I woke up to a cold empty bed, letting me know Alex had been awake for a while, and not with me. A heavy feeling of sadness settled in. Today is going to be fantastic.

I got out of the bed and grabbed clothes, going to shower.

The shock of cold air getting out of the shower was enough to fully wake me up. I trudged from the bathroom back to Alex's room to do my hair. I jumped when I opened the door to find Alex perched on the edge of his bed, head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

His head snapped up," Nothing, just tired. I couldn't sleep last night."

Liar, I was awake almost all last night, and he was definitely asleep. He was mumbling about unicorns and pie. But instead of calling him out on it like I usually would, I just nodded understandingly and continued on with my morning routine. Slightly we both got ready.

For some reason we were both done an extra 20 minutes early. I guess when you both do your own thing without trying to distract each other, shit gets done faster.

"Why are you so quiet?" He asked me.

I shrugged, "You seem to be in a mood, and I don't want to make it worse by being obnoxious in the morning, plus, I'm not feeling that great."

He caught on to the fact that it wasn't an illness making me feel bad and pulled me close to him, "Don't let me rain on your parade today, or anyone else for that matter, okay beautiful?"

I was getting used to the nickname. I liked it better than babe or sweetheart or any of those.

"I love when you call me that," I confessed, feeling myself blush.

"You're so cute when you blush," He murmured then kissed me.

I knew he was trying to mask his feelings, what those feelings were I didn't know, but I could see right through him. But again, I didn't say anything.

We left his room and house without speaking again. The drive there almost as quiet. The wedge between us was getting bigger and bigger and I didn't know why.

All I got before we separated was a light kiss on the cheek opposed to our two minute make out session like every other day.

Remembering the plan to not let Z see us worked up over the shit she's caused, I stuffed my feelings down and plastered on a fake smile. Kim was already at my locker, shuffling through paper.

"What's up?" She greeted.

"Lying to and being pushed away by my boyfriend," I stated.

"At least you have a boyfriend," She replied.

"Still haven't worked things out?"

"How can I work things out when he won't come talk to me?"

"Maybe it's time to swallow your pride this time," I suggested. "If you care about and love him as much as I know you do, you won't let your pride fuck it up."

"What do I even say?" She asked. This was a moment to be remembered for a life time. The day Kim Davis needed relationship advice. Z was really working wonders.

"The truth," I answered. "All of it."

"But he'll still be angry that I lied to him in the first place."

"But he will forgive you for that if you explained why you lied."

She let out a long sigh then changed the subject, "What are you going to do about your ring?"

"Well, since Taylor and Haylee told us what Z wanted, I should be getting it back soon," I said, leaving out the part about how desperately I wanted it now.

The bell rang and I walked away from Kim, wishing something would happen that would get me out of Chemistry. I didn't want sit through the class without Alex. Not that it would've been any better with him either though, but at least his presence would make me feel slightly better.

I got half way to the chem lab before realizing I left my textbook in my locker. Sighing and turned around, I headed back to my locker. I turned the corner and saw someone standing at my locker. My heart and breath stopped. The person was wearing a pure black outfit, obviously designer and not our school uniform. Her hair and face were covered by a ski mask. If I was anyone else, I would've been laughing at the ridiculous outfit, but all I could think about was that Z was standing right in front of me and I was frozen in place.

I watched as she tapped a note to my locker and then disappeared around the opposite corner. I decided to skip going to my locker and followed the person. I turned the same corner she did but the hallway was empty.

Fuck. Did I really just do that? I felt incredibly stupid for letting her get away. I could've had my ring back.

I went back to my locker and read the note.

"Don't think I'm done with you yet. I've still got plenty of secrets for you to spill."

I chuckled humorlessly. Right, if she really did, she wouldn't feel the need to tell us. Z was starting to run out of things to cut us down with.

I felt a little better knowing that we were getting ahead in her game. I heard footsteps in the hallway Z disappeared down so I looked back down it. I saw someone move, assuming it was Z I yelled, "Hey bitch you still owe me my ring."

I didn't expect a reply so without thinking I turned and went to chem. It was there I kicked myself again for not going down the hallway to see if she was still there.

God I was slow today. I texted Kim, Haylee and Taylor about what the note said and they all agreed that it was bullshit.

