A/N: I'm going to start doing author's notes so you guys don't think I'm a robot. This chapter is basically what happens when Taylor tries to confront Claire. :o I wonder how Claire will take it. Well, hope you guys like it! Also, in case you guys didn't know, the quotes comprehend to the chapter. Also, i combined chapters four & five so it could be longer. So when you're reading the other chapters and you get a little confused because it's basically a copy of the previous chapter, just know that i'm working on it and just click on the next chapter.

*Quote Four: Believe who has treated you right.*

I strut up to Claire’s table with my confidence meter high and my eyebrows furrowed. I was ready to take on Claire’s lies. I stop in front of her and cross my arms.

“Claire.” I say madly.

She was so busy with a conversation with one of her new friends that she didn’t even notice my presence, nonetheless hear her name being called. I grew more annoyed. I stood there, tabbing my foot against the ground. As I was about to say her name again, the girl she was talking to pointed up to me and Claire turns around.

“What do you want?” She asks, looking at me up and down and smirking. It was like she was making fun of me. I was already so mad, I just needed a mean thing to say to her, something to start this argument. But… what word to use?

“You manipulative little imp.” I tell her. I didn’t even know what an ‘imp’ was. All I knew was that it was something bad and what Claire was, is bad.

“What are you talking about?” she asks innocently. I roll my eyes and my eyes land on Keri. She was staring at me with a disapproving look. I kept her gaze for a minute before she turns around. I couldn’t think about her right now. I had to focus on Claire and our situation.

“Why would you try to sabotage Keri’s and I’s relationship? Is it because you were jealous? Or are you that bitter?” I shout at her. I never wrapped my head around the fact that Claire could be jealous of Keri and my friendship. Now, it all makes sense.

“First of all,” She says a-matter-of-factly and standing up. “That never happened! Who told you that? I also don’t appreciate you coming up to me and trying to start something so uncivilized.”

“That doesn’t matter!” Serena says angrily, butting in to our argument. She stands in front of me with her hands on her hips. Claire looked completely surprised at a new person standing before her. But she went back to character.

“Excuse me, but who are you? Signups to be my friend are in the trash can. I think you should take a look. I’m pretty sure one already has your name on it.

BURN!

Oops, sorry. Even though I don’t like Claire at the moment, that comeback was good. But Claire thinks so highly of herself. Like everyone wants to be her friend but that wasn’t always the case. Claire was the typical beauty, the blonde haired girl everyone envied and wanted to be like. She was popular and even I was surprised that I was her friend. Probably because I was friends with the old Claire, not the high school Claire.

“I’m Serena, Taylor’s friend. Something that you failed to be.”

“Oww! That hurt!” Claire exaggerates. “Come on, do better than that!”

“Look, you need to stop joking around and own up to what you’ve done.” Serena says.

“Sorry not sorry, but this has NOTHING to do with you.” Claire says stepping up to Serena’s face.

By now the cafeteria was staring.

“I bet you told! So you can be Taylor’s friend! You’re so thirsty!” Claire states.

“Taylor, I would never do that! You have to believe me! We are best friends!” Claire says turning her direction to me.

“No! She’s lying, believe me! Even though you haven’t known me for long, I’m not that kind of person!” Serena pleads.

“Yeah, you don’t even know her! That’s why you should trust me! Why would you want to be friends with that?” Claire exclaims to me.

Serena’s eyes grow furious. As if she was tired of Claire’s nonsense. I was afraid at what was going to happen next. Serena musters everything she has and pushes Claire. Claire flies back into her table, get some ketchup on some designer clothing. Claire balls her hands into fists and throws a punch at Serena. Serena tries to dodge it but she fails.

Then the fight starts. Everyone in the cafeteria was screaming “Fight, fight!”

“Stop it!” Mary begs.

Claire and Serena were on the floor, pulling each other’s hair and I try to pull Serena off of Claire but Serena wasn’t budging. I wasn’t sure what to do except fight. I felt so hopeless. It was my situation. Not Serena’s.

Bianca was kicking Claire however she could. But I was still just watching. It’s weird watching my former best friend and my potential best friend fight. I look around in the cafeteria and I caught Keri staring at me again. She has a smirk on her face and she shakes her head. I was amused so I start to giggle. Maybe it was the path to our rekindled relationship?

