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"Have you lost your mind?" Bethany asked, crashing into the now empty seat Dakota had left. Xander was hot on her tail, taking the seat next to her and carrying his books in one hand. His off-putting green hair looked even brighter than it had at the party, spiked up with gel. It was then when I noticed his small black gauges in his ears that matched his glasses. It being a small town, he must get a lot of looks-and given the fact that he liked attention, I bet he liked the stares he received.

He looked paler now more so than at the party, a complete contrast to Bethany's rich chestnut complexion.

"Why would you think that?" I questioned after they settled in, practically glaring at me. It took a second to get what they meant. "Oh, with Dakota. We were just talking. Long story short, he's either on his man period or naturally a complete asshole."

"I could've told you that," Xander rolled his eyes. "And it's quite a shame if you ask me. If you minus all his issues, and his rude attitude, I'm sure he'd have all kinds of girls going for him. Oh, well. No one's stupid enough to actually keep up with him...or at least no one anymore."

I decided that there was no reason to ask Xander to elaborate on what he meant. It wasn't like he'd tell me. Sighing, I racked a hand through my locks. "I regret even trying to talk to him." I motioned to the people blatantly looking over at me and obviously gossiping about me. "It seems like I've got everyone talking about what just happened."

"That's not why they're chattering," Xander chuckled. "They're talking about your wild night with Franklin Simmons."

"What?" I seethed. "There was no wild night with that jerk. I barely danced with the guy. He tried to cop a feel, but Dakota stepped in and got him away from me. That's all that happened."

"Well that's not what Franklin is saying." Beth said. "It's actually the exact opposite of what he's telling people. That Dakota was all over you, and you were trying to get away from him, but he wouldn't let you go. Franklin supposedly cut in and saved you from him."

"And afterwards, he led you upstairs and you apparently 'thanked' him for being your savor." Xander moved his fist up in down. "If you know what I mean."

"Good thing is he said you were great at it. A little nervous at first, but he talked you through it." Beth announced and I wanted to sob.

"Oh my God. He's lying." I buried my head in my hands. "People can't believe him though. There were lots of people around us."

"Lots of stoned and drunk people," Xander recalled. "And the few people who were okay enough to remember say you were spotted with Franklin-which you were from what you said."

"He's lying." I repeated.

Xander shrugged. "He is pretty popular. I doubt anyone is going to say he was lying."

Beth reached out and grabbed my hand. "I don't believe the rumors. Franklin has done this lots of times. Just wait two weeks. This will all blow over and there will be bigger drama taking over the school."

"Yeah, Beth is right." Xander nodded. "He does this after every party. You're not the first and you'll surely not be the last."

I snarled. "I should talk to him. No, I need to talk to him."

How dare he go and make up false stories about me? I knew I wasn't the nicest person in the way I had pushed him off, but he deserved it with the way he grabbed my ass, smirking like a little devil. He was definitely one of the guys Hunter was talking about that were bad news. It was sickening to hear that he'd done this to other girls. Why hadn't anyone stopped him? He needed to be stopped.

"Oooh, not a good idea." Xander said rapidly, stopping me in my tracks as I got up from my seat and picked up my binder. "He's sitting over there with the other jocks. The second you walk up to them, he'll be cracking jokes about you from left to right. It's best if you got him when he's away from his posse of deranged buffoons."

I shook my head, easing away from them. "No, I'm going to do it now. Are any of you coming with me?"

"Nope." Xander said, popping the p. "I feel perfectly fine witnessing your social suicide from this seat right here."

"Bethany?" I turned to her.

"I'll be there in spirit," she hummed.

I'm doing this solo. That's cool. That's fine. I don't need them.

I placed my binder to the side, resting it on my hip while I walked the "jock table" Xander had somewhat motioned toward as he told me about the fake rumor. Their table was a lot larger than the others. Someone had pushed two tables together, making it extend a lot more than it should. They also occupied the last three set of tables, and for anyone who didn't have a seat, they stood around the table. It was a good twenty, twenty-five people--give or take.

Franklin's eyes found mine when I got close enough and a sly, devious grin graced his face. It took every cell in my body to not run over and slap it off of him.

"Oh, look who came back for seconds." Franklin shouted, leaning back in his seat, knitting his hands together and wrapping it around the back of his neck. "Sorry babe, but I don't do repeats on what I've already done."

"Shut up and stop making up shit, Franklin," an unknown voice huffed. "Everyone at this table knows the last time you even got laid was back in eighth grade. And it was to Lindsay Bitterlich." From the way they said it, I could tell it was a real downgrade.

Eight grade? I refrained from shouting. Who the heck is getting busy in middle school? I was far too focused on uncontrollable pimples sprouting on my face to worry about boys.

The whole table darted their eyes over at who had spoken. It was Hunter at the end of the table with his girlfriend sitting next to him. I hadn't expected for him to join in. And I was even more shocked when Carmen put in her two cents.

"Yeah," Carmen mused, "And from what she said, you were very inadequate and hardly lasted longer than two minutes...then again, she did mention that there wasn't much you could do with your lack of equipment." She wiggled her little pinky finger, and with that, the entire table burst into laughter. They coined in their own jokes. The noise got louder and louder.

Franklin's face turned a shade of beet red. I opened my mouth, having my own comeback, but he was gone before the words could leap off the tip of my tongue.

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Song: I Get Around by Tupac

Lyrics:

❝Hate to sound sleazy, but tease me, I don't want it if it's that easy.❞

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