“What do you mean they hugged each other?!” I scream at the top of my lungs.

“Hey hey. Calm down. About three days ago, I was looking into the window from the outside of the library as I was bored and I just saw them embracing each other. That’s it,” Valerie explains as she puts her hands up in surrender.

“You must be joking. They’re a thing now?”

“It could’ve just been a friendly hug, Beth. Nothing more.”

“Tell me: why would a guy and a girl hug each other in the middle of a library?”

She shrugs. “You might not understand their situation right now. They’re becoming quick friends, according to Victor. Will’s practically hanging out with Ashley every day.”

My nostrils flare out. What has gotten into him? A couple of weeks ago, they barely even knew each other. Now, they’re almost acting like they’re some kind of couple. Did the rumors not work? None of it?! I close my eyes as I try to figure out a solution. “We have to stop this, Val. This is unacceptable.”

“What are you going to do then? It seems like Victor’s taking their side as well. He keeps defending their position, even though I have no idea why.”

“Who cares about Victor. We’re talking about Ashley and how to get rid of her,” I explain as I walk around the mall bathroom floor.

“I don’t think you can, Beth. Let me tell you something: Will knows what’s up. He wouldn’t be by Ashley’s side all the time if he knew what you’re planning to do. He dated you. Isn’t that obvious enough?”

Ignoring everything she just said, I add, “I’ll figure a way out. Just watch me.”

Melanie eyes at me from the side. “I don’t understand, Beth. Why do you care about them so much? That’s their business, not yours.”

“Because Will deserves better and I can give it to him. I just didn’t have the chance to do that.”

She shakes her head in disapproval and this causes to make me feel irritated. “You had plenty of chances and you didn’t take any of them.”

“Why are all of you disagreeing with me? Even Mel said the same thing! Why can’t you just see things from my perspective?!” I yell.

Valerie doesn’t flinch and instead, crosses her arms in front of her chest. “We’ve been through this already. I was with you when you were crying about Will last year and you said that you didn’t want to see his face ever again. What made you change your mind?”

“B-Because I need him in my life. He’s the one that really gave me a reality check, as cliche as that sounds. Victor was nothing. Will’s at least something,” I explain more as my voice cracks at the end.

“I don’t want to watch you crash and burn at the end, Beth. That’s all I’m worried about.”

I turn my back on her as I walk toward the bathroom door. “Don’t worry. I got this under control.”