The sixth guy she's ever liked stared at her from across the room. She had had it with this dumb game of false love, the only thing she's ever known. Boys would dip her in chocolate and cover her in sprinkles only to let her melt and wither under the sun.

She pursed her lips and stared him right back down. She was broken inside but she'd never give one single person the satisfaction of knowing they were even just part of the reason. She turned her sadness into anger, the only emotional outlet she felt comfortable in. How dare he pretend he could do this to her and think she'd be FINE.

She hated being played and falling for gold that was made for fools. She knew he had another girl wrapped around his finger, blonde haired and blue eyed, something she'd never be and never want to be for she was herself. She vowed to never change herself for someone else.

She bit on her tongue hard enough to draw blood. She thought this would distract her from her crumbling life but it only reminded her of copper and salty tears. "Is there something wrong with my face?" A smile never dared to cross her face, but all she wanted to do was to smile and hold him. She knew he didn't deserve that. It took her everything to be cruel and cold otherwise she'd break like ice. She was done being fragile.

He flinched at her harsh words of defense. "No-"

Every second beat her a little bit more till she was nothing more than dust in the wind. "Then stop staring at me like I'm the first sprinkles of rain in the desert. I'm not a masterpiece painting you look at once, decided to buy and only view every couple of years for your own pleasure. I deserve better. I deserve to be in a museum, looked at and loved everyday, especially cherished by one. I will not be your 'sometimes', your eye candy, your distraction. I'm am so much more than that."

She glanced away no longer able to stare into his blackened eyes. Was it so hard for her to be loved? And why did everyone she liked use her? She turned her back and slowly walked away before she was far enough away that he could hear her sobs. 

She rounded a white corner as the first tear colored by mascara ran down her cheek. Her ribs felt like they were chocking her heart instead of protecting it. And her lungs felt like someone popped them like a balloon and they couldn't hold an ounce of air. She was drowning with her head above water.

She didn't mind him staring at her. In fact she loved it. And that's why she couldn't let it go on anymore, not when she wasn't the reason he smiled while falling asleep at night. It would be easier if he forgot she existed so she could forget him. So the throbbing in her chest would level out to a dull ache. So she could move on. So she could get what she deserved too. And she couldn't do that while he was noticing her. She couldn't do that while she thought their was a chance. So she smashed the thought before he could extinguish her fire of hope in hopes it would hurt less and her both their hearts could be spared. And hence started the long and painful road to recovery, a journey she'd once again take alone.