During dinner, I couldn't really concentrate.

"Where did you go after PE," asked Eric as he set his tray next to me. Some of the attention shifted towards us. All the girls knew about earlier today in the locker room, besides Aidan, none of the boys knew.

I turned to Eric who looked a bit hurt.

"I had to see the coach and principal Phifer, too."

"What happened," he asked looking concerned.

I looked away.

Eric started to rub my back. "Alex, what happened?"

"Your stupid ex-whores, Eric," shouted Lauren from a few seats down.

"Yeah, you should just tell them to leave Alex alone already," yelled Marlene. Eric's hand moved from my back. I turned back to look at him.

"I think we should talk now." He nodded, stood up with me, and walked out of the cafeteria.

"I'm sorry I didn't meet you earlier Eric. I really wanted to be there. It's just," I shook my head and looked away.

"What did they do?"

"I'm accused of selling drugs on campus. There's statements from two different people stating that they saw me exchange drugs for money. Another statement is saying that I'm coordinating some sort of military attack and that I've been hiding guns, knives, and another weapons in the classroom buildings. They have pictures of me going to clean the bathrooms, claiming that that's when I started all my planning."

"But you wouldn't do any of that. I know you wouldn't, your brother, all your friends know you wouldn't. Did Tori really think you would do that?"

"No. She stood by me. Sharon defended me too. But Principal Phifer can't ignore the accusations. Until I'm proven innocent, I can't play and I can't cheer."

"The DU scouts were coming this weekend."

"I know," I said softly trying to fight back the tears. I had to do it now. I had to tell Eric we couldn't be friends. How did I go from this? From wanting to tell him that I liked him this morning, to telling him we couldn't be friends tonight.

"Eric, I think they're only doing this because..."

"Stop right there, Alex!" Eric pulled me into a hug. "Don't do that Alex. Don't even think it!"

I couldn't even bring myself to wrap my arms around him. I just felt like every time we got close, people were tearing us apart. He continued to squeeze me in his arms, stroke my hair, press his lips on my forehead. Anything to get me to bend. I wanted to, I wanted to be with Eric. I just didn't want all the drama that came with it.

"Alex, please," he pressed me harder into his chest. Slowly my arms wrapped around him and I felt myself melt into his arms.

Eric pulled me back a little and kissed my forehead once more. "I'll make it better for you, Alex. I swear. Just please don't ever think that again."


Thursday morning came around and Eric was no where to be found at breakfast.

"How you holding up," asked Lauren during breakfast.

"It's okay I guess."

That's all anything was. It was just okay. Last night, I could barely get any sleep. I just played with my pancakes. I really was hungry, but how could I eat knowing that my chances at going to college were slowly disappearing. I was kind of glad that the subject at the table shifted.

"I just can't believe he just asked me," cried Christina. "There was no romance, no flowers, no music, nothing. Just Christina, we're going to homecoming together right," Christina said attempting to mimic Will.

"You were the first one asked," pointed out Shauna.

"What homecoming dance," I asked.

"You have to excuse Alex, your head was somewhere else the past couple days," said Tris as she nudged me. "It's the weekend after the Halloween dance off. Saturday night after the game is homecoming."

"That's probably how we got so many of the guys to participate in the Clash of the classes," added Myra.

"Because there's no football game that week of the dance off. They're on a bye," I said nodding my head.

"Shauna's right," added Lauren. "Christina, at least your boyfriend asked you already. The guys have known about it all week. Peter hasn't said anything to me."

"Neither has Four," agreed Tris.

"That's because they're thinking of something spectacular. I know it!" Christina just wasn't going to let it rest. Half of us started to laugh. "All I got was a question!"

The bell rang, letting us know that we had to get to classes. I still hadn't ate anything, but at least I felt a bit better, laughing with the girls.

"I'll see you folks there," I called out to Peter and Drew before we headed to first period.

"I can't believe they're making you do that," said Tris.

"I know, but anything to help me get back on the squad or the team," I said as I hurried to the office. Principal Phifer wanted me to pick up a form that all my teachers had to sign to let them know that I was in class and not selling drugs.

I picked up the form and Principal Phifer apologized again, but rules were rules. Just as I headed out of his office, there in one of the counselor's office was Emily. She looked up at me, smiled, and then showed the person she was talking to that I was there. The person slowly stood from the chair and I felt my heart collapse. It was Eric!

"Eric," I said once he turned around.

He walked out of the counselor's office, looking down, like he had committed a crime against me. I ran after him hearing Emily laughing in the distance.

"Eric, what were you doing there?" I just had to know. He looked at me, kissed my forehead and started to walk away.

"NO!" I ran after him in the hallway. "You're going to tell me what you were doing talking to Emily."

"Why can't you just trust me," he asked turning around to face me.

Slowly it was getting to me. We were friends, that's all we were. I did trust him as my friend. But my heart was breaking. I wanted so much more, but knowing that he went and talked to Emily broke me.

