"I'm sleeping."

Nicole peered over Rebecca as she lay in bed. The tips of her hair tickled Rebecca's cheeks.

"At seven?"

"I just had a mental breakdown," Rebecca explained, "according to Quinn, I need my rest."

Nicole rose, bashing her head slightly on the bunk above and extracted herself out from Rebecca's area. She liked it that Rebecca had moved in. She'd made a new best friend. And Nicole preferred her to Dana. Dana tried to kill Nicole in her sleep once. She woke up just in time to scream blue murder, causing CoCo to come bursting through the door (even though it was locked, so they had to get that repaired) demanding what was going on. With one more threatening glare from Dana, she claimed she had a scarring nightmare. Besides, Rebecca was a lot tidier than Dana. And Nicole liked stealing stuff from Rebecca's wardrobe. Dana's wardrobe was a bit too 'Are You Looking At Me? If You Are Then I'll Stick A Fork in Your Eye.'

"Okay…" she made her way across to the door, "I'll tell Zo to be quiet when you return then."

"It's alright, I've had some Nightol so she could have an orchestra in here and I wouldn't know," Rebecca pulled the duvet up to her neck, "oh and Nic?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you please hand in my essay when you hand in yours just now? It's on the table, just at your right."

"Sure."

"'night Nicole."

"G'night Bee," Nicole closed the door quietly behind her.

Zoey sat in the library, the book in front of her not being read, but if she didn't have it open, Miss Crispin, the librarian, would throw her out. And the library was the only place she could go. She was sure Rebecca, Kristen nor Nicole would set foot in the library. Rebecca, maybe, but last Zoey'd heard Rebecca had retreated to the room groggily after having a breakdown. Nicole probably thought 'library' was a make of shoes. Kristen isn't a brain box. She's a step down from brain box. Smarter than your average bear, you might say. She'd rather spend an hour internet-shopping on ordering Juicy Couture mini iPod cases than flip open a book that wasn't either TeenVogue or a required textbook. Besides, she'd be too busy with Chase to –

Zoey's heart lurched.

That's why she had to escape from the three girls. Not one of them could understand the denial, feelings and confusion she was going through. They all had their little spouses. Rebecca and Glen. Nicole and Nate. Kristen and…

She hated admitting it to herself, but sometimes a chilling voice inside her shouted the cold, hard truth.

You ruined it yourself last year. You had plenty opportunities this year, and you passed them. You thought he'd just wait for you, he'd carry on, love unrequited without a girl for the rest of his life until you were ready, didn't you? Well, you're too late now. He's found someone else.

And Zoey knew it was more than just 'dating.' She wasn't stupid, she realized when she went to knock for Kristen the week before and she had invited her in while she finished straightening her hair. As Kristen tottered off into the bedroom, she spotted a tall bottle of Gucci Envy on the vanity table. When asked about it, Kristen said 'oh, it's my signature scent, I've worn it since, like, forever.'

And once upon a time in Kristen's 'since, like, forever,' she dated Chase.

So when he admitted his feelings for you last year, did he still love her? Or was she just an obsession? An enticement…an idea of perfection. Male lust perhaps.

You wish.

But what are you going to do about it?

Who knows? Are you gonna talk to him about it? If he loves you in the way he claims then...

Then what?

I don't know, but this is eating me up inside. I need to get this off my chest.

Nicole slid through the gap into the English classroom. She walked across to the teacher's desk and laid down the four essays in separate plastic folders, with a quick scribbled note.

Dear Mrs Ford,

Here are the essays which you asked for. The love ones. I dropped off mine, Zoey's, Rebecca's and Kristen's because well…I don't know where Zoey and Kristen are but Rebecca's sleeping. I know, at seven in the evening, but whatever. Oh, it's seven in the evening, by the way. That's the time I'm dropping these off at.

Oh, and this note's from Nicole.