IT WAS SUNDAY. The last day of the weekend.

I finished up my project sketching the last scene of Romeo and Juliet and edited in the details by handwriting.

Brushing a hand against my forehead I frowned at the weak air conditioning. It was like it was restarted into a heater or something. I had a feeling Emery had something to do with it but I stayed silent.

My phone started ringing and a bright grin broke on my face as I accepted the call.

A ruckus echoed through the back as they spoke, "Oh shit."

I chuckled rubbing my eyes. "Hey Grandma."

"Bryce! How are you dear?" She exclaimed over another fallen object.

"I'm the same as ever. How are you? What's that sound at the back, Grandma?" I asked concerned as yet another object fell.

"Oh, that's Ollie. I got a new dog."

Shit. "Grandma please tell me you didn't pick this one of the streets too? Remember how last time we had to take you to the hospital because of your allergy." It was bad. My Grandma could not breathe as the dog was infected with rabies.

"No I got this one from the shelter actually. I thought it'd be fun to have a kid again." She laughed through the phone making me chuckle. "How's life in the fucked up school?"

"Grandma!" I exclaimed at her blunt tongue. I see where I get it from. "And it's fine. I just thought I'd fuck it up more."

"That's the Weston dynasty right there. It's our life's legacy. Your great grandpa burnt his neighbor's house when he was 16, your grandpa stole motorbikes and sold them illegally and your dad had accidentally sold drugs to your mother making her furious. And now here you are making us proud." I laughed my heart feeling blossomed as I listened. Mom and dad's story always made me laugh. Dad had gone to a supermarket and came out when a guy had offered him powder to help heal headaches and stuff. My dad bought it out of pity and took it hoping to sell it off. My mom was his business partner and when he offered it to her for her headache she'd gone livid threatening to report him. My dad was so confused only to find out that the substance was cocaine and threw it away before anything could happen. Later on he asked my mother for months to go on a date. After a year of trying she'd said yes.

"What about you Grandma? Still forgot how you dated one of the hottest movie stars of the 70's?"

She chuckled her voice distant and silent as if she was remembering those days with Grandpa. I knew just how much she loved and missed him. "Yeah. Your Grandpa was a real muse to my scandals. In fact I was completely innocent in most of what the tabloids had to say."

"Sure." I chuckled letting the lie pass. "I heard you've joined a bicycle marathon or something?"

"What? Oh no that's a dirt bike race I entered. Good money they give and even better company though I lied about my age. I don't look a day over fifty hun." She mused threatening me to laugh. "Plus I went skinny dipping the other day. It was a blast."

"What the fuck Grandma?" I scolded exasperated she'd done this again. Someone could have seen her. "You can't go around doing that. Especially at your age-"

"Sssksssksssk." She baffled into the phone making me wince and pull it away from my ear. "We'll look at that the internet is breaking. I love you call me." She rushed and declined the phone.

I sighed through a laugh. I really missed Grandma no matter how wild she was. I want to visit her soon. Maybe for the October break.

...

I twisted the plastic hook to the right and let cold water flow into my paper cone. I brought it to my lips shivering as the cold air rushed through.

"You'll get sick." Jordan chuckled taking a paper cone from the dispenser and lodging Luke warm water into his cup.

"You're back?" I asked tossing the cup into the recycle bin. "How was home?"

He raised his eyebrows swallowing the water. "Are we on speaking terms now?"

The smile fell of my face as I sniffed. "Well yeah I suppose. I'm asking for Charlize anyway."

"Suuure. Well my eight year old sister is better then ever now that she goes to ballet practice." I laughed in relief. Charlize had been crying and wailing for two years about wanting to go there. "And mum and dad are good." He swallowed his eyes turning distant.

"Jordan? What's wrong?" I asked my voice shuddering with worry. Jenna and Henry had always been such good company to me. Always making me feel part of the family.

He shook his head painting a smile. "Nothing. Nothing at all." He checked his watch and frowned. "I have to collect my homework and stuff. I'll catch you later." As he walked I felt my voice erupt from my throat.

"Jordan!" I called after him. He turned slowly looking back the wind fluttering his black hair. "If you need any help let me know okay? I'm here for you." I always was and always will be.

Jordan was my best friend and I held a grudge yes but I wanted no harm to get to him or his family. Not like mine.

...

Sersha and Madison had be cornered in the former's room both having their arms crossed.
"When? How? Where? And What?" Madison deemed at me.

I raised my hands perplexed. "Huh?"

"Don't you use that trademark expression on me Ms. Bryce Weston." She snapped. Sersha nodded. "When did you and Aaron get together?"

"Oh. Ohhh. That." I laughed scratching my head. "Um like last week. Yeah."

"How though?" Sersha tried to be intimating but her voice came out soft.

I shrugged. "So I was walking you know in the school grounds. Because that's where people walk-"

"Cut to the chase." Madison mused shaking her head.

I sent her a thumbs up. Right. If only I knew the story behind it. "So I was walking as I said. And....while said walking...Aaron came up to me and declared his undying jealousy towards me and my ex Liam. I got mad and said why do you care? And he shouted that it was because he cared for me. I was too stumped and was all like whaaat? And then he kissed me and asked me out and I said yeah. Why not right?" I finished looking at both of their shocked faces. I was about to cover it up with something, my cheeks ticking with heat when they launched themselves at me collapsing me to the the bed but missed so we all collapsed to the ground.

"Your such a beautiful liar it's adorable." Sersha chuckled next to me on the ground. "Now tell us the real story." Shit. Was I fucking that bad at lying?

"Mhm. And the one we know is possible with the both of you." Madison flicked my nose as I scowled and swatted her away.

"Fine. We're fake dating alright. But this stays between us. And only us, kay?" I narrowed my eyes at them.

"Cross my heart and hope to die." Madison says mimicking her words with expressions and gestures while Sersha hooks her pinky with mine. "But why?"

I rubbed my face sitting up. "Aaron because he has this issue with Emery and does not want to tangle himself in a business campaign and me because my ex is clingy and he won't stop until he has me again. I know him. I know Liam and he gets what he wants. He'll ask me subtly and then evidently and if I reject him we'll be on shitty terms again and they don't end good." Madison engulfed me in a hug while Sersha patted my head.

The scent of Chanel No. 5 wrapping around me as I smiled. "I'm sorry Bryce." Madison whispered.

"We won't let Liam do anything to you. I swear." Sersha says sternly. "No one messes with our best friend."

"Exactly. Liam can kiss his ass goodbye if so much as touches a hair on you. Not that Aaron wouldn't get his face fucked already." Madison elbows me repeatedly with a wink while I snort. Aaron would probably thank Liam or just try to aggravate him.

"I love you guys." I murmured hugging them back. Because for the first time I actually felt accepted in a crowd. Not just one person like Jordan accepted me but there was a crowd of friend who did so. Owen, Reuben, Sersha and Madison. All four of them made me feel happy. And I just couldn't let that euphoria get to waste.

When I went back to my room I nearly flinched and my phone buzzed. Looking up from my phone I gasped at what the blackmailer had sent me. Not stalker alone anymore. He/she was both and more.

And I was doomed to say the least. My heart was beating at a hundred miles per hour and I was close to crying as I reread the note.

Get a million dollars into our back account or you'll be seeing a lot of shit happening around the school. As a warning you might wanna call mommy and check up on her. - Anonymous.