Without Jesse

(59) don't worry. I never get caught.

✨Talia✨

I stared down at the purple paper in my hands, I still hadn't read it, the dread gnawing at my stomach.

I frowned before throwing it across the dorm room and strode out the door, Sandy, Chloe, and Avery were hanging out in Chloe's dorm before we put our prank plan in action.

The last few days has consisted of the school getting stuff ready for the art show, Justin avoiding me, me worrying about my feelings, and the girls apart from Avery teasing me about my maybe-crush.

In other words, it has been a long few days. Oh, and I'm too chicken to open Jesse's message. Pathetic.

I glared at the floor and rushed the rest of the way to Avery's dorm. Chloe spent the night over at Avery's last night and I've been hoping they get closer and become a couple, yes I am a suck up for cheesy gay romances.

You only like watching other people's love lives because you know you don't deserve one.

The voice has been more common, more overbearing since we came back from Byron Bay. I muttered to myself, "Shut up." Before raising my hand to the doorknob.

I opened the door to see Chloe sitting on a stool in front of a mirror while Avery held scissors up to her hair.

"What are you doing!?" I asked stricken, Sandy looked over at me beaming,

"Hey! We didn't see you at breakfast! Where were you?" She asked before hugging me, I shrugged and pointed at Chloe's long dark brown locks wet and hanging against her back as she grinned at Avery from the mirror's reflection.

"Avery told me that she thinks I might look better with shorter hair and curtain bangs! So, I'm letting her cut my hair." Chloe explained as Avery played with the wet tendrils of hair carefully.

"Uh... does she know what she's doing?" I asked warily, Chloe loved her hair and how her appearance was so it was... interesting that she would let Avery cut it.

"My mum's a hairdresser so I know enough, and I'm good at curtain bangs. And I think you look cute no matter the hairstyle I just think you'll look cuter with curtain bangs." Avery said the last bit to Chloe, adoration clear in her eyes but Chloe being oblivious as ever just smiled and nodded.

"Okay then! If you're mum's a hairdresser and you know how to do stuff why is your hair so...umm..." Chloe asked embarrassed. We all looked at Avery's black hair, in its signature messy high ponytail the one streak of teal like a lightning streak through the black colour. Her bangs didn't frame her face instead were choppy and playful.

Avery through her head back and laughed before joking, "I wanted my hair to be choppy and wild, not a perfect little button, just to piss my mum off!" We all laughed light heartedly at this, but I saw a flicker of hurt flash across Avery's dark eyes.

"Anyway, let's get this done while we go through the plan!" Sandy announced, Avery's dark skin looked darker in the light as she listed off,

"So, the classroom that Pervy Scurvy is in for the class Chlo is in, is free for the period before luckily. So, while Tally and I get the prank set up Sandy will stand guard giving off her good girl vibe, which we all know is a cover," We laughed as Sandy flipped Avery off before letting her continue,

"And then after the kids all come into class we'll give our dear Chlo one of those toy guns to shoot the air vent above Loner Boner Paul's desk which will drop the goo on him and when he sits down on the thumb tacks the glitter and feathers will eject on him! Oh, and Chlo will be getting all this on the camera Sandy will set up after Tal and I set up the prank! And when our favourite teacher leaves the room we'll be saying a few things about him over the loudspeakers while Sam distracts Angel!" Avery concluded, cutting Chloe's hair as she did.