Fraud: I never knew him.

It has been an enormous humiliation. I knew hanging out with them was a terrible idea, but I didn't know it would be this terrible. It's like I'm still sleeping and I'm in a suffocating dream, and there's no way out. my eyes are twitching at my phone, and my veins are breaking out of my skin. My heart is pounding in a hard beat. I launch from my bed. Tossing my phone behind me, I hear it bounce on my huge white bed. When mom told me, I couldn't believe it, and she is grounding me for a full two weeks. How on earth did I get into this mess? I get dressed for school.

Even if I know everybody will be laughing their lungs out at me, that does not stop me from looking my usual best. I just need to wave it aside. If I can bear riding with my mom to school for two weeks, I can certainly get past this. I take a lot of time looking at myself In the mirror to be sure I'm all good and prepared to be mocked.

"Sam!" My mom shouts my name from downstairs, her voice jangles in haste. This is tough and restraining. I'll be a punctual student for two weeks. Morally good, and personally upsetting.

"Coming!" I snap a reply and walk out of my room.

As I walk down the stairs, I see my mom pacing around the room like a man who's waiting for his wife outside the labor room. She looks up and sees me. She stops pacing and turns to me, placing her hand on her hip and pushing it to one side. It's like she's posing for a camera except she's frowning, and you are not supposed to frown for cameras. She purses her lips, and anger is swimming in her blue-ocean eyes. Well, she's my mom, Regina Raymond, but she goes by Gina. She's like the queen of Seattle. She has this perfect body, long chocolate-brown hair, glowing skin that is equally soft, and an average height. I forge a smile. my hand is still clutched to the handrail, and the other is on the straps of my school bag -which is on one shoulder.

"Do you have to put on makeup?" She growls, and her eyes scrutinize my dress.

"Isn't that dress too short?" I look at my flora gown that is a little above my knee. And now I think it's not short enough.

"Mom it's not, The heels make them look so," I say, and she looks down at my 4-inch cut-out leather heels and back at my face.

"You sure do know how to look good," she tells me.

"So narcissistic," she mutters

and picks up her red handbag from the Table, along with her car keys. She places the handbag on the crook of her elbow and sashays outside. I look at her and shake my head. She's wearing a blue curvy gown, knee-length with a little back slit, and she's questioning me about what I'm wearing? She shouldn't do that when she's the worst at it, but equally the best at it. She drives with grease lightning, making me feel nauseous. Finally, we get to my school, and she stops the car. I glance at my reflection in a rare-view mirror.

"You look beautiful already," she says sarcastically, and I smile at her as I climb down the SUV, about to head to my den of mockery.

"I love you!" she shouts out to me from the rolled-down window and drives off before I could say it back. Wonder where she's in a hurry to. Probably one of her patients is dying and desperately needs help. My mom is a neurosurgeon, she owns the best hospital in the city, and she takes her work very seriously, creating less time for herself and me. Well, I don't care, she has never really had my time anyways, and I'm so used to it. I feel like sprinting after my mom. I can't even turn to school and see those mocking faces. I tighten my lips and look down the road.

"Sam!" a tiny sweet voice screams my name. With an idea of who that is, my tight lips spread into a warm smile. I turn, flipping my dark straight hair. feeling a little cocky because of her. Yeah, that's Tracy, my tan-skin slender best friend. She's standing close to the school building. She waves at me. And I stride towards her, paying less attention to the Murmurers. She has always got my back since we were kids, and I have always got hers. I reach her, and we peek at each other's cheeks. "It's nice to see you not in a bikini Sammy Raymond," she teases, and I chuckle -almost forgetting my plight. We discuss this as we enter the school. As we walk up the hallway, practically everyone's eyes are darting at me, a mocking smile fixed on their faces. Only a few dare to laugh out loud. Tracy pulls me closer around her arm. I know she's being a sweetheart, but this is awkward.

"What are you doing?" I whisper, looking forward. Three girls sashay pass us, cackling and looking at their phones, then at me. Yeah, I know what they are looking at. A half-naked picture of me that isn't me. Why would someone fake this? Tracy lets go of me and swivels at them. "Yeah, laugh. Your ass ain't sexy as hers." She huffs as she rotates two fingers at their asses. She faces the front, and we continue striding to class.

"Thanks," I tell her, beaming.

She gives me a warm-hearted smile and pats my back. "I gat you boo." Of course, she does.

"You know that isn't my ass right?" I ask her. She Purses her lips and shrugs slightly, then she strides forward. I pause. "Tracy?!" I yell, and I hear her chuckles. I can't believe Lucian dared me to wear a bikini. I did it because It was just me and his stupid friends, I didn't think his psycho friends were going to edit fake boobs and ass of me. I'm never playing truth or dare again, not after last night. We get into the classroom and Lucian winks at me. He is my second best friend with blond messy hair. Yeah, I'm friendful, at least I was. Lucian has a great sense of humor, but sometimes he takes it too far. And even if he annoys me at times, I just still love him. Plus I can't stay angry at him for that long, and he knows that. I roll my eyes at him as I sit, just to give him a fake I hate you look.

Tracy sits at her desk which is a seat away from me by my left.

Later, Mrs. Huston, our chubby literature teacher walks into the class, her blond hair resting on her shoulders. "Hi everyone," she says standing in front of the classroom, a novel held in her hands. Mrs. Huston's class is my favorite of all, but she ain't my favorite. She doesn't like me for some reasons I don't know, but I don't care. I hardly bond with people.

"How was your night, Sam?" she asks me sarcastically, and almost everybody bursts into laughter.

