Carrie's POV

I watch Tyler disappear from my view, and my heart sinks.

"What have you done!?" I scream at Lucas, and rush at him with balled fists.

He keeps still as I push and punch at his chest, tears gushing down my face now.

"I told the truth," he says solemnly, and grips my wrists, stopping my pathetic attack.

I look up at his face, and feel nothing but disgust...with him, with myself, with this entire mess.

"I was going to tell him...when the time was right," I tell him, not even sure if I believe it myself.

"No you weren't. Because you knew that once you told him, he'd leave you. And you were too afraid to make that choice....to choose between me and him. So I made it for you."

"It was never a choice! Not even close. I am not going to deny that I felt some sort of physical attraction towards you, Lucas. But that's all it was. All surface, no depth. And I feel ashamed for it. And that's the truth."

Lucas reaches for my hand, and grips the tips of my fingers. "Then let's find out if our connection can be deeper. Carrie, we won't know if there's something great unless we try it out."

I snatch my hand from him, and fold my arms across my chest. "There is just one problem with trying anything with you, Lucas. I am in love with Tyler. And maybe up unitl I watched him walk away from me just now I didn't realize how deep my love for him was. How undeserving I've been of his love, and how I will do everything in my power to get it back."

Lucas shuffles his feet, and exhales and deep sigh. "So, I guess you've made your choice after all. Well, then...fuck." He grips the back of his neck, and looks down at his feet. "I'll stay out of your way. Just hope you won't hate me for too long." With that, Lucas walks back inside the bar, and leaves me alone in the street.

I dig my phone out of my pocket, and dial Tyler's number. Expectedly, it goes to voicemail.

I dial Alex's number, and thankfully he's there.

"Can I come over?" I ask, still sniffling away my tears.

"Of course. I think Tiff went to bed early, and I'm just watching reruns of Scrubs. Are you okay?"

"Yes. No... I just need someone to talk to. Not someone. I need my best friend."

"I'm always here for you, Carrie. Come over whenever you want."

I hang up, and order Uber.

All can't be lost. I refuse to accept that.

I look up into the dark sky, and my eyes search for the North star--the brightest star in all the heavens above. When I find it, I focus on that beautiful sparkling speck that is hundreds of lightyears away from me, and I make a silent wish--a wish for Tyler to forgive me...and ultimately, return to me.

It may be pathetic, and ridiculous, but I am so past caring...what I need right now is to believe in miracles. I will not be consumed by hopelessness, and I will find a way to get him back. I will right my wrongs, and I will mend what's been torn. Because when you find the love of your life, it's worth the fight...it's worth everything.

---//---//---

Tyler's POV

I get inside my car, shut the door, and sit in silence.

Suddenly my phone goes off with Carrie's name on the screen, but I ignore it.

My mind is racing, going wild, but my body feels completely numb. I want to punch something, break the goddamn windshield of my car, just to feel the pain from the shattered glass shards in my knuckles, but I can't make myself move. I want to scream at the top of my lungs. I want to call her terrible names, and cuss her out, but my voice appears to be gone. There is a low din in my ears, like some distant church-bell ringing incessantly....and my temples are pulsating and throbbing.

If a doctor would check my vital signs, I would probably appear perfectly healthy...but as far as I am concerned, I was pronounced dead at the scene...they'd call time of death at 8:15 pm--when Carrie promptly harvested my heart.

I start the engine. I need to get out of this city. Get as far away from here as possible...as far away from her as possible.

This hurts like nothing else. This pain is deep and gnawing, like some vicious sharp-toothed monster that slowly devours you from the inside.

I am experiencing many emotion right now, but mostly hate. Hate towards someone I love...which makes me feel like I am losing my fucking mind.

I feel anger--no, more like wrath. I hate what she did. I hate that she lied about it...and yes, omitting something like that is lying. I hate that she betrayed me.
And I hate that I had to find out about it because Lucas basically put her up against the wall, and she didn't have the guts to say it on her own.

Finally, I make it onto the freeway, and it's late enough that there isn't much traffic. This is what I need right now. I press on the gas pedal and shift gears, hearing the soothing sound of my roaring engine.

I'm in the left lane, going 90mph...100pmh...120....130...fuck if this isn't the best feeling. The power and the speed, the reckless danger of it, and the slight possibility that I might actually crash and fucking die right now are all welcome sensations.

Would she even give a shit if I died in a fiery fucking car wreck? Probably not. Not now that she has Lucas...her knight in shining armor...may he burn in fucking hell.

Suddenly I hear my phone go off, and when I look down I see my sister's name light up on the screen.

A loud honk brings my eyes back up, and I slam on the breaks, hearing the screech from my tires, as I swerve to the right to avoid a collision with a cement truck. My car fishtails, but I manage to get control of the wheel.

Holy. Fuck. That was close.

What in the hell am I doing?

I slowly depress the break pedal, and bring my speed down to a reasonable 80mph.

What a selfish prick I am. And a weakling. Suicide is the easiest fucking exit...the most cowardly way to escape my pain...and yet, if I died...I wouldn't have to continue living with the knowledge that the love of my fucking life is a cheating fucking slag...just like the rest of them. Nicole, Carrie, and most likely every other goddamn female that crossed my path is a lying sack of shit...

A missed call from Tiffany reminds me I can't afford to kill myself when I have family responsibilities. My sister would be devastated...and especially with a baby on the way she doesn't need that kind of trauma in her life.

In a second I get a text from her:

*Found out it's a girl! Thinkin of naming her after mom. Luv ya, Ty!*

I decide that what I need right now is the company of the only woman who has always been the one fucking beacon of hope for her entire sex. My sister. She and my future niece are the only people who matter in this life, and I need to remember that.

I take the next exit, and make my way to Alex and Tiffany's house.