ALEX POV

"You worried about the Pre-Calculus test," asked Four as we walked to second period.

I guess you could see worry on my face. I hadn't seen Eric since the party. I told him that I no longer cared about what happened last year. You could tell he was trying so hard to be a decent guy. Everyone kept telling me he was changing.

I wasn't sure if I wanted him to change. I liked a lot of the things about him, just the way he was. That's one reason why I told him to just forget about telling me about last year. I just wanted us to move on being friends with one another. I was starting to think that he didn't want to, especially now. He wasn't at breakfast and he missed first period.

"Yeah," I lied, hoping he would continue to talk about math, but instead he read right through me.

"Are you sure about that?"

I turned to look at Four. He looked so serious and authoritative. I wanted to tell him that he should smile more. Christina and Shauna brought that up once before. He never used to smile or have a whole lot of fun, until he met Tris. Then Marlene and Lauren just had to add that it was the same with Eric. He rarely smiled as much, unless he was with me. That smile! How I loved that smile. Why was I thinking about him again?

"This is your entire fault," I said, blaming him for the conversation I had in my mind.

"That you're worried?"

"That I'm thinking about him." He smirked.

"Now who would that be?"

"Oh shut up!" I walked away from Four, which made no sense at all, we had second period together. He was going to probably question me there.

Aidan and Zeke were already there and low and behold sitting in his normal seat was Eric. He looked up at me. I gave him a smile and he looked away. HE LOOKED AWAY! I almost turned around and walked out of class, but Four was right behind me and pushed me to my seat.

"Look it there, Kent. He's here." A lot of the guys were starting to call me 'Kent'. Edward said it was a way for them to remember that I was Aidan's sister. Apparently there was a whole lot of talk about me, not just in the locker room, but also around campus.

I took Drew's seat by Lauren instead of heading into the back by the guys. Four threw a piece of paper at me. When I turned back at him, he nodded his head in Eric's direction. I was upset he didn't tell me 'Hi', I wasn't about to go and sit by him.

After class, Zeke walked ahead to get Shauna for third period, but Eric waited for me.

"Where did you go this morning?"

"I had some stuff to take care of," he answered and held up his hand for me to walk to class.

What stuff? Was there another girlfriend to break up with? I wanted to ask, but I remembered that I told him I wouldn't anymore. If we were going to be friends, I just had to trust him.

"Do you think you did okay with the test," he asked attempting to change the subject. He must have known what I was thinking.

"I think so, what about you?" Fine, I'll let you have this one, I thought. I swear later on, I'll find a way to bring it up.

"Honestly, I'm glad you came over the other day to help me study," he turned to me with a smile.

Thank you, I thought. Thank you for giving me a smile. I just wanted to know that he was okay after our last conversation. This morning I was filled with doubt that we were going to be friends. Now, it gave me a little hope. He put his arm around my shoulder and leaned down closer to me.

"Speaking about studying or coming over, why don't we hang out after practice?"

"You aren't done until six o'clock sometimes," I said smiling back and elbowing him on his side.

I knew it wasn't going to hurt him. His body was built. It was a joy to be around him when we just joked with each other. The physical contact was just part of me getting comfortable with forgetting about why he was missing in the morning.

"By then it's time to eat dinner," I added.

"Well, then we could just go and eat dinner together?"

"We always eat dinner together."

"I wanted it to be just me and you. We haven't hung out since the party and I still want to talk," he finished sounding a bit sad. I wondered what he wanted to talk about. He was trying to mention it at the party, but I interrupted him with my offer of friendship and forgiveness.

"Okay. I still have cookies and cake left form Saturday. So I think I got dessert covered."

"You mean to tell me, you didn't call daddy yet to ask for more," he teased. He pulled his arm away right as I was about to punch him. I stuck my tongue out at him and walked into third period, thinking I'll punch him later on.

Marlene waved me down in a hurry.

"Did you hear?"

If you ever wanted to hear anything, Marlene and Christina were definitely the go-to people. If they didn't know, they would find out for you. She saw Eric sit down behind me and motioned for me to come closer to her.

"Rachel," she whispered and motioned slightly towards Eric. "She's trying to get back with Eric. Apparently, she and Mike broke up this morning. She ran up to Eric right after the whole thing and tried to kiss him, but he pushed her away. She was yelling insults about you as he walked away from her."

