"I'M SORRY." PRINCIPLE Simone says. Surprisingly the whole school had welcomed me back into campus with a large, rowdy party.

A week after that Principle Simone asked me to meet her. I finished with my piano practice with Ms. Clarissa, was finally done with the drainage of investigations by the police and was down being protruded by eye tone about my health.

So here I was. "I didn't comprehend how bad matters were brewing in school. I already gave your mother full refund of the school and advised on your CV with good things."

"Are you sugaring me?" I caught her act though I did not mind the nice treatment. It has been hard these past few weeks.

I had put up a smile for everyone just to simmer their suspicions down. But being her- at this place- made soo many memories come back. It was like a black cloud following you around and you had no idea how to escape the rain that was bound to come.

Though Liam is thankfully in jail and all the security guards and accomplices have been sorted by the police and sent to prison with their master it still does not ease my fears. The Vipers are gone and closed and yet every time I feel a touch on my arm or feel a rush of voices I... snap.

Aaron had been patient with me. We both have. I have been screaming in my nightmares regularly. We both talked to Andrea but the only medicine she could prescribe me was time. Time to heal and time to look back at this and think of it as a memory.

I think she was just to nice to tell me this memory will weave into me. Be with me till the end of time. It was scary and harsh. Scars that cannot be seen.

Every morning I wake up, I walk to every corner of the dorm to make sure nobody else it there. I even convinced Aaron to sleep with a gun just in case.

My friends have been most cooperative with me. Especially when I zone out mid-conversations or refuse to go to any parties for the time.

I try to avoid walking alone. I got Catherine to send me pepper sprays and have arranged 9 1 1 on my speed dial. The night time- which had always been my favorite part- was now a dreaded season.

One which did not blow over. I am just hoping I get over this. That I wake up and feel home again. I am still heading to that journey.

Actually all of the sparrows are. In the recent weeks we all have gotten are acceptance letters. It is official. I am going to Harvard.

Aaron has also been accepted to Oxford. He is not happy but I know he will regret it if he does not take this leap of faith. Same goes for the rest of us.

Olivia, Emery and Jordan had been rejected initially but they have made it into universities now and I could not have been any more happier for them. I cannot wait for this new chapter in my life.

I cannot wait to leave Archdale.

"Yes." Principal Simone confessed meekly. She typed with her name rage on the table and sighed. "I feel horrible. I recently got enrolled into therapy because of the overlying guilt in me." I pursed my lips apologetically at her. "It's my top priority to get the school back on its feet and have it topnotch on safety."

I felt the same way too. We have guards patrolling the school twenty four hours a week now.

"And I wanted to thank you. For holding on."

"What do you-"

"Do you think I didn't know who graffitied my school?" I tensed as a knowing look crossed her face. "Or the amount of times you and your friends jumped over the school walls? Or that the school policy of dating and sharing rooms was prohibited?"

I blinked my mouth opening and closing like a fish. "Why didn't you tell on us then?"

She leaned back against her chair lightly spinning left to right. "Because like you Bryce I am adopted. And I know how hard that can be. Sometimes you just need to be empathetic to have others grow. And you made me very proud. I am honored to have met a girl like you."

My eyes widened and heat took my cheeks. "All this time you knew. Wow."

"Mhm." She hummed. "But let's pretend we never had this conversation. For both our sales." She winked as I zipped my lips.

Her face turned glum as she pulled her drawer and took out an envelope. "I figured you know that we know about Madison?"

I nod.

"Well we can't pursue her on any charges anymore." A crease formed between my eyebrows as I looked at Principle Simone. "Ms. Parker committed suicide." My breath hitched in my chest. It did not take a millisecond for tears to run down my cheeks. My lips quivered as I stared at the principal in shock. "The sparrows all know. I talked to each of them privately about this." She pushed a pale letter in front of me and I stared at it unnerved.

Did I want to know what she had to write? Would it hurt?