"It was nice," I reply scornfully and glare at Lucian, he cringes.

"Before we get started, I would like for our new student to introduce himself," Mrs. Huston says, with her hands stretched out towards a guy who happens to be sitting at the next seat by my left, a metered space away.

He stands up, and I look at him from his head down to his toes. As he edges to the front of the class, I notice how shabby his baggy blue Jean looks. He stands in front of the class and brings out his right hand from the front pocket of his jeans. And brushes his loose strands of hair from his low ponytail -off his face, and I stare more at his long luscious dark hair.

He sighs and then, "My name is Morgan White, I'm seventeen. Just moved from Tacoma to Seattle," he introduces himself. "And also I'm nothing like my appearance, in case you are wondering." He jokes, and everybody including Mrs. Huston laughs, except me. I have a strong feeling that Mrs. Huston and all my classmates already like him. I would have probably liked him but his clothes tell a lot about him. It's cheap, and I don't do cheap.

My eyes meet Tracy, whose head is pushed forward and her dark eyes are staring at him more lustful than I was. I slowly shake my head. After Morgan finishes, he goes back to his seat, and I prevent my eyes from staring at him again.

Mrs. Huston starts to teach about a novel called 'Midsummer night dream' by William Shakespeare, and everybody seems to be enjoying it, including me. The bell rings and everybody starts to leave the class.

"We'll continue from page four, you can read ahead," Mrs. Huston announces.

Tracy And I walk together out of the class and down the hallway. And just in a few minutes, everybody has forgotten about the naked picture of Sammy Raymond, and that's because they knew it was faked. The editor just made my ass and boobs extremely big, and people just find it funny. Thank God the pictures have been deleted.

"Did you see the new guy? He's so hot," Tracy says enthusiastically. I don't think I'll hear the end of this. Tracy has this thing with guys, she calls it true love and she searches for it in every guy she dates. At first, the guys are so perfect, then in a week or two they become assholes. "He's just so handsome, how can a guy be that cute?" She adds.

"Well he's cute," I agree, which is kinda hard for me. We stop at my locker, and she leans beside it. I open it and take a pink lipstick and rub it on my lips, looking at the little mirror hanging at the door of my locker. "But did you see he's cheap clothes? They look ratty and shabby -why would anyone dress in those?" I add and gently smack my lips.

"Seriously Sam, with you everything is about money. Can't you just love something, anything that is not connected to money? Considering you have a lot," she groans, and I roll my eyes.

"I can't, 'cause there's nothing to love."

"Well, I kinda like him." She says with those dreamy eyes like she can see him kissing her all over.

I'm not surprised at all. I just have to give her the pleasure of having a phantom dream. The part I hate is when her dream becomes an asshole then she acts like an asshole, and then turns me into her nanny. throughout the week, my life will be hell. She either calls yelling or crying on the phone. I won't even have a good night's sleep, cause she will be on the phone all night. And as a friend, I'm just giving her a listening ear. But whenever she sees another new guy, she just jumps right in -despite my warnings. I try not to use I told you so on her, cause that only makes matters worse. I bring forward my bag, zipping it down.

"Tracy you just met him," I say monotonously, just so I said it, again.

"Sammy there's something called love at first sight."

I bring out a novel, The fault in our stars' "And of all guys, you choose a wretch," I tease her, swirling the novel at her face.

She holds my hand and I tug it down. "I know he's cute and You are searching but trust me, you'll find someone cuter than him." I scorn my choice of words.

I don't think there's any guy in this world that's as handsome as him. "Don't settle for a wretch 'cause you are one of the best," I add.

"Ahem." Tracy And I look to our left, and I see him standing beside Tracy. I startle and drop the novel. He walks towards it and picks it up.

"YOU drop this," he says, handing it over to me -staring deeply into my eyes as I stare at his, his dazzling, enticing hazel eyes in the shape of an almond. I feel my eyes melting into his and my heart jumping up and down like it wants to burst out of my chest and reach for him. His lips look soft and tempting.

"Um... Are you there?" He asks like I've been staring foolishly, but that does wake me up from his utmost beauty. My lashes flutter, and I take the book from him -hoping Tracy didn't notice. My eyes jam her. She's drooling at him, dreamily, like she sees only him. Her shoulders fall as she takes a deep breath. Her smile is brood as an eagle. Her head cock to the side. She must feel like Alice in wonderland. That's her Disney tale.

"Is she okay?" Morgan asks like Tracy is acting weird. Of course, she's acting weird. She's embarrassing me and herself. This guy might think highly of himself.

"Haha," I forge a laugh.

"She's not fine, she acts like this when she's sick."

She is sick, she has something called guys fever, Or should I say true love fever. All I know is she has relationship fever.

"Right Tracy?" I say as I nudge her with my shoulder. She startles.

"Uh?" She asks with wide eyes.

I wonder how far her mind has traveled. Please keep your act together.She straightens herself, moving from the locker. She clears her throat. Guess she's back from wonderland. "I'm sorry, I was just..." She pauses and her eyes bore to him, again. Like she can't get enough of it.

Maybe I was wrong, she isn't back yet. I smack my lips, knocking the novel on my palm as I gradually turn to Morgan. "O...k" I drawl, cause this is a bazaar, and I feel like dragging myself and Tracy out of his sight. He wears a smirk face.Is this guy in any way enjoying all of this? Or making fun of my friend?

"I guess I haven't properly introduced myself," he says.

Oh, now he thinks we are so much into him that we want him to give us a proper introduction.

I scoff as I face my locker, I shove the novel inside and close it.

