First period it self is uneventful. Jonah spends most of it writing me messages with concerned looking emoticons, and Mr. Lavelle lectures on and on about renaissance fashion and social customs. I scribble down the best explanation I can for the events of last night while simultaneously trying to take notes on poofy skirts and expensive tunics. Let's just say that school was much easier before I was meant to socialize and learn in class at the same time. When I finally get the story over to Jonah, fixes made here and there to cover up my real relationship, he seems very understanding. He needs a little clarification on the part about large foreheads being a sign of beauty, but I'm easily able to clear it up by telling him to ignore it and adding that tidbit of history information into my notes where it belongs.

Science class is only moderately more eventful, the teacher being foolish enough to allow us to do our own experiments. There instructions, of course, but what kind of teenager would bother reading those when they can simply add things together and pray for an explosion? Well, a dumb one, but those make up most of the class. One lucky idiot manages to make his beaker go boom, much to the confusion and pandemonium of the rest of the students, and we're all ushered out into the hallway until things can get settled. The lucky idiot in question is sent straight to the office, no surprise there, and the rest of us are expected to behave like calm, rational adults for the next half hour while someone comes to report on the damage.

Whoever thought the kids in this class could behave like adults really must have hit their head hard during that small explosion. A few kids split immediately, but most of us stick around, the noise level in the hallway going up tenfold. Mackenzie doesn't talk to me, but he keeps an arm wrapped loosely around my waist while I read through the next chapter in the science book. It looks like we're doing physics next, I can only imagine how we can fuck that one up. The sad part is that I'm not joking.

Kenzie chats with his friends while we wait, and as usual, no one says anything about me or to me. Someone has pulled a football from somewhere and some of the guys are passing it around, although I'll never figure out where they were keeping it.

The bell finally rings and I snap my book closed, taking a second to grab my binder from the floor. Kenzie does the same, although it looks like his has about three pieces of paper in it, and I would be you any money that they're only there because I made him put them there. Sometimes I wonder how he's passing this course.

He gives a few last words to his friends before wrapping his arm around my waist again, leading me down the hall to my locker. "A lunch box again?" He asks, but I give him a good whack with it and he shuts up. I don't care if it isn't cool, I seriously don't have the money to buy my lunch every day after all the money I had to spend on my new wardrobe.

Jonah joins us on the way to Kenzie's locker, giving me a smile and a wave. Kenzie gives him a little nod of acknowledgement. By the time he's switched his books for his wallet Randy has also fallen in line with us, looking just as charming and fake as he did earlier. I pointedly arrange us so that Kenzie is between me and him. I lace our fingers together for good measure, so that Kenzie can't move. If I can't see Randy, he doesn't exist. I know that that's childish, but seriously, everyone else gets to use that logic sometimes, so I think it's about time I took my turn.

"Have you seen Fame today?" I ask Jonah, trying to get my mind of him. I don't share any morning classes with Fame, and I missed seeing her before school. Jonah thinks for a moment, swinging his own lunch box at his side. Take that, Mackenzie. They aren't so lame after all.

"No, but I'm pretty sure Nala said something about her earlier, so she's around. Guess you missed her with your grand entrance this morning?" Even though I didn't see Jonah until first period started, the word had already spread that Kenzie had shown up at school with me on his arm. The way people were talking about it you'd think that we'd arrived with a spot light and a confetti cannon instead of a car.

"Yeah, been a little busy," I say, letting go of Kenzie's hand to push into the cafeteria. I reclaim it once we're inside, leading him to our table. All the girls are already there, and Fame is on her feet the moment she spots me, tackling me for a hug. She's blubbering on about how she thought I was dead this morning when I didn't show up to get on the bus. The only reason she didn't file a missing person's report was because someone told her about me and Kenzie when she got to school. Apparently, not taking the bus to school is the same as sending her a message to say I've been kidnapped.

"Fame, I'm fine," I chuckle, sliding into the seat next to her. Kenzie takes the one on my other side, and Jonah takes the empty chair between Cora and Nala. Randy grabs a chair from another table and forces it between Kenzie and Cora, taking a seat. We all kind of blink at him.

Fame is the first to speak up. "Uh, what are you doing here?" she asks, her tangent about my demise being cut off by her confusion. Kenzie sitting with us is understandable, but the rest of the jocks? Not so much.

Randy puts his hands up in a don't-shoot gesture, his wallet placed on the table as if to let us know he's unarmed. "What, I can't sit with my bud?" he asks, his face the picture of mock innocence. At least, I think it's mock. I'm still working on this socialising thing.

