The lights were off as we walked carefully into the room with the candlelit cake. Jay was looking straight at me, as people gathered around him. I tried not to make direct eye contact.

"Happy birthday to you,"

That look that made so many girls drool, and sigh in awe. That look that seemed to pierce through my skin.

"Happy birthday to you,"

I hated it when we made eye contact. He seemed so menacing when he looked straight at me.

"Happy birthday to Jayyyy,"

I wish things didn't have to be this way. I wish I never got caught up in anything to do with him.

"Happy birthday to you!"

Miserably, I placed the cake on the table, and Jay sat forward, blowing out all of the candles. I stood idly to the side as people cheered. Someone snatched the Jay head from the top and splattered it onto Jay's face, making people cheer even louder.

"Imagine kissing yourself!" Reuben hooted with laughter.

"Oh, no." Jemimah gripped my arm, and I hadn't even noticed she'd come to stand behind me, "We need to get out of here. Things are going to get insane."

Before I could respond, Jay yelled out to me. "Kate! Where is she? Katie!"

I groaned, and looked at Jemimah. "I'm gonna say goodbye. Wait for me at the door, okay?" She nodded before heading in the opposite direction. I sighed, as I followed the sound of Jay's voice towards him. He had wiped the cake from his face, and when he saw me he smirked, and grabbed my hand.

"Um, Jay, something came up at home and-"

"We need to talk," He cut me off suddenly, and I noticed his eyes searching my face, with some sort of sorrow, "Can we go somewhere else?"

I looked up at him, wondering what exactly would make his face so serious and his voice unusually soft. "Okay. Let's go."

He took my hand, leading me across the living room and through the corridor. I stopped at the large white staircase that led up to all the bedrooms, extra bathrooms and cinema room. "This is quiet enough. Let's sit down." We settled on the first step, and Jay looked down as he clasped his hands together.

"Kate," he said quietly, "I've noticed that lately you've been kinda distant."

My breath hitched in my throat. What? He could tell? I really was that transparent. This was bad..."What do you mean? I see you everyday." I decided to play dumb.

"Yeah, but you don't seem physically engaged in anything we do together," Jay ran a hand through his brown wavy hair and sighed, "Do you...want to break up?"

"What? No! It's not like that. I've just had a lot on my mind lately. I'm sorry. I know it's not fair on you." I said quickly. Jay looked at me.

"If I've done something you don't like, tell me okay?" Jay replied, softly, "I want this to work out."

"So do I." I said, taking his hand, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.

"So you know I care, right?" Jay grinned, and I smiled back and nodded. I wasn't sure why he was being so gentle...it just wasn't like him.

"Good," He stood up, and suddenly, lifted me up bridal style, "Let's go."

I squealed. "What are you doing?"

He started up the staircase, and his eyes became dark, his smile turning into a mischievous smirk . "We're going to my room." My heart hammered in my chest, as I realised what he was talking about. Frantically, I squirmed in his arms, but he only held me tighter. "What's wrong, Kate?"

"Put me down...Jay, please," I said seriously, and when he reached the top of the staircase lowered me onto the ground. I stood up, and he held onto my waist, tightening his grip.

"Don't be shy. Katie, listen." He tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ear, and placed one hand on my face, the other round my waist. I could still see the bits of cake on the sides of his face that had refused to be washed off.

"I love you," he whispered, "I love you, okay?"

I said nothing, as he leaned in closer to me, pressing his lips firmly against mine. I inhaled, and then pushed him off.

"Just stop...please." I tried to loosen his hands from around me but they clutched tighter and I winced. It really hurt. "Jay...it hurts. Stop it."

"No. You're mine, remember? I can do whatever I want. Come with me..." He grabbed me tighter and pulled me towards him, making me yelp against him. "You love me too, don't you? Or were you lying to me, Katlynn? Is that it? You don't care about my happiness at all?"

"Just...Get...OFF!" With all the force I could muster, I shoved him off of me, and he tumbled back towards the edge of the steps, but grabbed onto the railing just before he could fall.

I clasped my hands over my mouth in shock, and he stood there in silence. "I-I'm sorry..."

"You trying to kill me?" He said, darkly.

"N-no, I..."

He lunged forward, the back of his hand slapping hard against my face. I stumbled backwards, holding my cheek, and feeling the tears burn up in my eyes.

"You've done pretty good up until now, Kate. I really thought you could be a keeper," Jay leaned against the railing, and folded his arms, "I've never met someone so good at pretending as you. It's impressive, actually."

I stood, frozen, not sure how to move now. He knew?

"You've kept up your game way better than any other girl I've gone out with. But you've lost at your own game at the worst, worst time," he continued, shaking his head, but then looked straight into my eyes, "But. I can let all this slide, if you agree to get into that bed." He stepped towards me.

I took a few, shaky steps back, and looked at the ground. "I'm not ready...yet..."

"Come on. It's my birthday." It was a simple sentence, but Jay spat it with venom. I couldn't do it, even if I did like him. A boy can get dangerous in this state. I gulped.

"Come with me! Just let me be satisfied with the actual reason I decided to date you in the first place." He spat, grabbing my wrist, "I won't let you go until you do."

I stared at him. "You...you only dated me because of sex?"

"Isn't that why people date?"

My jaw clenched. "You never liked me, did you?"

Jay frowned. "Neither did you." He whispered. "So we're both pretty much even, don't you think?"

"I did like you at first..."I said to him, honestly, "Since primary school, I'd liked you. But then..." I looked at him up and down, "I saw who you really were."

"Oh come on. We both wanted the same thing. When two popular people get together, there's respect and admiration. We both want that, don't we."

The tears were rolling down my cheeks now.

"We're both selfish, Kate. You were willing to date someone you didn't even like, just for the image, isn't it? I could've proposed to you, even given up my life, but as long as you looked good on the outside, you didn't have to care."

"You're-you're wrong," I stammered, "it's not like that. You can't put this all on me. Ever since we started going out, I've done everything for you." I yanked my arm out of his grip, and he didn't even fight back. I stepped away from him, as my voice got louder and more steady.

"Who helped to plan this birthday party? Who was there for you, every time your parents left you home alone? Who skipped several school days to be there every time you needed someone, who planned every date, and to give up so much just to keep you happy?" A lump was forming in my throat. "My feelings did fade away over time, Jay. But I've always, always taken care of you. Always looking for ways to keep you happy. And you've never done the same."

"Oh shut the hell up about making me happy!" Jay yelled, causing me to jump, "You think I'm going to believe that you cared about me? You pull away when I hold you, resent my kisses and now we can't have sex? You're the selfish one here, Katie. Not me."

I bit my lip. I tried. I did so much for his approval, and I've been more dedicated to him than I've had to anything else. Without another word, I shoved past him, and started down the staircase.

"Leave now, and you know it's over. You'll be ruined, Katie. I'm warning you." Jay called after me.

I knew. I knew I was going to be ruined. But at that moment, I didn't care about anything else but getting out of there; as far away from him as possible.

"Never live your life for anyone else but yourself."