Notes: this is my first whole chapter i've written, i think? i feel awful 'cause dee has written two chapters and a half and i'm just like hey i'm a lazy shit with literally no part in this story. but hey, here i am now and btw, my penname was 'escape to nowhere/a world out there darling' but it's 'aphorisms' now.

Warning: there is sexual content but not full on smutty, graphic stuff.

[3]

"Claire-bear, where are you?" Massie's voice echoed through the halls as she roamed aimlessly around with a cigarette dangling from her ruby red lips.

Claire urgently motioned for Massie to enter her dorm and slammed the door behind them. The blonde sighed and flopped down on her bed while the brunette perched upon the bed frame, the cigarette billowing clouds of smoke around her.

Without the slightest hint of warning, Claire whacked the cigarette right out of Massie's hand and with very impressive skill, right into her own fingers.

"What the fuck?" Massie bellowed, glaring at Claire.

She shrugged impassively and replied, "I need it more than you", at which Massie nodded, slightly amused.

"So, what's up with the A.S.A.P call?" Massie questioned, her eyes full of curiosity and slight mischief when Claire slipped her infamous let's-ruin-somebody smirk on.

"How do you feel about Nikki Dalton?"

Dylan sighed as she felt several pairs of eyes on her. The hallway was crowded with expensively-dressed teens and way too much perfume that she was 99% sure the males had on as well. She scanned it, looking for a familiar face but instead, she saw Nikki Dalton who was chatting animatedly with several B-list students that were fawning over her obviously fake Chanel bag.

Dylan rolled her eyes at Olivia Ryan, who was kissing Nikki's skinny-jean clad butt. The girl was the object of Claire's current wrath which meant in a week or so, she would be halfway across the country, and honestly Dylan didn't feel sorry for her. Maybe she would of felt sympathetic if the brunette wasn't so annoying with her squeaky high-pitched voice; blatantly obvious, disgusting flirting with every male there was; and her fake designer clothing.

The brunette had even gone so far as to make a sly comment about Dylan's recent weight gain, and how it would probably cost her the modelling lifestyle, during lunch. As soon as Kristen and Alicia had shot her a dark glares, she had giggled nervously and touched Cam's arm like nothing was wrong, but the damage had been done.

She was glad that Alicia and Kristen had picked up on the comment and glared at Nikki, but Dylan had felt queasy and asked to be excused. This had caused Kristen and Alicia to saunter off, hand in hand, and leaving Nikki alone, looking stupid and lost with a table of boys, since Massie had already left minutes before.

Dylan had lingered in the bathroom for what felt like hours, examining the one roll of pale fat and her slightly chubbier cheeks. She had been positive there were tears sliding down her cheeks, disappearing as soon as they came.

Who knew a tiny comment could be the start of something horrible?

Alicia Rivera had to refrain from bursting out into laughter at the sight in front of her. Josh and Massie had one of the most complex relationships that she'd ever seen, possibly because they were both so similar, as strange as it sounded. They both loved to play practical jokes on others, break every rule existed, smoke together and even share flasks together, which was kinda disgusting because of the bacteria transfer, something Alicia prided herself about knowing; there was a reason that she was shoo-in for valedictorian.

Josh and Massie were having their annual 'beginning-of-the-year prank war' which lasted about 8 weeks and usually ended in a half-destroyed school with both participants—plus several others—covered in different unique substances.

Already, Massie had slipped semi-permanent pink hair dye in Josh's shampoo which turned his most prized possession into a funky shade of fuchsia. In retaliation, Josh had smeared orange dye in Massie's hair.

Finally reuniting after the first pranks, they were both furious, each armed with a 'payback' prank, which involved a extraordinarily large cream pie and a very sticky toffee pot which had been chucked at each other's face resulting in temporary blindness. The substance was flung all over Layne, who was unfortunately caught in the crossfire.

"JOSH ANTHONY HOTZ AND MASSIE JULIANNA BLOCK, YOU COME RIGHT BACK HERE SO I CAN SLIT YOUR FUCKING THROATS," Layne fumed seeing her—well, everything, covered in toffee and cream. The trio took off running down the hall leaving a trail behind. It really was quite a sight.

Alicia really couldn't hold it in anymore, and let out an chuckle as she gracefully strolled down the hallway, skilfully avoiding getting cream on her shoes. Adjusting her skirt and unbuttoning a few buttons of her shirt, she pushed the door open to classroom 23 where her current flavour of the week waited. She felt her cheeks flame bright red when she saw the very-very-attractive male specimen sitting behind the desk. His bright blue eyes and clearly defined muscles were already making Alicia feel slightly self-conscious in her prudish school uniform. Despite the fact he was merely a playtoy to her, she had to admit that he was one hell of a good-looking one.

