IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END PLEASE READ THANK YOU AND ENJOY

Finley's P.O.V

Luke was annoying me.

Ever since I came back from Eli's, he had been pestering me, asking questions that were slightly inappropriate for a brother to be asking his younger sister.

"Did you meet his parents? Did they walk in on you making out? Did you do it? Did you suck his dick? Did you-"

"Don't you have someone else to annoy?" I burst out, irritated.

Luke paused, looking down at his lap. "No, actually. I don't."

I realized what I said and immediately tried to apologize. "Luke..."

"Its fine," he said, hitching a smile on his face that was so forced it made me wince. "I'll just leave you alone, yeah?"

He left me sitting there and I felt horrible. It was like I was drowning in my own guilt.

I knew, though, that Luke missed Allie, but he wouldn't tell me. Any mention that came close to her would have him reeling backwards as if slapped, and then he would retreat to his room. Once I heard him sobbing like his heart would break.

Luke was sad.

Plain and simple.

But let me tell you a secret-

So was I.

...

Eli was protective. Ever since the issue with Trey and Mika he had been following me around like a puppy, snapping at anyone who even looked at me the wrong way. I appreciated the fact that he wanted to keep me safe, but I wanted to be left alone.

Luckily, I got about a hour of free time during government, and Ashton was there.

"Hey! You! I have a bone to pick with you!" Ashton exclaimed, pointing at me from across the room.

I could feel my cheeks turn red as people swiveled in their chairs to look at me. When I didn't do anything particularly exciting, they turned away.

"Where were you?" Ashton asked. "On Saturday, you just left!"

"Oh yeah," I said, realizing that I left my best friend in my bathroom crying just to go with my boyfriend. Some friend I was. "Sorry." It was weak, but it was the best I could do.

"Where did you go?" She asked.

"Um, Eli was at the door," I mumbled. "And we made up."

"Yay!" Aahton cheered then her eyes narrowed. "Wait, what was his reason?"

I hesitated. If I told Ashton, she would probably find Trey and destroy him and then find Mika and kill her with Trey's remains. I decided that was a good thing. "Mika said that if Eli didn't kiss her she would have Trey rape me."

Ashton gasped, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as her eyes widened. "What?" She said in horror then her face contorted to rage. "I'm going to kill that little sick bastard and that bitch!"

"Ashton!" The teacher called. "Be quiet when I'm talking!"

"Yes sir," she grumbled, sinking down in her seat and muttering angily under her breath. Later, when we were in group work she turned to me. "Wait, where did you go with Eli?"

"His house..." I said slowly.

Aahton's expression changed from neutral to suspicious. "And what did you do there?"

My flushed face gave me away.

"You guys did it!" She crowed, jumping around like a bullfrog. "You guys left me and Calla to have sex!"

"No we didn't!" I protested albeit weakly. I wasn't lying; we did leave to have sex, but we didn't actually do it.

"Yes you did!" Ashton said then she started laughing. She laughed so hard she doubled over.

"No we didn't! We were going to but then we stopped!" I almost yelled and felt my cheeks burn as Ashton looked at me with a weird expression on her face.

"What?"

"We were going to, but i got nervous and got an anxiety attack," I elaborated, twisting my fingers together nervously.

Ashton blinked, once, twice before she started laughing again.

"Its not funny!" I hissed

"Yes it is!" She gasped, holding her stomach. "Stop making me laugh!"

"I'm not doing anything!" I snapped.

Ashton noticed I was angry and calmed down, still letting out a couple giggled here and there. "Sorry, I just find that funny. Sorry."

I glared at her. "I'm glad my anxiety is funny to you."

Ashton's eyes widened. "No, that's not what I meant."

"Sure sounded like it," I said, crossing my arms and turning away from her.

"No, it wasn't, come on Finley!" Ashton whined.

I refused to look at her.

"Finley! I'm sorry!" She exclaimed, tugging at my sleeve. When she realized I wasn't talking to her, she let out a huff. "Why aren't you talking to me? C'mon Finley, it wasn't that bad!"

I bit my lip. I wasn't really mad, but I wanted to see how long it would take for her to beg for me to talk to her. Apparently, not long.

"You're the one that left me at your house alone!" Ashton tried.

I whirled around. "And what were you and Calla doing, huh? Probably making out on the bathroom floor!"

"You talked to me!" Ashton cheered then her eyes widened. "Wait what?"

"You and Calla probably made out on the bathroom counter," I repeated. At Ashton's blush, I got it and a wicked grin spead across my face. Oh how the tables have turned. "So you did!" I exclaimed. "Ha! I knew it!" I said, pointing at her accusingly. "And you were giving me crap for leaving when I would just have been third-wheeling anyway!"

