Even though Neve claimed that Pandora was comforting to have around, she still found her to be very annoying.

For example, during second hour she'd been staring at a boy named Fredrick Dunford because his hair was freaky-looking. Had he gotten a haircut? If so, it was probably something he would come to regret in the near future.

Ooh! A boy! You so totally have a crush!

What? No—

Oh, I see! You just don't want to admit it. Don't worry. Soon, you'll realize your feelings and work up the courage to tell him. Then you'll start dating and have a bunch of babies and oh, my gosh, it's going to be so adorable!

Pandora, you're getting the wrong idea. I don't like him. At all.

Whatever helps you sleep at night! Just remember to name me the maid of honor at your wedding.

Neve groaned. What was Pandora, a child? It seemed like some hopeless romantic who didn't know a thing about anything! It was frustrating, but at the same time, almost cute.

Stop it, you're making me blush! And why do you refer to me as an it? I'm a girl!

She rolled her eyes. Please shut up.

By the time lunch rolled around, Neve was highly annoyed. Pandora had gone from being adorable to just irritating. Not only did it—she—have something to say about most things she did, she also commented on her thoughts, which bothered Neve to no end. And she didn't stop now. She was just as aggravating, if not more.

Why do you hang out with these girls? They're so annoying.

None of your business, Pandora.

Well, actually...

Just because you're in my head doesn't mean you're entitled to know everything about me!

I know, I know, calm down. But I'm you're guardian angel, so it would be easier to help you out if I knew these things.

Neve had learned very quickly that if she wanted to keep Pandora from finding out certain things, then there was something she could do, though she found it a bit strange: she could block her from it. It was more subconscious than anything else. It was like her mind had automatically blocked Pandora out from things that she wanted to keep hidden from her the most, like the last stand to protect her from the invasion in her head.

Whatever, Pandora. Just leave me alone.

Fine. Go have lunch with your fake friends! I'm sure they'll be much better company than I am.

With that, Pandora went silent.

Neve rolled her eyes. Pandora really did act like a child. What was she, anyway? Was she really a girl, or was that just what she made herself out to be?

"Hey!"

Claire's voice startled Neve out of her thoughts. "What?"

"Stop looking so constipated! Angelica's coming." And she was, flanked by Lucas and Alice.

A playful smirk was set on her face, bright eyes twinkling, while the two on either side of her seemed much less excited to be there. Lucas, however, grinned when he saw Neve, to which she let a small smile appear on her face.

Who are they?

The smile dropped when Pandora spoke, worry pooling in. Why did she have to choose now of all times to speak? Just some people Claire invited to lunch.

Why are they so perfect looking? They could be freaking models if they wanted to be!

I don't know. They came to my school yesterday.

Be careful, okay? I'm getting a bad vibe from them.

Well, I'm getting a bad vibe from you, but I can't be very careful around you, now can I? After all, you are in my head.

Just trust me!

You invaded my mind! Why should I trust you?

Please just give me a chance. I only want to help you.

You could start by getting out of my head.

You know what? I'll just leave you alone for a while. Clearly, you're in a bad mood.

And once again, Pandora was silent. Neve sighed, feeling bad all of a sudden. She had been a bit harsh, which wasn't like her. But that was probably due to the fact that there was something in her head violating her private thoughts.

"Are you okay?"

Neve glanced up, saw it was Lucas speaking to her, and looked back down, picking at her food. "I'm fine."

"Really? You look kind of gloomy."

"When do I not?" She muttered, glaring at her food. She felt sad and alone and guilty. She didn't understand why, though. Why did she suddenly feel like crying?

"When you smile."

She looked at him, eyes widening. "What?"

"You don't look gloomy when you smile. In fact, I would even say you look happy. Shocking, isn't it? I mean, when you're directing such a hateful look at your food, I couldn't even imagine you smiling."

Neve let out a surprised laugh. Had she really been looking at her food like that?

"Finally, you smiled! I thought I was going to have to pull out the big guns." When Neve gave him a questioning look, he just shrugged. "Trust me, you don't want to know."

Another laugh escaped her, her lips upturning in a wide smile. She could still feel an obscure sadness, but she ignored it, instead placing her attention on Lucas as he spoke to her again.

"Neve, is your name actually Neve?"

It took her a moment to think up a response to that, as everyone did call her Neve. Except for her mom. "No. My name's Genevieve."

His eyebrows raised. "Why does everyone call you Neve, then?"

"W-Well..." she trailed off. It wasn't that Neve disliked her name. But her mom had given her that name and she hated her, so it just made Neve feel the longing of what could've been, what should've been; it reminded her of how much her mom would never love her. Instead of all that, she responded with, "I just like Neve better."

"Right..." Judging by his doubtful expression, he didn't believe a word she said, but before either of them could say anything about it, Angelica interrupted.

"Luke, let's go! We have to do the thing!"

"What thing?"

"The thing!"

His eyes widened in apparent realization. "Oh. That thing." He smiled at Neve, standing up. "I have to go, but it was nice talking to you. See you later!"

"Yeah, bye."

With that, the trio marched on there way, Lucas seeming cheerful, Angelica serious, and Alice bored out of her mind.

And as they went, Neve couldn't help the grin that appeared on her face at the thought of talking to him again.