Graduation. It was a day I had looked forward to for a long time. Yet today signified a lot more than just leaving high school, at least to me.

To me it meant I had won. I had beat all the words of the people who told me I would never amount to anything. That I would never finish. That I would be a loser drop out. That I would be nothing.

So I should be happy. Elated even. But as I stared at my reflection in the mirror all I could feel was empty.

I took a deep breath and ran my hands through my hair, allowing fixed golden waves to fall over my shoulders. The image of me in my white graduation gown miraculously made me feel something other than emptiness though, which was a plus.

I grabbed my cap and exited my room. Shawn sat at the counter and looked up at me, a smile on his face.

"Wow," he mumbled.

I just smiled. "Shut up."

He stood and walked over to me. "No I will not shut up." His strong arms wrapped around my shoulders. "I'm so proud of you."

"Well don't be," I teased. "I haven't gotten my diploma yet."

"Mom and dad decided to meet us there at the hall," he said. "And then after we can go have a graduation dinner."

"That sounds nice." I glanced at the clock. It was already one. "I should go or I'll be late for line-up."

He hugged me once more. "Next time I see you it'll be official. Sam Carson; high school graduate."

I couldn't help but smile as I exited the apartment.

I tried my best not to think about Megan since this was my day but failed miserably. She had refused to reach out to me since Thursday even though I had tried multiple times. Yet, I knew going over to her house could lead to worse things.

Now it was Saturday and I had hit an all-time-low. Everything felt so pointless without her. But after tonight, if everything went according to plan, I wouldn't have to worry about Robert lurking in the shadows anymore.

When I made it to the graduation hall I spotted Blair talking with a few of our classmates. Then she saw me and marched over.

She stopped in front of me with a frown on her face. "You know, I understand you're hurting right now but that doesn't give you the right to shut me out." She poked my chest. "I'm your best friend and I love you and I'm here for you-"

"Blair," I cut in. "I'm sorry."

I could see tears in her eyes. "Then tell me what the hell's been going on with you."

I looked around nervously. "I can't right now, but I will tonight. I promise."

She didn't want to accept that answer but had no choice.

"Fine," she complied. "Then help me put on my cap."

I smiled and fixed the cap on her head and she did the same for me. Blue sashes were handed out and then we were hustled into line up. I prayed the ceremony passed with ease.

But when I walked out into the hall my eyes frantically scanned for Megan. I spotted her standing with the other teachers but she hadn't seen me yet.

She looked so beautiful. Her navy dress hugged her figure as her dark waves fell over her slim shoulders. Just seeing her had the ability to shine a small light through the darkness overtaking me. Then her gaze found mine.

In the moment I forgot to breathe as I saw an invisible weight fall from her shoulders. It was as if we had felt the same thing at the same time.

But she didn't hold my stare long and the aching in my chest returned.

The ceremony proceeded and soon I would take my turn walking across the stage. I could feel my heart beat in my head as the anticipation grew. My palms were sweaty and my legs were trembling.

Then I was called. "Samantha Marie Carson."

I took my time walking across the stage, careful not to trip in these God forsaken heels. The principal shook my hand and handed me my diploma. A picture snapped and I was free to go.

Feeling the diploma in my hand made a warmth erupt throughout my being. If anything went right today it would be the fact that I had accomplished graduation.

I waited impatiently for the ceremony to end, sneaking glances at Megan the entire time. All I could think about was how much I needed her to forgive me for what I had done. And I knew she would if she felt safe enough to let me back in and allow me to plead my case.

Soon the ceremony was over and Blair found me before my family did.

"So tell me," she started. "Why have you been so MIA?"

I shook my head. "Not now."

"Sam."

"I'm serious."

"Then when?"

"When I pick you up tonight," I answered. "Now stop worrying about me and go celebrate with your family."

She sighed. "I'll never stop worrying about you."

I just smiled. "See you later."

"Yeah, yeah."

"And wear black," I demanded.

She just gave me a weird look before disappearing into the crowd. Then my family found me.

"Congratulations sweetie," my mom said.

My dad hugged me to his chest. "We're so proud of you."

"Thanks," I answered.

Shawn patted my back. "I have reservations at five-thirty. How's that sound?"

"It sounds great."

I looked up and spotted Megan talking with a few teachers. My heart ached when she glanced up and met my gaze. There seemed to be a disconnect, something that I couldn't shake. If there was anyone I wanted here it was her. She was so close yet so far.

