Geez, it's been a long time, guys!

During lunch on Monday, Audrey sat at a table at the edge of the courtyard. She had brought this isolation on herself to study for a math exam later that day. Her parents had said that if she didn't do well on this test, her birthday ball that was scheduled for the end of the month would be canceled. She would only turn seventeen once, and canceling the party was not an option in her mind. Thus, she was furiously studying algebraic equations during her only free time before her math class.

"Hey, can I join you?"

Audrey glanced up to see Chad. He looked around them before looking back at her and pushing his hands deep into his pockets. He didn't have a lunch tray with him, which told Audrey that he had eaten first before choosing the last five or so minutes of the lunch period to come see her. He should have understood how important this study time was to her after her ranting to him about her parents being unfair about her mediocre grades and her party's current jeopardy.

But that wasn't what really sent up the hairs on the back of Audrey's neck. It was the fact that she and Chad hadn't talked since Ben's coronation party. She had tried texting him to hang out Sunday night, but he hadn't replied. Then, during their morning classes that they shared and usually sat next to each other in, he hadn't shown up at all. In fact, she had assumed he had taken the day off for some reason.

"Yeah," Audrey said. She frowned and closed her math binder, knowing there would be no way she would get more studying in before the period ended. Chad's behavior and sudden appearance were sending up red flags and explosive thoughts in her mind. Did Chad possibly know about what had happened with Jay over the weekend? Why else would he be acting so strangely?

Chad sat across from her and folded his hands on the table. A moment passed, and he withdrew his hands into his lap. "I...Audrey..."

"Are you still coming to my party?" Audrey blurted. He knew. He had to know about her and Jay. She just couldn't handle that right now; maybe not ever. Why couldn't that night just be erased from time? "My mom wants you to come over to see my dress so you can get a matching tie. Remember, it's formal."

"Yes, I...I remember," Chad said softly. "Listen, uh, Audrey, something happened Saturday night...after the coronation."

Audrey sucked in a breath. A ball of needles was lodged in her chest, making it uncomfortable to breathe. "Yes, Chad, I'm so sorry, I-"

"What?" Chad blinked. "What are you sorry for? I'm the one..." He swallowed and looked away from her, refusing to make eye contact. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I cheated on you. I'm so sorry."

Audrey's hands dropped from the piece of hair she had been nervously working into a knot around her finger. "You...what?" Had she heard him correctly? He had cheated? With who?! And why was relief spreading through her chest as if she were being doused in warm water?

"I cheated," Chad said, lowering his voice. "It was wrong, and I...I'm so sorry." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "I didn't know what to tell you or how to say it. I just...I...and Evie..." He swallowed and closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry."

Audrey clenched her jaw tightly at the mention of Evie's name. So, they had both cheated with Villain Kids. How ironic. What was it about them that made them so appealing? Was it some forbidden fruit complex or bad boy or girl thing? Either way, Chad's revelation sent a jolt of fury through Audrey. He could have at least picked someone decent to cheat on her with.

Audrey forced herself to relax and then swallowed. "You're not the only one who's sorry. I, uh...Jay and I..." She shook her head, deciding not to elaborate. "I cheated too. Also after Ben's coronation."

Chad looked up, his eyes wide and searching as if he expected her to laugh and claim she was just mocking him in his moment of severe vulnerability. "You...and Jay?"

Audrey nodded and began twisting her hair around her finger again. "It was a mistake. We both made mistakes, Chad. They were just...lapses of good judgment. It's easy to get sucked into the whole idea that they're suddenly good and stuff, and maybe that's all it was."

Chad abruptly looked away again. "That may be the case for you," he whispered.

"What do you mean? You...do you have real feelings for Evie?" Audrey asked with a laugh. Then she sobered when she saw his grim and guilty expression. "You're serious. You like Evie as more than a one-time thing, don't you?"

Chad slowly nodded. "I think so, yes. And I think she likes me too."

"Yeah, but..." Now anger was rising in Audrey's chest. For a moment, she had thought that if they had both had one night stands and both regretted it that they could just move on and forget about it. Their equal deeds would neutralize each other. After all, she couldn't be angry at Chad for something she had done too. But now, he was saying he felt things for Evie. Now... "But what about us?"

"I don't know," Chad said, looking at the tabletop. "I don't know that there should be an 'us' anymore. If we both cheated-"

"But I don't feel anything for Jay!" Audrey objected.

Chad raised his eyes to meet hers. "Maybe not. But if we both really loved each other, neither one of us would have cheated. I think that's a sign. I mean...were we ever really in love? I know you originally started dating me to make Ben jealous. Has that ever changed? Or was our relationship just convenient?"

Audrey flinched as if her binder had just spontaneously combusted in front of her. "I..." Yes, he was right. She knew instantly once the words were out of his mouth that he was totally correct. She cared for him, but as more of a friend. And her affections had never grown past that. It had been convenient to date Chad both to make Ben jealous and to have a date for her coming party. But now that she had been called out on it, it was as if all her subconscious motives for dating Chad had been put under a spotlight. And those motives didn't look pretty when exposed.

Chad nodded, seemingly reading her silence and expression as good enough of an answer. "That's what I thought. Audrey, we're only hurting ourselves by staying in this relationship. We both cheated, and I think that means we both want totally different things that we can't find in each other."

Audrey pressed her lips together. "And for you, that's Evie, right?"

"I...I hope so." A hint of a smile flickered across Chad's features. "And maybe for you, that's Jay."

Audrey was on her feet instantly. Somewhere in the distance and the back of her mind, she could hear the bell for the end of lunch ringing. Everyone was now getting up around the courtyard to throw their trash away and head off to class. But she was just standing there and staring at Chad murderously. "You think I want to date some scum like Jay? He's a Villain Kid. And if you knew what was good for you, Chad, you wouldn't go after Evie either. She's not really good. None of them are. Or, at least, they won't be for long."

Not giving Chad a chance to respond, she snatched up her backpack and math binder and strode off to class. She had an exam to pass, and she couldn't waste any more time arguing over the validity of Jay's and Evie's place in Auradon today. If Chad and her were over, then that was it. He could do what he wanted, even if that was having a Villain Kid drag him down.

Hey, guys. I hope you guys liked this update. It has been far too long since I last updated, I know. If you'd like to see more of this story, please leave a review.

Foarrin