My mind won't shut off. Sleep is not in my near future. Every time I close my eyes visions of the fight plague me. It hurts watching it over and over, but my mind likes to torture me with everything bad in my life. My restlessness has led to scrolling endlessly on social media, even though the same posts come up over and over, because no one is on this early in the morning. The fight and my famous fall has already gone viral.

Not sleeping also means that the box of letters to my mom is out on the bed. I've googled the address more times than I can count. She's not far from us, only a two and a half hour drive north. I've spent many sleepless nights before I had a car staring at bus tickets. Now that I have a car it takes everything in me not to jump up and drive over there. With the latest scandal the urge to find her has increased. I want to know her story too.

I'm pulled from my thoughts by a text.

Flint: Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair...

The tension in my body melts into a puddle of nothing. What Dom said to me in the car tonight hit me, and now I have to make the ultimate decision. Should I bring this new friendship to the surface or keep it hidden and risk losing something that could be kind of great?

Me: Why are you awake?

The three dots make my heart race with a desire I didn't realize was festering inside me.

Flint: Can't stop thinking about what happened. Are you okay?

That's the big question of the night. Am I okay? No. Will I be? Of course. Time heals all wounds, doesn't it?

Me: Yeah... no... maybe?

Flint: Why is your light still on?

I fly out of bed and pad over to my window that overlooks the driveway. I pull aside the white sheer curtains and peek down. Sure enough Flint's car is out on the street. The tiny gymnasts in my belly start tumbling around again, it's hard to ignore. I lean back, pinning the curtain, then go back to typing a message.

Me: Are you stalking me?

I can't help that I have a smile on my face.

Flint: I was driving around the Heights to clear my head. Your house is on my way to the bridge.

I type back right away.

Me: I can't sleep.

Flint: Wanna go for a drive?

There are so many reasons I shouldn't go on a drive with Flint Rogers, but there's also a lot of reasons I should. The endless possibilities of what could happen make my heart hammer harder inside my chest. It's like he's some thrilling adventure that I can't stay away from.

I don't bother to change out of my sweatpants, and an old tee. I do throw on a bra just for safe measures, and top it off with an old grey Brooke Wood High hoodie, then slip into my converses. The thought of shoes brings me back to the assignment that changed everything between us. This entire time even when I thought he hated me, I never had to pretend to be someone different. He was okay with the girl I was hiding. I love that about him.

I slip out the front door and set the alarm before jetting outside. Flint is leaning against the passenger side of his car, arms crossed at his chest. His appearance takes my breath away and I have to take a moment to collect myself before moving forward. I stop inches away and reach up to touch his swollen face. He doesn't wince or pull back, but releases a shaky uneven breath.

"I expected to come out here and find you carrying a boombox over your shoulder," I joke.

He smiles, like he gets my old-school movie reference, then leans into my touch. Snapping out of it I pull away. I need to get my heart under control before I do things like that.

"Where to?" I ask, needing to find something else to do other than touch him.

He pushes off the car and opens the door for me. I lift a brow, no one has ever opened a door for me.

"Where's your favorite place?"

It's a breath of fresh air to have someone ask what I want to do. Cam usually calls and says; hey, picking you up in ten for the batting cages or hey, picking you up for that new action movie I've been dying to see.

Flint keeps his eyes on me while he waits for an answer.

"Community Beach, field five. From there you can see the lights dancing along the water from the mainland."

He smiles. "That's the best spot on the whole island."

I nod in agreement as I slide inside. I grip the sides of the seat and close my eyes breathing in deep. My eyes shoot open as the driver's side door pulls open. He watches me for a brief moment, before putting the keys in the ignition.

We drive along Bay Highway. From here is a perfect view of the mainland. The lights from across the way light up the night. I keep my eyes out the window, and watch the tiny swells of water lap against the shore. Music plays softly in the background, both of us sing along.

We pull into a deserted field five. I love how they don't close this one section off so that if you go driving around at all hours of the night you have a spot to just sit and reflect on everything. It's my favorite place to relax.

He parks the car, and reaches behind his seat for something. He pulls out a small gift bag. "I know it's technically not your birthday anymore, but here, this is for you."

He sets it on my lap and patiently waits for me to open it. With him hoovering I feel like I don't have a choice. Inside the bag is a gift card for Lou's tattoo shop.

"You didn't have to, I can afford..."

"I know," he cuts in. "Think of it as the friend discount."

I push the box back at him. "I can't take this from you Flint, there's no way you can..."

"Afford it?" There's an edge to his voice. "It's fine, Marnie, I worked some extra hours."

Flint takes both of his hands and wraps them around mine. My heart skips several beats from his touch. "Get something good, okay?"

He lets go of me and leans back in his seat, closing his eyes like everything happening in this moment is far too much for him to handle. I can't control my leg, it starts to bounce without me wanting it to. The car begins to shake. Flint rests his hand on top of my knee and it slows almost instantly.

"Just say thank you and get over it." He smirks, trying to break the tension in the car.

"Thank you," I whisper, staring at his hand still resting on my knee.

The quiet is calming. I lean back and take in the crashing of the waves and the soft sounds of our breathing falling in sync with each other. I shift my hand and rest it on top of his, with the weight of it, he grips tighter onto my leg. I don't mind, it's the most comforting touch I've felt in a while.

"Want to get out?" he asks, breaking the silence.

"Are you nuts? It's freezing."

He pulls away and throws open the door. A soft breeze flows through and I shiver.

"It's not that bad. I'll grab a blanket from the trunk," he says.

Before I can protest he's out of the car and at the back rummaging through the trunk. He slams it shut and seconds later my door opens. I step out, the light wind whips my hair around. He's right, it's almost the perfect winter night.

