Melinda's POV: 

Earlier that day

"So how exactly did you find out that my mom is married?" Henry pulls out his phone to show me a screenshot of my mother posting her ring and marriage certificate I am guessing. "So she did not think to inform you at all?" I shake my head fighting back tears. He holds my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me but I shrug my shoulder to move it. "Please don't touch me." He scoffs and leans back into the couch. 

"Are you still with that boy?" I hand him his phone and look at him confused. "You guys are the same age so what are you even talking about?" He just sits back and looks at me. " Why were you crying?" I look away from him and take a breath. "If it was not about your mother than it must be about him?" He leans forward tucking some braids behind my ear. "It is really not your business, I mean thank you for your concern but you did not have to." I get up from the couch and stare at him because he does not see that was his queue to leave. 

"My mother sent me over to check on you so I am not going anywhere until your mother returns." He puts his feet up. "I don't need you here." I yells angrily. "I never said I was here for you, so maybe learn to listen to what I say and not your analysis of what you think." I have no idea why he felt the need to make that statement. "You know what? Do you. I will be in my room." I walk up the stairs and change into my pjs and hop in bed. 

I sit there thinking of what the hell my mom is getting herself into. I knew she would move on from my father but this is truly insane at the pace that they are going. She only met this man just yesterday and she married him. I wonder if they took Yasmine to the whole signing ceremony. Did she even try to stop them? Did she know, but she would have told me. I just wish I knew none of the people I met this year because I swear they have all contributed to my demise. 

Ross has been texting me and seeing his name on my screen is so distasteful. I know that I was not perfect but that does not mean he gets to treat me like sh*t. I told him the truth about the whole rebound thing. He sat there and looked me in the face knowing that he was also lying. He watched me cry and got upset while he was doing the exact thing to me. He is so evil. So now it is my turn to be evil. I go on to my Snapgram and update my status to single. I have no idea how he will react  but there is no way in hell that I am getting dumped twice in one year. I will be damned. 

After 30 minutes of some sad sobs here and there while listening to music undisturbed I hear a knock on my bedroom door. I drag myself to the door and open it to see Henry. "I spilled some juice do you have a towel?" I roll my eyes and walk to the drawer and get him a towel he walks himself to my bathroom. Then I hear Ross's voice downstairs. I walk down the stairs and he is here he probably saw my profile. "What are you doing here?" my voice comes out like I have a blocked nose. "I am-" he trails off when he sees Henry coming down the stairs. I am not in the mood to defend myself. "What the f*ck is this sh*t here?! Mel!" 

"Don't yell at me." His demeanor changes. "Sorry. I was yelling at him not you. Why is he here...wearing barely nothing?" The nerve he has to ask me this knowing he does not actually care. "He is just here okay." He deeply sighs while rubbing his eyes together. "Did you sleep together?" I am genuinely so shook right now there are no words to even form what I actually want to say. "What is it to you? Are you bothered you never slept with her?" Whenever Henry uses such a tone he means it to put people down and show that he is bigger than the other. 

"I am bothered because we have slept together so it would be considered cheating little boy." "You slept with him? I thought I was the only one you would ever let touch you?" I never knew he thought like this. "And so what if I slept with him you slept with someone else as well or am I wrong?" He knocks a glass of the kitchen counter. "Melinda that is not the same. You do realize that I waited a year and you gave it up for him in what...two weeks?" "I can not believe you actually dated this guy.." I really do wish I could just disappear. "You never 'waited a year'  I decided when I was ready not the other way around. You should actually leave." He just stares at me. "Get dressed and get the f*ck out!" He stomps his way upstairs. 

"Are you okay you look like you have been crying?" He touches my cheek and brushes his thumb. The urge to cry is strong but I will not satisfy him. Henry storms past us holfing his clothes and slams the door behind him. "Did I do something wrong I mean why did you change your status to single?" I do not know why but I start laughing he looks at me like I am insane. "We were never dating so I was just making it known." "We were, are together what are you on?" "No we are not and you better expect that and know it." "What did I do? Mel?" "Nothing!" "So what's this, you know I care about you." "Stop lying!!!" I shock myself with loud my words are bouncing off the walls. 

