The Chemistry Test

30. captains and captures

Day Thirteen

To SaltySweetSassMaster: I know that you're mad. And you have every right to be. I should have never trusted Damon, and that's my fault. He tricked me, and I want you to know that he's gonna pay for it. I won't let him get away with this. You're my best friend, and I love you, and that's more important than anything else. If you don't believe me, let me show you.

The theater. 2:30.

Please, Mark. Let me make things right.

zo <3

Delivered

He'd turned off his read receipts, that's how I knew he was still mad.

I couldn't dwell on it, though. It was up to Mark whether or not he wanted to come, but I needed to at least let him know I was trying my best to make it up to him.

Today, I needed an extra dose of confidence. I wore my makeup as war paint, eyelashes coated with black mascara, lips stained a deep pink, a stark contrast to my light hair and fair skin, and dressed in ripped black jeans and a white tank. To finish the look, I borrowed a pair of my mom's old combat boots, giving my frame a good couple inches. It was a complete 180 from my normal pastels and converse sneakers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it suited my agenda.

I looked as fearless as I felt. Nothing--no one--was going to get in the way of my plan.

"Damn, hottie." Gwyn gasped as I sat down in homeroom, taking the seat normally occupied by Mark. Her mossy eyes looked over my outfit, an impressed smile sketched into her red lips. "You go girl."

"Thanks," I blushed, cocking my head over at her. "I'm glad you're here, Gwyn."

She reached over and squeezed my hand, "It's for you, girlie. I'm here for you." I smiled and she leaned back in her seat, running a hand through her platinum locks. "There's literally no other reason I'd show my face in this hellhole."

We laughed, acknowledging just how crappy our peers and teachers at WBHS had been throughout this debacle. Gwyn deserved better than the relentless hate that had been thrown at her during our high school years. Although she and Hunter were equally responsible for their secret relationship, Gwyn had taken the brunt of the backlash from the video, which was far too much nastiness for one person to bear on their own.

Which was why we were taking a stand. This wasn't just about me, or Gwyn, or Hunter--or even Mark-- it was about all of us.

----

I didn't want to eat alone again. The lunchroom was buzzing as usual, and as I made my way through the line, I caught murmurs and whispers about the chaos during the assembly, Gwyn and Hunter's affair, and Mark's sudden disappearance.

It was all anyone was talking about. In my two years at WBHS, I'd never seen the student body so caught up on drama. Especially not my drama.

I got the sense eyes were on me, but when I looked around, everyone's eyes scattered away from my gaze--except for one shining pair of blue from across the room.

Zak's lips broke out into a smile. He was perched atop his usual lunch table, surrounded by friends, his arms folded over his knees. He tilted his head at me, giving me a little wink.

I smiled and hurried through the line, grabbing whatever sandwich was available and treaded over to him, catching my name spoken by peers as I passed by.