Thank you to ChainGangHottieWithKillerLegs, my time is now, FreakierThanFreaks, therealchamps, Cena's baby doll and yacena23 for reviewing the previous chapter. Thank you too to everyone who read it. Hopefully you'll like this new chapter too.

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Dedicated to Abu, better known as my time is now.

Enjoy the continuation of the previous chapter.

Stepping into the classroom, the two long time friends caught a sign of a very sad Ashley sat on the third row of the classroom. Concerned, Amy and Trish exchanged glances before approaching from the depressed blonde.

Ashley didn't seem to notice the two were taking seats at her side. She was drowning in her own misery to care about the things surrounding her. It wasn't every day someone found her boyfriend lied to stay at home with his brother's babysitter. From all the guys in the world, Phil would be the last one she thought would do it.

- Ashley, is everything okay with you? - Amy queried, taking a seat on the desk at Ashley's side. It was hard to recall the last time Ashley seemed so low. Apart from the cold shoulder behaviour towards them, the punk girl always had a smile etched on her face.

- As you care - the punk blonde replied with aggression.

Lately her friends had been treating as she was a complete stranger and they didn't trust her. Now, as her eyes were red and swallow from crying every single day since she broke up with Phil, they were suddenly feeling concerned. As friend as those two, she clearly didn't need enemies.

- When will you forgive us? - the red haired asked. Trish only confessed her mistake because she couldn't bottle it up anymore. If Ashley had been the one in her place, the petit blonde would have told her she had cheated on Jeff and she would be the one kept in the dark. - We didn't hide it from you intentionality.

Not talking about it or commenting the subject in her front was enough to show they hid it from her intentionality. They could say whatever they wished because deep inside they intended to hide it from her. She only had knowledge about it when the bomb was dropped.

- Ashley, can you talk with us? - Trish placed her hand on Ashley's shoulder, but the last pushed her away refusing her comforting gesture.

- I'm your friend and you preferred to keep certain things away from me. I had to learn it from certain girls in the bathroom. I could have helped you fix what was going on, but you rather hid it as I wasn't your friend.

By the corner of the eye, the depressed and now angry blonde saw Phil passing by the hall. Gladly they didn't have classes together. However, it was painful to see him. He hadn't even tried to speak with her face-to-face. He had only called her and she ignored those calls.

Standing to her feet, Ashley made her way out of the classroom without saying another word. She didn't have patience to deal with her friends, with professors and Phil. Coming to school had been a really bad idea

- Ashley - Amy called, but she was completely ignored. There was something going on with the blonde girl and due to their "argument" they wouldn't be able to help her to go through it. She would have to face what was going on all by herself and they would probably never know what happened.

Trish inhaled a deep and long breath. If Ashley could only understand...She wasn't proud of her actions. It has been very hard to tell Amy about her irreparable mistake. If Ashley had gone through the same as her, she would understand how hard it is to confess to someone cheated on hers boyfriend.

Trish was taken by surprise with the appearance of Cody Rhodes at her side. Due to being worried with Ashley, she hadn't seen him approaching; she didn't feel him getting closer of her.

- So, I thought a lot and I was wondering if you want to be my partner. We can make the work at my place, if you know what I mean.

The petit blonde froze without know what to answer. Did everyone think she was a whore? One mistake and every guy at school stayed thinking that she would fall into their arms?

Amy was ready to defend her friend, but someone did it first it. It caught off guard the three students to realize who was defending Trish from Cody's mean words.

- Cody, shut up - Randy ordered without taking a look at Cody or Trish. He passed by the two and occupied his usual seat in the back of the room.

No-one said anything and Cody sent Randy a questioning glance before taking a seat on the last row at his side. The younger from both tried to say something, but an angry gaze from Randy was enough to shut him up.

Randy wasn't letting Trish going through it alone - due to Stacy have knowledge of what happened the second chance he was looking for went downhill. Maybe if he stopped being a jerk, he could have her back. And when it happened, he wouldn't pressure her to do something against her will as he did before.