"You have, and we don't care," turning to him, I say obnoxiously. I fold my hands and lean at my locker, frowning at him.

I'll admit he's handsome, but he is not my type. I only admire his hair. OK, a little bit then that, but I certainly do not see him as Tracy does, Like he's the only man on earth. To her, all handsome guys are the only men on earth.

"I need you to," Tracy interjects, twirling her box braid, and I scowl at her.

He looks at Tracy grinning. Gosh, his smile is as cute as his face.

"I'm Morgan," he says, to Tracy precisely, offering a handshake.

Tracy smiles back, shaking his hand. Morgan's palm covers Tracy's, not because Morgan's palms are that wide but because Tracy's hand is as thin as her body but in a slender way.

"I'm Tracy...Tracy Peterson." Tracy says, putting down her head, trying to hide her blush.

sorry, it's too late, you've taken out your swag about a minute ago.

"Nice to meet you, Tracy. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he says to Tracy with both their palms still colliding. And my best friend is beaming like a sheepish coward.

I look at both of them with shifty eyes. And the poor boy is caged to Tracy's hands as he struggles to be set free. He wanted to give a proper introduction and he did.

"Um..." He glances at me, squeezing his hands from Tracy's grip. And those precious eyes of his are frantic.

Don't look at me, I'm sorry, I can't help you, bro. And I can well remember I told you she's sick.

"Tracy." I place my hand on her shoulder. This is getting out of hand. "Let go of his hand, please." my voice chirpy as possible.

"Oh, oh, oh." she sounds like a siren, but I hope this siren is successful at waking her ass up!

She lets go of his hands, and Morgan starts to squish his hand. He might probably include this as one of the biggest mistakes of his life.

Tracy gaps, placing her fingers in her mouth.

"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to..."

She drops her hands and sighs. "I'm acting all crazy aren't I?" She says, gloomy.

Oh no baby, you were acting more than crazy!

Morgan scoffs, "It's okay, it was kinda funny though." He says grinning.

I think this is the point where I say they both deserve each other, cause they have this one stupid similarity. THEY DON'T LEARN!

"You are the first to amuse me since I moved in," he adds.

Yeah she was quite amusing, wasn't she? but it didn't seem like it when his eyes were boring with frights. Next time someone should please press a reminder button on me, so I don't ruin his fun.

"Really?" Tracy coos.

"Yea," he says.

The smiles fix on their faces, are weird and somehow annoying. A minute ago, I was the one trying to save the moment from further embarrassment, and I'm just finding out that they are both enjoying it.

"Oh no, I'm not watching this." Their prolonged eye contact chases me.

I sashay to Tracy's car, and I pull the handle. Great, it's locked.I stand leaning at her car. A sun as hell blasting on me, and my skin is drenching with sweat, and my heels are sinking beneath the ground, rising slight pains under my knees. This is all Lucian's fault, now I have to pair with Tracy on her ride. Being grounded isn't just the problem, but restricting me from riding my car is the worst punishment ever. I see the amuser and the amused at the school entrance corridor. They are facing each other, chatting. Can they please wipe out that smile off their face for one second?

I march to them. I'm feet away, and they don't notice, Tracy does not notice. Not this week, we've got so many plans, and I can't be invisible to her now, I'm okay with next week.

"Ahem Ahem," I try to get her attention, and she glances at me, but I know I haven't gotten it yet.

"Oh my God! That's hilarious." She Mirth, but I consider it to be Mirthless.

"Uh-huh," I say sardonically, as my blood boils.

"Ahem, can we please go, now!" I half-yell.

I did try to be calm, but this, all of this is fucking insane. And for Morgan not to see it so, he is making fun of her.

I take a deep breath, not to purge my anger any further. Both of them widen their eyes and stare at me like I'm a devouring lion. And if I am, I'd mail them right now.

"Please can we just go?" I practically beg her.

She nods with an approving smile, my best friend's smile. I walk away, and I hear her footsteps behind me.

She Unlocks the car. Without hesitation, I pop on the passenger seat. Tracy waves at the wretched guy before entering the car.

She drives off to my house.

We climb up the stairs to my room. I press my password on the lockbox key placed at the entrance of my closet, and the door opens. I walk inside and stare at my impeccably organise closet. fashion is my thing.

I go to where my gowns are and bring out a black flare gown, with a spaghetti strap, and show it to Tracy who seems to be busy with her phone.

"What do you think?" I ask her, but no reply. I stand quietly scowling at her as she beams at her phone.

She notices, "Am sorry...were you talking to me?" She asks as she tosses her braid behind her, and brings down her phone.

"No I wasn't, I'm Talking to the third person in this closet...ooh wait, there's no third person, so who the hell will I be talking to?"

She comes closer to me.

"Sam, I'm sorry. what do you want me to do for you? Anything, I'm ready."

"Nothing. all these clothes looks old-fashioned, let's just go do some shopping before it gets late." I toss the dress mindlessly on a rack.

She raises her brows and presses her lips. She locks her fingers behind her and takes a long step toward me, that we are only a few inches apart.

Something is wrong, that's her about to disappoint me expression.

She clicks her tongue, and I lower my brows. And my ears are less excited to hear what she's about to say. I have an idea but I hope that's not it.

"Sam, first of all, your clothes are perfect, they are all beautiful..." She speaks like there be a but, and buts are not good in addition to a positive statement.

"But..." There she goes.

I shift back. She falls her shoulders like she knows how angry she's about to make me.

"I can't go to the party." Her voice low.

I raise my brows, and I actually smirk. I have no idea why I'm smirking but I can feel my blood getting hot, and my head gives a brief ache.

