His thunderous footsteps kept in time with his racing heart that thundered into his head.

It wasn't... fair!

"JIM! JIM, WAIT!"

He slowed to a stop, his breath coming in short as he looked about the walk way. He had to find Julisa, and, if he knew better, she'd probably be hiding in the forest somewhere.

A hand came out and grabbed Jim's elbow. Alice was heaving gulps of air as she held onto him. She wasn't looking at Jim and he had a gut feeling that the reason was because he yelled at her. "Jim, wait... I can... tell you where... she went." Alice doubled over and started to gulp down more air.

Jim waited, but his impatience was growing.

Finally; "Julisa used to hide, when you weren't here, in her self-made tree fort that she and Blair used to use as a hiding place when they'd get into trouble. I know the general direction, but that's it." Alice made a little shove to move Jim. He was faced towards his usual spot to nap with Shirley. "Go that way." Alice pointed about ten degrees to his left. "You should find her."

Jim was about to when, instead of moving his feet, moved his mouth. "Why should I believe you?" He rounded on her, anger flaring. "I don't even know if you want me to get back with her! Ever since I got here, all you people do is throw all my faults in my face!"

Alice didn't shrink back, not yet, anyways.

"How the devil do you want me to believe you now, huh? You and your brother are good-for-naught ingrates!"

This time, Alice didn't back down at the elevation of his voice. She stiffened her shoulders and raised her head. Her angered face met Jim's lashing out squarely and he blinked back his surprise. "Don't call my brother a good-fer-naught! Jus' 'cause you think I'm a wast o' space dun mean you call my bro that!" She slapped Jim pretty hard. "Jess and I just wanted you and Julisa ta not be at odds! And all you go and do is ruin it all!"

Jim opened his mouth to protest Alice's perspective when she punched his arm. Not like a girl, mind you.

"And ya dun care! You don't get it! Julisa suspected you liked Ember! We wanted her to hear what we heard! All the lies Ember says! All the things she wants to believe! Julisa and I really hate a good friend going down..." Alice had broken down crying when she shoved Jim. "Just go. Find her yourself. Some friends we are."

Jim gawked at her before she, again, hit him. Only this time, it was a kick that, aiming for the knee, hit hard. Jim felt the pain and numbingly staggered back two steps. Alice was walking away, shaking her head and pinching, slapping, and stepping on parts of her own body as she walked back to Jesse, who was standing in the entry way, holding the door open.

Jim opened his mouth when-

WHAM!

He staggered forward a few feet. He felt something hit him in the back, both on the head and middle of his back. He looked around after his hat fell off.

Julisa was sniffing as she recollected her things. She slapped Jim's hand away when he tried to help her up. "Go back to your girlfriend. I'm sure she's waiting for you."

Jim knelt down. He touched Julisa's shoulder. "Let me at least explain myself, mate?"

Julisa stood up and raised her heavy dictionary. She slammed it into Jim's already punched arm and then his other arm. "Just go away! Go. A. Way! I. Don't. Want. You. Around!" She shoved him back with the dictionary and stomped away, leaving her things strewn across the walkway.

-Blair-

"-no-good, dirty, low-life, toe-jammed, piece of-!"

"BLAIR!" Jesse stood up. "That's enough. We have to do something. We came here for your suggestions. If all you're going to do is rat on us, then wait until after we fix the mistake."

Alexis smirked. "Jesse, she wasn't talking about you. She was continuing our conversation from gym."

"Yeah, because that little, butt-faced, twisted, backwards, cold-hearted, filthy-"

"Blair, be nice."

They all turned to see Alice. She looked somewhat beaten.

"Why? You saw how she lied! She's such a snake! Thinking she can ruin people!"

"Blair, I need a favor." Alice came into the light of the room and they were all taken aback by her appearance. She had twigs and leaves and bits of greenery strewn all over her and there were some red marks showing on her face. There was also something running red down her chin from her lips. "Blair, go find Jim. I've got an idea. But it needs to happen before sundown today. If not, I don't know when we'll get them again."

Jesse's face was confused, then he saw Alice's eyes twinkle and he smiled brightly. He knew what she was up to.