Asteria was ready to go back to school. Vita informed her about Nicky and his friends being suspended so she didn’t have to worry about seeing them. If she did, she was very much prepared to demand their suspension. She planned on seeing Bray before school by getting a ride there with her mother but she remembered Rilynn’s mother wanted her to get driven to school by Desmond. She figured she would see Rilynn in the car so she was prepared for her smart remarks.

When Desmond opened the door, to her surprise, Rilynn was no where to be seen in the back. Asteria got in as she thanked Desmond for the ride and said “good morning” to him as well. Desmond asked how she was feeling as he began to drive off.

“I feel good. I have a bit of a headache but it will go away eventually,” answered Asteria.

“Good to hear. When the Mrs. told me you was attacked I was very worried of what happened to you so I’m glad to know you are well,”

“Me too...” Asteria trailed off for a second and then looked at the empty space near her, “Why isn’t Rilynn here? I thought you give her a ride everyday,”

“Yes I do but Rilynn insisted on not going to school early today and so I will be dropping you off and then returning to the house to retrieve Miss. Rilynn,”

Asteria then said anything to Desmond as he continued to talk and ramble on about his interest in football. Asteria thought about Rilynn and realized that the reason she didn’t come early was possibly because Asteria was being picked up and Rilynn didn’t want to ride with her. Asteria leaned her head into her hand and leaned forward as she looked down at her phone. Luca sent her a message telling her that he was excited to see her at school after not being able to see her all day the day before. Asteria smiled at his cuteness and sent him a heart. He then sent back a long line of hearts. She put her phone away and sighed as Florian’s face popped up in her mind.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” Wondered Asteria later on at lunch sitting beside Vita. 

It was just the two of them while Luca and Florian decided to go to the gym to work out on their lunch break and Rilynn disappeared some where with Seraphina. Vita was munching on her hot dog when Asteria suddenly blurted that out as she pulled her eye lids down as stressed.

“Relax there Ash, stress will get you gray hairs. I know because my father got them and he’s pretty young,” said Vita as she chewed her food and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Asteria slammed her fists on the table and turned to face a startled Vita, “I like Florian,”

“Yes you do,” said Vita confused.

“But I also like Luca,”

“Glad you finally decide to admit that. Go on,” commented Vita catching on.

“I want to be with Florian but he doesn’t give me the same attention that Luca gives me who is sweet,” Asteria leaned back in her chair and grabbed her chest with an angelic smile on her face, “And caring, he isn’t afraid to show his feelings for me, and...”

“Woah there missy. I’m not rooting for you two so keep that to yourself. I root for you and Rilynn,” said Vita interrupting Asteria.

Asteria grunted as she went ahead to start to pick at her Mac and cheese with her fork, “Rilynn, is weird and I have no interest in her like that,”

“Why is she weird?”

“She’s still not talking to me,”

“Like she was to begin with,”

“She at least teased or annoyed me but now she avoids me and she didn’t even ask how I felt like the rest of you did this morning. She just walked off to talk to that skank Seraphina,” said Asteria as she glanced at Seraphina’s friends who were whispering and already looking at Asteria from a far.

“Do I hear a hint of jealously?” Asked Vita as she smirked while licking  ketchup off her finger.

“No, and you know what who cares. I have feelings for two guys who honestly care for me and I need to figure out who I want so I have no time to deal with a brat,”

Vita frowned, “Florian is a waste of time,” she said mumbling.

“What?” Asked Asteria as she turned to her as she was putting Mac and cheese into her mouth.

Vita faced her with a grin, “Oh nothing. Let’s finish our food before our lunch is over,” She said as she finished up her hot dog.

A week passed and Luca was still concerned about Asteria’s head so he was constantly asking her how she was feeling same as her mother. Florian and Vita were worried too but they settled down. Throughout the week Asteria’s mind was spiraling around between Luca and Florian but then Rilynn would pop up as well. Asteria was now aware that Rilynn had an issue with her because at gym they weren’t competing. Rilynn would rather talk to Serpahina or even Luca than her. During Chemistry class, Asteria thought up ideas to catch Rilynn’s attention such as bumping into her on purpose to get a rise out of her but Rilynn would ignore her and move on or trying to answer a question faster or better than her but that failed as well. During times when she would walk in the halls to class she would see Vita, Florian, and Luca. They would interact with her but Rilynn didn’t meet her eyes at all or acknowledge her existence.

Florian on the other hand was another task and a difficult one as well. Asteria would make it obvious that she was interested by flirting but he would never budge. He would rather talk to Luca about lacrosse or hurry away to class. Luca was the one giving her what she wanted from Florian and she was grateful but also disappointed. 