"Why were you talking to her, Eric?" I practically screamed. "You know what she did to me. You know I can't play volleyball because of what she accused me of and now you're just going to talk to her like nothing and then shut me out." He stared at me for a while. He slowly walked back towards me and tried to kiss my forehead again.

"No," I said pushing him with all the force I could muster. "I thought we were friends Eric! Friends wouldn't do that. They wouldn't go and be all buddy buddy with their ex girlfriend who just happens to be making my life miserable right now."

"Friends!" He shouted back. "That's all we are, right?"

"Of course, at least I thought we were. But now you're treating me as if I don't matter by talking to one of your stupid ex girlfriends!"

"They weren't my girlfriends, Alex."

"So that makes it all the more better, doesn't it?"

"You don't understand everything."

"Because you still won't let me in."

"I have, more than you know."

"Then, why can't you tell me EVERYTHING ELSE? Why were in there talking to her?" He looked away. "That's it, isn't it. You weren't planning on telling me anything else, because you want me to just become another one of them." I said pointing towards the office where he came from seeing Emily. "You never did like me. You never cared about me."

"No, that's not true," he said grabbing me and pulling me close. "Alex you'll never be like them. I would never treat you that way. I never have and never will, can't you see that?"

"Then why Eric?"

"Alex, trust me, please just trust me," he said stroking my cheek. I pushed him away again.

"No. No. I can't do this anymore Eric. I can't be friends with you, that's not even what I wanted, yet I settled for it. I wanted so much more from this. I let you into my life. I almost let you in my heart. And I can't believe I just let myself get played by you." What was I saying? Did I just admit that I liked him?

"Alex, you don't understand how much I really do care about you." I tried to wiggle out of his hold. "I'm serious Alex. I'm not playing you."

"Well, it sure seems like that."

"I'm not a player."

"Really Eric, really? Tell that to your dozens of ex girlfriends!"

"You don't know everything. You're going back to believing whatever you heard about me."

"Well, you're certainly living up to all those rumors now, Eric!" He tried to pull me close again. "No, if you can't tell me anything, then I don't want to speak to you again."

"Alex."

"Stop already Eric. If I see you, it'll only because I want to see my brother. Now please, just leave me alone." With that I walked away and never looked back.


Eric didn't show up for first period, and neither was he there for second or third. At lunch he was at the table with the guys though. He looked at me when I walked through the door as I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm going to just head back to my room," I said to Marlene. She nodded and then I walked out of the cafeteria.

"Wait up." I turned to see Edward walking out of the cafeteria. He had grabbed a cheeseburger and some chicken nuggets and held them out for me.

"Thanks, Edward, but I don't really feel like eating."

"You sure," he said smelling the burger. "Today's burger smells really good." He waved it slowly back and forth in front of my face.

"Fine," I said grabbing the burger and the nuggets.

"Where were you headed?"

"Back to my room. Things are kind of awkward in there."

"Between you and Eric, you mean."

I turned to look at him.

"Hey, didn't you ever hear of the saying don't shoot the messenger?"

I started to laugh a little.

"Yeah, Eric actually told me the full meaning behind it," I said letting my smile disappear. "Were you sent here to deliver a message?"

"From your brother," Edward said shrugging. "He just wanted to make sure you ate something. He knows you didn't eat this morning. With the amount of stress you're going through with the accusations and everything, you should at least try to eat something."

I looked away, feeling even sadder.

"Were you hoping the message came from Eric?"

"I don't know anymore what I want from him. I thought I did, but after this morning, I'm not so sure."

"What happened this morning?"

"He was with Emily."

"No he wasn't."

"I saw them."

"Were they kissing, making out, holding hands, hugging?"

"No, they were just talking."

"Then, why are you getting so upset about it? He was probably just trying to help you."

"By talking to the girl who accused me of breaking all those rules?"

"Alex, most of the school's funds and resources come from Emily's dad. She has a lot of pull with staff because of that. He probably asked her to help you out."

"Whatever."

"Hey," Edward said pulling my arm to look at him. He smiled and I relented and smiled back. "There you go, there's the charming Alex we all love."

"Funny," I said as I punched his arm. "Thanks again for the burger. You can tell Aidan that I ate."

"Good. Actually before you go, I really wanted your help on something." I looked at Edward puzzled.

"Okay."

"Well, we're friends right?"

"Of course we are Edward."

"I don't even know how to ask or go about it. All the other girls would look at me weird if I talked to them about it. And I didn't really wanna ask the guys for help either."

"What is it that you need help with?"

"Did you hear about the homecoming dance?"

"Oh, yeah. Christina was complaining about it this morning. Will apparently did everything wrong according to her standards."

"See, that's what I mean. I can never tell what you girls want or don't want. And I just feel so comfortable talking to you. And we're friends, so I know that you would say yes and you would make it easier for me to get through all the headache. I was actually kind of freaking out just asking you."

"Edward, stop panicking. I'll do it."

"The homecoming dance, you'll do it? Really?" His smile got bigger.

"Yes."