I woke up Friday morning with a bit of hope for the day. It was the last day of the week, I felt that the harassment was slowly starting to die down, and I was finding ways to cope and ignore the pain I felt every time I was near Ace. I figured I can just get this last day over with and then I will have the lovely weekend where I could have a nice little break from the drama.

I got dressed in a long black pleated skirt, a cozy brown short sleeved top that was more of a sweater material, and a burnt orange thin cardigan unbuttoned over it. It was just now starting to get a little cooler, now that fall was in full swing, and I was giddy with the change of season.

Once I was fully ready for the day I trotted downstairs and headed straight to the kitchen to pick up a quick snack. Mom was already in the kitchen, like most mornings, and I bid her a good morning as I ducked into the fridge to grab the carton of orange juice.

"Oh you're up early! And in a good mood that's perfect."

I gave her a raised eyebrow as I stood on my tip toes to take a small glass from the cupboard.

"Perfect for what?" I asked, as I poured my glass.

"The good news!"

I sighed to myself putting the carton away in the fridge then leaned back against it, sipping from my glass.

"What good news?" I asked, knowing that whatever this good new was, I most likely wouldn't find it as wonderful. That usually was the case anyway.

"Tom and I found you a new suitor!" Mom exclaimed, looking over her shoulder back at me. I met her chipper smile with a fed up scowl. She has got to be joking, there is no way my mom, was truly this empty headed. She changed a lot for sure since marrying Tom, but there was no way she lost her common sense.

"You're kidding me."

"No really! A nice Young man by the name of Steven Mitchell. Oh you are going to love him." She cheered, waving her spatula around like she was waving a magic wand. She was really happy, she truly did not see anything wrong with this picture.

"No. My God mom, do you ever listen to me?" I asked exasperated.

"Of course I do." She said with a huff, turning around to face me fully, her arms crossed, spatula still in hand.

"Clearly you don't. Will practically attacked me in his car mom! What makes you think I want to chance a date with some other jerk you guys set me up with?" I cried out, jutting my hands out towards her, risking spilling my juice. I pulled my hand back immediately and started to gulp down my juice, as to not waste it in my furry.

"I don't think you're being very fair Robin. That was one minor over sight." She said with a roll of her eyes, and turning to face her soon to be burning eggs.

"Really? Minor? What would be a Major one mom? I show up dead in a ditch somewhere?" I growled out, putting the glass in the sink rougher than necessary. I flinched at the sound of the glass hitting the steel, but luckily it did not crack.

"You're over exaggerating, Steven is from a prominent family! His father is a doctor." She huffed over her shoulder, scraping the saved eggs out on a plate set beside her on the counter.

"And Will wasn't from a prominent family? It's not happening mom, not in a million years." I declared, facing her back, with crossed arms.

"You're being dramatic, this isn't the same as Will." She huffed in dismissal again, which only made me feel even more irate. She wasn't even bothering to listen to me, and she refused to accept her own mistakes.

"Yes it is mom! You are setting me up with some snob, from a rich family, not caring what terrible little beasts they might actually be. And if you actually put a little more effort into your "Match making", you'd know that Steve and Will are close friends. I'd bet money they have more than a few similarities; that makes this a terrible idea." I ranted, slamming my palm against the edge of the counter and sink behind me.

"Robin that's enough. Remember I am still your mother." She screeched, twirling around to face me and pointing her spatula at me menacingly. I would have laughed at the ridiculousness, if it wasn't for it being such a serious situation for me. I shook my head, and clapped my hands against my thighs, pushing off the counter.

"I'm heading to school." I told her, heading straight out the kitchen towards the front door. I heard her call after me, saying our conversation wasn't finished, but I refused to stop, storming out of the house in a rage. I slowed down as soon as I got a couple blocks away and felt like I was able to breath again. I guess it was too soon to be hopeful for a decent day.

I briefly thought of just skipping out on school today, but I knew that would only make things worse for me. Where was I even going to go? I didn't want to go home, all my friends were in school, and this was a tiny town, there would be nothing to entertain myself with for hours on end.

I sighed, once more before standing up straight and setting my shoulders back. I was going to get through this day with my head held high, and show everyone they don't have any negative effects on me. Fake it till you Make it, as the saying goes.