In his arms he's gathered two large blankets. One he lays on top of the sand, the other he drapes over my shoulders. He rubs the sides of my arms to warm me up, and from his position behind me I feel the weight of him against my back. His lips are close enough to graze the tips of my ear. He steps away and sits beside me on the blanket. I lower myself next to him. Silence hangs in the air between us again, but everything about this night feels right.

"Are you okay?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"Fine," he snaps, and immediately recoils.

I shift my body to give him space. I shouldn't do it, but I urge on. "It's the same eye isn't it?" I focus all of my attention on his face, wanting to make it all better, but knowing I can't.

"I said I'm okay." He raises his voice again.

Out of all my birthday's, this has been the hardest one. I thought my fifth birthday was the worst, as it was the first year mom wasn't around. This one tops them all, between the stuff with dad and Lucille, Dom's weirdness, my friends, the fight tonight, and my feelings for Flint; it's a lot for me to handle. If I had never seen something good in Flint we wouldn't be here and he wouldn't be hurt right now.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to talk about my father." He runs a hand through his hair, as it blows around.

"Can I ask one thing?"

He nods, staring off at the water.

"Does he hurt you a lot? I'm sorry."

He takes a deep breath and sighs. "Normally he doesn't, but it's been getting worse. I'm not totally innocent in it all. I've been short tempered more than usual and so has he. He's never home, he's always at the bar with his friends. Mom tells me to back off, but how can I? She does everything for us, it's not fair." He lowers his head and plays with the sand in front of him.

I like how he's opening up to me.

"Why doesn't she just leave?"

"He threatens her, a lot."

He refuses to look at me.

"Call the police!" I shout.

"They won't do shit," he says.

"He hit you!"

Tears well up in my eyes. It's not my battle, but the idea of someone abusing their own flesh and blood angers me to the core. I'm angry his mom has to work two jobs and that she can't enjoy time with her sons, who she clearly loves more than anything. I care about him and his family more than I care to admit.

"Can we change the subject?" he pleads.

I zip my mouth, because I don't want to push him. I don't want to fight, there's been enough of that tonight. Shifting back towards him I allow my side to bump into him. The tightness in his shoulders falls at my touch.

"You should break up with him." He continues playing with the sand, watching it fall through his fingers.

"Flint!" I'm shocked by his outburst.

"Just saying. I see the way he..."

"Stop!" I hold up a hand. Now it's my turn to tell him to change the subject.

Flint sighs. "Angels fall from the sky," he sings in a whisper.

"Take my broken wings and help me fly." My voice cracks on the word fly.

He glances over and stops my tears before they fall. His thumb gently wipes them away before they have the chance to cascade down. A building sob releases. Without even questioning me he wraps an arm around my shoulders and tugs me into his chest. My head fits perfectly in the crook of his arm. With his other hand he lifts my chin and gently caresses my jawline with his thumb. I fall into his touch, closing my eyes, and wishing we could stay here like this, forever.

My eyes flicker down to his lips. I can't help wondering what it would be like to press my own against them.They are very inviting. I want to breathe him in and feel something other than sadness. What if kissing him could take all the pain away? Even if for a single moment.

"Please tell me I'm not alone here," he whispers.

Admitting all of that outloud is a scary thought. It feels wrong, but at the same time I told Cam we needed a break, but it still feels so wrong. No - scratch that - this moment feels more right than anything has ever felt in my life.

"I can't."

"Admit it, you keep trying to get closer and closer. I feel it."

He's not wrong. I can't get close enough. I keep pushing my body into him, urging him to never let go. I need time to figure out what I want and how I can have all of it. That's so selfish of me.

He gently sings the lyrics to Papa Roach's song, "No Matter What" against my trembling lips. The lyrics are so fitting.

He finishes the lyrics as our lips brush lightly against each other. My heart explodes with a happiness that I've never felt before. Realization strikes me. "I can't." My voice breaks.

I pinch my eyes closed and allow my forehead to rest against his. I place my hand on his chest, feeling it rise up and down in slow large movements.

"He doesn't care about your feelings at all, not the way I do."

"I don't know what I want." My temples throb with explosive pressure.

Flint sighs. "Then what is this?" He points between the two of us. "The way you are looking at me right now. What is that?"

I bite down hard on my lip and stare right into those baby blues. His breath lingers on my lips causing not only flutters, but a crazy tingling sensation in that lower area. I try to stop the feeling by crossing my legs tight. It's a new sensation, one that's driving me over the edge.

"I'm looking at a friend," I whisper, trying to convince myself that it's true.

"Oh, so I made it to the friend zone?"

"Dude," I say, pulling away.

"What?" he asks.

He growls and with shaky hands he tosses a tiny pebble towards the water.

"I don't know what I'm feeling right now. I'm so confused about everything. I can't even think straight."

"Just kiss me, that'll straighten you out." In the glow of parking lot lights I catch his cheeks flush with a soft shade of pink.

"Flint, no! Take me home!" I yell, but don't budge.

He takes my face in his hands and pulls me towards him. His lips gently tickle mine and I can't hold back any longer. He leans in first, but I'm just as eager to let him get a taste. I was right about one thing, all the pain of the past few weeks has subsided, and the whole world slips away, leaving only Flint and I.

"Marnie," he whispers my name, and I press harder against him.

His mouth forms an "O" allowing my tongue to slip through. My entire body melts into his. Behind his kiss there's some urgency, but they are slow, like he's trying to savor the moment. If this is what love feels like, make the world stop, because I'm getting off here. My heart wants more, but my mind is screaming at me to pull away. When I do we're both breathing heavily like we ran a marathon.

He stands and the earth spins and shifts under me. I need something to hold onto. As if the universe is listening, when I glance to the right his hand is there waiting for me to take it. "C'mon Marnie," he says. "Let's get you home."