It's early, but I feel like I need to see Levi. I want to tell him that I was with Ethan last night. Mom didn't seem to care when she woke up and found him snoring on one end of the couch and me on the other. The only body parts that were touching were our feet. For some reason I think it's the right thing to do to tell him, even though nothing actually happened. I also have a gift for him for homecoming. It's silly, but I saw it in one of the small shops we were in after dress shopping. It's a small key-chain to add to his collection; a football with his number on it. Cheesy, but thoughtful.

Levi's mom answers the door. She is all dressed ready for her shift at the hospital and doesn't say much as she lets me in and leaves. I head upstairs to find him. My hands are starting to sweat and my heart pounds hard in my chest, like something feels off about me being here. Maybe I should turn around and go home.

I reach his door and it's partially open. I don't hear anything so I give a soft knock. I wonder if he's still sleeping. After I knock again and there's no answer I start to open the door. I smile when I see his shadow behind the curtains. He's on the roof, but I find it odd that he's got the window almost closed all the way.

I take a few steps closer and that's when I see another shadowy figure.

"I can't do this."

Levi's voice is stern, but whoever is with him doesn't seem to care. They wrap their arms around his neck, my boyfriend's neck and lift themselves up. Whoever it is, they are getting awfully close to his lips and I don't like it. I'm about to pull open the curtain when I hear that nail on a chalkboard voice that I hate so much.

"Oh Levi, you're so easy," she says.

The two meet in the middle and I know their lips are on each other's. I could go out there and push that girl off the roof - okay maybe that's a bit too drastic - but I could go out there and yell at her to get off my boyfriend, only I don't. Before I even know what's happening I'm watching Angela remove Levi's shirt and him removing hers. With one hand he reaches out to open the window and I scramble out of the room. I don't close the door, but I make it far enough down the hallway where they can't see me. Her giggle and his moans are what make me run.

I try to be as quiet as possible as I rush out of the house. I don't slam the front door in fear that they will both hear. I can't ruin today's game for Levi and even though I should I'm not that kind of person. I hold back all of my emotions, I will not cry, I tell myself. The weird part is I don't. Not when I get home and mom asks how Levi is and not when I'm sitting on the track near the field stretching before the game as Levi jogs past with a smile and waves.

Shae leans over, "so, tonight Levi is throwing an after homecoming party, are you two gonna you know?" she asks, wiggling her brows.

Jackie smacks her playfully in the shoulder, and the girls laugh. I try to smile and apparently whatever I can get out is good enough for neither of them to notice that I'm hurt over Levi's betrayal.

"We're taking it slow." I try and make my voice sound as normal as possible, but it shakes a little.

"That's what they all say."

Jackie chuckles and bounces her shoulder into Shae and the two share a short intimate kiss. Some more of the football players are arriving on the field and I make the mistake of looking up and making eye contact with Ethan. It's like the guy knows me better than I know myself. You okay? He mouths, no words actually being spoken.

I suck in a deep breath and my shoulders rise, and then fall when I release. I shake my head in a jerky movement. He's about to make his way over when Levi pops out of nowhere. Ethan's eyes are still on mine, even as Levi is chatting. He notices and looks over his shoulder. Levi's face lights up when he sees me - like he didn't just cheat on me with the one person in this place I can't stand.

I'm relieved when their coach comes over forcing them to head over to the locker rooms. Levi doesn't look back, but Ethan glances a few times over his shoulders at me.

"Tell her Morgan."

I stare back at Jackie and Shae. Shae's dark cheeks are a shade of pink and I have no idea what I'm supposed to tell her. Whatever they were talking I hadn't heard a single word they said.

"Tell her what?" I ask.

For a brief moment Shae's eyes narrow at me, and my pulse jumps with the fear that she realizes something is wrong with me.

"That She has a good chance at being the Queen tonight."

Jackie turns her attention to Shae like she can't take her eyes off of her. Their relationship is the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed. Their unconditional love for each other is something you don't see every day. I thought maybe Levi felt that way towards me. I felt it the most after he scooped me into his arms in the parking lot that day and made sure I was okay, and then cooked dinner for us. I really thought things were going to wind up differently, but my heart decided to play tricks on me and allow me to trust someone like him.

"I have to agree with you on that one."

It's true. Out of anyone in the entire school Shae is the one who deserves this the most. I don't even know how I was nominated.

"Alight girls."

The voice is not coming from our coach, instead Angela jogs over with a smug look on her face. It's the I just had really good morning sex face and it takes everything in me not to run away crying. I have to get through the day, I am not going to be the selfish girl who takes away the joy of homecoming for everyone. I'm going to suck it up and not act like I caught my boyfriend cheating on me just an hour ago.

"Coach is running late and she asked me to run some warm ups with you. So get on your feet and let's get moving."

Shae touches my shoulder and leans in to whisper in my ear, "she's acting like Queen already and she hasn't even gotten the crown."

I let out a loud snort and she looked directly at me. At first she wants to be intimidating, but instead her lips turn up into a smirk. Her mouth parts as if she were going to out herself - only she doesn't.

"Alight girls let me see those stretches," she says.

Shae, Jackie, and I roll our eyes but continue to do our stretches along with everyone else. I'm not really sure how I'm staying afloat right now, especially when it feels like I'm drowning. Between the crowd rushing in and the hundreds of enthused fans, and the sound of Angela's high pitched whiny voice I am on the verge of one of my panic attacks. I promised myself that I would wait to hash this out with Levi until the night is almost over. I can't find it in my heart to ruin this game for him or to put a damper on the dance because I've just had my heart stomped on again for the second time this year.

