Author's Note: Update number six! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Six

Cassandra Wilkins entered the school gates with her head held high, staring down her nose at the many curious glances she was receiving as she headed for the school corridor. There was no doubt that gossip of the party’s events had spread, and now everyone was talking about her. Frankly, the blonde didn’t like it one single bit considering her current situation and mood. Never in her life had she ever been humiliated as she had been on Friday night.

What had started out as a wonderful party turned into something ugly, and it wasn’t because of her – it was all because of Essa Evans. If the girl hadn’t attended Creston’s party Cassandra would still be Creston Spencer’s girlfriend. Biting her lower lip out of frustration, flashbacks of what happened between her and Creston after the party ended had entered her mind. She had pulled him into his bedroom ready to give him her present, however he hadn’t appeared in the least interested as he coolly removed her arms from around him.

Never in her life had she ever been refused by a male before. Whatever Cassandra desired she always got – that was what she had been accustomed to. Her dad would buy her anything, all of her ex-boyfriends gave whatever she wanted but Creston Spencer had refused her that night. He had embarrassed her by throwing his coat over her half naked body, demanding her to get out of his house. He hadn’t spared her one final glance as he exited his room, his final words ‘it’s over’ echoing in her head as she lay on his bed.

Now as the blonde strode arrogantly down the hallway, her eyes narrowed on the figure of Essa Evans who was currently reaching into her locker for her books. Releasing an angry huff, Cassandra approached the dark haired Essa briskly. With her hand outstretched, she slammed the locker door shut and leaned against it so that Essa couldn’t access it any further.

Certain that she had Essa’s undivided attention, Cassandra glared down her nose at the girl.

“You haven’t won,” she stated in a menacing tone. “And stay the hell away from Creston,”

Pursing her lips Essa reached over Cassandra attempting to open her locker, but to no avail. Seeing that she wasn’t able to retrieve her belongings, she twisted her combination lock to ensure that it was protected before stalking off. She had barely taken a few steps when an arm jerked her back forcefully.

“I was talking to you,” the blonde breathed.

Standing at her full height of five feet nine and a half inches, Essa glared down her nose at the fair haired girl, an irritated expression spread across her features. She had tried to be civil and ignore Cassandra but the damn minx couldn’t seem to take a hint.

“And I’m done listening,” Essa voiced. “In fact I didn’t even want to hear anything you had to say from the start. So do us both a favour and just back off,”

The expression that was now etched across Cassandra’s face was one full of fury. She was just about to make a scene when suddenly she caught sight of Creston a few meters away. Making eye contact with him, she threw him a pouty stare before stalking off in the opposite direction.

Staring up at Creston, Essa found herself feeling even worse than she already had this morning. Shouldering her bag so that it sat properly, she tucked a few strands of her jet-black hair behind her ear before making her way to class. She didn’t want to be here, not when she was perfectly aware of the gossip that was travelling through Ocean High.

Already within the first ten minutes of stepping into the school grounds, she had received many stares and glares. She also experienced the rush of whispering and pointing from other people and had managed to walk passed them with her head held high. But what pushed her to the edge was the sudden male attention she was receiving from the jocks. They made passes at her which were insulting in her opinion.

“I don’t need you to watch over me,” she breathed whilst stepping pass Creston. She wasn’t surprised when he strolled right beside her, Spencer had always been known for his bothersome ways.

With his hands casually in his jean pockets, Creston glanced over at Essa. “Listen, I’m honestly sorry for what happened on Friday night.” He began, “I’ve already settled things with Cassandra and the other-”

Turning to face Spencer, her mismatched gaze locked onto grey eyes briefly, she didn’t want to hear about Friday night’s events. It was the damn party that got her into this mess in the first place. “Listen, I just want to get something straight,” she huffed. “Whatever happened between Cassandra and me on Friday is between me and her. It doesn’t mean you have to break up with her,”

“We didn’t break up; we’re just on a break.”

Pausing in step Essa decided to re-phrase herself. “Right,” she stated, covering the expression of foolishness with a look of indifference. She had barely spoken another word before she spotted Chris approaching.

