It's been two weeks since the party. Dad punished me the following week. I spent it coming straight home from school, with no friends. However, it's not like they were hanging out with me anyway. I deserved the punishment. Dad wasn't too mad, and he'd been there before as a teen. He told me I should make better choices when I'm upset. He was, however, happy that I made it home safely and that Flint didn't drink.

As for Flint and me, he's been a little weird. We don't talk much other than through text. I'm pretty sure he was turned off by my behavior, and to be honest. I am too. Our class activities have been individual projects only, so we don't say much in class either.

Even with the little interaction, I decided to go to his family picnic tomorrow. I'm looking forward to escaping town for a bit to clear my head. It's been a long two weeks of being ignored by Cam and Rose. Tanya tiptoes around me. I've been spending time in the music room at home, and it's been really great for relieving my stress. I either spend hours banging on the drums or singing. I've sent a few of my songs to Flint, and so far, he's given me some amazing tips and even said he took one of them and started writing lyrics to it.

It's Friday afternoon, and I just finished doing some editing for Mr. Shepherd for the newspaper. It's ready for publication and will go out next Friday. I'm looking forward to this semester's issue. We publish them at the end of each semester as a review of what is going on. After this one, we have one more at the end of the year, and I'm a little sad that it will be the last one I'll write for the Brooke Wood High Gazette.

I head towards the parking lot when two familiar voices echo in the hallway. I press my back against the wall and listen in from the other side of the hallway.

"Rose, you have to tell her, or I will."

I've never heard Tanya use that tone with Rose before. I may have only heard one sentence, but I'm almost positive that the "her" they are speaking of is me.

"I can't...."

"Rose, she's supposed to be our best friend. I've kept this secret from her for what feels like a lifetime. I think it's time you came clean. She deserves to know what he's done, so she can officially end it," Tanya says.

"He says they've broken up."

The words that leave her mouth cause a sharp pain in my chest. I'm not sad that Cam thinks we're already broken up. It's more so that my best friends have been keeping a major secret from me. I can't wrap my head around it or my heart.

"And anyway, she'll hate me forever. So, it's better to let her think that I don't want to be her friend anymore." She sniffles.

"Look, I know she'll be pissed, and I don't know what she'll-"

"That's just it. She'll hate me," Rose says.

She's having a hard time continuing as the sobs become more frequent and they echo through the empty halls.

"This has been going on since January. She has a right to know...."

What happened in January? That was the party and the night of the Battle of The Bands. All of them started acting strangely after that night. Nausea rises in my stomach. I have to know what they are talking about. I'm tired of being the odd man out. If I'm ever going to get anywhere with Flint, I need to settle things with my friends first.

"I can't tell her...."

"Tell me what?" I step out from behind the corner, and both of them jump.

Rose has her back towards me. Her body stiffens at my voice. She spins slowly. Tears running down her cheeks.

"Marnie..." she starts to say.

"Tell me what?" I repeat.

She swallows hard as I step closer.

"She's been with Cam more than once since January!" Tanya shouts. Her shoulders slump immediately after. Worried lines crease her forehead, and her eyes glaze over with mist. Tanya hates when people are mad at her, she obsesses over it until something is resolved, but from the looks of it, this one will take a while.

I glare at the two of them. "And you both thought that you were... what? Protecting me? What have I ever done to deserve this? Am I that bad of a person?" Now it's my turn for my voice to crack. "I know I can be a handful at times, but I have always been there for both of you. So now I understand why everyone has been acting so weird."

"Marnie, let us explain-" Tanya starts to say.

"You've been lying to me since January. January," I say, trying to hold in a sob. "Friends don't do that shit."

I can't gather the courage to stand in front of them any longer, but what I can gather is the wrath I'm about to throw at Cam. I spin and ignore Tanya's voice calling out to me. Rose and I are done, forever. I'll need some time to forgive Tanya. I race to find Cam. It's baseball season, and practice is starting in a few minutes.

This will be the easy part. First, I wipe the tears from my eyes, not wanting him to think they are for him. I could never shed a tear for him. Then, without warning, I pull open the boys' locker room doors in the gym. "Cameron!" I yell.

A few guys in the first row of lockers look over. Most of them only have towels covering their lower half. However, one of them is too big for their towel and shows a little bit of everything.

"He's on the field," one of the guys tells me.

"Thanks."

I head to the field to do what I should have done a long time ago. I push open the doors, and a rush of fresh air hits me. The sun is intense today, and the fifty-five-degree weather feels much hotter. Either that or I'm having a hot flash.

I recognize the back of his curly head right away. He's bringing some equipment towards the school and spots me walking up.

"I need to talk to Cam in private."

He's with two other guys, ones I know but am not friendly with. They both smirk, and I would love to just slap it off their faces. I'm so angry. My hands ball into fists as the two of them scatter, leaving Cam defenseless with me and my rage.

"I can't believe you cheated on me with my best friend and didn't think you should tell me."

His eyes get large at the news like he thought I'd never find out. "Marnie, you don't-"

"I don't... what? I don't understand. Please enlighten me. What don't I understand?"

He steps forward. I hold my hand out and push lightly at his chest. I don't want him anywhere near me.

"You've changed, Marnie." His eyes refuse to focus on me. He's got them everywhere, the sky, the trees across the street, everywhere, but never on me.

"I've changed? Do you think I didn't notice how weird everyone was around me? You and Rose, even Tanya, all avoided me. You all did, especially when I needed you the most. So don't tell me I've changed. I've always been me. She's been right here all along, but she was afraid to show herself because of reasons like this."

"You are not the girl I fell in love with."