I still don’t understand why they sticking up for me so much. I recently met them and they are being so nice to me. Maybe that’s the group I belonged to this home time and I never realized it. What am I even saying? I don’t even know who they are!

By the time teachers came, people were already judging the fight.

“Serena won!” One girl said.

“Claire obviously won.” One boy said.

“I think it was a tie.” Two people said.

Who cares about who won or not? Did it honestly matter? It’s all about the REASON behind the fight. Not about who one. Some people these days… I wonder if-

“EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT, GO TO THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE. NOW.” The loud speaker announces.

Oh no…

I wonder if I were to just go to my next period and avoid all the AP’s and not go to the office. Would they track me down? Nah, I would want to go through all that extra trouble. Claire and Serena were already gone. The rest of us stare at each other, sigh, and head down to the office where I knew we’d be questioned.

I knew I’d have to choose between Serena and Claire.

Oh no…

*          *          *          *          *

*Inside the principal’s office.*

Around seven girls sat in the empty chairs of the principal’s office with their eyes trained to the ground. And I was one of them. I groan loudly at the fact that I’m here. I had nothing to do with this. I mean, I guess I verbally harassed Claire but she did the same thing to me too.

Principal Lowes takes a deep breath and wipes the sweat droplets off of his forehead. I could tell her didn’t want to be dealing with this right now. He takes another deep breath and asks, “Why did the fight happen?”

Everyone starts talking at once but the principal got furious and spoke up. “One at a time, please. In fact, Claire, Mary, Bianca, Taylor, Michelle, and Alexis go outside while I talk to Serena.” He says shutting the door.

We all wait outside, leaning on the wall. I close my eyes and I contemplate what I’ll say to him. I know I’m not getting in trouble. No way. Over the years, I’ve learned how to talk to the principals or counselors in middle school. I know what to do.

All the girls glare at me like it was my fault.

“What?” I ask all of them but they look down at the floor. I cross my arms and stare at the ceiling.

After some time, Serena comes out and whispers to Bianca and I that we were next.

“Shut the door.” He orders.

“Yes sir.” We said in unison.

“Who hit first?” He asks as we sat down.

 Bianca and I looked at each other. We were not sure what to say. Should we lie to save Serena or tell the truth and be out of trouble?

“I’m waiting…”

“Serena hit first.” We both said.

“Are you lying? You will be suspended for a month if you are. So no competing in any sports competitions.”

“No sir, we are telling the truth.” Bianca said.

I sigh, feeling disappointed in myself. If the fight was in any other place but the cafeteria, I would’ve said… but- although I’m livid at Claire, I couldn’t rat her out.

“Okay, you can go back to class. Call the others in here.”

“Yes sir.” We both said.

When we left the room, Bianca and I agreed to not tell Serena that we tattled her out.

After we went back to seventh period, (We missed sixth.)Everyone was wondering what happened.

But we only said whoever walks through the door first is the one who’s not suspended. And I wasn’t surprised when I saw Claire.

But then, shockingly, Serena came from behind her. On the other hand Serena was frowning and Claire was beaming.

“What happened?” Bianca asked Serena.

“Why are you gathering your things?” I asked.

“I’m suspended for two months.” Serena mumbled.

As soon as she was packed, she left.

Two months? That seems like a while just for a fight. It was just a fight, if they brought drugs, I would understand.

All I feel now is guilt and sadness, but was I supposed to get suspended? My parents would kill me! I glanced over at Bianca but her head was down.

Ugh.

*          *          *          *          *

“I feel sorry for you.” Claire said walking next to me at dismissal.

“I feel sorry that you got beat up and you probably have to go to the hospital.” I shoot back at her.

“I hope you realize that made no sense because if I needed to go to the hospital I would be there, but I’m not.”

Yes, I realize that wasn’t that good of a comeback.

“I hope you realize that we aren’t friends anymore so you shouldn’t be talking to me.” I said, trying to walk faster than her.

“I know that. I just like to torture you,” she giggles. “And it’s your opinion that I got beat up. But I’m also not the one suspended. And when did you learn all those comebacks?”

“I got it from my real friends.”

“But rumor has it that you tattled on her. So actually, you’re the one who got her suspended. Bless her soul that she has to go through such a crisis. I can’t wait till she finds out that her real friends snitched on her, so say goodbye to your real friend.” She said entering her bus.

As always, I was speechless. She’s constantly reminding me why we aren’t friends.