Having a sudden urge to flee, Essa didn’t even finish her sentence before making a run for it. She didn’t want to have anything to do with Chris or Creston or any of the other soccer boys and their crazy fan clubs. The thought of Chris and Riana was still etched in her head and she wasn’t ready to face him when she didn’t have a grip on her emotions. Turning the corner, she didn’t spare a final glance back at her best friend.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A week – an entire week had lapsed since the party’s incident and gossip at Ocean High was gradually dying down. Although Essa was pleased that Cassandra and her friends had left her alone, she was still in turmoil with the repulse she felt when she had witnessed Riana and Chris together.

She definitely missed her childhood friend, but she knew that she wasn’t ready to face him just yet. She had spent the entire week avoiding all contact with him. She had even hid in the library – the place she seldom visited – just to keep away from Chris. Even though she had managed to stay away from the blonde, for some odd reason she kept bumping into Creston in all the right and wrong places.

She saw him in English classes, during the morning when she visited her locker, when she walked home – he was just everywhere. Yet it annoyed and comforted her at the same time. She didn’t understand why she’d feel so confused by his presence, but what had definitely astonished her was when she had spotted him in the library reading.

Who would have guessed the number one womanizer who loved teasing pretty girls and playing his all time favourite sport would be sitting in a silent corner of Ocean High’s library reading? It wasn’t the fact that Creston was reading that amazed Essa – it was his book choice that made her speechless. She never expected Spencer to be a fan of Stephen King seeing as he looked the type to only read picture books. But seeing him with his long legs crossed lazily, his body slouching against the wall and his eyes set intently on the novel was intriguing.

At the sound of her phone vibrating, Essa placed another large piece of biscuit into her mouth without sparing a glance at her phone.

“That’s the fifteenth missed call you’ve had from Tynan today,” Sophia informed, putting Essa’s phone back onto the coffee table. “Why don’t you just talk to him Ess?” She queried in a rather pleading tone.

The seated form shook her head at the brunette, clutching the cushion she was currently hugging even tighter to her chest. It was Sunday, and all that she had done so far was spend the day watching soapies with her two best friends.

“Oh my god!” Trisha erupted, placing her hands over her eyes whilst releasing a cry of pain – as if she was being tortured. “I honestly cannot take another episode of this damn series! Nor can I endure another one of your chick flicks woman!” She stated and grabbed the television remote to turn off the system.

“Hey!” Essa protested, “I was watching that.”

“And now you’re not,” Trish shot back. “When the hell are you going to get off your ass and go back to being the normal Essa I’ve always known?”

“Never,” Essa replied, reaching over for her third tub of cookies and cream ice cream.

Grabbing the junk out of her friend’s grasp, Sophia set the tub back onto the table.

“Ess, if you eat another scoop of that I swear I’ll be vomiting on your behalf.” She announced, “I’ve had enough of watching you eat this entire weekend.”

“And I’ve had enough of her moping. Let’s just go over to that blonde’s place and smash the shit out of her,” Trisha demanded. “And while we’re at it, let’s kick that redhead’s face in too,” she muttered.

Frowning, Essa threw the cushion at Sophia who was sitting on the wooden floor opposite her. The brunette caught the pillow just in time before it hit her in the face. Trish had definitely mentioned something she did not want to hear as she got to her feet, heading for the basement. For the entire weekend Essa had been doing her best to block the party’s events from her mind, but images of Chris and Riana kept flashing across her head and a familiar feeling of disgust coursed through her.

“You’re acting like this because of Tynan aren’t you?” Trisha asked close behind her.

Releasing a sigh, Essa shook her head. “Not gonna go there Trish,” she stated and stepped down the stairs which led to the basement. “And stop mentioning his name,”

Turning to face Soph, Trish gave her an I-told-you-so look.

Deciding to take a different approach to the situation, Sophia allowed Trish down the stairs first. “Essa it’s alright to like your best friend,” she assured, closing the basement door behind her as she trailed down the staircase. “I mean Chris is a good guy. He’s always taken great care of you, he’s sensitive, and yet he’s macho at the same time. What’s wrong with having feelings for him?”