"Hey, Leesh," He mused, licking his lips while eyeing her up and down. "Naughty school girl?" he smirked suggestively, at which Alicia felt her cheeks flush even more.

Still, she attempted to sound slightly seductive when purring, "Just wait till you see what's underneath", at which his eyes grew hungry. Alicia wasn't sure what had inspired her to call her college fuck buddy to visit her on school grounds and in a classroom nonetheless, but it felt thrilling, like she was embracing a wild side that she didn't know existed.

She slowly unbuttoned her school shirt, letting him take in the sight of her barely concealed breasts under her skimpy lace bra. She smoothly pulled the shirt off and unzipped her skirt until she was only standing in her bra and stockings. By now, Alicia could see how turned on he was, which she smirked at as she slowly sauntered to the other side of the classroom with a teasing grin.

The minute he realized what she was doing, he pulled his shirt and jeans off, revealing his abs and walked over to her. His eyes full of lust, he bent down and pulled her stockings and panties down with his teeth, grazing her skin teasingly at which she let out a satisfied moan.

Then, the moment his lips met hers and his hands started roaming all over her body freely, she couldn't help but feel that she wasn't who she used to be.

Claire was going through a mid-life crisis: Cam was making lovey-dovey eyes atthe new girl, who was slowly working her way into the A-list.

The only reassurance Claire had was that the majority of her friends disliked the peppy brunette as much as her.

Placing her third cigarette down and ignoring the twinge of pain in her chest, Claire stripped off her school uniform and changed into a sunrise-toned Max Mara layered top, pairing it with Juicy Couture skinny white jeans and tying her blonde hair into a high ponytail. She finished with a flourish by sliding her feet into a killer pair of Alexander Mcqueen black ankle boots.

Exiting her room, she walked down the hall with a dangerous sneer crossing her face. She was ready to destroy.

The entire school could probably sense, from the look on Claire's face, not to cross her but one naive brunette certainly didn't notice and accidentally bumped right into Claire. The majority of students in the hallway looked shocked and scared for Nikki, but no one dared step up as the icy blonde eyes flickered between anger and being nonchalant.

Nikki's eyes widened when she saw who she bumped into. "Oh, sorry, Claire!" she started off.

"It's fine," Claire cut off stiffly, obviously trying to stay calm but the ever oblivious brunette continued on.

"Actually, I just wanted to ask why you left early at lunch today?" she questioned, unaware to the slowly building agitation in Claire's face.

"I had a problem with the table, more specifically the people on it," Claire replied briskly, turning on her foot and stalking off leaving the student body in awe.

The minute Claire had turned a corner, the students in the hall started whispering frantically.

"Bet you $100 that Nikki girl will be gone by next week."

"I reckon she'll be gone by tonight."

"Ohmygod, Claire looks so pretty today—especially her hair!"

"New girl's got guts to face Claire. Did you see her face?"

Claire, who wasn't out of earshot yet, and had calmed down, just smirked and walked towards the coffee shop conveniently placed in the center of Briarwood Academy's student dorm.

If things went according to plan, Nikki would be gone in a week.

Kemp sighed, the pounding in his head was getting more severe by the second from the killer hangover he was nursing.

Last night was a complete blur. So far he could recall his lips on someone else's, his hands roaming a curvy body and plump lips against his own. There was the scent of pinecones that lingered in his mind as well.

Kemp really liked the smell of pinecones, but he liked the amazing sex he had with mystery person just a little bit more.

Chris Plovert was tired, incredibly so, both mentally and physically. Gruelling hours of soccer training made his bones ache and after his third hour of attempting to teach Olivia Ryan the basics of algebra, he could feel his brain cells dying off.

Already exhausted from last night's partying, his overworked brain was in overdrive trying to process the shitstorm that was his relationship with his father.

Chris had lived a relatively good life with his mother and step-dad since his deadbeat father had walked out on them when he was only five but lately his estranged father had attempted to get in touch with him through several different ways. He sent texts that Chris deleted before reading, calls Chris didn't hesitate to decline and letters that were gathering dust in the corner of his dorm room.

What scared Chris most was why.

This man, who had no interest in the first 5 years of his life and missed another 11 years, now trying to contact him made him worry slightly.

What if his father was dying? Or was going through some kind of other issues?

Chris slapped himself mentally on the head. This guy shouldn't of mattered at all, regardless of what was happening to him.

Stupid deadbeat fathers.