"Diesel, what have I told you about bringing your little girlfriends around here?" Diesel Ten sat in an old leather chair in the middle of his fortress AKA the old abandoned diesel works.

"She's not my girlfriend!"

"I'm not his girlfriend!"

Diesel and Daisy shouted at the same time. They looked at each other for a few seconds before looking away in disgust.

Diesel Ten rolled his eyes. "Sure. Now, why is she here?"

"We got an arrangement. She can help us out with our mission," Diesel said.

"Is that so?" Diesel Ten got a good look at Daisy. "What's your name again, babe?"

"I'm Daisy." Daisy had her arms folded tightly, hating every second that she was forced to stay there. It smelled of cigarette smoke and it wasn't exactly the cleanest place. The way Diesel Ten looked at her didn't help either.

"So, what can you do for us that's so great?" Diesel Ten asked.

"For starters, I'm classmates with Thomas' sisters so I can easily ask them for the information that you need."

"So, you're a sophomore, huh?"

"Ten, can she finish?" Diesel asked, annoyed with Diesel Ten hitting on Daisy, but Diesel did not want to admit it to himself.

"I'm sorry, are you bossing me around? In my own place?" Diesel Ten's face went from smug to ice cold.

Daisy definitely didn't like that and held herself tighter.

"N-No, I wasn't saying…" Diesel trailed off, cringing on the inside for stuttering.

Diesel Ten laughed. "Oh, man, you really are too much, D." He turned back to Daisy. "So, sweetheart, you can get the information from those cackling hens?"

And they thought I was mean to them, Daisy thought.

"Yes." She licked her lips. "Yes, I can."

"Let's see that you do." Diesel Ten looked at Diesel before continuing. "I'm going to ruin Thomas' life one way or another."

Diesel and Daisy were both silent after that. Diesel didn't tell her much, but Diesel Ten hated Thomas and his friends way more than he did. Something big had happened, but Diesel didn't say what.

"Daisy, can you leave us alone for a sec? I gotta talk to Diesel here," Diesel Ten said.

"Okay." Daisy glanced at Diesel before walking to the exit.

Diesel noticed Diesel Ten checking out Daisy as she left. He curled up his fists without knowing.

Diesel Ten saw and his smirk turned even more crooked. "So, D, this sweet sixteen of yours, she's single, right?"

"What? Yeah, I guess she's single. I don't keep up with her life."

"So, you wouldn't mind putting a good word in for me, right?"

Diesel found it hard to answer. "I. Can. Try."

"Unless you're trying to get with her?"

"What? Me with her? Stop joking! I just hope she doesn't screw up, so I don't have to keep her around anymore!"

"Alright. She's all mine, then?"

"Yeah… she's all yours."

Diesel met up with Daisy outside. She was standing around his car looking bored. He was sure she didn't hear anything they said from there.

"Can we go now? I swear if I cannot get this smoke smell out of my clothes, I'm suing."

"It will be once Thomas gets what's coming to him and we can all go back to normal." Diesel unlocked the doors and the two of them got in.

"Go back to normal how?"

"Going back to normal like me and you never talking again!"

Daisy couldn't hide her surprise at Diesel being so angry, but she quickly channeled it back. "Great! I can't wait to never have to come near you again!"

"Neither can I!" Diesel started to drive, and they were silent for the rest of the way to Daisy's home. Diesel waited for her to get out, but she never did. "What are you waiting for? A kiss?"

"Only in your dreams! I thought you didn't want me around? Oh, and by the way, I will never fuck you or Diesel Ten, ever." Daisy quickly got out and slammed the door behind her.

"Huh, so she did hear us."

A Monday morning at school after a weekend party was never Gordon's favorite. His heart was freshly broken and the last thing he wanted was to think about Caitlin or Spencer which made it even more annoying.

To top it off, he shared many classes with Caitlin and Spencer, so that was great.

Gordon sighed at his desk, mindlessly scrolling at his phone, wanting class to hurry up and start already.

"Hey," James sat upon Gordon's desk. "You good?"

"I just want to get through today as fast as possible," Gordon said, still looking at his phone.

"We're here for you, you know," Edward said.

"Yeah, yeah…" Gordon would never admit how glad he was to have such good friends. They had picked up his sad behavior after their day at the carnival, gathered at Edward's house, and he ended up telling them about his crush on Caitlin and his confession to her.

They already knew about his crush at least, to Gordon's surprise. Mostly at James for keeping his mouth shut for so long.

The four boys ended up talking for a couple of hours before heading home for the night. Edward was like the mediator as always. It turned out it wasn't just Gordon who had secrets and drama going on.

Henry came out to James and Edward. James and Edward were happy for Henry, but no one was prouder than Gordon.

James told them about the Thomas and Rosie ordeal. The others were shocked, but they were glad everything was okay now.

Edward had some news, too. The biggest news even. After Caitlin's party, he found out he was accepted to a college on the mainland. He hasn't decided yet, but it was a huge opportunity.

That worried Gordon a little. Here he was thinking about girls and relationships, when there were more serious things he should have been thinking about like graduating and college. Edward was always so put together, and Gordon hated it sometimes.

The teacher came into the classroom and Gordon put his phone away. The students got into their seats and got ready for class.

Time to be serious.

When lunchtime came, Annie, Clarabel, and Henrietta could not hide their surprise when Daisy walked to their table, asking to sit with them with a smile on her face.