"Take it as a closure. What Madison did is not right. We were right to know. Unfortunately, she escaped us all." Principle Simone pushed her chair back exposing the sound of the wheels to restyled. Her heels clicked the floor until she was next to me. "I'll leave you to it then." She squeezed my shoulder before walking out the room and closing the door shut.

A shaky hand reached for the letter and I hesitantly opened it. My eyes blurred as I read the content of it.

Hey guys,

I fucked up. BIG time.

I don't expect you to forgive me or look at my suicide with any type of sadness. I just had to escape it all.

I could not live with everything happening. I ruined my relationship, I hurt them, and I killed a person. I stabbed my friend.

Those are my sins that I will take with me. There is nothing anyone can do for me and I can't lie to these feelings anymore.

I'm sorry.

For everything.

I made brash choices. Decisions. I was selfish. Am selfish. I just wanted the money. I just wanted to be rich like everybody else in the academy.

And when Liam gave me doors to open I opened them without caring who got hurt. Without caring about the amount of people I was going to lose.

Everything hurts right now. And it's all because of me. Liam is the crown of it all but I set it. I set the fire. I made sure that everything went according to plan. I even articulated the plan.

I lied about pretty much everything about myself. I'm sorry for that. But I promise I never lied about our friendships. I cherished them. The laughter, the tears and the fun we all had together was the only gold light for me. And I covered that up to. It feels like a sin in on itself.

And I can't get you guys back. I can't convince you to love me again like you used to. But I do have a favor. I know it's embarrassing for me to ask of this but... but I need you to read this. Please.

I hope that one day. In the future. When you have kids and are all married. When you have great jobs and have a stable life, that you look back on this. Look back at me.

Not with hate. But... maybe pity. Pity for the girl I once was. And pity for the girl I had become.

I hope that one day you can find a small sliver to hold onto and not completely feel the urge to pummel me. Because I don't hate you guys. I love each of you.

So I'm sorry.

I'm sorry Aaron. For ruining our friendship and twisting our trust.

I'm sorry Reuben. For making myself your enemy. For making myself the villain in our stories.

I'm sorry Sersha. For making your sweet soul get exposed to my corrupted one.

I'm sorry Jordan. For leading us on to be best friends only for me to ignite the bullets on our own friends.

I'm sorry Owen. For making you laugh so hard only for it to turn to pain in the future.

I'm sorry Olivia. For stabbing Owen and shattering my image for you.

I'm sorry Emery. For trying ways to pin things on you.

I'm sorry Bryce. For the things I did to you and the people you loved. I truly did you wrong and I cannot express my regret on that. You were a tremendous best friend.

I'm sorry everyone. I really truly am. I hope with my departure you all live a happy, healthy life. Because each of you deserve it.

A million apologies,

Madison Parker.

I let out a shaky breath and look at the unoccupied chair. I could do the one thing I may not feel bitter about. Put flowers under a tree for her. That was all I could give her. All I was willing to give her.

...

"Class dismissed." I get up hurriedly from my seat and shove my books in my bag. My pencils get tossed in and I hastily throw in my pencil case. I walk out the room only for someone to grab my shoulder.

I jump and turn around swiftly only for Sersha to duck to the right. "Relax. It's me." I'm breathing hard but I quickly shake of my stance and plaster my award winning smile. I had perfected it in the mirror this morning but no endorphins were released to make my day brighter.

"Sorry." I close my eyes and suck in a cool breath. Summer was capping us and the heat waves had started pouring. I was so used to the cold that even the slightest increase of temperature had me sweating.

The maintenance had to fix our AC this morning so Aaron and I could function properly.

"You forgot your notepad." She handed me the slick black book.

My eyes raised and I switched my bag so it hung off my chest as I quickly shoved it in and placed it the right way. "Fuck. I could have sworn I threw that in."

Sersha pursed her lips and pinned her eyes between my own. "You read the letter, didn't you?" My swallow and paleness must have answer red her for she hugged me tightly. "Let's forget about everything, okay? Let's pretend to. For these last few months let's have fun. Let's be wild Bryce. Help me be wild." She pleaded with excitement.

