**Back to present**
"Skye!! Skye, wait up!!" I heard Carter yelling a few days later as I was sticking my books into my locker. Pretending not to hear him, I looked at my reflection in my locker mirror.
My long blonde hair, newly colored with blonde highlights that cost $300 every few months, grew to just a little above my waist. I blinked, and my long lashed, lightly lined, stormy blue eyes blinked back. Glancing in the mirror, I wiggled my ski-slope nose and pressed my freshly glossed pink lips into a small smile. Then, I adjusted my light blue jeans and pale pink drape-back tunic sweater, and fixed up my light makeup. This was a typical school outfit for me; neutral colors and natural makeup.
Pulling my ivory Chanel bag over my shoulder, I turned and finally answered Carter's frantic calls.
"Jesus, Carter, take a chill pill," I said as he ran over, stubby legs pumping. As he leaned over to catch his breath, I heard the school bell ring, signaling the first class of the day.
"Skye-"
"Carter, I have to get to class! You know how Mr. Reynolds gets if we're late, and I can't afford another detention." I put my hands on my hips, impatient.
"Skye, this is important!"
"Why, is somebody dying?"
"No-"
"Is somebody sick, or in trauma?"
"No, but-"
"Then it can wait."
Usually, I would have been more than happy to skip class and listen to Carter, but I was in a really bitchy mood that day, since I had stayed up all night reading my new book, the eighth story in the Pretty Litle Liars series. I was in no mood to hear Carter's latest ridiculous story. After all, he rarely took anyhting seriously. Besides, Mr. Reynolds hated me, and I was barely pulling a C in his class.
"Skye!! You don't understand-"
"I have to go!! It can wait."
"But you really really need to-"
"CARTER!! SHUT UP!!"
He shut up.
"Listen, we can talk later, okay? I just have to get to class," I said, suddenly regretting yelling. I turned around and ran to class, leaving Carter there, dumbfounded that I had acted like such a bitch.
He'll get over it, I told myself, feeling horrible for screaming at one of my best friends like that.
As I opened the door to Mr. Reynolds' class, and took my usual seat in the back, Mr. Reynolds raised his pimply head from his desk and glared at me over the rims of his half-moon glasses. Somebody in the back of the class snickered as our slightly overweight teacher waddled to m desk and looked me square in the face.
"You're late."
***
Ahh, finally, I thought to myself as I heard the familiar buzz of the bell, signaling the end of the school day. Slowly and melodically, I gathered my books and started towards the door. As soon as I was out of the classroom, however, my peaceful state of mind was inturrupted by Sarah and Ana, running towards me at full speed.
Ana was a broad-shouldered, bossy brunette who I had known since fourth grade. Her dark hair was always pulled into a sleek ponytail on the back of her head, and she dressed very maturely for her age. Ana was always either in yoga pants and a bohemian top, or a blazer resembling that of a flight attendant. Despite her mature style, she was the most excitable person when it came to boys, and kept a scrapbook filled with pictures of guys like Harry Styles, Jack Glilinsky, and even Justin Grant, the second most popular boy at EHS. She was a bit of a stalker in this way, but I loved her anyways.
Sarah, however, was almost her exact opposite. Always in girly, simple clothes wiht her hair brushed out or pinned back nicely, Sarah always looked very innocent. She had a petite face, braces, and always carried her phone in a little purse that hung at her side. However, like Ana, she had the mouth of a sailor and could be rude at times. Sarah and I used to be best friends, before my serious relationship, during which she buddied up with Ana so tightly that after the break up, I lost my place as best friend and had to settle for being but a secondary character in her life.
"Skye! Skye! Guess what?" Ana bounced up and down excitedly. I was about to tell them to go away so that I could get out my book and read, but then I remembered what had happened with Carter.
"Okay you two, what is it?" I asked, expecting something huge.
"Can you guess? You'll never guess! Okay, here it is...Nash Grier just made a new vine!!"
They stared squealing and bouncd away, probably to tell Addie or Ally.
I groaned. I should have known better than to expect serious news from those two. I sat down to open my book, but before I could really engulf myself in the story, I felt the familiar feeling of being watched. Looking up, I saw Carter waiting expectantly for me to stand up, so I did. Looking closely, I noticed that his eyes were bloodshot, like he had been crying. There was no way he would have cried over something like me yelling at him, so I realised that it must be something bigger. Something that was too important in his life to ignore.
"Brooke," I said, realising why he was so upset. "What happened? Is it Matt again?"
Carter shook his head, and motioned for me to follow him. As we satrted towards the lockers, he broke the silence.
"She, uh, dumped Matt this morning."
"WHAT?" I broke into a grin. "I told you this would happen! I-" I stopped, looking at his sad expression.
"That's only half of it. She dumped him because she likes someone else."
"Who?"
"...and I'm almost 100% sure he likes her back."
"Who?"
Carter nudged his head in the direction of the lockers. There, back against the wall, Brooke stood, looking gorgeous as ever, giggling at something somebody as saying. As I looked closer, I noticed a guy leaning up against the wall next to her, his tall frame dwarfing hers. A familiar cocky, troublemaking smile rested on his lips. I knew that smile all too well.
Jason.
