"I cannot believe you!" Stella didn't seem to notice that Kevin jumped about a mile when she came up to him and Joe the next morning, at their lockers. He was still paranoid after what he'd experienced the night before, even though the footsteps that had his heart racing eventually stopped, and then started up again about ten times as fast… in the opposite direction. It was still creepy, but he was thankful nothing bad had happened.

Joe knew that outburst was directed at him, but he didn't respond. He stood still, not making eye contact. "Would you care to explain to me what you could possibly be thinking when you did this?" He still said nothing, his blank stare remaining unchanged when he heard Macy come up quietly behind Stella. He kept his eyes on the floor.

Stella was shaking her head. "Who cares about winning a stupid bet so much that they would backstab their own brother to do so?" Macy's jaw dropped. That was the first thing Joe saw when he finally looked up.

He took deep breath in frustration. "When Nick brought up the bet, I figured I had to take it. And once I did, I figured I had to win." "So you did that by eliminating his only chance at winning?!" Joe shrugged innocently. His tone was serious. "I'm sorry that his latest instant crush said yes to me. It's not like I wanted Nick's heart to get broken. Again."

In response, Stella glared, slapping his arm. Joe wasn't in physical pain though. When Stella came up with a reply, her voice was shaking. "Precious didn't break his heart. You did. How could you?" She looked and sounded like she was about to cry.

Joe gave her a weak look, one worse then the one Kevin saw the previous day. "Because." He looked at everyone standing there with him, wishing Nick was there so he could try to understand. "… Sometimes I agree to things I don't want to agree to." He hung his head again after admitting this.

"Really?" There was that word again, the one Joe hated hearing. It made talking so much more difficult, like she was accusing him of being a liar. "What are you trying to do Joe, please everybody?" He swallowed hard but stayed silent. Before walking away, Stella made sure to let him know of something she thought was very important. "Because you do a really bad job of that, just so you know."

She flashed a fake smile and then turned around to leave. She didn't get too far, seeing that her best friend was standing right behind her. She spoke in a slow, calm tone. "Absent one day and… you miss everything. Wow."

Stella sighed. "I'm glad I won't have to repeat that story to you." She said, thinking she should have said something a lot nicer, something to welcome Macy back would have been much better.

Throughout the whole time she was saying this regretted sentence, Joe was clenching his teeth harder and harder, in anger and disbelief. "You don't get it!" Kevin, Stella and Macy all looked at him strangely. He was looking right at Stella. "Of all people you don't get it!" She had no idea what he was talking about. "No, I really don't."

Hearing that, Joe glared at her. "And you're the one person who's supposed to. You're the person who should know that the most." Before Stella could say anything other than the shocked, confused stutters she squeaked out while trying to, Joe walked away.

Turning to watch him leave, Macy really couldn't stand it. She felt sorry for him and began to follow. "Where are you going?!" Stella snapped, not really meaning to. "I'm gonna go see if he's okay." Macy replied quietly, turning to go. Stella made a face, even though she couldn't see it. "Why bother?!"

"Is that what you're always wondering?!" That was the loudest Kevin had ever heard Macy be to one of her friends, it surprised him. She started walking back, still talking in the process. "You never want to take any chances. What… are you afraid something good might happen?

What Macy was saying didn't make any sense to Stella, but Kevin understood exactly what she meant. He smiled at her honesty. Macy continued talking, shocking nearly everyone who could hear. "Joe's your best friend, so what I can't understand is… why every time it comes to him, you say "Why bother?"

Forcing a laugh, Stella replied. "He's not my best friend anymore." Macy raised her eyebrows in fake amusement. "You can say whatever you want…"

She crossed her arms and couldn't help but smile knowing she was right when she told Stella: "Kevin and I know the real reason why you're mad."

Can you figure out what everyone's failed attempt at total honesty in this chapter is? Even Kevin has one. It'll become clearer as the story goes, but it has to do with Stella's favorite words right now "why bother".

Thanks for reading, I'll update soon!