****PLEASE READ THE NOTE AFTER THIS CHAPTER




I didn’t feel like going back to my classroom and I hadn’t eaten at all so I decided on making a trip to the cafeteria. I swiped my student ID card and entered the room that reminded me so much of how a college cafe would look like. Linoleum floors, fluorescent lighting, and tables with benches where cliques of people sat munching as they chit chatted about probably meaningless crap. I smiled a real smile for the first time all day when luck finally favored me and I saw a familiar couple at one of the tables.

"You could be eating at table 7 where they’re at, but you’re here?" I asked Adri as I swung a leg over the bench and got comfortable, setting my junk down with a dulled thunk.

"Have you seen table 7 love? It’s a shit show," Johnny said, shaking his head in mock sadness. “There hasn’t been anything decent to eat in that area since it was established," he explained, wrinkle lines appearing around his eyes.

"So true," Adri agreed through such a big bite of cheeseburger. “Plus, they have a salad bar here," she added as she finished chewing, wiping away a blob of ketchup from the corner of her mouth.

Johnny pouted. “I was going to get that for you babe," he whined, pecking a kiss to the corner of her lips where the sauce had previously been. It was nauseatingly adorable.

"Adri, never once, have I ever seen you eat a salad," I questioned, trying to be serious, but it was hard when I was around such a cheerful and uncomplicated couple. I had a small knot of jealousy somewhere in my throat, but I swallowed it down and just let their good vibes radiate like sunshine, melting away the storm clouds that had been menacing in my mind these past few horrid weeks.

"Yeah, but it’s nice to know it’s there if I ever have the sudden urge to go vegetarian," she said before she shoved more of the greasy food in face. Johnny watched her raptly before turning his attention back to me. I was surprised because he was always just so drawn to Adri since they started dating. It all started when she constructed a small crush from my across the street neighbor to this huge attachment that soon conquered both of them. It's been 2 years since they've been dating and since then they still continue to be that quirky couple everyone can't resist but love. He revolved around each her; Johnny the moon and Adri his Earth.

"Have you even been to the table yet?" He inquired, eyes scrutinizing me carefully like this was a life-changing question.

"No, I haven’t," I admitted as I stole a chip from Adri's plate. She smacked my hand playfully before I shoved the salty goodness in my mouth.

"Lots of hot lads to be had, if you know what I mean," He smirked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, running his hands up and down his torso.

"Everyone knows what you mean Johnny," I said, placing my fingers on his forehead to stop his stupid facial expression. People had started to stare at his stupid dance and Adri reached over to swat his shoulder so he’d quit it, even though I knew she loved seeing him like that.

"Aren’t you supposed to be in class?" Adri questioned after Johnny had finally stilled, suddenly realizing that it was an odd time of day for us to be hanging out.

"Yeah, but on my way to class I ran into Niall and we actually had a normal conversation, no arguments or harsh words exchanged but like two friends chatting."

"So you like the Irish lads now?" smirked Johnny emphasizing "Irish" in his British accent which was one of the many things Adri, me and many others adored about Johnny besides his immature behavior... that and it also reminded me of someone particular.

"Anyways, then Trevor brought up the terrifying incident of Jakes' and I went mental so I left," I rambled, hoping I had given enough just detail to satisfy them so they wouldn’t press me for more information. Because let’s face it, I’d lose it if I had to go into detail here in front of everyone in the cafeteria. I’d rather tell Adri and Sissy about it later tonight, when we lay in our beds, recapping our days like we normally did if she didn’t decide to spend the night at Johnny’s.

"Seriously. You should go to table 7 across the room. There’s this new kid, Luke Hemmings. You’d get on well with him and he's Australian," Johnny suggested.

"God couldn’t have given that boy a more fitting last name. He is pretty fucking gorgeous," Adri concurred. “Biceps. Like, bigger than my head," she said, her eyes going wide, her hands on either side of her face to try and exaggerate how huge this ‘Hemmings’ fellow’s arms were.

"Oi! Boyfriend. Right here," Johnny said snottily, pointing to himself, his index finger poking his own peck. “And my arms are pretty fucking great too," he added, flexing, causing the thin fabric of his shirt to bulge dangerously.

