Forty-four

Yibo's Pov.

With all that's been happening over the past week, I feel like giving up. What's there to live for? If I'm never going to be happy, why should I keep on living? Even though these thoughts kept on recurring in my head for some reason I kept trying. Today I'm going to get my answer, I don't care if Meng is hanging around someone I'm just going to ask. And if that doesn't work I'm going back to step one, Zhan.

When I arrived at school I saw Zhao, Meng, and Cindy chatting near the entrance. I marched over to them and pulled Meng to the side to speak with her. She looked over to the others, probably scared.

"Hey what are you doing?" Zhao called out.

"I just want to ask her something." I responded before turning back to Meng.

"Can you please tell me what's going on with all of you?" I asked, desperately.

"Y-you should really ask Cindy." She responded in a valley girl accent, chewing bubblegum. I almost pulled out my hair in frustration. Why Cindy? I've already asked her and she didn't tell me a word. I just marched off into the building, again noticing all the prying eyes. Just as I was turning a corner I bumped into Xichen.

"Hey man." He whispered. Well at least someone was talking to me.

"Do you know why everyone is acting this way towards me?" I asked, hopeful that he'd give me an answer.

"Not really, just some stuff about you targeting people in the school." Great, now I'm even more lost.

"Targeting people?" I inquired.

"Yeah, like breaking stuff or stealing homework or whatever." He continued to whisper. I can't believe I didn't think to talk to him earlier. Now I finally have something to go off.

"Do you believe them?" I nervously asked.

twiddling my thumbs.

"No... not really, I'm still on your side dude. It's just..." He paused.

"It's just what?" I asked, tilting my head to meet his gaze.

"I can't be seen with you...'

"W-why?"

"My new friends might think I'm a traitor. I've tried convincing them that you're innocent but they think otherwise. The people of this school just want drama. It's been a while since a rumor of this caliber has been started." He explained, with a sad look.

"Alright, well I have to go.' " His voice went even quieter this time, looking side to side. I understood why he didn't want to be seen with me but I still felt heartbroken. It was crushing knowing that no one was willing to stand by me.

On my way to class I thought about what Xichen said. If Zhan was mad at me for destroying something then what would it be? What could it be that he thinks I've destroyed? The only thing that came to mind was his locker, but if that were the case wouldn't Cindy have backed me up on this? She knows I'm innocent since we were doing Operation Zhan together. I'll just confront him about it when I can find him.

During lunch, I sat away from everyone else like I'd been doing the past couple of days. I mean, it's not like anyone from school would've wanted to sit near me anyway. But something caught my eye. Cheng was up to something, the guy we met during the trip. He always seemed focused and concentrated, that hasn't changed but now he's moving around a lot. I've seen him cross the school from point A to B. I would've liked to ask what he was up to but with the rumors going around I knew that wasn't something I'd be able to do.

Before my final class, I waited near Zhan's locker in hopes of catching him. I waited for at least ten minutes and wasn't planning on leaving until our break was over. People gave me strange and threatening looks as I stood there suspiciously. I could tell not everyone believed the rumors but it seemed like the majority of the school did. Zhan eventually arrived but with Cindy in tail. They both came to a stop and eyed me awkwardly.

"What do you want?" Zhan asks with his

expression deepening.

"I want to know what's going on... What was so important that you turned your back on me?" I raised my voice.

He went silent for a moment. "One of the few belongings I have left from a dead friend, a special picture of my deceased grandma, hundreds of dollars worth of equipment that I now have to replace, possibly my future in football, I dunno nothing too severe, right?" He flared with sarcasm. So that's what he thought? He thinks I did all of that?! And what's this about his future in football, how was I involved in that?

"I'm telling you that wasn't me!" I shouted back desperately. I looked over to Cindy to see a worried look cross her face. "Cindy, tell him!" I said, waiting for her to respond.

"Yibo, I'm not on your side." What?..

"W-what do you mean?" I asked, giving

her a crazy look

"I'm not helping you make peoples lives

miserable." She replied in a cold tone. Wait... I don't get what's going on? Cindy knows I'm innocent, what's she doing? Unless... it was all her. That couldn't be possible though, right? I mean she's been such a good friend to me. She couldn't have been planning something like this from the start could she? I was feeling beyond confused.

"I-I don't understand?" I stuttered, backing

up.

"She's telling you that she won't help with your little schemes." Zhan repeated.

"Cindy, did you set me up?" I asked, scrunching my eyebrows. An unreadable look disappeared faster than it appeared on her face. She then started acting like she had no idea what I was talking about.

"Fine, if you're so innocent can you explain this?" Zhan said before whipping out his phone. A video played. It was me? I walked into the coach's office looking really suspicious.

