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ELENA’S POV

"Elena?" he asked, and I glared at him.

"The one and only! What's your problem?"

The way he blinked at me like he’d just discovered fire made my skin crawl. Boy looked confused and horny at the same time — a deadly combination of stupidity.

"When did you become this beautiful?"

I almost choked. Not on air — on pure rage.

"What a dumb idiot!" Ria growled in my head, making me shake my head.

"For your info — I've always been beautiful. You're just too dumb to see it," I spat. "Now fuck off — I have friends to get to." I brushed my arm against him on purpose, shoulder-checking him with premium attitude before walking away.

My smile came in slow, wicked, and smug.

"Good job, liora," I whispered, praising myself like the queen I am.

By the time I got to where El and Hayden stood, I was floating on my own ego. I handed their drinks to them with a dramatic bow like I was the main character in some chaotic fairytale.

"Guess what happened?"

"Did a hot guy ask you out?" Elena asked, and I shook my head immediately.

"You won a lottery?" Hayden said, voice calm — basically still shy and still acting like the world might swallow him whole.

"Fuck no, Hay — I saw Jason."

Elena’s eyes bulged like someone had screamed “FBI OPEN UP.”

"Jason Almond the Prick?" she asked, trying to confirm, and I nodded.

"What did you say to him?"

"Well, he was like, ‘Hello,’ thought I'm another girl he can bang!" I snorted, because remembering how dumb he looked was so pleasuring . "So foolish." I chuckled harder, the satisfaction hitting me like soft-life energy.

"So he was like, ‘Elena? When did you become this beautiful!’" I explained, and Elena fisted her palm so tight she looked one second away from launching a grenade.

"I should find him and kill him!" she whispered, but I could literally hear her through the bass of the speakers.

I grabbed her arm before she turned this party into murder scene

"Ha, Elena, be calm, okay? Violence won't solve shit."

"But that annoying boy needs to be taught a lesson. Right, Hayden?"

We both swung our heads to him like synchronized psychos. Hayden blinked like a lost puppy caught in headlights.

"Are you guys talking about Jason, Almond the hockey captain?" he asked, and we nodded.

"Oh yeah — You just joined so you don't know everything, damn!" Elena cursed before she suddenly grabbed Hayden's hand.

He flinched so hard I swear his soul jumped out for a second. I raised my eyebrows. Ha. Cute.

"Sorry — you scared me," he apologized, and we nodded.

"So, Hayden — from now on, you'll be our best friend. Do you have any mate?" she asked him, and he shook his head.

I giggled. "Guess we're a bunch of unlucky kids."

"We'll be called Haylena. I'm good at combining names."

Elena smirked, and I smiled awkwardly because why is she like this.

"I still don't know about Jason, Almond," Hayden muttered, and I clapped my hands dramatically.

"We'll talk about it later — just know that we are his haters."

He nodded, and we immediately descended into chaos as Cardi B blasted through the speakers. I stood in front of El and started twerking for her like I was auditioning for Beyoncé’s tour. The crowd went WILD.

"Fuck — is that Elena Roberts? Damn, she's hot as hell."

"Can't believe Jason rejected her. Now she's back, hotter."

"I wonder if Jason’s regretting his decision."

"Those big fat asses clapping — shoot me."

Honestly? I was thriving. CEO of Twerk Operations.

I twerked until my hips threatened to file a complaint, then the music cut. Hayden looked shocked like he’d witnessed a crime.

"Oh, little lamb — don't be shy, okay. Wanna go home?" I asked, and he nodded.

I grabbed Elena, and we left the party like chaotic royalty.

☆☆☆

THE NEXT MORNING

The sun was disrespectful. Elena was sprawled across the bed like a corpse in a crime scene.

Hayden had called us in the morning not to forget about school — that nerd.

"Boy is even nerdier than I am."

"I don't want to be friends with Hayden — cancel him," Elena growled into her pillow.

"You chose him yourself, baby. Now he's part of us."

"Fuck, Len, he's just like you…" she groaned, finally hauling herself up. "I'm so tired, gosh."

My phone beeped. I grinned at Elena as I flashed the caller ID.

"It's Hayden."

I smacked the loudspeaker.

"Where are you guys?" he asked.

"Hayden — must we go to school today? I'm having a terrible hangover," Elena complained like the world was ending.

"Unless you want to fail. I'm ready to go to school. Are you guys coming?" he asked.

"Hmm, yes. Sure. We'll get ready now and meet you there."

"Okay, bye."

He hung up.

"Let's go freshen up, loser," I said as I yanked Elena up, dragging her to the bathroom like a drill sergeant.

☆☆☆

*AT SCHOOL*

After what felt like forever — glam takes time — we finally reached school. I texted Hayden.

Me: Hayden! In school already. Where are you?

Then again because patience is not my ministry:

Me: Hayden! I'm in the parking lot.

I scanned the area and spotted him standing like a lost puppy someone abandoned right at the gates.

"Hayden!" I called.

He turned, smiled, and waved so adorably I almost melted on the spot.

"Gosh, he's cute," Elena whispered as we walked up to him.

"Hayden, don't you rest—" Elena asked.

"School is important," he shrugged.

"You're just like Lena — gosh. Why do I have nerdy friends — God why," she muttered.

"That's your destiny, baby. Now let's go to class. Is Jason in school already?"

"Yeah, he came in earlier. I heard people saying we have a game against Bennette Blades this afternoon," he explained.

"Bennette Blades?" I asked, shocked.

El nudged me.

"Oh, Lenna. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

My ears turned pink.

"No. Definitely no," I disagreed.

She chuckled.

"Such a pussy."

"Well, I have one!" I barked, and we both exploded in laughter.

Hayden stared like we were aliens.

"You guys are weird."

"You are weirder," Lena said, sticking her tongue out.

We entered the hallway — and everyone stared like usual. Like we paid them to.

Jason and his friends were laughing. One of his idiot friends caught my eye and whistled.

"Elena, who's this? Your friend — You’ve dumped fatty?" he asked, eyeing me up and down.

I scoffed so hard my soul shook.

"That's the second Elena!" Jason announced like it was breaking news.

I fired back instantly, "What? What? This is the fatty?"

We ignored them and walked off — or we tried to. A hand grabbed me.

I growled, whipping around like a feral cat. Jason’s hand.

"Take your hands off me, Jason," I ordered, voice cold enough to frost the walls. He lifted his hands in surrender.

"Let's talk."

I raised one eyebrow, unimpressed. He looked around. "Not here — alone."

"And what made you think I want to talk to you alone?" My voice went up a little, and I tugged Elena closer like backup security.

He gritted his teeth.

"Elena, just because you went for surgery…

You forgot I'm your mate." Elena and I burst out laughing. Like full-blown comedy show. Like clowns.

"Mate? Did you perhaps forget that you rejected me and I accepted?" I crossed my arms.

"Isn't that why you went for surgery?" he taunted.

"Surgery??"

I spun around so everyone could see me.

"You call this surgery, bitchhh? This is HARD earned. Now shoo — go fuck yourself."

I flipped him off without hesitation. His eyes widened. His friends gasped like they just saw Jesus descend.