I strutted into the school a little earlier, keeping my eyes straight ahead, ignoring everyone I passed, incase they decided to try and berade me. I thought I did pretty well coming in here, everyone kept their distance away from me, and walking up on my locker, I was pleased to see there was no derogatory terms written across it this morning.

I put in my code and opened it up, taking out what I would need for my first few classes, plus the study guide for my biology test later on. I was aiming for an A on this one, I have been putting in all the extra efforts necessary to study for it, mostly because I didn't have much else to do in my free time lately.

"Good morning little bird."

I slowly peaked out from behind my open locker door to see none other than Steve leaning against the locker beside mine with a smug grin on his face. The last time I saw this guy was at the Homecoming dance, where he was piss drunk, and all over Barbara if I remember right.

"What do you want?" I asked flatly looking back into my locker and organizing what I would need, hoping he'd catch the hint, that I did not want to talk to him.

"Does a guy need a reason to chat up a pretty girl?" He asked smoothly. I leaned back over to throw him an unimpressed look.

"I don't know what your parents told you Steven, but I am not interested. You can go now." I deadpanned, turning back to my locker.

"Aw come on don't be like that." He said, putting a hand against the door and shutting my locker, almost crushing my hand inside if I didn't pull it back in the nick of time. I threw the boy a glare and started to walk off to where my home room class would be.

"I'm serious Steve, back off."

"Now, now, don't be that way. What does Will have that I don't huh? He told me where you two went after bailing on us. I got to admit, I am a little jealous, I'd much rather a night with you than my own date."

I gagged at his words, disgusted with his behavior already. Really, In what world does THAT work in getting a girl to want to sleep with you?

"Will, is a lying fragile little boy, who can't take rejection well. And you shouldn't talk that way about your date." I huffed not looking back at the boy that I knew was following close behind. I can hear his heavy stomps not even a couple feet behind me. I would have been panicking if we weren't in the middle of school where the bell could ring any minute.

That was until I felt a large meaty hand grab at my upper arm, yanking me back and facing me towards my pursuer. The pressure he put on my arm was painful enough to cause me to hiss and shoot my fingers up to try to pry his off me.

"You are really good at playing hard to get, I'll give you that." Steve whispered huskily towards me. His eyes were dazing lustfully down at me, and I felt the little bit of bile rise up in my throat. Then all at once he leaned in to plant a kiss on my lips, and his arm around my arm moved in, to skirt around the contours of my clothed breast.

What kicks did he get out of me insulting his friend and telling him to sod off? I really don't understand the men in this town.

Instinctively I pulled my hand back, and with as much force as I could muster, I smacked it against his right cheek, right before his lips could make contact. The contact echoed throughout the halls, and left a bright red mark against his face, stunning him enough for me to get out of his grasp and back away from the guy.

"I said screw off Steve, and I mean it!" I yelled out at him, my words echoing in the still empty halls, before turning around sharply and jogging to my homeroom class. He didn't follow me this time, but I didn't want to make the same mistake of letting him get ahold of me a second time.

These men really didn't like to take no for an answer, and I was getting sick of it. In homeroom, I didn't even bother to try getting some words out of Ace, even though I did notice him stealing glances over at me occasionally.

I was in a foul mood, and really didn't want to deal with any man's crappy attitude right now. If he was wanting to apologize for what he said a few days ago, he could do so, but I wasn't about to start any conversations with anyone, any time soon.

We went through our class without a single word to each other, which was a little disappointing, but better than fighting with him over something stupid. I was up and out of the room as soon as the bell rang and continued this stride for about every class I had. I did make a point to be kind to Eyeball, and talking to him as I normally would, but I didn't bother giving the time of day for anyone else that crossed my path.

Most people seemed to ignore me today, sensing my brewing rage no doubt. So time just flew by until English came up. I felt a slight drop in my stomach when I remembered which TWO people will be in that class, but I shook myself off, and pushed the thoughts away. I have avoided everyone so far today, and kept them all at a distance, ignoring the love birds behind me would be a cinch.

