Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Arielle pulled closer to Zach, grabbing at his shirt and staring at him from underneath her lashes.

"Thanks for helping me against that girl Zach. She's a bully, and she's always looking for a fight just to get attention. She made up those stuff about Jake, 'cause that's just how she is... I had never in my life even had a conversation with him" She got out, watching him for any hint of anger or jealousy. He patted her hair, smiling.

"Don't worry about that. I believe you." He stared at her intently "You're cute when you're nervous" he took her hand. "Call me if she bothers you ok".

Arielle smiled, squeezing his hand. "Oh my gosh, really?. You're so cool Zach." Zach tilted her chin up, pressing a kiss to her cheeks. She blushed, squirming in his hold.

"I'll head off now. Be a good girl while I'm gone ok" she bobbed, smiling brightly. "See you later then. Ariana".

Arielle's smile dropped, confusion marring her feature.

"It's Arielle" she corrected, trying not to sound offended. She added a sweet smile just to pull it off.

"Oh, my bad. You look like an Ariana tho" he said, giving her a little wave, before walking off.

Arielle huffed, stomping her foot as her friends approached her.

"What's wrong? That went downhill pretty fast" Jenny pointed out, watching Zach's retreating figure.

"He called me Ariana, I corrected him, and all he had to say was my bad, you look like an Ariana. What's that even supposed to mean? Is he low-key telling me to change my name or something? " She looked from Jenny to Nicole.

"The simple explanation is that he doesn't like you. You should give up if he can't even remember your name after you spent hours making out with him".

Arielle glared at her. Nicole shrugged as jenny tried to warn her with a subtle look.

"What? It's true right. I'm in on this bet too, so I don't want you to get your hopes up just cause of some kisses that don't mean anything. Zach doesn't like you, so I'm going to take my shot with him, and I don't care what you have to say about it".

"You backstabbing bitch" She slapped her across the face. Jenny gasped in shock, quickly grabbing hold of Arielle before she could deliver more assault.

"Stop it! Both of you. Are we going to fight because of Zach Dante". Jenny yelled, her gaze darting between the two girls.

Arielle shoved at Jenny, who staggered to a stop, eyes wide.

"What the hell?", She gasped.

Arielle invaded her space. "Never put your filthy hands on me, Jenny. You're not even that rich, and just because I decided to make you a part of the crew, you think you have the right to butt into my affairs. Zach is mine so you both should just give it up. I'm the queen of this campus. What I say goes".

Nicole scoffed, dragging her hand away from her smarting cheeks. "Yeah, an insecure queen. Isn't that why you're always picking on Vega, cause she's everything you could never be. I heard she's in on the bet. Once she peels those outer layers off and starts to take more care of her appearance, you won't stand a chance" Nicole got out, feeling smug as a look of uncertainty passed on Arielle's face.

"I won't listen to your nonsense, and I will not be compared with that ugly piece of shit. I'm the winner already. Let's face it, who's Zach with most of the time? Me. Does he even look at the girl with nothing but disdain on his face, huh? I'll leave you to think about that... And Just so you know, this friendship is over. Over!" she emphasized knowing Nicole couldn't argue those facts. She sauntered away, leaving the both of them scowling after her.

"I freaking hate her so much. She's so proud. What I'd like to do to that face of hers. She thinks it's the best in the whole world". Nicole felt around her face, noticing the tender areas which stung.

"I am so sorry about that. I'll talk to her" Jenny got out, her voice breaking like she was on the verge of tears.

"We're over Jenny. Don't you dare apologize to her or put in a word on my behalf? She never considered us friends, so you don't need to feel sorry, cause this is not your fault. All I have to do now is win the stupid bet. We'll put her in her place." She assured and Jenny nodded, wiping at her cheek, as a tear trailed down.

Nicole pulled her into a hug, patting her hair.

"It's ok. Arielle doesn't deserve us ok" she let go, taking her hand.

"Come on. I'll take you to get breakfast. Do you want that".

"Yeah. I'm starving" she answered, Nicole, smiled, pulling her toward the cafe.

Vega POV.

I banged my hand on the desk, seething from what happened earlier. My chest also hurt, probably due to my rage. I just couldn't wrap my head around it, the way he'd looked down on me. Ugh.

"That jerk. Like who does he think he is? Just because he's out of this world good-looking, he thinks he can just get away with anything... Aish!".

Andrianna sighed, gesticulating with her fork. "Can we eat our lunch now? It's getting cold, and you've been repeating that since we got here. At short intervals" she deadpans.

I folded my arms, my eyes narrowing further. "It's just because I keep thinking back to that moment and it makes me so mad...".

"Well stop thinking about it. You'll only get furious the more you meditate on it."

I stabbed my fork into the salad. "No shit!".

"Are you still going to push through with the dare"?

I stared dagger at my salad, poor thing didn't deserve my terror, but it was the only substitute. I thought about what happened during the last few hours, and yes, I still wanted to push through with the stupid dare. Reason one is that I had invested too much just to let it go and reason two, someone needed to put the both of them in their place, and I pledge to be that someone.

"Yeah. I'm going to do my very best to get his stupid heart before I stomp on it to my heart's content". I almost squeezed the salad on my plate.

Andrianna gaped at me. "Um, savage much. You're scaring those freshmen" she subtly tilted her chin at them. I look towards them, and our eyes clash, before they look away, hurrying out of the cafe like I had Lazers.

"So, makeover," Andria said, eyes raised. I rolled my eyes, taking a suffering breath.

"Fine"

Andrianna's jaw dropped to the floor. "Really? You can't back out of this once we start you hear me. I'm in charge now ok".She squealed almost jumping out of her seat

"I know, but nothing drastic ok" I warned because I didn't like the scheming look she had on.

She raised her hand. "I promise, nothing drastic. Just a little, tiny bit of adjustments. We'll start with your hair" she said, putting her finger through my curls, and tugging it down. It doesn't budge, and she struggled to pull her hand out, pulling my hair in the process. I yell at her. Jake approaches our table with his food.

"Are you both fighting, so I don't get in the middle of this?" he asked, sitting down.

"Finally got her to agree to a makeover" she announced grinning widely. Jake gaped at me before giving Andria a high five. I rolled my eyes.

"That's great news. I've been hinting it to her for months. She just won't stop pairing horrible colors".

"And her hair... Volcano at sunset. She's been wearing this top for seven years. Creepy right."

Jake shuddered. "Creepy". They say, while I just stared at them.

"Umm, you might want to bash me, maybe while I'm like four hundred miles away, and not sitting with your asses".

They both turned to face me laughing nervously.

"Hehe... My bad bestie didn't see you there".

I shook my head. Jake stood up and grabbed my hand all of a sudden.

"Operation makeover is a go. Let's go because when I get too excited, I can't sit still, and if you can't still tell, I'm freaking excited".

Andria also stood abruptly, banging the desk "Me too."

I looked nervously at the cafe staff. Yup, they were glaring daggers at us. I bowed quickly in apology as my two best friends dragged me out of the cafe. I'm sure they'll be on the lookout for us next time.

Makeover. Here we go. Sighs in misery.