A/N: Okay, you guys, I know I said I was quitting all of this, but I just love it way too much, and my drama is over, and writing just makes me happy. I'm sorry if I freaked you guys out, but I'm still writing for now! You can't get rid of me that easily! And I'm also so sorry, for cancelling "Trollop." I made a really stupid rash decision, and deleted all record of the story even existing, but then I looked in my recycle bin, and found it! Yay! So that will be put back up and continued eventually. Jonah shall be briefly mentioned in this chapter. I couldn't think of how to fit you in quite yet, sorry! Ugh, I was just reading my last chapter I posted (not the little emo note "Farewell" I mean the last actual chapter. I'm probably going to just delete that "chapter", because it's useless to me, now) out of boredom, and for some reason, it just sounded horrible. Meh, have some high school drama. You're welcome, Hurt/Comfort lovers (:

"Is it true you're really friends with Alex Hawthorne?"

"Don't you think he's weird?"

"Did he blackmail you?"

I continued walking down the hallway, attempting to ignore the frenzied questions being thrown at me from other students. My expression most likely appeared tired, and somewhat dejected. Damn, is this what celebrities go through all the time?

These questions were really starting to get on my nerves, but a sudden idea flashed through my head.

"Yes, we're friends – good ones, actually – and no, he didn't blackmail me."

"Then why were you hanging out with him?" A tiny Freshman asked.

"Because we're friends," I stated simply.

My response brought a torrent of even more questions.

"Hey!"

The chaos subsided almost instantaneously.

"No more questions right now, I need to get to class." I shot the crowd a warning look.

There were some mumbled words, and a couple of huffs, but nothing serious, for which I was grateful. I strode off towards my first period, and happened to run into the other object of discussion.

"'Ello, fine morning today, don't you think, good sir?" I asked him in my horrible British accent.

"Yes, perfect for gossip," he replied sarcastically.

"Well, you know the Rumor Mill…" I smiled wryly, returning to my normal voice. The Rumor Mill was what we called gossipers in our town, and they were very productive. "Ooh! People are coming. Let's walk to class together."

He rolled his eyes, falling into step beside me as I laughed at a joke he hadn't made.

"We should totes hang this weekend," I smiled, my voice slightly louder than necessary.

"What, and get our nails done together, too?" he mocked me under his breath with a smile.

"Of course."

We received many odd looks on our way there, but I ate them up; there was always something I found enjoyable about messing with people's heads.

"Now, what's the point of this, really?" He raised an eyebrow suspiciously, with a smirk.

"No point. Just…for fun," I shrugged.

"Right…"

"I am right."

He said nothing, just rolled his eyes and chuckled quietly.

I beamed.

The day passed by rather enjoyably, with both of us always at each others' side. The odd looks increased throughout the day, but I was still the same person who loved attention, so I didn't mind. Lunch was especially hilarious, since I instructed him to sit with me, much to the dismay – which caused my slight irritation – of my usual company. He refused vehemently.

"Jamie, there's no way in hell I'm sitting there, surrounded by a bunch of people that hate me." He frowned. The motion caused the light to flicker off his lip ring, drawing my attention to it.

"Mm. Can you take that thing off? Like, are you able to?" I asked, honestly curious. I'd considered getting one ages ago, and heard it was possible, but was never quite sure.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your lip ring. Is it actually possible to take it out?"

"…Uh, yeah. Why?" He bit at it inconspicuously as he asked.

"Just wondering. Could you take it out? I want to see," I asked eagerly. I had no real idea why I cared so much, but I'd always been interested in odd things, from the time I was a small child.

He looked as though about to shoot me down, as usual, but something in his expression changed and he reached up, carefully taking it off.

I watched in a mix of fascination and curiosity. "Have a lot of experience taking it out?" He'd done it quickly, so I wondered.

"Not really, just became a little wary after I almost ripped my mouth open once," he smirked.

My eyes widened. "Really? That must have been terrifying…" I never really had much of a pain tolerance at all – which was ironic, considering I used to be a cutter – so the idea of things like that happening really did terrify me.

