Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, they all belong to Kiera Cass!

EnchantedForest3: Me too! I ship Maxerica with all my heart, but they need some time apart to see that they can't live without each other. Thanks for the support! :)

SparkyGurly227: Yes, she is! Showing others that she's strong instantly strengthens her character, and sort of makes up for America's deterioration in the last couple chapters. Thank you so much for reviewing, though!

LadyMadisonSchreave: I have to agree with you, I just didn't like Kriss. Even though she was sweet and all, she was almost chosen by Maxon, and that makes me dislike her. Maxerica will return, though! And thanks for the encouragement!

maxericaaa: Of course she's not completely over him. No one can forget their lover that fast! There will be jealousy on Maxon's part very soon. And here's a new update for you!

Booklovin'03: That's so true! The best revenge is just ignoring someone. But, unfortunately, America just can't stay away from Maxon... Thank you so much for your consistent support, though!

The cafeteria was noisy, but I couldn't go outside to eat. Kriss and her cronies were sitting at the same table as my friends and I were, making jokes about me. Walking away would be like admitting defeat.

Marlee talked quietly to Carter, casting glances my way every now and then. Aspen was as unreadable as ever. "You seem so much more alive now, Mer!" Celeste gushed. "Before, you were like a stone. No matter how much people poked and prodded at your feelings, you did nothing. But now, you're energetic and eager to do something!"

I halfheartedly nodded along. I found myself getting lost in my memories as I stared into space.

Flashback:

Kota had spent over a year on his sculpting project. And it was totally worth it. To say that it was magnificent was an understatement. When it was sold, Kota became famous. He hauled in lots of money. I couldn't have been happier for my brother. He was always hard-working, and he deserved the reward.

But our family was struggling. I called him. He was always the loving, caring, older brother. "Kota?"

On the other end, his voice is slick. "Ames?"

"Yeah. Mom and Dad refuse to admit it, but we're struggling with money. There's never enough. We need your help, Kota," I begged. What would happen to Gerad, who was barely a few years old?

"You think I'd let you steal my money? Forget it, Ames. Go beg to someone else. I'm no longer part of your pathetic family." Kota keeps a cool demeanor, completely brushing off his family for his own selfish needs.

Tears leak out of my eyes. "Please! What about Gerad and May? They're too young to be suffering from hunger! Kota, you're better than this—," I pleaded with him for what seemed like hours, but nothing swayed him.

He cut off the call, leaving me devastated. I had lost a brother.

The short series of memories only played for about a minute before Elise dragged me out of my thoughts. "Mer? Why weren't you at the Phantom of the Opera play? I mean, you must've had a reason."

That had completely slipped out of my mind. "I fell sick," I remember it so clearly. I was still recovering from my heartbreak, Kriss would want to be Christine so much more, and I didn't want to look at Maxon.

Elise said simply, "Oh." I tear my thoughts away from Maxon and Kriss. They're whispering, causing another memory to surface in my mind.

Flashback:

The party was wild, with bright multicolored lights and a disco ball. The refreshment table had multiple servings of beer and other types of alcohol, along with a punch bowl and water. I didn't know that eighth-graders were already drinking alcohol.

I weaved my way through the crowd, looking for my friend Ashley, who'd brought me here. I finally spotted her dancing drunkenly with her boyfriend, so I backed off into a lounge with a cup of punch.

Other couples were everywhere around the place, kissing and swaying to the music. I felt sort of excluded, almost isolated. Carefully observing my surroundings, I downed my punch.

A boy stumbled over to the couch I was sitting at. I couldn't make out most of his features, but he had perfect, slicked-back blonde hair. I turned my head towards him. "Are you okay?" My voice came out strange.

He blinked rapidly and mumbled, "I feel out of control, but I only drank the punch here." His speech is slurred, but I can tell that he's confused.

A beam of light hit him, only lighting up his gorgeous chocolate eyes. I didn't know why, but I kept staring at him.

The boy holds my stare. Suddenly, impulsively, he crashes his lips on mine. I get lost in the softness of his lips and run my fingers through his hair, messing it up. Oh. So, the punch was spiked. I ignore those thoughts as he pulls me close to him.

What am I doing? No matter what Bariel and Olivia say, I'm not a slut. Someone like him probably has a girlfriend.

I pull away, much to our disappointment. I blurt stupidly, "You're gorgeous."

He laughs, but it isn't drunken laughter. "And you're beautiful." At those words, I lose control and kiss him again.

I had always imagined my first kiss to be in the rain, with a boy I loved. Not with a drunk, handsome stranger during an eighth-grade party. But that didn't make it any less special.

I focused on the present again when Kriss started whispering to her friend loudly, pointing her finger at me.

I guess that should have been my warning.

Kriss noticed me watching her and said smugly, "Jealous that Maxon likes me and not you?"

I snapped, "At least he doesn't love you." At this, Kriss's eyes enlarge with outrage.

I discreetly peek at Maxon. He's staring at me intently, trying to figure out what was going on. Bolder, I stand up and walk past Kriss, making a point to smirk at her a little. That was my fatal mistake.

In a flash, she lunges towards me, hands reaching up to my head. Before I could recover, she brutally tugged my hair.

It happened excruciatingly slow for me. My wig slid off easily, exposing my horribly bright red hair. Free of their constraint, my hair flowed out, down my back. Without my wig, I was as recognizable as the sun: After all, who couldn't recognize America Singer?

A tense silence ensued. My friends stared at me with disbelief and shock, which basically mirrored everyone else's expressions. Only Maxon looked slightly undeterred. Kriss just stood there like a gaping fish, not believing that I was the same girl who she'd promised would be best friends with her.

In that instant, people started whipping their phones out, taking pictures, filming videos, texting their friends. Unable to bear the weight of my secret being exposed, I ran out of the school, not wanting to face the questions.

But I couldn't forget my friends' faces when they saw me for who I really was. Betrayed, shocked, hurt that I hadn't told them. They must hate me. Because who could ever love a fake?

I hope you liked the reveal!

Love, Owletta