Chapter Thirty-One: Makeover It’s Wednesday today, four days since Stephanie attended that party. When she eventually returned home, her parents were asleep and she tried her best not to wake them. The game of Truth or Dare continued at the party. Aspen came back but didn’t join them in the game. She had this gloomy look on her face. The game went on with stupid, crazy dares and embarrassing truths. The game ended when - was it Mia - dared Chris to kiss Ivy. Chris had simply stood and walked away with Cleo trailing him. After he left, others didn’t continue the game - they had lost interest. On Sunday morning, her dad was kinda pissed that she was out that late but her mum calmed him down. Her mum on the other hand was happy, something about her beginning to behave like a normal high school teenager. Apparently, she wasn’t behaving like one before. Her father eventually let it slide after giving her a warning - if she stays out so late again, she would be grounded for the rest of her

Chapter Thirty-Three: The Deal "Music?" Chris breaks the silence after driving off the school grounds. Steph shrugs. "Sure." Chris pulls his phone out of his pocket carefully with his eyes on the road. He extends it to Steph. Because she's facing the window, she doesn't see him. "Hazel," he says to gain her attention. That nickname, Steph muses as she faces him a collects the phone with a puzzled look on her face. "What should I do with this?" She questions. "Connect it to the stereo and play some music," he instructs. Steph stares at the phone. "You need to input your password." He tells her his password without hesitation. Steph narrows her eyes at him before inputting it and the phone unlocks. "You just told me your password," she deadpans. "So?" He glances at her. "I can change it and you should feel honoured." Steph rolls her eyes. "Okay...." Steph drawls and connects the phone to the stereo. "Play the first one in my favourites." She does and one of Drake's songs s

Chapter Thirty-Five: Lie Instead of Brooke heading in the direction her boyfriend did, she doesn't. She heads in the opposite direction, exiting the cafeteria. She goes in search of Jason with the intent of asking him what all that was all about. She finds him close to the principal's office with Max, probably waiting for someone. She approaches them. "Hey. Where's Chris?" She asks when she's close enough. "He's still with the principal," Max answers. "What was that all about?" Brooke inquires. "You didn't hear?" "Not really. I couldn't make out what was being said. I stay away from Ivy as much as I can even in the cafeteria." "I guess they weren't as loud as I thought. Well --" He stops talking when the door of the principal's office opens. They all stare as Chris comes out. Jason speaks first. "What did he say?" Chris shrugs, as if not affected by the situation at hand. "I've been suspended." Jason looks up and lets out a sigh as though he was expecting this. "Isn't th

Chapter Thirty-Seven: I Love You "What's the first thing you like about me?" Chris moves even closer to her. "You really wanna know?" He smirks. "Yes." He smiles as he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. His hand lingers there as he stares intensely at her. Steph feels weird with the way he's staring at her but she doesn't look away. Instead, she swallows the lump in her throat. His eyes darken as they move to her lips and he remembers how it felt like kissing her. He wants to feel like that again so he finds himself leaning in. ... ... Stephanie stands there -- frozen. The air around seems to have shifted and she finds herself recalling the one and only time she has kissed him. When he begins to lean in, she mentally panics. Her head yells at her to do something to stop what she thinks is about to happen. Do something Steph! Pull away, say something, slap him, look away, run away. Just do something -- anything -- to stop what's about to happen. You shouldn't let him kiss y

Chapter Thirty-Nine: She's Pretty "I'm sure you’re very pleased with yourself," Stephanie says in place of a greeting as she joins Brooke at their usual table in the cafeteria. She hasn't been able to see Brooke since she got to school in the morning since they don't share any classes today. "Is that how to greet your best friend that you're seeing for the first time today?" Brooke smirks, folding her arms across her chest. "It's just the new way I greet best friends that are trying to play cupid," Steph retorts with a pointed look. Brooke seems unfazed by the look Steph’s giving her. Instead, she grins and takes a bite out of her sandwich. "Why didn’t you pick me up today?" "I sent Chris to pick you up," Brooke says as if it’s only normal and happens every time—she says it like she’s casually telling somebody about today’s weather. "Why did you do that?" Steph asks in exasperation. Brooke’s attitude towards it isn’t helping matters right now. She’s acting like Steph and Chris