(Andi's POV)

As soon as the tire of Jax's bike hit the asphalt, I was up. I briskly walked toward the doors of the school, trying to ignore the way my feet squished.

"Andi! where are you going?" Jax called from the other side of the parking lot.

"To class!" I retorted without even turning around. I don't want to be near Jax any longer than I already have been today. I looked around, noticing how all the halls were completely empty. I heard Jax's rapid footsteps behind me, but I sped up my pace. I just wanted to get to class before I got suspended for being tardy.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I pursed my lips, knowing exactly who it was.

"I know taijutsu," I warned ominously. Jax turned me around.

"Come on! Don't you want a new outfit?"

"Like you of all people would care about me enough to get me some clean clothes."

"I'm not kidding. Just come to my locker so I can cast a spell without someone seeing!" he hissed.

"Oh, you want me to come to your locker? Why? So you can post pictures of me all over the internet? Or so you can lock me in there while I grow mold all day? I don't think, so buddy!" I shot back, fury coursing through my veins.

Jax just stared back at me, his adorable brown eyes filled with worry. Wait a minute, what did I just say!? Jax is in no way, shape or form adorable! There's nothing cute about him! And when did I start calling things adorable? Maybe Emma really is rubbing off on me…

I stomped away from the wizard, trying to hide how flustered I was by what I'd just thought.

"Andi, please! I'm just trying to help!" I felt a rush of adrenaline as soon as the words left his mouth. All the evil things he had done to me Emma and me, and yet he had the guts, he had the nerve to say he was just trying to help. No way I was gonna let that lie stand.

"Yeah, like I'm going to believe Jax 'The Bad Boy' Novoa is just trying to help me get some dry clothes. You've been nothing but a nuisance to everyone at this school! You prank everyone with your magic, you hit on Emma when she's clearly not interested, cause trouble and blame it on everyone but yourself, and use your spells to change your grades. Heck, if it wasn't for your magic, you wouldn't even be in this school. You'd be a D- student loser who nobody would want to be associated with. But since you can cast any spell know to man, you can get yourself leather jackets and dirtbikes, and hair gel, so that suddenly makes you a cool kid.

I don't know about you, but I've actually worked for the things I have! I study hard to get good grades, I trained hard to join the Sharks, and I work hard mowing lawns and pulling weeds in my neighborhood to get a couple bucks! You know why? Because I'm the only only one who's looking out for me! I can't even remember the last time my parents bought me anything! I have to pull my own weight in this world! And you just get to float through life with your magic. Everything you've ever wanted has been handed to you on a silver platter. You want something you don't have the money for? Cast a spell! Not passing algebra? Cast a spell! Stupid, selfish, and lazy? Uh-oh! I don't think there's a spell for than one! Nobody wants a jerk like you in their life! So why can't you just take a hint and realize that nobody wants you around!?" By the end of my rant, I was in Jax's face, spit shooting from my mouth with every word. His jaw was wide open, shocked. I noticed Miss Information recording me with her phone from behind a trash can, but I ignored her. I marched toward Mr. Iekner's class, my rage slowly subsiding.


I sat down next to Emma, my pants squelching.

"Andi, what happened? Why are you all wet?" Emma whispered as the bell rang.

"I got caught in the rain," I retorted.

"Jeez, I didn't mean to upset you."

"Sorry, Em. I'm just really steamed right now," I replied.

"Why? What happened? You didn't punch the lunch lady again, did you?"

"No, I didn't punch the lunch lady again!"

"Then what's wron-"

"Emma! Andi! No talking in class! Don't make me remind you again!" Mr. Iekner barked from the front of the class. I frowned, looking toward the chalkboard. "As I was saying, you just need to find the square root-" I easily tuned the teacher out, turning back toward my friend.

"We'll talk at lunch," I said.

"Come on! Just talk to me!" Emma whined.

"No!" I hissed back. "I can't get detention again!"

"You won't get detention!"

"I will if Mr. Iekner sees us talking again! You know how he is!"

"Just tell me quickly! I wanna know!"

"It's a long story, I can't just-"

"Miss Alonso. Miss Cruz. I will be expecting you at detention after school today. I will move your desks if I need. You can be quiet and respectful, and pay attention to the lesson, or I could give you both double detention. Your choice. Moving on. Quadratic equations are one of the most important…"

I glared at Emma angrily. She shook her head and shrugged, confused. I growled, crossing my arms and turning away from her. I couldn't believe she had gotten me detention. I was so screwed!


