The day was slow going. Torturously slow. I only had the boot on a couple of days and I so want it off. I don't care for how it impedes my progress. I got the elevator key and things got a little better but I still haven't tracked down Stephanie about that picture.

Tyler seemed very happy as Sierra was back to school today and it would seem they worked out their differences. Deciding to keep things under wraps until graduation. I envied them in that way as it would have been perfect if Brynn and I were able to do the same.

No time for pity parties though. I have to try and get to Stephanie before the end of school. I'm still screwed as most of school has seen the event live and in person but I just don't want anything getting to Brynn before I have the opportunity to talk to her and explain.

I skipped lunch and went to the office where I knew the school paper to be run out of. Stephanie was running off copies of the Monday Morning edition. Strange it was called that as it wasn't put in the homeroom boxes to be distributed until Tuesday so in essence no one read it until Wednesday but it is what is and thankfully she's here.

She seemed surprised to see me standing in the doorway.

Suddenly she smiles at me. Why do I feel nervous?

"I was wondering if you'd show up."

"You're surprised?" I ask stepping in and shutting the door behind me. Happy that there are no other witnesses to our conversation.

"Not really. I was hoping for it, actually."

This took me by surprise. "Why?"

She hands me the paper and I see Brynn and I lip locked on the front page and cringe.

"Don't you like it?" Stephanie asked obviously affronted by my lack of gushing over her handiwork.

"What I like is Brynn, Stephanie and you, either directly or indirectly are going to screw it up for me. I'm here to ask... no... beg if I have too. Don't do it."

Stephanie's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "Wow! That was brutally honest!"

She takes the paper back and scans over it. "I personally think it's a good story. Most popular boy in school, hooking up with the least popular girl... it gives us mere mortals some hope."

"I'm nothing special, Stephanie just a guy who likes a girl and wants a chance."

Stephanie smiles at me and again I feel nervous. She just has one of those smiles that you know she wants something but you don't know what it is but you're pretty sure you're not going to like it.

"So you are not getting back together with Jessica?"

"No. Even if Brynn wasn't in the picture so to speak, the answer would still be, No."

She bites her lip and is thinking. "You make good news. Without this story and the pictures, I don't have much of a paper."

"It's a school paper, Stephanie, not the Times and although I'm sure you'll make it big as a reporter at some point in life, I'm begging you not to screw with mine."

"Let me keep the article. It's nothing that everybody who went to the game didn't already see. It should come to no surprise to Brynn that her actions were caught and made public. She is after all notorious for catching people in odd circumstances being photographer for the yearbook," Stephanie added.

It was obvious negotiations had started and something told me I'd have to give up more before she was through.

"That it. You'll take down your post on Facebook showing Jessica kissing me?"

"No"

I sigh. "What will it take, Stephanie?"

"I won't take it down because it won't do you any good. I have a huge following, that picture has most likely gone viral by now, but I can do you one better."

She's smiling at me again. It creeps me out. Really it does.

"How so?"

"Give me an exclusive."

"What?" I feel like I missed a vital part of our conversation.

"I'm giving you a chance to set the record straight in you own words. Give me a exclusive interview."

Shit. She's holding me hostage. If I don't do this, the picture is posted and subject to interpretation. She's right, most likely the picture as been copied and tagged and whatnot. The only way to get the truth out is to tell it.

"Okay," I hear myself say. "But I reserve the right NOT to answer any questions that I deem too personal and Brynn is off limits. You are not to approach her or ask her anything, deal?"

"I keep the article. I get your take on the picture, and a one on one. The truth, Finn."

"Yes," I suddenly feel exhausted, and I know it has nothing to do with my injury.

She holds out her hand for me to shake. As I take it, I can't help but feel like I just made a deal with the devil.

"When do you want to do the interview?" she asks.

I look at my watch. I got fifteen minutes before lunch was over.

"How about now?"

Fifteen minutes later we were done.

"Thank you, Finn."

"Just do right by me, Stephanie. It's all I ask."

She nods her head in assent and I leave the room. Just a few more classes before what would have been practice. I can't play but I plan on supporting my team.

I fill Tyler in on what happened with Stephanie.

"So what did she ask you?"

"She asked me about Jessica. She asked me about my feelings towards Brynn. Truthfully it's all becoming a bit of a blur."

"Stephanie has a way of twisting things to suit her own purposes. You sure you're ready for whatever she has in store?" Tyler asks concerned.

"Honestly? No... but what choice do I have?"