It was after school one day and Asteria and Vita were walking into a hospital room. Bray was inside on a bed when he saw the two of them. Hist tired, bored, and gloomy face turned bright. His smile made Asteria and Vita smile as they walked over to him. Asteria placed the flowers she brought for him on the end table and then they both took a sit in the chairs beside his bed.

“How are you feeling? Last time we spoke you was getting examined again,” said Asteria as she grew concerned.

“Better, I could’ve been out by now but my father is worried so much that he refuses to let me leave until my cuts heal better so maybe next week I could leave,” said Bray.

“That’s a pain in the ass. I would lose my mind if I had to eat this hospital food,” said Vita as she flicked a green bean off of Bray’s plate that was sitting on his bed table.

Bray looked at Asteria who seemed in deep thought, “Is something the matter? If you had to do something instead of coming please do that, I don’t want to keep you here,” said Bray thoughtfully.

“No it’s fine,” said Asteria reassuring him, “I’m just...having a hard time with... friends I guess,”

“She meant to say significant others but friends work too,” said Vita adding on before Asteria playfully hit her arm.

“I see... well I figured you was popular with the boys anyways,”

“I guess I am but the issue is that I like them both but I’m having a hard time deciding who I want to be with. I even tried to show a little hint to my feelings every chance I got recently to Florian but nothing ever happens on his part while Luca wants all my attention and Rilynn... well Rilynn is bothering me,”

“I thought this was about Florian and Luca right? What’s up with Rilynn?” Questioned a lost Bray.

“She’s mad she isn’t paying attention to her,” said Vita as she chuckled.

“I don’t know why she is but now it’s getting on my nerves because it’s probably about something stupid,”

Bray laughed, “How about you just ask her?” He said.

“Me and Rilynn aren’t friends so how can I go up and ask her without creating a damn scene. If she wants to ignore me then fine I don’t care but she doesn’t have to be so rude about it,” 

Vita and Bray look at each other and then they both laugh as Asteria acted as if she wasn’t going to ask Rilynn when they both knew she was. It was the next day and Desmond stopped picking Asteria up because she was feeling like herself again and didn’t need the special treatment so Florian came to pick her up as he did before. Asteria didn’t make him breakfast because she felt guilty about Luca. They talked and walked as usual. They talked about Seraphina’s big party the weekend coming up so they were both excited well Asteria acted excited. She still hated her and Seraphina still hated her back.

When they arrived at the school, instead of going to Luca, Asteria walked over to Rilynn who was talking with Florian. Florian could see how fed up she was and slowly made himself disappear.

“What?” Asked Rilynn as she stood in front of Asteria unreadable.

“What’s with you? Are you still upset about me and Luca because if that’s it then you need to stop worrying about me,”

“I don’t care what you do,”

Asteria clutched her fist, “Then why are you ignoring me?”

“I ignore you all the time so what do you mean?”

“You know what Rilynn...” said Asteria but Rilynn started to walk away. Asteia turned to face her furious while the others from afar look afraid for Rilynn’s life, “Hey you little shit! Stop being a brat and tell me what I did,”

Rilynn stopped and looked at Asteria as that same rain memory appeared in her mind. They were younger and Rilynn was crying as Asteria stared at her with her darkened eyes with no sign of emotion. Young Asteria then spoke.

“We are not friends and we will never be friends. I don’t care about you and I never will so leave me alone and stop acting like you actually care about me,” as that memory played on Rilynn repeated the same words that Asteria said to her back then.

Asteria could see herself saying it as Rilynn did. It was as if she was hit by a truck. The impact of those words sent memories she didn’t want to remember. Her father’s death replayed in her mind as she also remembered how hurt Rilynn had to be back then when she said that to her for her to say it back and harsher than she did before.

“Hey what the hell was that?” Said Florian annoyed with Rilynn as he followed her.

Vita and Luca went up to a silent Asteria.

“So that was something,” Vita said stunned.

Luca grabbed Asteria’s hand, “Just Rilynn being Rilynn. Don’t let her bother you. You was always great at it,”

Astreria let go of Luca’s hand, “Let’s get going. The bell will ring soon,” She said as she walked toward the doors of the school.

Luca concerned hurried to her side while Vita looked over to Rilynn. Vita glanced at her coldly as Rilynn glanced back at her. Vita then started into the school as well as Rilynn made eye contact with Seraphina. Serpahina winked at her and then Rilynn turned away.