For the rest of the day Z didn't show any sign of having anything left to use against us but I still didn't get my ring back. I panicked silently in Kim's car as she drove me to Alex's. Her reassurance didn't help at all. Thankfully he wasn't home when I got there so I had some time to think. Or so I thought. Too bad he got there five minutes after me.

"Did you get your ring back from Kim?" He asked.

Of course he asks that first. "No, uh, she left it at home."

"Cut the bullshit Kayleigh," He said, "Why don't you tell me the real reason you aren't wearing it?"

I decided that this was probably the best time to let it out, so I did. I explained to him that Z had taken it and refused to give it back. His didn't react in the understanding way I expected him to. Instead, he laughed, cold and humourlessly then looked at me hurt and broken.

"Really, Kayleigh? Are you really going to come up with such an elaborate lie? Why not just tell me the real reason that you're not wearing it is because maybe you don't feel the same way about me as I do about you."

Did I hear that right? Did Alex just tell me I didn't love him?

"What are you on that has messed you up so much that you honestly would think that?" I asked eyes wide in shock.

"I can't think of any other reason why you would lie about where your ring is," He stated.

"I just told you what happened to the ring!" I said frustrated.

"You expect me to believe that some mystery person took your ring as punishment for Taylor not telling you that she wanted to break us up?"

"Well when you put it that way," I said. It did sound really stupid when you phrased it like that. "But I'm not lying to you Alex. I love you. What do I have to do to prove that? When have I showed any doubt of not loving you?"

He didn't have an answer for that. I knew that he was just saying that because he was hurt and confused, but it didn't make it hurt me any less he would even consider that I didn't love him.

With nothing more than an angry look he stormed out of the room, slamming the door to his bedroom.

And that folks is how I ended up in the guest room. Again. I skipped dinner, not wanting to face Alex's angry or hurt looks, or his parents questioning looks.

I didn't sleep again that night, half because there was so much on my mind and half because I couldn't sleep in a cold empty bed. How I was going to sleep in my own bed when Daddy got home I didn't know.

I made sure to shower extra early so I wouldn't run into Alex. Staring at his body while trying to be mad at him just wouldn't work, but I guess it wasn't me who was mad at him, it was the other way around.

School was as equally terrible and I didn't talk much. AND I STILL DIDN'T GET MY FUCKING RING BACK. Jesus Christ. I was ready to attack everyone at school until I found Z and demand my ring back.

Another night in the guest room, another night without Alex and another night without sleep.

Thursday was a blur of people I didn't want to be around and classes that I didn't want to be in.

Friday the school was alive with excitement for All Time Low's performance. Instead of going to support my boyfriend who I wasn't even sure was my boyfriend I decided to hide out in the hallway by my locker to be alone. I couldn't bring myself to go back and spend another night alone in the guest room, knowing that Alex was just down the hall.

I stood up from my position on the ground in front of my locker and went to go to the bathroom. What the fuck am I going to do? Like a blessing but a nightmare, a figure turned the corner and I came face to face with Z. Her eyes widened with panic and shock, matching my own. Before I could react she spun around and took off down the hall. For once my mind worked and I ran after her.

I was a terrible athlete when it came to sports, but when I was running for something I wanted, I could keep pace. Z ran through a set of double doors, slamming them so I had to pause to reopen it but it didn't give her much of a lead.

I also noticed that she had no reason destination of where she was running to. She seemed to be running just to get away. Her smaller build let me know she'd be out of energy before me. Instead, she surprised me by running even faster. I pushed myself but felt myself slowly running out of energy. Time for desperate measures.

Since I had been friends with Alex for so long he had taught me how to play football and how to tackle. I finally put the skills to use and tackled Z. We both fell to the ground, out of breath and now in pain from the sudden impact.

Z recovered first and tried to scrambled away, but I kept a tight grip on the back of her shirt and held her down.

"Fuck that," I puffed, "I did not just chase you throughout these hallways to let you get away that easily."

I pulled out my phone and called Kim.

"What?" She demanded, obviously annoyed that I had called moments before the ATL show started.

"Drop everything and come to the English wing."

"Why?"

"Because, I have Z," I told her.

She hung up instantly. Z kicked and tried to get away like she was a four year old kid and I held her down on the ground. I was surprised she remained silent. I decide to wait until Kim and them got here to unmask her.

Jesus, my life was turning into a terrible movie.