I seriously thought the material was gonna split in half. Adri was a lucky, lucky girl.

"Yes, babe you’re ripped," she cooed soothingly before she pecked his bicep in a sweet manner. “But I don’t think Luke's right for her," Adri said quickly, looking down and biting her lip like she was hiding something.

"He's really gorgeous though." I sighed staring at his table luckily none of them noticed.

"Then there’s-" but I didn’t hear what Johnny was telling me because I felt a sudden cold, thick substance coat my hair, ooze down the back of my neck, and drip heavily into my eyes.

I lifted my hands to wipe away the frozen liquid and saw chocolate milkshake all over my fingertips through my eyes.

"Stupid fucking slut," I heard from behind my back. I turned to see a girl holding an extra large, now empty, cup, clutched in her perfectly manicured hand. She had frosted blond hair, flawless makeup, a Burberry coat, and shoes that I’m sure I could never have afforded in this life time, that is, if I wanted ugly stuff in life.

I hadn’t even noticed that Adri had gotten up and was now standing inches in front of this girl who I recognized as Katie. “What did you say?" Adri hissed, so close to Katie that the bitch tottered backwards on her heels a bit.

"You heard me. She’s a stupid fucking slut who slept with half of this school already," she shot back confidently. “In these past few years," she added, a lazy smirk crossing her overly glossed lips.

"You don’t know anything," Adri retorted, but her voice was calm. I tried to grab Adri’s wrist to pull her away from Katie but Adri snatched it from my reach, unwilling to let the insult slide.

"I know she’s a whore. Just like every single of you. She slept with Eddi-" but she was never even allowed to finish because Adri hauled off and slapped her solidly across the face. The whole cafeteria echoed with the smacking sound and the force of it caused the girls face to snap sideways. A big red handprint was already visible and it happened not even five seconds ago.

A tall, attractive British lad had been standing behind Katie who people have told me his name was, Finn Harries, who also had a twin. I don't know what was up with all these British people at my school but I guess you can say its from the exchange program our school held. I hadn’t even noticed him because my eyes were, one, still filled with the desert and two, I was so focused on my best friend and what she was doing.

The guy was big and fit. Not the ‘I work out everyday’ big, but tall. He grabbed the hand that Adri had used to slap the girl and now held it tightly, crushing it in his much larger fist. It was obvious he was hurting Adri, her delicate facial features doing their hardest not to scrunch up in pain and show weakness, but she was failing. I could see the beginning of tears starting in the corners of her eyes as I sat there helpless, covered in dairy, not knowing what to do.

"Are you seriously hurting a girl?" Johnny asked, malice in his voice as he stood, his posture as relaxed as ever, but the veins in his neck were visible.

"She hit my girlfriend," he said dimly, as if that were a valid reason for a man who looked to be twice Adri’s bodyweight, because she IS tiny, to lay a hand on a woman.

"Well, that’s my girl, mate. And yours just happened to make the catastrophic mistake of starting shit by assaulting our best friend, yeah?" Johnny said, jerking his finger in my direction, pointing out that I was still covered in what used to be one of my favorite comfort drinks.

Everyone in the cafeteria was now standing on tiptoes, crowding around to see what was happening. Whispers could be heard, and I could make out my name amongst them, with nasty slurs and hateful rumors. I shivered under the realization that this is why everyone had been staring at me these past few days, weeks, years. I was a joke and everyone had a different story for what had happened that fateful night at Jake's family reunion. But how did they find out?

"It’s not my fault your friend is a whore," Finn spit, finally releasing his grip on Adri and standing up to Johnny. The height difference between the two was almost the same and the tension was mutual. I could hear Johnny grinding his fists from where I sat dumbly, hands folded, still sticky with chocolate.

"She almost got raped!" Johnny shouted and the room got so silent, you could have heard a pin drop. I could feel people’s judgmental stares burrowing into me, burning their way into the very core of me. I felt like I was coming apart, I should have just stayed in art class… or better yet, home.