I think Fame is getting the same vibes I am, though, because her face scrunches up like she's stepped in something nasty. "Behave," she hisses, before turning back to me, "Tell me if he does anything to you, understand? You do not deserve any more mashed potato bombs." I keep my mouth closed about being pretty sure that he's done worse than that recently.

"Hey, give him the benefit of the doubt," Kenzie buts in, giving my shoulder a little squeeze, "He's a good guy." This comment is followed by a smirk, though, as he turns to his friend. I can't see his expression after that, but I'm pretty sure it's a light one, "Besides, this guy knows I'd break his face if he tried anything."

"Protective and violent, not a good combination," Randy jokes. He doesn't seem scared in the slightest, so Kenzie must not have been too serious. He doesn't see Randy as a threat. I'll have to mention my concerns to him later. Hey, honey, I know you and Randy are really good friends, but have you ever maybe considered that he could be a two-timing psychopath bent on our blood?

Yeah, that conversation is going to go over really well.

Kenzie playfully punches Randy's arm before getting up to get his food, Randy close behind. The two of them sort of mock wrestle in the line, almost knocking a tray out of the cafeteria lady's hands. All of us back at the table laugh as she gives them an earful, nearly clocking them both in the head with her ladle.

"You're lucky, you know," Fame says, watching their antics, "Kenzie actually seems like a pretty nice guy once you get past his good looks, charm, and dickishness." She gives me a wink. Am I supposed to be reading more into that comment? She might be. Is it a sex thing?

I, to my great pride, do not blush at her comment, even though I think I probably should be. I wouldn't say I'm lucky to have him, but… "Yeah, once he knows you, he's pretty great."

Jonah snorts across the table, putting his sandwich down. "Not to be rude," he says, which automatically makes me think that what he's about to say is probably rude, "But he kind of seems like a huge dick. Didn't he used to throw stuff at you? And you guys have broken up twice in as many days. You can't tell me you've got a great relationship."

That is definitely more than a touch rude, but I can tell he's not saying it to be mean. That doesn't mean that I'm happy he's said it. "It's complicated," I tell him, giving him and even look, "But he is a good guy." I think.

"Dude, he picked on you for years."

"And you ignored me for years, how is that any better?" I can tell I've hurt him before I even finish speaking, but I can't help it. It's true, and what he said is out of line. "Look, I've got to go to the bathroom," I say, starting to get up, "I'll be right back. Tell Kenzie if he asks, please?"

Jonah doesn't look happy, but he nods anyway. Everyone else at the table looks uncomfortable, stuck in a fight they didn't mean to start. I make a break for the doors and quickly head down the hall to the washroom, taking up residence in a stall. When you're a prime target for bullying, the last thing you want is to be caught with your cock out.

I'm finishing up when I hear footsteps. Kenzie, maybe, coming to find me? But they're followed by the clacking of heels, and all of my girls wear flat shoes, so not Kenzie. If it's a couple hoping to make out, maybe I can sneak by without them noticing. If they're getting it on they might be too distracted to notice.

"It didn't work," a male voice says. Okay, maybe not here to make out.

"I noticed," the female says, her voice cold, "It was too early, it was meant to be you. That would have been believable."

What are they talking about? I press my face against the gap in the plastic, trying to get a glimpse of them. This stall is disgusting, who knows how many years worth of airborn crap has started to coat it. I pull my face back a bit, trying to see if I can find an angle where my face doesn't have to touch to be able to see. My jaw drops. Raze and Monica? Why would they… actually, that makes sense. It makes a lot of sense. Kind of. The shit with Monica started around the same time I became Raze's human punching bag. This smells an awful lot like a joint-project to me.

"And how would I have been believable, exactly? I'm not exactly Mr. Romance, at least he's kind of gooey looking."

"No, but you're kind of small, thin, unpopular… Oh, don't you give me that look."

"You know I could break your face, right?"

"Not if you wanted to keep any social life you have. Or get your payment." Payment? He way being paid? "Fine, new plan. Give me time to regroup. You got him watching them, right?"

"As closely as I can get him to. We can only hold sex over his head for so long."

"Then I'll just have to up the stakes," Monica says, her heels starting to click away. I know they're talking about me, I don't need to use my high IQ to figure that out. However, I have no clue who the guy they're speaking about is. Could it be Randy, or maybe Jonah? Heck, it could probably be anyone. There are so many eyes on me that it doesn't have to be anyone sticking close. The entire school knows my business.

Her heels halt at the door. "Keep your phone on," she tells him, "I want my plan to happen as soon as I think it up."

"Got it," Raze says. I can't see him, but I think he's probably rolling his eyes. The tap runs for a moment, followed by his footsteps, and then they're gone. I'm not sure if things just got easier or harder or harder for me, but I do know one thing: I have to speak to Kenzie.