CHAD'S POV

"We're here." I said as I put the car on park mode and shut off the engine. We finally arrived at our destination.

Courtney looked around, confused. "Where are we?" she asked.

Honestly, when I told Mr. Duval that I'd try and help convince Courtney to reconsider her plan of dropping out of school, I never expected it would lead to this. That I would come up with this kind of plan.

At first, I had no idea what I'd do. I felt that whatever plan I had in mind, it wouldn't be enough. I knew I had to come up with something more meaningful. And just talking to her would not be as satisfactory. I had to come up with a plan that was more likely to make a lasting impact.

After all, it's not really my nature to just push someone to do something out of their own will. No, especially in this situation. Especially if it's her.

Courtney.

I wanted to give her freedom to choose her own path. But at the same time, to help her explore other options that is not base solely on what she thinks is best. Find the answer that would also give her the opportunity to discover what she was really needed.

Courtney has changed, yes. But she is still the same person with a sense of conviction. Once she sets her mind into something, she is determined and will follow through with it, no matter how difficult it may be.

That could be her driving factor why she did all this and decided to dropped out--believing that she should pay the price for her actions and mistakes, and that the best thing to do was to take responsibility for them.

"I know I said that Mr. Duval sent me to tutor you and that we'd watch a movie for a school paper. Sorry I lied."

Courtney's eyebrows creased, as if she was trying to process what I had just said. "What do you mean?"

"I should've been honest from the start. I didn't come to tutor you. I came because I wanted to talk to you about something important."

Courtney looked concerned. She seemed to sense that it's something too serious, and she appeared to be both anxious and worried.

"Don't worry, nothing bad. I just have something I need to tell you." I quickly added before she could even say something or think of the worse. And to make her feel better, I smiled reassuringly, hoping to convince her that everything was going to be alright.

"I know everything now." I started. I watched her expression change from worry to surprise, her eyes widened as if she wasn't expecting what I said.

I took a deep sigh and continued. "I know why you did all those things. Why you tried to distance yourself because you're afraid that similar things might happen to me. I know you endured everything because you thought that would keep me safe. You carry the burden of my past as if you were the one who hurt me in the first place."

I reached out to her hand and said, "I'm sorry for putting you through that."

* * * * * *

COURTNEY'S POV

"I'm sorry for putting you through that."

Chad's words caught me by surprise, and his warm hand on top of mine felt like a wave of comfort and understanding washing over me. I was so touched by his gesture that I couldn't even find the words to respond.

All I could do was look into his eyes, and wonder what did I do to deserve this kind of treatment from him?

Even after everything, you still see the good side of me?

Why?

How could he apologize for my wrongdoings? As if this was all his fault? As if he was the one who wronged me? That he was the one inflicted that pain on me?

"Why are you apologizing? This is my fault. I made that decision, and instead of coming to you and telling you the truth, I chose to lie and say those hurtful things--believing that it was the only way. Whereas in fact, if only I'd been more honest, none of this would have happened. I didn't have to put you in the difficult position I created, and it cost us both. I should apologize, not you. I was the one who hurt you, Chad. I--"

I stopped when Chad's hand touched my cheek. His thumb tenderly wiped a tear from my face. I didn't realize I had been crying until then.

"You did that because you felt the need to. You got too affected by my past because you cared for me. My past and the guilt you feel from your own, these two things drove you into believing that... that lying was the only way, like you didn't have a choice."

My eyes were fixed on him. I could see the guilt and pain in his eyes, as if he had done something wrong. "You thought your secret would affect me too. You wanted to protect me from you--the old you."

I wanted to ask him how he knew all this. He didn't read my letter, I didn't have the chance to tell him the whole story when I confronted him at the country club. Well, unless there was some kind of sorcery involved that Olivia finally grew some conscience and gave my letter to Chad, I didn't see any explanation how he knew all this.

"How did you--" But before I could even finish my question, Chad already interrupted me.

"That's the thing. I didn't know all this until it was too late." He said, shaking his head. "You tried numerous times to tell me, but I didn't listen. Instead of looking into the situation thoroughly and trusting my first instinct that something is wrong, I chose to shut you out and let you down."

I took his hand and held it tightly, stopping him from blaming himself for my actions. "Chad, you've been very understanding even from the start. You always believed in me, see the goodness in me even in my mean-girl era. I understand why you did all that. I gave you a reason to. And don't ever think you didn't try, you did. You tried but I still pushed you away. Thinking it's for the better."

I saw a smile on his lips, and my heart slowed. I didn't expect he would look at me and smile at me like this again.

I looked away from him, feeling a little bit embarrassed and said, "How can you still be so understanding and forgiving despite everything I've done?"

"Because I believe in you. I see the real you. And I know you really regret all the things you did." Chad's voice was so soothing that I could feel my worries slowly fading away. "You know, learning from your mistakes is the best thing you can do for yourself. You should be proud of being brave enough to admit your wrongdoing and take responsibility for it. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve to forgive yourself and just be miserable all your life."

Chad lifted my chin up and looked me in the eyes. "You dropped out because of guilt."

I gasped in surprise. How did he know? I wasn't sure where he got his information from, but he was so spot on that it felt like he was reading my mind. "Well, I should have done it sooner. I don't deserve to be where I am now. I don't deserve the grades I get. I don't-"

"You need to give yourself a break, Courtney." Chad interrupted. "Don't be so harsh on yourself. You can't keep punishing yourself for something you did in the past." His words were gentle, but his tone was firm. He seemed to understand my inner struggles and called me out on my own self-doubt. "If everyone is not given a second chance, how can we learn from our mistakes and make up for them?"

I know that Chad was just trying to help me or make me feel less guilty about my past, and I really appreciate it. I was moved. But I had already made up my mind.

"How can I think I'm deserving of that if I know I ruined someone's life because of my selfishness and pride? I can't turn back time and make it right. I can never undo the damage I have done. If Jeremy lost his scholarship because of me, I don't think I deserve to graduate. This is the only thing I could think of that is fair."

"Or you can also apologize. You'll be surprised how a simple sorry can make a huge difference." Chad gestured outside. He pointed at a house with a light on, and said, "It may not fix the situation, but it will let him know that you acknowledge your mistake and you are truly sorry for the consequences."

My head whipped at the house he pointed at and I realized that he had brought me to where Jeremy lives.

"I'm not forcing you to go there. That's just an option for you to consider. I'm doing all this because I want you to know one thing," Chad squeezed my hand and gave me the most comforting and reassuring smile I had ever seen. My heart melted at the sight of his caring expression and my worries were instantly put to rest.

"You fought my battles, let me fight your battles too. No matter the outcome, I'll be here to help you overcome it."

-END OF CHAPTER 63-

A/N: Chaddy!! *sigh* this is how it feels like to fall in love with a geek!

This chapter is inspired by the song Your Guardian Angel. Huhuhu. I hope you'll like the last few chapters I prepared and hopefully this is the ending you're hoping too!

FINISHED VERSION is available on my Patreon Account: notjustarandomgirl (link in Bio)

SHE'S IN LOVE WITH A GEEK BOOK: Sorry i haven't responded yet to some of your emails as I was quite busy for the past weeks and there's problem with editing. I'll get back to you all once everything is settled. Thank you!