Chapter 2

Lindsay's POV

It's the next day, Thursday. I'm taking my Pre-Calculus, AP Physics, and Spanish 3 final today. Tomorrow I'm taking my AP English and AP European History final. Ugh. But on the bright side, I don't have to do any work in the classes.

"Hey, Orosz!" Someone called. I turned around and saw Mical and Chris Montgomery. Two of my best friends. Chris is a year older than Mical and I, but he's still shorter than both of us. He's about 5'7" and Mical's 5'11.5". Yup, don't know how that happened. They're both tall with almost bleach blonde hair, but Mical's is wavier then Chris's. Chris has hazel eyes and Mical has green.

I ran over to them. "You guys are back!" I gave them a big hug.

"Yup!" Chris said. "And the Grand Canyon was great by the way."

I pulled away. "Good to know." We sat down on the bleachers by the football field. "Guys I have some news. Bad news."

"What is it?" Chris asked. If you haven't noticed already, Mical's kinda quiet.

"Apparently, my parents have had enough of my 'rebellious attitude'. So their solution is to send me to California for the summer." I told them. "And I'm leaving Saturday."

"What?!" Chris yelled. "That's…that's…just…-"

"A bunch of BULLSHIT!" Mical yelled.

Chris looked at his brother. "Exactly. You took the words right out of my mouth." He looked back at me. "This is so stupid. Why would sending you away be a good thing?"

"They think you guys are a bad influence." I said casually. "I don't see it. I mean, I make my own choices. I pick the music I want to listen to. You guys just introduced it to me. Same with my clothing style. I chose to wear it. But they won't listen."

"That's just fucked up." Mical said.

"That has got to be the most you've ever said in under 5 minutes." I said trying to lighten the mood. He glared at me then chuckled. Chris and I laughed with him. It was nice seeing him happy again. He used to be really depressed and cut to deal with things. But I helped him stop cutting and get over his depression. He and Chris were bullied because of their sexuality. Mical was bi and Chris gay. Mical always took it worse than his brother while Chris ran to get someone or to get away; under Mical's orders of course. There's no way that Chris would leave his brother on purpose. I guess Mical was thinking about suicide but wasn't sure because of his brother.

Then I met them and defended them against the bullies. I helped Mical and botta bing botta boom we're all Besties.

The bell rang for class. "Guys we should get to class." They nodded and we left. When we got inside we went our separate ways for first period. We don't really have any classes together. Chris is a year older then me and Mical and I'm in almost all advanced classes. Not that Mical's stupid it's just he's really quiet and not the best test taker. He's more of a hands on learner.

Anyways, I got to Pre-Calc and got my final to take from my teacher. I finished it by the end of the hour and then headed to AP European History. I didn't have to take the final today so I just studied for it in the back of the room where I sat next to Mical. Yes, this is the only advanced class he has. It's because he's great with projects but he wont admit that.

After that class I went to AP Physics, took my final, and orchestra after that. Orchestra is my favourite class because: 1. I love playing the cello 2. Brendan and Mical are in this class and 3. We're all like a big family. Everyone in 10th grade in this class (all high schoolers in orchestra are in one class) have been together since like 6th grade. It's the best.

Then lunch. At lunch I sit in a darkish corner of the cafeteria with Miranda, Brendan, Peter, Mical, and Chris. Miranda has other friends too but she chose to sit with me during lunch. Also, Peter and Brendan were quite popular before I 'changed'. But because they were such great friends to me, they gave that all up to support me. I love my friends. Lunch went by quickly with Miranda, Chris, and I bugging Peter and Brendan about how they would make a good couple. Mical was just smirking to himself. I knew he thought so, too. After lunch, I went to Spanish with Brendan, Miranda, and Peter. We all have Spanish together. But Evan and Alex are in this class. So it's a good and bad thing.

I went up to my teacher, Mrs. Harris, to get my final to take in the library that hour because everyone was reviewing for the final that they would be taking next week.

I finished and went to my last class AP English. I love this class. This has to be my second favourite class. First being orchestra of course. Miranda's in this class and I sit by her and all my classmates are great for the most part. Also, my teacher, Mrs. Lio is the best teacher in the 10th grade. She's awesome!

****TIME JUMP****FRIDAY END OF THE SCHOOL DAY****

School had just ended for the week and for the year for me. Mical was coming over today to help me pack. Miranda couldn't, Chris was piled with homework, so that left Mical.

So I was on my way to Mical's car when the three Tweedles showed up.

"Hey, Linz." Deaton said to me. "Heard you're leaving tomorrow."

"Yeah it's about time, too." His boyfriend, Tonn 1 said to me. "I thought that you would never leave."

"Yeah." Tonn 2 said to me. "The important thing is though guys, she's finally leaving."

"We don't need you around anymore." They all said in sync.

"Can you answer this one question for me?" I asked them and continued without pause. "Why are you guys so mean to me? Why did I ever do to you? I mean, I helped you two realize your feelings for each other. And I dated both of you. So you must've liked me at some point."

None of them answered. They looked surprised at my question. "You changed. Just because Andrew cheated on you." Alex said to me. "And you went off on him when he wouldn't spend time with you that day. What gives you the right to do that?"

"Plus you're kinda irritating now." Andrew said.

"And a bit of a bitch." Evan added.

I held back tears. "Thanks." My voice came out a little raspy. "At least now I know why you guys are such assholes to me." And I kept walking to Mical's car.

"Hey, what was that about?" He asked as we got in the car.

