"I told you studying helps." Ryland says as we walk down the school halls, students bumping into our shoulders as we walked by them.

"But I think that Mr. Arnold put a major curve in my grade, 'cause, like, it's not an F." I argue.

"That's what happens when you study, Blondie." Ryland runs his fingers through his typical bed hair that he probably didn't brush this morning. "Especially when you study with a such an amazingly hot dude like me."

I roll my eyes. He wraps an arm around my shoulders carelessly and brings me into the side of his body. "You don't think I'm a beautiful person, Everly?" Ryland pretends to pout, sticking out his bottom lip.

"I've always thought you were a beautiful idiot." I involuntarily grin at him.

"I could learn to get used to that."

"Good, because that's the most of a compliment that you'll ever get out of me."

"Meanie."

We walk out of the school and to Ryland's. His beautiful matte Camaro sits perfectly parked in the same parking spot we left it this morning. Ryland insisted he drove me to school instead of me walking like I usually enjoy doing but how could someone turn down a ride in such a beautiful car?

The only thing different about the car is that there's Peightyn leaned up against it. She leans over the hood of the car so her cleavage is basically pouring out of her tank top. She never acted slutty around me but when she did- sometimes at parties or when guys flirted with her in public- it had always made me feel so uncomfortable.

But Peigh has always had a thing for Aries. Every time she heard there was a party, she'd ask if he was there. She always goes to see the school's baseball games and I swear to god she has no idea what "sports" are. And she's always tried to talk to Ezra to get closer to Ryland but it never works because Ezra seems like the crazy, clueless kind of guy.

Aries rolls his eyes and asks her what she wants.

"Hey baby, I'm glad to see you too. Oh, and I'm just here to talk to my best friend. Can we have a minute?"

"Whatever, Peightyn." Aries pushes her off of his car. "Don't touch my car." He turns to me. "Don't take to long."

I nod as he gets in the car and Peightyn walks over to me. Her smile is the most evil thing I've ever seen lay upon her lips and I can tell you I've seen a lot of things on her lips.

"Hey 'best friend' how've ya been, girl? I haven't seen you in a while." She folds her arms over her large chest. "Oh, I forgot. You were too busy fucking Ryland Aries. How stupid of me to ask that question."

"That's not how it is at all-"

"I don't care." She rolls her eyes. "You've been spending way too much time with this boy. Since when do you even care about boys?"

"I don't-"

"No, I see what you're trying to do. You're trying to be popular. That's funny if you think you could come anywhere close to popular, Ev."

I just want to punch her so fucking bad right now. The urge was so strong but I held myself back. But I don't know why.

"You see, being popular is only for the pretty girls. The edgy girls. The girls who aren't afraid to have-"

"Shut up, Peightyn! I've seriously already heard enough! If you're saying that being a slut is what being popular means then you've done more than just become popular, honey." I remark sarcastically.

"But I mean something to people, Everly."

"Stop-"

"I'm important."

"STOP!"

"I have a family, friends, boys surrounding me."

"SHUT UP!" I shout.

"I am loved." She evilly smirks then laughs a sarcastic laugh. "What are you, Everly?"

I clench my teeth together so hard that I thought they may shatter at any moment along with my balled fists, my fingernails digging deep into my flesh.

"You're nothing."

I release my breathe that I had stored up inside of me, boiling along with my anger, then storm away from her, open Aries' car door and sit in the passenger's seat. I put my seat belt on, crossing my arms around my small body. I just sit there, pissed as hell, feeling Aries' sudden glare on me. Before he can say anything I tell him I'm fine and he begins driving out of the school parking lot.

~

We walk through my door into my house. I kick off my Converse and leave them on the rug by my front door, Aries doing the same thing. My phone vibrates in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I read the name and message.

Message from: Peigh-Peigh ;P

aries will never like a girl like u. he just wanna get in ur pants, Ev

I throw my phone at the couch in the living room, the phone making hard impact into one of the decorative pillows.

"Okay, I'm pretty sure that means you're not 'fine'." Aries says.

"There's that Aries intelligence!" I sarcastically shout. "Here's your A+! Congrats bitch."

"Hey, hey, Everly, what's wrong?"

I sigh. "I'm- I'm sorry, Aries. Everything's fine- I'm- I guess- stressed is all. I'm fine."

Aries cocks an eyebrow at me before I turn and walk into the kitchen. He follows me before he walks over to a certain area of the room. I walk over to the fridge and grab a water bottle, opening it then gulping it down. His hand softly touches a family portrait on the kitchen wall then takes it off of the wall. When I remember what happened, the water that's already half way down my throat seems to become stuck. I strain the water down without choking.

Ryland turns his head over his shoulder slowly to look at me. I just shrug. "Wait here, Ryland, I'm gunna go upstairs to change. I just need a second."

"Alright. I'll be down here, I guess."

When I get upstairs, I change into one of my brother's old gray sweatshirts and slide on some track shorts. Then I throw my blonde hair into a messy bun and adjust my glasses correctly on the bridge of my nose.

I slowly walk out of my room and savor the feeling of the rug in between my toes. I feel for a second as though I'm stress free and just sleeping upon a cloud. That feeling is soon destroyed when I hear the slightest noise out of place. It's coming from Everest's room.

No noise ever comes from his room. He's never here.

Slowly, I tip-toe over to his door and listen for a second. Shuffling is heard on the other side of the door as adrenaline and fear rush through my body.

What if Everest is home? What if it's not him but an intruder? A robber?

I don't know but I'm going in.

The door creaks as do all the others as I steadily open it to see no one. Nothing. Nothing out of place, Everest's bed is made and all of his boxing trophies are still there. My brother's room is just the way he left it.

Suddenly, a hand clamps over my mouth and an arm wraps around my torso. I squeal and try to squirm out of the grip as a reaction but it was no use.

Why are people always grabbing into me?!

"Shhhhhhh," the voice says quietly into my ear. "Silence."
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Hello there, readers... didn't see ya there ;)

This chapter thoooo ... it gave me a panic attack.

Anyways, pls vote and comment. Tell me watcha think

-BlackMidnights