The funny thing was, I was very clumsy, and once split the top of my own foot open using some unconventional method, so that I required stitches. And it entranced me. I was too busy staring at how "cool" the inside of my foot looked to notice the pain. Basically, I was interested in the visionary, but not the feeling side of the process.

"Not really. I thought it was pretty cool," he laughed at the memory. "My parents were freaking out. I mean, yeah, hurt like a bitch, but it was kinda…fun…in a way."

I snorted.

"Shut up, as if you've never done something stupid by accident."

I held a poker face. "You're right, actually."

"Ha."

"Yeah, I cut the top of my foot open when I was 10. Needed 9 stitches. I still have no idea how I got it, since I was on the floor of my room, stood up, then I noticed I was bleeding and my foot was cut open. So yes, I'm very accident-prone."

"Interesting."

"Quite. Now, you're going to sit with me, since I just spilled an embarrassing childhood memory."

"The answer is still no," he replied evenly.

"Oh sorry, I can't seem to find a fuck to give. Look, I'm dragging you over there with me whether you like it or not," I threatened.

He fixed me with a pointed stare, angry and pleading at the same time.

At the moment, I didn't care.

"Come on," I ordered, latching onto his wrist and dragging him behind me. He followed with surprisingly little difficulty.

"Now, don't be all awkward; just act like a badass and they'll learn to respect you, no matter what," I instructed on the way there.

"What? Just act like I run the school, even though I don't? Makes total sense."

"It does. They sense fear," I responded half-seriously.

He laughed at that, and I beamed, glad he'd understood I was joking.

Mostly.

I could feel the eyes boring into my back as we giggled like children, not caring…all too much…about what everyone was thinking. I waved the thought from my mind, and continued my gallant stride towards my center-stage seat, Alex in tow.

"Hey guys," I responded with a sweet smile. It had nothing to do with my appreciation for them, and everything to do with the enjoyment I was getting from watching everyone's "WTF?" expressions.

"Hey," a few people responded lamely. Most were still sending odd glances between Alex and me.

"Well, what's all the fuss about?" I inquired, though I knew perfectly well. "A friend and I are just sitting at a table. Big deal."

No one bothered responding to my question, which was a first. I would have been annoyed had I not found the situation so amusing.

Instead, I sat down, looking to my usual gossip buddies. "So? Anything new in the Rumor Mill?"

"Oh…there's a new student," Natalie squeaked, apparently bored with sending confused and sometimes hateful looks towards Alex.

"Really? Who?"

"Don't really know him. Heard his name's Noah or something. Everyone thinks he's gay."

"Seriously? I've always wanted a gay best friend!" I squealed.

"Oh my gosh, me too. We should see if we run into him today, I'd be like, so happy!"

We continued on for a while, going on about how much we wanted to finally make a gay friend. I moved to brush my bangs from my face, and noticed something.

Alex was gone.

"Um, Natalie, I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay."

I knew he – probably – wouldn't have just gotten up and left with me right next to him, and there weren't many options to go on, but the one I really hoped it wasn't seemed to be the most logical.

I started walking at a quick pace towards the far bathrooms, and broke into a sprint once I was out of sight of the cafeteria. I heard the semi-familiar sounds of what I dreaded to see once I passed that corner, and pushed myself to run just that much faster.

The sight before me caused a numb feeling to course through my small frame.

A small circle of red was there, making a ridiculous amount of noise, and moving about quite a lot. A dark figure was slumped halfway against the wall, small trails and splatters of red covering their face.

"What…the…fuck?" I called in my most menacing voice.

The rowdy jocks jumped at the sound of my voice. And it was currently a very scary one. My eyes skimmed over their pathetic attempts to hide the current situation at hand.

"You don't really think I'm that stupid, do you?" I growled, stalking forward slowly. I wanted to laugh at the fear on their faces.

No one said a word.

