LAKEHURST

LAKEHURST: SHATTERED

CHAPTER SEVEN: "Lose Yourself (2)"

ALLI BHANDARI

Alli is on the phone; she's walking through the park. "Sav, I've never felt better." "Where am I staying?" Alli started to think of a lie. "With a friend, trust me… it is safe, I just… I can't go back home, because mom and dad have pissed me off for the last time!" Alli stated as she stopped next to a trashcan, her stomach growling. "I'll call you back," Alli whispered as she watched a girl throw away a burger. Alli watched as the woman left with her friends and Alli looked at the trashcan. Immediately, she fishes the burger out of the trash. Alli tears around the bite marks and finishes off the remaining piece. Alli decides to walk away. She doesn't realize that someone has just taken a picture of her.

Alli continues to walk towards Lakehurst; she's late for her daily meeting with Rachel. However, Trevor is there. "Trevor? Where's Rachel?" Alli asks. Trevor looks at her, "Family issues." Alli smiled as she started to walk away, but Trevor stopped her. "There's something you should see," Trevor told her as he held up his phone; he was logged onto his twitter and when Alli looked onto his phone, she saw pictures of herself eating out of the trashcan. "God, I have to go drop off the face of the Earth!" Alli stated. Trevor tried to stop her, but Alli was far gone.

BACK TO LAKEHURST

LAKEHURST – Melanie is sitting in her classroom; she's watching Nick and Lydia. Lydia is kissing on Nick's neck; he's acting as if he doesn't like it. Melanie continues to stare at him, she sketching his face into her sketchpad. Camielle enters the classroom and peers over Melanie's shoulder, "Oh, when Lydia finds out…" Camielle began. Melanie felt stupid, "You'd tell her?" Melanie asked. Camielle snickered, "Hell no, I dislike you, but I hate her." Melanie didn't know whether that satisfied her or not.

Camielle shook her head, "You're pathetic," she whispered. "Bottom line, whatever it is that you're planning… I want in." Melanie was shocked. "What makes you think I'm planning something?" Melanie asked. Camielle only shook her head. "Melanie, denial's not a good look on you," Camielle whispered as the teacher came into the classroom.

Melanie rolled her eyes as she watched Nick near the two girls. "Hey," Nick said as Camielle looked up. "Are you two working together? Because, Lydia wants to work with Nichole and Becca," Melanie watched Nick as he waited for an answer. Camielle noticed this and smiled at him, "Hey, you don't have to ask… sit down. Melanie here will fill you in on what we're planning on doing, I'll go get the supplies," Camielle said as she got up and walked away.

"Well, if your ideas are anything like your drawings, I'm pretty sure they're going to be spectacular," Nick said. "Kind of like you," Melanie mentally slapped herself when she realized that she said that out loud. "Thanks," Nick said, he was smiling – Melanie didn't realize that she was making such a good impression.

VANESSA MAYANS

Vanessa walked into Lakehurst; with her head held high. She didn't feel like talking to Drew, to be honest, she just wanted them to never talk again. Vanessa spotted Adam sitting down by his locker, she knew that he knew. Vanessa walked towards him.

"Adam," Vanessa began, catching the boy's attention. "Van…" Adam was cut off by Drew, who had just come around the corner. "So, you're too sick to talk to me, but not my brother?" Drew asked. "Look, I don't have time for this… Just get out of my way," Vanessa said, she and Drew immediately got into a staring contest. "You know I like you, so why are you doing this?" Drew asked. "You cheated on me with that slut!" Vanessa shouted. Drew grew silent.

"Call me that one more time!" Bianca shouted as she started walking down the hall. "I dare you," Bianca finished as she stood nearly two feet away from Vanessa. "You, Bianca DeSousa, are a slut!" Vanessa shouted.

Drew looked back and forth; Bianca instantly pushed Vanessa. Vanessa scoffed as she bald her hand into a fist and swung, punching Bianca in the face hard. Bianca turned and returned the punch. It caused Vanessa to turn the opposite direction. Bianca grabbed her hair and slammed her into a locker. Vanessa screamed as she elbowed Bianca in the stomach. Bianca went down to hold her stomach. Vanessa turned and pounced on Bianca – both girls were now rolling around the floor. Drew and Adam were in shock and then tried to break it up.

Drew had Vanessa in his arms. "I cannot believe for one second I even considered fighting over you!" Vanessa shouted as she broke away from him. "You're scum!" Vanessa stated and before she knew it, before Drew knew it, her hand came across his face.

