----------------------------------------

Days go by without Connor being absent from school.  The school has been trying to get a hold of his parents, but they’ve been avoiding their calls and emails.  Tomika’s bust has been put on hiatus for the time being after her argument with Connor. She’s never been able to forgive herself, but she’s trying not to do anything she might regret.

        Nick does his best to not show any sign that he misses him, but what he said turned out to be right.  Nick really didn’t have anyone else to talk to but his family-friend. The popular girls seem to be satisfied with their big plan and how well it worked.  Eliza, though, isn’t too thrilled.

        “C’mon, Liz,” Heather says, “cheer up.  Trust me, I don’t think we did anything terrible to shake up Connor.”

        “He hasn’t been in school for three weeks, Heather.  Three weeks! What do think happened to him?”

        “Geez, Eliza, you’re such a buzzkill,” Chloe says.

        “Geez, Chloe, you just drove him to suicide!” Eliza shrieks.

        “You know, I’ve had it with your attitude, Eliza,” Chloe starts.  “You wanted to be in this group, and now you have to live by its rules.  If you can’t do that, I’m kicking you out.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

        “You can’t kick me out.  You’re not the leader!” Eliza explains.

        “But I am,” Heather adds, “and I agree with her.  It’s 2-1, Liz; you’re out.”

        Eliza gasps before pouting something inaudible and walks off heated.  Chloe feels ecstatic, but Heather starts to almost feel bad for Eliza before brushing it off.

        “Hey,” Chloe says, “I think we found our replacement for Eliza,” she points to Tomika walking down the hallway.

        Heather smiles, “Hey, Tommy!”

        Tomika looks up and notices Heather waving and reluctantly approaches.  “Yeah?”

        “We were thinking of letting you in the group,” Chloe explains.

        “Really?” Tomika’s eyes light up.

        “But you have to abide by the rules,” Heather adds.

        “Will do!” Tomika says with a big grin.  “Also, it’s Tomika.”

        The girls giggle as they continue to talk about what’s been happening at school recently.  Tomika tries her best to avoid talking about Connor when they do as it would just make her sad.  But luckily, they didn’t talk about him. Maybe this was her one ticket to popularity all along; she just had to wait for it.