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There was no avoiding Derek. We have too many classes together for that, and it’s like destiny keeps throwing us together—bumping into each other in the hallways, occasional brush of our hands as we passed by each other, sitting close by…

In how many pieces can a heart break?

Because every time I see him, another tiny part of my heart shatters.

My heart would squeeze painfully and skip a beat. My breath would get stuck in my throat, and for a few short seconds, although to me it seemed more like an eternity, I would forget how to breathe.

He never said a word. That’s what surprised me. Thursday, when we got to school, I could see bruises on both Derek and Max, but neither of them said a word.

Gossip running through school hallways was a completely different thing. Everybody was talking about them and me.

Everybody.

There were rumors that the two of them fought over me, which wasn’t a lie, not completely. But other stories were entirely made up. They were saying that I hooked up with Max behind Derek’s back and then, when he found out about it, they had a fight. Another story that was running around the school was about Derek, Sophie, and me.

Snickering laughs followed me everywhere. Glares and rude comments were inevitable, especially from the girls.

“You have to go!”

“It’s your birthday, Lia.” Brook enters my room and jumps on the bed, crossing her arms over her chest. “We are not letting them take that away from you.”

“We can celebrate here just fine.” I shrug nonchalantly. My birthdays were always celebrated with family only. “Mom made cake. Chocolate cake. If you want I can get you a slice.”

“No thank you. What you can do is take this and go to the bathroom to change.”

Sighing, I turn around and come face to face with two determined, you-are-going-to-do-as-we-say, women.

“Bathroom. Now.” Jeanette shoves the bag she’s been holding since she came to my house into my hands. It’s big enough that it can contain half of my closet, and it’s quite heavy. What the hell is she carrying inside?

“It’s your 18thbirthday. You are not going to stay in the house,” Brook agrees.

The two look at each other, frowning, before returning their attention to me. I guess we entered a parallel universe where these two can actually be friends. Or are they frenemies?

Like I said, Jeanette was acting really strangely since that time we all hung out.

“I don’t…”

“Want to go to the party.”

“Or see Derek,” Jeanette adds and rolls her eyes at me. “We know. But you are going. We’ll get you drunk, and you can do something crazy, like dance on the table or make out with some random guy.”

“That’ll piss Derek off, for sure.”

“I don’t want to…”

“Bathroom!” they yell in unison and point their fingers at the door.

“Ughh.”

* * *

“This was really not a good idea,” I complain, pulling down at the hem of my ridiculously short skirt.

“How is this not a good idea?” Jeanette closes the driver’s door and locks them behind her. “It’s Halloween, and this is a Halloween party. The only night in a year when you can be whoever you want to be.”

Jeanette is completely comfortable in her own, equally short, dark blue skirt showing off miles of long, sleek legs. A red corset is hugging her thin waist and pushing her breast up. Golden bracelets on both wrists and a headband slash tiara complete the Wonder Woman look. Yes, you heard me right.

I knew she was smart, but I never knew she had this geeky side to her that is into superheroes.

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