Then she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

* * *

It didn't take Blair long to emerge from her house after I honked at my arrival. She wore dark clothing just like I had instructed, and wasted no time jumping in my passenger seat.

She gave me a demanding look. "Tell me what's going on."

"You want the short version or the really short version?"

"Short?"

"Well we don't have time for that so I'll give you the main points," I declined. "The creepy man who paid for our lunch a few weeks ago is stalking me. He knows I'm involved with Megan and is threatening to expose her if I don't supply him with free drugs. I agreed to meet with him for another fix in an hour, but we're going to plant drugs in his car before. Then we're gonna get him arrested."

Blair fell silent. I watched her frozen expression for a whole minute before she came back to earth.

"You're not joking," she said.

"I wish I was."

"Holy. Shit. Sam are you insane?!"

I nodded. "I think so."

"We can't do this," she countered. "There are other ways to fix this problem."

"How then?" I asked.

"The police!"

I groaned. "Blair, did you not hear what I just said? He knows about me and Megan. If we bring this to the cops he'll ruin her career as a teacher. And not to mention the drugs. Plus, he's done nothing for the cops to even take this case seriously. Stalking is barely even recognized as a crime if it's not physically violent."

She shook her head. "Sam, have you even thought this through?"

"It's all I've thought about for the past week."

"And how the hell do you plan on doing this?"

I started my car to leave. "You'll see if you agree to help me."

She thought this through. Blair was a smart girl and she knew a bad decision when she saw one. This one was obviously bad, but she hesitated. Her gaze implied that she was considering. And eventually I got an answer.

"Let's go then," she complied. "I can't let you do this alone."

I just smiled as I pulled out of her driveway.

It didn't take me long to make it to his street, pulling off to the side where there were no light poles.

The night hid my vehicle well as I shut off the engine. I could see his truck sitting on the gravel path near his trailer. I had plenty of time, so there was no need to rush.

I looked at Blair. "I'm gonna call you and put you on speaker phone. You'll be my eyes and ears."

"How do you even plan on getting in his vehicle?"

I reached into my backseat and revealed a bent clothes-hanger. "I have my ways."

Her worried eyes widened.

I linked us up via cellphone. "If he comes out of his house you let me know. Keep my car running."

Then I left her.

The summer night attempted to comfort me as it wrapped around my body. I could feel the blood soaring through my veins from how fast my heart was pounding. Everything was so quiet it was scary.

"Sam," I heard Blair's voice demand. "Please don't do this. I changed my mind."

"Shut up," I ordered. "I need you to trust me right now."

"I do but this is a really bad-"

"I'm doing this for Megan," I stated. "I'm doing this because I love her."

She fell silent.

"It's the only way I know we'll be safe from him," I finished.

Hearing that come out of my mouth scared me more than Robert, and loving Megan scared me more than anything. I couldn't deny that it felt good to say it aloud. And deep down I believed I had known for a long time.

I made it to his passenger door and began working at the lock with my homemade tool. It took me a few tries and a lot of talking myself down but eventually the lock popped and I was in.

The first thing I did was place the bag of heroin in his glove compartment. I had watched enough of Cops to know the laws and how this stop would go.

Robert would get pulled over. He wouldn't resist and hand over his ID. The officer would run it and see his previous charges, including his previous possession of heroin. He would return to Robert and peer inside with his flashlight, asking him to step out of his truck.

Next I put a lighter and a spoon in his cup holder. It would be the last place he would look that would also stay in the officer's line of view.

So once Robert was out of the truck the officer would either already have probable reason to search his truck from his previous charges, or they would spot the spoon and the lighter, furthering suspicion. Either way, Robert's truck would get searched tonight and the officer would find the drugs, leading to his arrest.

And I would finally win.

"Sam, are you almost done?" Blair asked.

"Yeah, just a second."

I checked and made sure everything was where it needed to be and traces were cleared. I reopened the glove compartment and made sure the heroin was visibly noticeable. Everything was ready for phase one.

When I made it back Blair asked. "What did you even plant in his car that'll for sure get him arrested?"

"Heroin," I dead-panned.

"Jesus Christ!" she yelled.

"Could you not," I ordered. "I'm trying to focus."

