THE PAST.

Freshman year meant a lot to some people. This would be the time that people would change themselves over the summer and would go all out to have this "new and improved" version of themselves out there for the student body to discover.

This meant everything to Jennifer Daniels. She wanted to be the "it" girl of Spilt River High until the day she graduated and she was going to achieve that and the first step of her perfectly flawless plan would be to swoon the boy of her dreams, Wally Clark.

She had already gotten her plan off of the ground by becoming a varsity cheerleader as a freshman which gained the attention of most, but she wanted Wally's attention and she was gunning for it.

She sat in her homeroom class on her first day of high school. She fiddled her pen back and forth in her hands as she wrote down different ways to make her stand out.

Just then, Wally made his way into the homeroom class and took a seat right next to Jennifer.

She could thank God for stirring him towards her.

She leaned forward and smiled, but the bell finally rang and she sat back in her seat.

Their teacher began to speak and the door to the classroom suddenly slammed opened and Michelle Richard walked in. She was in shambles.

It was raining like hell out and Jennifer's mom forgot to pick her up, so she had to walk to school.

"You're late Ms... Richards."

Michelle sighed, "Yeah... yeah, I'm sorry."

Michelle cleared her throat as all eyes were on her. She finally found an empty seat and it happened to be next to Wally.

She took her seat, shutting her eyes at how damp the seat would be whenever she would get up and leave.

Wally bent down, grabbing a towel from his bag and held it out to Michelle.

"I don't know where that's been." Michelle whispered.

"Oh." Wally sighed, "Right. I only use it to wipe my sweat during practice. I just washed it, so you're good."

Michelle gave him a small smile and grabbed the towel. It was no use to try and dry her clothes, she was soaked. She threw the towel over her head instead and try and dry that in the best way she could.

"Wally, right?" Michelle called, "We had art together last year. You spilled paint over my mountain escape." She smiled.

"Yeah and you called me piece of shit for it."

Michelle smiled, "I'm sorry. I'm... sure I was... just being an asshole."

Wally nodded as Michelle rested the towel over her shoulders. And Jennifer was able to see it all.

She didn't mind it at the time... it wasn't flirting in her eyes, it was just Wally being Wally. And it was kind.

The bell soon rang and the class was dismissed. Several school hours would pass before lunch soon started.

Michelle turned, holding her lunch tray close when she finally spotted Jennifer sitting at a table nearby.

She sat down across from Jennifer with a small smile.

"You look drier." Jennifer smiled.

"Turns out walking around the school with dripping, wet clothes isn't socially acceptable." Michelle answered, "My grandma was able to find a ride to bring me a change of clothes. Which I wouldn't have to do if you reminded your mom to pick me up this morning."

"I was in a rush this morning." Jennifer answered, "I woke up at 5 AM just to get ready."

Michelle furrowed her brows, but chose not to question Jennifer anything further. At this point in time, Jennifer hadn't been ranting and raving about killing her best friend. She genuinely forgot to remind her mother to pick Michelle up and she felt guilty in the sense.

"Look, my mom is picking us up this afternoon if you're willing to stay after school for my cheer practice. We can get ice cream like we always do."

"First day of school ice cream?" Michelle smiled, "Count me in."

The girls shared a smile and held their milk cartons up and clinked them together like dingy wine glasses.

Their single for lunch being over was chimed and the two blondes stood up. As Michelle turned Wally approached her.

"Hey." He smiled.

"Hey."

"What class are you heading to?"

Michelle shuffled her backpack to her side to grab her schedule and pull out the crumpled paper, "Advance Math with Mr. Shapiro."

Wally smiled, "Can I walk you? I'm heading that way."

Michelle gave him a small smile and nodded, "Sure." She soon turned towards Jennifer, "Do you want to come with?"

"My class is downstairs... I'll just meet with you after."

Jennifer watched as Michelle and Wally made their way out of the cafeteria, but her anger didn't start there. It wouldn't start there, she thought that Wally was being kind, that's all it ever was.

SCHOOL SOON ended and Michelle sat on the metal bleachers as she waited Jennifer's practice to be over.

Michelle held knit brows as she sketched whatever came to her mind when she heard her name being called.