As the bell rang for lunch, I plopped down at an empty table. I was still furious at Emma. My mom was gonna kill me when she found out about my detention! I grabbed my thermos of oatmeal out of my lunchbox and began eating the slop with a plastic spoon.

Emma sat down at the table, a tray in her hands. I narrowed my eyes, turning away from her.

"Oh, come on Andi! I didn't mean to get you detention!" she said.

I didn't move.

"I'm sorry, okay? It was my fault, I swear I'll make it up to you. We can make a collage later if you want. I'll even play Zombie Apocalypse with you. Just please, talk to me," she pleaded.

Again, I didn't move. She didn't understand what was gonna happen if my mother found out. I'm not exactly sure how she'd react, but let's just say it won't be pretty.

"Andi, please! We're best friends! Best friends don't fight!" I clenched my teeth and gripped my spoon with frustration. She hadn't been acting like much of a best friend lately!

"I'm sorry! It's just detention anyway. It's not that big of a deal." That was the last straw. I unintentionally broke the plastic spoon in half, the pieces clattering to the tile floor. I whipped around, my eyebrows angled into a 'V' shape.

"No, it is big deal! You don't know what's going to happen when my mom finds out about this! You think this is just about detention!? I've gotten detention before! This is much worse! But you just know everything, don't you Emma!? Oh and by the way, if we're best friends then maybe you should act like it!" I shoved my oatmeal back in my lunch bag and strode away, seething with rage.

I was on my way to the teacher's lounge so I could secretly be alone while all the teachers were busy, but I was so blind with fury that I ran into someone head on. I fell backwards, angrily glaring up to see jax with a matching leer.

"Watch it," he growled, storming away before I could respond. I felt my anger slowly fading and being replaced by slight hurt. Had my speech really been that bad for him? That would explain why I hadn't seen him since first period.

I was awful! What was wrong with me! I had yelled at my two closest friends and now they probably hated me. I changed course, heading for the front doors. No way I was staying for the rest of the day. I was about to leave when the school Secretary stopped me.

"Trying to skip school again, hey Cruz?" she said, a nasty scowl plastered to her face. "Well, not today you get to Science class right now! Go on! Scurry! Scram!" I bit into my tongue so hard it bled, leaving for Science class.

Once I got to the classroom, the first thing I saw was Jax and Emma chatting it up by the front of the room. I awkwardly sat down, trying not to be noticed. The bell rang in a few seconds and Emma sat down in her assigned seat right next to me. I was ecstatic. She wasn't mad at me!

But all my joy morphed into depression as she began scooting her desk away from me. She was at least a yard away before the teacher barked at her,

"Please leave the desk where they belong! Now, who can tell me what the thermocline is? The halocline? How about the pycnocline? Andi?" he said, seeing my raised hand.

"Could I get a hall pass?" I asked, my voice breaking slightly.

He sighed. "Of course, you children have time to do everything before class except go to the restroom. Here you go, hurry back," Mr. Sandalburg replied, handing me a piece of cardboard with a string attached to it. I left the classroom slowly, keeping my head down and my eyes focused on my shoes. However, I didn't go to the bathroom. I went the exact opposite direction. I quietly slipped away into the janitor's closet, pressing my back against the concrete and sliding down the wall in sadness and despair.

Today, I had pissed off my two closest friends. They didn't even want to speak to me, let alone be near me. Emma hads't been acting like much of a friend recently. She's been too caught up in her stupid love triangle with Daniel and Jax that she doesn't ever seem to have time for dumb old Andi. I don't have any other friends except Diego, but ever since business started picking up at The Seven, we never see each other.

What if they stayed mad? I wouldn't have anybody at all. It'd just be me all alone again. And I don't think I could take that. Hot tears were rolling down my cheeks before I could stop them.

I know I'm supposed to be Andi Cruz, the girl who no one can crack. But it's too late for that. I'm far past cracked. I'm broken. I'm broken and dysfunctional, a lost cause. My life has become this swirling mass of depression, loneliness, and rage. Nobody's ever there for me when I breakdown, so I'm the only one who can pick up the shattered pieces of my heart. It might help if I had a boyfriend, but boyfriends are for girly-girls. I do have a reputation, you know.

Suddenly, I heard the door to the janitor's closet jiggle. There was no way I'd be able to cover up my crying in time. Looks like I'd have to kick the ass of whoever came through that door. The door swung open, revealing the person. My eyes widened. It was a smiling Jax Novoa.