By now Blair knew this was happening, and arguing wouldn't change anything. Besides, this was the easy part.

We pulled up in the parking lot of the supermarket that wasn't far from his house and waited.

"Tell me," Blair started, "How are you gonna get him pulled over and searched without getting caught."

I lit a cigarette. "You know that cop that always sits on the side of that abandoned warehouse?"

"The mean one?"

"The mean one," I confirmed.

"Yeah?"

I nodded as I blew smoke out my window. "We're gonna have ourselves a little chase."

"What?"

"Just watch," I demanded, seeing Robert's truck pull up next to me.

His truck faced in the opposite direction as mine, bringing our windows close. My heart hammered in my chest as I waited for his window to roll down. This was it.

His face came into view as I noticed he was visibly skinnier. In all honesty he looked really strung out. Like an addict usually looked after a while without a fix. It was perfect.

But when I didn't respond he grew impatient.

"Give it to me," he demanded.

"Give what to you?" I played dumb.

"Don't be a smart ass. This isn't a game."

I flicked ash from my cigarette. "I don't know, it seemed like a game to you earlier... Robert."

He didn't like my use of his name. "You're walking a thin line. Now give me what I asked for."

I reached into my pocket and revealed a fake fix of heroin.

"You mean this?" I teased. "Ross gave me a little extra, but I think I'll just sell it and make a profit. What do you think?"

It was like a starving dog to a piece of steak. His demeanor grew rabid as he held out his hand.

"Give it to me, bitch."

I sighed. "Not here."

"Fine." he fumed.

I smirked. "Hope you can keep up."

I hit my gas and peeled out of the parking lot, watching his truck pull in line behind me. On the way here there hadn't been any cops, which meant my path was clear to go.

Blair grabbed onto the handle above my door, preparing herself.

Robert tailed close behind, but being that I was in a sixty-nine Camaro and he was in an old Ford I knew I could lose him easily, but I wanted him to think I was going along with him. I wanted to fuel his fire.

The warehouse wasn't far either, and the only way I knew this plan would work was because I knew about the gravel road that veered off of the main street we were heading down.

When the time came I would put some distance between me and Robert, causing him to lose sight of me. He would panic and speed to catch me, but probably wouldn't be aware that the speed limit on this road was only forty-five. Once I was out of his sight I would take the exit road before we reached the officer's checkpoint. Thus, causing Robert to miss the gravel road and get clocked by the officer sitting at the warehouse.

Before I knew it the time came for me to lose Robert. I continued down the street and pressed the gas, leaving him at just the right moment. When I made the curve and disappeared behind the hill my headlights hit the gravel road. I quickly pumped my brakes and veered off, the gravel flew up as my tires spun out.

I shut off my car and rolled down my windows. The only thing I could hear was the nightlife and Robert's vehicle barreling down the street. Blair was so quiet I was convinced she had stopped breathing. This was the moment of truth.

A few more seconds passed and then I heard it in the faint distance. The sound of sirens. My heart leapt with joy, as if there was nothing sweeter. I found it ironic that cop sirens were making me so happy at the moment.

"Oh my God," Blair voiced. "Do you think they got him...?"

I threw the fake baggie of heroin out my window. "Let's go find out."

I got on the main road and cruised down the street, waiting for blue lights to appear. It felt as if we had driven over a mile before we saw what we hoped to see.

There was Robert, leaning against his truck in cuffs as the police officer looked as if he was calling for back-up. The bag of heroin and the spoon and lighter sat on his hood. An evil smile spread on my face as we passed.

His menacing gaze locked with mine only for a moment, then I was gone, away from him for the rest of my life. I wouldn't have to worry about him ever again. The weight of the world fell off of my chest.

"Did that really just happen?" Blair asked in disbelief.

"Yup."

"Holy shit."

"We're not done."

"What do you mean we're not done?" she protested.

"We're going back to his house and getting rid of all the evidence he has on me and Megan," I answered.

"So breaking into his truck wasn't enough?"

"No. I need to make sure."

We made it back to his house in record time. I parked down the street and shut off my car, looking at Blair.

"Are you coming?" I asked.

She sighed. "Yeah."

We exited my car and crept to his house, hoping that getting in was easy.

"How do you plan on getting into his house?" Blair asked.

I searched around, lifting up some of the things he had sitting on his porch. A spare key revealed itself under his welcome mat.

