I know, this is kinda a disappointment after the last chapter...oh, well. Enjoy!

-Chapter 9-

Westchester, NY
Presbyterian Middle School
Thursday, November 1st
7:47 A.M.

Thursday morning, Massie Block confidently stepped onto the front lawn of Presbyterian Middle School. She attempted to do a pirouette, just for the fun of it, but ended up almost losing her balance. Dance was never her thing.

All around her, giggles erupted from the various scattered groups of girls. That was strange. Massie knew that she had totally failed at doing a pirouette, but she didn't think it was laugh out loud hilarious. In fact, the people at PMS never laughed at her. Sure, she did stupid things sometimes, but she never got laughed at.

"Massie Block is so out right now," she overheard one girl talking to her best friend. "I heard she totes hooked up with Derrick Harrington, Hanna Harrington's cousin, behind Ahnna's back. She also ditched her Fawn costume for a stupid Little Red Riding Hood costume."

"I thought her costume was cute," her friend protested. "And did you see the bottles of nail polish she was giving out? Essie, my favorite."

The first girl rolled her eyes. "She's just trying to bribe you. Massie Block is out."

Massie's blood turned cold. But she acted like nothing had happened and kept on walking. She strolled into the building with her chin up and her head held high. When she got to her locker, she stopped and spun the dial on her lock. 18, 36, 10. The lock snapped open. Massie always thought that she had the easiest combination in the entire school. 18 was her favorite number, and 36 was two times 18. And 10 was her age. Simple, right?

She checked her reflection in the mirror hanging on the inside of her locker door. "I am wearing a pink Joie lace tank top and a Pucci blazer in the same shade of pink. I'm also donning Burberry Brit white skinny jeans and sequin embellished pink Uggs," she announced to the fake audience inside her mirror. Massie smiled at her reflection. She fished out her iPhone from her white Miu Miu leather handbag. No messages from Derrington-Derrick.

Massie adjusted her teardrop earrings. She reached into her bag and pulled out the books she needed for class. Today sure was going to be a boring day. She had no friends at this school anymore. Since Ahnna was mad at Massie, it meant that Lana, Shauna, and Brianna were too. And obviously, Hanna and Massie were still fighting.

What did she ever do to deserve this? Hanna had turned against her because she met Alicia, who, apparently, was the better friend. Ahnna and the Ahnnabees had turned against her because she had ditched her Fawn costume for a Little Red Riding Hood one. But, hello? She had the freedom of speech.

Massie slammed her locker door shut angrily. She patted her newly curled brown hair lovingly and began to make her way to her first period class, which was English.

She skipped through the door to room 218, then stopped in her tracks. Hanna was sitting in her rightful seat in the middle of the classroom. Once she saw Massie, she waved.

"Heya, May-sie," Hanna said. "Having trouble finding a seat?"

"Um, actually, yes. You're in my seat, so I would like it if you would please move. Please." Massie tapped her foot impatiently.

"Didn't you hear? We have free seating today. Mrs. Anderson was feeling extra nice." Hanna lowered her voice. "Maybe it's because she's pregnant and all..."

Massie's eyes widened. "Mrs. Anderson? Pregnant?"

Hanna nodded. She was probably glad that she knew more gossip than Massie. Back when they were friends, they would constantly compete to see who knew the most gossip. And Hanna had won this round. Well played, Hanna Harrington, well played.

"Pregnant. P-r-e-g-n-a-n-t. Pregnant. What part of that don't you understand?" Hanna snapped.

Massie rolled her amber orbs. "Just move, all right? I'm not giving up my seat."

"Sorry, May-sie, I got here first. So I get the seat."

"But there's only one seat left!" Massie glanced towards the back of the room to prove her point. The only seat left was the desk that had gum all over it. No one wanted to go near it. The seat belonged to Ian Greene, an extreme LBR who was assigned to sit there for the whole year. Now that they had free seating, Massie noticed that he had moved to a gum-free desk at the front of the room.