I arrived in class early as per usual, getting to my seat and instantly pulling out homework from previous classes, taking advantage of my free time. I was determined to get all this done by the end of the class, and for once I didn't even notice When Ace came by to sit in his seat behind me. I barely even noticed class began, until a shrill giggle broke my concentration. It sounded much louder and sharper than normal, so I felt that this was not her first attempt to gain my attention.

"Ace You're so funny."

I rolled my eyes and gagged silently in my seat, keeping my eyes towards my work. How lame was that phrase? I scanned the front of the classroom to notice that the teacher was no where in sight. That explains why she was getting bolder with her attempts at this moment, there was no teacher to tell her to keep her voice down.

'Haha, you're so funny.' I mocked silently to myself, shaking my head. What a joke.

"Do you have a problem?"

I ignored her, pretty sure she was directing that towards me, probably assuming the shake of my head was towards her. It was but she didn't know that.

"Excuse me I am talking to you."

I heaved a heavy sigh in annoyance and turned slightly in my seat to face the bitchy blonde, giving her my best uninterested look.

"What do you want?" I asked, keeping my eyes directly on her. She sat up puffing her chest out a bit, looking down from her nose at me.

"I just wanted to tell you to mind your own business." She said with a smug smile. I raised an eyebrow looking at her incredulously.

"Really? You pulled me away from my homework, to tell me to mind my own business. That was exactly what I was doing." I said. Rolling my eyes and turning back towards my paper.

"I saw you shaking your head!"

I turned back around, looking up at her through my lashes, bored out of my mind.

"How full of yourself do you have to be to think every little motion of my head is directly related to whatever you have to say." I said, tilting my head to the side, and looking at her in pity, as if her attitude was a disease she had.

I cut the look soon after and switched to a steely glare so fast that she would have missed it in a blink.

"Listen up Malibu Barbie, if you want everything you are talking about to stay between you two, then maybe you shouldn't be screeching loud enough for the students two classes away to hear you." I said leaning over further to lean one arm on Ace's desk, still not looking over at him. I found it easier to just pretend he didn't exist and rather just keep my beef between Holly and I.

"Everyone sitting in this class and the next, knows alllll of your business okay?"

I pointed my pencil around the whole class, which proved my point as There was at least 15 sets of eyes on us at this point.

"Now if you excuse me, I got a lot more important stuff to do, than sit here and chat with you alright?" I asked in my mom's fake chipper voice, flashing her a sharp smile, that I am sure looked reminiscent of the cat right before it ate the canary. I then turned back in my seat, pretty proud for sticking up for myself, plus feeling a whole lot better now that I was able to put her back into her place somehow.

"Whatever, you're just a jealous little whore." Holly hissed out, in a quieter tone, but I was sure that at least the people closest to us heard her. I gripped the sides of my desk as hard as I could, afraid that if I didn't I'd turn around and take a swing at her.

"Don't call her that." Ace finally spoke up.

It took me off guard, and I instantly lost my grip on the desk and I slowly looked over my other shoulder to look back at Ace with wide eyes. He actually stuck up for me, and from his current catch.

"Why not? It's true, everyone knows what you did with Will after homecoming!" She started to exclaim, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at me. Her eyes narrowed and looking ever more like a little snake than usual, Very fitting for someone like her if you ask me.

"Shut up, you don't know a fucking thing!" Ace yelled at her now. She looked over at him with her wide baby blues, shook to her very core, and it seemed tears were starting to prick at her eyes.

"But, Ace baby-" She started to whine, going to place a hand on his shoulder which he shrugged off.

"Don't call me that, I told you before I hate that." He growled at her. She stood up from the chair she pulls over every day to sit right next to him, tears starting to now fall. She looked down at him looking as if she might just burst into a sobbing mess on the spot, taking a few deep breaths before lifting her hand up to strike him.

Unfortunately for her Ace is fast and snatched her hand mid swing before it was able to come in contact with the side of his face. He kept a steely glare on her, one that was much more frightening than the one I had on earlier I'm sure.

"You don't want to try that again."

Was all he said, though the threat was just below the surface, it did it's job. He lightly threw her hand back to her side. Everyone in the class now had their eyes in our direction, and mostly now all was on Holly. She looked around and I am sure she was panicking right about now, but serves her right. You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes. She wanted the attention and now she got it.