"You’re a liar, your girlfriend’s a bitch and I still say Lynn is a cun-" and Johnny threw a punch so hard, directly to the asshole’s jaw that what happened next seemed to go in slow motion, like in those fight scenes in movies.

Finn flew backwards, spittle flying from his mouth, face filled with blood. He landed first on his ass to soften the fall and then sprawled on his back, arms and legs splayed like a starfish. Katie, immediately ducked down and started patting his check, trying to wake him from his punch-drunk hit.

Johnny shook his hand a few times, trying to relieve some of the pain from landing such a blow, but then quickly grabbed Adri and I, and quickly escorting us out of the room that was buzzing back to life with cries of “did you see that?!" and “holy shit!" followed by the clacking and beeping sound of people texting and dialing others on their mobiles to spread the gossip like wild fire.

We speed walked our way towards the hallways, to the front of our school, so I could get cleaned up when I heard my name being called.

"Lynn! Lynn! Lynn! Would you wait the fuck up?" a familiar voice puffed.

“Your books," Adri and Johnny added in allusion.

I spun around and saw Niall clutching my satchel, looking at Johnny and Adri awkwardly. When he finally made his way up to me, he dropped my bag and stood for a while. I couldn’t hold it in any longer and just let the tears flow freely as my friends watched on.

"Your coat," I said, pointing to the chocolate stains all over Niall’s shoulder where I had laid my head, but he shrugged like it was no big deal.

"Nothing like a little dry cleaning can’t fix, ey" Niall directed at me with a smile. He turned to Johnny and stuck out a hand. “Thanks mate. Saw the whole thing but I couldn’t get over there fast enough. Johnny, right?" he said as they shook, and John nodded his head in slight approval.

"Yeah. And you’re Niall, that crazy chick's brother’ right? Seen you around but never really had much of a chance to talk since we run in different circles," Johnny said, appraising the lad in front of him, a spark of recognition in his eyes. Adri put her arm around my waist because I was shivering due to the wind and milkshake combination.

"That’s right, or Jakes best friend would be better haha," Niall chuckled nervously. He now had his hands stuck in his pockets as Johnny put on the jacket he remembered to grab before he dragged the two of us out of the cafeteria. “Anyways, as a thank you for helping out Lynn and me personally apologizing for my sisters idiotic move, come to me party at my house tomorrow night," he offered, a gesture of friendship or acquaintanceship.

"I dunno," Johnny answered, rocking back and forth on his feet, his words making white puffs in the cold air. “We’re in different groups and all and I don’t know if that’s the best idea…” he added, letting his sentence drop off into nothingness, but Adri stepped in.

"Party?" She questioned eagerly, her face already an excited and clear ‘yes’ causing Niall to chuckle.

"Heaven and hell theme. Starts at 9-ish. Bring whoever ya like but costumes are required for girls," Niall rattled off the requirements, but I started to protest.

"I don’t wann-" but I felt Johnny clamp a hand around the bottom half of my face.

"We’ll be there mate," Johnny confirmed and Adri did a little squealing dance, arms thrown up in the air and everything.

"Perfect. Later guys. Sorry Lynn." Niall said as he handed me my messenger bag and turned off in the other direction.

"A party!" Adri tittered. “This is gonna be so much fun!" she continued, beginning to run back towards Johnny's car.

"And I have the perfect date for you Lynn," Johnny continued where his girlfriend left off, as if they shared the same brain.

"I’m not going," I told them firmly, mind still reeling over what a terrible day I had had, dragging my feet with a scuffling sound.

"Oh yes you are," He demanded, his lips in a firm line, his eye had a no nonsense set to them.

"Now let’s get you cleaned up and pick out what we’re gonna wear," Adri bubbled, linking arms with me and forcing me forward. “This is gonna be so much fun!" she repeated. “And you’re gonna have a date!"

My mind remembered back to Jake who I knew was going to be at this party. This party I was going to that I had a mystery date for. Besides, this was probably going to be a huge thing and people were going to be in costume so the luck of me seeing him was small. Maybe I could phone Sissy and guilt tricks her into going with me instead.