Ashton found her voice. "Well, you could have at last told me you were leaving!"

"Nuh uh," I said, shaking my head. "You kissed Calla!"

Ashton blushed. "Well, she was comforting me... and she said that she was waiting for me to ask her out so I kissed her when you went to get the door and the I asked her out and she said yes and now we're dating!" She ended her sentence with a squeal.

I wasn't about to squeal, but I cheered along with her. "That's great!" I congratulated her. "About time!"

"Shut up," she said, pushing me.

I pushed her back and we both collapsed in giggles. The teacher in the front called, "Keep it down back there, ladies!"

We both bit our lips in an attempt to be quiet, but as we glanced at each other we started laughing again. This is what friendship is, I thought.

And I like it.

...

My earbuds were in, playing All Time Low as I walked home. Luke had taken my car, the little shit, and Eli had a detention so I had to walk. I didn't mind. It was a beautiful day and in all honesty I wanted to be alone for a little while.

My music was blasting loudly, drowning out the sound of the cars that were whizzing past. I hummed along to Therapy as I walked down the street. I passed a couple houses where there were kids playing outside, kicking around soccerballs and shooting basketballs at a hoop. I waved and they waved back, making me smile. Little kids are so cute. I wish I was that age again, so I don't have to worry about grades and college and boys and heartbreak and fear and anxiety attacks.

I want to be a kid again.

I turned down a side street, which is a little shortcut that I found a while back. Its a small trail between two streets. I was about halfway there when someone jumped on me.

I fell, my earbuds flying out and my phone falling from my pocket to land on the gravel and it cracked, one big one down the middle. I stared at it for a second before I was being rolled over and pinned down on my back.

My eyes focused and it was Trey. I screamed on impulse, so loud that it echoed. Trey flinched and his grip loosened. If I wasn't so terrified, I would have noticed the fear in his eyes.

I started spasming, going into a full-blown anxiety attack. I knew that this one was going to be bad, and it was. I was gasping like a fish out of water.

Trey got off me and stared at me in horror. "Oh my God," he said.

I rolled over, gasping and choking into the ground. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on controlling my breathing. I calmed down and lifted my head, meeting Trey's eyes.

He whimpered, "Oh my God, oh my God, I'm so-" he suddenly cut himself off, bending over and throwing up into the bushes.

I wrinkled my nose at the smell ,quietly scooting backwards towards my phone.

Trey finished puking. "Wait !" He called, putting his hand up.

Five feet away, I flinched as if he had slapped me across the face.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I know you don't believe me, but I am. I couldn't do that. That was too far. That was Mika's idea. Please, I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry. I could never have done that."

I stayed silent.

Trey continued. "I know Mika threatened Eli, but I never was going to do it. Not when I want you to love me. I'm not that stupid, I knew you wouldn't love me if I did that to you."

I shook my head. "Y-You hurt m-me."

"I'm sorry," he begged, eyes wide. "Look, I threw up," he poinred to the pile of his bile. "That stands for something, right?"

"N-No," I said. "Y-You tried t-to do i-it."

Trey took a step back. "I know, and I'm sorry."

I thought it over. He didn't go through with it, he apologized, and he threw up. Strangely enough, the puking was what made me believe him. It was honest.

I grabbes my phone and was about to leave, but I turned to him. "I won't tell anyone if you won't."

Trey blinked. "W-What?"

"This," I pointed between the two of us. "Never happened. I won't tell anyone if you don't."

"But I tried to rape you!" Trey exclaimed. "You have to report me!"

I shook my head. "All you did was tackle me. You did have the intent, but you stopped when I screamed. Most people wouldn't. And you threw up. That means you felt bad. Let's be fair. You didn't do it, I won't say anything."

Trey's mouth was open. "That's not fair," he whispered. "You should report me."

"But I won't," I said gently. "You apologized for just trying, and you barely tried. Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."

I left Trey standing there next to his puke, looking like he wanted to argue, but I disnt give him the chance to.

It never happened.

_______________________________________________________

Well, drama, no? Sorry for the wait, I disnt know what to write. This is in honor for me hitting 20k followers!!!! That's so exciting, that's amazing, seriously, guys, that's the most incredible thing ever.

To also honor that, I'm announcing my new book! It will be called Sassy, but I need your help. On my Pinterest, there is a board called that with different covers. I need you guys to go and like your favorite. The one with the most votes wins! My pinterest is 11tay99 by the way. So go vote please! It would really help me out.

Love ya!

-T A Y L O R