"Too bad, May-sie. Maybe you should've walked as fast as those fUggs could carry you." Hanna smirked.

Massie glanced down at her feet. "I borrowed these from you weeks ago! How can they be fUggs?" she screeched.

"They were my shoes. I knew them best. Why do you think I would have let you borrow them? If they were real, I would've obviously kept them for myself. I was never your friend, Massie. Just thought you should know that."

Omigod, what is wrong with you? Massie wanted to scream. But instead, she kept her cool and said, "You're in my seat."

"May-sie," Hanna said patiently. "Just go sit in the back. Or do I have to walk you there?"

Suddenly, the bell rang. "Looks like it's too late. Sorry, May-sie. Time to go to the back of the room!" Hanna made a pouty face, then turned to face the front of the classroom. She pulled out her phone, obviously about to text Alicia.

Massie stormed to the back of the room angrily. What did Hanna mean by "I was never your friend?" When they first became friends, Hanna had loved being friends with Massie. And Massie loved being friends with Hanna. What happened to all the out-of-control laugh attacks, the endless phone conversations, and all their inside jokes? Had Hanna forgotten about them so quickly?

Massie slowly sat down at the gum-covered desk, being very careful not to touch any of the gum. She shuddered and pulled her blazer around her tightly, in hope that it would shield her from the LBR germs.

Alicia must have been a bad influence on Hanna. She had never done anything this mean, like make Massie sit at the dreaded gum desk. Usually, when they were fighting, the worst Hanna would do was give Massie the silent treatment. After a week or so of this, Hanna would decide that not talking to Massie was no fun, and they would make up and become friends again.

This time was different. Massie knew that they would never become friends again.

The question was, did she even want to become friends with Hanna again?

Presbyterian Middle School
The Cafeteria
Thursday, November 1st
12:01 P.M.

Four hours later, Massie stood in the doorway of the cafeteria, not sure what to do. She couldn't sit with the Ahnnabees anymore. She could sit at Table 25, but did she really want to sit alone? Sitting at Table 25 was their thing. Sitting there without Hanna just wouldn't feel right.

But all the other tables were taken. The only empty table was Table 25. She scanned the cafeteria, desperately looking for a group of kids that seemed at least halfway decent. Her eyes immediately skipped over Table 1, which belonged to the LMNOPs, the A-list clique at PMS. Massie wanted to be a part of their clique, but she knew that it wasn't possible.

Her eyes fluttered past Table 19 as quickly as possible. That was where the goth kids sat. She also ignored Tables 20-24, the LBR tables. It looked like the only option was Table 25. Massie sighed, and reluctantly let her feet drag her to Table 25.

She opened her Vera Bradley lunch bag and pulled out a Nutella sandwich and a Luna bar. She really didn't feel like eating healthy. Deep down, way inside of her, she had a special craving for Nutella.

Suddenly, she heard a girly voice scream, "Attention, everyone!" Massie turned her head in the direction that the sound was coming from. Unsurprisingly, it was coming from Table 6, where Ahnna was currently in the process of climbing onto the table.

Ahnna tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and smirked, like she was about to destroy someone's life. Massie felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Ahnna was probably going to destroy her life.

"Okay, people!" Ahnna yelled, and everyone instantly quieted down. "Did you all like my Halloween party yesterday night?" Lots of cheers erupted from the cafeteria. "But I think one person in here didn't. Massie Block, can you stand up? Please."

Massie stood up on Table 25, because if she didn't, she knew that she would get it from Ahnna later. She crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her amber orbs. "What do you want, Ahnna?"

"The question is, what do you want? What did you want so badly yesterday night that you had to jeopardize our friendship to do it?" Ahnna narrowed her eyes.

"Honestly? The Fawn costume was stupid x 10."

"I'm not talking about that, and you know it. I'm talking about how you stole. My. Boyfriend."

