D e a n

s i x

2 0 1 6

A lot can happen in a week, even a month. One would be foolish to believe nothing would change within years.

Effy sat down with Bridget, Sophia, and Veronica at their usual table in the over-crowded cafeteria. Students were laughing and talking amongst each other and enjoying their day. Something Effy found near impossible with her group of "friends." A sort of invisible wall holding her back from connecting every time.

Bridget snapped her fingers in Effy's face. Instantly making her jolt back to reality. "Lizzy, what the fuck?"

"Sorry," Effy muttered as she turned her attention back to a slightly annoyed Veronica. "You were saying?"

"I was saying, I was at Forever 21 the other day, because I had to get a new outfit for Parker's party, obvi, and you'll never believe who I saw there."

Both Bridget and Sophia's eyes widened with interest as they leaned in. Effy only picked at the green bean surprise plopped on her tray.

"Who?" They asked eagerly in unison.

"Tiffany Johnson."

Sophia's eyebrows shot up into her hairline. "No way!"

"Hand to God," Veronica swore with a smug look.

Bridget's nose crinkled at the very thought."What the hell is she doing shopping at places like that still?"

"Wait, but did you see her...?" Sophia gestured around her tummy.

"Yeah!" Veronica nodded and rose her hands. "This big, I swear to god—!" Veronica stopped mid-sentence as something caught her attention. She tilted her head with a look of sudden interest playing in her deep blue eyes. "Guys, look," she nudged her chin across the cafeteria. The girls turned toward the double doors as the new kid walked in.

"Holy shit, is that him?" Sophia turned to Bridget with wide eyes. Nearly choking on her salad.

With a grin, Bridget nodded as she took a sip of her milk. "Yup, Dean Joseph."

Effy froze at the familiar name.

"Why'd he leave, again?" Veronica asked as she rested her chin in her hand. Watching Dean as he took a seat next to Xander Channings.

"His parents got into this brutal divorce and he left with his mother. Like, the day she filed for divorce supposedly she just took him and left. And my mom said since his father wasn't such a modeled citizen and she was, the court and everyone were on her side. My mom said it was mental. Then, out of nowhere, she got, like, cancer. She died, like, a few months after they caught it. Isn't that crazy?"