Why the hell was Rachel yelling about me? I thought we were okay. I mean after all we were both on the cheer leading squad together.

"What kind of insults?"

"She was calling you a whore and some other terrible stuff." Just then Shauna came in with Zeke. She walked quickly over to the two of us.

"You're not telling her are you," Shauna whispered. Marlene looked down. "Mars!"

"I'm sorry. I thought Alex should know." I looked at Shauna.

"I didn't want you to know, because I don't want drama on the squad." Shauna sat down in the desk on the side of me and slid closer to me so Eric wouldn't hear also. "Please don't let her get to you. She's just trying to make trouble because you and Eric are friends now."

So that's what happened with him this morning.

"Whatever she's saying about me, it's not true."

"We know that," said Marlene.

"I'm just asking for peace during practice and games. Just let her be, please Alex."

I nodded and promised Shauna I wouldn't let her bother me.

After PE was done, we were in the locker room hanging out, waiting for cheer practice. A lot of girls from our PE class were still around. Shauna said she was just going to have a brief meeting, instead of working out, so we could shower now if we wanted to. I just walked out of the shower, when I heard yelling coming from the second row of lockers.

"Just leave it alone, you two," I heard Tris yelling. At whom I wasn't sure. I decided to just going to walk to my locker and change.

"It'll just be a matter of time before your boyfriend comes my way too, Prior!" It was Rachel. I wanted to turn back around, but I promised Shauna. The only thing was that she was yelling at my friends.

"That's not true, Rachel, and you know it. Four would never want you," yelled Lauren. "Neither would Peter!"

"They used to hang out with us all the time at Chasm," yelled another girl. I think it was Ashley.

"Those are all lies," I heard Christina say.

"Why don't you ask Will," taunted Tara.

"Drew may have cheated on Julie with you, but there's no way in hell that Will would do that to Christina," argued Molly.

"Ah, Drew, he was fun wasn't he Rachel? Didn't you have a little crush on Drew? Poor Molly, always coming up short," Tara continued to tease. I felt I had to go there now. Too much of my friends were being yelled at. Just as I rounded the corner, Rachel turned to glare at me.

"Well, what do you know if it isn't the fucking whore herself!" Rachel pushed me up against the lockers.

"Don't listen to her, Alex," said Tris and Christina trying to get me out of there.

"The only whore here is you," I yelled and pushed her back.

"Let's just go," urged Christina. Tris pulled Lauren away from the middle of the crowd as Christina dragged me away.

"I wasn't done with her," yelled Rachel as we all made our way out of the locker room.

"Don't worry Ray," said Britney. "Eric will be soon be done with her." They all followed us out of the lockers too. I could see the guys trickling out of the boys' locker room. I wouldn't be surprised if they heard it all.

"Just like the rest of your boyfriends." Just as Tara said that, Ashley flew a box of condoms at Lauren hitting her in the back of her head.

"You can give those back to Peter," she said smiling.

"That's it," yelled Lauren as she ran up to Ashley and punched her square in her face.

"Oh shit," cried of the guys. I think it was Uriah.

Lauren had Ashley pinned under her, throwing punches left and right. Ashley couldn't get a punch back. All she could do was defend herself. Rachel ran over and pulled Lauren off. Finally free, Ashley was able to punch Lauren. Lauren fell and just as Rachel pulled her foot back to kick her, I ran full speed.

"Alex," one of the guys shouted. It was Aidan.

But it was too late. I launched myself at Rachel, tackling her to the ground. Lauren got up and was able to fight Ashley off. Britney tried to pull me off Rachel, but just then I felt her let me go and saw her slammed onto the ground by Tris. I didn't notice but Tara and Molly had started their own little fist fight right outside the lockers. Christina was joined by Marlene and they were yelling at us to stop.

I felt a couple pair of hands rip me off Rachel. But I couldn't let her get away that easily. I got in two last kicks to her stomach just before I was pulled away and cornered by the wall outside the boys' locker room. She was curled up in a ball clenching her stomach with a bleeding nose and a few scratches here and there.

"What's going on," screamed Edward. Eric was also trying to hold me back. I pushed them both away.

