When I got home that night, I didn't feel like eating. 

I didn't feel like doing anything, actually. 

My grandparents understood that I needed time for myself, but they were concerned. 

I reassured them that I was fine, just really tired from camping out. 

I ran to my room and cried. 

I cried until my eyes were dry, then I cried some more. 

Liam knocked on the door once, but I ignored him. I didn't want to see anyone. 

My phone buzzed and I checked it, but it was from Alec so I deleted it without even looking at the message. 

Half an hour later, I got an incoming call from him, which I ignored. I then proceeded to get calls from Mason, Seth, Hunter, Dahlia and Bronte. 

The only person I answered was Bronte. 

"What?" I asked, trying to stop the hot tears falling down my cheeks. 

"Are you okay?" She asked with concern, and I was grateful for one of my best friends. 

I didn't answer, so she continued. 

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't dead or anything. Everyone has tried calling you, but you didn't answer any of them. Everyone's worried and I'm the only one who knows why..." Bronte trailed, and I could tell there was something she wasn't telling me. 

"Well I'm not dead. But ya, I'm not exactly feeling great. I kind of feel like my heart has shattered into a million little pieces, and we weren't even dating! I can not believe that I let myself fall so hard for someone, that I had nothing to hold on to when they didn't catch me. And that ASSHOLE led me on!" I exclaimed in a huff, falling back onto my pillow. 

"Awh, Tam," Bronte sighed, and I let the tears fall now. 

"Bronte it's fine. We're friends, that's all. I mean, I knew he was too good for me anyway..." I trailed, closing my eyes, trying to stop the sob that was working it's way into my chest. 

"Damn it Tamsin! You don't see yourself clearly at all! I can not believe you actually think that!" Bronte exclaimed, and I couldn't be bothered with this conversation anymore, as I was hit with exhaustion, again. 

"Bronte, I'm sorry but I'm exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally. Can we continue this conversation later?" I huffed, finding it hard to breathe. All the talking and crying had sucked the energy out of me, and now I was just a mix of skin, bone and organs. 

"Tam, you sound terrible. Is something else going on? Are you sick?" Bronte asked concerned, and I thought about it for a moment. 

No, I wasn't sick. I was just tired of everything. 

"No Bronte, I'm fine. Just tired. I'll talk to you at school okay? And if you see Alec, ask him not to talk to me?" I finished, and was about to hang up when Bronte's voice stopped me. 

"Tam, you need to talk to him about this..." Bronte trailed, not letting me go. 

"No, I don't. Will you please do this for me? That's all I ask for Bronte. Please?" I begged, my voice desparate and slightly hoarse from all the crying. 

"Okay," she sighed. 

"Thank you so much Bronte! Goodnight!" I replied, relieved. 

"Goodnight Tam. And please try to get some sleep!" Bronte added, before hanging up the phone. 

I got myself settled in bed, as it was nearing midnight, and snuggled myself into my sheets. 

I couldn't fall asleep though, I was faced with the same question over and over. The same three little letters that formed a word, a question, with the answer that I so desperately needed. 

Why?

I woke up with a pounding headache, but that was probably just from thinking too much. 

I unwillingly rolled out of bed and walked toward my mirror that was stuck on the back of my bedroom door. 

I look like hell. 

 I ran my hand through my hair, assessing myself. 

Ya, I really did look terrible. 

I walked to my bathroom, had a quick shower, then dressed in my jeans, white semi-longsleeve and my black hoodie. 

I pulled my converse on and looked in the mirror again. 

My hair fell in curls down to my waist, almost in ringlets. My eyes were a piercing blue, as they were still wet from the previous night's tears, and my nose was red. 

Overall, I looked half decent, so I proceeded to walk downstairs. 

As soon as I walked into the room, all three pairs of eyes looked to me with one question in their worried eyes; are you okay?

I nodded and went to sit in the lounge room, waiting for Liam to be ready. 

After ten minutes of sitting on the couch watching dust fly around the room, Liam walked in the door. 

"Tam, it's time to go. Are you sure you're okay to go to school?" He asked, his brow furrowing. 

"Ya, I'm fine Liam," I tried a smile but it must have been dismal, as Liam sighed and shook his head. 

"Let's go then," Liam replied, and we walked out the door together. 

