I drove my car aimlessly after running from Jax's house. I tightened my grip on the staring wheel and winced as the pain shoot my hand.

I looked at my hand and sighed when I saw it bruised. I really didn't care about Jax f**king anyone, but he should have thought about it before doing it.

Everyone knows we were 'dating' and didn't know the reality, and now they think Jax cheated on me with Ivy and are pitying me.

Damn it, Jax. You seriously jeopardize my reputation!

I was this strong girl everyone looked up to and now they look at me as the girl who got cheated on because she wasn't enough.

"F**k you, Jax!" I screamed and halted my car.

I couldn't get back to Pinewood High now and I sure as hell couldn't go home because dad's there. Groaning, I put my forehead on the staring wheel and looked around the tree when it clicked. Switching my car on again, I drove towards it.

* * * * *

Parking my car outside the woods, I went in and thanked God that I wore snickers today as I walk in through the rocky path.

I glanced at the treehouse and flashbacks of the memories with my friends here came to mind. I stepped forward but halted when I heard the rustling of leaves. I turned my head towards the sound.

"Is anyone there?!" I yelled and looked around. "Hello?!" I shrugged my shoulders when I found no one there.

Maybe it's the wind.

I went towards the ladder, as my foot met the step it squeaked. I carefully ascend it and looked around to see if anyone else was here, but found no one.

The old treehouse door creaked as I opened it and enter. I looked around the treehouse and my lips automatically curved into a smile.

This place still looks the same.

My brows knitted in confusion when I saw everything cleaned.

It's been years, shouldn't this place be crawling with spiders and covered in dust?

My eyes went to the foam around the corner, and it looked like a bed. Maybe someone came here, but the setting was still the same as I remembered, and there were pictures of me and my friends on the wall.

Maybe someone from us still comes here.

I went towards the wall and glanced at the pictures. There were different pictures, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

I traced the picture with my finger on which all of us were together. Jax, Noah, Ivy, Kevin, Vanessa, and me. I took the picture of and observed it.

We all looked so happy. A tear rolled down my cheek onto the photograph. I cleaned my cheek with the back of my hand and leaned against the wall beside. Sliding to the floor, my eyes roamed around the treehouse.

This picture was taken when we finished building this treehouse. It took us whole summer to build this with the help of Noah's father. We used to have so much fun here and had so many night overs.

I chuckled at the memory of us playing pillow fight, and I broke Ivy's tooth. Instead of crying, she was happy that it finally broke.

The first time we played truth and dare here because we thought we were old enough to play and Kevin and I kissed each other, I shivered at the thought of that.

I glanced in the corner and saw the fake drums we made and used to do concerts. Jax and I would do the lead singers roll and Noah played the drums while others would cheer for us.

A whimper left my mouth, and I covered my mouth, looking at the picture again.

We look so goofy and... Happy.

Something tugged at my heart when I continued looking at it. If it wasn't for me and my stupid obsession with Jax, then we all would still be friends right now.

Maybe everything that happened would have changed.

Jax would have never come to me and ask me to fake date him.

Ivy and I would still be friends.

And things with Noah would have been different.

Maybe... maybe my mom would still be alive.

Tear built in my eyes, and before I could stop them I burst crying. I pulled my knees closer to my chest and put my forehead on it, crying in the corner alone, blaming myself.

This is all my fault!

I ruined everything!

"Lexi?"

I jerked my head and saw Noah standing there looking at me with his sad green eyes. "Noah..." I whispered his name in disbelief.

He came closer and crouch in front of me. His eyes darted over my face. Gaining my consciousness back, I cleaned my cheeks before sitting straight. "What are you doing? Shouldn't you be at school?"

"I could say the same thing to you." I opened my mouth to reply, but he put his finger on my lips, stopping me. "And don't just... please don't. I found out about Jax and I know it hurt you so don't act strong."

He thinks I'm crying because of Jax?

"Sometimes it's not bad to feel vulnerable. I'm here for you." I bored my eyes into him as he watched me cautiously with his deep green eyes and burst into crying again.

"It's alright." He pulled me closer to him. I put my forehead on his shoulder and gripped his shirt tightly. Wrapping his hands around me, he rubbed my back.

After crying for about who knows how long, I finally calmed down. Noah leaned to the wall behind him and I sat with him. I put my head on his shoulder and he had his right arm around me, rubbing it.

He's right. It's okay to feel weak. It's a part of who you are.

"I missed us," I whispered, looking around.

"Why did you leave like that, Lexi?" I squeezed my eyes shut. "I came to your house every day after you left."

I know. The maid that worked told us that a blonde boy would come every day looking for me.

"I even wrote you letters, but you never replied."

I read those letters and cried, but never had the guts to reply.

"Why did you push us away, Lexi? Why did you push me?"

"After that day on the treehouse." I started, sniffing. "I went to my house and found that my mom was sick." I felt Noah tensed. "S-she had cancer. So we moved to New York so she could get the best treatment there... but nothing worked."

"Day by day she became weaker and weaker. She goes through a lot of pain and... nothing worked." Noah gripped around my shoulder, tightened. "I watched her die every day," I whispered. "And one day when I woke up, I found her lifeless on her bed."

"I didn't-"

"I told no one because I didn't want their pity." I sat straight looking at Noah. "I didn't want them to think I was weak and couldn't help myself because I promised my mom to be strong all the time."

"Lexi..." He grabbed my face in his palms and wiped the tear with his thumbs creasing my cheek. "I get what you're trying to say, but people help you because they care about you and not because they think of you as someone weak." I bit my lip to stop it from quivering.

"Don't push people who care about you, Lexi." He whispered, boring his eyes in mine. "We all love you and we will be with you at every step."

I nodded my head. "I'm sorry, it will not happen again."

Noah gave me his charming smile, switching the mood. "Good, because you won't get rid of me again that easily."

I chuckled and peeked at him. "Good." I sniffed.

Noah really knows how to make me feel better.

We both stared at each other with stupid grins on our faces. Noah leaned in and I closed my eyes. He kissed my forehead, making me feel warm and full.

"How did you find me?"

"When I reached high school Darren told me about what happened so I went to Jax's house but you weren't there either. Then I thought about this and came here." He answered, looking around.

My eyes went to his hand and saw it red. "You punched him?"

"So did you." He answered, looking at my hand.

"Yeah." I chuckled. "Couldn't help myself."

"Kevin did a number on him." I laughed and thought of Jax's bruised and swollen face.

"He looked bad," I muttered, suddenly feeling bad for him, then looked around. "You came here before?" I asked curiously.

"No." He shook his head. "After that day, I never came here." I glanced at the bed in the corner and wondered who kept this place safe.

"Listen Lexi." Noah turned his body facing me. "Jax is a jerk for what he did to you and you didn't deserve it. You deserve better than him."

"I know." I smiled, looking straight into his eyes.

I wanted to end things with Jax and it didn't go the way I imagined it, but I was happy that it's over now.

* * * * *

A/N
Wow I can't believe it's over forty chapters and we still have a long way to go...not that long XD

I wasn't expecting this book to be more than forty but I can't seem to stop writing and I can't rush things either but... Lexi is finally done with Jax 😅

And now it's time for her to move on...before it gets too late...you know what I mean right 😝