Once

Elisebeth rolled over and sat up in a cold sweat. Her hand covered her aching head. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and tried to remove the nightmare she just had.

The dream started out perfectly. She had triumphantly won Oliver back from Gyll, but her celebration was cut short when another woman claimed him and took him to bed. To make matters worse this mysterious other woman invited Gyll. She had awakened nearly heartbroken.

The alarm on her phone went off. She didn't need it she was already up, to start the new week of school. Today her whole goal was to make Oliver remember why she was much better than Gyll could dream. Today nothing would be too drastic. A little resolve can go a long way.

Elisebeth went her daily ritual of shower, light makeup, and an hour of deciding what she walking through her walk-in closet deciding what to wear with her uniform. Her first instinct was to go a bit gaudy. But she knew Oliver had simpler tastes. It's more than likely what drew him to Gyll.

She sighed deciding to go with a simple pair of earrings and her half of the lover's bracelet Oliver had bought her. Usually, she would have hoop earrings full makeup, a decorative barrette of some sort, and a few rings in order to bring flare to the boring school uniform. Today she decided to go to war and need to dress to impress -Oliver.

When she arrived in the school building the first thing she did was scope out Oliver. He was on his way to the cafeteria for breakfast. Perfect. He'd never publicly humiliate her by telling her off for her advances. If it's one thing she could count on was he was the genuine article of a caring man. She would salvage their relationship.

She threw her bag in her locker and followed him to the cafeteria until she was stopped.

"Elise! Finally found you!"

Elisebeth whipped around annoyed, recognizing Jaquelyn's voice. "Why are you yelling? Can't you ever be civilized?"

Jacquelyn ignored her. "You sneaky ass bitch, can't you ever handle your own business like a woman?"

"What are you trying to blame on me now?" Elisebeth flailed her arms exasperated.

"Don't act like you didn't send the 'Mean Girls' rejects to disrupt Gyll and Oliver's date."

Elisebeth blinked her eyes rapidly taken back. "Wait a minute. When the HELL did Gyll go on a date with Oliver?"

Jacquelyn's face twisted in confusion, then she burst into laughter. "Bihh! You didn't even know? Its legit over with for you. Damn sis."

"What are you talking about?"

"You weren't even in the know. Baby you so irrelevant you don't even matter." Jacquelyn laughed again before she walked away.

Elisebeth's blood started to boil. That girl was a master of pressing her buttons. And the fact she had rub Gyll's date in her face was as big a button as any. She forced herself to regroup. She wasn't defeated yet. After all, Gyll wasn't officially his girlfriend yet. She hoped.

She entered the cafeteria and went straight to where Oliver was. She sat down right next to him and pressed herself as close together as she could. Ricardo and Alison looked from one another to Oliver and then to Elisebeth who only smiled merrily as if she belonged.

Oliver wasn't sure what to do he looked to Ricardo and Alison. Alison grabbed her tray and got up swiftly. "Not my problem. Not my problem."

Ricardo wanted to leave with Alison but couldn't leave his guy behind. "Sooo, Elise. What's up with...I mean you guys broke up, right?"

"It's complicated."

Ricardo looked at Oliver with a snicker. "Complicated?"

Oliver rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Not so much, we are definitely broken up."

"Nothing is ever set in stone." Elisebeth added.

Ricardo eyed Oliver a smirk on his face. "O?"

"We aren't together." Oliver responded.

"Its a work in progress." Elise added again, smiling ear to ear.

Oliver smiled realizing what she was doing. She knew he wouldn't cause a huge stir if he was in front of a crowd so she would be able to take advantage. He looked at her with a slightly annoyed smirk on his face. She chose to pay no attention to it.

"Look, man, you grown if you wanna hook back up. Do it, be young and reckless."

Elise took Ricardo by the hand. "Thank you for your support I won't let either of you down again."

Ricardo slipped his hand away before grabbing his tray and standing. "Watch her though O."

Ricardo left and instantly Elisebeth slid closer. Oliver sighed. "What game are you playing Elise?"

"No game Ollie, I'm just being more proactive."

"About what?" Oliver avoided the eye contact she wanted, instead, he focused on his breakfast.

"My love for you, duh?"

Oliver continued to concentrate on the items on his tray. "Oh?"

Elisebeth rolled her eyes. "Yeah. And you aren't making this easy for me. At least look at me when we talk."

"If I did that, you might actually make me believe you."

