Disclaimer: Do not own Faking It or any of its characters.
Hey guys, thanks again for reviews and follows and favourites. I am on holidays at the moment which is why this installment took so long. Forgive me! In more exciting news, I have recently picked up Orange is the New Black & can I say how amazing that show is. I really am in love with Nicky Nichols! Omygoodness! Anyway enjoy…

A Puzzle – Chapter 3

"I – I slept with Liam!"

And before Karma could react they heard a crash beside and a roll of toilet paper tumble to halt at their feet.

Karma had seen the desperation and the confusion on Amy's face after her confession. A confession Karma was desperate to forget. Without looking at her best friends broken expression she filled herself with denial. A denial that was strong she could smile; a happy smile. That's what drove Karma away from the now crying Amy to the direction of the unrolled toilet paper.

She figured it was Oliver and she was right when he saw him behind the stairs, face in hands and toilet paper stuck to the bottom of his shoe. She swore she heard a sniffle and she instantly felt bad for the boy. Shane must have meant Oliver and not her. Her heart wasn't broken from that silly joke.

"I'm sorry," Karma whispered placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Oliver shrugged Karma's hand of his shoulder and composed himself. "It doesn't matter anymore. I think I had some perfect rose flower image of her. I just forgot about those damn thorns."

"Oliver, please don-"

"I just thought she was different. Someone who didn't know she was more beautiful than anyone else. Someone who cared more about others; even though she hated some of their morals. Someone who wouldn't be defined by high school." Oliver interrupted sighing into the comfort of the wall.

"There is nothing wrong with acting like a teenager, were teenagers for fuck sake we are supposed to make mistakes. Amy's little joke up there was just that; a mistake." Karma angrily pointed out, she hated that everyone believed that being in high school was a choice between being a mature adult or a toddler.

"You think that was a joke. Amy slept with the Booker guy. She. Slept. With. Him." Oliver stressed.

"It doesn't matter. She is my best friend and whatever little game she is playing, she is still Amy Raudenfield. Cute, down-to-earth Amy."

"Believe what you need to Karma, but that- that was the real Amy." Oliver said shaking his head and walking away before Karma said anything to infuriate him further.

Karma stood shocked as he left, she was sure this would be a minor blockage into the road to their true love. The new fun Amy was having was unprecedented, however Karma could laugh at the ironic situation. A fortnight ago she would have been jealous over that situation. Now she was able to laugh and that's what she did. Leaning against the dirty stairs, Karma laughed, until she had tears in her eyes.

~~Karmy~Army~~

By the end of the school day it was clear to Karma that Amy was avoiding her again. Walking to the bus, she spotted Amy climbing into Shane's car. For whatever reason the whole situation reminded Karma of Liam and more importantly to the fact she hadn't seen Liam since the wedding. She wondered if he was alright, seeing his absence at school was rare yet in a row was non-existent.

Pondering on that and the homework she had today, the bus ride seemed shorter than usual and the walk home from their seemed effortless. That always happened when something bad was about to happen. Times like when Zen announced he was leaving town or when Lucy Mower egged her house.

Nevertheless, Karma powered home. Running up the stairs before her parents greeted her. Throwing her bag onto the floor and falling onto her bed. Less than ten seconds later there was a powerful knock on the door and a screechy feminine voice called for her.

Opening the door Karma was surprised to see Lauren standing there.

"Well are you going to let me in? FYI this house needs a serious makeover."

"Lauren, what are you doing here?" Karma closed the door behind and watched as Lauren shuffled through a few of her things. Gritting her teeth she spoke again.

"Are you here for Shane? Oliver is a little heartbroken, but he will be fine."

"First things first, I would never do anything for that weasel and who is Oliv – oh crane boy." Lauren said picking up a dry tissue from her purse and wiping Karma's bed before sitting down on the edge of it. "No, that's not why I'm here"

"Then please tell me why are you here, invading my privacy?" Karma said as Lauren peaked a look at Karma's bed sheets amused. " Did Amy ask for you to check up on me? I'm fine, it was a great joke." Karma said uncrossing her arms and crossing her arms due to the nervous situation, before settling her arms next to her hips.

"Ok Ashcroft, reality check. Do you think Amy – your best friend would ever lie to you, for a joke." Lauren stood up, enunciating every last word.

"Well no, but this is different – I mean Amy – Amy would never, no she couldn't." Karma said sitting down in Lauren's vacated spot on the bed.

"Oh darling, She has! And the quicker you accept it the quicker we can get down to business," Lauren said walking out of the bedroom door. Karma was shocked at the confirmation of Amy's joke or confession or whatever. Was she really that naïve thinking she knew Amy? Amy slept with Liam. No. Liam slept with Amy. No. Amy and Liam had sex. Karma then heard a shatter of glass, before she looked down realizing her phone had smashed against the mirror and the shards of glass mixed with that of the homecoming photo from two days ago.

Leaving the glass where it was, Karma picked up the photo. Happiness is what radiated through, smiles of both her and Amy bright as any. Before she knew it the picture was shredded and tossed around the glass. No matter how many times Karma could delude herself from the truth. From the disbelief. From the betrayal and the hurt and the pain. Deep down she knew it was real.

Shit! It was real.

Jazzy