"I can't think of one single reason why I'm doing this," I say under my breath as I sit on a bench in the park where Dave and I usually hung out when we were dating.

"You're stupid... stupid, stupid, stupid," I scold myself slapping myself on the head.

"He's probably not gonna show up anyways," I say finally.

"Who's not gonna show up?" he asks from behind me and I flinch in surprise. I turn around and see him looking at me straight faced, wearing a leather jacket over a grey shirt and jeans. He looks even more good - looking than usual, his eyes greener, his hair darker. I stand up as he walks towards me. He gets extremely close and I smell his cologne. I look at him with a straight face but I feel light headed. He's always had this effect on me.

"So why did you ask me to come?" I ask nervously.

"A number of reasons actually. The first being I want us to get back together, I miss you," he says taking my hands in his. I just stare back at him.

"What?" he asks.

"So you called me all the way up here just to say nonsense... you know what? I'm leaving," I say taking my hand from his and carrying my bag from the chair. I try to move past him but he blocks my way.

"Just listen... please," he says stepping back abit.

"Youre saying please... what the hell happened? What did you do again Dave?" I ask.

"I didn't do anything. Must I do something?" he says exasperated.

"This is me being nice... being better," he says as I still look at him suspiciously.

"Okay...fine but what is it?" I say trying not to smile.

"Its Jake. Turns out he's worse than I thought,"

"Yeah I figured that out like weeks ago, so...," I reply obviously.

"Oh you haven't figured out the half of it," he says excitedly.

"Okay you're just scaring me now, cut to the chase,"

"Do you remember when he slept with the Sheriff's daughter? What's her face? Marissa?" He asks.

"Everyday," Is my curt reply.

"Well alot happened after that, so you're gonna have to ask her yourself, she's over there," he says gesturing to a girl on another park bench. I turn to look at her. Her hair is held in a very tight bun and she's dressed in jeans, a white shirt and a green jacket. She seems lost in thought. I turn to Dave "I dont have any business with that girl, okay I'm not interested," I say firmly.

"Oh but you are, just go and find out,"

I try to move past him but he blocks my way again.

"Just listen... she met me okay? she sought me out, and it was difficult. Just try not to be so hard on her," He cajoles.

"Just listen to her Laura," he says again.

"Fine," I say reluctantly and turn around. He grabs my arm again and turns me to face him.

"What?" I ask.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes.

"Tell that to Nick," I reply.

"No I'm not sorry for attacking him, I'm not apologizing for that. I'm sorry for hurting you in the process," he says frankly. I shake my head disapprovingly, walk past him and bump his shoulder in the process.

"Marissa," I call as I move towards her but she doesn't hear.

"Hey," I yell touching her shoulder.

She jumps as if attacked.

"Chill... what did you want to tell me?" I ask impatiently she hesitates.

"I..," she starts

"I - I," she stammers as I wait.

"It's... I dont know," she concludes.

"You don't know what you wanted to say? Or you're just being a bitch?" I goad. She just stares at me.

"So I wasted my time for nothing. Great," I say sarcastically turning around.

"Wait... just this is hard to say," she says hesitantly.

"You know what? I don't like you... infact, I can almost say I hate you. I look at you and all I see is the stupid bitch who slept with my boyfriend. now I cant stand you; infact, you irritate me, and I see you were hell bent on wasting my time today and I don't know why I bothered to waste my time on you. You have five seconds, are you gonna talk or not?" I ask angrily my voice getting higher with each word. She looks at me but doesn't say anything, just stares.

"You know what? screw you," I finish and turn around. I walk away but hear her loudly as she says

"He's abusive," I halt in my tracks and turn back to face her.

"What?" I ask.

"He's abusive," she says with no hint of nervousness in her tone like a completely different person from the girl I just saw.

"You don't like me,  and I sure as hell don't like you either," she says walking towards me.

"Especially after you just insulted me, but Jake abuses me," she finishes.

"Then leave," I say.

"Do you think I'll be standing here in front of you if I could?" she yells at me agitated.

"Show him half the spunk you're showing me and he'll back off,"

"Stop acting stupid, you know it won't," she fires back.

Shots fired.

"Sit down and start from the beginning," I say moving towards the bench and standing in front of it.

Marissa sits down and starts.

"When you two were still together, he went to a party and I was there. We had alot to drink, one thing led to another and we ended up having sex," she hesitates, but doesnt look up.

"While we were hooking up, Dave stumbled into the room and found us. We were shocked to say the least, but he just walked out without saying a word," she says and halts.

"What happened next?" I ask.

"We finished," she says.

"You finished?" I shout appalled.

"So you two didn't have an aorta of conscience?" I ask.

"We were drunk," she shouts with a sigh. After that, the next morning we felt weird and decided to act like nothing ever happened but we kept hooking up," she finishes her face flushed still not looking up.

"It lasted for about three days before Dave told you. Jake was to say the least, angry that you broke up with him, he couldn't just believe it and when you refused to get back together with him, he decided to take me as a rebound," she says angrily.

"That's when he became abusive. controlling what I wear, who I meet, monitoring my cell phone, I decided to leave him but when I told him, he went ballistic,"

"He shoved me on the wall and almost hit me. After that, he just became worse, I even heard he kissed you.. I just want an out," she finishes hysterically.

"I'll see what I can do," I say with mixed emotions.

"Really?" she asks disbelievingly with tears in her eyes. "I didn't think you would," she says softly.

"You did, that's why you came here. Now leave, let me think," I say dismissively.

"Th-," she starts.

"Just...Shut up ok? I still don't like you, and don't thank me yet," I shout.

She composes herself, wipes the tears from her eyes, picks up her bag, turns around and leaves, a completely different person from the girl that was just crying now. What do I do?

×××

"Laura I knew you'd come around," Jake says over  the receiver.

"Meet me at the park in ten minutes," I say.

"Fi-," I hang up.

I look around at the approaching darkness. I've literally been sitting here for hours, considering my next step. The cool air making me more nervous than I already am.

I relax in my chair. I don't know how long has passed as I see Jake approaching. He stands in front of me and waits, with a victorious smirk on his face.

"Let me tell you a story," I state calmly watching as his look turns into one of confusion.

"There was a girl, lets call her Clarissa," I start.

"She was in a relationship with a guy named um... Blake; lets say Blake," the look on his face changes again.

"The girl, Clarissa, was happy in this relationship for a while, but then she wanted an out," I say with fake shock.

"But this boy Blake wouldn't let her go so you know what she did?" I ask and wait.

"She got a gun. Getting it was easy as she was the Sheriff's daughter. Then she called his ex, Blair, and told her to tell Blake that she, Clarissa would shoot him the next time he bothers her and she'll get away with it. She didn't want to be a murderer, that is why she told his ex to warn him first. She told her to say the relationship was over and you know what happened?" I ask calmly seeing him gulp, the wind blowing giving me goosebumps.

"He listened, and everything was fine," I finish. He looks relieved as I finish my story.

"But...," I continue and he tenses up again.

"The story has a different ending, but thats a story for another day," I finish finally and pick my bag. I turn away from him and start to walk away. I can hear the rustling of the leaves in the wind. It's almost dark now.

"I'm not afraid," Jake shouts at me.

I turn around "what are you talking about? I only told you a story," I say with calm reassurance as I turn away from him not wanting my nervousness to show.

"And again, thanks for showing up," I say finally as I walk away from him.

Thabks for all the support!

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