𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 18+

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐

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ROSE
MONROE

"I feel so bad. I always knew Lizzie wasn't that bad. Aiden is a horrible guy," I mumbled after Ares filled us in on what happened yesterday in detention.

Ada, always the empath, glanced at Loren, a faint trace of sadness in her eyes. Despite our long-standing dislike for Lizzie's group, we couldn't help but feel bad for her.

"Not to be rude, but why would you make Aiden cheat? It's kinda selfish, Lo," Ada muttered, always the one to say things others wouldn't dare to. "I don't like Aiden, his older brother is... very bad." Ada whispered, a haunting look in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" I look at Ada, worried.

She grins, nodding.

Loren rolled her eyes, brushing off the judgment. "He called me, said he wanted a fling. I only did it to get back at Lizzie for purposely dropping paint on my prom dress last year."

It was so typical of Loren. Every move calculated, revenge always part of the equation. I looked at Ares, trying to shift the energy. "You're a good guy for telling her, Ares." I gave him a small smile, hoping to offer some warmth in the middle of all this mess.

Ares shrugged, his eyes distant. "Trust me, Rose, I'm far from good. I just don't understand why Lizzie didn't get mad at Loren. I expected her to fight."

I nodded in agreement, but Luca spoke before I could respond. "Lizzie doesn't like violence. She's a bitch, sure, but she's always been more of a 'feminist who doesn't fight girls' type."

We were huddled in the small, hidden corner of the school's backyard, a spot we had claimed as our own. Loren, as usual, was staring at Ares. She had been into him for years; everyone knew, even if she never outright said it.

It was one of the reasons I couldn't like Ares, she liked him. And I can't compete with my friend.

But Loren claims all the boys. She liked Luca now she likes Ares.

All girls like Ares. I really wish I tried to be one of them, he'd be a great boyfriend. But I couldn't, for some weird reason.

Ada grinned, popping a chip into her mouth. "Yeah, Lizzie might not fight, but Anastasia? That girl has claws. She'd be the first one to throw a punch."

I couldn't help but smile at Ada. She was always so positive, a ray of sunshine that lit up our group. She had amber eyes, short, shoulder-length hair, and a petite frame that matched her bright personality. Ada was the kind of person who made everything seem easier, lighter.

Loren, on the other hand, was our chaotic force, always looking for a fight, always stirring the pot. She was tall and slim, with blonde hair she had dyed from its natural dark shade. Her grey eyes always held a spark of mischief, and her appearance mirrored her personality—sharp, untouchable, and always in control.

Then there was me. The peacemaker. Not insecure, but still, if I had Loren's model-slim body or Ada's tiny frame, I'd probably feel more confident. Instead, I was curvy, with long red hair and the kind of green eyes every other American girl seemed to have. Basic. That's how I felt, most days.

Our boys were another story. Ares was our leader, always protecting us, but I knew there was an anger inside him, a storm he kept hidden. Luca was the wild one, always ready to lose his temper.

The other friendgroup, there was Astor, the rich troublemaker with more sarcastic remarks than sense. Ryke was the silent one, a boxer who could break you in half with a single punch if he chose to.

Aiden, though—he was different. He was the most dangerous of them all, the one you couldn't quite figure out. Sometimes, I saw glimpses of Ares in him, except where Ares respected women, Aiden didn't. I used to have a crush on Aiden. Maybe I still did, deep down. We had spent so much time together, our families close, and I couldn't help being drawn to him, even if I knew better. I had to stop, though. I didn't want to like someone like him.

We had all known each other since we were kids. Their group and ours had grown up together, but somewhere along the line, we chose our paths, our fates. And that was fine with me. I loved my group. I loved listening to Ada ramble in the mornings and watching Loren cause chaos, even if it sometimes got too close to the other group. I loved our guys too, despite their flaws.

But I could never match their energy. I didn't have it in me. Happiness wasn't my thing. I was always the sad girl, overthinking everything, weighed down by my own thoughts. It was embarrassing sometimes, but I found a strange comfort in it. Sadness was familiar.

Now, Ada was laughing as Ares chased her around the backyard after she threw a grape at him. Luca had moved further away to smoke, Loren glaring at him because she hated the smell. The chaos was comforting, a reminder that despite everything, we were still us.

I waited until it was just Loren and me before speaking again. "Loren, why would you do that? I know we don't like Lizzie, but sleeping with her boyfriend? That's low. You and Lizzie were friends when we were kids. You didn't just let it happen—you made Aiden cheat, on purpose."

Loren shrugged, unbothered. "I wanted to ruin her life. Lizzie's always acting like she's better than everyone, so I took her boyfriend. Big deal. You hate her too, Rose. Why are you making this such a thing?"

"Because we don't support that, Loren," I said, trying to reason with her. "We don't like cheating, and we don't like hurting people for no reason. We're supposed to be the good ones, remember? We let them do their thing because that's how they grew up, but that doesn't mean we stoop to their level."

Loren rolled her eyes again, clearly unimpressed. "We all have a little bit of bad in us, Rose."

I sighed. She's right. We do. And mine? Mine was eating me alive.

The classroom was unusually quiet today. Normally, Lizzie and her friends would be loud, taking up space like they owned the place. But today was different. Lizzie sat alone, headphones in, eyes darker than usual. Aiden wasn't there, probably absent, and Astor had been suspended. Even Ryke and Anastasia were sitting away from their usual seats.

It was strange, seeing Lizzie like that—alone, broken. Her blue eyes were shadowed, like all the life had drained out of her. I frowned, watching her for a moment before she glanced up, catching me staring. I quickly looked away.

"Don't look at her. She'll think you're judging," Ares said quietly from beside me, his fingers tapping away on his keyboard.

He was probably right, but I couldn't help it. There was something different about Lizzie now. Something tragic.

Lizzie was now lonely. I feel like she always was, but she tried to put up with her friend group's status of popularity. I've always seen a bit of sadness in her eyes. Insecure. Sad. Try-hard. I'm sure that was Lizzie, she just hid behind a fake happy mask of a mean girl.

Miss Linda slammed her hand on the desk, breaking the tension. "Class, are you finished with your work, or are you just talking again?"

God, I hated this teacher.

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Any ships so far?