Wanting to scream out in frustration, Essa busied herself with filling her pellet with fresh paint. She honestly didn’t want to talk about Chris right now seeing as she wasn’t even sure what she was feeling towards him. All she knew was that she was disturbed by the fact that she felt something within her break at the very sight of him kissing another girl.

She didn’t understand why she would have felt that way. Growing up, she had always been accustomed to seeing Chris with girls and she was never affected by it. Even in the past when she saw him making out with whoever the ‘lucky’ girl was – Essa had always been immune to it all. So why was she feeling the need to avoid him when she saw him kiss Riana? The only reasonable answer Essa had was that she liked her childhood friend. But even to her it sounded a little too farfetched because out of all the time to like Chris, it had taken her nearly all her life to realise it.

Dabbing her paint brush in a nice fiery red, Essa commenced painting whatever came to mind. She started painting scales which soon formed into a shape of a mermaid’s tale. As she started mixing in some yellows and oranges, she paused briefly and scanned over her two best friends.

“Do you really think I like Chris romantically?” she whispered. “Because it’ll sure as hell complicate things.”

There was a brief silence between the three of them.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Soph answered and pulled out Essa’s cell phone from her pocket. “I thought you might need this,”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Essa was thankful that Trish and Soph had decided to leave her alone – saying that they’ll see her tomorrow morning at school. They were the best girlfriends she’d ever had and she absolutely loved them with all her heart. Throughout the entire week when she had hid in the library during her breaks, both Trish and Soph had followed her to keep her company. Even when she was out on an eating spree for the past three days, they were with her every step of the way.

And now that they were gone, she still felt their words of encouragement. ‘If you feel like it’s too soon to talk to him, then don’t.’ Sophia had advised. And now that Essa was seated down in the basement alone, all she could do was stares blankly at her cell phone…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tynan Christopher Welling immediately answered his mobile on the first ring, relieved to find that it was Essa calling. Placing the phone to his ear, he listened briefly.

“Hello Ess,” he greeted.

“Chris,” he heard her say.

“Where the hell have you been?” He erupted, unable to hold back his emotions. He had been calling her all weekend and not once did she answer his calls, nor had she bothered to reply to his messages.

There was silence on Essa’s end for a short while as she wracked her brain for a decent excuse. Figuring there wasn’t a lie sufficient enough to explain why she hadn’t been answering his calls – Essa decided it’d be best to tell the truth.

Releasing a huff she finally answered. “I’ve just been thinking,”

“Essa I spoke to Cassandra already. I told her to stay the hell away from you.” He explained pausing for a moment, he wasn’t sure whether to tell her what really happened at the party between him and Riana. Swallowing, Chris exhaled loudly. “And Ess?”

“Hmm?”

“About Riana and me,” he began but she cut him off.

“Chris it’s none of my business what you do and don’t do,” She informed. “And I’m sorry for not answering your calls it’s just that I thought it’d be awkward…” She drifted, yet again reliving the events of the party. She also couldn’t seem to get the expression of indifference on Creston’s features when she had run out of his house.

“You idiot,” Chris scolded breaking her out of her reverie, he could almost picture her getting defensive at his remark.

Blinking for a moment, Essa felt the need to protest. “Are not,”

“Are too. You freaking ignored all my calls just because you thought it’d be weird between you and me. Tell me that’s not the actions of an idiot,” he stated, a soft smile surfacing on his lips.

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore,” he heard her say.

Seeming to be able to predict her next move, Tynan broke into a warning tone. “Essa I swear, if you hang up on m-” the phone went dead and he got out of his chair, heading out the house and over to Essa’s place.

A subtle smile roamed across Essa’s face, not moving from her painting. If Chris was smart enough, he’d have known that she wasn’t going to make things any easier for him to get to her. Continuing dabbing her paintbrush in a brusque fashion, she heard the jingling sounds of keys and grinned. Smart ass. She thought, able to hear Tynan’s familiar footsteps approaching the basement door.

As the entrance to her lair creaked open, Essa’s gaze trailed over to the half opened doorway to reveal all six foot one of the blonde haired blue eyed Chris with a smug expression across his handsome features. Covering her grin with a look of annoyance, Essa managed to throw the blonde a glare before returning her attention back to her painting.

