A WAVERLY OWL ALWAYS KNOWS NOT TO FREAK OUT IN PUBLIC.

Tinsley Carmichael strode confidently into Waverly's large dining hall, she had been up all night tossing and turning, essentially fretting about today. Finally, probation was practically over and although her punishment would mean mopping up after spoiled students indefinitely at least after she could get intoxicated at wild parties and dance her stresses away. Just like the good old days, it still stung her pride to admit how easily she had been duped by Isla Dresden. Just thinking her undeservedly pretty name in her mind made her insides twist in disgust. More importantly, however, today was the day Matches were revealed, she hadn't yet had a chance to check her phone, deliberately keeping herself busy, plus she wanted the suspense to last a little longer. She loved how excited Waverly got about Valentine's Day, it was endearing, as much as she liked to watch artsy films with her friends supping on expensive vintage wine, she loved eating burnt popcorn in front of The Notebook with a cute guy even more. And her life was sorely lacking in the cute guy department, as of late.

She had already spotted Julian, looking unfairly adorable in frayed, ripped jeans and a Star Wars T-shirt, his oatmeal coloured hair falling messily into his eyes. He looked relaxed and happy, and not at all like he missed her. A text message from Benny this morning had revealed that he was paired with Jenny, equally adorable Jenny who was happily falling for Isaac. She couldn't deny that the thought of them together again, after everything that had occurred during the fall semester, wasn't exactly pleasant. She was surprised to find that after the initial shock she was relieved, though it would be satisfying for even "science" to tell Julian that he made the biggest mistake of his life dumping her, it would also be unbearable to be forced to socialise with him.

"Hey, you look like you went somewhere for a bit," Brett smiled kindly at her, red hair twisted into a bun, a few strands framing her face prettily, a mish mash of slides hidden in her fire-engine locks. She always looked happy now, the Eric Dalton fiasco seemed like such a long time ago. Tinsley could barely remember the horribly selfish, snide, manipulative bitch she had been. She was thankful they were friends again. "Plotting your revenge?"

Tinsley gave her a confused look, "What are you talking about?" She poured some foul tasting coffee into her cup and hastily dumped four sugar lumps into the beverage, it was the only way it tasted even remotely drinkable.

"I saw that," Brett giggled, "Anyway, I saw you standing here staring at the incredible culinary selection, looking deep in thought and immediately thought you must be plotting something. Something to do with a certain lying Daddy's girl?" Brett glanced casually over to where Heath was sitting with Brandon, Teague, Ryan, and of course, Isla. The only girl on the table. Wearing a sheer glitter covered gold shell top and skintight leggings, one would not think they were in the heart of winter. Her curls were wild around her face and her eyes were smoky and big, like she was channelling a femme fatale.

"Could she be any more desperate?" Tinsley muttered. "Who's her Perfect Match?"

"Heath," Brett smiled.

"Figures," Tinsley grinned, hiding her smile. Heath was the most lecherous boy on campus, but also ridiculously good-looking and fun. It helped, also, that he was totally crazy about her and had been since the beginning of time, maybe when Isla realised that she hadn't won over the entire student body she would swallow some humble pie before grovelling at her manicured feet.

"Yo, Tinsel-town!"

"Speak of the devil," Brett walked with Tinsley over to the boys, before sitting next to Brandon to see how his weekend went.

"Erm, obviously he got dumped on his ass again," Teague snickered.

For once, Heath seemed to back up Brandon, when he was usually doing the cussing. "Yeah, but not before he had incredible break up sex, multiple times" Heath gave Brandon a congratulatory slap on the back, consequently almost making him choke on his burrito. "Best way to do it, bro, we'll make something of you yet." Heath stroked his chin as if he was envisaging a future with Brandon as his wingman.

Brandon looked horrified. He knew he would regret getting wasted with Heath as soon as he got back, he just couldn't hold his liquor. They had both lost their key cards last night after drinking the hours away at Waverly's ancient pub and deciding to do an impromptu Irish dance, they had to sleep in The Crater swigging rum and Coke, while Heath proved his Bear Grylls impersonation in the woods during Jan Plan had paid off as he managed to light a fire. Of course, Brandon had spilled about everything that had happened with Hellie. He was so confused, on the one hand she had broken up with him, cried in his arms and glared at him hatefully and then on the other they had enjoyed great sex, break-up or not. Since he had returned, she kept sending him cute little snapchats and texts and messages. It felt a lot like she was still his girlfriend. He put his head in his hands, clearly still hungover.

Tinsley crossed her legs, "What did you want, Ferro?" she asked bored, Brandon looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, his eyes were bloodshot as if he had been up all night drinking. Was there a party that she hadn't been notified of?

"Just wondering if you found out who your Match was yet?" His green eyes gleamed. He glanced over at Isla, who was trying to talk to Brandon, sticking out her chest and flirting heavily, but Brandon was slumped on the table, eyes closed, looking bored stiff. Tinsley grinned. At least some boys had taste.

"No, HF, I haven't," she snapped back, oddly nervous to find out who it was.

"Jenny and Julian sitting in the tree. K-I -". Heath was interrupted when a water bottle arced through the air missing him by an inch. "What the fuck?" he stared in disbelief at Brandon who looked skin to a grumpy bear woken from a deep slumber.

"Do. Not. Sing." His head dropped back down, while Isla chattered on.

Brett laughed, nudging Brandon, "Who did you get as a Match?" she asked, ignoring Isla's volatile glare.

Heath chuckled, "We lost our phones last night. We still have no idea, it's oddly liberating not being connected to the cybersphere," he said, looking very enlightened.

"Yeah, except we also lost our key cards, our wallets, fake IDs, everything," Brandon added in a muffled voice, speaking against his arm.

"I told you, all easily replaceable," Heath replied serenely, looking for the life of him like nothing ever bothered him. "Anyway, recent conversations have revealed, oh so helpfully, that Dresden here is my Match, aren't you pleased?"

Isla chuckled lightly, "Sure, your reputation precedes you," she answered coyly.

"Now, where have I heard that before," Heath looked at Tinsley, smirking. But she wasn't looking back. Rather she was staring at her phone in avid disbelief.

"This is a joke."

"What is it?" Brett questioned, cat eyes curiously staring at her. In fact, everyone was staring at her, and usually Tinsley would be revelling in the attention, except only Brandon was the one with his eyes closed, head tucked underneath his elbows, resting happily, like a child in the sunshine.

Tinsley kicked his leg, hard, under the table, utterly outraged.

"Whaat?" he wailed, his eyes glowering at her with something possibly close to hate.

"You." She stabbed a finger at him. "Are my match."

Heath guffawed.

Brandon was silent, potentially in shock, after a long moment he shrugged and decided to go back to sleep.

Isla grinned sweetly, at his less than pleased reaction, looking at Tinsley victoriously.

Clearly my life is a fucking joke, Tinsley thought.

She could just picture it now, Julian and Jenny sitting in the cinema, or at dinner swapping amazing stories, their chemistry sizzling across the table, while her and Brandon would eat their entire body mass in food just to avoid speaking to each other. Great. Valentine's Day sucks.