Everyone in the cafeteria gasped. Massie heard whispers of "steal her boyfriend?" and "geez, someone's got jealousy issues." She turned to face everyone. "I have ears, you know. And for the record, I didn't steal your boyfriend, Ahnna. You weren't even dating. You know what he told me? He always liked me more. And he's known you since you were what, three? That says a lot. I've only known him for less than 24 hours, and he likes me way better than he likes you. Time doesn't make any difference, Ahnna."

Ahnna stepped back, stunned and speechless. Massie smirked, knowing that she had won this round. She had gotten the final say. Suddenly, she heard Ahnna whisper to Shauna, "get her."

A few moments later, Massie felt something hit her in the back of the head, ruining her hair. She reached back to feel her hair, and her fingers brushed against a few strands of spaghetti.

Oh, so this was how Ahnna played. When she was outspoken, she resorted to physical fighting. Well, two can play at this game. Massie grabbed her Nutella sandwich, and threw it across the cafeteria with all her might. It hit Ahnna in the face, ruining her makeup.

"Oh, it's on, Block," Ahnna screamed. "You will pay for this, boyfriend stealer." Ahnna jumped off the table and grabbed Lana's unfinished slice of ice cream cake. Lana's mouth dropped open in protest. Massie knew how much she loved her ice cream cake.

In one swift motion, Massie ran over to Table 24 and grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk from an unsuspecting LBR and ducked to avoid the hurtling ice cream cake in the process.

"Ugh!" Ahnna cried. She had missed Massie by a fraction of an inch. Massie took this chance to sneak up on Ahnna and dump the chocolate milk over her stupid blonde head.

"You will pay for this, Massie Block!" Ahnna screeched. "You ruined my new hair extensions."

Massie scoffed. "I knew your hair was fake."

Ahnna turned red. "I mean, my beautiful hair that's totally real."

Massie rolled her eyes yet again and grabbed a bottle of ketchup and squirted it all over Ahnna. She stepped back to admire her work. Ahnna looked like a red mess that was dripping chocolate milk.

Just as she was congratulating herself for a job well done, she felt something on her back. She whirled around just in time to see Ahnna holding a perfectly positioned mustard bottle to write on her back. "What are you doing?" she screamed.

It was too late. Her blazer was already ruined. "What does it say?" she wailed.

Ahnna quickly snapped a picture of Massie's back with her iPhone. She walked up to Massie and showed it to her. The picture showed the word "BITCH" written in yellow mustard on her back.

Massie gasped. How dare Ahnna! Before she could say anything, Ahnna took the iPhone away. She opened up her Instagram. Uh-oh. She was posting it on the Internet for sure.

"Massie Block. Traitor, liar, bitch," Ahnna said as her fingers flew across the screen. "Now everyone will know her for what she really is. A backstabbing bitch. Rot in hell, Massie." Ahnna slipped the iPhone back in her bag. "There. I posted it. Now it's all over the Internet. And I have 1,347 Instagram followers. And they'll be sure to reshare."

Massie let out a small whimper. How could Ahnna be so mean?

"Now everyone will know you for what you really are, Massie. You're a sassy, prissy bitch. And I'll make sure you stay alone & friendless. Forever." And with that, Ahnna strutted back to Table 6, a satisfied smirk on her face.

The whole cafeteria went silent. The students weren't sure what to do, laugh at Massie, or comfort her. Massie wished that at least someone would comfort her, but it seemed like everyone had chosen to just stay silent and do nothing.

Massie slowly made her way back to Table 25. She wiped a sparkling tear off her face. What had she done to deserve this?

Ping. She reached into her white Miu Miu leather handbag and pulled out her iPhone. She had one new text message.

With shaking hands, she clicked 'Read.'

Derrick: I saw Ahnna's new post. Y would she do that 2 u? Feel bad 4 u. :( Heart, D.

At least she had Derrick, in these troubled times. And, seeing that no one was even trying to comfort her, he was all she had.

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