"Is anyone going to answer me?" I asked, my voice both carefree and deadly at once.

Silence.

"Matt." I called out to one of the boys trying to hide.

He looked terrified, which made me smile maliciously.

"Now, Matt, would you mind explaining what's going on?"

"Oh…uh…"

"I can't hear you, would you mind coming up here?" My tone stayed light, but my smile was far from friendly.

He hesitated, before shuffling reluctantly to where I was standing with my arms crossed. He kept a distance of a few feet between us, but I could tell he didn't think it was enough.

"Well?"

"Uh…"

"Don't mind me, just tell me what happened."

"Well…Um…Brett, and some other guys, uh…"

"What did they do, Matt?"

"They…uh…started messing with this Alex kid a little bit…and…"

"And?"

"…And uh…started fighting with him."

"Fighting, or something else?" I asked. I had all the confirmation I needed; I just wanted to hear him say it.

"…Um…something else, I guess…"

"And did you have anything to do with it, Matt?"

"Um…"

"Did you?"

"…Kind of…"

"What is 'kind of,' Matt? Did you or not?"

"Uh…yeah."

"Aw, Matt," I started, slinking closer towards him with a mock loving expression. "I remember when we went on those few dates together. You got so happy, thinking we were together," I laughed humorlessly. "The reason I wouldn't become official is because…you're kind of an asshole," I whispered, my face mere inches from his.

I smiled, backing away from him to face the others. "Would anyone else care to remove themselves from this situation? Don't lie; you know how I always find out the truth."

Silence.

"Hm. Matt, I know about you cheating on your girlfriend, since it was with one of my best friends." I was referring to Maddie, but she was pretty much every guy's "go-to" so that much was clearly obvious. "Same goes for the rest of you," I stared pointedly at them.

"Except for you, Brett."

His head whipped in my direction. "What?"

"Don't act like I didn't see you checking out Tyler's ass the other day," I scoffed.

His expression became mortified, much to my amusement, and the others simply stared, confused.

"And it is a nice ass, Tyler, but not many people – ones still stuck in the closet included – will feel the same way once I'm done with you. The same for the rest of you."

"Except I have no steady relationship to speak of, and I'm pretty damn straight."

I recognized that voice almost immediately, and it sparked the little flicker of anger I'd held before.

"So, whatcha gonna do to me, pretty girl?" His voice arrogantly drifted towards my ears before I saw the classic, styled blonde hair and cobalt eyes.

"Don't address me in that manner," I spat. "And why don't you wait and find out?"

"But it'd be so much more fun for you to play with me now," he winked.

"Chad, I can honestly say you repulse me. Now fuck off."

"Aw, I'm hurt, Jamie."

"That's the point. Now get out of here."

"But I prefer getting into things so much more," I didn't miss the innuendo in the slightest.

"You are repugnant!"

"Hey, no need to use big words, there's enough big things here right now."

Okay now he's just trying to piss me off.

"I'm pretty sure your stupidity doesn't count as a viable object."

"I think we both know what I'm talking about."

"I don't think we do."

"Do you want to find out, then?"

My head was about to explode if I didn't punch this douchebag in the face already! Or worse…

"I honestly hold no interest in your mind games, Chad, now if you would please at least attempt to pretend you are a mature human being, I would appreciate it."

He said nothing after that, instead just smirked back in that irritating way. And then he started walking towards me. Oh God, no…

"Aw, I'm sorry, Jamie. Don't be mad," he said, in a mock impression of what was probably all the idiots surrounding him.

"I'm just shocked at your audacity." I replied calmly in a low voice.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, his voice the same volume as mine.

"The fact that you beat up your own brother astounds me."

That was all I had to say for his demeanor to shift entirely. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Don't think for one second I don't know you guys are related. He didn't even have to tell me, I could figure that much out."

"When?" He forced the word between his teeth, his eyes now hardening to something more like ice than pools of seawater.

"A while now. Since we had that little get-together at your house."

His eyes seemed to become colder at that.

"No one will believe you."

