Arabella Rivera I hated taking the bus. But today I had no choice. Haiden's truck wasn't in his driveway, neither was Gwen going to pick me up seeing as we weren't on speaking terms. I was to be blamed for that rift I caused between us, but as bad as it sounds, I didn't regret saying those things to her. She should never have told Christian about Haiden and I. This wasn't her secret for her to tell. It was mine, and she had no right. As I got off the bus, I pressed my lips together in irritation as the students forcefully push me as they rushed towards the school building. I was sure it wasn't their need for sudden knowledge that made them so urgent. They just wanted to find out the latest gossip. Come to find out, I was the headline of the said gossip today. ____ My eyes scan the entire hallway in search of Haiden. I noticed his truck outside but I was yet to see him. But as my eyes continued to survey around, I couldn't help but notice the hush talking of the students as they peered at me, both with shock and disgust. Growing confused by their sudden interest, I pushed some of my strands behind my ear nervously. What the hell was going on? "You could've told me you wanted him for yourself Arabella." The voice reeked of disgust as it spat in my ear. I whirled around, shocked to see it was Sasha. What was she on about? Voicing out my thoughts, I held my bag close to me. "What are you talking about Sasha?" Her eyes narrowed on me and I noticed the look of hatred in them clear as day. " Don't act confused. You had everyone fooled with your perfect persona, well not anymore. Turns out you're a slut." Flinching by her cruel words I looked around and noticed everyone's gaze was on me. I hated attention. Drawing my eyes back to her, I lean towards her a little and whispered. " What's going on? Did I do something to you..." I trailed. From my perfect memory, I couldn't recall any bad thing I had done to her. So why was she suddenly treating me like an enemy?Her eyes darken in anger as she sneers. " You wanted Haiden all along, yet you acted like my friend! You're a slut. What kind of friend sleeps with your boyfriend behind your back? And to think you strang Christian along only to bone his brother. You're a backstabbing bitch Arabella." Hearing the chorusing 'ooh', I looked around. I didn't like public confrontation but I wouldn't let her embarrass me in front of everyone. So straightening my spine and glaring at her, I spat. "You were never Haiden's girlfriend Sasha and I never strang Christian along. There's a difference between being friendly and too friendly. I was never too friendly with him. And as for you, we were never friends. So what if I fucked Haiden?" I lean forward, loving the surprise on her face. Serves her right for trying to embarrass me in front of the entire school. "Since you've never fucked him before, I'll give you a little spoiler. He fucks me so good." Pinning her with a nasty glare I turned around and walked away quickly, very aware of the eyes on my back. I was sure many were shocked at my use of language. Many knew I wasn't one to cuss and tell someone off. But that was before and this was now. I was very different than the Arabella before. Or maybe I was always like this. Pushing the door to the bathroom open, I tried to collect some air into my lungs. The bathroom seemed empty and I was very thankful for that. Walking towards the sink, I opened the faucet and washed my hands. I knew I shouldn't have come to school today. Rubbing my temples with my wet hand I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Everything was crashing down on me. One of the stall doors opens and I groan when Meredith walks out. So much for the bathroom being completely empty. "Look what the cat dragged in...." She trailed, her brown eyes fixed on me as she grins. I rolled my eyes and closed the faucet. "That line is so overused." "Here to call me a slut too?" I asked. I figured everyone now knew about Haiden and I. It explains the stares and the hush whispers. But that's high school for you, everything is a rumor. She walks over and stops beside me, opening the pipe, she washes her hand. "Don't worry about those rumors, they stop when there's another more fascinating story." Confused by her sudden un-bitchy attitude, I looked at her. She smiles. " I don't think you deserve having your name spread like that. Don't know what's going on between you two but Gwen stooped really low this time." Wait. Gwen?Of course, it makes sense now. She was the only one who knew about Haiden and me, beside Christian. But something told me Christian wouldn't stoop so low. This screams Gwen and Meredith confirming that made it all the worse. Hatred and anger coursed through me. Gwen and I had been best friends for so long that I turned a blind eye to who she truly was. Which was a conniving two-faced bitch. "Where is she?" I asked, through clenched teeth. Sticking together no matter what huh? Where did that shitty line go? How was I so blind? "Last time I saw her, she was making out with Brandon by her locker," Meredith shrugs. "You know Gwen already, she won't latch off his mouth anytime soon." Nodding in thanks, I turned around to leave. "Hey Arabella!" Meredith called out before I walked out the door. Turning around slightly she smiled. "You and Cross actually make a cute couple. By the way, you two weren't as sleek as you thought you were. Next time don't moan out his name in the janitor's closet." Laughing she turns around to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Embarrassed that she knew about us for God knows how long, I scurried away, not wanting to get teased any further. But as I walked away, I realized my feet were leading me towards Gwen's locker and anger soon made me turn a blind eye to anyone else beside her. I spotted her quickly. And Meredith was right, Gwen didn't look like she'd detach her mouth from Brandon's anytime soon. "Gwen," I growled when I reach beside her. Seeing her making out with Brandon was gross and quite frankly upsetting my stomach. If I have to vomit I'll make sure it's on her. My voice seems to snap her back to reality. She pulls away from Brandon reluctantly and looked at me. Her blue eyes showed no emotion and honestly, she didn't look like the girl I once considered my best friend. "What?" She grunts in impatience. She had some nerve to act innocent. "You told the entire school about Haiden and I?" I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer to her. One of my hands are clenched into a fist at my side, whilst the other gripped the strap of the bag tightly as I pictured it was her neck. Shrugging nonchalantly she turns her attention back to Brandon. "They would've found out eventually." Thoughts of hurling her into the lockers crept into my mind. "You had no right to tell anyone Gweneth. Don't act as though you did me a favor." I spat as though it was acid.Gwen pushes Brandon away from her and finally turns to me. Brandon looks between us in confusion. What an idiot. "Sorry, did you plan on keeping the fact that you were fucking Haiden behind Christian's back, in the closet?" She drawled, glowering down at me. "You and I both know I wasn't with Christian Gweneth! You fucking knew yet you spread those cheap lies about me. What are you even gaining in this!?" I sneered, stepping closer until we were inches apart. "I hate it when you always do that! You always make everything about you! Oh Arabella's hair is perfect, Arabella's grades are perfect, Arabella is perfect, perfect perfect!" She snaps. "No one ever thinks I'm perfect! I tried so hard to always be the one everyone sees first, the one everyone fawns over but no! It's always little miss perfect Arabella! Tell me, how does it feel now to be known as the slut? Not so perfect anymore are you?!" I flinched taking a step back from her. I watch her breathe heavily as she lets out the words she seemed to have gobbled inside her for years. "So that's what it is, jealousy? You're trying to ruin my reputation because you're jealous of me?" I asked. By now we had gained the attention of everyone, yet I didn't care, neither did she. "You see there you go again making it about you, again! You have everything, perfect eyes, a perfect body, the perfect boyfriend. But you know what you never had perfect? The perfect family." Stepping towards me with a cocky smirk she whispers. "And you want to know how I know that? Well, because I've been fucking your father for years. Got to say, your daddy pays good bucks to fuck me raw."