Ha! Well aren't you just a little ray of sunshine? I suppose it's better this way anyway. If you insist on staying in your "commoner" comfort zone, then by all means, go right ahead. But remember, no matter how hard you try to hide from who you really are or the life that was chosen for you, the truth always has a way of revealing itself eventually...

Oh, I'm not saying that at all. Quite the contrary actually. I simply find your persistence... amusing. It's like watching a fly buzz around a windowpane, trying desperately to escape its fate. But alas, you are stuck here with me, for better or worse. So why don't you just sit back and enjoy the ride? The Queen Bee's hive is not an easy place to be, but it promises excitement and intrigue at every turn.

Chloe stalks away from Cliff, her cheeks flushed with anger. She can't believe he had the gall to say something like that! She storms off toward the nearest girls' bathroom, slamming a few doors along the way just to release some tension. Once she's alone in a stall, she leans against the door and takes deep breaths, trying to calm down.

Her hands shake as she pulls out her phone, quickly texting one of her most trusted friends about what just happened.

Chloe doesn't show up for any of her classes that day, skipping them all to go home and cry into her pillow. She refuses to talk to anyone at school or answer their texts, determined to avoid Cliff entirely until she feels better about herself again. Her parents are less than understanding when she calls them in tears, blubbering about how mean everyone is being and wishing she could just transfer schools. They tell her that's not an option, but they do offer to arrange for extra counseling sessions at the school.

I glanced at my phone again, feeling a familiar flutter in my stomach as I read Justin's latest message. Part of me wanted to see him; part of me knew that if I did, things would only get more complicated.

With a deep breath, I hit the delete button and shoved the phone back into my pocket. It was time to focus on what truly mattered... on myself and figuring out who I really wanted to be.

I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the lingering thoughts of Justin and Mohammad. Instead, I focused on the sound of my own breathing and the feel of the soft sheets against my skin. Slowly but surely, exhaustion claimed me, pulling me under into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges and choices; tonight, Chloe Matthews could simply be herself... and maybe tomorrow she'd find the courage to become someone even better.