Stolen Kisses, Pretty Lies

~Chapter 6~

As I pulled books out of my locker, the sight of Rep and Lover caught my attention through my peripheral. I turned to face them and was mildly shocked to find them arguing. It looked to be quite a passionate argument, and by that I mean they both looked rather irritated.

I paused on rummaging through my locker and locked onto their conversation through the many, many others happening in the hallway.

"I don't understand why you have such an issue with her!" Lover exclaimed, her hands waving around in the air to exaggerate her frustration.

I heard Rep groan. "She's a bitch! She's brought nothing good to our friend group."

"I thought you changed. I guess not. I was foolish," Lover hissed and marched away, her ponytail swishing side to side.

I sucked breath in through my teeth, that had to hurt.

Rep stood still in between everyone, watching Lover go with a dumbfounded expression. She looked livid for the most part, but to the trained eye of someone experienced with the girl, a speck of well-camouflaged hurt showed in her eyes.

She stormed back over to her locker- the one directly next to mine -and wrenched the door open. I avoided eye contact, the rage emitting from her nearly palpable.

I watched out the corner of my eye as she forced her bag inside her locker, took out her phone, placed it in her pocket, and ducked between people before slipping into the bathroom; a move I hadn't seen her do for a while. My hair on my arms stood up and every sense in me was telling me something was wrong.

However, stubbornness ruled me. I hitched up my laptop and books in my arms and marched into the crowd, letting the flow of students lead me to my art class.

After dropping my things on the desk, I slumped into my chair and sighed.

"Rough morning?" A familiar voice on my left asked. I looked at Midnights and nodded, her nonchalant face remaining calm.

"How's your arm?" I heaved myself up in my chair a little.

"Nurse put some little things on it to hold the skin together and re-bandaged. Said I should get it stitched up after school," she observed the bandage on her lower arm.

I yawned, "cool, cool."

Midnights frowned, "you look exhausted."

"I've just been busy, didn't get a lot of sleep."

She nodded. "D'you think Reputation will be hanging with us at break after all that?"

"Doubt it. She's got an incredible talent to uphold her little stubborn attitude. Hey, she and Lover were fighting this morning."

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"What's going on with Rep and Lover?" Folklore asked, a combination of concern and curiosity shaped her expression.

Lover joined our group as we walked, huffing as she reached us from her locker. "Don't bother yourself with it Lorie."

"You're all my friends, I want to know," Folklore replied bluntly.

"It's just Rep being a git over something stupid, as she does. I'll tell you after lunch," I reassured her.

Lover frowned, "she's not a git."

I raised my eyebrow, "you sure?"

"Nope."

Folklore chuckled quietly beside me. "Now that I think about it," she started, "I haven't seen Rep all day. At all. She wasn't in bio or any of our other classes."

I thought for a second, "she wasn't in English either."

Lover swore under her breath. "I'm going to try and find her; I don't actually care about this stupid feud."

I nodded; it was the safest option.

"Can you come, Nine?" Lover looked at me.

"I don't think that's a good idea, considering I created this."

"Please, you know her better than nearly everyone. Folklore and Midnights can chill, it'll be fine."

I sighed and rubbed my face with a quiet groan, "fine. But if she punches me, it's on you."

"She won't."

We began walking through the semi empty hallways, loud chatter from other students and the occasional fruit tossed just past my head didn't help our search.

I pushed open the door to the nearest bathroom and Lover and I stepped inside, listening for any signs of the girl.

There was a giggling group of girls standing by the mirror, redoing their makeup and talking obnoxiously loud about their love lives. I grimaced and checked the stalls, finding them all vacant.

"Nothing" I muttered as I held the door open for Lover. "We should check behind the school."

"Crack Corner?" Lover sighed.

"I wouldn't be surprised, come on," we headed toward the doors and left the building toward the dank alleyway behind the school.

An overwhelming stench of weed was present as we turned the corner, making me wrinkle my nose. There weren't as many people as usual back here, but the rank smell always lingered.

Soon, a familiar figure looked up from her position leaning against the wall. Her red eyes narrowed into a scowl when she saw me, and smoked billowed from her parted lips.

"Oh, fuck," Lover muttered.

"Better this than covered in her own blood I suppose," I replied.

"Please don't put that image in my mind," Lover winced.

Reputation pushed herself off the wall and stalked over, looking a little wobbly on her feet. "What the fuck are you here for?" She demanded, eyes baring into mine.

"Lover made me come," I sighed.

Lover stifled a cough beside me and it took a second to realise what I said. I rolled my eyes.

"Rep, we need to talk, please," Lover placed a hand on her girlfriend's arm.

The high-as-a-kite girl seemed to soften a little at her touch, blinking her dilated eyes a few times. "Fine."

"Thank you, now drop the joint," Lover commanded calmly.

Rep scowled, "I just bought the coke, I don't want to waste it."

"Be a good girl and drop it," Lover's tone was firm yet sweet.

The taller girl in front of us immediately dropped the joint, her cheeks a little flushed.

I held in a laugh; girl was walking her like a dog.

"Praise her when she's high, she'll follow you anywhere," Lover sighed, taking her girlfriend's arm and beginning to lead her slowly out the alley.

I followed, chuckling quietly.

AN: My ex is really annoying