"Wait, what?!" I shout like I just realize what she means.

Is she serious? We've been planning this get together party since the summer break, and now she says she not going?

At the beginning of every semester, we throw a school get together party. A party Lucian organizes. Though we don't bond with anybody, we just throw the party for fun. And now she's saying she's not going?

She pushes her upper body back and holds up her palms against her face like she's protecting herself from my anger.

I fold my arms and frown at her.

Her eyes Search out through her fingers, and she slowly puts down her hands and leans forward, she fake chuckles.

"You know Morgan likes fiction books." She tries to change the subject, only bringing in the point of the subject. But seriously, how is that my business?

I lower my brows and push back my head.

She sighs and edges past me, and I turn to her as she does to me.

"OK, " she sounds audible, with a hand gesture of calming her nerves. "Morgan asked me to come with Him to the bookstore."

I suspected he was the reason, but I wasn't sure because she normally does not go out with guys on the first day. Knowing Tracy, she is the one who asked him out. Is she that naive about true love?

"ugh! seriously?! You are ditching me because of that wretch you just met?!" I groan.

"Come on, I need this. He might just be my dream guy."

What is with her and these dream guys?

"You can't be serious Tracy. Enough with all this your dream guys, you've been with like five of them in just a month and none worked out for you," I tell her abruptly.

I'm losing it.

She opens her mouth to say something, but I jump right in, "you know what? You can go, but I know you'll come back crying, telling me how much of an asshole he is! And this time I'm not going to listen to your Bullshits!"

I pause, staring at her with parted lips.

That's harsh of me. That's what happens when I hold in my emotions for too long, I just lose it.

Tracy is quiet but her tears are not. Her mouth is wide open. her moist eyes are dripping at me. She wasn't expecting that from me, and neither was I. But at least she now knows how I feel about her dream guys.

"It's good to know how much you care about me," she says sadly and walks out of my closet. I hear her leave as my door opens and blasts shut.

God, what did I do? I didn't mean to hurt her, I was just...I sigh and fall on an Ottoman behind me.

It's already 8 p.m. I call Lucian to come to give me a ride since my mom won't be, plus Tracy is mad at me. Lucian is all I have.

I just received his text that he's outside my house. I go to my window to see if he's outside. I see him stalling beside his red Toyota Avalon.

He's looking good in his black stylish suit, with his blond hair styled forward. I must say his appearance is far from his behavior.

I look at myself in the mirror to be sure I look good, even if I don't feel like going to the party no more. I brush my hair and apply little makeup.

I'm wearing the flare gown since I didn't buy any new ones. Not that I don't have nice clothes, I just like getting new things. I put on decorative heels that go with my dress.

I pad downstairs, thinking about everything I and Tracy said to each other -I grimace at my thoughts.

I get down, I see my mom seated in the living room and staring at her laptop, with a coffee mug held in her hands.

She looks up at me, and her eyes shine with amazement. She gasps and puts the mug on the table.

"Honey, you look so beautiful," She says as she stands up and walks toward me.

She's also dressed, but casually, and my mom's casual is the most beautiful.

She brushes my hair away from my face.

"Are you going out?" I ask her.

She pauses, then takes a step backward.

"yeah I am, and I'll be back before you know it."

"Where to?" I ask.

This changes her mood. Even if her smile wasn't sincere, at least she was smiling, and now she's not.

"Can you stop asking me questions? You are the child and I'm the mom, so I get to ask the questions and you to answer them." She hides the anger in her voice, but not the strictness.

"Whatever," I say and walk past her.

I don't care what she does or where she goes, as long as she doesn't die. I only asked because I felt the need to.

"Who is going to rid you there? I don't see Tracy around."

I stand still for a second. Is she gonna do this now, interrogate me?

I turn to her and see that she's still backing me.

I sigh

"I won't be going with my car, and that's all you need to know."

"Well honey, I'll need to know more than that." She slowly turns to me. Authority is written all over her face, and well, she's using it.

I want to shout and scream at her, I want to unleash this anger inside of me.

I take a deep breath.

"It's Lucian, he's waiting outside for me." my mom's face brightens at the mention of Lucian. She has always liked him beside the fact that he's an adorable friend. Something that has to do with James, Lucian's dad.

"Why is he outside? He should have come in." She proceeds to the front door.

"Mom, he's probably avoiding your disturbance." I stop her by saying this, and it's true. Lucian hates the fact that my mom is into his dad despite knowing he is still married to his mom, well James is not exactly with his wife cause he cheated on her with my mom.

When I was fifteen, I and my friends caught them making out in my mom's bedroom. It was just three months after my dad died. She's so pathetic.

She's just a few feet away from the door.

"Whaaat? he loves me," she drawls, turning to me.

"Whatever, I have to go," I say, walking to the door.

I hate the fact that she sees nothing wrong with her attitude, and I don't want to remind myself of it.

"Oh yes, you do." she beams as I get to where she is. I slowly shake my head and proceed outside.

As I come out, Lucian startles, and finally relaxes after realizing it's just me.

"God you scared me," he says. His hands-on his chest as he calms his heavy breathing.

"How?" I know how, but clarity is sincerity.

Poor Lucian. Since he saw his dad cheating on his mom, things have never been okay between them. He never told his mom because he don't want to see her in tears, heartbroken.

"I thought it was your mom." Lucian straightens, still leaning on the side of his car.

I smile and strut toward him.

"And if it was?" I keep asking questions I know the answers to.

Standing in front of him, he slides his hand into his pockets. "Well her generosity is not that pleasant to me." He sounds upset, but his face tells different, as he gives a big smile which seems genuine.

