Carden

Turn left in one hundred feet.

Continue on for two hundred feet then turn right.

You've arrived at your destination.

It was barely six thirty in the morning when Carden pulled his truck into a deserted parking lot, with a pang of guilt, by a cliff close to the hospital in L.A. Sitting on a large rock overlooking the large city, sat Zoë in a white sports jacket and wind blown hair.

His snap map had been pretty accurate if it had tracked her all the way up here.

He climbed out of his vehicle and made his way toward her. Why was she out this early in the morning? And how did she get here? His car was the only one in the parking lot.

Zoë didn't even turn her head or acknowledge the fact that Carden was there, even when he stepped on a leave and it crunched loudly or when he even sat down next to her on the cold rock.

"Miss Dedicated?"

No response.

"Hey." He nudged her shoulder with his classic smirk. "Hey, you alright?"

She sniffled quietly before wiping her nose with the sleeve of her jacket.

He teasingly tapped the side of her head. "Helloooooooo? Is this thing on? Hello? Is Miss Flynn home right now or should I come back later?"

Her voice cracked as she spoke. "What do you want?"

"Well, I came to check up on you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a good friend like that. Plus, you're going through a really rough time right now so I assumed you needed a friend?" The sentence came out more like a question.

"I'm fine."

"Z, you don't have to keep things from me. I know you're-"

"I'm fine."

Carden cleared his throat awkwardly before turning to his nervous habit. Tapping his fingers anxiously against the nearest surface to fill the void of silence. But silence like this really sucked.

His fingers rapped endlessly as his nerves started to become worse and worse. Was she up here because of something he'd done? He couldn't think of anything he'd done to ruin whatever was going on between them. Or was it because of Alec? Had he tried to hurt Zoë? Because if he did, he was getting to get his-

"Have you ever felt so...so empty that it doesn't seem worth it anymore? Like...like maybe you were a mistake or something like that?"

Her question was so sudden, it made him pause.

"Woah, woah, woah." He cupped her face so she'd look into his eyes but all he saw were empty, emotionless orbs. The bright light that usually danced mischievously in her eyes had disappeared and seemed like it would never come back. "You aren't a mistake. Never have been, never will be. Zoë, is everything okay? I've never seen you like this. What's going on with you?"

"Nothing." She leaned away from him to look down at the empty air and pointy rocks below their free falling legs. "I'm...fine...promise."

Carden wrapped his arm tightly around her waist because the way she was acting was really scaring him. He didn't want to see her just throw herself off this cliff because of how crappy her life was going. He needed her in his life and besides, it would get better. Things always do. He'd learned that from her.

"'You're Carden Ash. Captain Flirt. Star quarterback. One of the most popular guys at school. You could have everything you've ever wanted in life and I'm guessing your brother doesn't want you to miss it. Life is like a road trip. There's trees and trees and when you look away, you miss the beauty in it. Don't miss it.'"

"Huh?"

"You said that to me when I was giving up. When I realized Jared was never going to come back. But it is permanent." He paused for a moment. "But I'm not going to let you give up. You're Zoë Flynn. Miss Dedicated. The smartest person I've ever met. And, don't make fun of me because of this, but you're probably one of the most beautiful girls in my life right now."

She didn't even smile or roll her eyes at his flirt attempt. "That's not true."

"Zo, it is though! You are smart and dedicated and beautiful and you have a heart of gold and-"

"That's not what I was talking about."

"What is it then?"

She leaned onto her knees and sighed deeply. "I'm not one of the most beautiful girls in your life." She stood and walked away from him, hugging her arms tightly around her torso. "It's all a lie. I'm not even in your life. I'm barely on the outskirts. I'm just a pawn in your life and when you're finished using me, you'll humiliate me and throw me out. Just like every jock in the real world and in every teen fiction romance. But if you do really care about me or whatever, please just let me go. I...I can't keep pretending, especially with what's going on with my mom on Death Row."

She wasn't like this. He didn't like the way she was acting. She was usually so confident and amazing and seeing her like this, well, it really broke his heart.

