"I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you."

- Friedrich Nietzsche

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So, it was safe to say, Axel was not very happy about the little stunt I pulled a couple of days ago. I could tell because he's been sulking around the house like a five-year-old, stomping and whining at virtually everything. Rylan begged me multiple times to reverse whatever I did to the "notorious bad boy" and tried convincing me again that Faye was nothing more than just figment of Axel's imagination.

I could also tell Axel was not too pleased with me when he came marching into my room Monday morning with a large glass of ice water.

"Ever heard of kno- why are carrying around a glass of water?" I stopped mid-sentence.

Axel looked down at the glass before quickly hiding it behind his back with a 'caught-in-action' look on his face.

"Shut up." He grunted, squinting his eyes at me.

"Were you going to dump that on me?" I asked him, slightly offended.

"It's not like you don't deserve it." He stated, now taking a drink of the water.

"I did nothing to you," I stated, brushing tangles out my hair.

"You've done everything to me!" He scoffed, sitting the glass on the dresser before coming closer towards me.

"Do you feel this?" He asked, grabbing my hand in his larger one and placed it above his heart. I felt his palpitations pulse against my hand.

"This happens every time I look at you." He whispered.

"You did this to me and I don't know how to make it stop." He squeezed my hand slightly.

I stared at his chest, more specifically, my hand that was on it. I didn't dare look up to meet Axel's intense gaze. I was too transfixed by the words that came out of his mouth. I wanted to grab his hand and put it over my own heart, I wanted him to feel it trying to escape my chest. I wanted to tell him about the pit in my stomach every time our eyes met or even the tingles that were dancing in my hand at this very moment, but I didn't.

"Say something." Axel's voice snapped me out of my trance.

"I just want to know the truth." I finally looked up at him.

"Mia, you've got to understand that I can't tell you." He looked at me with sorry eyes.

But that was the thing, I didn't understand why he couldn't, Noah was behind bars. Nothing was stopping him other than the fact he didn't trust me. I didn't understand why he nor Rylan couldn't just about this mysterious girl.

"Then you've got to understand why I'm asking you to leave." I pulled my hand away from his and looked down at the wood flooring.

Axel didn't move for several moments and when he noticed I wasn't going to say anything more he left the room with his head hanging low. I heard the slamming of his door followed by a loud crash as he threw, what I believe to be a lamp, against the wall.

I flinched slightly from the sound and instantly felt bad for upsetting him, I debated on knocking on his door and apologizing to him but again, I didn't. I focused on finishing getting ready for school instead.

Yesterday I had my first shift at Betty's and for the most part, it was boring and uneventful, except for almost having a nervous break down every time I used the cash register. I caught myself counting change at least three times before I would hand it the customer in fear I would give them the wrong amount. I could tell some of the customers thought I wasn't quite educated enough to be working as a cashier but for the most part, it was an okay first day.

All I really did the whole day was clean coffee grounds from machines and sweep the floors. Samantha also showed me where I could find the storage filled bean, sugar, creamer and other foods the cafe sold.

My next shift wasn't until Saturday, also known as open mic night. Samantha told me that it was one the busiest nights for Betty's and I wasn't sure if my heart could handle that, but I had no choice in the matter.

For the first time in years, I decided to wear a yellow short-sleeved shirt. The bruises that were once scattered along my body were now gone, it was a strange sight, to say the least. I was so used to having the darken spots living on my person for so long I almost forgot what I looked like without them.

I grabbed a jacket out from the closet just in case I got cold, and I always got cold.

"Mia! Come on! It's time to go! What's with girls taking 2 years to get ready!" Rylan yelled from somewhere by the staircase.

"Coming," I shouted, rolling my eyes.

*****

As soon as I got to school, my search for a certain freckled-faced boy was in motion. However, I quickly realized how difficult my mission was considering the fact I literally don't know anything about this boy.

I stood in the hallway, watching the crowds of kids rush passed me, some giving me weird looks when they noticed my stares but at the moment, I couldn't care less. I walked through the halls aimlessly, my eyes lingering on any dark-haired boy I saw.

Deciding to put my pride to the side, I took small, awkward steps up to a random guy who was digging around in his locker, a rather messy locker, might I add. I went to poke his shoulder to inform him of my presence but quickly stopped myself.

"Excuse me," I said instead.

The boy didn't even flinch.

"Excuse me," I said louder.