"It isn't for me too," I say quietly, Feeling sorry for him.

He walks round to the driver's side, opens the door, and pops in.

I know he isn't okay, but he never lets himself be sad. I wish I'm like that. Strong and happy as he is.

I open the door to the passenger seat and get in.

He starts the gas and Zooms off.

"So what happened between you and Tracy?" He asks with a glance at me, his hands riding the steering.

If it was someone else, lying would be an option, but Lucian knows me too well to tell when I'm lying.

I suck my teeth.

"She went out with the new guy. I can't believe she ditched me for that wretch," I hiss.

I was harsh on Tracy, but she was equally harsh on me. It's unfair to throw me to the side and act like I'm invisible when she meets new guys.

"Wait, what?" He smiles

"Is he into Tracy? he's kinda cool." He sounds excited.

Does he even know what this means? Of course, he sees nothing wrong, he's not the one who will soon be sleep-deprived.

I tilt my head and furrow my brows. my eyes bulging. I wasn't expecting this from Lucian, especially when he knows how Tracy's relationship ends.

"Are you serious right now? She went out with a WRETCH!"

How does he not see anything wrong with it?

He gives me an unsteady gaze, his mouth parted. Looking like I just screech his Brain and it's about to explode.

"Why do I have a feeling you don't like this guy?" He sounds like all of this is normal and okay.

First of all, this isn't about me not liking him. Why the hell will I like him? He's way below. His only gain is that he's handsome.

There are lots of handsome guys.

But seriously, I've never seen anyone like him.

Secondly, Tracy is out on a date with him on their first day of meeting, and let's not forget how that is going to affect me.

"Of course, I don't like him!" I say with open palms. Like It's obvious and there's no reason for me to.

He looks at me and grins, then back at the road. Shaking his head like I'm too much of myself.

"If you ask me, I'll say he's handsome and looks friendly."

Wow, on his first day he's already stealing my best friends. How can he say that about a guy he has known for less than seven hours. Plus, is Lucian blind? Didn't he see Morgan's shabby wear? Oh yeah, I remember, Lucian does not care about anyone's status, he's friendly to everyone. But I can't be like that. don't judge me, I grew up this way.

We get to the party, there are a lot of people outside the hotel, all dressed flashy and beautiful but not as beautiful as mua.

It's more like the party is held outside. As me and Lucian stride inside, I feel everybody's eyes on me, and them murmuring how beautiful I look, but I'm kinda used to it.

Being the most popular girl in school and the richest teenager in Seattle, is my golden spoon and I will never lose it.

I still remember how the eyes adoring me right now were mocking me. And when I don't talk to them I'm being superior? They are all haters, and as they adore me, they envy me.

We get inside. A dark wide-crowed space, with glimmering lights of purple, blue and red, sparks, reflecting most shiny dresses. Pop songs blasting out from invisible speakers, and nearly everybody is dancing, while some are making out on couches. Red cups litters all over the tables.

Lucian's pathetic side friends call him, and he responds to them, leaving me all alone.

I try walking to the bar but with every step I take there's always someone who steps in front of me telling me how beautiful my dress is.

Despite the tight crowd, I'm still noticed.

Finally, I get there and sit on a chair at the counter. I order Rum, and in no time the bartender gives it to me. As I sip from it, I look around the hall, everyone looks so happy, as they hop to the song.

My hearing drum is either dancing or pushing out from my ears, All I know is I'm not comfortable with the loudness. It's like a teenagers' nightclub, a crazy night.

I get falter by the moment, maybe it's because Tracy is not here, I've never been to a party without her, we always come together.

If she was here I wouldn't be sitting, because she would have probably dragged me to the dance floor and force my body to move.

After some time, Lucian comes and sits next to me, I can perceive alcohol in his breath.

"Why are you sitting here all alone?" He asks and orders a cocktail.

Hasn't he had enough already?

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

He ditched me and he's asking me such.

"You should mingle with someone, there are lots of people around Sam," he says, and I look around again and see no one by my standers.

"you can not possibly mean that." I sip from my cocktail

"Sam, for once just stop being superior, it's just for one night.

Or you can come hang out with my friends."

I look at his so-called friends sitting in a circle on the left side of the hall, conversing and giggling, and whatever it is they are talking about, can't be good.

"I'll pass."

"Come on, what's the worst that can happen?" he says it like what happened the last time wasn't worst at all.

"Being in a bikini with my pics all over Roosevelt's high school page," I growl.

He scratches his head and wraps his hands around his glass cup.

"I know...and nothing happened to you, right? I mean you are still you."

He's right to be unsure of what he's saying.

"I'm not allowed to ride my cars for two weeks Lucian, two whole weeks! And you know my cars are babies and I miss my babies." I look at him from the corner of my eyes as I sip from my cocktail.

He furrows his brows like I'm crazy. But seriously, I love my cars, that's why my mom sees it as an effective way to punish me. Argh!

"I should bounce before you say more weird things," he thumbs over his shoulders and tatters to stand up. He toddles to his friends, leaving me alone, again.

I don't want to believe his drunk because he sounds sober, but I know soon he'll be drunk.

After a few hours of boredom, I see how drunk Lucian is, and I know he's not in a good shape to drive, don't think he's thinking about going home.

I walk up to him, where his ridiculous friends are. A long couch and a single sofa, plastic cups litter all over. girls wrap around Daniel's arms, while veronica smirks at how drunk Lucian is.

"I'm leaving," I say from a distance.

He stands up from the chair he was sitting in and staggers to me. His friend's eyes focus on us.