ALLI BHANDARI

Alli is staring at her house, she can't believe she's even considering going back to school just to come back home. Alli is about to knock on the door, until she hears Trevor clearing his throat. "Trevor, what are you doing here?" Alli asked. Trevor looked down, then up again, "I came here to tell you that you don't have to give up," he said. Alli looked at him, "Yeah, I do. My dad was right; I don't have what it takes to be an adult!" Alli shouted. She was really giving up.

"Look, I know it sucks… I get it. You put your faith in your parents… the least they can do is be there when the going gets tough," Trevor said. Alli sat down on the steps, "How could you possibly relate to this? My father is disappointed in me," Alli said. Trevor made his way over to the girl and sat down beside her.

"You remember those rumors about me… and my dad, my biological dad?" Alli nodded at his question. "Well, my mom was with my uncle at the time. My real dad use to beat me, pretty bad. He told me I was never going to amount to anything; to make matter worse, I've hit a pretty low place in my life right now," Trevor said as he looked at his hands. Alli smiled faintly as she took his hands. "But, you're too strong… I'm not," Alli said.

Trevor shook his head, "No, you're wrong. Alli, you're stronger than all of this." For some reason, Alli believed him. Trevor looked at her. "Come on, there's someone that just may be able to help," Trevor said as he led Alli down the street.

MELANIE STRAUSS

Nick laughed; Melanie did too. He then looked at her, "You're funny," he said as she smiled at him. "Oh, you're way too nice," Melanie said as Nick only sighed. "God, you just don't know how to take a compliment," Nick said as Melanie blushed. "Ah, the Ice Queen does blush!" Nick shouted as Melanie playfully slapped his arm. Nick noticed Lydia looking at him. "Yeah, I gotta go," Nick said, but Melanie grabbed his arm. "Why is a guy like you with her?" Melanie asked – she regretted that. Nick wasn't mad, instead, he smiled. "Because, if she didn't know someone cared about her, she'd be miserable," Nick said. Melanie only sighed, that's the way she felt. Melanie watched as Nick left and Melanie started towards her locker. She spotted Etienne and Camielle kissing.

"Ugh, keep it PG!" Melanie scoffed. Camielle only snickered, "Whatever. So, how's the revenge going?" Camielle asked. Melanie looked down, "As usual, Melanie Strauss backs down!" Melanie said, referring to herself. Etienne smiled, "Wow, Melanie you're so hard on yourself," he said as Camielle shushed him.

Melanie rolled her eyes. Camielle only smiled. She couldn't believe that she and Melanie were starting to develop some sort of mutual bond. "Look, Lydia's a bitch. You're not, Nick sees that and Nick likes it. You're going to be his number one after awhile," Camielle said. Melanie smiled as Camielle and Etienne started to leave. "Oh, are you coming?" Camielle asked.

Melanie was shocked at the offer; she's waited for this to happen. She had stopped communicating with her internet stalker. Now, here was Camielle Davies and Etienne DeSousa including her in their group. Melanie smiled as she joined them, Camielle playfully bumping her hip into hers.

VANESSA MAYANS

Vanessa is pacing back and forth in her apartment. She has ice on her hand; she still can't believe that she punched Bianca DeSousa. Vanessa's phone starts ringing – she looks at the caller id; it's Drew. Vanessa puts the phone to her ear, "What?" "V let me explain…" "Explain what?" Vanessa immediately asked. She didn't have time for any of this really. "Look, Vanessa I like you. You know that. I risked my life just to save you, because… I care about you more than you'll ever know!" Drew said on the other end. Vanessa sighed, he was right. Vanessa was finding herself falling in love with Drew. But, that didn't change the fact that he lied to her; cheated on her. She was not about to be blind to that fact.

"Well, if you could do that, then how come you couldn't turn down temptation for me?" Vanessa asked. Drew fell silent. Vanessa shrugged, "I knew it, you're a great guy, Drew… really, but… I can't do this anymore," Vanessa whispered as she hung up the phone. Vanessa held back tears. She had to – there was no way she was about to cry over Drew. But, she couldn't help but feel sad. He had saved her life not too long ago and she would forever be grateful for that. But, that doesn't give him the right to cheat on her with the first slut that takes interest in him.

ALLI BHANDARI

Trevor is walking towards a door, Alli is behind him. "Here we are," Trevor said as Alli became confused. "What's this?" Alli asked. "This, Alli, is your new apartment… I just hope you and your new roommate can get along," Trevor said as he smiled at her. Alli looked at him and doesn't know what to say, "Wait, roommate?" Alli asked. Just then the door opened to reveal a familiar person, Alli is shocked.

"Alli Bhandari, you've got some explaining to do." Alli smiled at Vanessa who pulled her into a hug. Trevor watched as the girls hugged one another. He was glad that they were reunited. But, he was not as glad as Alli and Vanessa were.