"And why won't they? Aren't you forgetting? I'm 'the Jamie Miller'" I mocked his earlier title of me.

He had nothing to say after that, but his expression softened after a bit, and he backed away slowly, his smirk growing with each step.

I waited until the rest of them had gone – frightened off by my harsh glares – to run towards Alex's crumpled form. I was terrible. I'd completely forgotten him in my need for vengeance.

I assessed his condition; he seemed pretty bloodied and bruised, but there was nothing major I could see aside from a shallow gash on his left cheek.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry…" I whispered.

"Hey, it's fine," he reassured me quietly.

No it is not! And how are you telling me everything's fine while you're the one that just got the crap beat out of you? That was what I wanted to scream at him, but I didn't.

I knew he was stubborn, like I was, and arguing about it would just delay the time I needed to get him somewhere he could heal. Or at least clean him up.

"Give me your hand," I instructed.

He made no protest, instead following through immediately, which shocked me, but I filed the thought in the back of my mind. I gripped his hand tightly, prepared to use my full strength – which wasn't all too much. I did almost no work, which bothered me. No, he was the injured one, and I was going to take care of him. It was my fault after all…

We were silent on our short trek to the bathroom. My small form remained in position to support him need he collapse, but that never happened. Once we got there, he immediately tried to take care of it himself, so which I nearly had a meltdown over. He'd given up after seeing how much it seemed to matter to me.

So now, he was leaning part-way hunched over, with me on my tip-toes in an attempt to reach his face – our height difference didn't really help. I'd taken one of the damned paper towels our school so graciously supplied us with, and soaked it. I tried to apply gentle pressure, so that the roughness of the thing wasn't unbearable, but I didn't know if my attempt succeeded; he probably would've pretended it was fine even if it felt as though I were slowly peeling his skin off.

After about 20 minutes, the dried and still wet blood alike had been removed, and he looked a lot better.

That wasn't saying much, though.

"You still look like crap," I teased him, and he laughed, before sucking in a sharp breath.

They really hit him everywhere, huh?

He seemed to notice my downcast expression. "Hey, I've had worse. Don't worry about it."

"I can't just not worry about it!" I screamed, exasperated.

He watched me wordlessly.

"I mean, this is just…not okay." My voice lowered in volume, reduced to barely a whisper.

"I get what you mean…sort of," he began. "Apparently, I'm worth caring about – to you at least – so I understand you being pissed about this."

"Well, I'm glad you're finally starting to not hate yourself."

He scoffed.

I smiled in return, only to remember we still had the rest of the day to go through. I guess all the crazy surrounding my life was starting to affect me, since I suggested something I'd never dared to do. "Let's ditch."

He gave me a look. "Okay, we both know I have no problem with skipping out on school – 'cause I mean, come on – but I know for a fact that 4.3 GPA students don't get grades like that from ditching class."

"I just…I just don't care today. Please?" I asked, putting every ounce of emotion into that one pleading look.

He looked torn, as if deciding between my inevitable corruption, or what I probably should have done. After a minute, he shook his head, dark hair shifting slightly to cover his unhappy eyes. "…Fine."

A/N: Oh, I am just absolutely terrible for cutting off the chapter right there aren't I? (Yes.) Pardon my crappy descriptions of fight scenes; I haven't been in too many myself. If Matt was saying "Uh" a little too much for your liking, that was for realism, just saying. Also, in case Jonah's pissed about not being in it (and being thought of as gay, and your name being mispronounced) I'm sorry! Like I said in the first Author's Note, I couldn't think of how to fit you in yet. And Maddie and Shelby weren't even in this chapter! *Gasp* I know, and I'm so sorry, you guys. This was just one of those (hopefully few) chapters where there was too much going on with the MCs to really involve anyone else other than necessary. I'm sure I can come up with an excuse later in the story (one that involves smut) so don't worry. To everyone else, thank you so much for dealing with all of my BS I put you through, with my drama, and the would-be cancellation…just, thanks. I love you guys!