Veronica now frowning at me. While Daniel croaking, enjoying every bit of this. I'm not looking at Xavier, I can't afford to have eye contact with him.

"you...you are just so fu-fu...full of yourself," he slurs, with his hands vibrating all over.

"Lucian you should stay here, you are in no position to drive." I ignore what he just said, cause I'm more concerned about him.

"What are you saying? are you in any way saying I'm drunk?"

He teeters closer to me, and I shift back a little.

His breath is awful.

"I'm never drunk," he adds.

"Okay fine, I have to go then." As I'm about to leave, he pukes on me.

"Ugh!" I groan.

As if this night couldn't get any worse.

Everybody starts laughing at me like they have all been waiting for this to happen, especially his so-called friends, they are the loudest.

Daniel and Xavier carry him and lie him down on the long couch close to them.

I stand in embarrassment and awkwardness. Hanging out with Lucian makes me squirm.

I look around me to see if there's anything I can use to wipe off this mess. I see a hand giving me a small towel, I take it without looking at the face. I wipe the mess off me.

I turn to thank the person. Stupefy, it's the so-called Morgan. My heart shockingly skips a beat

"What...what are you doing here?" As much as I hate to see him, I'm also curious.

"What do you mean? are wretch like me not allowed to come to a place like this?"

I roll my eyes. I didn't know he heard me call him wretch, or maybe Tracy told him I did.

"you are supposed to be with Tracy at the bookstore."

"Yes, I took her home an hour ago. I just decided to check this place out, since I'm new here. And if you are wondering how I came to know, Lucian invited me but I declined at first," he says, and we both stare at Lucian in disgust.

"I don't think he's going back home tonight," Morgan adds.

"Whatever, I'm out of here," I walk away, stamping my heels so hard on the floor.

As I step out, I look around.

A disk-like moon and a blur of shining stars rest on the thick dark cloud.

I tap on my phone screen to confirm what time it is.

"Damn!" it's already midnight. There's no way I can get a cab, and I can't walk home -not in these heels. I can't call my mom because she's out to God knows where, and she hates being disturbed. I decide to walk down the street, who knows, I might luckily see a cab.

As I'm about to leave,

"Do you need a ride home?" A sweet, soft, dazzling voice asks from behind me, and I turn to know who dazzled me with such a voice.

Seriously? it's Morgan, AGAIN.

I sigh and say "no I don't."

"Are you sure about that? cause I don't think you'd see any cab around at this time of the night,"

He says, stressing his sight at his cheap old wristwatch.

"It's 12:am," he adds.

Does he have to say it? I hate the fact that he's handsome, eloquent, and seems friendly.

"Don't pressure, I'm not getting into your wreck car." I stamp on, with the faith of getting somewhere. But looking down the road, I just can't see the end.

He chuckles, following me.

"You haven't even seen it."

"Do I have to? I've seen you, and your car won't be any different from your clothes," I blunt, and he chuckles.

"We talking about my clothes now?"

"No, not at all, and will you stop following me?!" I yell as I turn to him, and I can feel pains down my ankles.

"I'm not. that's my house and my car is packed there," he says gesturing his head at this Still-quaint house, in my opinion.

"I don't think you'd last if you continue streaking in those," he says, looking down at my heels.

"Thanks, but I can manage," I tell him, but deep down inside I need a ride home, my feet hurt so badly. Can you imagine? the heels I bought with my own money.

"Suit Yourself," he says and walks across the road.

Maybe not so friendly. how can he give up on a vulnerable girl just like that?

"Okay," I say and walk towards this house across. "Wait!" I tell him. My pride can't ruin me

"Fine, but just because my feet hurt, don't get any funny ideas," I add, and he smiles.

I follow him to the house across. A 1990s Chevrolet Camaro ss is packed at the front. He gets into the car and starts the engine. He stretches out his head from the passenger-rolled-down window. "Are you coming?" He asks.

My eyes widen. You gat to be fucking kidding me.

"No, no, no, no. I can't get inside of that..." I say with my palm held up, shaking my head.

"Well miss, this is the only available car for you as of now," he says from the rolled-down window.

"Unfortunately," I mumble.

Who in the world cursed my day to be like this? First: Tracy and I fought for no good reason. Second: Lucian puked on me, and now this. I contort my face in annoyance as I get into the car. I can't even order a car, my mom's idea of punishment is just so aching.He drives me into my yard without questions. How did he know my house?

"How do you know this is my house?" I ask with curiosity.

"I guess There's a lot of things we are yet to know about each other," he says with a smirk face.

"Oh, there's nothing I want to know about you," I say.

"Absolutely nothing," I add with a hand gesture, and all he does is smile.

I come out of his 1990's. I must say, the ride isn't as bad as it looks. As I'm about to walk away, I turn and thank him in the most cold-polite way, and he smiles in response. I wonder why he smiles a lot, but I must admit, he's so handsome when he does.

THE NEXT MORNING, the alarm buzzes, and I gently open my eyes.

I turn upwards facing the ceiling. I Am aware I'm supposed to be getting ready for school. School? Exactly, the same school Tracy, Lucian, and the wretch attend. I don't know how today is going to be after all that happened last night. I should apologize to Tracy but I'm terrible at apologizing to anyone, but I have to.

And Lucian?

Jess, I'm tired of that boy, he's driving me nuts. I wonder how he and I became friends and best friends at that.

And as for Morgan, oh God, hope nobody saw me entering his 1990s.

I stand up from my bed and tell myself it's going to be alright. Last night was already today's mess, nothing can go wrong, that's if I do it right. I walk to the window and slide The curtains open.