Kim, Haylee and Taylor appeared seconds later. Without hesitating Kim reached down and ripped off the ski mask. A mess of fake blonde hair fell out of the mask. I got off of her, pulling her up by the hair and pushed her against the wall. There was no way that she was going to away.

We all looked at her. I didn't even recognize the bitch.

"Carly?" Taylor asked.

"Who else?" She spat back. I studied her face, racking my brain to try to remember who she was until it clicked.

"You're one of Alexis' followers!" I said. I recognized her from the Halloween party that I threatened Alexis at.

"She put you up to this, didn't she?" Kim asked.

Carly laughed, "That dumb bitch isn't smart enough to put together something like this."

"And you are?"

"Of course I am. I got this far didn't I?"

I wanted to slap the cockiness out of her.

"Why and how the fuck did you do this?" I demanded.

"Because you bitches deserved it. You walk around these halls like you are hot shit and own the damn place. Someone needed to knock out down a notch or ten and I was the only one with enough balls to do it. It took a lot of planning and a lot of help, but it worked."

"How'd you know all that shit about us though?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"You can find out a ton of shit if you just watch someone long enough. And I've been watching you girls for a long time."

"Way to sound like a psycho stalker," Kim sneered.

"Better than a backstabbing bitch," Carly shot back.

"I would be nice if I were you," Kim warned, stepping in front of her. "You may have been running the show for the past couple weeks, but were in control now. And I will not hesitate to knock you the fuck out."

Carly laughed, "Please, I'm not scared of you."

In one swift movement, Kim's fist collided with Carly's stomach.

"Wanna try that again?" Kim asked, raising an eyebrow.

We were probably terrible people for having a freshman pinned against the wall, interrogating and threatening her, but I didn't give a fuck.

Carly finally caught the breath that had been knocked out of her by the punch and glared up at Kim.

"You honestly should've seen that one coming," Kim laughed. "Next time, it will be your nose."

"If you do I'll—"

"You'll do what?" I asked. "Tell someone? You've just spent the past few weeks harassing us to no end, and almost dropped a light on my fucking head. Who are you going to tell that's not going to end up suspending you with us?"

"I never dropped a light on your head you dumb bitch." She looked at me like I was stupid.

Oh, maybe it was just an accident.

"Either way, you're fucked and could get in a ton of shit for this. As far as I know, they taking anonymous hating and harassment at this school very seriously, so if we were to turn you into the principal, you could possibly be expelled." Kim explained.

Carly's look went from defensive to scared instantly, "I can't be expelled. My mom would kill me."

"Should have thought about that before fucking with us."

"Look, I'll do anything you want me to. I'll stop fucking around with you guys, just don't turn me in."

Who know the thought of being expelled would scare her so much?

"Oh, you'll do more than stop fucking with us," I jumped in. "You will tell everyone that you lied about Kim cheating on Jack and you will give me back my fucking promise ring from Alex. Then you will go explain to both Jack and Alex what you've been doing to us. If you fail to do any one of these things, we have no problem handing over the few letters you've sent to us and the recording I just made of this entire exchange over to the principal."

Carly glared at me for a good minute before rolling her eyes, "Fine."

"Good little freshmen. You can start with my ring."

She reached into her pocket, pulling out the silver, diamond encrusted ring and dropped it into my outstretched hand. I slipped the ring on instantly and felt a million times better.

"Next, you are going to tell Jack and Alex what you've been doing. And we're going to watch." Kim said, grabbing her by the arm and half dragging her in the direction of the gym.

Too bad when we got there the guys weren't. Apparently the exchange between Carly and us took too long.

I dialed Alex's number on my phone. It rang once and then went to voicemail. Great.

"Looks like we will deal with this on Monday," I said dismissively.

Carly opened her mouth to say something but Kim cut her off, "Remember, we have proof of everything."

She rolled her eyes and walked off. Fucking freshmen.

"Alex is ignoring you?" Taylor asked.

"Alex and I are fighting," I stated.

"What about?"

I held up my hand, "He didn't believe the whole Z, err—Carly thing and we got into another fight about it."

"Shitty," She said, "Hopefully now you guys can get back on track with the situation cleared up."

I nodded and we left the school. Kim drove me to Alex's again and then left to plan an apology to Jack.

I was hoping that since the Z thing was over, so was the drama in my life. Why can I never be right?