CHAPTER 31
Painful Sacrifices and Heartbreaking Endings

Blake's POV

"Where are you taking me?" I asked as Asher pulled my arms.

"We'll explain later. Just hurry up!" Jack said, walking along with us.

They pulled me out of the school and finally stopped when we reached the bleachers.

"I want to talk to you." Asher said.

"About?" I asked when at the same time Jack shouted "What?!"

"We're here to talk about Addy." Asher clarified and I gave him a confused look.

"What the fuck?!" Jack exclaimed, "I thought we were skipping school."

"No, we're going back in after lunch." Asher said.

"Oh man!" Jack sighed before plopping down on the bleacher and Asher rolled his eyes as he sat down, then gestured me to take a seat too.

"Who is Addy to you?" Asher asked me.

"She's my best friend." I answered and he rolled his eyes.

"Do you like Addy?" He asked his next question.

"Of course, I do. She's my best friend." I replied and he took in an exasperated breath.

"Do you like Addy romantically?"

"No, she's my bes–"

"You say that one more time and I'll punch your teeth out!" Asher shouted.

"What else am I supposed to say?" I asked.

"I'll change my style of questioning. Maybe that would help." He sighed.

"Why are you asking me these questions?" I asked and he gave me a pointed look.

"I am the one asking the questions. Not you. So, just shut up unless you have to answer." He ordered and I rolled my eyes.

"Would you rather watch her getting married to someone else, or be the one to marry her?" He asked and I felt my heart clench at the thought.

"Who the fuck thinks about marriage in high school?" I asked, unable to answer his question.

"I do." Jack said, "On my wedding day, I want an outdoor wedding, a huge chocolate cake and of course, carnations. They're Kate's favorite flowe– What?" He asked, noticing the weird looks Asher and I gave him.

"Dude, that is so creepy." Asher said.

"You were the one who started this conversation." Jack argued.

"I was just giving an example." Asher said, shaking his head. "Never mind. I'll ask you another question.

I groaned, "Please, don–"

"Would you rather watch her date someone else, or be the one to date her?" He asked.

"Is this about Cole?" I asked, "Does she want to date Cole?"

"Oh, fuck no!" Asher said, "Just answer the damn question!"

"But I need to know if there's something going on with her and Cole. She was with him after school yesterday. And she won't kiss me anymore or even want to be in the same car as me. What if this has something to do with Cole?"

"There is nothing going on between her and Cole, Blake." Asher said, "Forget about him and think about what you want with Addy."

"I need more time to think." I said.

"You don't have much time though." Asher said, getting up from bleachers and giving me a sympathetic look before walking away.

"I have no idea." Jack shrugged.

I felt a ping in my pocket and I quickly took out my phone before checking the message.

"It's Lynne. She said she wants to meet." I told Jack.

"I think she's pregnant." Jack said and I frowned, "I mean, think about it. Asher was trying to get you to commit to her before she reveals the news to you."

"Jack, I liked it better when you were quiet." I said, shaking my head and he gave me a pout.

I rolled my eyes before walking into the school. I walked towards class 312, the place where she asked me to meet her, feeling my nervous heart beating fast against my chest.

After everything Asher said, I had no idea what to expect from seeing her and something kept telling me that I wasn't going to like it.

I opened the door to the classroom and saw Lynne sitting on the teacher's table, watching her dangling legs. She looked up at me and gave me a small smile, immediately putting me at rest.

I closed the door behind me and walked over to the table before standing in front of her.

"Are you pregnant?" I asked and she gave me a confused look.

"No", she said I let out a breath of relief.

"I'm sorry." She said, "I've been a little distant for the past few weeks. Especially yesterday and the night before that. I shouldn't have been so harsh to you."

"It's alright, Lynne." I said, softly caressing her warm cheeks. "I'm just glad that you're talking to me again."

"I'm really, really sorry." She repeated, lowering her head. "It's not your fault. I've just been dealing with some things."

I used a finger to slowly lift her head up to face me. "Lynne, you know you could tell me anything, right? I want you to talk to me about whatever is bothering you."

"I will one day." She said, "When all of this is over and it all turns into a joke." She said with her voice breaking at the end and her eyes quickly started watering.

"Lynne, whatever problem you're having, it isn't a joke." I said, "Please, just tell me what it is."

"I'm not ready yet." She whispered, shaking her head. She looked so vulnerable at that moment and I couldn't bear to see her like that, so I didn't press further.

I put a hand on her cheek and slowly moved my lips towards her, wondering if she'll move her head away like the last time, but she didn't. She stayed still until my lips met hers and she quickly wrapped her hands around my neck, pulling me even closer to her.

One hand of mine slowly cupped her cheek as the other one roamed over her back, wanting nothing but more contact from her. As she opened her mouth, I let my tongue enter and dance around with hers as her hand tangled with my hair.

