Three years ago.

Jace's POV .

We left Cass's car with Tyler since she and I are too drunk to drive and Olivia and Diego did not want to drive it.

I'm riding with Cass in the back of Diego's car because she's really out of it and is soundly asleep with her head resting on my shoulder.

I keep meeting Olivia's gaze in the rearview, she hates Cass, she doesn't want Cass anywhere near me, I know that much and after tonight, I'll grant her that wish.

I glance down at Cass's head resting on my shoulder, remembering what Tyler said about everyone in her life betraying her. I didn't want to be one of those people, I really wanted our friendship to work out but life just had to swoop in.

Diego brings the car to a stop in his driveway, behind his mom's car.

"I thought you said she was out tonight." I stare at the car ahead.

"Yeah, I guess she changed plans." He responds, his tone coming out a little bitter.

I ignore that.

"Okay, she'll be cool with it, right?" I ask, he looks back at Cass and myself, so does Olivia.

"If it were any other person, yes, but it's her." He emphasizes, scowling at Cass.

"What?" I snap my brows together.

"My mom is a Richardson hater." He informs, turning his face to Olivia.

"She doesn't know who Cass-"

"Oh she does, she knows all of them." He cuts me off.

Bullshit.

It's either he doesn't want her in his house or..... Well, he doesn't want her in his house.

Asshole.

"Well now what?" I mutter to myself.

I definitely can not take her to my house, my mother would kill both of us.

"She can stay at my place." Olivia suggests, Diego and I look at her at the same time.

"Really?" I question, a little surprised by her offer.

"Nah, the right question is, how dumb are you?" Diego lets out a laugh, I roll my eyes at him.

"There's plenty of room." Olivia says to Diego, Diego shakes his head at her, muttering something in Spanish underneath his tone.

"She'll be gone before you wake up tomorrow morning." I assure her, lightly tapping Cass's shoulder but she doesn't budge. "Cass?" I whisper, pushing a golden lock from her face.

"Mmm." She stirs.

"Wake up." I mutter, she flutters her eyes open and takes in our surrounding.

"Where am I?" She rubs her eyes as I open the door and lead her out first, she steps out and I do the same, shutting the car door afterwards.

"You okay." I ask when her face squeezes in disgust.

"Yeah," she gets rid of the look and plasters a faint smile.

"Come on, love birds, we ain't got all night." Olivia shuts the door with a bang and starts walking towards her house, leaving us behind.

Cass raises a brow at me, "Did she just-"

"Yep," I huff.

I give Diego one last glance before Cass and I follow behind Olivia, Cass is a stumbling mess so I hold her arm to help her balance her walk.

Olivia let's us inside, telling me to show Cass the guest bedroom since I know where it is, Cass almost falls on the stairs which makes me burst out laughing, I know I'm not supposed to but it was funny.

"Jace?" Cass's hand slaps against her mouth, that disgusted face reappearing again.

"Yes?"

"I don't feel so good." She speaks into her palm.

"Oh, shit!" I grasp her hand and hurry to the bathroom.

She knees before the toilet seat and starts puking, I hold her hair back as she continues vomiting.

My back feels heavy so I turn my head to look behind me, Olivia stands in the doorway, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe, folding her arms against her chest and watching us attentively.

Talk about awkward situations.

"Hi." I smile at her, she rolls her eyes, shaking her head and leaving.

I think she meant well.

Cass finishes up and sits on the floor, wiping her mouth with her sleeve.

"I ruined it for you, didn't I?" Her eyelids look heavy.

"Ruined what?" I also sit on the floor.

"The spark between you two." She looks down at the floor, her throat bobbling.

Yes.

"No, don't be ridiculous." I say confidently so she believes me.

"I ruin everything," Her tone cracks, tears forming in her blue eyes, "I'm sorry." She wipes her eyes but more tears fall.

I swallow, looking away from her face and flexing my jaw.

"You didn't ruin anything, Olivia and I are good." I say the first thing that comes to my mind, which is a lie.

Olivia and I will never be good as long as there's Cass in my life.

"Stop lying to yourself, Jace." She sniffles.

"Okay, fine, maybe we're not that okay but we're working on it." I grab her hand but she immediately yanks it away, giving her head a slight shake that says don't.

