Well, I wanted to let this lie and waste away, but a spike in Depression is forcing me forward to post what I had of the next chapter, eh. Life really is a bitch isn't it.

Mental exercise I suppose, hopefully this will help me in the future.

Because I feel like I'm drowning all over again.

-YARN

Fuck.

Fuck!

FUCK!

No way.

No goddamn way she could do this.

I had to have a way out.

She can't leash me.

I won't let her.

Not like this.

I took a slow and steadying breath, and swallowed down through a suddenly dry throat, "I could simply claim I don't feel the same. Harder to raise bad rep that lower a good one, mine is as low as I can get and by they way; if people think bad boy appeal is your thing, you're gonna be harassed by all the lowlifes. I can speak publicly about how you are; you don't seem to understand just how much I can RUIN you."

Cinder hummed thoughtfully, "Would anyone believe you? You lashed out in a rage towards everyone and anyone you could when you were dragged out into the spotlight."

"Would that really matter to you?" I growled, "The potential risk I pose is too great a threat. If I even being to plant the faintest hint that you aren't as immaculate and tight as you need people to believe, you won't risk it. You may not know it - which I doubt - but plenty of people resent those in the top bracket of popularity. You're obsessed with being the best there is, and seeming as though you have no faults. I don't need to work that hard or try to garner too much support, I just need to plant the ideas in the right heads and let the gossip network you so need do the rest, even your 'info twins' can't squash a rumor that juicy. Why should they cling to me when they can apparently imitate and get the same result? People are desperate enough to dye their hair and wear contacts if they think it's my looks, just for the chance with you. I wouldn't have to do much to make it too much trouble."

"You won't try it." She murmured, eyes glinting.

"Won't I?" I hissed, grinning darkly, "You know what I HATE about my mom and dad?"

"Hm?" She replied.

"They love me way, way, way too much. If I even hint that changing schools would be a better move…" I tilted my head and pursed my lips, before putting on a serene smile, "They''ll move me right out of your little reach. You have a guy hit your reputation badly, force people to bother you, and best of all, you'll have gained nothing over this little game of leverage we are in."

"You won't do that though," She riposted calmly, "Aside from changing schools and all the hassles that would entail, Signal is a premier private high school, you're parents aren't to just let all that money they've paid go down the drain."

She was right, my mother and father were very conscious of how much money was used to make me slog through three years of Signal's excellent education. My family weren't hurting for money in any way, but they never wasted money.

But she wasn't sure, and therein lay my way out.

"Can you say that with absolute certainty?" I murmured, expression a mask of calm threat, "Are you one-hundred percent certain they won't? If it's even one percent off, you won't try it, because you MIGHT lose."

Cinder tilted her head coyly, "Well, I do hope you can back that up, it definitely wouldn't be fun if you can't fight back. Don't worry, I am not without my mercy Jaune. You have one week."

With that she strutted off and her two cronies followed her away, leaving me grumbling in the street.

The first thing I did when I got home is flop facedown on my bed.

And scream into my pillow.

Thank god for the muffling that made me sound like I was groaning.

When I let that all out I rolled onto my back and looked at my ceiling.

"Three years of staying normal." I mumbled, "Three whole years of effort gone within weeks."