ma·nip·u·la·tion

məˌnipyəˈlāSHən

noun

the action of manipulating something in a skillful manner.

"A party?" I ask, before taking a big bite out of my disgusting hamburger. As always it is still slightly cold with the bread having a few dry white spots. School food is the worst.

The brown haired girl nods her head with a big smile present on her face. I bet Veronica thinks Rachel and I are skipping out on our day lunch sessions like she is, but it's nothing at all like that. As if I'd allow myself to fall victim of her expectations, "Yep! It'll be at-at Jenna's house, as alwa-ways. Her da-dad will be away on business or someth...ing. Cecilia invited me, you shoullld go too!"

"Of course I'll go, I'm a football player. I am basically contractually obligated to go," I point out. Cecilia is Rachel's girlfriend and in a band known as Alpha. Everyone knows about the band, everyone loves them. Cecilia, Erika, and Elizabeth are the main performers of the band, but sometimes others also sing along.

Cecilia is also a cheerleader and part-time model. Her pictures are beautiful, but nothing compared to Jenna. Cecilia is a dark skinned girl and unlike Jenna or Veronica doesn't like showing off skin - despite being a cheerleader. When she isn't cheerleading she usually wears black ripped up jeans and band tee-shirts.

"Rig-right..." She mumbled and it's obvious something is on her mind, maybe it's something with Cecilia, or maybe it's something else. The questions that began filling my mind were quickly answered when she asked, "Do you think Veronica would go?"

I simply shrug at that, I wouldn't know, its a 50/50 chance. She usually skips out on parties and just hangs out at Troy's - even before they were dating - but this is her senior year so maybe she'll finally cave and show up. "Doubt it," I answer, despite my secret hopes that she does show up.

"I missss her..." Rachel mumbled while placing her head into her folded arms on the table, "Why does she-she have to be mad at us...?"

"Because I'm an idiot and she's a sensitive jerk, I guess," I say plainly. It's a lie though, I don't blame Rachel for talking about Veronica getting help with her visions of Dean, but Rachel should have done it nicer. Veronica was fairly happy with being able to see Dean everyday, despite him being a terrifying, bloody ghost.

"Ma-Maybe," She sighs, "I miss th-the old you, Ma-Max."

"Old me?" I ask with a chuckle, "I'm the same old me, what are you talking about?"

"Well...you are so much more a-at peace when yo-uh you're with V... You joke around a lot more and are just o-over all happier," She says trying her best to speak properly. She's always had trouble with talking, it isn't that she can't, just she has trouble. She's getting better so that's good. "Now I am not sayin you- uh- like V!"

I groan, everyone has been saying that sort of thing recently. First it was Principal Clay, then Jackson this morning, and now Rachel now. This is slowly becoming a pain in the ass. "I don't like her like that, I never have and I never will. And it makes sense I'd be comfortable around her. We've been friends for - what - thirteen years."

She nods her head, "I kno-know! I'm just saying, you are the happiest when she i-is around!"

"Hmm, whatever," I shrug just as the brown haired girl walks passed our table and towards the hallway where the library is at. She goes there everyday and I don't understand why, she has other friends with this lunch period. Then again I know Veronica at this point and this is probably her version of punishment for getting mad at Rachel.

Rachel giggles lightly just as I get a text. I quickly check it to see it is from Jackson, I open it up to see a picture of me from across the cafeteria. I sigh and turn towards the direction where he always sits. He waves at me with the biggest smile I have ever seen and I simply shake my head at how childish he can get.

A few minutes passed by and the bell and signaling for all of us to get back to class. Like usual Rachel waves before jogging up to her girlfriend who is walking towards her from where she came from at the fine art center. I wait at the table for a few extra seconds so that Jackson can catch up to me.

When he does he gives me his signature smile before handing me a small red bag, "Cookies! Mrs. Brown wanted me to give them to you, it's been awhile since you've last come over, y'know."

I nod my head, "Yeah, I know. It just doesn't seem right to come over for you and not Rich, since it is still his house." I say with an almost boredom, Jackson is fun and all, but he super predictable. I know him like the back of my hand at this point and it isn't a bad thing, but it is sort of annoying. At least with Veronica and Rachel there are still some mysteries.

Like I never know how Veronica will react when I say something stupid, sometimes she laughs and sometimes I get punched in the face. With Rachel sometimes she will force a smile and endure the stupidity and sometimes she will join in on the activity.

Jackson is always cheerful or mad. With a sigh I open the bag to see the small circular chocolate chip cookies that I have been secretly craving for a long time. I take one and bite into it, humming happily as the chocolate melts in my mouth. I love Mrs. Brown so much, she's so great.

"I understand that," He quickly says and it takes me a second to realize what he is talking about. The thought of the cookies had me so engulfed that I forgot we were even talking to each other. My mouth watered for another, but I know I can't eat them all now because I'll hate myself later for not saving them. The urge to eat more is so difficult to resist.

