CHAPTER 17: I need to get her anti-Calexcitement pills

"Maddie."

"Maddieeeeee..."

"Madison..."

"MY SWEET LITTLE MADDIE..."

"WHAT?!"

I chuckle as she angrily turns and sighs.

"Talk to me." I plead and sigh, thinking of the past half an hour spent on trying to pacifying her.

"We'll talk when you want to talk, Summer." She huffs and turns back to her locker as she puts in her sport shoes. I take off my cleats and open my water bottle to take a sip after the long practice coach made us go through.

"I am talking, Maddie."

"Doesn't seem like it considering the recent antics you've been up to. Care to see the missed calls on your damn phone?" I think back to yesterday when I walked off angrily out of class and hid in the library the entire day from Maddie and anyone else. Even after Caleb walked me home, I went to my room thinking I would take a nap. Too bad that my so-called 'nap' stretched the whole night.

Although, I don't disagree I didn't purposely ignore Maddie's calls. I didn't want to have to explain anything over the phone especially about Caleb.

Wait. There is nothing about Caleb.

All that happened yesterday was a mere coincidence. Caleb was polite enough to at least apologize for what he said. But that was it. We had nothing in between us except the usual hatred and bickering.

Okay, cross out that bickering since I've decided I won't ever face him again. No talking to Caleb, no problems. Simple. The talk yesterday was like a pact – we now have nothing between us and we'll even stop fighting like kids. I shake my head, dismissing all thoughts about Caleb.

"I'm sorry. Come on, I told you I slept off." I stand up and hold her arm.

"You still haven't explained anything." She looks at me, her hazel eyes demanding explanations. I sigh and start off by the class incident and finally end it on the conversation we had yesterday on the way home.

Except for the part where we were stuck like gum on a tree.

"Maddie, what-

"WOW!" She starts squealing and jumping around me. I look around, thanking my luck that the girls' locker room is empty.

"Uh...am I supposed to be jumping with you or do I have to call the mental asylum?" She stops in her tracks and she playfully glares at me before proceeding with round two of jumping like an overdosed squirrel.

I need to get her anti-Calexcitement pills.

"What's all the excitement about, girls?" A squeaky voice interrupts Maddie's little happy dance and I almost gag at the sight.

"Just happy about passing a test, Veronica," Maddie answers, unsure of what to say and gives me a what-the-fuck-is-she-doing-here look.

Trust me, Maddie, my look was way better with the I-don't-fucking-give-a-shit-you're-here look nailed on perfectly.

"Whatever." Veronica and her minions roll their eyes and I definitely raised my eyebrows there in surprise. Creepy, much?

"I'm holding a party this weekend, Maddie. Summer, why don't you join it? It'll be fun, won't it girls?" Veronica sickly smiles at me. Even if a prophet told me otherwise, I would have still stood firm on the fact that this sneaky bitch had something up her damn sleeve.

She doesn't even wear sleeves.

Ugh. Let's make it a skirt, alright?

"I would love it if you come, Summer. The more the merrier, right?" She takes a step closer to me, with her arms crossed and an equivocal smile etched on her face.

I return her smile with an equally sarcastic one of mine and she takes one last look at me before disappearing off the face of the Earth.

I wish that was possible but sadly, she just got out of the locker room. I turn towards Maddie and we both shrug, laughing as we change out of our sweaty clothes.

***

Judging from the chaotic canteen, I assume Veronica had the word of her little party spread like fire. I walk with Maddie alongside Blake towards our table – yes, I finally acknowledged the fact that I was never gonna get out of it – just after we came out of Psychology class.

"Sup sexy ladies." Shawn winks at us while smirking at Blake.

I roll my eyes before saying, "Hairy gorilla."

"Dude, I told you it will never work. And why didn't you even acknowledge me? I'm hurt." Blake slouches on the chair next to Shawn and hits him on the back of his head. I had a mental note of never sitting next to Shawn and till now, I'm pretty much doing what it says.

"You're a part of that, lady." Shawn chuckles as he returns Blake's hit on him.

