“It’s hard to think when losing someone only makes you want to scream!”

                I groaned and rolled over, slapping around until I had turned my alarm clock off. I got up and ran my hands through the hot mess I called my hair.

                Luka had gone home after a few hours last night. He had tried to convince me to come to his house, but I knew I needed to sleep at my own house for a few nights. I felt bad staying at Luka’s house all the time. I loved being with him, but I felt bad about eating his food and using his hot water to shower.

                I crawled out of bed and left my bedroom, going to the bathroom. I took a quick shower before getting dressed and ready for school.

                I sat down in my bedroom, realizing I had a few minutes before I had to leave. Might as well get myself some breakfast. After all, I had promised Luka I would try to eat better.

                I went out to the kitchen and dug through the drawers in search of food. My stomach growled and I rolled my eyes at it. I know stomach. I’m trying to find some food. Work with me.

                I sighed in annoyance, realizing I had forgotten to buy myself poptarts. Great, now I had nothing to eat for breakfast and nothing to bring for lunch.

                I stood in the middle of the kitchen, pouting at the drawers. I turned as I heard my mom stumbling into the kitchen.

                She looked like she was barely even awake, and yet she looked beautiful as always. My mom was one of those people who could look breathtakingly gorgeous even if she had just gone for a long swim in a dumpster.

                She rubbed her eyes as she moved to make herself a pot of coffee. I moved out of her way so that she wouldn’t run into me.

                I glanced at the clock and sighed, realizing I had to get going before I was late. I went into my bedroom and grabbed my bag and car keys before heading back out. I peeked into the kitchen one more time, watching my mom pour herself a bowl of cereal and sit down at the counter.

                I turned and left, getting into my car and taking off towards the school, my stomach still growling loudly. I parked the car when I got to school and walked up the hill to the school.

                After texting Luka, I went over and sat down on a bench by myself. I put my earphones in, listening to Mayday Parade and nodding my head along with the beat slightly.

                I let out a little yelp as something flung onto me, knocking me over. I crashed to the floor and looked up at Luka’s smiling face.

                “Hi Connor!” he shouted, pulling my earphones out.

                “Hi Luka,” I said, propping up on my elbows as he wrapped his arms around my neck and kissed me.

                “I missed you,” he said with a pout. “Breakfast wasn’t as fun without you.”

                At the mention of breakfast, my stomach growled. Luka gave me an accusing look. He stood up, offering me his hand and pulling me to my feet.

                “You didn’t eat this morning, did you?” he asked.

                I shook my head. “No. We didn’t have anything to eat,” I said with a shrug. I’d have to pick up some poptarts on my way home.

                “Connor!” Luka whined. “You need to eat!”

                “I didn’t have food,” I said, rolling my eyes and wrapping an arm around his waist.

                Luka sighed. I rolled my eyes again and cracked my back, which was a little sore from Luka shooting out of nowhere and knocking me off of the bench.

                “Oh no! Connor, did I hurt you? Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” Luka cried in alarm.

                “Luka, I just cracked my back,” I said, laughing at his expression. I held my arms out for him and he cautiously moved into them. I hugged him and he carefully hugged me back.

                “Luka! Come on, I want a real hug. My back is fine,” I said, pouting at him.

                Luka frowned and nodded, hugging me a little tighter. I chuckled and kissed him deeply, pulling away from him and taking his hand in mine.

                We walked to Luka’s locker and I waited until he was done. He grabbed my hand again and pulled me out and back to the bench. We sat down together and I kissed Luka’s cheek.

                “Now listen up!” Luka said, pointing a stern finger at me and narrowing his eyes. “If I find out that you keep skipping breakfast, so help me god Connor Garret Brennan, I will tie you up and force feed you!”

                “Oh, kinky,” I said, smirking and winking at him.

                Luka blushed and dropped his gaze. “Ew! Connor, stop being a pervert!” he said, giggling.

                “Mr. Brennan.”

                I looked up curiously and my face paled a little. My science teacher raised an eyebrow at me and crossed his arms.

                “Mr. Brennan, we missed you yesterday in class. Although, I was informed by Blake Leahy that you were, indeed, in school. Either Mr. Leahy lied to me, or you skipped class,” he said.

                Shit. Leave it to Blake to tell our teacher that I had been skipping science class.  

                “Um…” I chewed on my lip, trying to find out how to get out of this.

                “Connor didn’t feel good yesterday. He thought he was going to get sick,” Luka lied, those big, innocent eyes trained on the teacher, Mr. Grigsby.

                “So why didn’t he come to my classroom to get a pass to the nurse? Please tell me that, Mr. Ellis.”

                Gah, I hated Mr. Grigsby. Why did he have to call us by our last names? Why couldn’t he just call us Connor, Blake, and Luka? Why did he have to keep saying Mr. Brennan, Mr. Leahy, and Mr. Ellis?