She raised her head high as she slowly made her way to her own seat for the first time since Monday. The eyes followed her over to her desk, and while she sat down she looked across the room at them all.

"Shows over!" She yelled out. A strangled laugh escaped my throat and I covered my mouth to keep it from coming out more audible than necessary. I closed my eyes tight, and kept my mouth covered for the few seconds it took to control my giggles again. Eventually I opened my eyes back up, and pulled my hand away, just revealing the shit eating grin.

As if by reflex I looked over at Ace, but when our eyes met, my smile started to drop. Even though he stuck up for me, it felt odd to just go back to what was normal, and looking at his own contemplating face, I wasn't even sure we were still friends. He possibly only stuck up for me because he knew very well I was with him that night, not Will.

He said himself he was tired of "Saving" me, and I don't see how this could be any different. In fact I knew it wasn't, I didn't ask him to do so, and I certainly didn't expect him to speak up, he did that all on his own.

I realized that we have been pretty much been staring at each other for the past minute, and it was probably getting awkward on his end.

"Thanks." I said quietly to him, before turning back in my seat and trying to get back to my work. When the bell rang I was more than happy to try and escape the awkward tension between Ace and I, but he seemed to have other plans.

"Robin, slow down." Ace called out placing a hand on my shoulder gently, keeping me from running out the room with everyone else.

"Yeah?" I asked, looking right above his shoulder, or shifting my gaze to the window to look outside but not ever meeting his gaze.

"I think it's time you tell me what happened before I found you that night."

I shook my head, and looked at about everything I could around us, our desks, a little scrap of paper on the floor, a scribble of pen on the wall.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why? Because I want to know what THAT was about." Ace asked voice raising as he gestured to where Holly was seated just a few seconds ago.

"Why does it matter to you?"

"What do you mean, why does it matter?"

"I mean why do you even care? Ace you have been avoiding me all week. The last time we talked to each other you told me how you were sick and tired playing "Hero"." I said lifting my hands up and motioning air quotes around the word hero.

"So I don't understand why you want to know." I said finally looking up at him. His face was unreadable, but didn't seem angry at least. He didn't say a word, and I would never know if he was going to, because over the loud speaker came the Secretary's voice.

"Robin Young to the principal's office. Robin Young to the Principal's office."

I cursed under my breath, looking down towards my feet.

'That little snitch.'

"What did you do?" Ace asked, finally speaking again, it seems curiosity is a weakness for him.

"Nothing, Steven is just a whiney bitch." I grumbled under my breath. I turned away and left out the door, leaving Ace behind in the classroom. I dragged my feet all the way to the office, already knowing that this wasn't going to be fun.

Finally entering the door of the main office, I could see my mom standing in a room off in the back, looking positively livid with her healed foot tapping against the ground in rapid tempo, and her arms crossed over her chest.

I avoided her eyes when I walked in the room, also seeing Steven, his hand cradling his "Sore" cheek, that barely showed anything more than a lightly pink splotch now. Standing behind him with her hands holding onto his shoulders gingerly was another tall blonde woman dressed in a tight dark blue dress, and matching heels.

She glared daggers at me when I entered the room, and I looked over Steven, rolling my eyes at his act.

"Ms. Young, so good of you to join us." A pudgy short man, practically bursting out of his suit said behind his large desk. He seemed to be looking between the two tall "Alpha females" nervously, sweating bullets as we speak. So finally being able to start this conversation fully I am sure was a relief for him. It meant he can get these two pissed women out of his office sooner.

I closed the door behind me, too keep this conversation as much out of the public eye as possible.

"Hey." I greeted him nonechalantly, not exactly sure what I should be saying. To be honest I wasn't even sure what this man's name was, I never seen the guy until today.

"Hey? You attack my son, and all you say is hey?!" The shrill voice of Steve's mother comes crying out from across the room. I rolled my eyes and cross my arms defensively.

"I didn't attack him, I slapped him." I corrected. If steam could fly out her ears like in the cartoons I am sure it would have.

"How disrespectful! Is that how you raised your daughter?" The woman said aghast, directing her anger towards my mother.