"I'll show you what a lady is then." Blake grumpily says just as Noel makes an appearance and takes the empty seat next to me.

"Hey." He smiles at me and says and I return it back with a hey.

"Where's Caleb?" I roll my eyes at Maddie's question and give her a disapproving look. She smirks at me and I grit my teeth, regretting I told her everything.

Not really though. She is my best friend.

"Well, I haven't seen much of him today," Noel says, shrugging while opening his bag and taking out a Coke.

"And lately," Shawn adds in.

That is true, though. Even though I still hate him, something in me continues nagging me, wondering about his whereabouts. Where does he disappear off to every two days?

"Veronica's party, people. Talk. Talk. Talk." Aaron and Austin jump on their chairs dramatically clapping their hands while Jason waltzes in, chuckling.

"What's there to talk about? Usual shit, bro. We go there, get drunk and have Austin humiliate the hell out of himself." Jason says while grinning naughtily. I roll my eyes as I remember all the times Jason has dragged Aaron into the house while he was in an inebriated state. Let's not even go the stories... he jumped off the roof last month.

So my judgment is pretty normal when I say alcohol deranges Aaron. Completely.

"Oh hello. The girls go gaga on me, alright. They love drunk Aaron. I'm lovable." Blake dramatically chokes on his water and we all get a good laugh out of Aaron's joke. He crosses his arms over his chest and pouts.

"So we all are going, right?" Austin asks.

"What about you guys?" Noel asks as he turns towards me and Maddie.

Uh...we've been invited but we don't give two flying fucks about it?

"Yeah, we were invited." Maddie calmly says. Curse you, Maddie.

"Yes! Then it's done. Hell yeah, Summer! You'll finally see what all those mad parties are like!" Aaron booms as he fist bumps Shawn.

"Uh nope. Thank you but not interested. I have way more things to do rather than wasting my time on Veronica's party." I shake my head and pretend to concentrate on my lovely lunch – pasta.

Tantalizing.

"Things like what? Your schedule consists of staring at algebraic equations like a lunatic and binge-watching friends all night." I glare at Aaron and wish I could slap that smirk right off his face.

"And finishing my Cheetos." Jason narrows his eyes at me and I gulp at the thought of the commotion to be created at home.

I should just stab myself with my fork right now rather than dying in a more brutal way at Jason's hands.

"We are coming." It doesn't take me a second to whip my head at Maddie's direction and stare at her with my jaw wide open. I kick her foot underneath the table and she groans and glares at me.

"No. We are not." I say while gritting my teeth to an extent where they can get crushed.

"Shut up! You are coming and when I get there, I better see you at the party." Blake shouts while pointing a finger at us, trying to be intimidating.

I sigh and say, "Guys, please. I'm busy. I can't make it." I look down and play around with my fingers, thinking about what Veronica would do if I get to her party. She can do anything, I think, to clear her way – even if that meant clearing me. I don't know what I've done to her recently but our mutual hatred could surely spark the revenge she had in mind.

I hear Jason calmly say, "It's alright. She won't come. So, what time do we leave?" I look up and meet Jason's assuring eyes.

As they continue chattering about timings and apparently invited girls, I look around and I suddenly spot Veronica and her minions. Looking right here.

Uh...what?

She sees me looking at her and that makes her smirk. Am I missing something here? I ignore the same suspicious smiles she's been throwing my way ever since she invited me to her party. I can't be scared of her. No. Whatever she's got up her skirt can be big, but not enough to take me down.

"Maddie and I will be there." I calmly say and the boys smile and continue discussing the party.

I look back to Veronica and smile. Veronica, you better get ready for a taste of your own medicine.

***

As promised, the cover reveal will be in this chapter. GAHH!! FINALLY. HOW IS IT???!!!! 😍😍

What do you think Veronica's got up her sleeve...oops. Sorry. Skirt. 😂😂

VOTE AND COMMENT ON THE CHAPTER AND THE NEW BOOK COVER! STAY UPDATED!

Adios!