"I told you, the night at the movies, that I am her, and you just never saw past what was on the outside." I pause. "You know what's funny?"

I take two steps back.

"I don't feel sad about breaking up with you. I'm relieved, to be honest. I've been looking for a way out. I want someone to see me for me and not care that I like weird music or dress a little differently. So, goodbye, Cam. It's been fun, but I'm over it."

He's about to open his mouth to say something, but I turn away and ignore him as he calls for me to come back. I don't dare glance back because I think it will hurt more than I put on if I do.

By the time I get home, the weight of everything happening crashes down. My friends have been lying to me for months. They've all gone behind my back. I thought I was one of them, but in reality, I've been fooling myself this whole time. I know I'm not innocent in all of this. I did kiss Flint while Cam and I were still technically together. It's not the same, though; he was with her. Come to think of it. I wonder how many other girls he's been seeing behind my back. There's been plenty I can think of.

I'm so angry, frustrated, and incredibly heartbroken by this whole thing that when it's time for bed, I can't force myself to sleep. I have to wake up early and wait for Flint to pick me up. I roll to my right, then to my left. I can't get comfortable. I wish I could shut my brain off, but I can't. There's only one person in my life right now who can do that for me. I don't know what else to do, so I send him a quick text, even though it's close to four in the morning.

Me: Be my escape....

I hold the phone to my chest, hoping he wakes up. I didn't realize how much I relied on him and needed him in my life until now. I hope it's not too late. It takes several minutes before the message comes through.

Flint: Relient K. And I'm already on my way.

I quickly throw on some clothes and dress in layers in case it's cold today. It's supposed to reach the upper sixties, which will be nice for an outdoor event this time of year. I grab my messenger bag and fill it with extra clothes and everything for the picnic today. I stand by the window and wait for his car to pull up outside. I don't have to climb down my balcony window since dad knows I'm going today, but I'd rather not wake anyone if I can help it.

The moment his car pulls up, my heart races in my chest. I'm more nervous than usual because now that I'm officially free from Cam, there's nothing stopping things from happening between Flint and myself. So, I climb down, and the moment my feet hit the ground, I run.

I thought the moment I got home, I'd cry, but I never did. My eyes remained dry even when my heart was hurting. Now, running through the damp front lawn towards Flint, I can feel the tears already rolling down my cheeks. By the time I get to the driveway, he's standing outside his car pressed against the passenger side. His smile fades when his eyes land on me. He pushes himself off the car as I tackle him like an angry football player. He stumbles a bit but keeps us both standing. His arms wrap around my body as my messenger bag falls to the ground. He reaches up and runs his hands through my hair, his cheek resting against the top of my head.

I squeeze him tighter. Some of these tears aren't for what's happening with my friends and Cam. It's because I've grown to realize that I've never felt like this about anyone before, not even with Cam. My feelings for Flint terrify me to the core. I loved Cam, but never this deeply. There's no way I could love Flint - that's impossible. Fear hits me. I'm afraid I'll hurt Flint in the end. I've already done damage, and I hate myself for it. I ball his gray sweatshirt into my fist and tug him towards me. I need him closer, but he's already as close as he can get.

"Hey," his voice is soft with concern.

"I'm sorry," I whisper into his shirt.

"Don't be sorry. What's going on?"

It takes me a few seconds before I can find the courage to glance up, and when I do, I'm met with concerned blue eyes. He's staring at me again, in that way, and no matter how nice it feels, it's scary to have someone like you so much.

"He cheated on me with Rose," I sob.

"Cameron?"

I've never heard him use his full name before. His voice has so much venom in it. I'm afraid he's going to find Cam and rip his pretty little head off.

I nod. "I broke up with him, although he was already telling people it was over. But, God, how could I have been so stupid? They had been acting weird for months. If I had just gone with my gut, things would be different right now. But, instead, all I cared about was what people thought of me. I've hurt you, Flint and I'm so sorry...."

I'm rambling, and I can't help it. He reaches his hand up and rests it gently on the side of my cheek.

"Marnie, you were just trying to see the good in him. You loved him. There's nothing wrong with giving people a second chance, you tried, and he failed you. You wanted to believe that everything was okay because being popular and having many friends was the norm for you; having it taken away must be terrifying. There's no reason to be sorry. I'm here, and I'm not angry with you."

I keep my eyes focused on him because it's the only thing keeping me from completely breaking down right there in his arms.

"I hate myself... I don't even...." I whisper.

His thumb rubs lightly against the side of my cheek, and I lean into his touch. The urge to get closer is more than before.

"Relax. You have every right to be emotional right now. That's a lot to take in at once. It's not your fault he cheated on you."

He takes his hand off my face and pulls me in for another hug. I nod into his chest as he runs his hands through my hair again. I close my eyes, allowing him to keep me calm; it's working. I could just stay in his arms forever and be happy. I didn't realize how badly I was craving his touch until this moment.

"You should probably walk away from whatever we have," I whisper. "I've hurt you already, and I can't guarantee I won't hurt you in the future."

"Marnie, I'm okay. I promise you're not hurting me. I shouldn't have pushed you."

A few months ago, I would have never imagined the one comforting me through all of this would be Flint Rogers. Between the thing with dad and now this, he's been there for me. I don't know how it ended up like this, but I'm thankful for him and everything he's done for me. I wish there were some way I could repay him for it all.

"Hey, are you hungry?" he asks.

I shrug." If I am, I don't feel it."

"Let's get something to eat. We can go right to my house after. My mom should be home from her shift by then, and we'll hop into her van and head out."

"Are you sure you still want me to go?"

He takes my face in his hands and forces me to look at him.

"I've never been so sure," he whispers, then leans in and gently kisses me.