Then we walk to our classes - his is right next to mine. The walk was oddly silent, I wasn't complaining I've had too much of Jackson despite school only bring open for roughly a month. Jackson has been sort of a burden since the day I met him, but if I told him that he'd be crushed and I couldn't bring myself to be that much of a jerk.

Besides it isn't like our friendship is one sided, I trust him with stuff too. Like my argument with my brother, I trust him with that. He trusts me with everything, I guess. With how much we know about each other unfriending one another doesn't seem to be in our best interest anyway.

When we finally get to our classroom doors we wave goodbye before entering. My class is mostly girls, so everyone in my class are either one of my exes or somebody I don't know. I guess that's what I get for going for a fourth year of German, at this point I am pretty good at it.

After high school I plan on moving in with my parents in Germany after all. It makes sense I'd have at least some knowledge on the language. That is if they even let me move with them even after how we left things.

I sigh while watching the clock, I already finished my test so I have nothing better to do. I forgot to charge my phone last night after what Troy told me, so I have no choice but to just sit here.

After what feels like ten centuries the bell rings and I quickly make my way to fourth period. After fourth period we have fifth period and school is out. It's weird having to adjust to only having five classes a day. A-B days are just sort of stressful, having to remember what day it is. Can't we just have 45 minute classes instead of hour and a half ones?

The shorter the less effort we have to put in, right? If Veronica heard me complaining like this she'd probably smack me, because she likes school.

Before I even know it school is over and I am heading back to my little hiding hole where I live. On my way there I spot Veronica talking to Tyler and a chuckle escapes me. I wonder what they are talking about. My curiosity consumes me and I hide behind the corner and listen in.

"In light of Dean's death I think we should host an event," Veronica says, all professionally like she she always does while talking about student council stuff. She pauses for a second before continuing, "Freshmen don't really know about what happened, the tragedy should be shared around not only the school but the county."

"What is the event?" Tyler asks as he clicks his pen open and begins writing on a clipboard, the distinct sound of metal on wood rubbing on wood very much obnoxious.

"To raise awareness against drunken driving, to show that your actions do have consequences. The man that drank killed Dean and was sent to prison, Dean's death sent the majority of the school into a deep sadness. We could-"

"Don't you think you're just doing this because you knew Dean?" He asks while tapping the end of the pen on the clip board. Why am I not surprised that he thinks this way? "I mean, of course driving under the influence is a big issue, but everyone has already been taught this. An event won't change anything."

"Maybe not, but it's worth a shot at least? If not to explain issues like this to at least honor him."

Tyler sighs, "What about funds? We don't have time or money to waste on useless stuff like that. What is wrong? You've always used to think things through...maybe you need a break as president?"

"What? No, I'm fine, just emotional, sorry," She says with a deep sigh to indicate she regrets bringing up the subject with him to begin with. Her voice was unusually frantic as she apologized, I guess it makes sense. With the rumors of her punching me still circulating around she needs to be cautious of what she says and does.

Tyler clicks his tongue before letting out one of his own sighs, "You need a break. After Dean's death you've been a mess, maybe quitting is in your best interest. I have to head to work now, think about your mental health more." With that extremely rude note he walks away and the tapping of his expensive business shoes hitting the ground towards the exit of the school ring through my ears like a poison.

Veronica sighs, not even moving from her spot. I groan before popping out behind the wall and approach her, "Don't listen to him, Ms. President, you've never been a quitter before, why start now?" I chuckle while heading away from her. It's true, anytime she has set her mind set on something she couldn't quit trying to get it. When her dad was in the hospital she spent weeks pestering, begging, even threatening her mom to help him with funding.

"Wait!" I hear and I am taken by surprise as I hear the heavy, running footsteps of my old best friend come after me. I thought she'd still be pissed, why would she bother to talk to me?

Despite my surprise I don't let it show on my face and I force a smug smirk to replace any shock that might have tried to appear, "Hmm? What do you want, Ms. President?"

"I want...I want to ask you something."

"Oh sweetie," I gasp mockingly, trying my best to show I don't want to hug her right here and now. I miss her so fucking much, "I am confessed to so many times a day! What makes you think you have a shot?"

"That isn't what I want to ask," She quickly shoots the idea down, thank God too. My smirk disappears and is replaced with a bored expression, despite my insides telling me to apologise for being an ass. "Is it true that you live at the school?"

I am surprised, but probably more amused than anything, "Did your boyfriend tell you?"

"Troy knows...?" She asks, genuinely showing confusion, giving me the answer I need. She sucks at lying, plus I've known her forever I know all her little quirks and know what to look for when she is lying - she blinks a lot less. "No he didn't tell me...there was a note on my mom's desk. Why didn't you come to me?" Her voice is so soft and sweet, I know that she cares about me when she uses that voice. That's the same voice she used when she was teaching me how to tie my shoes in kindergarten.

I gulp but just shrug in response to her question, if I don't reply she will drop the subject and leave me alone. "I have work, I can't talk."

She simply nods her head, but I know that she wants to talk more about it. I think it's for the best that we don't talk about it, I don't want to go into the fight I had with my brother and she is still mad at me. I nod my head reassuring myself that's the case as I walk towards my car.