Ace dropped her off at school, something he had rarely done before. He received the same usual looks and murmurs from both faculty and students alike, the price you pay for being a celebrity in CastleRock.

"I'll pick you up later" he stated as she climbed out nodding. "Hey!" He called, she turned back walking to his side of the car "aren't you forgetting something?" He leaned up kissing her, she suddenly felt the eyes of the whole school on her back. Ace had never been one for public affection but this time he was serious as he laced his arms around her waist pulling her closer.

"You're gonna get in trouble" Alex laughed.

"What makes you say that?"

"Word travels fast here, you just kissed me in front of everyone and you haven't even told Vince yet"

"If he's got a problem, he can take it up with me" they both laughed. Alex untangled herself from Ace leaving one last kiss on his cheek

"Thanks for the ride" she walked to the entrance waiting for the familiar sound of Ace's car starting up but it never came. She looked over her shoulder to see him leant back in his seating watching her leave, she laughed shaking her head. She was dating her best friend, it was likely the whole thing could be a disaster, but regardless she knew it was going to be fun.

Alex felt bad for missing her study session with Chris and went to find him at lunch. He was sat with his usual lot but ignored her greeting when she walked over.

"Look Chris I'm sorry about missing last night something came up unexpectedly and I couldn't leave"

"Yeah whatever Alex" He didn't make eye contact and instead gathered his stuff and left.

Alex sat there for a second unsure how to respond. She followed him out the caffeteria and caught up with him in the hall.

"Chris wait! I really am sorry, can we study tonight please?"

"I'm not mad because you missed our study session, I'm just mad because I thought you were smarter than that"

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" She was taken aback her attitude slipping into her words.

"I saw you this morning I know you're with Ace now, that's what happened last night. I'm just disappointed just thought you were smarter than that"

Alex began to lose her temper. her skin was burning with rage and she felt the urge to punch Chris until his skull cracked. She was no longer talking her voice rang through the halls.

"Who the fuck do you think you are Chambers? You don't know shit about me or Ace!"

"I know all about Ace fucking Merril! And he's a dead beat scum bag who's gonna use you then throw you away like he does every other dumb bitch in this town. I thought you were better but seems I was wrong!"

Before Alex knew she had done it her hand slapped across Chris' face. She was shaking and could feel tears pricking the back of her eyes. She went to leave but was stopped by another voice.

"Desjardins, Chambers! Principles office now!"

An hours detention wasn't as bad a punishment as Alex had expected, but the seating arrangements were. Their desks sat inches apart as they wrote line after line of "We will not fight in school".

Every now and then when the teacher was absent mindlessly flicking through her magazine, she would steal a glance at Chris. He was never looking her way.

The teacher excused herself saying something about marking but really it was an excuse to go for a smoke. She resented being left alone with him again. The silence in the room weighed heavily on them both until eventually one of them spoke.

"I'm sorry for what I said before it was out of line" Alex just stated taken aback "I shouldn't have called you those things it was out of line, I was angry you chose Ace over studying but I can't be bitter"

"I didn't choose" she muttered "I fell asleep out by the lake and Ace drove me back to his, didn't realise till 3am that'd I'd slept right through it" Chris only nodded slightly, the redness on his cheek was beginning to subside but the outline of he palm was still visible.

"I'm sorry I slapped you. You just hit a nerve when you said about Ace throwing me away" Chris turned his head to her his look of curiosity barely hidden "I think about it as well, ace says I'm different to him because he's my best friend but, what's the saying? Leopard never changes his spots?" They both laughed slightly.

"If you're gonna date Merril then that's your choice, but don't choose him over school work" his eyes were so sincere nearly pleading with her. She mumbled an okay and it sufficed him they didn't say a word again and instead continued writing the same lines.

"So can we still study together?" she asked cautiously.

"Yeah course we can" he smiled at her. Alex didn't want to admit it, but she was grateful.