Still nothing.

"Hello? I'm talking to you." I said now poking his shoulder.

The blonde-haired boy turned around to finally face me, his bright green eyes fall down on me, confusion clear on his face.

"Listen, this might sound strange, but I'm looking for someone," I told him.

I gave him the best description of the man that stopped outside of school a few days ago, but truth be told, I don't really remember all that much about him because the interactions we had didn't last long.

"I think you're talking about Clayton Jackson." The boy said after processing the information I told him.

"Where can I find this Clayton Jackson?" I asked.

"Clay usually hangs out behind the school before class starts." He said, closing his locker door.

"Of course," I muttered to myself, he just had to be in the back of the school.

"What?" He butted in.

"Nothing, thanks for your help," I told him and started walking towards the doors.

I couldn't help but feel nervous walking out of the school, to the back parking lot. I hadn't been out this way since the day Noah stopped me. My blood ran cold at the memory that took place just a few feet away from me.

When I finally made it to the back of the school, I was greeted by a group of guys. They were tall and lanky but were well built nonetheless.

They were all talking about some party that was going to be taking place this weekend and how they were planning to get "boned".

I looked at the three men in front of me and felt like breaking out into a victory dance when I found Clayton.

I cleared my throat loudly making their heads snap in my direction. They gave me somewhat dirty looks before they register I was a girl, then their expression changed considerably.

"What's a pretty girl like you, doing back here all alone." The blued eyed boy asked, twirling a strand of my hair.

"Don't touch me." I threaten, a sickening feeling in my throat.

The boy quickly dropped my hair and put his hand in a mock surrender, a grin as big as the Cheshire Cat on his face.

"Derek quit your shit." Clayton snapped at the black haired boy.

He just gave Clayton a dirty look before trailing off to the front of the school.

"Can't have any fun nowadays." I heard him breathe out as he bypassed me.

"Leave us." The freckled-faced boy told the small red-haired guy.

Obeying Clayton's orders, the boy left without uttering a word.

"You know, it would have been nice if you told me your name, it wasn't easy tracking you down." I ranted when I was sure we were alone.

"You seemed to managed." Clayton chuckled.

"You knew I was going to come looking for you, didn't you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at me.

"Not exactly, I knew Axel wasn't going to tell you the truth." He spoke, leaning against the brick of the school.

"Can you stop stalling and start spilling?" I asked more aggressive then I meant to be.

"What do you want to know?" He smiled, a cocky glint in his eyes.

This boy was more infuriating then Axel. I didn't even know that was possible.

"Who is Faye?" My brain was going to explode if I had to ask that question one more time.

"She's my little sister," Clayton said, the smile was replaced with a hard frown and his eyes held so much anger.

"Your sister?" I repeated confused.

"Yes, my sister." He looked at me as if I was dumb and at this moment I certainly felt like it.

"I don't understand." I shook my head.

"A sister, you know when your parents fuck and bring another baby into the world." He explained.

"I know what a sister is you imbecile! I don't understand what that has to do with Axel or Rylan!" I shouted.

"I'll tell you what it has to do with them." He hissed.

"My dearest sister couldn't pick between the two idiots, so she fell in love with the both of them." He stood up straight against the wall.

"She wanted them both and it almost got her killed." Clayton's chest was jumping up and down.

"And if you're not careful and don't connect to the dots that are right here in front of you Mia, it's going to get you killed." He threatened.

"You don't think it's strange why Noah came after you? Just out of the blue?" He asked me.

"Noah's sick-minded and in jail," I told him.

"Mia this is bigger than yourself, they're going to be more gangs coming after you. They are going to use you as a bargaining chip." Clayton's eyes held so much honestly that it scared me.

"Why?" I choked out.

"I can't tell you, you're going have to figure it out." He shook his head at me.

"Who then?" I asked, exasperated.

Clayton just shook his head and looked down at his feet. I'm so sick of people telling them they can't tell me! What was so important that I couldn't be told!

"What happened to Faye?" I huffed.

"When it came down to it, Rylan couldn't protect her as he promised." Clayton's hands balled into fists.

"Why was Rylan protecting her?" I knitted my eyebrows together.

It didn't make any sense, Axel should have been the one to keep her safe.

"You didn't know?" He chuckled in disbelief.

"Know what?" By this point, my head was spinning out of control.

"Rylan used to be the leader of Black Spades."