She still hadn't heard from Stacey by the time Monday morning rolled around, so she knew for sure things were done as far as their friendship. Jessica took the bus to school, assuming Stacey wouldn't want to give her a ride. She was nervous about going to her first period class since Stacey sat right next to her, she thought it would be akward.

When she got the class she was relieved that Stacey wasn't there yet. She quietly took her seat, and took her notebook out of her bookbag. Just as she was aligning her pencil and pen on her desk as she did ever morning, Stacey entered the classroom.

Jessica sucked in a deep breath, and tried to avoid eye contact with her. She fingered through her notebook pretending to be looking for her homework assignment. She felt silly pretending to look for her assignment knowing all along it was in the front pocket of her binder.

"Hey." Stacey said plopping down next to her in her seat.

"Hey." Jessica responded watching Stacey chew on her nails.

Jessica didn't know what to say to her. She couldn't figure out if Stacey was upset with her or not, she she decided to keep quiet.

Stacey layed her head on her desk, and Jessica watched tears roll out of her eyes.

'What's wrong with her?'

Jessica didn't know if she should ask Stacey what was wrong, or just let her be.

Instead of saying anything Jessica just handed her a pack of kleenex that she kept in her bookbag.

"Thankyou." Stacey sobbed into the tissue.

"Are you okay?" Jessica finally asked.

Stacey shook her head no, and wiped her eyes with the tissue.

"I will talk to you after class." Stacey said.

Jessica nodded her head in agreeance while wondering what she wanted to discuss.

"Class settle down." Her teacher said upon entering the classroom.

*****************************************

After class Stacey opted to drive off of school's campus to talk with Jessica, and since it was their lunch period she didn't mind.

Jessica had no clue where Stacey was taking her, but she was just happy to be around her so she remained quiet.

"I need your help." Stacey finally said after pulling up into an empty parking lot to an abandoned grocery store.

Stacey got out of the car, and Jessica followed her.

"With what?" An inquisitive Jessica asked.

Stacey sat on the hood of her car, and layed back so that her back was resting on the windshield. She stared up at the sky, and rested both her hands behind her head.

Jessica just stood there staring at Stacey wondering what she needed her help with. No one had ever asked Jessica for help with anything before, no one ever even wanted to be bothered with her...especially not  her peers.

"It's Claire." Stacey said.

"Who's Claire?" Jessica asked unsure as to who Stacey was referring to.

"Claire Miller...from school." She answered before letting out a long sigh.

Jessica had no clue that Stacey even associated herself with Claire Miller. Claire was one of the most popular girls at their school. She always had the latest clothes, hairstyles, and overall just seemed perfect. She was captain of the cheerleading team, student body president, and just your overall orange county spoiled kid.

"What about her?" Jessica asked.

Stacey sat up and rested her head on her knees.

"She's been giving me real problems." She said. "Maybe because I'm the knew kid." She said shrugging her shoulders.

"What kind of problems?"

"She's been spreading awful rumors about me!" Stacey head wiping her tear filled eyes. "She's giving me a bad name at school, and I can't take it anymore."

Jessica hated seeing Stacey hurt like this, she couldn't believe Claire was spreading rumors about her friend.

"I hate her!" Stacey yelled banging her fist onto the car. 

Jessica had never seen Stacey so riled up before, and it scared her. She could tell this really bothered her, and it pained Jessica to see her so upset.

"So what can I do to help?" Jessica asked.

A look appeared in Stacey's eyes that Jessica had never seen before. Jessica watched a small smile creep across her face, that made her shiver. In that moment Jessica noticed that something was very different about Stacey. She didn't appear to to be the same sweet girl that Jessica had known.

"If you follow my instructions exactly everything will turn out okay, if you don't we could both wind up in jail." Stacey said.

Jessica's eyes widened with fear, as she looked at Stacey who appeared to be staring into space.

'Would could she possibly have in mind?' Jessica thought.

"Jessica your the only friend I have, and I'm really counting on you." She said sliding off the car and facing Jessica.

Jessica nodded her head unsure of what to say.

"People like Claire deserve to be punished for how they treat people like you and me." She said. "She even makes fun of you and me at the lunch table with her friends."

None of that suprised Jessica she was use to being made fun of, especially from people like Claire. All through highschool she was teased because of her looks, and her inability to communicate with her peers.

"We have to teach them all a lesson." Stacey said. "Are you with me?"

"Yes." Jessica answered unsure of that she was getting herself into.