***************************************************

I sat nervously on my bed smoothing out my costume, legs crossed at the ankle. My outfit was downright plain in comparison to Adri's. I wore a short, white, but cute, empire waisted dress that flowed to mid thigh. I had a bit of tinsel bobby pinned into my hair to represent a halo. I don’t exactly know what I was supposed to be, but I guess I got brownie points for not just wearing sweatpants. Adri had taken the whole thing to an extreme, wearing a form fitting, corseted shimmering red dress, matching heels, and little devil horns. She even had a pitchfork. I could see her getting in drunken trouble with that later tonight, most likely accidentally almost poking someone’s eye out… or maybe purposefully, considering recent events. I never thought I’d see the day where Adri would slap the living shit outta some girl for me. Now that’s true friendship.

“Put these on," she demanded as she held up shimmering, gold-feathered wings.

"Why? I’m already dressed up," I sputtered; I didn’t even want to attend this stupid thing. ‘I love her,’ I reminded myself. ‘Johnny punched someone for me. Adri went crazy on some bitch and they wanna party. You owe them tonight despite Jake,’ I encouraged myself, trying to give myself a rousing pep talk.

"It’ll finish off the look," she promised as she forced the elastic loops past my elbows and up under my armpits snuggly.

"Proper angelic," Johnny muffled voice could be heard as he walked into our dorm room.

"What the fuck are you?" I cackled, holding my sides because the laughter made me feel like I was falling apart. It was refreshing to laugh, something I had almost thought I had forgotten how to do.

"I am Moses and I come bearing the 10 commandments of partying," Johnny bellowed in deep, prophet-esque voice, proffering the ‘tablets’ for me to see. “Thou shalt drink and get laid tonight!" he boomed.

"I am not kissing you with that… that thing on your face," Adri told him, pointing sternly at his fuzzy fake beard.

"You never know, love. You might learn to like it," he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows playfully, trying to pull her in for a kiss. “I’d bet you’d be singing a different tune, this tickling wildly between your legs," Louis added cheekily. Adri blushed furiously, but didn’t seem entirely embarrassed to the idea, which made me want to vomit… but anyways, he finally managed to steal a kiss from my best friend and seemed to suddenly remember something, bolting back towards the door and dragging someone in from my hallway.

He was tall, wearing black skinny jeans, white fitted tank, blue short sleeved flannel and black vans, and perfectly styled quiff. On top of his blonde head though was one of those cheap gold children’s halo’s that was suspended on a wire from a headband.

"Meet your date for tonight, very good friend of mine," Johnny introduced with glee, as I noticed those familiar bottle blue eyes from across the tables at the cafeteria.

"And what are you tonight Luke?" I asked, giving him the once over, trying to figure his costume out.

"I’m a ripped angel, no big deal," Luke explained confidently in a soft voice, his dimples making the first appearance that reminded me of… him again.

I felt a surge of something: a profoundly confusing mix of love, hate, lust, sorrow, and an overpowering longing course through me. The hurricane swirled recklessly from my head, the rational thought, down to the pit of my stomach and then even lower to a place where a lot of my feelings for Jake and Harry always ended up. Fucking hormones. I hadn’t even gotten to Niall's house and I already felt sick.

"Pre-party?" Luke asked in a way that wasn’t really a question, bringing me back to the real world.

"Like you have to ask," Johnny snorted, ready to start the show and get some alcohol coursing in his all too sober veins. He rubbed his hands together causing friction, relishing the thought of a night filled with booze, his girl, his mate, and probably a wicked hangover in the morning proving it was time well spent. If you weren’t hungover the next morning according to Johnny, if you didn’t have a good night than it was a perfectly good waste because you took up alcohol he could have drunken. If you looked closely on his ‘commandments of partying’, number 9 was ‘thou shall have a hangover or the party was shit’.

I hopped onto my bed, perfectly balanced as I reached up and moved the decrepit white ceiling panel to reveal the partially drunk bottle of whiskey.

"I can’t believe you have that," Adri gasped fakely, reaching up to take the bottle from me so the night could begin, but Luke stopped her, wagging his finger and making a ‘tsk’ noise.