Perfectly aware of his childhood friend’s act, Chris commenced descending the stairs. “I told you not to hang up on me,” he breathed.

Arching a brow and feeling more like her self than she had in days, Essa crossed her arms over her chest. “Haven’t you learnt that I don’t like to do what I’m told?” she stated, observing as he slowly closed the distance between them.

With approximately a bit over a meter separating the two figures, Tynan leaped at Essa and pulled her into a tight hug. He had missed her and had worried about her. But nothing had prepared him for the overwhelming emotion of having things back to normal between them. For the entire week he had been putting everyone else through hell, including his boys in the soccer team. He had bossed them around and had brooded for majority of the time. His change in mood was so bad that none of his usual fan club bothered him.

Pulling away so that they were at arm’s length, Chris’ blue orbs scanned her green and blue eyes. He was too busy smiling to notice Essa bring her paint covered brush to his face, dabbing a splotch of red onto his nose.

Laughing aloud, the dark headed girl jumped away from Chris as he stared at her in bewilderment.

“What the hell was that for?”

Trying to suppress the giggles, Essa moved closer to the stairs. “P-payback!” She managed to gasp, still chuckling. “You called me an idiot remember?” she explained and made a run for the stairs when she realised Chris was holding her paint pellet.

Chasing her around the house, Chris had managed to tackle Essa to the floor when she turned the corner for the kitchen. With her body squirming under his, he laughed wickedly and rubbed yellow paint onto her left cheek as she half-begged for mercy through fits of laughter. Feeling slightly more creative, he used his fingers to draw a stick figure of a boy on her right cheek.

“Chris!” Essa breathed, trying with all her might to hold him off.

Finishing his masterpiece, Chris grinned with satisfaction. “You called me an idiot too,” he informed before springing to his feet and running.

Lying on the cold tiled floors for a brief moment, Essa smiled. Things were definitely back to the way she had wanted it to be…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Creston Montgomery Spencer entered the busy cafeteria, eyes studying his usual table where he sat. He was surprised to find Chris there laughing along with the other boys – seeing as the blonde had been nothing but sheer hell for the past week. Smiling knowingly, his eyes roamed over to the table where a feisty female figure usually rested.

Spotting her silent form leaning over the table sketching like all the other times he’d seen her, he was astonished to find her gaze up and meet his eyes. Arching a brow at her in question, he was further startled when she managed a tight grin, pulling out the chair beside her and giving it an inviting pat.

Unsure of what to expect, Creston decided to approach her table.

“And what have I done to have you invite me to sit beside you for lunch?” He queried, standing motionless at her table, not bothering to settle down in the seat she offered.

Essa speculated for a short while, biting her lip in the process. She needed to talk to Spencer, though now that she thought about it, having him sit next to her in the cafeteria would make things awkward. People would hear what she had to say and there would be no doubt that Cassandra’s girls would report back to the blonde.

Fighting an inner turmoil with herself, Essa’s thoughts were soon disrupted by a familiar masculine voice.

“Thinking of taking back your offer?” Creston asked with a smirk across his lips.

Observing the slight dent in his cheek as he smirked, Essa felt a spark ignite within her and it was something she hadn’t felt in weeks. For once, true anger was raging within as she pursed her lips at him. Giving the seat beside her a grudging pat, she observed as Spencer hesitated.

Crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned back into her chair, Essa found herself throwing the usually self assured devil a grin.

“Not scared are you?” She taunted.

Blue-grey eyes locked onto mismatched orbs challengingly. Sitting down, he made himself comfortable, stretching his long legs out before him. Only just aware that Essa had been staring, he threw her a lopsided grin.

Deciphering his flirtatious grin, Essa rolled her eyes at him. “Please Spencer, this is strictly business like always.” She stated flatly, “If you require bimbo services, they’re over there.” She informed, nodding her head over to where he usually sat.

Chuckling, Creston slumped further down his seat. He was still getting accustomed to not having an effect on Essa. She wasn’t breathless at the mere sight or closeness of him and it was surprising because he had that effect on every other girl. She was definitely different to any other female he’d met.