"I-I can explain! Cindy asked me to get her bag from the coach's office." I said, hoping he'd believe me, I could already tell he didn't just by his expression.

"Why would Cindy leave her bag in the coach's office?" He asked, suspicious. I figured if Cindy was going to do this to me I'd just reveal her little secret of being offered a position on the cheerleader squad.

"The coach offered Cindy a position on the cheerleading squad and she forgot her bag in his office before leaving." I explained, hopeful that this would at least prove some sort of innocence. Zhan looked at Cindy and she shook her head dismissively.

"Why don't you ask the coach?" I suggested hastily.

"You know, I want to believe you boo." He used that nickname again. My heartstrings almost snapped. "And for that reason, I'll speak with the coach." I would have been relieved by that but Cindy didn't look phased one bit, almost like she had something up her sleeve.

On our way to find the coach, I thought about when I asked Zhan how he got the video. He told me Cindy recorded it and sent it to him, which means all of the times she's mysteriously disappeared she'd record me just so she could set me up. I just can't wrap my head around it, all of the time we spent together, all of the moments we've shared, all the games we've played, all the meals we've eaten, all the movies we've watched, were they all part of some long term plan? That seems sadistic. Even with all that was wrong in my life I had hoped, I'd even be able to make one friend like her, but no, I was being played. The moment I lowered my wall all the things I feared came rushing in, destroying everything in their path. Walking down the hall with both of them was a difficult task. I felt as if my heart was going to crawl right out of my mouth with the pressure it was feeling.

"There he is." Zhan notified, snapping me from my thoughts. He stood next to the door to his office, though I couldn't tell what he was doing. My heart pounded as we approached the coach.

"Hey coach." Zhan greeted him casually.

"Need somethin' Xiao?" He asked, giving us a strange look, especially me.

"Yeah, I want to ask you something." Zhan started. "Did you offer Cindy a position on the cheer team?" The coach gave him one of the craziest looks I've ever seen.

"Why in the hell would I do that? That isn't even my job." He raised his voice. Zhan stayed silent for a moment, looking disappointed.

"Why, are you interested in becoming a cheerleader?" The coach asked.

"No, not really. Yibo was up to another one of his schemes." Cindy shook her head. Zhan sighed and walked off without saying another word. The look Cindy wore was that of pure satisfaction. She ran after Zhan and stuck close to his side. It looked as if she was comforting him.

I lowered my head, feeling defeated. I heard footsteps approaching. I lifted my head to meet the coach's eyes. "So, I heard what you did." He started, lowering his voice as much as possible. "You know, pulling stunts like that could end my career." He said, closing the space between us. "I could teach you never to interfere with such important manners, but that could also be a way to end my career. If you keep this up you'll be out of the school in no time." He jabbed at my chest before storming off. I failed to keep my tears concealed. I just let them run, I needed this.

What is Cindy after, why is she doing this?.. Now that I think about it she didn't start getting chummy with me until she found out I liked Zhan. Now she's closer to him than ever. She hurt him so she could comfort him. Does this mean she likes him too? It would explain everything that's going on. She had no reason to go this far though, she's hurt a lot of people.

School was terrible, work was the only place I had to relax, as funny as it sounds.

"What's wrong with you?" Sarah asked

nonchalantly after catching me teary-eyed. I hadn't considered her or Sandra finishing early so I figured I had time to let myself go, I couldn't hold it in.

"Nothing..." I lied, trying to dismiss the

conversation.

"Is this about school?" She pressed, leaning up against the counter. It was a little odd that she was suddenly talking to me since she'd ignored most of the things I said over the past few days.

"H-how could you tell?" I asked after a long silence.

"We go to the same school, idiot." She sighed, pushing herself off the counter. Now that she mentioned it her face does look familiar. I might have seen her in the halls a few times.

"I've been hearing all of the rumors about you, are they true?" She continued with another question.

"No." I mumbled.

"I know." She let out a sigh.

"Y-you do?" It was a little surprising that I had someone who believed me or didn't believe the bogus rumors.

"I do." She chortled. It was the first time I'd heard her laugh.

"T-Then why'd you ask." I questioned.

"Dunno." She shrugged with a smile. That was also another first. After all that's happened in my life I doubt I could trust another person, but Sarah was different. It seemed as if her personality was out there for anyone to see, she didn't care what anyone thought of her. I envied her a little. Having a personality like that would make my life a lot more bearable, with the way that I am now, I don't think I'll last much longer.