My smile silks into a real one. "Okay." I nod and we link arms and walk out the halls. "Any plans?"

"Well graduation is right around the corner. How's your piano practice?" I blew out my lips rolling my eyes.

"Fucking disaster. I can play well but Trinity is singing and she is making a huge tantrum on her solo. Which, to the record, I am clueless about because she speaks in jargon and terminologies au have no idea about."

"Don't worry. Don't sweat on her. We all know you'll do amazing." She encourages me. "I think you should be nervous about the amount of people witnessing your solo." I frown and throw my head back.

"Did you have to? I'm going to be Center stage. And after the whole incident the paps are driving me mad. You would not believe how many people bombarded around my mom's house just to talk to me." I shake my head unbelievably. They were going crazy. Like legit batshit crazy. Hyper type.

"Sucks to be you. All famous and lovely." She teased as I pinched her ribs. She winced and drew her leg up holding her ribs with a laugh. "Bitch."

I grinned and pulled her hand to watch her stumble back into position. The sun shun on the back of our necks as we crossed the yard and walked around for our break. "Somebody had there eyes on you." I whisper into her ear and look directly at Reuben who was walking towards us.

She bit her lip and sneaked a glance with me. "I still can't believe it."

"Quick." I pull her arm. "Let's make him uncomfortable. Lena your head close to mine and whisper while keeping eye contact with him."

"Ha! You are so mean." She pouted and did it all the same. "Guess your man is here too." My eyes wandered to Aaron who was leaning against the wall. His eyes cut to mine and he pushed off and walked to me. "Let's make them both uncomfortable."

"Okay." I whispered as the both of them looked at us uncertainly.

Sersha and I snickered as she unlinked our arms. "Go. Have fun." She gave my butt a small smack and I winked back at her.

I strode to Aaron with my arms wide back. He looked at me amusedly but extended his arms back as I ducked under them and jumped onto Olivia instead.

"Hey boo." She staggered against my weight as I let my legs down. "You got Aaron good." I looked behind my shoulder to watch him glaring at me.

I offered a sweet smile to him as I remained in Olivia's embrace. "Where's your boy?"

"Detention." She sighed against my neck.

"Detention?"

"Yeah. For talking over the teacher." I chuckled and pulled back as she smiled softly. "That's Owen alright."

"A helluva talker." Olivia looked over my shoulder and laughed. "You better run to him because he already scared Tim for bumping into him." I looked back and indeed poor Tim was babbling as Aaron scowled at him.

Fixing the long sleeve of my short grey shirt I walked to him. He turned around so I slipped my arms around his narrow waist. "Hey, stranger."

"Must be one if you ducked me." He said in a monotone voice but I could see the smile on his lips. He turned around and placed one hand on my waist while the other rested on my butt.

"Too much PDA, Aaron." I gasped dramatically as he pulled me closer.

"This is the minimum PDA." He teased and kissed my lips. "What are your plans for tonight?"

"Sorry, sir. My boyfriend and I have some plans. Can't cheat on him you know." I shrug and turn around only for him to pull me back by my belt loop.

"Hmm. That does seem like a problem." He pressed his lips as if he was actually thinking. "He must be very handsome."

"Too handsome." I tell him standing on my top toes. "And he's a totally softy."

Aaron wrinkled his nose. "Can't be a good thing then."

"No I like that. He acts like he hates everyone and has some brooding features but he's really just sweet."

"Sweet and soft?" Aaron marveled. "He must really love you then."

"I do too." Aaron leans down and kisses me again before pulling back. "Well it was fun meeting you, sir. Ciao."

Aaron squeezes my butt and holds me in place. "Good things I'm your boyfriend then, huh?" I laugh as he wraps his arms around me tightly and leans on lazily.

"I think what you mean to  say is: Good thing she's my girlfriend because she is better then me in every aspect." He scoffed as I heightened my eyebrows.

"Fine. You are better then me in every way. Happy?"

"Yes." I nod contently and ring our hands between us. "Did you eat?"