"Lying about what?" My eyes start tearing up against my will. "That you care when you know full and well I am a dare." He stands there expressionless blank looking into me. "I was a rebound." That is not the same. "I told you the truth, and you could have said something, why didn't you? Do you Hate me that much?" When I walk towards him he steps back. "You only told me after your friends called you out." I look at him trying to think of what he is talking about. Then it hits me. The dinner with Yasmine's dad he was keeping this in for a long time. 

"Why didn't you confront me?" He looks at me as though I am stupid. "You were a given quest. Come on snap into reality. I had no right confronting you." Those words hang in the air. Why is me that always has to find myself loving men that hurt me. Why am I being punished for feeling for someone? "I was using you and you were also doing the same." "No I wasn't." "Yes you were. You and I are the same." "So you felt nothing for me?" He is silent. "No." I let out my tears wiping them as they fall. "Then I guess this is over." I let out defeated. "The lies are over yes. This does not have to be." Is he stupid? 

"You just said you do not care about me." "I was saying it in the sense of 'love' but I never said it could not happen." "Oh spare me." "Melinda." He comes closer holding my by my arms. "You can not hate me. I am happy with you and you were happy with me. Is that not enough." I was happy to have someone by my side and he was there. "Did you love Yasmine?" He let's go of me meaning he is about to lie, I never would catch it but I guess it clear now. "I don't believe in love remember." "You are lying" "Do you want to go back to that ex of yours?" What?? "What are you saying?" "That's why you are making a big deal over this right because you want him back." "Ross No, don't do that." "What?" "Turning this on me." "But it is about you and what you want...You know what...we should break up." 

I can hear my mother's voice outside before she could open the door. "Oh Ross you are here." "Actually I was just leaving." He walks out the door and Mom walks in with Yasmine's Dad. The first thing I spot is her ring. "I heard you got married mom congratulations, both of you." "Honey I wanted you to be there but you weren't." "Because you didn't tell me earlier, you acted like you are my age." "Watch your tone with your mother!" "Shut up! Who even are you to talk to me like that?" I jump over the shattered glass and storm toward my room. "Melinda. I just want to be happy are you not happy for me?" I actually sometimes wonder if she is really a mom. 

"I am so happy for which is why I won't ruin it for you. I will just go and stay with Aunt Gladys. I won't ruin your happiness." She doesn't react at all not even a protest. "You don't even care do you?" "I was worried about how you might react to this but this is really selfish. I waited till you were done with school thinking you would be  mature enough to understand that I was bound to move on and this is what I get?" "What you get is this because you are acting childish, you barely know the man." "I care about him okay we care for each other." "What about me? Why don't you care about me? You are a mother." I talk through my sobbing. She is only there to provide essentials but never really there except when we are watching tv together. 

"I care about you. Which is why I think it is great for you to get some air at your Aunt's house. We could use some space anyway." There was already space so I know she is kicking me out without saying it. "Fine." I call aunt to inform her to expect me by seven pm. After packing two bags I text the group chat telling them I will be out of town for a while not really sure how long I will be gone . When my mother tries getting a hug from me I simple walk by and get in my car and drive off. 

Ross calls after fifteen minutes of me being on the road but I don't bother to answer. He leaves a voicemail. After coming at a redlight I open the voicemail putting it on speaker so I can hear it over the song playing 'Love in the dark' 

Voicemail from Ross plays:

Hey Mel. I know that this was very messed up. I know that it was not right of me to not tell you the truth but I was just being stupid and dumb.(he scoffs) In all honesty you never a dare in my heart I knew that I would fall for you. I never wanted us to break up I was not even going to do that really. I ended the dare thing I told the guys that I was not doing it anymore like a week ago. (sighs and heavy breathing.) I will give you space I know you need it. I will be going to France in two day but only for a while I will be back. When I get back...we can start over. Please don't give up on me. You know we are good together.

Well this is a long message (laughs). Call me when you can. I. love. you. Okay. (heavy breath)(hangs up).