to.

I try and focus in again, but I'm not picking up anything specific. Someone is singing an Olivia Rodrigo song in their head and it's distracting me from all other thoughts. I wish I knew where in the room it came from so I could narrow it down.

I'm distracted all through class and I don't realize it has been an hour until the bell rings. Everyone hops up after shoving their notebooks away and rushes out the door. I decide my big plush bed sounds more enticing than gym class, so I decide to go nap instead of attending second period. I know I ditched yesterday, but the senioritis is coming on strong already. Liam startles me when he grabs my shoulder.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, just feeling weird today. I might skip gym and go lay down. I have a horrible tired headache," I say as I turn to Harper, who's now slinging her pink bag over her shoulder, "Hey Harp, I might skip gym. Not feeling well. If I stay around I'll find you for lunch." She nods but doesn't say anything to convince me to stick around for gym.

We make it into the hall and right on schedule, we see Lily trotting down the hall in a denim mini skirt, brown cowboy boots and a tight, yellow low-cut top.

"Hey ladies!" She grins as we wave to her. I see Lily excitedly wave to Liam, making sure to catch his attention, who by the way, I had no idea was walking with us. She looks Liam up and down and Harper notices immediately.

"Hey Lily, this is Liam, he's new here. We are going on a date on Saturday," Harper babbles. She wastes no time and it makes me cringe. Lily stands there, looking dumbfounded and Liam extends his hand.

"I think hanging out would be a more accurate word than date," Liam winces at Harper's wording and then adds, "But it's nice to meet you Lily." Harper slightly deflates at Liam's correction, but she still stands confidently beside him. Before Lily and Harper can start playing tug of war with him, I distract her.

"Hey Lily, I'm actually skipping gym. I'm tired. I'll probably see you for lunch though." I get a sympathy frown.

"Oh...okay feel better. Liam, I will see ya later?" Hopefully alone with your shirt off? He nods to her as she grabs Harper's arm to pull Harper toward her, before either of them can say anything else to Liam. They continue down the hall without me and I'm left standing with Liam. I turn around but I don't see Derek.

"Where's Derek?" I ask Liam as I look around the hallway.

"You must be out of it. He told you he was staying behind to talk to Mrs. Hagar about the homework. You even nodded and said okay," he tells me with a curious look. I don't remember any of that. It must have been while I was still focused in.

"What are you really doing instead of going to gym class?" Liam eyes me suspiciously.

"I told you that I'm tired. Like really really tired," I reply honestly, but he is still looking at me doubtfully.

"Yeah, I just didn't know if that was the truth. Not many honor students just skip class to go take a nap," he says curiously. "So, come on, if you really are so exhausted, I'll drive you home." He's staring at me and I feel like he can see right through me again. Like he's always mocking me. I am perfectly fine to drive, but a part of me wants to ride with him.

"Okay yeah sure," I answer but then quickly change my mind, "Oh but I can't let you miss math."

"Please, I can miss a class. Let's go." I stand there, contemplating my next move for a second and the image of cuddling up in my warm comforter with Liam there sounds pretty enticing. Even though it shouldn't and I silently scold myself.

We walk out of the school in silence and I still can't hear any of his whispers. I watch other girls eye Liam as we walk outside, but his focus stays straight ahead. I try to make small talk to stop the silence.

"So you and Harper are going on a date huh?" I say, keeping my face forward so I don't seem too interested.

"Why are you jealous?" He nudges me with his elbow and I let out a loud, "HA!" I flick my hand and continue, "No, I'm not jealous. You just don't know Harper. Tomorrow you're going to come to school and everyone will think you and Harper are exclusive and madly in love. She likes to fantasize and most guys find her loud mouth a turn-off." His playful smile turns into a pressed line.

"Woah, I was just joking. You and Harper keep using that word. I never called it a date. I would like to meet new people and make new friends here, I thought she could show me around. I didn't know I was asking her to marry me." He pulls out his keys and unlocks his car. I'm impressed when he pulls open the door to his brand new, sleek black BMW X4.

"Nice set of wheels you got here," I say and I know he will fit right in at Highland Park. I slide into the soft leather and look around the interior. He turns on the car and the radio blares some indie-rock song. He turns the music down to point to my seat belt like my mother would do, before we drive out of the school lot.