After the troubled morning she had with her progenitor, Stacy wasn't certain if she had taken the right decision. However, after having to ignore his messages, the teenager thought it was good to make a surprise to her boyfriend.

The blonde catholic student had learned John would be working at his uncle's dinner that afternoon and decided to pass by to make him a visit. Taking a seat around a table, Stacy decided to have a small study session.

Though John was around, he couldn't be paying her the attention he wished because at the time of the day many people appeared at the dinner. As much as his uncle was used to his ways, John thought it was better not to give him reasons to get him angry and to serve the costumers.

- It's on the house - John exclaimed and put on top of the table a strawberry smothie. He took a seat on the other chair. No-one new had entered inside the dinner which meant he could take those few minutes to have a small break.

Stacy raised her eyebrow when saw the drink John had placed her table. She may have been getting in troubles since their started dating - well, it all started during the Impulse party, a couple of days after her birthday -, but she didn't wish him to have problems on his work because of her. His uncle could be the owner, but he still could get in troubles.

- Working here gives me so privileges - he added noticing the way she was staring at him. - So, you haven't told me what happened this morning yet.

- My mother just wanted to speak with me without my father and brother around. - She would rather not go further with the subject. It had already given her many headaches. However, she was one hundred percent sure that John should be informed the fact that her mother had knowledge of the night Mrs. Smith caught them outside in the middle of the night. - She...

Stacy found herself being interrupted by new customers, who had just made their way into the dinner. John didn't make intentions of going to meet them right away - he wanted to know what his girlfriend had to say. Nevertheless, the set of hazel eyes were expressing and order for him to go.

- You will tell me later - he advised before turning his body to leave. Those people could have taken a little longer to show up. They had to interrupt his break and his conversation with Stacy, who had something to tell him.

As soon as John left, Stacy tried to engage in her study again. Nonetheless, she didn't fulfil her wish. Another person took the seat John had been before. Swerving her eyes from her books to the person, the blonde realized it was Kelly.

- I heard you and John are a couple now - Kelly spoke right away, without caring if she was welcomed or not. This girl had taken something from her and she wasn't in the mood to be polite with her. - Did I hear it right? Or is it just another rumour about you two as the one that circulated some weeks ago?

- I don't think you have something to do with it - Stacy replied. She was a very tolerant person and for what people said sweet girl too. Nonetheless, Kelly was making her lose her grin with her hypocrite ways.

- I only want to make sure I heard it right. I wonder how you got John and...what's the name of your ex-boyfriend? Ricky? Well, it doesn't matter! - Kelly knew very well Randy's name and Stacy was aware that she knew it too. - I always thought the rumours about you cheating on him were a lie. But now, there you are together for what I heard.

- His name is Randy and I never cheated on him with no one. - Why did she feel she had something to explain to this nosy girl? She had nothing to do with her personal life.

Since the unfortunate day they met, Kelly has been mean to her and Stacy knew it was all because of John. Kelly had many opportunities to be with John. They had been classmates for years; they had known each other for years and nothing ever happened. If she liked John as much she liked to show, maybe she should John date the girl he wanted. When you love someone, you must strong enough to let him go.

- What do you want Kelly? - Both blonde girls twisted their heads, only to find John staring at them with his arms crossed.

The basketball team capitation didn't know what to do with Kelly anymore. He understood she liked him and she should understand he didn't have feelings towards her. They had that discussion many times, but it seemed the girl hadn't internalized it yet.

- Oh, nothing. Nice to see you... - she acted as she didn't know the name of her nemesis - Stacy, right? I hope to see you around many more times. I think we will have a lot to talk. I'm sure we will be friends.

They had nothing to talk about. They would never be friends. All Stacy wished was distance from that crazy jealous girl. The blonde had never disliked someone as much as she disliked Kelly. Of course, Stacy disliked Kelly more because since their met the girl has been fake and a hypocrite towards her and not because she was interested in John, who was her current boyfriend.

- For someone who never dated you, she can't get stay a minute away from you and a minute without annoying me.