Sure, Daisy was trying to be friendlier towards them, but they were not friends.

"I say we give her a chance," Clarabel said, scooting over to make room for Daisy. Henrietta and Annie weren't as optimistic.

"You must want something, don't you?" Henrietta asked, seeing through Daisy like glass.

"Hen!" Clarabel frowned at her friend, but an unfazed Daisy shook her hair from her face.

"Dearest Henrietta, I know we've all gotten off on the wrong foot, but I assure you I meant no harm," Daisy said with a hand over her heart.

"Okay…" Henrietta wasn't convinced.

"It's just a defense mechanism, you know? Moving to a new place…" Daisy continued, blinking back invisible tears. "With a personality like mine, you get judged pretty quickly. You have to have thick skin."

Henrietta and Annie looked at each other, seeing the same guilty look on their faces. They knew Daisy couldn't be trusted completely, but they felt like there was some truth in Daisy's words.

"I guess we might have judged you a bit too soon," Annie said. "But that still doesn't give you the right to say what you want."

"I know, and I just want to apologize again for hurting your feelings. Especially you, Clarabel," Daisy said.

"You don't have to. I already accepted your apology," Clarabel said. "I can't imagine moving away from my home and friends."

"It's dreadful," Daisy said, genuine sadness traced her face before she realized who she was and her part of the plan. It was no time to feel things when she was so close to what she wanted. "But… maybe, if I had a friend, I wouldn't have to keep my guard up."

"But you do have a friend," Clarabel took Daisy's hand into hers. "You have three."

"Nope," Henrietta quickly affirmed her opinion.

"Clarabel…" Annie did not want her sister to get hurt again, but the latter was blindly hanging on to Daisy's every word.

"Really?" Daisy said, trying not to roll her eyes.

"Yes, even if Annie and Henrietta doubt you, I want to give you a proper chance as a friend," Clarabel said.

Daisy had to admit she was a little touched by Clarabel's kindness, but only a little. "Thank you, Clarabel. You will not regret having me as a friend." Daisy squeezed Clarabel's hand.

Annie and Henrietta could only sigh.

Mondays usually don't fly by, but Gordon was glad that it did. Caitlin's party would be old news and he wouldn't have to hear anything about Spencer's present or how cute they were together anymore. It was mostly girls and their gossip, but they didn't stay on the same topic for long.

Gordon would have left school as soon as the bell rung, but his teacher knew he drove home and asked him to take a box over to the teacher's lounge for her.

His teacher was a nice woman and Gordon couldn't say no even though he really wanted to go home. At least, the school was empty besides the people in extracurriculars.

Gordon headed back to class to get his belongings, sharing a few words with the teacher before leaving. He pulled out his phone to text Henry why he was running late. Gordon sometimes drove them both home since they lived so close together.

He was heading towards the exit until he saw Caitlin and Spencer talking in front of the doors, quickly hiding in an empty classroom, hoping they didn't see him.

Gordon felt ridiculous hiding from them, but he just couldn't risk Spencer finding out that Gordon had a crush on Spencer's girlfriend.

That would be worse than being rejected by Caitlin a million times.

Gordon peeked around the door, gritting his teeth, as he watched them kiss before heading out the door. He then took his time heading to his car.

He just couldn't understand why Caitlin was so different. He had never been so hung up on any crush or ex of his but Caitlin.

He didn't like being so weak and lovesick.

He was the great Gordon, after all.

"There you are," Henry said as Gordon got in the driver's seat. "You must have been working really hard."

"It was nothing, really," Gordon said as he put on his seatbelt.

"Is everything okay?"

"No."

"Is there something I could do?"

"Yes."

Henry has known Gordon for a long time. He knows that the blue-haired teen was not good with expressing his feelings. He knew things about Gordon that not even Edward or James knew.

Being into guys was not one of them.

So, you could imagine his surprise when Gordon pulled him close and kissed him on the lips. He gasped into the kiss, thinking he had to be dreaming, but, no, he wasn't, and yes, they were kissing in the school parking lot. Henry pulled away, covering his mouth, and blushing furiously. "Gordon! What are you doing?"

"I figured… I should give you a chance. You still like me, right?"

"I do, but…" Henry was cut off with another kiss. He felt his eyes watering. One thing he thought he knew about Gordon was that he would never hurt him.

But he was wrong.

Henry pushed Gordon away.

"I thought you would want this," Gordon said, frustration in his voice.

"Not like this, Gordon." Henry looked up at him and he was fully crying now. Gordon was about to speak, but Henry raised his hand. "Stop. For once in your life, Gordon, stop and think about someone other than your damn self for once. Caitlin likes Spencer and not you and that hurts, but do you know what also hurts?"

Gordon just looked at Henry sadly.

"I loved you for years, Gordon. All of high school. I knew you were straight and I had no chance. But I told you, finally," Henry smiled despite the tears streaking his face. "I love you right now still."

"I'm sorry."

Henry sniffed and turned in his seat, wiping his face with his sleeves. "Just take me home."

"Henry…"

"Take me home."

Gordon did as he was told. The only sounds were Henry sniffing every now and then.

When they arrived at Henry's house, Henry quickly got out and slammed the door before running inside.

Gordon made it to his driveway, parking the car before holding his head in his hands.

He was in so much trouble.