"Lynn?" Johnny asked, looking at me, "Where did you get this?" I stood silent for a while remembering about my freshman night I spent with Harry studying and as he brought alcohol over. I smiled to myself at the thought of how ridiculous and crazy Harry was sometimes. The thought of him being gone still hasn't registered right away and every little thought of him made me want to move to London as soon as possible.

"Nothing to worry about." I simply said not wanting to bring him up and just have a good time.

"Here’s to the night. Let’s leave behind this hell and find a little piece of heaven," I toasted, trying to come up with something profound that related to the night, but just managed to sound dumb and cliché before I tipped back my head and took a large swig, the liquor sloshing down my throat and then settling in my stomach with a familiar burn, settling there with the ache of Harry Styles.


**********

~*Jake's POV*~

This whole day had been busy for me. From the news Niall had told me yesterday after school to decorating for the party I felt confused. I felt weak and annoyed that Lynn hadn't bothered calling or texting back any of my calls or texts. I tried asking her to be my date to the party but she didn't seem to respond so with that I stopped contacting her knowing I'll see her tonight. As I walked down from upstairs the household was filled with teenagers everywhere and as I stared longer I recognized her. It was definitely Lynn, dressed as an angel, saint or goddess of some sort, but she looked fallen.

"Are you drunk," the guy smirked into Lynn's shoulder, her back still pressed against his chest, a set of crumpled and broken wings barely separating them.

I snatched Lynn’s elbow, her eyes opening wide as I began to drag her away. The jackass had a shocked and hurt look on his face, his hair wet and sticking to his forehead due to sweat and the heat in the room.

Lynn’s body was soft and light, easy to force her to come with me, but I could hear her shouting “what the fuck Jake!" from behind me.

I ignored her protests and forced her upstairs into Niall's room and shut the door with enough force to make the walls around us rattle. I was breathing hard, so hard I could feel my shoulders rising and falling with each inhalation and exhalation trying to control myself, but I knew it was a waste.

"What the hell was that Lynn? Who is that guy and why are you here?" I paced through the room unable to think things threw.

"I didn't want to be here for starters, but I came because Adri and Johnny dragged me into it and, yes, it sorta does feel great forgetting about all this recent shit that's happened to me, you, us." She wobbled, slightly off balance because she had probably drank a lot from what I could tell. She was standing against the opposite wall trying to sober up a bit.

"Looks like this isn't the only place you want to leave." I retorted back turning my body away from her. 'Fuck' I muttered under my own breathe regretting saying that.

"What is that suppose to mean?" She came closer her eyes brows furrowed in confusion waiting for me to speak.

"Niall told me about your plans to London, he said he overheard you and your friends talking about it and you're moving. Is that true?" I looked at her, clenching my fists due to the silence in the room. She didn't speak as she held her head down the whole time. "Lynn.. Is he right?" I chocked, raising my voice unknowingly.

"Niall told you? What was that jerk doing ease dropping on me? And yes Jake, I-I am moving to London after high school." She stuttered letting herself fall on top of the bed still dizzy from the alcohol. I froze and scratched my forehead where I still had fresh cuts and bruises from the crash that hurt like hell but I didn't care cause nothing could hurt more then the feeling right now. As soon as I was about to speak I heard a hard pounding on the door.

"Why are you moving? Is it because of HIM? Don't be dumb Lynn! There's nothing in London for you!" I yelled punching the wall, heavy breathes falling in between. She looked at me with wide eyes unsure if it was hatred, horrid or both.

"I'm not dumb... and-" but before she can finish someone knocked on the door.

“Fuck off, I'm busy!” I hollered but the door flew open and Lynn shot up surprised.

“Niall! What the hell man?” I belted out with anger.

She glanced between the two of us, the tears finally began to fall as she got up and tottered towards Niall, still obviously intoxicated.

“You can both go fuck yourselves.” She hurled the insult at us through a river of tears as she stormed out the door.

“Hey Lynn, where are you going?!" Called out Adri in confusion and concern and Lynn stopped In her tracks and called out a "I'll see you in school." and left the party.

Notes

Ok I'm really sorry about lacking the updates. My brother finally decided i had enough torture all summer and unblocked the website so yay for the update.

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