“Cole refused to eliminate any of the girls last night,” Hayley said when I got in her car on Tuesday morning.

I frowned and focused intently on securing my seatbelt. I could feel Hayley’s eyes on me as she waited for a response, but I was still trying to process what she’d said. What did that even mean? I wasn’t sure whether to be happy or sad.

“Madi?” Hayley reached out and grabbed my arm when I failed to reply.

“I thought you were boycotting the rest of the contest,” I said, finally meeting her gaze.

“Think of it more as recon,” she said. “I was gathering intel so neither of us would be completely blindsided at school today.”

I didn’t mind that she’d watched the show; I just wasn’t sure if I was ready to hear what happened in the latest episode. It was tough to avoid True Love talk at school though, so I guess Hayley had a point.

“So, what happened?” I asked, resigning myself to the fact I’d find out one way or another.

“Cole had the hearts in his hand and was standing there ready to announce who the audience had selected when he scrunched them up and told the cameras he was refusing to choose. He told the girls that they were all still in the competition and that he would be making his final selection on Saturday at the dance.”

“Wait, so he’s not taking one of the girls to the formal?” I asked.

Hayley shrugged. “They didn’t exactly go into the details of what was planned. They said they’d be filming it live, so I guess we’ll find out at the dance on Saturday. You should have seen the look on Angus’ face. He obviously wasn’t expecting it.”

I bit my lower lip as I tried to figure out how to tell Hayley I wouldn’t be going to the formal. Knowing her, she’d probably stop the car and refuse to keep driving me to school until I agreed to go. I couldn’t keep it from her though, and I didn’t like to lie.

“I’m not going on Saturday,” I blurted out in a rush.

Hayley just laughed. “Of course you are. You got a dress weeks ago.”

“I was going with Jake back then,” I replied. “I just don’t feel up to it after everything that’s happened.”

“Don’t be silly, of course you’re still going,” Hayley replied. “It would be like dress cruelty to buy an outfit that hot only to leave it abandoned in your closet.”

I shook my head at her, a smile playing on my lips. Only Hayley could believe an unworn dress was unfair on the garment. It didn’t change how I felt though. But before I could try to argue, Hayley continued.

“Look, I know you’re going through a tough time right now. But you’re my best friend and I want you to be happy. We’ll have fun at the formal, just you and me, and it will help take your mind off the whole Cole thing. We can go stag together, and if you’re miserable, we’ll leave, go back to your house, eat our body weight in ice cream and finish that season of Riverdale. What do you think?”

“That you’re a pretty awesome friend.”

Hayley smiled. “I know. Does that mean you’re in?”

“How can I say no when the backup date is with ice cream?”

Hayley let out a little whoop in excitement. “Yes, girl. We are going to have so much fun. Although how ice cream is what convinced you and not cute boys on Riverdale, I'll never understand.”

When we entered the school, my day seemed to turn around a little more. Everyone had been watching me yesterday, but today they were all so focused on Cole's surprise announcement at the selection ceremony last night that I was barely noticed. It was really nice to be old news, though a couple of people did stop me in the hallway to tell me they still hoped that Cole and I would work out.

I was moving between classes when I somehow found myself trailing behind Laurie. She was with Brooke and Sally who were walking on either side of her and lapping up her every word. I considered slowing down so I didn’t have to share the same air with them, but then I was instinctively drawn closer when I heard what they were talking about.

“How do you even know your name was on the audience card?” Sally asked. Her voice was lowered, like she was worried about being overheard.

“Because I convinced Angus to put it there, obviously,” Laurie replied, flicking her long ponytail over her shoulder as she looked at her friend.

“And you think he did it?” Brooke slowly asked.

Laurie gave a little laugh. “He did it the previous week; why wouldn’t he do it this week?” She looked between the two of them before she continued. “Angus just wants a good show and more money raised. It didn’t take much to convince him that the viewers are watching because of me, and not the other girls.”

“But who really won the audience vote?” asked Brooke.

“Madi, of course,” Laurie snapped. “They must only be voting for her out of pity. But she has quit the show now anyway, so who cares.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and I couldn’t stop myself from calling out from behind Laurie.

“You cheated to stay in the competition?” I asked.

Laurie swiftly turned and her eyes narrowed on me. “Speak of the devil. I’d hardly call it cheating.”

“What would you call it then?”

She folded her arms over her chest, a smug smile forming on her lips. “Good television,” she replied. “You almost ruined the show, and I saved it.”

