[A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the one and only Liv, for being such an amazing friend! xxx]

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Bronte pulled into her driveway but made no move to get out of the car. 

"Tamsin, calm down. You don't deserve to be hurting even more than you were. He made you forget about what happened, he made you better. Then he broke you, and he doesn't deserve you, sweetie. Remember that!" Bronte ranted comfortingly, and the tears stopped for the first time since school ended. 

 "Thanks Bronte. Now lets go watch some movies!" I exclaimed, slightly cheerier. 

We got out of the car and walked toward her house. She unlocked her front door and I stepped inside, breathing in the familiar scent that I have known for years. 

"Oh by the way, you're staying here tonight," Bronte added as an afterthought, as we settled on her couch, watching the opening credits of The Notebook. 

"Yay, more crying!" I thought sarcastically.

We sat through The Notebook silently, then got halfway through 10 Things I Hate About You. Bronte started talking then; whether it was to me or to herself, I don't know. 

"You know, I never understood why you got so much shit! It's not fair! I mean I'm not wishing that on anyone else, but all of that shouldn't happen to one person! You have had your heart broken, and just when you find someone that cures the heartbreak, he breaks your heart more. You don't deserve all of this pain! And you know what? It sucks. Because I can't do anything about it! I can't help you and I can't stop the pain! It's not fair!" Bronte ranted, her eyes brimming with tears. 

I hugged her, now both of us crying. 

"Ya, but I'm tough. Not many people would be able to do what I do..." I trailed quietly, getting more tired by the second. 

"That's true. It's like you were built for this," Bronte whispered back, and we both laughed through the tears. 

We both yawned at the same time, making us laugh more. 

"We should probably get some sleep..." Bronte trailed, and I nodded my head in agreement. 

I slept on Bronte's single bed, and she slept in her double bed. She always had two beds in her room for guests, because she hated people having to sleep on the floor.

Bronte fell asleep within minutes, but I was wide awake. 

I wasn't so angry at Alec anymore. I was upset, sure, but I wasn't angry anymore. 

I suddenly felt the need to talk to him. 

I really needed to talk to him. 

Just as that thought popped into my head, I got an incoming call. 

It was as if he was reading my mind. 

"Hey Alec," I whispered, sliding out from under my covers and walking over to the doors that opened onto Bronte's balcony. 

I knew she wouldn't be able to hear me from there. 

"Come outside," he stated simply, and I was confused. 

"W-what?" I stammered in shock. 

"Go to Bronte's front door, open it, walk outside, see me sitting on the hood of my car," Alec explained, probably smirking. 

I looked to where Alec had described, and sure enough his car was on the side of the road, and a tall, dark figure was perched on the front. 

I smiled to myself, as it was nearly 2am and Alec was here to see me. 

"Hold on," I replied, and creeped downstairs to the front door. 

I hoped the door wasn't loud. 

Please don't let the door be loud!

I turned the doorknob and to my relief, it was almost silent. 

I left the door slightly open and all but ran to Alec's car. 

He was leaning against his car, facing me with a sad smile on his face. 

I walked up to his car and mirrored his stance beside him. 

"Tam, what's wrong?" Alec asked, concern showing through his voice and actions. 

He ran his hand through his hair and I lost all coherency for about ten seconds. 

I took a deep breath.

"Nothing, anymore. I'm sorry Alec, I over reacted to something that I shouldn't have, and I'm really sorry..." I whispered, realizing the truth in my own words. 

God! How stupid had I been??

"What...? What did you over react to?" Alec asked, a confused look lighting his face, making him seem five years old. 

"It doesn't matter," I whispered, really not wanting to answer that question. 

"Yes, it does," Alec pushed and I simply shook my head. 

I was not going to tell him and make a fool out of myself. 

"Fine, don't tell me. But I will figure it out! No matter how long it takes!" Alec joked, and nudged my shoulder with his own which got me laughing. 

I had missed this. 

"You won't!" I teased back, smiling up at him. 

It was moments like these where I wish I had confidence, and it was moments like these where I wish I could be honest with him. 

But I couldn't. 

This was Alec, he didn't like me. 

Alec suddenly changed the subject and a wide, hopeful grin covered his face. 

"You're still coming over tomorrow, right?" He asked, his eyes gleaming. 

"Don't you have company?" I asked, not meaning for my tone to come out jealous. 

Alec raised an eyebrow at me but said nothing. 

Damn, that boy knows me too well. 

"I do, but she won't mind. She is kind of my cousin," Alec explained, and suddenly I felt guilty. 

All of this had been for nothing! I was upset for no reason!

"What do you mean, 'kind of your cousin'?" I asked, confused now but entirely relieved. 

"Long story that is really not worth explaining," Alec rushed, and I knew there was something very complicated about the situation, but he wasn't saying it and I wasn't going to ask. 

I nodded my head in agreement, then yawned. 

I was really tired. 

"Tired?" Alec asked, his eyes tracing my face. 

"Ya... I should probably go to sleep..." I trailed, then looked back to the house, not quite wanting to leave yet. 

"Yeah, and I should probably get home..." Alec trailed in agreement, and I began to walk back to the house. 

"Tamsin, wait! Can you promise me something?" He asked, looking like he was thinking very hard about the words that would follow my agreement. 

"Yeah?" I replied, and he took a deep breath. 

"Just... Just don't do that to me again, alright? Please?" Alec asked, looking genuinely concerned. 

I smiled at his expression and nodded in agreement. 

"I promise," I replied, then quickly walked back to where he was standing and hugged him quickly. 

"Goodnight Alec," I called over my shoulder, as I walked back to the front door. 

"Goodnight," he replied, and he said something at the end of his sentence that I didn't quite catch. 

I turned to give him a questioning look, but he shook his head, not giving me an answer. 

It may have been the lack of light, but it looked like his cheeks went a little red. 

I closed the door, locking it behind me, and made my way back up to Bronte's room. 

I stepped in the door and walked over to the bed, settling under the comforting blankets. 

"Tamsin," Bronte called sleepily, and I jumped. 

"Jeez, Bronte, don't scare me like that again!" I exclaimed in a whisper, not wanting to wake anyone up. 

"Sorry!" She giggled, and I giggled with her. 

"So, are you and Alec okay now?" She asked, concern in her voice. 

"Ya, we are," I replied, smiling to herself. 

"That's good. But just know that if he ever hurts you again, I will skin him," Bronte threatened in a soft voice, and I laughed. 

It didn't sound right for such a threat to be spoken so softly. 

"Goodnight Bronte," I whispered, and she replied, "goodnight Tamsin."

I fell into a dreamless sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.