"Nothing," I yelled back. "I'm fine." Eric tried to run his hand down my cheek but I pushed him away. "I said I'm fine," I snapped.

He moved his hand and looked away. I felt bad for yelling at him, he was just trying to make sure I was alright.

"Zeke, Uriah, help me get them out of here," screamed Shauna.

We had already done our damage and the fight was mostly over. By then Peter and Al had finally dragged Lauren off of Ashley and she was beside me. Ashley looked terrible.

Zeke was helping Four, when I heard someone yell "Better control that girlfriend of yours, Four."

"Well, that slut better control that mouth of hers and watch who she threatens next time," yelled Tris.

Suddenly, Four slung Tris over his shoulder. No matter how much she pleaded, he didn't put her down until he was able to corner her as well. There was murder in Tris's eyes as she continued to look at Britney.

The guys had formed a blockade around Lauren, Tris, and I to separate us from the other girls. Justin, Trick, and Dominic had finally secured Molly on the other side. Will and Uriah were trying to calm Christina and Marlene.

"What the hell, Alex," Aidan said looking furious.

"I went in to back up Lauren," I answered.

"That was an awesome fight," said Lauren lifting up her hand to give me a high-five. She and Tris smiled at each other and did the same.

"I don't think they would approve of that in Amity," said Tris as I gave her a high five also. The guys however were not expressing any sort of happiness.

"Mom and Dad wouldn't either," said Aidan looking at me with disapproval. So did Shauna, as she made her way to us.

"Alex, you said you wouldn't let what she said get to you," said Shauna. I felt bad, I did say that.

"Wait, she who," asked Eric. He pulled me to face him. "What did she say to you," he asked while his face was full with panic.

"Like you don't know," accused Lauren.

"Lauren," Peter said trying to reprimand her.

"Peter." She obviously was not going to back down.

"You're okay though, right," Eric whispered still standing close in front of me. He tried to reach out to touch my cheek again. I closed my eyes the second I felt his hand.

I couldn't tell if Lauren believed what Ashley and Rachel accused Peter of. Tris seemed a little distraught too now. They had basically just accused all their boyfriends of cheating on them. I opened my eyes to peek pass Eric and saw Christina crying in Will's arms.

Guilt started to take over me. I knew the argument in the locker room had started because of me and Eric' friendship. I softly pulled away from Eric who allowed me to step back. He looked hurt. I turned to Shauna.

"I'm sorry Shauna. It's all my fault. I let her get to me, even after I told you that I wouldn't. I'm really sorry Shauna. I feel so guilty."

"Don't be," said Lauren. "It's not your fault. She kept running her mouth."

"No, but it is my fault," I said looking away. Just then the football coaches and two of the gym instructors had come out.

"So who started it?" No one moved. "Eaton," he said looking at Four who remained expressionless. "Pedrad," he said turning to Zeke. "Nothing? None of you boys are going to tell me anything?" He then walked up by the girl's locker room. "Kravitz," he called out standing in front of Christina, who still was in Will's arms. "Did you see who started it?"

Christina turned to us and I saw Lauren nod.

"Ashley flew something at Lauren's head, and then Lauren turned around punched her," Christina answered.

"Alright, Foster and Michaels," he said calling Ashley and Lauren. "Follow me."

Lauren walked past Peter, who tried to stop her, but she still wasn't going to have it.

"Why don't you folks go too," said one of the gym instructors pointing to us. "Cook, Reid, Spears," he said calling Rachel, Tara, and Britney. "Ringwald, Prior, Kent," he finished motioning for Molly, Tris, and I. "I'm pretty sure you all are involved in this too."

"Coach Amar," called out Shauna to the football coach. "If I may go too and speak with Principal Phifer as well. Most of these girls who are involved are on my squad." He nodded and allowed her to come. Aidan grabbed my hand before I left and pulled me into a hug.

"As mad as I am that you got into a fight, just please don't do anything else stupid." I pulled away, nodded and then walked off to face whatever punishment came.

That night about 9:00, there was a knock at our door.

"Who is it," asked Christina cheerfully.

"It's Eric," he said from the other side of the door.

"It's for you," Christina said sounding upset now.

