Emmy had always liked Maths, secretly of course. Only nerds would commit social suicide by admitting to having a fondness of Maths. She especially liked Maths at Coates. The classes were split up, meaning Emmy got a break from Piper. Emmy sat down beside Alexa; they always sat together.

"Look who's coming over," Alexa squealed in Emmy's ear. Emmy could guess who it was: Johnny. Even though Alexa had never told Emmy, it was as clear as day that Alexa had a huge crush on Johnny. Every time she talked to him, Alexa flirted mercilessly.

"Hey Johhny," Alexa smiled whilst twirling her hair.

"Hey Alexa," Johnny smiled back.

Johnny and Max sat down in the seats in front of Emmy and Alexa. Emmy sent a glare towards Max. Despite Max clearly being a loser, he hung out with cool people, like Johnny.

"How are you?" Johnny asked Alexa.

Alexa giggled as if he had said the funniest thing ever. "Great," she finally answered, "You?"

"Not too bad," Johnny said. "But I think I slept funny last night because my neck hurts." To illustrate this he rubbed the back of his neck, wincing as he did so. "Turning around to talk to you doesn't help."

"Oh," Alexa sounded sorry.

"How about we mix things up today?" Johnny suggested.

"What do you mean?" Alexa asked.

"I always sit beside him," Johnny pointed at Max. "And you sit beside Emmy. How about me and Emmy swap seats?" Alexa looked hopefully at Emmy. Emmy groaned, but eventually she got up to sit beside Max.

"Hey," Max said. Emmy ignored him. "You don't have great people skills, do you?" he said snidely.

The teacher, Mrs Taylor, came in, and shouted at the class to be quiet. She hated Emmy. Most teachers did when they found out she was Caine Soren's sister. Which was totally unfair.

Max didn't annoy her while the teacher spoke. But as soon as an exercise was set, he started talking. "Hey," he whispered.

"Go away," Emmy ordered.

"What's your answer to the first one?" Max asked.

"I'm not telling you," Emmy said.

"I'll tell you what I got, if you tell me your answer."

Emmy rolled her eyes, "Why would I want your wrong answers?"

"If you don't give me your answers, I'll keep annoying you," Max said, returning to their argument.

"Your existence annoys me," Emmy said snidely. "And I doubt you're going to kill yourself if I give you my answers. So, no."

Max unexpectedly grabbed Emmy's hand, to intimidate her. "You don't get how things are done at this school," there was a dangerous tone in Max's voice. "Girls like you have to do what people like me tell you."

Emmy tried to think of a response. She had to show this loser that she wasn't to be messed with. Then she heard him say something. It was barely audible and wasn't very clear, hardly a whisper. "Why does this bitch have to be so hot?"

"What did you say?" Emmy said rather loudly.

"Quiet Miss Soren," Mrs Taylor warned viciously.

"I didn't say anything," Max whispered, appearing confused.

Emmy pulled her hand away from Max's grasp. "You have serious issues," Emmy laughed. "Being such an asshole just because you think I'm hot. That's pathetic."

"I don't know what you are talking about. And I'm not an asshole!" Max's voice had risen and he had drawn the teacher's attention.

"Is everything okay over there?" Mrs Taylor glared at Emmy.

"She called me an asshole," Max explained.

"Is this true?" Mrs Taylor asked.

"Yes, and I meant it," Emmy said confidently.

"Apologise now," Mrs Taylor instructed.

"No," Emmy laughed.

Mrs Taylor narrowed her eyes, "What? Why not?"

"Because it's true," Emmy said.

"You cannot call people names," Mrs Taylor said.

"He was being an asshole. If someone's being an asshole, they need to be told that they're an asshole." There were a few gasps from across the room in support of Emmy's boldness.

Mrs Taylor stood up with a furious expression across her face. "Apologise right now!" she yelled. "Or you will spend tomorrow lunchtime in detention!"

Emmy sat back in her seat, acting nonchalant, "So where exactly do they hold detention? I'll need directions."

Mrs Taylor looked across the class, as if the answer of what to do was written on one of her students' faces. "Fine then," she conceded, looking defeated.

"Max is an asshole," someone said loudly.

"Yeah, he is," another agreed, "asshole."

There were a chorus of people shouting "Asshole!" towards Max.

"Get back to work," Mrs Taylor roared at the class.

Emmy turned to face Max again, "See, that's why you shouldn't mess with girls like me. Asshole."

…

"And then everyone started yelling 'Asshole' at Max." Alexa was excitedly retelling the events of what happened in Maths to Piper and Shelley at dinner. "It was amazing!"

"Did you really say all that Mrs Taylor?" Shelley asked, in awe of Emmy. Emmy nodded, somewhat proud of herself.

"I don't see what's so great about getting a detention," Piper said, sounding rather jealous. "What's far better is that Alexa got to talk to Johnny. Tell us everything."

Alexa giggled with delight, "Well, when he sat down beside me he said-"

"Hello ladies." The girls looked up to the source of the sound. It was Chad, the most popular boy in their year.

"Hey Chad," Piper said, followed by Shelley and Alexa. Emmy didn't bother doing the same. Chad was good-looking, tall and athletic. All the girls had a crush on him, and he knew it so he loved himself.

"Emmy, isn't it?" Chad spoke directly to Emmy.

"Yeah, why?" she asked him.

"I thought that was really cool what you did in Maths," Chad said, with a charming smile.

"Thanks," Emmy said, returning to her food.

Chad probably never had to try and keep a girl's attention. He suddenly seemed unsure of himself. "Umm… for the record, I think Max is a total asshole."

"Good," Emmy said, wishing he would hurry up with what he wanted.

"You know there's a party this Saturday night?" Chad asked. Emmy nodded slowly, maintaining his gaze. He continued, "I can't wait for it. Are you going?"

Emmy smiled slightly, "Maybe. Why? Do you want me to go?"

"Chad, dude!"

Chad turned around. "Hey Caine." Emmy scowled at Caine, who was behind Chad.

"I just realised that I haven't caught up with my pal Chad," Caine put a friendly arm around Chad. "How about you come and sit over at my table?"

"Sure," Chad said. He turned back to the girls' table. "Will I see you at the party?" Chad asked Emmy.

Before she could answer Caine started laughing, "My sister doesn't go to parties. You won't see her there." Caine led Chad away.

"What the Hell?" Piper turned on Emmy. "I'm sorry to tell you," Piper narrowed her eyes at Emmy. "But it was agreed long ago that Chad was for me."

"What?" Emmy asked.

"The three of us couldn't agree on which one of us would get to be with Chad," Piper gestured to include Shelley and Alexa. "Since we would never date each others' ex. We finally agreed that I was best suited to him. So I'm the only one allowed to go out with him in this friendship group."

"Have you ever gone out with him or anything?" Emmy asked with a raised eyebrow.

Piper seemed to struggle for an answer. "No," she finally said.

"Then what's the point of no one else being allowed to date him?"

"He's my back-up guy," Piper protested.

"Who is he a back-up for?" Emmy was getting evermore tired of Piper's crazy controlling ways.

"That's a secret," Piper snapped.

"But we're friends," Emmy added a sweet smile.

"Not even Alexa and Shelley know who my Plan A is."

"I though it was-" Shelley started but stopped when Piper scowled at her.

"No you don't," Piper said slowly. Shelley hung her head, as if in shame.

"What's everyone wearing to the party?" Alexa asked, sounding nervous as she tried to change conversation.

"I don't know," Piper said. She looked at Emmy with a sweet smile, "Too bad you can't go."