- I told you the truth when I said I never dated her - he sent glance in Kelly's direction before returning to Stacy -, and I meant when I said I never will. Kelly is just a friend and she will be nothing more.

However, he would end up cutting ties with Kelly if she brought problems to his relationship with Stacy. He had given her a chance after she kissed him and spread all over the school they were a couple. Many would call it ingenuity by Kelly's part for assuming when she kisses a boy they will automatically date and the basketball player decide to go along with it - even after noticing she wasn't a sweet angel as she liked to portray. If the cheerleader went on with her behaviour, he wouldn't give her a second opportunity.

- An annoying friend who wants to be more than a friend. Will you tell me you never noticed it? - It could be seen by a mile that Kelly didn't feel a friendship from John. She was more interested in being a lot more than a simple friend.

- Yes, I noticed it a while ago and I told her to back-off - John replied. It was the truth. He told Kelly not to mess up on his life. Nevertheless, it didn't seem the blonde girl would take his indications.

- She may have not understood you were telling her to back off. - By the corner of the eye, Stacy took an opportunity to look at Kelly, who had taken a seat around a table where two girls, which were twins, were sat. - In a matter of fact, I don't think she'll give up so soon.

John took a mental note to speak with Kelly in private. Her harassment would come to an end and he would advise that if she wanted to keep their friendship it was better for her to leave Stacy alone; to leave his relationship alone and not to try to ruin it. If she ever did it, he would never forgive her. Perhaps, it would be enough to make her stop with her jealousy attacks.

- What can I say? I'm irresistible! - He wasn't feeling like making jokes about the subject, but Stacy didn't have to realize he was taking the matter very seriously. He would take care of everything without worrying her. - Did you come here to speak about her?

- No. I came here to see you, - she took a quickly at her wrist clock - but my time is over. I better to get going before someone at home gets suspicious with my absence.

- Do you want me to take you home?

- It's better not. Someone can see you and it is being hard to hide that you have been at my house in the middle of the night. At any moment Mrs. Smith can speak. - As she hasn't done it already...

After the scene with Kelly, Stacy had decided not to talk with it about John. Who would want to date a girl who had a major fight with her mother for being seen with him in the middle of the night? Her family wasn't prude and neither was she, but John didn't need to know about what happened.

She didn't believe he would leave her because of it - he had gone through a lot and had done a lot of crazy things to spend time with her even before they were a couple -, but with Kelly around - who didn't seem to have problems in throwing herself to her boyfriend's arms - it was better not to give reasons which could make John want to stay away from her. Also, as the subject seemed to have vanished from John's mind, she wouldn't bring it up again.

- I'll leave you a few blocks behind. No-one will see us and no-one will tell that a stranger took you home

- You aren't a stranger and you are working at the moment. You can't leave your job only to take me home. You have responsibilities. - Stacy had already noticed that John and responsibilities didn't match very well. She wouldn't try to change him, but she wouldn't stop herself of telling him it was wrong to ignore his responsibilities. If he would be a "bad" influence on her, she would try to be a good influence on him.

- If I ask my uncle to leave work to take you home he will agree. After leaving you home, I'll come back to work in a second. It will be like I was never gone.

- Are you going to let me tell you "no"?

- No. - His lips stole a kiss from her. - I'll be ready in two minutes.

- Don't you have to talk with your uncle first? - Stacy asked confused before he could turn his back. His uncle could not give him the permission to walk from his job.

- I already did it. - He winked his baby blue eye at her before twisting his back and walking away. He was planning taking her home since the moment she showed up. He had the conversation with his uncle as soon as she saw her and Felix agreed with it.

Watching him with a fond smile across her face, Stacy thought how much her life changed in the past three months; she thought about how much her life changed since she met him. Apart from the lies she had to tell her parents - she was doing it with more frequency than she did before - and running from a theatre in their first date not to be arrested, Stacy couldn't say she wasn't enjoying how everything turned out.

I'm sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes. English isn't my first language - and I confess that I didn't pay any attention when I was re-reading it.

xoxo

Ainat