He nods and still looks at me. I swear he has the most amazing pair of eyes I have ever seen. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm famished. I had to listen to Mr. Matt for two hours. Trust me you get a headache once all the economic graphs and formulas come into play." He kisses my forehead and leads me to the cafeteria. "What about you? Any classes after?"

"Nope." He hands me a plate. "I finished all of them up. Tomorrow's a packed day though. I've got a quiz in prep for the end of the year exams." I whistled in brutality. Those are going to be a pain in our asses.

I spoon on some Mac and cheese with spicy panko and pick up a fork.

We walked to an empty spot on the table and sat down. I sighed at the taste of the rich, creamy, cheesy pasta. I would take an extra year just to eat here.

"Amelia told me to tell you she's booked the flights for our graduation." Aaron says scrolling through his phone. He types a message and answers the reply he gets.

I cover my mouth with the hand I hold the fork in and swallow. "Already? Graduation is in a month."

He looks up from his phone. "Yeah but the flights are going to be jammed. Especially after everything Archdale is becoming a popular place."

I scoff and stab some macaroni into my mouth. "It's complete bullshit. I can't wait to leave this place."

"True. I'm still figuring out where I want to go to after university."

"I already know." I answer scrambling my posts around. He pockets his phone and gives me his undivided attention. "To Blue Haven. I love it there and I want to live there."

His face reigns in shock and joy. "Really?"

I nod.

"Fuck. And I though I would have to grovel you to get you to come there." I roll my eyes and finish up my food. "I'm glad you say that though."

"Why?"

"Because I'm planning on buying us a house there." My fork clatters on to my plate and a few students give me looks before turning back to their own lives.

Aaron looks at me uneasily as I stare at him. "A house? Aaron that's a huge commitment."

"We would be 22 or 23 by that time." He argues.

"But still." I pause unable to evade my astonishment. "Living together is... that's a whole other step."

"You love me?" I give him an annoyed expression. "I love you too. We already date. So what's the problem?"

"That's- it's too fast Aaron." I try to reason with him. "It's like another cement in our relationship. And we don't even know what the future will hold. After graduation-"

"I know." He pushes swerving on his bench so his legs are on either side of it. "Believe me that hasn't left my mind. But let's be honest. I'm not leaving you West. I'm never leaving you."

My face softens and I push my plate back. "I know Aaron. But...let's wait, okay. Just at least till the third year of university. Then we'll decide what we want to do. We will be more experienced and knowing of our lives then." He does not agree with me but he does anyway.

"Fine. We will figure out then."

"Thank you." I smile at him as he rubs my knee. "For being understanding."

"Maybe I was pushing it." He shrugs and looks around this place. "I'm going to miss this place, believe it or not." I look around at the hundreds of students all talking and munching on food. There was a certain buzz here. It is no lie.

"Me too." This place was a lot of my firsts. "I always imagine leaving Archdale but I suppose one day I will want to visit here."

"Yeah." He breathed rubbing his hands together and getting up. I place my tray on the food wrack and he helps me up. We walk down the cobblestone path with our hands laced as all of our friends light up at our sight.

And like a magnet they all draw to us with each other. I place an arm around Aaron's waist as they gather around us.

"So..." Emery started. "I came up with a plan."

"Shoot." Owen nodded.

"Movie night. My place. Bring lots of snacks."

"Hell yes." I agree and look at Aaron who sighs.

"Does that mean Owen and I have to bunk seeming you girls will have a sleepover?"

"You know it, baby." Owen winks as we all laugh. "Jordie'll bring his Xbox and we'll do some rounds on that."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Reuben shrugs, ready. "I have sleeping bags too. Aaron you still have some from the Christmas stay?"

Aaron nods thoughtfully. "Yeah. I think I have some jammed in the back of my closet too."

"Wonderful." Sersha claps. "We can do spa day too." I look at the girls excitedly.

"Done and done." Emery announces hugging Jordan's shoulder to her. "I have clay masks and whatever