It's a beautiful morning. The bright sun, the fresh breeze, and the fragrance smell coming from the garden, somehow assure me how wonderful my day is going to be. I walk to my closet, smiling. Without much selection, I pick a pink tweed short and a white laced crochet top that has a cute bowtie up at the back. I toss it on my bed and get Inside the bathroom. The warm water soothes me, and in less than no time, I come out of the bathroom and get dressed. I decided not to wear makeup today, and I can still feel pains in my ankles. I bring out a sandal made of strap lining materials, it's flat with fits, I wear them and it looks nice. I go to my mom's room to check on her, but she's not there and her bed is still neatly arranged as nobody slept on it. I go downstairs and can't see her anywhere. I'm not that surprised, this isn't her first.

Oh no, "ugh!" I groan.

Now what I'm I going to do? If only she didn't restrict me from driving my cars I would have driven myself to school. Really? This early I'm already frustrated. Guess I'm walking to school, and I don't know if I can.

Yes, it's just 25minutes but I'm not used to streaking, I've never really walked to school. I could have called Tracy but she's deadly mad at me. I hear a car drive in. I come out of the house and see Tracy parked in front. I surprisingly stand and stare at her quietly.

"You coming?" She asks strictly. I can see a wave of slight anger in her eyes

"Yeah...sure," I reply tentatively, and get into the car, and she Zooms off.

We say nothing to each other all through the rid. We get to school and she parks the car. We both come out of the car and go inside the school. I walk behind her, and she stops at her locker. I stand beside her, "Tracy, about yesterday I'm so sorry, I didn't mean those things I said," I apologize.

and After two seconds, she says, "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have tossed you or anything, I just -" She stops talking like she can't express how sorry she is.

"It's okay, I understand." I believe she's sorry.

"God! I hate it when we fight," she says, and we both hug each other.

"Ahem."

I turn with an idea of who that may be.

"Hi obnoxious," Morgan says.

"what?! Obnoxious?! seriously?" I am not in any way obnoxious. Maybe I am. God! He's so annoying.

"yeah, I don't know your name so I just give you one from your attitude," he says to me, and I shake my head in annoyance and walk away. They are other beautiful names he could call me. Well, it will be weird for him to do that.

MORGAN.

I do enjoy the part when she acts angry and prideful. She's not sweet at all, and that's something so interesting. I watch her leave with a smile on her face.

"Is she always like that?" I gradually turns to Tracy.

She brings out a chemistry textbook and holds it to her chest, then slams her locker. "Yeah, but she's so sweet. For a girl who has gone through a lot, she still manages to smile and be happy."

I was kinda surprised when she replies with a 'yes' but as she goes on, it seems serious and looks like there is more to her attitude.

"What happened to her?" I'm more concerned than curious.

"Let's just say something excruciating," she says, and I curiously look at her, and we both amble to class.

SAM.

I get to my class and see his face again. This time, I want to punch his face so hard that his teeth would fall off his mouth. I blink hard at him and sit on my desk. He walks up to me. He bends at the front of my desk, and his arms are lying on my table. "Sam, I am really sorry about last night, I was drunk and didn't know what I -"

"Enough, I don't want any of your apologies. It's morning Lucian, I don't want to have a bad day cause of you. And also, don't apologize when you know full well that you'd be repeating that same thing," I cut in.

"Really Sam, you are going to be like this? I still remember last summer when you poured orange juice on my new white T-shirt."

"It was only a T-shirt."

"It was an expensive one."

"That was a pure mistake," I say.

"Was it? and did you make another mistake? of course you did. You cussed Veronica, and that was only a week ago."

"That wasn't a mistake. She started It," I say in a challenging tune.

Tracy, who just enters the class with Morgan, strides toward us and whispers, "You both know Veronica is seated right next to you and can hear both of your foolishness."

Both me and Lucian look at Veronica, and her eyes glaring at me. Veronica and I never see eye to eye on anything. Simple, we don't like each other. She has a lot of piercings on both earlobes. She's a friend of Lucian, and I hate that she is. She tosses her red hair and looks forward. Her white crop-top showed her navel pierce, and her rugged jean trouser showed her pale laps, pale as her face. She's pretty though, but irresponsibly pretty.

I roll my eyes. "Do you think she heard us?" Lucian whispers, and I slowly shake my head at Lucian's stupid question.

"I care not," I tell him.

As Mrs. Huston enters the class, Lucian goes back to his seat.

"Nice to see all of you again," she says like she means it.

"So what do you all think about midsummer night dream? Mrs. Huston asks.

"I think it's boring. Asks me about fifty shades of gray, and I'll tell you how shady and not-boring it is," Veronica says.

I'm unfazed that she just mentioned fifty shades of grey, it's more of her style.

"Well, I have to agree with the red-haired. Fifty shades of grey have actions," Morgan utters.

I almost gasped, because I didn't think he was a pervert. I just scoff, tapping the bottom of my pen on top of my copy of midsummer night dream. First of all, that isn't the question. Second of all, how can they be talking about a novel of such amid Mrs. Huston?

"Is there anything you'd like to add, miss Raymond?" Mrs. Huston asks, probably thinking I'll say something more sensible. Morgan places his elbow on his desk, and rests his chin on his palm, giving me a challenging look.

"No, I Just..." I pause, as Morgan sits up and gives a cocky smile to himself.

What does he see himself as? I won't let him think he's better and right. I clench my Jew and slowly turn to Mrs. Huston.

"As a matter of fact, yes," I add as I drag my lips into a forceful smile. I turn my body to the side facing him, so ready to disagree.