I shook my head at her. “It’s a charity dating contest, Laurie. It’s pretty sad you felt the need to cheat.”

Laurie laughed. “This coming from Miss Unfortunate herself? What’s your sob story this week? Oh yeah, that’s right. Cole wants me not you.”

“Laurie…” Brooke warned.

“Shut it, B,” Laurie hissed.

Brooke took her sister’s arm though and yanked her around so they were facing each other. “Madi doesn’t deserve any more of your crap, so I think you need to be the one to shut it. You know the kind of hell she went through last year after you spread all those rumors about her because of the list. Then you went and destroyed her locker. Hasn’t she had enough?”

Laurie stood, her mouth wide as she stared at her twin. Brooke had always seemed to follow along with whatever Laurie wanted, but I guess she’d finally had enough.

As her words started to sink in, I felt the blood rush from my skin. “You were behind all those names I was called last year?” I asked. I felt cold and dizzy, like I was losing touch with reality. Hayley had always suspected that Laurie was the one who encouraged the girls to call me names after the list came out.

“Now look what you’ve done,” Laurie barked at her sister. But Brooke walked away from her and came to stand at my side.

“Come on, Madi, let’s get out of here,” Brooke murmured.

I paused though and set my eyes on Laurie. She was looking down her nose at me, not an ounce of remorse in her eyes. I wanted to run away, but I knew I had to say what I was thinking or I’d regret it later.

“Brooke’s right. I’ve never done anything to you, and I don’t deserve your crap,” I started. I took a deep breath in before I continued. “I could plot my revenge or try to fight you over all the things you’ve done to me, but the truth is that I no longer care what you think or what whispers you spread through the school. If there is one thing I have begun to realize over these last few weeks, it’s that I don’t need anyone else’s approval. And I certainly don’t need yours.”

I let out a breath, feeling suddenly lighter. Laurie seemed surprised I’d fought back, but she also looked ready to start hurling more fury and vitriol at me.

“You ready?” Brooke asked.

I nodded and let her guide me away from Laurie before she could continue to flare the argument. It was only once we started to move away that I noticed a crowd had formed. Some kids had their camera phones out, and I could hear angry whispers about Laurie cheating on True Love. I tried to ignore it all though, because right now it wasn’t my problem.

“What class do you have now?” Brooke asked once we’d moved to another corridor.

“Art,” I replied. “But I’m almost done with my current project, so it won’t matter if I’m a little late.”

Brooke nodded and glanced back the way we had come.

“Thank you for standing up for me,” I said.

Brooke let out an uneasy laugh. “I’m sure I’ll wake up tomorrow and all my lipsticks will be broken, but it felt good to finally put my sister in her place.”

“I’m sorry if I put you in an awkward position,” I said.

She waved my apology off though. “Nah, Laurie needed a bit of a reality check, and I really am fed up with all the mean things she does.” Brooke tilted her head as she looked at me, as though she was considering something. She then gave a little nod as if her mind were made up before she spoke again. “You know that nothing happened between Laurie and Cole on the camping trip, right?”

“It didn’t look like nothing,” I said.

Brooke lifted her eyes to the ceiling like I was an idiot. “My sister is a master of manipulation. She can make almost any situation look the way she wants it.”

“She was in her underwear and Cole was shirtless,” I murmured.

Brooke shrugged. “I only know what Laurie told me the next day,” she replied. “She was all pissy when she got home because Cole had rejected her yet again. You don’t have to believe me, but maybe you should talk to Cole and hear him out?”

My stomach was doing flips as I listened to her. I so badly wanted to believe what she said, but I wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to risk my heart with Cole one more time.

“I’ve got to get to class,” Brooke said.

I touched her arm, causing her to pause and look at me. “Why are you telling me this?” I asked.

“Because unbeknownst to Laurie, I’m team Cadi,” Brooke replied with a grin before walking off.

I stood there watching her walk away, with far too many emotions racing through me. Maybe Brooke was right and I should talk to Cole and give him a chance to explain. But I knew I couldn’t do it while the competition was still on. My heart couldn’t take it if I had to watch him choose someone else, but could I handle it if Cole was innocent and I had wrongly pushed him away?

I didn’t know what the right answer was or what option I should take. Things would all calm down once the competition was over, so perhaps waiting to talk to Cole would be best. I set off toward art feeling a little more confident that I was making the right call.

I just hoped that when we finally talked it wasn’t too late.