[A/N: Hey guys! Just wanted to say thanks for reading my story and voting and everything! I really appreciate it! But I was wondering if I should continue the story? I'm not sure it is good enough to continue.. So let me know if I should or not :) 

This chapter goes to nutellanpeanutbutter for being a great friend :) Love you El :) ]

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Alec was avoiding me. 

I don't know why, but I think it had something to do with me interrupting his and Mase's conversation yesterday. 

He didn't talk to me in English, and he didn't talk to me between classes either. 

I had just sat down at our table and was hoping Alec would come soon because I needed to see what was wrong. 

I didn't have to wait long, as Alec was the first of our group to walk into the cafeteria. 

He sat down across from me and looked down at his hands that were fidgeting on the table. He still had the hurt expression on his face, and I was really concerned. 

"Alec, what's wrong?" I asked softly, putting my hand on top of his, but he pulled his away and put them in his pockets. 

"Nothing..." He mumbled, his eyes never meeting mine. 

"No, there is something wrong and I want to know. You are my friend and I want to help," I spoke quietly still, almost as if speaking louder would startle him. 

Alec looked behind me to the door, which is where the rest of our friends would be walking through in a few minutes. 

"Come for a walk with me?" He asked, finally meeting my eyes. 

He was in pain. 

"Sure..." I trailed, and got up to walk with Alec outside. 

We ended up on a deserted bench outside, under a big tree that towered over us. 

"What's wrong, Alec? I want to help." I repeated, and his head snapped up to look at me. 

"You want to help? Okay, well you could get the girl I have been in love with for years to finally see how much I love her, and see how much it hurts me to see her with other guys, even though she isn't going out with any of them..." His voice broke, and a tear slid down his cheek. 

"Alec," I whispered, and put my arms around him comfortingly. 

He hugged back as if that hug were the only thing saving him. 

"I am just sick of pretending that I don't love her. It is too hard and too painful, Tam," Alec whispered, pulling back and looking to the ground again. 

"Then stop pretending?" I asked, and he barked a short, unamused laugh. 

"Yeah, great idea. Just as we are becoming friends and she is actually starting to notice me, I am going to tell her that I am in love with her and scare her away. That is a fantastic idea, Tam. I might go do that right now," Alec replied sarcastically, another tear escaping from his now closed eye. 

"Alec, you never know, she could like you back. I mean-" I took a deep breath, "-I know someone who likes you."

As soon as I spoke Alec stared at me with desperate eyes that just about broke my heart. 

"Tell me," he whispered, looking into my eyes so intently that I thought he would be able to guess. 

"I wish I could, I really do. But... I can't..." I trailed, looking away. 

I couldn't handle his stare, it was too intense. 

"You can, you just won't." Alec stated, not moving, still staring at me. 

"You are right. I am physically capable of telling you. But it would hurt them if you didn't feel the same..." I trailed, surprising myself with my own words. 

I was right. It would hurt to know that he liked someone else. 

"Please Tamsin," he begged.

"Sorry Alec, I really am," I replied, looking back to his face, anywhere but his eyes. 

I knew that if I looked into his eyes I would crumble. 

"No, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have pushed you to tell me. It's not your place to tell me," Alec rebutted, looking more like his normal, happy self. 

"Hey, can I ask you something?" I asked him, not sure that I wanted to know the answer. 

"Depends on what you are asking..." Alec trailed, smiling slightly. 

"Ha ha very funny," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes. 

"I was actually going to ask why you have been avoiding me all day?" I continued, looking into his eyes. 

"I wasn't," Alec replied unconvincingly. 

"Sure..." I trailed, which got a laugh from Alec. 

"It doesn't matter anymore, Tam. I just wasn't up for talking to anyone," Alec smiled the dimple smile. My favourite smile. The smile that made my heart melt. 

I couldn't find my words, so I just sat beside him, enjoying his presence. 

"Where were you at lunch?" Dahlia asked me, as we were all getting into her car. 

"Yeah, I didn't see you either," Bronte added, looking confused. 

"Oh, I was outside," I simply responded, not wanting to talk about it. 

"Why?" Dahlia asked, at the same time Bronte observed, "I didn't see Alec at lunch either."

"FIne, I was with Alec. He needed to talk about some stuff and I needed to listen, okay? Nothing happened," I replied, thinking about how much I wanted something to happen. 

We were the first ones to get to the beach and I was going swimming. 

I didn't care what Bronte and Dahlia were going to do. 

As soon as the car stopped, I flung the door open and jumped out, taking off my singlet and shorts to reveal my blue bikinis underneath. I threw my clothes in the car, shut the door and sprinted to the water. 

I didn't bring my head to the surface until I was deep enough that I couldn't touch the sand at the bottom. 

I looked back toward the beach, where Dahlia and Bronte were slowly getting into their bathers, and where another two familiar cars pulled up. 

I didn't care who was in those cars, I was just happy that I was in the water. 

I turned to float on my back and relaxed on top of the water, feeling peaceful. 

I always felt peaceful when in the water, it was almost as if my brain was switched off and I was part of the ocean. 

Suddenly someone poked my sides, effectively ending the peace. 

I righted myself to glare at the person who had interrupted my floating, but I couldn't glare at such an adorable smile. 

"Hey Jack!" I exclaimed, smiling at him. 

"Hey Tam! Just a warning, Alec is going to be so pissed at me for doing that. He wanted me to leave you alone..." Jack trailed, frowning a bit. 

"Oh well, I can handle your brother!" I replied, looking around for the said brother. 

"Where is he?" I asked, before I felt a hand on my leg, dragging me under the water. 

I opened my eyes and was not surprised to see Alec grinning, as he let go of my leg. 

As soon as he got to the surface, I screamed at him. 

"YOU IDIOT! CHIN CHIN ATAMA DESU! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!" I screamed. 

"Woah, your girlfriend speaks Chinese?" Jack laughed, and I turned to scowl at him. 

"It is Japanese! Seriously, how do you even get them mixed up? Chinese is a stupid language and really a lot different!" I exclaimed, still angry at both of the boys.

They both just laughed, and Jack swam back to the beach, obviously not wanting to answer.

"Calm down, Tam. What does 'chi chi atma de' mean by the way?" Alec asked curiously, looking into my eyes, and I couldn't be mad at him anymore. 

"Well firstly, it is 'chin chin atama desu', and it means dickhead. Sorry about that, by the way," I apologized, looking back to the beach where everyone was gathered around the barbeque. 

I'm couldn't if they were enjoying the view of the ocean, or if they were watching us, but I was hoping it was the former, as nothing was going to happen between me and Alec. 

The truth of my own words finally hit me, and I looked away, not wanting Alec to see that I was upset. 

"Tam, what's wrong? Sorry if it really upset you, I didn't mean for it to.." Alec trailed, his voice concerned. 

"No, it's fine. Everything's fine," I mumbled and started to swim away. 

Alec caught my ankle and dragged me back toward him. 

We were suddenly very close, and he was staring at me with such intensity that I didn't want to pretend anymore. 

I am done pretending.

I leaned in.