"Just a goodbye from The Golden Gays and Third Wheel." I answered him. "Nothing I couldn't handle." And we drove in silence after that, me still trying to hold back tears. Why did those things hurt me so much? I think I always knew how they felt, but I guess it's different hearing it for yourself. What's wrong with me?

We got to my house and immediately started packing my stuff. We were done in just over an hour. It was mostly silent packing. Mical doesn't talk much, if you haven't noticed already. Chris jokes that me and Mical have a 'psychic bond' and can communicate telepathically. It's not true, we just know each other well. I helped him when he was in a very dark place. I taught him not to depend on bad things like drugs to make you feel good. I told him to depend on good things. I also told him not to bottle things up, but he doesn't have to talk if he doesn't want to. I know it's confusing but it worked. He'd probably be lost without me.

"Lindsay?" Mical called from the living room.

"Yeah?" I answered.

He walked into the kitchen where I was making a snack. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course." This must be serious if he's asking that.

"Don't get mad." I was worried now. "Did you even try to convince your parents to let you stay?"

I snapped my head up, shocked that he would ask that question. "Of course I did. But you know how they are. Once they set their minds to something, they're not backing down."

"But isn't that how you are though?" Mical asked. "'I'm not gonna back down no matter what. I'll fight for what I want. Deal with it bitch' attitude."

"That's still me!" My voice rose in volume. I was seriously getting offended right now. I may have slight anger issues.

"Oh really?" Mical said. "Cause it doesn't seem like it! If you are still that then you wouldn't be leaving. We wouldn't be packing all your shit so you could leave to California tomorrow!"

I stood up for emphasis. "You think I didn't fucking fight to stay here?!"

"No." He stood up and looked down at me. "I KNOW that you didn't fight."

"You don't know shit about me or what happened that day!" I yelled at him. I was fucking angry right now.

"Obviously something happened!" Mical screamed. "Cause you're fucking being sent to LA for the summer!"

"You know what Mical?" I started playing dirty now. "You're just fucking jealous that I get to go to California for the summer without you!"

"Oh please!" Mical yelled. "Like I would wanna go anywhere with a self-centered bitch like you!"

"Yeah!" I screeched. "Well this 'self-centered bitch' was the one that helped your depressed and suicidal fag ass!"

"It was mostly Chris that helped!" He protested. "You were just THERE! I could've found my way without you there, taking up space." He kept on screaming at me. "You're also a big whore! You dated Andrew and Evan within only a couple weeks of breaking up with the other! You're a fucking slut!"

"Get the FUCK! OUT. OF. MY. HOUSE!" I screeched at him. "NOW, YOU FUCKING EMO FAGGOT!"

"GLADLY, BITCH!" He grabbed his keys and ran out, slamming the door on his way.

**SATURDAY AT THE AIRPORT**

I was at the airport saying my goodbyes. Mical of course wasn't here. He told Chris what happened yesterday and twisted it to make him seem like the victim. So Chris wasn't here of talking to me. That left Miranda, Brendan, Peter, my parents, and my little sister, Maddy. She's 11, 12 in a little over a month.

"Don't let anyone replace us, Lou." Miranda told me, as we hugged, trying to hold back tears. Both of us.

"No one could ever replace you guys." I reassured her. I pulled away from the hug. "You guys are the only ones that actually GET me." I looked over at Peter and Brendan. "Don't think you guys are getting out if hugging me goodbye." I smiled, holding out my arms.

Brendan ran forward, almost knocking me down. "Wouldn't ever dream of it." He whispered into my ear, sniffing a bit. "What if I need relationship advice?"

He has a crush on Peter. I chuckled a bit. "Miranda's advice is just as good as mine." I pulled away and motioned for Peter. He fake groaned and slowly walked forward to my open arms. I nearly crushed him in a hug. And he to I. I heard him sniff quietly. "Just keep working at him and you'll have him eventually. Just go for it. 15 seconds of-"

"Pure, reckless courage." He finished for me. "I know." He pulled away.

"Even if he does like you," Peter also likes Brendan. I've been helping them both without revealing that the other likes them. "he's not gonna make the first move. YOU have to."

"12:00 FLIGHT TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA LEAVING IN 15 MINUTES."

"That's me." I sniffed and wiped away some tears. I grabbed my carryon, my luggage was all set. There was one more group hug and then I left to board the plane.

I was in first class and had the window seat. There was only one more seat in my row. The girl that sat next to me had pitch black hair, chocolate brown eyes with eyeliner and a little dark eyeshadow around them that made the pop. She was wearing black, ripped, skinny jeans and a band T-shirt. I couldn't see who the band was because she had a black vest on over it.

The flight attendant just said to fasten our seat-belts because we were about to lift off. So I grabbed my iPod, blared Knives and Pens by Black Veil Brides, and started to read on my iPod.

About a minute into the song, the girl next to me tapped my shoulder. I looked at her and pulled out one of my earbuds. "Is that Knives and Pens by Black Veil Brides that you're listening to?" She asked.

"Yeah." I answered. "You a fan?"

She smiled and pulled open her vest revealing a BVB T-shirt. "A huge fan. I'm guessing you are, too."

"No, I'm just like listening to music I hate." I gave her my 'duh' look. "Course I am."

"What's your name?" She asked me.

"Lindsay Orosz." I answered. "You?"

"Evangeline Grey." She answered. "But please call me Ev or Evan."

I smiled at her. "Sure, Ev." This was gonna a better flight than I thought.