I walked quickly to the door and slowly cracked it open. There was Eric standing there and for the first time in a while, he looked worried. As soon as he saw the door crack open, he put his arm up against it to push it open wide and pulled me outside into his arms.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered against my hair. "Are you okay," he said pulling back to look at me.

"Why are you sorry for? I'm the one who got into a fight!"

Why was I yelling at him? I pushed him away as hard as I could, which didn't help. He was too strong to budge any further back.

"Alex, I," he started to say stepping closer to me.

I shook my head no. Why wasn't I letting him get close to me now? I wanted him to hold me, I wanted him to tell me everything was okay, and I wanted us to be friends.

"She told you something, didn't she?" This time anger was in his voice.

"No," I lied looking away. "She just called me names." I wasn't about to tell him what she said to me in the principal's office.

When I said that Eric and I were friends, she laughed. Said Eric only wants one thing from a girl, and when he didn't get it from me, he would go crawling back to her, just like the rest of the guys did. Lauren called her jealous, because no decent guy like their boyfriends would go near any girl that hung out at the Chasm.

Tara called me a cheap whore for letting him do me in the old science building at the party this past weekend, which wasn't true, because we didn't even kiss that night. Tris snapped back that the only cheap whore was one who slept with all her boyfriend's friends just because she saw him walking with Molly.

In the principal's office, I was slowly deducing all the obsessions that these girls had. Ashley liked Peter, Britney liked Four, and Tara was Drew's ex. And Rachel, well she wanted everybody. But the one she wanted more than anyone right now was Eric.

"Don't lie to me," said Eric snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I'm not. Just please leave," I said turning around to walk back in. He pulled me back.

"We were supposed to hang out tonight, remember?" His voice got softer. "We were going to eat all those junk food," he said with a soft smile trying to lighten the mood.

If I had a face that made my brother and my dad give me anything, then Eric had a smile that would make me give him anything as well. I don't know if he knew it and I wasn't about to tell him. I looked away trying not to think about it.

"Alex, please," he said softly letting his fingers just skim my face. "Don't shut me out now. We were going to be friends. You told me that we could friends now." I hesitantly looked back up and saw him pleading with me.

"I can't hang out tonight."

I wanted to tell him we couldn't be friends anymore either. That's what started the whole fight outside the locker room. But, I just couldn't tell him that.

"There's still a couple hours until lights out," he said almost with a laugh.

"I'm on strict curfew now. It's part of punishment."

"I meant to ask you what Principal Phifer said. Aidan was worried too, he tried calling you, thought you all would get suspended."

"We almost did. Shauna pleaded for us though, since most of us are on the squad. For the next two weeks, we can practice, which coaches and Shauna said would involve more physical labor. We also can't cheer at the next two games."

"But the next game is our first home game."

"Yeah, I know. Lauren's upset because she can't cheer for Peter, Tris for Four, or me for my brother." And you, I wanted to say, but I fought it. "After dinner we're supposed to clean the cafeteria. We just got back from there actually like half an hour ago. It took us so long, because we kept arguing. We almost didn't make curfew."

"What time is curfew?"

"We have to be in our rooms by 9:00. I'm actually breaking curfew just to stand out here and talk to you."

"We can't really hang out then," he said stepping even closer to rest his forehead on mine. "Alex I'm so sorry," he whispered.

I took a couple steps back. "Don't be. It's my fault anyways."

I wasn't so sure if we should be friends anymore was what I wanted to finish with. I caused the fight in the locker room. I'm the reason why Lauren and Tris can't cheer for the next two games. I guess he could see the conflict played across my face, because he stepped closer trying to take me in his arms. I put my hand on his chest to stop him from coming any further. This was already difficult for me. I didn't want him to make it more complicated.

"I think you should go Eric."

He looked hurt. He didn't turn around and walk away. If he turned first, this would make it so much easier.

"I know I'll see you in class, but I still really want to hang out with you Alex. Promise me that after the next two weeks, the second your punishment is done, we'll hang out and be friends."

Why? Why was he going to make this difficult? I really wanted to be friends. The girls were right, he acted different with me. He treated me as if I was important, I felt fun and carefree with him. There was no stress, but after today, that's all that there was.

I took his hand, held it in mine, and looked up at him. "I promise."