Turning to face her, he studied her briefly. She was seated at ease with her elbows resting atop the table. Her pouty red lips were glimmering at him as she cocked a brow up in question. Only just realising he’d been staring; he arched a brow back at her to cover up his slight discomfit.

“So what business do you have with me?” He inquired, watching as she averted her attention back to her beloved sketch book

“It’s about you and Cassandra,” she replied, continuing to speak before he could cut her off. “Listen first,” she demanded, lifting her eyes from her picture. “I know you’ve told me that you’re on a break but I can’t help but to keep thinking I’ve caused this hiatus.”

At her last word, Creston’s brows rose up.

“It’s another word for ‘break’.” Essa explained, “And don’t change the subject.”

Surprised by her accusation, Creston held up his hands. “I did nothing,”

Blinking at the light-brown haired boy, Essa continued. “Well as I was saying, you really didn’t have to do anything for me. What happened at the party is between Cassandra and me. Besides just because you did such a deed, doesn’t mean it’ll change anything between me and you.”

Smirking his usual leer, Creston crossed his legs in a lazy fashion. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble sweetheart, but things have already changed between us.” He stated knowingly. “And if it makes you feel any better, I had intended on dumping the blonde that night. You know me and my inability to stay with a single girl for more than a month,” he remarked and noticed the expression modify as she took in his words.

Trying to remain composed, Essa plodded down the urge to pick up her sketchbook and smack it across the idiot’s head. She despised the way he called her ‘sweetheart’ simply because he made it sound like such a derogatory remark. She also didn’t like the way he had made her feel stupid with his words.

Sitting up with her back held rigidly, she found herself clenching her hands into tight fists. She had no idea why she had even bothered to be civil with someone like Creston. She should have expected things would turn out this way. For a moment she thought the guy resembled a normal human with emotions – but she should have known better. She was after all speaking to Creston Spencer who was the devil’s spawn.

Getting to her feet, she stood stiffly before him. “Right,” she voiced. “I’m glad we got that straightened out,” She said, about to turn and leave. However his comment about their circumstances altering was still in her head. “And as for us - I wasn’t aware of any change considering I still hate your guts,” she informed. It irritated her further to see his lips widen into a grin.

Gazing up at her bi-coloured eyes, Creston decided to break the momentary peace. “Well things have altered enough for you to have invited me to take a seat beside you.”

Throwing him a final glare, Essa stalked out of the cafeteria, furious that she had even bothered with an egotistical jerk like Creston.

Watching her retreating back, Creston felt foolish. He had gotten her angry again without meaning to, though it was the fact that she had so confidently hinted that they’ll always be enemies that made him become the sudden jerk he was. He didn’t understand why she of all people hated him with such a burning passion.

Well guys that's the end of another chapter!! I've been trying to multi-task for the past week - trying to get this chapter done as well as study for my upcoming exams which is in another week or so!

So I hope you guys do enjoy this chapter! And thanks sooooooooo much for the wonderful reviews and for reading! The things you people say make me happy! Hehe! :)

To: Searching Crystal: Ahhh... Cassandra is a bit of a... minx. And I don't think she'll be changing her ways any time soon. And she definitely does remind me of some of the girls I once went to high school with, and I'm glad to say that as time lapse, there are fewer of them around.

Sydney J-14: I hope you found this chapter interesting! And indeed, Cassandra is insecure, but I'd also say shes a bit of a spoilt brat that needs to learn about life the hard way.

jayniee: Thanks so much for the review - and I'm glad you love this story. Hopefully you have hung around for this update! :)

alittlemagic: Haha! I hope you haven't 'died' cause I have indeed updated to save you! Thanks heaps for the kind words - and somewhat entertaining review.

WriterGurl123: Hello! Well, I've realised there are a lot of people who like to judge others at the first sight of them. And one of the reasons why the girls at Ocean High are so mean to Essa is because she's a bit of an outkast - the way she dresses and how she acts etc... So perhaps they're threatened - I don't even know wh they hate them, I just write :) I hope it's somewhat clearer though!

..You: And I have indeed updated! Hope this chaper as up to par and thanks so much for the review! :)

theslykit: Here's an update! And there definitely will be more to come! Stay tuned :D

Thank you for reading! Til next chapter! Take care!!