She looked up and found Wally approaching her. He took his football helmet off and asked if he could take a seat next to her. She gave him a soft smile and nodded.

"I don't want to seem like a stalker or anything but—"

"No, it's cool." She smiled.

"I noticed you out here alone. I thought you could use some company... Unless you want to be alone then I can totally get my ass out of here."

She laughed, "You're fine, I promise. I'm just waiting on my friend Jennifer to finish with practice."

"I take it you're not into sports or anything?"

"No, it's not for me. I'll try it, no doubt, but I rather watch than play."

"Have you ever thrown a football?"

Michelle only shook her head and Wally stood to his feet. He made his way down the bleachers and grabbed a nearby football and gestured for Michelle to follow.

"No." She chuckled.

"You just said that you'll try it with no doubts." He smiled.

Michelle rolled her eyes and sat her belongings down and joined Wally on the ground.

Wally handed her the football before jogging further back and gestured for her to throw it.

It was a horrible throw, but he was able to catch it with ease. He fumbled the ball in his hands and made his way back to Michelle.

"Can I teach you how to throw it?"

She shrugged her shoulders and Wally took a step closer to her.

He held his hand out and she slowly flipped her hand on top of his. He gave her a small smile and placed her hand correctly on the football.

He took a step behind her, taking her hands with his and adjusted her arms to be able to throw the ball. He was close, extremely close. Any close, he could practically feel her heart racing, almost beating out of her chest.

"And then," He whispered in her ear, "you throw it."

He took a step back and watched as Michelle threw the football. It wasn't perfect, but better than before.

She turned with a small smile and Wally returned it.

"Better." He smiled.

"Thank you." She curtsied, "I had a great coach."

The two of them laughed and Jennifer had seen it all. She had finished practice not that long ago and her smile slightly fell as she watched her best friend interact with the guy she wanted to be with.

But she wasn't anger, she didn't want to murder her at the sight. She was upset, that was all.

"Are you busy after this?" Wally asked.

"I normally get ice cream with Jennifer for our first day." She answered, "Why? Was I able to swoon you into hanging out with me?"

"Maybe."

Though she was joking, he was being so serious. And she knew that.

Her smile grew at the fact. She never really had a guy infatuated with her before and it was new. Whether or not he meant it (he was clearly) almost scared her because if he didn't, she would feel silly for giving in so easily, but she would give him the benefit of the doubt.

"I'm free on Friday." Michelle said, "If that works for you."

Wally smiled, "It's a date."

"A date?"

"If that's okay."

"Let's call it a study date. I'm sure Mr. Shaprio's class is only going to become insanely tough throughout the semester."

"A study date." Wally smiled, "I can do that."

Michelle have him a small smile and finally took notice of Jennifer, "I have to go, but I'm sure I'll see you in class tomorrow."

She grabbed her belongings from the bleachers and rushed off towards Jennifer.

"What did he want?" Jennifer asked.

"He wants to hang out on Friday."

Jennifer furrowed her brows, "And you're going?"

"Yeah," She answered, "I don't see why not."

It was the date, it wasn't the time she caught Wally and Michelle skipping class to hang out by her locker. It wasn't those things that made Jennifer want to kill Michelle.

It was at the homecoming game. On that day where she was going to tell Wally how she felt. After she caught Michelle and Wally kissing on the field. That was the day Jennifer's soul died.

She was angry, she wanted absolutely nothing to do with Michelle, and yet, she willingly hung out with her until the day she died.

Jennifer only wanted Wally Clark and she fucked that up by killing his girlfriend for her own advances.

Jennifer's soul had died, something stabbed her in the back that she practically felt it. From that point on, Jennifer would spiral. Things would never be that same after that homecoming game.

That would be the start of Jennifer's downfall. And God it was fucking ruthless.

— lucy has something to say !!

a little bit of backstory before that backstory i suppose xoxo (call it a filler idc) idk how to feel about this chapter i'm sorry folks 😝

also time is literally important in this show so i literally can't fuck up 😭

i would like to take this take to thank the commenters/voters/readers/and ghost readers for reading this story xoxo

let's all boo jennifer (ghost readers you can do it in your head xoxo)

two chapters left unless you want that backstory to be a chapter of its own please let me know now xoxo

bye :))))