AUTHORS NOTE:

This one's a little longer. Hope you all enjoy it!

MARINA'S POV:

"We need to focus." I say to Cole.

We're in the library doing our geometry homework. Usually it only takes me about 20 minutes to finish, math is my best subject, but we've been in here for nearly an hour and are still on problem 6! I just can't focus with Cole around. He jokes about everything. The librarian has had to come over twice to tell us to quit down. He brings out another side of me, a side I like. I start to read problem 7, when Leia walks in to the library. She sees me and runs over to our table. I see tears threatening to spill in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"John kissed me!" she says, drawing her hand to her mouth. Cole looks at us and says,

"I think I should go." I don't want him to leave, but I know it's probably best. Leia isn't the type of person to talk about her feelings, and I would be harder in front of Cole.

I smile at him a little, then turn back to Leia.

"Ok," I say to her, "tell me everything."

"I don't know where to start."

"Maybe you should start at the beginning?"

RICH'S POV:

"I need your help on something." I hear behind me. I turn around, and Bryce is standing behind me. I feel my palms start to sweat.

"What is it?" I ask. I don't really want to help him, but I saw what he did to John. I don't that to be me.

"Oh nothing much, I just need you to get John locker combination. That's all. Do you think that you can do that?"

I nod, not trusting my voice.

"Good boy." He says patting me on my shoulder.

I walk to the gym, knowing John will be working out. He's always working out. I see him hitting the punching bag. He's drenched in sweat.

"Hey Rich," He says what do you need?" he seems distracted. Maybe this will be easier than I thought.

"Oh, I um, just needed to put something in your locker. You seem busy so I could do it now; I just need your combo."

"Ok, sure, it's 24601."

"Thanks." I leave the gym. Bryce is heading towards me.

"Did you get it? He asks.

"24601, you're not going to hurt him or anything right?" I say.

"Whatever I do to him doesn't involve you. Yet, stay out of it and we can keep it that way. Ok?" He says and walks away. I hope I didn't just do something stupid, but whatever happens, John can deal with it better than me. He probably deserves it too.

STANLEY'S POV:

"You kissed her!" I shout.

"I got caught up in the moment." John says, running his hand through his hair. We are sitting in his truck in the school parking lot.

"And then Bryce walked in on you two?"

"Yes."

"Ok… can I have your truck?"

"What? Why would I give you my truck?"

"Well, if you're dead someone is getting it. I want you to put me in your will."

"I am not going to die." He says, not very confidently.

"Sure you aren't. Let's go before Bryce finds you. I don't want any blood in my truck."

"MY truck, you know, when someone's best friend could end up at the bottom of lake with in the day, most people comfort the friend. Not ask to be in their wills."

"Yeah yeah, you know I love you. Now drive."

JOHN'S POV:

I start the car and pull out of the parking lot. Stanley plays with the radio, flicking between and hip-hop song and a rock one. I'm hands feel sweaty and I wipe them of on my pants, steering with my mind. I run through a million situations with Bryce in my head. None of them end well for me.

"Let's grab a burger man." Stanley says.

I nod and pull into a dinner. A burger and fries sound great. We order and sit down. We talk about sports and our classes. It was like it was just a normal day, just hanging out without Bryce's threat looming over me. As we finish our meals, Stanley looks at me and says
"if you ever need anything, you can ask. No matter how much trouble we could get in."

"I know bro. and trust me, I'll ask. You're better at avoiding getting caught." I respond.

We pay for our meals and leave. In the car I look over at Stanley. He's drumming along to the beat of the song on the radio. He's the best friend I could ever ask for. I don't know where I'd be without him.

LEIA'S POV:

"So, what do you think Bryce in going to do to John?" Marina asks her face pale.

"I don't know! But after what happened at Cole's party, I'm scared. I can't believe that this is happening. I've wanted John to kiss me for months. Now when he does, I regret it more than anything." I reply.

"This is crazy! We have to talk to someone. Maybe we can talk to Mrs. Dolbec. She would know what to do."

"No!" I say griping hand, "we can tell anyone. Bryce will hurt him even more."

"And if we don't tell anyone, he's going to be destroyed by Bryce. I'm telling you we need to tell someone, if not a teacher, then your grandparents, or better yet, his."

"Maybe you're right…"

"Of course I am. Let's go." We get up and walk out of the library.

JOHN'S POV:

When I get to school I see a few cop cars outside of the school. I walk inside and see all the lockers open and a bunch of people just standing around. Not heading to class, or training, or talking, just standing around.

"What's going on?" I ask a girl next to me.

"They found ZCV's in some guy's locker."

I'm shocked. ZCV's are a highly illegal enhancement drug. When I was in 8th grade a senior on the boxing team was busted with them and got sentenced for 3 years. Even after that, it's impossible to get into a good collage. Your life future is destroyed after that. I can't think of anyone stupid enough to use it, much less hid it in their locker.

I push my way to the front of the crowd. I see three cops and the principle standing in front of a locker, my locker.

Everything happened in a blur. A finger pointed to me, the cops handcuffed me. I assumed someone read me my rights but I can't remember. The police escort me out of the building. People stare at me like I'm a criminal. I can believe this. I don't take drugs, I never have.

LEIA'S POV:

I pull up to the school. I'm a little late because I had to pick up Marina and Ella.

"What are those police cars doing outside of the school?" Ella asks.

"I have no clue," I say, "let's find out."

We get out of the car and walk towards the doors. Before we can get there though, three cops come out with a guy in handcuffs. I can't see who it is because of the crowd. I shove my way forward and move to the front of the crowd. As they put him in the car, he turns his head and our eyes meet.

Oh no, I think, John what have you done?