Surrounded by wisps of fog, I followed the sandy path through the tall weeds until I reached the beach. A black wolf stood beside Tyler, but dashed away when it saw me. I tried in vain to catch it. Wolves could run much faster than teenage girls. 

Winded, I jogged back towards Tyler, but he wasn't alone. A sea turtle with intense blue-gray eyes was next to him on the shoreline. Before I could reach them, the turtle dived into the waves and disappeared. I recognized those eyes. Dean has eyes that color. When I finally arrived at Tyler's side, I asked, "What did they tell you?" But Tyler faded away before he could reply.

"No! Wait!" I shouted and jolted up in my bed. Soft moon beams filtered through the window pane into the room.

Another bad dream.

I glanced over at Hannah. She stayed asleep. Thank goodness!

Would these nightmares ever end? So Dean was the sea turtle, who dragged me away from Tyler. I should have realized that much sooner, since I gave Dean a sea turtle necklace for his birthday.

I always forgave Dean no matter what he did to me. But could I forgive him if I lost Tyler forever? Why did he make tell me Tyler the truth about his mother? I wasn't ready yet. I needed more time for Tyler to fall madly in love with me. 

Dean falling in love with me was definitely not part of my plan. He needed to stop interfering in my life.

I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep so I changed into my black jogging clothes, washed up in the bathroom, and snuck downstairs. I plucked a white rose out of the crystal vase on the table and crept out the back door, carefully closing it behind me.

I took the long route through town, jogging past the schools and through the park, until I reached the cemetery. Someone stood at Daddy's grave site. In the dim moonlight, I couldn't see his face, but it had to be Dean. 

I was tempted to turn around and head home. I didn't want to talk to him today. It was his fault my whole world was spinning out of control. I had everything planned out perfectly to the millisecond, and then he had to hit the acceleration button. Furious didn't even begin to describe how I felt.

I marched up the hill to him. "I don't have anything nice to say to you right now, so I won't say anything at all."

"Fine, Thumper. I don't need you to talk. Just listen."

I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him.

He exhaled slowly. "I'm sorry, okay. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have broken into your jewelry box. Again. But all this time, I thought you really loved Tyler. You told me you were going to marry him someday. After Mrs. Price's drunken apologies, I remembered the articles about the accident in your journal. I realized the real reason you were so obsessed with him."

I wanted to scream at Dean that I was falling in love with Tyler, but I kept my lips zipped. If I opened my mouth, I'd say things I couldn't take back.

"Tonight, Diane had book club at our house. Mrs. Price came, and I kept the wine glasses filled. At the end of the night, my mother insisted that I take Mrs. Price home, because she was too drunk to drive. She apologized profusely for her actions again.  So I asked her a few probing questions about the accident, and she admitted to being drunk that day. She probably won't remember what she told me, but I recorded the entire slurred conversation on my phone. Then I drove her home, and Tyler was waiting to talk to her. She most likely told him everything, too. So if you want revenge or justice, I have her confession on a flash drive for you to give the police."

By the time Dean finished speaking, my attitude had changed from tight-lipped anger to jaw-dropping astonishment.

He pulled the flash drive out of his jean pocket and handed it to me. I took it from his fingers and just stared at it. Everything I ever wanted enclosed in a tiny plastic case. I was speechless. I couldn't even say, Thank you.

"Jasmine, you're my best friend, and I love you. I would do anything to make you happy. Anything. I hope you know that." He tilted his head and paused as if waiting for my response.

I nodded and squeezed the flash drive in my hand.

"I didn't mean to fall in love with you. I didn't even know I was, until I kissed you. But Melaney knew or suspected. I never meant to hurt her. She is so beautiful and good. I just wanted some of her goodness to influence me, but I think the reverse happened. I broke her heart, like I did all the other girls. You told me to stay away from her, and I would've if you were there. But The Rents forbid me to see you, and I missed you, so much." He sighed and closed his eyes as if saying a quick prayer. "I'm sorry, Jasmine. Please forgive me."

He opened his eyes and gazed into mine. "Please say something."

I remembered Melaney's face when Dean tried to kiss me. She was devastated. "You really hurt Melaney."

"She's forgiven me."

"Obviously, she's a better person than I am."

Dean looked down at his boots.

I shoved the flash drive into my pocket. "Thank you for finding justice for my father, but I had a plan. You shouldn't have interfered . . . but I will forgive you, eventually."

I pulled the white satin rose out from behind my ear and put it in the vase in front of the gravestone.

Dean went to his motorcycle and opened the cargo case. He pulled out a pale pink rose and held it out to me. "If white roses are for remembrance and a single red rose means 'I love you,' then a single pink rose should say, 'Remember that I will love you forever.' Even if you never love me."

I took the long stem in between my fingers, careful to not touch a thorn.

Dean waited for me to reply, but I didn't. I just stared at the perfect, pink blossom, wishing that he loved Melaney and not me. I didn't want to break his heart, but I couldn't break Melaney's either.

Since I had nothing more to say to him, Dean jumped on his motorcycle and drove off into the sunrise.

I stood there on the hillside next to my father's grave watching the vivid rainbow of colors slowly appear on the horizon. Today, I would find out what Tyler's mother told him.

If she lied to him, I had the truth on flash drive, thanks to Dean. I could give it to Tyler, or I could give it to the police and get justice for my father, once and for all. What was more important to me? Justice or Tyler? Because Tyler would never forgive me if his mother went to jail.

I knelt beside the gravestone and placed the pink, real rose in the vase between the white, satin flowers. "I love you, Daddy, always and forever. I will never forget you. I promise." I slowly traced each letter of Daddy's name etched into the marble. "I don't know what to do next. Mother, Melaney, and even Dean want me to forgive Mrs. Price, but I waited so long for you to be exonerated. I finally have the proof I need. What should I do?"

I looked to the heavens and found the last star shining in the morning sky. As the sunlight replaced the darkness, the star disappeared, and the words from Pastor Paul's sermon drifted into my mind, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Forgive others as I have forgiven you. Do not take revenge. If possible, live at peace with everyone."

"Okay, Daddy. You want me to forgive everyone. Is that even possible?" 

A/N: Video above is Tell Your Heart to Beat Again by Danny Gokey. 

"Shattered, like you've never been before. 

 The life you knew in a thousand pieces on the floor. 

 Words fall short in times like these.

 This world drives you to your knees. 

 You think you're never gonna get back to the you that used to be. 

 Tell your heart to beat again.

 Close your eyes and breathe it in.

 Let the shadows fall away. 

 Step into the light of Grace. 

 Yesterday's a closing door. 

 You don't live there anymore. 

 Say goodbye to where you've been. 

 And tell your heart to beat again."

Will Jasmine be able to forgive? 

Let me know in the comments.