On Tuesday Mack was waiting for me at the door in science.  I completely blanked him when he said, "Hello."

As soon as the teacher had us break into groups so we could work on our project again, Mack said, "I'm getting the sense that you don't like me."

"No, really?" I whispered, knowing the teacher was watching us.  I copied down more notes to put on the poster board.  Our project was to show a very detailed water cycle.  And so far, I hadn't a chance to work on it with Mack constantly looming over me.  

"You may have heard some things about me," he blocked my hand from reaching my pencil, forcing me to look into his icy blue eyes, "but I'm actually a really nice guy." 

I snorted, wiping the smirk off his face.  The teacher shot us a look.  

"I'm serious," he said.  I rolled my eyes.  I didn't believe a word Mack said.  Thoughts of the sleepover at Rose's house clouded my brain and I forgot what I was supposed to be writing.  

He'll kiss you but he won't miss you.

 Why did I care what Lexie thought?  If he wanted a girl, he might as well take her for all I care.  

But the thought of him kissing Lexie made me shudder.  

"Maybe later we could meet up and get coffee to work on the project," he insisted, taking the pencil from my hand and twirling it in his fingers.  The boy smirked.  "It wouldn't be for very long."  Even though he was letting me make the decision, Mack always found a way to make it seem like he was fully in charge, and I had to give in.  

"I'm very busy this week."  Lies.  "And every other week," I added.  

"You must not have any time to do anything fun with this crazy schedule of yours.  No wonder you're so uptight." he smirked, and offered my pencil back to me.  I rarely think violent thoughts, but it was incredibly tempting to take my pencil and stab his stupid little hand.  

After class, my iPod touch vibrated in my locker.  At first I was worried that something was wrong with Bridget, but then I realized, with joy, it was from Adam.  

Hey, Hadley. 

I'm coming home early, and I was wondering if you wanted to meet me at Starbucks tonight to catch up.  We wouldn't stay out very late, but I'm afraid that if I don't see you then, I won't be able to see you again for awhile.  

Send me a text. 

Adam :)

My heart warmed instantly.  He wanted to see me.  And after so long...

I immediately replied, not caring if I was going to be late for my next class.  

I'll be there right after school. 

Then I felt that same annoying presence behind me.  

"What's up?" Mack asked, before I slammed my locker hard and walked away down the hall.  He was left in the hallway, all alone.  

Maybe I was uptight, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of admitting it.  

I didn't take the bus home.  It would take forever to wait for Bridget to come and pick me up and take me to Starbucks.  It was a gloomy but warm September evening, and my heart grew happier with every step.  I felt like I hadn't seen him in ages.  

Please don't be late, I prayed.  Please show up.  Don't make me walk home alone.

I didn't see Adam when I first arrived, but I wasn't worried.  He promised he would meet me. 

Adam hasn't been keeping promises much lately.  

 I texted Adam, just so I didn't look like a complete loser sitting alone.  Hey, I'm at Starbucks.  You coming?  Clicking my phone off, I sat and waited, not even bothering to order anything.  Later, the woman working at the front counter chided me for it.  I got dark hot chocolate.  

Drumming my fingers on the table and sipping my now lukewarm hot chocolate, I didn't notice the person standing beside me until it was too late.  

"Sitting alone and waiting must take up so much of your schedule.  No wonder you don't have anytime to see me!" Mack said, plopping himself down on the chair opposite me.  I rolled my eyes.  

"What are you doing here?"

"You know, getting coffee.  Waiting for a girl named Hadley to have a table to herself." He said, stirring something that looked brown and tasteless.  He looked up at me, blue eyes glittering.  "Wanting that same girl to give him even the slightest bit of a chance."

"I'm waiting for someone and he should be here any moment now, so we really should argue some other time."  I couldn't let Mack ruin the only time I had with Adam.  

That is if he's going to show up. 

"You're seeing a guy?" He asked.  

"He's an old friend...and we're not dating.  I knew him back when I lived up north."

Mack was enticed.  "Where?"

I sipped my hot chocolate.  "Just a little town that you could blink and miss.  It's called Blue Lake.  I lived there before my dad..."  I stopped and checked my phone, like I was reading a text.  Though I really was looking at the time.  It was nine at night.  Bridget would be upset if I didn't get home by ten.  

"I-I need to go."

"What about your date?"

"He's not my date," I dropped my empty cup in the garbage bin, "and he said that he couldn't make it tonight.  I need to go, or my second cousin will kill me."

Mack got up with me, and tossed his drink too, even though he wasn't finished with it.  "You live with your second cousin?  There are a lot of things to know about you.  Why don't you ever tell me anything?"

"You've just never said the magic word." I chided him as we walked out the door.  The night was getting cold, and I tugged my jacket tighter around me.  

He laughed.  "What would that be?"

"Please."

Adam's POV

I walked into Starbucks, checking my phone for texts from Hadley.  Almost stumbling over the door frame, I caught the attention of the only person in the building.  

The cashier.  

Hadley was gone.  

"Excuse me?" I asked the woman.  I read her name tag.  "May?"

"How can I help you?" She wiped her hands on a towel.  A smile played on her lips, for she had recognized me.  

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling awkward and out-of-place.  "Um...was there a young girl in here earlier?  She has blonde hair and blue streaks in it." I tried to explain.  

"Oh, yes.  She left about an hour ago with a younger boy." May nodded towards the door.  

I swallowed hard.  "Thank you."

"No problem."

"Is there anything I can get you?"

"Oh, no, but thank you again.  Have a goodnight."

"Goodnight, Adam." She smiled at me.  I forced one back.

I stepped outside into the cold, dark night and began to walk to my car.  But I stopped, in the middle of the empty parking lot, and couldn't move.  I was frozen.  

I am a horrible friend.

How could I have missed her?  

You promised.

"Hadley, I'm so sorry." I whispered.  

To no one.  No one at all.