She wrapped her legs around my waist and deepened the kiss, giving it all she got and my heart started racing inside me. All we had in between the kisses were tiny pauses to take breaths.

I pulled away from the kiss and a small smile appeared on my lips, seeing her breathlessly panting in front of me.

She looked up at me and stared into my eyes, giving me that familiar flutter in my heart and I gave her a soft smile before leaning into kiss her again.

"Blake", she whispered, stopping me half way. "We should stop." She breathed out.

"Don't worry. No one's going to come here." I said and leaned in closer, but she stopped me again.

"That's not what I meant." She said, "I mean, we should stop whatever it is between us."

"W-What do you mean?" I asked.

"I don't think we should do this anymore." She said and I felt my heartbeat come to a stop.

"Why?" I whispered.

"How long will we keep doing this, Blake?" She asked, "Neither of us have ever been on a normal date, or had a boyfriend or girlfriend or ever had something real with anyone because this meaningless relationship kept getting in the way. And I don't want to keep getting your way, Blake."

"You're not getting in the way of anything, Lynne." I assured.

"I am." She whispered, "I'm getting in the way of your relationship with Terra. You could actually have something with her, but I keep ruining it."

"Lynne, what are you ta–"

"Blake, I know you kissed her." She said and my eyes widened.

"Lynne, I-I'm so sorry. B-But I told her that we couldn't do that. I promise, it won't happen again."

"But it meant something to you." She said, "Otherwise you would've told me about it."

"No, Lynne. We decided not to tell anyone because we didn't want to upset you or Cole."

"Then it didn't mean anything to you?" She asked with a little bit of hope but I couldn't respond.

"Just tell me the truth, Blake." She whispered, her voice losing all hope and I couldn't do anything but remain silent.

"It did, didn't it?" She asked, after taking a deep breath when she noticed that I wasn't going to speak.

"But that does not matter, Lynne." I said softly.

"It does matter, Blake. You can never be happy with me if you have feelings for someone else."

"But I am happy with you." I said and she shook her.

"That day at the diner, you didn't sound happy staying away from her. Staying away from her hurts you, doesn't it?"

"That's okay, Lynne. It's just a small price to pay." I said, slowly caressing her cheek.

"I don't want you to make any sacrifices for me, Blake." She said, "I've hurt you so many times recently and I don't want to keep doing that. We need to end this."

"Lynne, please don't do this." I begged and grabbed her hands in mine, "L-Let's take some time and think about this, okay?"

"I can't, Blake. This is already so hard for me. Please don't make it harder." She whispered.

"If this is so hard, then don't do this." I said.

She took in an exasperated breath, "Blake, I don't want to be with you anymore." She said and I felt my heart drop to my stomach.

I gulped, looking at the floor. I knew that I had to finally give up. If she didn't want this, I couldn't force her into no matter how much it hurt me to do this.

"I can't even imagine not having you in my life, Lynne." I said.

"You don't have to." She said, giving me a small smile, "I'll still be your best friend."

I moved my gaze down to her hands in mine, wondering how I was supposed to see her as just a friend after all these years.

"Y-You do want to be friends, right?" She asked hesitantly and I looked back up to her.

"Of course, I do, Lynne. You are my best friend and you'll always be my best friend." I said and a relieved smile appeared on her face before she pulled me into a hug.

I wrapped my arms around her and placed my head on her shoulder as I felt her heartbeat against mine. I realized that she was crying when I felt droplets of tears wet my shirt and I closed my eyes shut, feeling a tear of mine own slip down my cheek as I tightened my grip around her, never wanting to let go.

Much to my dismay, she pulled away and mustered up a smile on her lips, but I could still see the hurt on her face. She grabbed my head and softly placed a lingering kiss on my forehead before wiping off her tears and getting off the table.

I watched sadly as she opened the door and my entire body got alarmed when I saw Cole leaning against the lockers opposite to the class, waiting for her.

I felt my heart clench as she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back and looked up at me, giving me a stern look as I clenched my jaw, wanting nothing but to rip his arms off her.

But I couldn't do anything that would upset her. So, I just sat there and watched as the door got hit by the wind, and slowly closed until I couldn't see them anymore.

And just like that, it was over. That so called meaningless relationship that had meant the world to me for the past three years just ended and I didn't even see it coming.

Author's Note

Umm, well that finally happened. So, how are we feeling? Happy or sad?

This was actually the first scene that I came up with for this book. When I imagined the story, this is where I started from and the rest of the book just developed around it.

And if you're wondering why Cole is there, it's because he promised to be there for her with whatever she decides to do with Blake and bla bla bla.

Anyways, I promise you, the next chapter is gonna make you smile. (BUNNIES)

So, if you liked what you read, vote.

If you want to keep reading, add this to your library so you'll know when I update.

If you have absolutely anything to say, good or bad, feel free to comment and let me know.

And if you made it till the end, thank you for reading and I love you so much!

Okay, have fun, enjoy life.

Signed,
Me