                “Because Connor is afraid of throwing up. He has a serious fear of it, Mr. Grigsby. He was in the locker room. Next time he’ll go get a pass. He’s really sorry,” Luka said sincerely.

                “Yea. I’m sorry,” I said, playing along with Luka.

                Mr. Grigsby narrowed his eyes at us. “Mr. Brennan, if you ever skip my class again, I will write you up,” he said flatly before walking away.

                “Luka, you hate lying. Why did you lie to him?” I asked in confusion.

                “Because if you got in trouble, he would’ve called your house. Your mom and dad would’ve known you were skipping class. I didn’t want them to get mad at you. You already have a strained relationship with them,” he said silently.

                I sighed and hugged Luka. “Luka, please stop worrying about it. I don’t have a strained relationship with my mom and dad. It was rough for a little, but everything is fine now. You know that.” I kissed his cheek and pulled him to his feet as the bell rang.

                We went to class. By the time lunch had come, I still hadn’t seen any sign of Blake. I went to our usual lunch table, Luka trailing behind me happily.

                We sat down together and Luka dug around in his lunch. He produced two granola bars and held them out to me.

                “I am not taking your lunch Luka,” I said sternly, trying to push them away from me.

                “Connor, please eat. I’m worried about you. So please just eat,” Luka said in the Voice.

                “Luka,” I groaned, taking the granola bars from him. I pouted as I opened one and bit into it, my stomach begging for more. I was so hungry.

                “And Connor loses again!”

                We turned to face Felix as he grinned at me. Blake was next to him. The two of them sat down at the table.

                “So, you guys should come over tonight,” Blake said, not actually looking at me.

                “I have a lot of homework to do,” I lied. “Sorry Blake.”

                Luka shot me a concerned look. “Hey Connor, why don’t you come? At least for a little?” he asked me quietly. “I think it would be good for you to spend some time with everyone.”

                But he knew I couldn’t. I had told him yesterday that I needed to stay away from Blake for a little while. If I was there, god only knew what Blake would pull to make me look violent.

                Besides, I had already figured Blake out. He wanted to drag this out. He wasn’t going to tell Luka. Not yet, anyways. I had some time to figure out a plan to stop him.

                “No, Luka. I can’t. I have a lot of homework. Plus I promised my dad I would help him move some stuff around in the basement,” I lied.

                “Darn Connor. We’re gonna miss you,” Blake said, frowning at me. “Me and Luka. And Felix.”

                I ignored that little taunt, taking a bite of granola bar and pretending to be watching some kids arguing at a different table. It was better for me to just ignore Blake.

                “Connor, when’s the next time you’re sleeping over?” Luka asked me curiously.

                I shrugged at me. “I don’t know Luka.”

                “This weekend! You’re sleeping over this weekend after we go to the movies!” Luka said sternly. He smiled at me and giggled.

                But I stared at him suspiciously. The look in his eyes told me that he was definitely plotting something.

                “Luka, what are you thinking?” I asked cautiously.

                “Nothing Connor,” he said innocently.

                “Luka…”

                Luka frowned and took my hand in his. “Don’t you trust me, baby?” Dammit. He was using the Voice on me.

                “Of course I trust you Luka,” I said with a helpless sigh, hugging him tightly and kissing him.

                “You know, my English teacher was talking about trust today. She was saying how it’s so difficult to gain, and so easy to lose,” Blake said, watching us. A slight grin was on his face. “Don’t you two agree?”

                Luka shrugged, jumping into my lap and wrapping his arms around my neck. “I mean, I guess that’s almost always true. But honestly, it wasn’t hard for Connor to gain my trust. He’s never given me any reason not to trust him. He always tells me the truth. And he’s open with me about almost everything,” he said, kissing me.

                “Well, I can understand that. Connor is one of the most trustworthy people I know. He’s never lied to me before,” Blake said, now giving me a charming smile. “Right, Connor?”

                “Right,” I said with a nod, wanting to piss him off without upsetting Luka. “I wouldn’t lie to you Blake. Remember when we wrote the conclusion for the project? Total honesty.”

                Blake’s eyes flashed dangerously, but he kept that charming smile on his face. “Well, you know what they say. Honesty is the best policy. I have some things I haven’t been honest about, but I will be,” he said smugly.

                I ground my teeth together and remained silent. I wrapped my arms around Luka’s waist, trying to fight off my fear.

                No, I wouldn’t let him tell Luka. I would find some way to stop him from telling Luka. I had made a mistake, and I would do anything to protect Luka from the knowledge of that mistake.

                But I could tell by Luka’s expression that he was definitely plotting something. And Blake had a similar expression on his face.

                I mentally groaned. Great, so now my boyfriend and my ex-lover were both plotting something against me. Something told me this wasn’t going to end well.

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A.N.- All the comments on the past few chapters are making me wonder...do you guys hate Connor or Blake more, and why? ;p