I picked it up. "Piece of cake."

When I walked in I nearly tripped over the boxes that were scattered along his floor. Had he just moved here? And why? A part of me wanted to know but I'm sure it was best not to think about it too much.

Eventually we found a room that resembled an office. I flicked the lamp on and came face to face with one of the scariest things I've ever witnessed.

"What the...?" Blair mumbled next to me.

My eyes were wide as they tried to scan and comprehend everything they were seeing.

Pictures. A bunch of pictures of me alone. Me with Blair. Me with Megan... He had scribbles of time's resembling my daily schedule at school. Where I was on certain days at certain times. He had been there... recording this? Watching me like a hunter to its prey. Suddenly I felt the need to vomit.

"Sam," Blair interrupted. "Look."

She ripped a picture from the board that was older than the rest. My trembling hand grabbed it. A suppressed memory resurfaced.

"Rob, are you sure you can get the new muffler in this week?" my dad asked.

I crossed my fingers and hoped my dad's friend could. My sixteenth birthday was in a few days and I was dying to drive her.

"Oh yeah," he answered. "I wouldn't want to keep Sam waiting..."

His dark eyes locked with mine, a creepy smile on his face. I didn't respond and looked away.

I wasn't trying to come off rude but this guy was seriously creeping me out. And I knew I shouldn't be so judgmental because he was helping with my car, but I just didn't like the way his presence made me feel.

"Just give me a day or two," Rob said.

"See you soon then," my dad dismissed.

I watched him turn around after he gave me another glance. Something in me shuddered because it almost seemed like he...

No. I was just overanalyzing.

Dad nudged me. "It's almost done."

I forced a smile as Robert drove away. "Yeah."

"Just need that muffler then she's all set."

And just one more visit from Robert, then he would be gone forever.

I was pulled out of my memory but the fear didn't vanish. This man was insane...

I turned to the computer and pressed the power button, hopeful that there would be no password to get in. Had he saved all of these pictures he had printed? I needed to make sure. And if he had, I needed to get rid of them.

Luckily the home screen popped up and I was in, and just like I had anticipated there were files everywhere.

"Oh my God," Blair mumbled as she leaned forward.

But when she leaned in her elbow knocked over a cup of water that had been sitting on the desk. The water spilled over the monitor which caused electrical sparks to pop, signaling a short circuit. The desktop fried and the screen went blank.

In the same instance the sparks touched and caught on the curtains and the carpeted floor, causing dark smoke to accumulate in the room.

"Shit." Blair backed away quickly, bumping into me.

She successfully stomped out the small flame on the ground while I hurried to stop the curtains from burning, but there wasn't much to work with.

Water. Maybe I needed more water to put it out.

"Sam, what do we do?" Blair panicked.

I rushed to fill the cup with water and ran back to the room only to see that the wall was burning too. Some of the flame from the curtains had fallen to the ground as well, catching more of the carpet on fire. It was spreading rapidly and I realized there was no use. We couldn't stop it, so we needed to get the hell out of here.

"We need to go," I ordered. "Like now."

The crackling of the flames grew louder as we rushed out of the room. My heart pounded as the heat from the flames lightly touched my skin. But then something stopped me in the hallway.

Blair pulled my arm. "Sam let's go."

My eyes traveled up to the fire detector and the devil on my shoulder whispered into my ear. If this place was going down in flames, I wanted to make sure there was nothing left for them to find.

"Go," I demanded. "I'll be right behind you."

"What? No! You're coming."

"Blair!" I shouted. I handed her my keys and shoved her towards the door.

"What are you-?"

"Just go!"

By now the entire back room was glowing in the dark from the flames. I didn't have long, so I hurried to grab a chair and place it in front of the detector.

I pulled the case open and removed the batteries, knowing exactly what this would look like.

The flames behind me were growing. The smoke was thick and I couldn't help but cough. It was hard to see as I shoved the batteries in my pocket and placed the cover back on the alarm.

When I turned back around everything in the room was engulfed in flames. The walls, the pictures, the computer, the carpet... I needed to move fast.

I slammed the room door shut and brought the chair back into the kitchen. Everything would be just like he left it, with no traces of me and Blair's presence.

I locked the front door behind me and bolted away from the trailer. The dark summer night hid me as I stopped at my car and turned back around.