To Carden, they weren't acting. The laughs, the blushing, the jokes, the pointless flirting, the endless Zarden fangirling from Amber and Cam. It was all reality. But seeing her like this, it made the words he'd been keeping deep down, way deep down, since the homecoming game just spill out.

"I like you."

"Shut up!" Her tone made him freeze halfway standing as he had started to make his way to her side. "I'm so sick and tired of this! I should've known. You're a player, just like all of those other football quarterbacks. I thought there was really something between us but I was right all along." She sent a death glare his way. "I'm done. Just go off with Chloe or one of her Barbie Doll minions."

"Zoë-"

"Carden, I really don't want to hear it anymore. I'm tired, specially mentally right now so please. Stop. I'm so tired of being bossed around by you."

"I've never been bossing you around."

She sighed and tore a hand through her hair. "Just...go Carden."

"No."

"CARDEN!"

"ZOË!" He sucked in a deep breath to keep himself from blowing his top. If there were one thing he despised about himself, it would be how quickly he could get angry. But ever since Jared's death, he'd been trying to be better.

Anger didn't prove anything.

He closed his eyes, balling up his fists, and took a deep breath. "I need you to listen to me."

"I'm not going to anymore!"

"You need too though! You're mind is just clouded right now and I can't take it anymore! I need you to turn around and tell me you like me back cause I really like you. Please, Zoë. PLEASE!"

She faced him for a moment before turning around and whispering, "I'm sorry."

He reached his arm out like he was reaching for some imaginary item. "I can't lose you too!"

As she started to stalk away, a thought rushed into Carden's mind like a crashing wave.

You can't lose her. Actions speak louder than words.

Carden ran toward her and grabbed her forearm with a tight grip. She tried to pull away, tears dripping from her eyes but he pulled her close to him. Close enough, he could feel her breath on his cheek.

"Carden, please. Let me go."

"I can't."

A shadow of a smile teased at the corners of her lips. "Why?"

"Because I really like you."

Man, those words felt so great to say aloud. If only she would say them back to him...

"Really?"

Carden swallowed his nerves before leaning in and pressing his lips to hers. She froze for a moment before looping her arms up and around his neck and pulling him closer.

He smirked. Yeah, she totally liked him back.

When they pulled away, both blushing furiously and looking like ripe tomatoes, Zoë finally whispered, "I guess you do."

"I really do but just...do you like me back?"

"Umm..."

"I'm not mad. Not at all. You've just got a lot on your plate right now and I can't even imagine the stress your under right now. So, please, just let me help for once in your life. Please."

Carden expected Zoë to burst out laughing at his sappy he was being right now. Maybe she might start to argue that kiss was just a "pity kiss" or something like that. But what she said next shocked him.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

She shrugged. "If I'm going to admit it, I really like you too, Captain Flirt. It wasn't until I realized that...that you actually have a heart," he just had to laugh at that, "Hey! I'm trying to be serious here!"

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. You're really adorable when you're trying to get your point across. Please, continue."

"Anyways, you do have a heart and you are the most caring guy ever. You've made me a better person, Carden."

"Me too." He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. "It's my turn to talk now. Now, I have to ask you a very serious question, got it?"

She nodded but before he could a sentence out, she blurted, "I want you to be my boyfriend. Like an actual one. I really hate acting like there isn't something when there is."

He smirked and chuckled. "Way to take my thunder, Flynn."

"What?" Her eyes widened in realization and she started to jump up and down like an ecstatic bunny. "Wait! Were you gonna ask me?!"

"Of course I was! But as always, you find a way to beat me at everything."

"Then you should've not let me interrupt you!"

"Well, I love hearing you talk!"

"Mhm, whatever!"

He laughed and led her over to the overlooking rocks. "Well, what now?

She froze again. "I guess we go back to Clarkston but...I want to stay here with my mom for the rest of the day. Is that okay with the you?"

"It's your life. I can't control you."

"Alright."

Being a good boyfriend 101:
Step one: Don't be possessive

After a moment, Zoë reached for her phone and pulled the money out of her phone case. Then she slipped it into his hand.