The rest of the day went well. After that conversation with Sarah, I was able to focus. On my way back home I saw several people out and about, which was strange since the neighborhood is usually silent. I spotted the guy who took my money the other day. I can't say he stole it since I practically handed it to him. He and his friends were dressed up very clean and casual, which led me to believe they were alright to approach the first time I saw them. It was a dumb mistake, but it was also a moment of weakness. With everything getting so hard and stressful I found myself slowly gravitating toward things that gave me excitement, a thing that made me feel like I had no control over my life. I probably would have become a drunk to null the pain like my father, if it weren't for the awful taste of alcohol.

The guy continued watching me with a smirk on his face. I shuddered as I hurried off towards my house. He had the looks but I didn't like his personality. From what I've gathered he's a big-headed creep.

When I entered the living room I saw my father passed out in his chair. I tiptoed off to my room as silently as a mouse. I would've taken a shower but I didn't want to risk the possibility of my father waking up. Instead, I just used that time and sat next to my window, watching the moon. It reminded me of the time Zhan and I snuck out of the cabin park and ran off to the playground to watch the moon.

I spent the next couple of weeks trying to

convince Zhan that I was innocent, but Cindy always had something up her sleeve. She got the whole school believing I'd attack them if they spoke to me. Every time I tried to convince anyone otherwise they'd back away from me, not uttering a word. Cindy even went as far as to fake an attempt on her locker.

Xichen would still talk to me whenever everyone was out of sight though. He seemed a lot more cheerful than he previously had, I guess he was getting along with his new group. Not me though, I fell back into depression, just like before. I needed something to keep me afloat, something to remind me that I was still here, so... I started cutting. I didn't know what else to do.

One day I was called into the principal's office. I had no clue what was going on and had several prying eyes.

"So..." The principal began, turning around and sitting down in his chair. "I've been hearing some "things" around the school. People are telling me you've been causing a lot of problems." He narrowed his eyes at me leaning over on his desk.

"I'm a nice guy so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, however, if these complaints persist you might get suspended, or worse." He warned in a serious yet patient manner. I was definitely screwed. Cindy won't stop until I'm completely out of her hair.

I knew that if I didn't do anything I'd miss my chance since summer break is right around the corner. And Zhan will be graduating soon.

Zhan's Pov

These past few weeks have been extremely hard. I have to force myself not to look at Yibo. Even after all that he did I still catch myself eying him from time to time. I feel like he's taken a piece of my heart with him. With all of Yibo's pleading and begging I considered the possibility of him being innocent, but if that were the case what would that mean for Cindy? She's been supportive throughout all of this, I think it's because we were both close to Yibo. That's one of the reasons I can't doubt her. She's been handling it way better than me though.

Waking up every morning began feeling meaningless, the school felt dreary, and the only thing on my mind was him. I would like to clear the air and find out the truth, but I'm afraid if I find out he's lying I could hurt him. When it comes to situations like these I find it hard to control my anger.

I tried talking to a bunch of girls to help me forget the pain I was feeling, but all I could do was put on a hollow smile and pretend I was listening to them go on and on. Life was feeling sucky.

Back home Xichen kept trying to convince me Yibo wasn't the one behind all of this, but he didn't see the situation as I had, everything seemed to fall into place perfectly when Cindy told me about his schemes. The fact that he was still targeting people at school, which was also unsettling. The day after I confronted the coach about him offering Cindy a place on the cheer team she had her locker vandalized, not to the extent of mine though because Cindy says she caught him before he destroyed it all. She also told me he was about to attack her until someone else besides the two walked past the hall. I still can't understand the reason behind why he's doing all of this, did I do something to him that I'm not aware of? I suppose.... I should just ask him.

Yibo's Pov.

When I got home my father turned to me, arms folded. He was wearing a familiar look on his face, the one he wore when he went all out on mom. I had a feeling I knew where this was going, but hoped to god I was wrong. I was quivering in my spot like a frightened kitten.

"So... I got a call from your school." My father said in a deep rough voice. Crap did they call my father?!

"They said you've been acting up, and that they're worried about you." He continued, folding his arms even tighter as I stayed silent in place.

"The man on the phone also mentioned this "trip" you went on? He said you started to change ever since then and decided to express his concern?" Oh shit why?! I felt myself getting teary eyed. "Care to elaborate?" He muttered as he approached. My heart raced with every further step he made.

"D-dad, I'm sorry!" I apologized, breaking out into tears, hoping he'd forgive me.

"I asked him if you had your own room, and he told me you were bunked in one of the boy's cabins?" Why does he even care what I do? It's not like he even sees me as his son anyway.

"I bet you fucked every one of them you were bunked with, right?" He growled.

"No dad, no I didn't!" I cried, backing up into a corner.

"You're an abomination of a child." He shouted before lunging at me.