She huffed under her breath. "Fine. I hear you took Gyll out on a date."

"It sorta just happened. Speaking of, did you make your friends poor milkshake all of her?"

Elisebeth lips tightened a bit pissed. "I had nothing to do with that and I'd appreciate if you and Jaq didn't slander me. I can't control everything my friends do."

"Alright, my bad."

"If you want to apologize then take me out on a date too."

Oliver wiped the stress off his face. "We are broken up right?"

"For now."

"So why would we go on a date?"

"Cause I asked nicely." She said flatly.

"Right you're used to getting whatever you want when you ask. Simply asking has always worked for."

She folded her arms. "I'm not spoiled Ollie."

Oliver finished his breakfast as the bell rang. He was saved. "Sorry, Elise. Gotta go. Talk later." He rushed out as quickly as he could without running.

But he did say talk later. It wasn't much, but it was progress. She would take it. A start is a start after all.

Elisebeth took her seat in class 2B and the start of the day truly began. Math and literature went by in a breeze and lunch would be soon. Her thoughts went to the next phase of morning Oliver and to get one over on Gyll.

When the bell sounded she was quick to be outside class 2A -Oliver's class. She waited patiently for Oliver who was among the last to come out. And as luck would have it Gyll was on her way down the hall to Oliver's room as well.

She grabbed Oliver's arm, hooking it with hers. "Ollie!" She innocently clung to him like glue.

"Elise? You're too close." He whispered trying to put a little space between them but she was less delicate than she looked and wouldn't let a gap separate them.

"I'll let go if you have lunch with me."

"Fine fine. Just let go." He pried himself free.

"Everything ok?" Gyll was suddenly at Oliver's side.

"It was, thanks for asking." Elisebeth answered for Oliver.

"Oh um. Hi Elisabeth."

"Did you need something Gyll?" Elisebeth questioned but didn't really care for an answer.

"I wanted to speak with Oliver...about a personal matter." Gyll trod carefully with her words all the while publishing a smidge.

Elisebeth's hands went to her hips as she teasingly joked. "You two aren't dating are you?"

And just as she hoped Gyll started to crack. "Of cccourse not." Gyll's entire face was beet red now. She wanted to run away.

"Well, in that case, I'll have Oliver enjoy lunch with me." Elisebeth tried to pull Oliver to the cafeteria.

Gyll steeled herself and gently pulled Oliver back. "Umm."

"Gyll. Let. Go." Elisabeth puffed her cheeks and squinting her eyes, pulling Oliver closer.

"I really need to talk to him..." She pulled back but spoke in a barely audible tone.

"Dammit Gyll."

The two battled over Oliver until Dakota suddenly stepped in. "How unbecoming. Is this not below the standard ladies should carry themselves?"

The two girls stopped their battle. Gyll stood quietly leaving Elisebeth to speak up. "Hello, Miss Elkins."

"I will make it easy for the two of you. Mister Moore follow me please."

"Yes, ma'am." The two walked towards the front office.

Dakota whispered to Oliver. "You are suddenly more popular with girls. I have no right, master, but that does annoy me."

"Not like I have anything to do with that."

She side eyed him from behind her glasses. "Right."

Elisebeth and Gyll watch as Oliver disappeared around the corner. Elisebeth sucked her teeth. "Dammit. So close. This is your fault. If you weren't so clingy." She turned to Gyll who already started walking away.

She puffed her cheeks and walked the opposite direction to whichever way Oliver was headed. If things continued at this rate it would take years to get back in good standing with him. And she didn't have years with Gyll making her move.

Elisebeth was so absorbed in her thoughts she hadn't noticed that Oliver was no longer anywhere in sight. She looked around puzzled. She was around the back of the building all alone. She was almost positive she saw them come this way. Still, there was not much save for a few air conditioner units and a dumpster.

She gave up after a while and returned inside taking her seat with her usual posse in the cafeteria, right next to Tashayla who lip looked to be healing from trauma.

"What happened to your face?" She finally asked.

Tashayla shook her head. "Fucking Jacqi sucker punched me at the park the other day."

"Jac? What did you do to her?"

"Nothing but she got when I see her."

"Had nothing to do with Gyll and Oliver, huh?"

"So listen." Tashayla began. "We at the amusement park right and we see Oliver and Gyll their holding hands and shit."

Elisebeth exhaled annoyed. "My goal is to get Oliver to think im not an evil conniving bitch and it won't help if he thinks I'm sending people to bully people."

