A week had passed since Amy had been rooting for Roman to show up. She would part ways with Noah every morning before the classes to hunt him down while clutching the same piece of paper and double-sided tape. But turns out he never showed up in school since then.

Once again, murmurs have begun to travel everywhere and students were bemusing if he was going to show up at the party next Saturday or not. Girls were still gossiping and it became the talk of the town. Even the students of Brussels High came to have a glimpse of him.

Meanwhile, teachers looked as usual, and none of them were curious enough to discuss any of it with students. And how much you kept bugging them to get any information on Roman, they would either ignore it or give you detention.

Lunch had come and people were swarming in the canteen. Amy and her friends first lined up, then ordered their food and as soon as they got their's, they occupied one of the spare tables.

"See Ivy reposted Logan's post," Shirley said and showed them. Logan, the student of Brussels High was posing in the pic, showing his newest tattoo at the back of his hand. Shirley read the caption,

" hashtag_party.this.weekend. hashtag_get.your.butt.there.

Hashtag_pests.not.allowed."

"Why do you keep checking his account when none of he does matter us," Jack said after he swallowed his roll.

"I'm following Ivy, not Logan. I think I told you a week ago, Remember!"

"And why do you follow her? Isn't she's also the student of Brussels high with whom senior students compete for basketball then, Interschool Musical Dance competition?" Amy huffed.

"Right but Ivy and I have something in common. A month ago I ran into her in a mall where she told me that she hates Missy. So, we bonded over because of our mutual hatred for her."

Noah cuts in. "I'm pretty sure if you participated in the competition next year, there won't be any mutual feelings. You know what happens at the end of December. First football and then dance. It creates a rift between the two schools."

"Don't even get started about it. Do you remember that Logan's lefty Ken, the gambler," Scott said, "That son of a bitch gambled on our school even though we have been losing for past four years? And then the table turned, and Brussels lost miserably. Wonder the match was fixed."

"And since then I never gambled my money. Ken made a deal with players and then split the profit with them. No one would ever have celebrated their loss the way they did." Jack said in disgust. "Dad still think he lost his $65 somewhere."

"Well, whatever happens. I think Ivy can help me getting payback." Shirley said confidently.

"Payback? From Missy?" Asked Amy.

"Yup!" She replied, popping the 'p'.

"Then we all be waiting for that to happen." Chuckled Amy but it soon disappeared when a girl emerged at their table. It was Lisa Stinks, the girl Amy had a fight in her freshman year. Since then, they have never been in good terms and gave each other evil eye.

"What the fuck are you doing here? Don't you stink bad enough that now you came to kill us out of suffocation." Amy prowled and clenched her fist under the table.

"How's your job going on? I heard they are giving you a raise if you washed their cups too." Lisa replied menacingly. "Wasn't sweeping the floor enough that now you have to wash used cups? Eww! Pity!"

"That's not your business, Lisa" Shirley spat, "just tell us what do you want?"

"I want nothing from you. Surely my parents can afford what your kids can't. So whatever. I came here to talk to Noah."

"Me?" Noah raised his brows.

"Well, not about you but your brother. The sincere Whitmore! Even though you're poor at least he's got brain which is very unlike you. Anyways, Mr. Kenny selected me as the vice editor for the school magazine-"

"Gross!" Amy imitated.

"- and since your brother is the chief editor, I've been trying to contact him past the week. Either he doesn't show up at the journalism ward or he is too busy in his classes."

"That's because he's doesn't wish to die by your smell, Stinks." Commented Amy.

Lisa grit her teeth but continued, "tell him to meet me as soon as possible. The newspaper needs to publish this Friday."

"Yeah, sure!" Noah muttered and with a wide, cunning smile on her lips, Lisa departed.

"Tell me you're not telling your brother!" Shirley asked as soon as Lisa was out of earshot.

"Definitely not!" He chuckled, "rule number first of our friendship: Friend's enemy is our enemy."

"Good boy!" Amy and Scott said in unison while Jack and Shirley smiled proudly.

"By the way, what's up with your brother?" Jack was the one to ask.

"No idea but he's acting weird nowadays. Working excessively before the school began."

"Well, it's his senior year. Probably a lot of work is in his hands." Scott finished his lunch.

"I don't think that's the whole reason. Since he's made the editor, he's freaking nuts. And kept blabbering about it the whole summer till our ears bled out, but about a half and a week ago, he started acting different...No longer shouting, or hooting. In fact, he would disappear in the morning with his camera and would return at night with bundles of papers and I don't know what else."

"He's working hard," Amy noted, "

As much as I hate to admit, but Lisa said well that Chuck's brilliant. Everyone knew that he would be chosen as editor."

"Fuck that and think about Lisa!" Shirley sighed, then went on, "she's Mr. Kenny's favorite student after Roman. What if she is selected after Chuck next year. I'm sure she will dedicate one page for you, Amy. The mythical Bitch, Amy's unavoidable Rampage or the undesirable no.1 Amy Clark!"

"What makes you think Roman is unworthy to become an editor?" Amy asked, evasively.

"Don't you remember Mr. Westwee rejected his offer to keep him in the swim team even though he performed really well. Then after a few months when he wanted to participate in the trail for football, Coach Miguel didn't give him a chance. And let's not forget that he chose P.T. but he was eventually given Arts in spite of his wish."

"Don't you think teachers are outcasting him from physical and extracurricular activities," Scott observed.

"But things are changing around, aren't they?" Noah noted.

"Sure they are!" Amy perched, "but it would be better if I get to punch some people on the face without getting expelled." She brushed her knuckles while eyeing Lisa who was sitting across a few tables to them.

"That's not going to happen." Chuckled jack, "but sounds great."