I didn't visit the climbing hall the next morning. In fact, I didn't visit anything except the toilet across the hall and the fridge in the kitchen. 

I let my brightly dyed hair get greasy, and put on my old trusty comfortable sweatpants and black t-shirt. What was I thinking anyway? It was silly to believe I'd suddenly fit into Ocean club's world in pretty clothes. 

"Joyce! Can I borrow your shoes?" Paisley shouted in the hallway. 

I pulled my covers further up and reached for my headphones on the nightstand. Unfortunately, it clattered on the floor and it wasn't like Joyce would leave without greeting me. She still felt some sort of responsibility for me, even if I didn't ask for it. 

"No way, I'm going to wear my cute sandals myself," Joyce replied.

Her voice and footsteps grew louder and there was a knock on my door. 

"Char!" Joyce called out. Rather than leaving me alone like I wanted, Joyce opened the door when I didn't respond.

She placed her hands on her hips, ignoring the way I glared at her.

"Char, we're going out. Do you need anything?"

"No," I hastily replied, just wanting everyone to leave and close the door.

"Char already got everything she came for," Paisley said unpleasantly sing-song. 

Skye snickered and I knew exactly what she was implying.

"Like you're not picking up some different dude every single night," I sneered, though I felt the color draining from my face.

"Not for my first time." Paisley rolled her eyes. "And you held onto your v-card like it made you some sort of saint." Paisley sniffed disdainfully. "That's right, we saw you judging, and now you found out you're no better than us. And he doesn't even want you after one night."

"Paisley, that's enough!" 

My sister's eyes were wide, but I didn't particularly want her help right now. 

I could protest myself, too. Say I didn't lose anything except my reputation when I went to Ty's apartment. But it's not like they would believe me, so I kept my mouth shut so they would just go faster and would leave me to wallop in peace.

Unfortunately, there was one problem with this plan. And that problem was a growling stomach and no food anywhere in the house.

When I dragged myself out of bed and opened the fridge, I understood what Joyce meant when she asked if I needed anything. There was literally only beer and soda left, and I couldn't eat either of those.

Groaning, I took out my phone to order some comfort takeout junkfood, until I remembered I didn't have money left after splurging on some fancy clothes, and Joyce had taken the credit card our parents had given us for the trip.

I had to call Joyce. 

No, I refused to call Joyce. 

Think, Char, think.

I hadn't worn all of the new clothes yet. I marched back into my bedroom,  and checked the tags. If I returned the second sarong I bought and a t-shirt, I'd be up one fifty. Plenty of cash for some good takeout.

It did mean having to venture outside, but even that was better than calling Joyce. I fixed up my hair to acceptable with some dry shampoo, switched my sweatpants for jeans, and reluctantly headed outside. 

I had hoped Vera wouldn't be at the clothing store. Unfortunately, my luck seemed to have run out these days. When I looked in through the window, I saw her sorting and folding t-shirts which were on sale. 

I immediately wanted to turn and leave, but Vera looked up the exact moment I took one step back. Her dark eyes widened, and I stood nailed to the spot as she exited the store and strode my way. 

"Char," she said, gently gripping my shoulders, her brow furrowed. "Are you doing alright?" 

Joyce had already asked me that question. Yet, when Vera did, I finally felt tears welling up for the first time since my date with Ty. 

Vera must've noticed as well, because she muttered something I couldn't hear under her breath, then lead me into the store with her hand on my back. Together, we entered some sort of staff-only room with a couch and a table. 

Gently, Vera took the bag with clothes I'd been meaning to return and placed it on the table. I buried my face in my hands and just started crying. Subtle at first, but I couldn't stop my shoulders from shaking and sobs from escaping my mouth. 

"Hey, hey, shh," Vera tried to comfort me. I felt her sit down next to me. Her hand was on my back again, rubbing circles. "It's okay." 

"No, it's not. They all think I slept with him and I didn't!" 

Vera's hand stopped moving for a split second before continuing. "Come on, Char. Don't let Ty, or them ruin your holiday." 

I sniffed. "Yeah, well. You were right. He was not the guy I should've been dating." 

Vera stayed quiet. I looked up at her when she didn't make a sound for what felt like half a minute and found her staring at me. 

"I wish I hadn't been right, Char," she murmured, slowly reaching out to wipe a tear on my cheek away.

I promptly broke eye-contact, feeling my face heat up from my neck to the crown of my head at the gesture. 

I was very distinctly aware of Vera lowering her hand and placing it in her lap again. "He's an idiot," she said. "So don't even stress about him... No, better yet, I'll go do something about it." 

"Do something about it?" I blinked, and wiped the last of my tears away myself. "What do you mean?" 

"I mean get him back for how he treated you. For telling people." Vera paused and scowled. "Well, you, and many other girls. I've seen it happen far too many times with him. Fake rumours and broken hearts. And honestly, I'm tired of watching it." 

So, that was why she was always so cold with Ty. I could've known. No, I should've known. 

"What are you going to do?" I chewed on my  bottom lip. "You shouldn't do anything crazy on my behalf, anyway." 

Vera's expression softened into a smile. "Don't worry about that. It's nothing crazy or illegal. Mostly. Just a small, payback reminder that he can't do whatever he wants to whoever he wants." 

"In that case..." I hesitated. "Can I maybe help you?"