"I don't even get why you still stuck on this man anyways. What happened to what's his face?"

"None of your business." Elisebeth shot back quickly.

"Whatever. Dick better be good."

"Now you trying to be funny I see." Elisebeth came off as bitter. They didn't know but she still had yet to have sex with Oliver.

"Im just saying you acting, dick-matized."

"I don't feel very much like eating." Elisebeth rose from her chair and exited the cafeteria.

She didn't really understand herself. Why was it she devoted so much effort to get Oliver back? She could literally have most of the male student body. She was one of the five 'princesses' that attended the school. They were like idols to the masses. She absolutely regretted using Oliver and cheating on him and didn't blame him for not trusting her.

It took him dumping her to snap her out of the fog her old lover had her in. She didn't realize the emerald she had in her hand until she opened her palm and it was empty. Talk about utterly taking someone for granted. She couldn't wait for the day to be over.

And soon enough it was. She had attempted to sneak in some alone time with Oliver a couple of times after lunch but was always blocked by someone or something. It was frustrating. The whole game plan for today was thrown off.

Elizabeth made it out to the bus loading area with Tashayla -who annoying popped gum next to her- and misty -the wanna be Mary Jane Watson, who somehow infiltrated her network. She stretched and yawn not interested in whatever conversation the two other girls were having.

A passing glimpse of Oliver caught her peripheral. She turned to him but he had already disappeared. Thing was she swore she saw someone leading him away. She had to investigate. Something compelled her to.

She followed, barely able to keep up, until she saw them get into his charger and pull off before she could get close enough to see anything.

"Damn." She cursed. Then she looked back to see her bus leaving without her and cursed again. She looked to the sky and took several deep breaths. If she was a crier her face would probably be wet now.

"You look like you could use a friend." A car stop right beside her. The man behind the wheel had a sleazy goatee framing his tar colored skin. "I'm Nick."

"You're a creep, that who you are. Hanging out at a high school you don't belong to." Elisabeth starts to walk away.

He slowly rolled the car forward keeping up with her. "I was watching you earlier..."

She turned back disgusted but continued walking back towards the building. She covered it up well but she was starting to be a bit more uncomfortable. "Way to take the creep factor up a few notches."

"Don't be like that I was only talking about the guy you been trying to get at all day."

Was he talking about Olive?. Her laced picked up. "Do I need to get the cops?"

"Then how would I let you in on Oliver's little secret?"

Elisebeth stopped cold turning to face Nicholas. "What secret? How do you even know Oliver?"

He smirked knowing she took the bait. She would be the perfect tool to pry the kid away from his beloved sister. "I could tell you or I could show you?"

Against her better judgment, Elisebeth found herself in the passenger seat of Nicholas' rental car, a lunar silver Nissan Ultima. He had said he had information that would give her an edge in her conquest for Oliver's heart. After the initial shock, she was starting to realize the danger she stupidly put herself in.

The car stopped on the side of the street next to a row of houses. Elisebeth looked out the window a bit concerned she didn't recognize a thing. "Where have you brought me?"

He killed the engine. "Took you to your boyfriend's secret. Come with me." He got out the car.

Elisabeth hesitated. "Why?" She asked now that her caution and common sense had returned.

"Recognize that?"

He pointed towards a black Charger -Oliver's Chargers. It was parked in front of a brown and red house. "Oliver? How'd you find him?"

"Cause this is where he keeps his secret." He walked around to the side of the house and waved her over. "Wanna see what he wants to keep hidden?"

Elisebeth's curiosity finally took over and she exited the car. Slowly she made her way to the window at the side of the house. The curtains were preventing her from seeing enough of the inside.

Now that the girl was her, Nicholas was ready to put phase one into motion. He lifted the window. He had left it unlocked last night and he was happy to see it was still so. With the window to Dakota's house open he peeled the curtain back ever so slightly giving his pawn more than a clear view of what was happening in the living room.

Dakota embraced Oliver in a passionate kiss. Since he was taller than her, she had to rise on her perfectly pedicures toes to meet his lips. She nippled on his bottom lip as they pulled apart. She let down her hair freeing her mane and then removed Oliver's shirt.

Oliver shuddered from the coolness of the room on his skin. Dakota took his lips again and undid his belt pushing him back into the couch. Her skirt suddenly dropped to her ankles.

Elisebeth couldn't believe her eyes. Miss Elkins banging Oliver!