Cyrus’s pot smoking was getting intolerable. So much that she could barely stand his company. So she hid in the library, focusing on keeping her grades up. This was the best chance that her parents were giving her. Her last chance. Maybe she would stop, she thought. She was risking everything for petty revenge to get back at the girl who was the sole reason she was here. But it wasn’t just her. They were all toxic, and the only way to get them all back would be to come back. So the last thing she wanted was to get kicked out of here for doing something she wasn’t…like smoking pot.

But a small part of her kept telling her to let go.

Except she couldn’t. Something wouldn’t let her.

Tossing her pencil onto the notebook, she thought about the first moment she had seen Cyrus. It had all seemed so simple then. Date him and drive a wedge between the two idiots who were so in love with one another.

He was always bringing her up. God, why did he always bring her up. She was supposed to be his girlfriend. She was his girlfriend. And yet, every day, it was some small stupid comparison to Lucita, something about her life.

And what bothered her most was the fact that she actually did like Cyrus. He was sweet to her. Sweeter than any boy had ever been before. He treated her well.

Except he wouldn’t stop talking about Lucita.

And even dating him hadn’t driven a wedge-like she had planned. They remained friends despite her best efforts.

Was it even worth it? It was like nothing she did had any effect on her.

Because Lucita had friends.

Something Tiffany conveniently didn’t have. Sure, she got along with her classmates and tolerated her roommate, but she wouldn’t call them friends. Certainly not allies. Her two best friends, Evie and Olivia, were at South Broward.

That’s it!

She had been so stupid enlisting Matthew, who was becoming useless. Although, to be fair, he had warned her. There was too much bad blood between him and Lucita.

She checked her phone battery, only to see it was dying. Ugh. So, instead, she pulled out her laptop and opened WhatsApp on her desktop. Luckily, it said Evie was online.

And just like that, she had Evie. Blake was dating Rebecca, and Silvia was against it. Jason had cheated on Liz, who was now dating Lucita’s ex. It was all too perfect. Those idiots had messed everything up themselves. Everything was on thin ice already. It was all too perfect.

Already, a new plan was forming. Once that would allow herself to rid herself of Cyrus.

The thought made her skin crawl, but really, what was the point in dating someone so clearly hung up on someone else?

“Hey cutie.” Tiffany jumped in her seat. Staring at her intently, which made her cheeks burn, was Ryan, a small smile on his lips.

“Are you stalking me?”

“Not at all. I have Psychology II here and a paper due. You happen to be in the Psychology section.” Tiffany looked around. He was right. But it had been one of the few tables where no one had been sitting.

“So what are you doing here, pretty miss?”

Oh god, he’s flirting with me. “I have a boyfriend, as you well know.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, but I’ve noticed you haven’t been spending much time with him lately. Anything to do with that phone call I overheard?”

She bristled. “No. I’ve just been busy with midterms. I need to study.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that a lot lately. Considering he has been smoking much more than usual, I’d say he’s on edge.” He took a moment to study her. She did not like how closely he paid attention to her relationship. “It bothers you doesn’t it, how much he’s been smoking.”

“He has anxiety. He says it helps.”

“Uh-huh.” He stood there, leaning against the bookcase. It made her squirm, his staring.

“Why don’t you just leave me alone?”

“Cause I like you.”

“And I have a boyfriend.”

“So? I can wait. Your evil plot has to end eventually.” He took a few steps closer to her, leaning down, hand on the table. He was getting too close to her, filling her nostrils with his cologne.

“Ryan, I’ll have you know—”

“Bullshit. Everything you’re about to say is bullshit.” He was smiling now, looking down at her. “I see you, Tiffany. You don’t want to really be with him. You might like him, but you don’t want him. And I can prove it.”

“Seriously?” Tiffany laughed. “Fine, okay, go ahead and prove it.” She should have seen it coming, but the kiss, his pull, completely caught her off guard. Too quickly, he pulled her up into his arms, one hand behind her neck, the other already going up her skirt. What was worse was the fact that she was kissing him back. He was right. She wanted him. An intelligent guy who wasn’t hopelessly in love with someone else and smelled like pot.

His lips moved down her neck, and she briefly looked around the empty library.

“God, Ryan.” His hand found itself inside her, making her arch her back. “Here. Now, please, now.”

She was tired of coming in second to a girl who wasn’t even around.

Ryan didn’t object. He flipped them around, laying her on the table, letting her kick off her lacey white underwear while he undid the buckle of his pants.

“Told you,” he said, leaning down over her, his breath hot on her neck as he slid inside her, taking the last bit of innocence she had to give. As the pain subsided and gave way to pleasure, she bit down on her lip, letting him thrust into her, hands tight on her thighs. He didn’t have to brag, she thought, smiling.