By the time the team rushes out onto the field I've calmed myself down to the point where I think I can handle today without totally losing it. I know that when I do burst it will be like a volcano - it could go at any time.

The game is pretty eventful, and I'll admit I'm actually getting into it, cheering is helping me forget what I have to do later. By halftime we are in the lead and the energy on this field is insane. The amount of people who love this team is amazing to see.

"C'mon Morgan."

Shae links her arm through mine then leans down to whisper into my ear, "everything okay girly?"

I hadn't realized I was staring off as the teams departed from the field to take their small halftime break. I blink up at Shae and she's definitely aware that something is going on. I'm relieved when she doesn't press me for answers.

"They want the entire court on the field for halftime."

My eyes widen, "they what?"

I'm sure that I knew this, but with everything going on I probably just forgot. She squeezes my arm and leads us onto the open field. All of the football players including Levi and Ethan who were nominated start trotting back onto the field. The girls stand on one side, the boys on the other. Together in the middle of us all is Angela and Levi. I can't help glance over at the two of them. Levi's shoulders are stiff as he stands next to her with a fake smile on his face, while Angela presses the side of her body into him smiling like she's already won. Her grazing hands find his arm and she squeezes his muscle, resting her head against it. You will not cry, I tell myself.

We all start to leave the field to allow for the band to do their performance when I catch a glance of Angela now running her finger down his arm. He doesn't look amused, but he's not stopping it either. My chest tightens constricting my breathing and now I really do feel like I'm drowning. Tears fill along the edges of my eyes and if I don't get out of there soon I'm going to end up ruining Homecoming for everyone.

I head off the field taking one more look over my shoulder. Angela is walking back towards the other cheerleaders, a satisfied smile creeping up her face. Levi on the other hand is searching the field. His brows are knit tight as his eyes go from one end of the field to the other. Just as they are about to land on me I turn and attempt to lose myself in a small crowd that has formed on the edge of the field by the right side of the bleachers.

I keep my feet moving and glance over my shoulder for a brief second and there in the crowd is Levi making a beeline for me. It sounds as if he's calling my name, but I ignore it and keep going.

"Harmon, back to the locker room."

He's close enough where I hear the coach yell directly to him. I don't turn back and head straight for the parking lot, away from the game, and away from all the drama. I call mom to come and get me. My excuse is that I want to rest for tonight's dance and somehow she doesn't question it. When we get home she hands me our secret stash of imitation Girl Scout cookies and my favorite Lilo and Stitch mug filled with milk before running out and check on something in Mrs. Hendrix's apartment. I fill my stomach with cookies and cry by myself until I pass out.

There's a soft knock on my door and I'm not even sure what time it is, but it's almost entirely dark out. I rub my eyes and in the dim light from the hallway I see Shae leaning against the door frame.

"Hey girl, your mom said you weren't feeling well."

I adjust myself into the sitting position and groan at the sharp pain that throbs in my temple. Evidence of my cookie binge sits on the small bedside table to my right.

"Did I miss the dance?"

My voice is groggy, and my throat dry.

Shae shakes her head as she crawls into the bed with me. She's already dressed and her hair is done up all nice. Shit, I missed my hair appointment too.

"When I couldn't get in touch with you Ethan called your mom and that's how we all found out you were here. Levi was literally about to lose it on the field when he didn't see you. I honestly thought he was going to beat someone down."

"Did they lose because of me?"

Shae chuckles, "you don't have that much power, but it was a close game. Levi was taken out at the end for talking back to a ref and Ethan actually scored the winning touchdown. It was pretty epic."

I laugh thinking about Ethan and his ego after a win like that. Ethan shouldn't be the one making me smile, it should be Levi, but it's not. I am worried about him, he can be pretty intense when he's upset about something. The worry is stuck in the pit of my stomach like something heavy bogging me down.

"So you gonna tell me what's really up?"

I rub my temples trying to make the dull throb subside.

"Maybe later, okay? I haven't processed it all yet and I just need to work it out on my own."

Shae's eyes flicker down to the comforter and immediately I feel bad. I should tell her, she's my friend; only I'm just not ready yet.

"I'm sorry, that was a real bitchy of me. I just..."

"Hey."

Shae's voice is velvety soft as she places a hand on my shoulder and gives me her sweet understanding -Shae smile I've grown to love.

"I'm not angry. I'm worried. You're my best friend and I care about you. When you're ready I'll be here."

I know what Jackie see's in her and she's the luckiest girl in the world to find someone like Shae. I'm partly jealous of Jackie, because Shae is honestly the perfect partner; kindness and understanding is something everyone values in a relationship. Shae, she's both of those things and more.

"So are we going to this lame ass dance or not?"

I chuckle, "lame? You're not the least bit excited that you're nominated?"

Shae swings her head back and forth, "sure it's exciting, but it's not something that colleges are going to be like; oh wow, she was on her homecoming court. Let's accept her application."

A throaty chortle escapes my lips. I get exactly what she means. Honestly for me, I wish I'd never been nominated. I want to not feel this way, burdened with the thought of Levi cheating, but I also want to just forget about it for a while and enjoy this moment. It's something I'd been looking forward to since I was a kid. Homecoming senior year, the senior trip, prom - all of it. I was given a second chance at it all and there's not a day that goes by that I regret the move to this small rural town in New York.

"How good are you with hair?" I ask.

Shae's face lights up as she claps her hands together like an excited child who just got her way.

"Girl, I can make magic happen. Now, where's all your supplies?"