I let him put a CD on and stared out the window, unconcious of anything I was doing. 

I was too busy sorting things out in my head. 

When we got to school, Bronte was waiting for me next to her car. 

I got out of the car, said a quick goodbye to Liam, and walked slowly over. 

"You look like hell," she stated, frowning. 

"Ya I know..." I trailed, and she pulled me into a tight hug. 

I tried not to cry again. 

You will not cry again!

As soon as Bronte let me go, I saw Alec out of the corner of my eye. I tried not to look at him, but I couldn't help it. 

He was looking at me, well staring actually. 

I turned to face Bronte and she looked at me as if to say 'sorry'. 

I shook my head at her, telling her that she didn't need to be. 

"I told him, by the way. He wanted to ask why but I said it wasn't my place to tell, but that he should already know. That confused the shit out of him," Bronte giggled at the memory, and I stifled a laugh. 

"Awh Tam. You have to try to get over him! Just think of everything about him that annoys you!" Bronte exclaimed, expecting an answer. 

"Ya, that's not going to work..." I trailed, and she shot me a confused look. 

"I can't find anything bad about him! Except that he lied to me! And he led me on! I can't believe he did that!" I worked myself up, and tears were threatening to spill. 

"I know Tam! It's not fair on you! But you don't deserve to be put through this! Please don't cry!" Bronte exclaimed, hugging my side. 

"Thanks Bronte," I mumbled, opening my locker. 

The rest of the day went by slowly, and every minute of it my brain was focussed on Alec. 

How could he do this?

I didn't pay attention in any of my classes, and lunch was awkward to say the least. 

Everyone was very quiet. 

I was walking slugishly back to my locker after the final bell rang, but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a very stressed looking boy leaning against my locker, running his hands through his hair. 

Alec. 

Why did he have to look so attractive right now?!?! It made it so much harder to stay mad at him.

I walked to my locker keeping my eyes on the ground. 

"Excuse me," I muttered when I got to my locker, and Alec sighed, but moved to the side regardless. 

"Tamsin talk to me," Alec pleaded quietly, and the tears were nearly spilling over again. 

I wouldn't let him see me though, he couldn't see how much I was hurting. 

I ignored him and put the books I was holding in my locker, retrieved my math book and quickly tucked it into my backpack, but something fell out of it. 

It dropped to the ground and I picked it up. 

It was the picture I drew that I left in the classroom. 

The picture Alec had given back to me. 

A tear rolled down my cheek as I let it fall back to the ground. 

"Tamsin!" Alec exclaimed, and I turned to face him. 

"What do you want?!?" I replied, my voice raised, tears streaming down my face steadily now.

"Tamsin, what's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?" Alec asked softly, and I could not believe he had the nerve to ask me that. 

"You want to know what's wrong? Like you don't already know? Leave me alone Alec," I said coldly, and turned to walk in the other direction. 

"Damn it Tamsin!" Alec screamed, and grabbed me by my wrist, turning me around. 

"Let. Go," I stated, glaring at him. Letting out all my anger in the look I was giving him. 

I turned around and stalked off, his hand letting go of my wrist. 

I so badly wanted to turn back to him, to talk to him, but I couldn't. 

He hurt me and he didn't understand what he did. 

That prick!

I stalked toward Bronte who was about to get in her car. 

She took one look at me, nodded, and got in her car. 

I walked towards my car where Liam was standing, and his eyes were suddenly concerned and fearful. 

"Tam, what happened?" He urged, and I couldn't let the words escape my mouth. 

Liam pulled me into a hug and kissed my hair. 

"I'm staying at Bronte's, tell Gran and Pa, but don't give them a reason to worry okay? They don't need to worry about me." I whispered into his chest, knowing that he would understand. 

That was the best thing about siblings, they understood you. You go through the same things as they do, in the same day and age. They understand what you feel and they don't judge you, because they feel the same. 

He nodded quickly and let me go. I walked back to Bronte's car, but stopped when I saw Alec there. 

Bronte turned to look at me, Alec following her gaze. 

The way Alec was looking at me felt like a knife going through my heart. I couldn't do this. 

The hot tears continued streaming down my face and Alec backed off. 

I got into the passenger side and cried all the way to Bronte's house.