"Of course not, I raised her to be a young lady, she didn't learn that behavior from me!" My mom shouted back, appalled by the situation. I looked over to her and opened my mouth to mention the time she smacked me across the face, and even left a good bruise that lasted nearly a whole two weeks.

She pointed a long finger at me menacingly.

"You stay quiet." She snapped at me. I shut my mouth with an audible snap and raised my hands up in surrender.

"Robin, I am sure you know how seriously our School takes physical violence on the grounds." The Principal said, looking at me with genuine concern. I can tell he was someone who really didn't like to punish students but will when it is necessary. I looked over to him and let my arms sag at my sides.

"It's not like I slapped him out of thin air! He was harassing me first!" I called out. The principal sat up taller, raising his eyebrows.

"This wasn't mentioned earlier, Steve?" The principal said, looking over at the boy in question.

"That's because she is lying! He didn't do anything to her!" His mother dried, holding Steve closer to her breast. He should feel ashamed being so close to being considered an adult and letting his mother handle him like he was still an infant.

"I am not lying. Why would I ever have the need to put hands on anyone, otherwise." I said looking pleadingly at the principal. He seemed to take my claim seriously with a nod, and looking back over to Steve and his mother, before switching his gaze back towards me.

"What did he do to you exactly Ms. Young?" He asked sincerely grabbing a pen and paper out, and scooting in closer to his desk.

I felt nervous having to say it out loud, but I felt this man really would take me seriously, unlike anyone else in this room, so I swallowed down the fear and opened my mouth.

"Well, he came up to me at my locker. He was verbally harassing me there. Assuming things of me, and talking lewdly to me. Bringing up a rumor that has been passing around the school."

"What rumor?" My mom asked, from somewhere behind me, but I ignored the question and continued on with my story.

"Then when I told him to back off, and I tried to walk away, he came storming after me. Grabbed my arm harshly, then tried to kiss me, and touch my inappropriately. That's when I slapped him."

There was a long silence while the principal finished writing my account of the story down on his sheet.

"Mr. Jensen you can't actually believe this lie!" Mrs. Mitchell cry, was the first to break the silence. The man set his pen down on the paper looking up at the red faced woman then back to me.

"You said he grabbed your arm?" He asked, pointing between them both in question. I nodded, in confirmation.

"May I see it?"

I looked between my mother and then Steve's before walking up to the principal's desk. I shrugged my sweater off shoulders and gave my now free arm to Mr. Jensen. He took it into his hands gingerly and lifted the sleeve of the arm slightly to fully reveal the clearly bruised arm, in the unmistakable pattern of fingers.

Mr. Jensen looked over his glasses at Mrs. Mitchell, still holding the "physical proof in his hand. The woman opened and closed her mouth over and over, looking like a fish out of water, before she was finally was able to get a few words out.

"S-she could have put them there herself." She defended, grasping for straws at this point.

"I'm not strong enough to make marks like these, besides they are clearly made from fingers much larger than my own." I defended myself. She was not having any kind of sense persuade her though it seems.

"Then she got someone else to do it. I don't care who did it, but it wasn't my Steve."

I looked over at the principal who though definitely seemed to side with me, seemed more than a little intimidated by this screaming woman. I was worried he might give into her scare tactics for a minute, but the short man stood from his desk slowly.

"Mrs. Mitchell I think it's clear how the story really went down." He said looking pointedly at Steve who started to shrink in his seat.

"Young man you mind coming here?" Steve seemed reluctant but eventually he stood from his chair and drew closer to principal Jensen and I, not looking either of us in the eye, and keeping a hand to his cheek.

The older man took his hand off his cheek and brought it over to my arm lining up the finger prints, and not to anyone's shock, they were a perfect match. Mrs. Mitchell's mouth opened and once again, trying to gather some words.

"Mr. Mitchell, You are in a whole bunch of trouble." Principal Jensen said looking up at the pale young man, removing his hand away from my arm.

I backed away from the desk, knowing that now was just the time where I sit silently by. I took a few steps and took a stand beside my mother, not looking over at her. During this entire fiasco she never once stuck up for me, and even now she hasn't apologized for taking the other person's side once again! And to top it off, this is the exact "Bright Young Man" she wanted to set me up with, that she claimed wouldn't end up just like Will did.