"You do realize that I'm gonna have to stay far away from you after tonight, right?" She wipes her cheeks again, looking down at her lap.

My heart slams against my ribcage, air leaving my chest.

"No, that's not what we agreed on." I shake my head.

"I know but I have to keep my distance, that's the only way you and her are really gonna work on it." She's practically making my job easier.

Then why does it feel like twelve knives curving through my chest at the same time?

"We'll talk in the hallways?" I ask her, finally accepting our fate.

"No."

"Paper chat in class?"

"No." She laughs through her crying.

"Wave?" I whisper, she slowly shakes her head, muttering a no.

I nod in understanding, the alcohol leaving my system, being replaced by rage, anger and regret.

"I'm sorry." I frown.

"For what?" She laughs at me, trying to bring back the playfulness.

"I failed you too," I say in serious tone.

"There's this thing called wrong place, wrong time. You and I falling for each other wasn't wrong, it was just at the wrong place and at the wrong time, so no, you didn't fail me. You tried to stay and that means something to me." She shows me a warm smile.

I wanna tell her that trying isn't good enough, she deserves better than that but I just keep quiet, talking won't solve anything. It is what it is.

We both stand up and she grins up at me, that smile that Tyler was talking about, the one she can't control.

"Bitch, smile a little, you're making me uncomfortable." She says playfully, a chuckle rambles in my chest and engulf her in a hug.

This might be the first and last hug we'll ever share and it's happening in my girlfriend's bathroom.

How fucking sad.

I pull away from our embrace and looking at her now sad face makes my heart ache.

"So, where the hell am I sleeping." She changes the subject.

I escort her to the guest bedroom, helping her take off her shoes and get inside the covers.

I kneel down beside the bed, holding her hand behind both of mine.

Tomorrow morning she'll walk out of this out and my life... Forever.

"Goodnight, Jace." She yawns, her eyes closing.

I press my lips on the back of her hand, "Goodnight, Cass." I speak against her skin.

I stare at her face and I shake my head, scoffing at this entire situation.

What a cruel life.

I leave the room before I think too much into it.

I decide I'm going home so I don't have to be here tomorrow morning but I have to say goodnight to Olivia first.

I knock on her door, she shouts for me to to go in and I open the door.

"Hey, you?" I don't step inside.

"Done tucking your girl in?" She's making her bed.

She said that in a teasing way but still.

"Stop." I walk in, throwing myself on her undone bed and sighing at the ceiling.

"Jace?" She calls.

"It's not a question about Cassandra, is it?" I rub my forehead, closing my eyes shut in frustration.

"It's just, I saw the way you looked at her." She sits next to my head.

"Olivia."

"It's the same way you look at me." She says, I look up at her, my mind lost at words.

I know I have to be honest with her, that's the only way she'll learn to trust me.

With that, I sit up, looking directly into her eyes.

"I have feelings for her." I admit, she gives me a narrowed side look.

"I can't tell if you're serious." She lets out a nervous laugh.

"I'm serious." I wish I wasn't. "Does that make you uncomfortable?" I ask the most stupid question.

She gets up and paces the room.

"When did you..." She pauses, looking hurt and confused.

"I don't know but I realized it earlier today." I say truthfully.

"When you kissed her or something?" She asks, running a hand through her hair.

"No, Liv, I didn't cheat on you. I just know I like her but I'm with you and that's not gonna change." I say to make her feel better but it just adds more fire the already burning wood.

"Really? Cause I feel like I'm losing you." She stops pacing and stares at me with watery eyes.

No, not her too.

"No, you're not, I swear you're not." I get on my feet, cupping her face. "Cass and I agreed to end our friendship and stop talking to each other, whatever was there is over now, it's just you and me from now on."

"Promise?" She touches my face, her eyes wildly searching for something.

"I promise." I kiss her lips and she kisses me back.

I know I've made her promises before but this one I will keep, I know I will.

"Liv?" I press our foreheads together.

"Yeah?" She steals another kiss from me and I smile at that.

"We're gonna be okay." I assure her and myself.

"I know." She wraps her arms around my neck and we hold each other for a long time.