The next day, you went on with your daily routine, arriving to school with time to spare.

Even thought that fact would've made students overjoyed to earn time off school at school, you were different. You were desperate for a distraction, and this wasn't the right kind.

So you tried instead to look for Chloe, Zoey and Marcy. They were probably at school at this time.

As you made your way through the crowd of students minding their own business, you locked eyes-if only for the briefest moment- with him.

Tears pricked at your eyes.

The classes went by so fast- even the ones you hated didn't last an eternity.

But when it came time to go to Biology, you realised with dread that this was why. Of course.

You entered the class, putting on what you considered was a "normal" face for students patiently waiting for class to start. But inside, you panicked. It was only a matter of time before he arrived- a matter of time before you had to face the consequences.

This time, time ticked so agonisingly slow- the clock mocked you with its snail-paced second hand.

The witch in designer clothing wasn't around- yup, the world hated you that much.

And so you waited, staring blankly straight ahead.

"Miss Maxwell? Miss Maxwell?"

A hand snapped its fingers in your face, cutting you off from your dream-like trance.

"H-huh? Wha-"

An audible sigh. "You know very well that you're supposed to be concentrating in class, Miss Maxwell."

"Well I-"

"After-school detention for you. Now, listen to my lesson. Got it?"

"Y-yes, Ms Kincaid."

Feeling the stares of people burning into your neck, you tried your best to refocus on the lesson being taught. It was hard, what with the droning of the teacher lulling you to sleep, the burning embarrassment of what had happened earlier distracting you and that damn boy that somehow still managed to keep himself stuck in your mind.

Speaking of "that damn boy", right after the lesson, he tried to talk to you.

"Nikki."

You kept your eyes away from him, afraid to face the result of that day. What would he do if you turned around?

"Oh... I see."

Slow footsteps sounded, and as they got softer, you felt more and more like bursting into tears right there. Was he even mad? He didn't even push you to talk to him.

Sighing, you stepped out to the Cafeteria, hoping Chloe, Zoey and Marcy could take your mind off everything.

As you sat at the table with them, chewing monotonously on a sawdust sandwich, Chloe spoke up.

"Nikki, what's wrong?"

It took a few seconds for that question to register in your mind. "Um, nothing. Just... you know."

"No, I don't know. You've been so quiet all day. What's wrong?" Chloe snapped.

You couldn't bring yourself to look her in the eye, so you simply said, "It's... school. I got detention. It's an after-school one." You raised your head slightly to see if she'd believe you.

Her face softened. "Oh. Sorry, Nikki... You just seemed so worried, and you know I hate it when one of my best friends is worried. But it's okay. Zoey, Marcy and I'll text you. Right, guys?" She shot them expectant looks.

"Of course, Chloe!" Marcy immediately answered.

But Zoey didn't respond. She kept her narrowed eyes fixed firmly on you, and you were scared that she'd guessed your secret. But a few sharp taps on the shoulder from Chloe snapped her out of it, and she nodded. "Sure, sure, Chloe.

But she gave you a nod as if to say, "Tell me later."

But could you bring yourself to?

•MISSED CALL FROM BRANDON ROBERTS- 8:04 AM

•TEXT MESSAGE FROM ZOEY FRANKLIN- 5:53 PM

You almost jumped back with shock when you saw how fast Zoey had texted you. But what scared you the most was the fact that HE'd actually tried to call you. But for what reason?

You felt confused when you saw that he'd left no voicemail.

But when you moved onto Zoey's text, you sighed in frustration.

ZOEY: Nikki. Tell me what happened.

How would you tell her a believable lie? She was a 14-year old Dr Phil. There was no way you'd be able to get past her easily.

Although you thought it was pathetic, you told her the same thing you'd told Chloe.

YOU: Zoey, seriously. There's nothing wrong, other than I had detention.

ZOEY: I know you, Nikki, and you don't get this worked up over a detention. What's wrong? Is it about Brandon? Anything bad happen between you two at the sleepover?

Oh no. She was already so close!

YOU: No! It's about Mackenzie.

You thought that would stump her, but you were completely and utterly wrong.

ZOEY: Oh, really? Tell me what happened then.

YOU: Well... She's been harassing me more than ever lately.

ZOEY: Really? Considering the fact that she's thousands of miles away, holidaying in the Carribean, with no way whatsoever of contacting you? For a valley girl, she's clever.

You didn't want to tell her. If you told her that you thought Brandon hated you, she and Chloe would probably interrogate him and, if it turned out the way you were thinking of, they'd probably tell you to leave him for someone else, and you knew that THAT would be one of the hardest things for you to do after all you'd been through with him.

In the end, you decided to turn off your phone for the night. You'd have enough trouble to face tomorrow.

Before you drifted off to sleep that night, you briefly wondered who that figure at the window could have been.

And what exactly had they been holding?