Tiffany sat in her room. Caroline had ruined all her chances of coming back home next year. Her mother had kept her promise about Spring Break. Still, the counselor had told her parents everything she had done, everything Caroline had said she had done.

They were unhappy, to say the least.

But she wasn’t done. Fine, her parents were disappointed in her, let them be. Her new friend Liz had told her everything she needed to know about Lucita. Finally, finally, she had the perfect way to destroy her.

Pulling out her phone, she sent a text message to Cyrus.

She saved his address into his phone. She had one chance to change everything. Tomorrow worked out just fine for her.

Or maybe not. Her father was home that day, taking the day off. At least this meant she wouldn’t have to call a cab.

“Hey, Dad, can I go to Liz’s house?” she lied.

“I don’t know sweetie. Your mom said you were grounded.”

“I know. But…I’ve stayed in the house all week. Please, can I borrow the car and spend one day with my friends. I’ll be home before mom gets home. I promise.” She gave her father her biggest puppy dog eyes. She needed him to let her go for this to work; otherwise, all was lost. He would never believe anything she said over text. She had to look him in the eye and say it. Then he’d believe her.

Her father sighed, handing over his keys. “You need to promise me, Tiffany. Really, promise me that you mean no harm. And you have to be home before your mother.”

“I promise,” she said, throwing her hands around her. “I swear. Thank you, Daddy.” She kissed him on the cheek and ran out in her green spring dress and sandals.

It was going to be perfect.

“This is a bad idea,” said Matthew, sitting on Cyrus’s bed.

“She just wants to talk.”

Matthew sighed. “I don’t understand why you’re giving that girl the time of day. This is a bad idea. Don’t let her come over.”

Cyrus sat down beside him. “I just want to hear what she has to say.”

“She’s just going to lie to you again.”

“Yeah, probably. But this time, I want to look her in the eye and see it. I want to call her out on it.”

Matt got up. “I don’t like this.”

“So you’ve said.”

Matt looked at him. “Just be careful, okay. Don’t let her get to you. Promise?”

Cyrus looked at him, studying his best friend. “Yeah, I promise.” He let Matt leave, this time out the front door. Something ate at Matt, twisting his insides. He knew Tiffany had something up his sleeve, and whatever it was, it included Lucita.

So, instead of going back home, he got in his car and drove towards the girl he once hated.

Tiffany arrived at the house and patted down the wrinkles in her dress. She was nervous, why was she nervous. She was here to do a thing, not get Cyrus back. A small part of her wanted him back. Maybe this would get him back.

But if that happened, it would just be a happy accident.

No, she was here to ruin Lucita.

Cyrus opened the door, shirtless, hazel eyes without warmth. Seeing him was like being hit by a train. She missed him. She hadn’t realized how much she actually missed him until she saw him.

“Cyrus, hi. Um, can I come in?”

“Yeah. Fine.”

He let her in, slamming the door shut behind her. Tiffany flinched, taking in the expanse of his home. She knew he was rich, but damn, she hadn’t realized how rich.

“So, this is your home.”

“Get to the point, Tiffany.”

“Can we sit down?” He rolled his eyes, huffing angrily as if her being there was such an inconvenience. She followed him towards the living room. He didn’t sit down; instead, he stood as far from her as possible. This might be harder than she thought.

Sitting on the coffee table to better face him, she smoothed down her dress.

“Cyrus, I just wanted to apologize.”

“For what? Using me or cheating on me?”

She winced. “Both. I shouldn’t have done either. But, you have to believe me, I really did like you. I still do.”

“Sure.”

“It’s true! I missed you. I really did. And Ryan—” It hurt to say his name. He was back with Caroline, meaning Tiffany spent as little time in her room as possible. All she saw when they were together was him cheating on her. “Ryan was a mistake,” she said finally.

“I’m sure.”

“He was! I really did like you, and he…Ryan was relentless. He made move after move on me, and I caved. When you were gone, I just caved. It was cruel, and it was wrong. I know that.”

“Go to hell, Tiffany.”

“Why can you forgive Matthew but not me?”

“Matthew didn’t betray me! He didn’t use me!”

“Oh, right, because getting you kicked out of school and sleeping with the girl you pine over isn’t a betrayal.”

“Yeah—wait, what?”

Tiffany tried to hide her smirk. “What? Didn’t they tell you? Lucita lost her virginity to Matthew. Why do you think they’re best friends now.”

Cyrus just stared at her. “You’re lying.”

“Am I? I’m done lying to you, Cyrus. Look at me. Do I look like I’m lying to you?”

Lucita was in the car with Matthew halfway to Cyrus’s house when her phone buzzed. Matthew’s phone buzzed, too, forcing them to exchange a glance. He had gone to get her to face off against Tiffany. And Luci wanted to face her too, to see this girl who had tried to ruin her face-to-face.

But when both of their phones buzzed, she had a bad feeling.

Stopping at a red light, they each pulled out their phone to see the text from Cyrus.

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