"Fifty Shades of grey is obscene," I say firmly.

He pushes his face forward. "How so?"

I furrow my brows. "It is based on sex," I say, feisty.

He raises his brows. "Do you have a problem with sex?"

My mouth parts in shock, cause I didn't think he would ask that. "No..." I drawl. "I'm just not a pervert."

He creases his brows and tilts his head. "Do you mean everybody that loves the novel is a pervert?"

My mouth twitches, as I search for a perfect comeback. "No, but-"

"Why did you read it when you are totally against it?" He cuts in.

I gulp unable to answer.

"I guess perverts aren't all bad." He mutters as he straightens up and looks forward.

At this moment my Jaw has fallen and my eyes are twitching, staring at him. I try not to feel like the loser, so I just eyeball him and look away. I see eyeballs plastered all over, like a wall paint that is painted on me. Funny, I just realized I'm still inside the classroom and there was a lecture going on before I interrupted. I can't even imagine how loud we were.

Speaking of lectures. I raise my head slowly and jam my eyes to Mrs. Huston's consuming eyes. It's like if she had the chance, she would throw me into a deep forest and have me eaten by wolves.

"Are you two done with the chart?" Mrs. Huston sounds angry, of course, she's angry, we are in the middle of Shakespeare and we are discussing E. L. James. I can feel Morgan's eyes staring at me, but I refuse to stare back. The bell rings and I quickly pick up my bag from the table and sidle out. Tracy follows but Mrs. Huston calls her.

As I walk down the hallway, I can feel the breath of someone close behind me. "That was combat," his voice says, and by his voice, I mean Morgan's dazzling voice.

I stop and face him. "No it was not, you were deliberately being obtuse," I tell him, and he brings his face closer to mine.

"Perhaps I was being obtuse, but what does it matter to you?" He says it triumphantly and ends it with a beautiful smile. Why is his smile still beautiful when he is acting mischievously? How unfair is nature? He struts away.

My Jew drop and I look up and see him walking in triumph.I want to say a lot of harsh words to him right now. "Ugh!" I groan and bite my lips.

A pod on my shoulder, and I turn and see Tracy.

"Are. You. Okay?" she asks.

"No, I'm not. Your wretch of a boyfriend is giving me a hard time."

"If you mean Morgan, he's not my boyfriend," she says.

"Yet," she adds. I roll my eyes.

"And also, you shouldn't have gone against him..." She leans closer to me.

"Who doesn't love fifty shades of grey?" She tells me sotto-vocally.

I roll my eyes.

"But seriously, why do you hate the poor guy for no reason?"

What! That's not true. There are a lot of reasons. Like the way, he talks, smiles argues, and for being so handsome. Okay, maybe I don't have a sensible reason, but he so much annoys me!Because she is somehow right, I just groan and progress forward, she ambles beside me. Then I remember.

"What did Mrs. Huston talk to you about?"

She sighs. "What else?"

Yeah, I know. "Is your dad still on about the extra class?"

Tracy's dad has been asking her to take extra lessons since 10th grade, preparing her for college. Tracy doesn't want to, because she thinks it's all Bullshits. Just like always, he makes her favorite teacher talk her through it, but it never really works out, and I know Mrs. Huston was not quite successful. I wonder why her dad has never come to me for it, he knows I'm the only one with a 99.9% chance of talking her into it. Or maybe he thinks it will be odd since his purpose is to make her better than her peers, which is obviously me.

At this time, we are already exiting from school.

"You should take the classes," I say vaguely.

I take a step forward before I realize she's not following. I turn to her, she looks all surprised. I get the fact that since she has been telling me about this extra class I have never really said anything. That's because I don't think her dad is right to push her child into being better than her best friend.

"Seriously you should."

I care for her, and if this is a good thing for her, then she should attend extra classes. I don't care if she's better than me. I'm not in a competition with anyone, especially not with my best friend.

She gives a big nod with a smiling face. I know she has been waiting for me to say something, just to know if I'm okay with her taking a step toward being better than me. But there is something she and her dad is missing. If I don't think I'm better, I would be running to extra classes, but I know what I am. I'm just good enough.

MY DAYS RUNS FAST, and I'm so glad it did. Tracy and Morgan are getting closer by the minute, and I? 'm invisible. More invisible since she started taking extra classes. Tracy And I are seated in the school cafeteria.

"I can't drive you home today," She tells me.

"I understand," I say vaguely as I ping on my phone.

I feel ignored by her. And it's like two things are taking her away from me. Her extra classes and Morgan.

Speaking of the devil. He arrives with a tray of chicken nuggets. I practically yelp inside at the sight of both him and his food.

He sits down close to Tracy, and I'm facing them both with a table in-between. He drops his tray slightly on the table, next to Tracy's tray of sandwiches and apple-flavored juice.

Tracy flicks her long braids behind her and places down her elbow just before her Tray.

And she starts to stare at Morgan, with that same annoying, Irresistible smile of hers. You know, the funniest part is that she gets all ready to dig her eyes into his. Morgan gives a brief smile and faces down his food. I think Morgan was right. I no longer find this annoying, but amusing. And I think they are delaying the whole process, or maybe she is. Since Morgan finds my friend amusing, how about I help his life be full of fun and laughter. I shift my tray of grilled sandwiches and cross my hands on top of the table as I lean forward. I put on a smile, you can say mischievous.

"When are you going to ask her out?" I ask bluntly, and both Morgan and Tracy look at me with wide eyes and then shyly look at each other. And I just shake my head at their awkwardness.