The room we had been in was burning like it was doused in gasoline. Ash was now floating into the air and falling like black snow. The smell of smoke filled my nose as I watched it burn.

"Sam, we need to get out of here," Blair stated.

I pulled myself out of my trance and got into my car. I wanted to watch the entire place burn to the ground, but there was no time.

We rode in silence until I pulled up to Blair's house. For a few minutes we sat there, as if we needed a moment to comprehended what had just happened.

"We're criminals," she said in a hushed voice.

"I'm the criminal," I answered. "You didn't do anything."

"I'm an accomplice!" she cried. "We're gonna go to prison! I'm supposed to be going to college and we just burned down this guy's house?! How the hell are you so calm? They're gonna find something that leads them back to us and we're gonna have to wear jumpsuits..." She gasped. "Sam I look horrible in orange!"

"Blair," I interrupted. "Nothing is gonna happen. It'll look like an electrical fire. He's in jail and we have an alibi. We spent graduation night at your house eating junk food and watching movies."

She rested her head in her hands. "Okay... sorry. Everything's fine. We just committed arson and framed a guy... but everything's fine."

"Exactly."

A few more moments of silence passed before I broke it again.

"Thank you," I said. "I don't tell you this enough but... you mean the world to me. I hope you know that."

Her shoulders relaxed. "That's sweet and all, but I'm still pissed at you for nearly getting me arrested tonight."

I laughed. "You know you'd be bored without me."

She opened her door. "I guess you're right." Then she looked at me. "Are you coming inside?"

"Yeah, just give me a minute," I answered.

Blair left me alone as I pulled out my phone and contemplated calling Megan. I had tried multiple times in the past but she had never answered. I didn't think this time would be any different, but it was worth a shot.

But I got her voicemail. "Hey it's Megan! Sorry I missed your call but leave a message and I'll get back to you!"

I felt my heart ache. It had only been a few days but I missed her voice so much. Hearing it nearly sent me to tears. I really needed her right now.

My fingers instinctively found the necklace she had given me for Christmas. I hadn't taken it off since and it felt like the only thing connecting me to her right now. The hole in my heart ached worse than ever before. It felt as if she had stolen my way to breathe.

That's when my phone vibrated in my hand. I looked down and saw Megan's name on my screen.

I quickly answered. "Megan..."

"Sam are-?" She paused. "You're not drunk," she said. "I thought you were... never mind. I don't know why I called back."

"Wait," I begged. "Please don't hang up."

She was silent on the other end but I knew she was listening.

"I need to see you," I confessed.

"No you don't," she answered. I could sense her thinking on the other end. "Maybe you think you need to, but you don't."

Her words stabbed me in the chest.

"N-No, that's not it-"

"Sam, maybe it isn't the right time for us," she cut in.

My breath caught in my throat. "W-What do you mean...?"

"After the whole Emma thing... it'll be hard to trust you. And I'm moving away in the fall to get my doctorate..." Her voice trailed off. "I just feel like we met at the wrong time."

But did she really believe that? Or was that some bullshit lie she was feeding herself to stop the pain? I didn't believe we had met at the wrong time. If anything, we met when we both needed each other the most.

"Don't say that," I pleaded. "Please just... let me come over and explain myself."

I heard her take a deep breath and then a zipper being pulled. Was she going somewhere?

"I won't be in town for another two weeks. I'm flying out to California tomorrow morning."

My heart sped up. "Why?"

"My old roommate invited me to stay a few weeks at her new place..." There was a pause. "Sam, I need to get away from Baldwin for a while."

"Then let me come with you," I suggested.

She fell silent with no response.

I took that as a no.

I sighed. "I'll just wait for you to get back."

"Don't wait," she demanded.

My heart shuddered in pain.

"Megan-"

"I don't want you to wait. Just have a good summer."

Then she hung up.

I could feel the pain coursing through my body like it was the blood in my veins. Everything ached. Everything burned. Everything inside wanted to crawl out and be exposed for everyone to see, but I held it in.

Were we really done?

Before I walked into Blair's house to join her I leaned on my hood and smoked a cigarette.

Megan was hurting. I got that. And she seemed to want me as far away as possible when I needed her to let me get close again. But what else could I do at this point besides wait for her to come back from California?

I had to tell her the truth. And if not for her then for me.

I needed her to know I loved her, even if it was the last thing I ever said to Megan Adams.