Mr. Jensen asked what my mother and I thought about as a suitable punishment for the man, but I spoke up first.

"Mr. Jensen, do you mind if I just go back to class. I had a long day, and I would like nothing more than to just get back to my normal schedule."

"Of course Ms. Young, you have been through enough." Principal Jensen said from his seat, nodding his head, as he slowly got out of his chair, and walked over to the door opening it up wide for me.

"Don't fear, We will find a suitable punishment for Mr. Mitchell's actions, and just let me say on behalf of the school, I am so sorry that such an incident even happened on our grounds." He said as I passed him out the door.

"Thanks Mr. Jensen." I said sincerely exiting the room and heading towards the office door. All I wanted was to get out of that room, I really didn't care to hear what was going to be the settled punishment for Steve's actions. I didn't want to stand in a room with my mother any longer than necessary at this point.

I showed up for class about half way through, and just realized I didn't have a pass to give to the teacher. I was ready to tell her to just call the principal as to why I was late, but once Mrs. Vaughn spotted me, she waved me on.

"Go ahead and join your partner Mrs. Young, she can inform you on our project today." She said, waving her hand towards the kitchen area, as she looked down at a newspaper. I shrugged, and headed towards Bev who was staring at me from across the room.

"What did the principal want?" She asked as soon as I got close enough for her to whisper in my ear.

"How did you know?" I asked, fitting on the red apron and starting to tie the strings behind my back.

"The message over the intercom?" She said with a laugh pointing towards the ceilding where the speakers were in every room and every hallway. I laughed along with her shaking my head at my stupidity. That was why the teacher didn't even bother to ask me where I have been, she already knew.

"Oh right, sorry my mind is muddled. Something that happened between Steve and I earlier today." I said looking towards the counter to see what was set up already, trying to get a clue as to what she was working on. SHe gasped, and took a hold of my arm.

"Are you the one who slapped him?" She asked.

I nodded, then pointed to the counters and over space.

"What are you working on?" I asked, trying to get into the mindset of cooking.

"Come on don't change the subject, tell me what happened!" She said, slapping my hand down lightly. I tried to change the subject one more time, but she didn't let it go, so I gave in and told her everything. Which then eventually led to me telling her what my mom told me this morning, to explain the irony in the situation.

"My God, what a pig!"

"uh-huh." I hummed in agreeance.

"And you don't know what his punishment will be?"

I shook my head 'no'.

"If his mom has anything to do with it, I am sure it will be much too light, and my mom isn't going to fight for a more fair punishment." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"That's bull." She huffed, going back to her cooking, and finally showing me what we needed to be doing.

"yeah, but it's not Mr. Jensen's fault, he did actually care about my side of the story, and did not let Mrs. Mitchell bully him into punishing me wrongly." I said, following what Bev did with the ingredients.

"yeah I guess, I still think he deserves more than what he will get. Will too, he got away with what he did." She pointed out.

"As long as he stays away from me, I really don't care anymore." I said, starting to stir the mixture we made in a large bowl. I believe it was muffin mix, lemon poppy-seed to be exact. There was a short silence between us as we mixed our batter and buttered up the muffin tin.

"So what about you and Ace?" Bev asked, not near as casually as she thought she did. I paused mid pouring of the batter for a second before catching myself and continuing with the task.

"What about us?" I asked.

"Well I heard he dropped Holly." She said biting her lip and looking at my cautiously.

"Nothing's changed between us. I do think he and Holly are done for good, and he did defend me when she ran her mouth, but that doesn't change what he said to me or how he treated me." I explained, continuing the task, making sure every pocket in the tin had equal batter. before tapping the tray on the counter to get all the bubbles out.

"You're right." She said, sounding almost sad. I sighed and looked at her from the corner of my eyes.

"Look Bev, I know what you're trying to do, but please don't worry about it. If Ace wants to go back to being friends, he can say so himself. Until then I am still very happy with just you and Eyeball." I explained popping the pan in the oven.

"Or more than friends?" Bev asked with a smile. I rolled my head over to look at her unamused.

"Bev." I warned, pointing a finger at her in warning as well.

"What? I'm telling you, it's going to happen!"