Tyler shrugs.

They ran drills most of practice. I missed the physical activity. I felt agitated having no outlet for the energy my body is use to expending.

I get home. I don't talk much during dinner. I know the parents are worried but I just want to go lay down. I get to my room and move Cuddles over, and start staring off into space. I can't even think of focusing to get my homework done.

My cell phone rings, digging it out of my pocket, I hit the button to answer.

"Hey," I say unenthusiastically.

"Bored with me already?" came the smiling voice on the line.

My body is suddenly flushed with energy. I bolt up in bed like I've been struck with lightening.

"Brynn!"

"Were you expecting someone else?"

"Didn't look at my phone. Just answered it. Figured it was Tyler. How are you?"

"Okay. Dad got me a cell. Doesn't like the idea of me walking around without a way to keep tabs. Thankfully he's not that tech savvy or I'm certain he'd have me in lockdown through GPS or something."

"So, this is your new number?"

"Yep. Planning on saving me under your favorites are you?"

I laugh. "Top of the list."

"What? I beat out Tyler? How will he feel about you ending your bromance with him?"

I laugh even harder and it feels SO good. "Ah, he'll get over it. I was too good for him anyway."

My response causes Brynn to laugh out loud and I love the sound of it.

"Thanks, I needed that," she says when the laugh died out.

There is something in her voice. "How are things really?" I ask.

I can almost picture her frowning at the phone, while I listen to the silence.

"It's weird. I know he's my Dad but it feels like I'm sleeping over a stranger's house. A stranger who keeps giving me stuff, in the hopes to win me over, I guess."

"So your Dad is Santa Claus?" I say trying to add some levity to the situation.

She giggles but it's half-hearted. Almost like she laughed to make ME feel better.

"Changing subject... how's the foot?"

"Hurts, a little more now that I've taken myself off the pain meds but it'll get better, it's only been a couple of days."

"You miss the team?"

I wonder how in such a short space of time she managed to get to know me so well.

"Yeah. I supported them through practice but it sucks not being out there with them."

"So what are you planning on doing with your time, now that you can't play?"

It was good question. "Don't know?"

"We can use more help on crew?"

Now it was my turn to laugh half-hearted. "Yeah, I'm sure Adam would just love that."

Byrnn laughed for real and again it was like a balm to my soul. "Screw Adam. I would love to have you there."

This took me by surprise. "Really?"

"Really."

"Okay. I'll give it some serious thought then," I say.

"And?" she asks.

"I'll do it." I can almost picture her smiling.

"Thought you might... you DO love me after all. I'm the key to your happiness and so forth."

Although, what she was saying felt true I was a little taken back that she was saying it and so nonchalantly.

"What?"

"They say the girl is usually the last to know but I had thought when I got my first declaration of love it would be in person and not on Facebook."

My stomach dropped. I felt ill. Good Lord what have I done. I pulled out my laptop and immediately go to Stephanie's profile. There was the pic of Jessica and me with the post, "A Kiss Goodbye, It's over."

Stephanie had posted her new article on Facebook not in the paper at school. She asked me simple questions that now seemed to take on whole new meaning.

My eyes quickly dart over the words.

Besotted with Brynn, Finn Nash has eyes for no other. He admits that dating Jessica was a mistake and he had not known what he was missing until Brynn had entered his life. She was an unexpected surprise and it was easy to see as he spoke of her, that she is the key to the smile that Finn wears on his face now a days. As he spoke of her there was only one word that kept springing to mind. And that word was LOVE. Do you think these two star-crossed lovers have a chance or are they a modern day Romeo and Juliet? You decide.

The likes and dislikes were already piling up.

"You still there?"

"Brynn...I"

"Had an interesting day at school today?"

"How did you... who told you?"

"You really didn't think you'd able to keep this from me did you?"

"No," I say honestly, "I was just foolish enough to hope that I could have most of the craziness handled before you got back to school, so I could soften the blow."

She chuckles. "You are way out of your element aren't you?"

"Yes. Are you mad?"

"No. I'm flattered really. I just wish I got the news straight from the source."

"You did."

"How do you figure?" she asked.

"I had to promise Stephanie an exclusive interview so she would handle the picture she took in the beginning of school today. Jessica doesn't want me dating anyone. It's nothing personal against you, she just figures I'm the top of the food chain and anyone else is taking a step down and she deserves the best. Keep in mind these are her views not mine."

"She is determined to destroy any relationship I have between now and graduation. We had a face off in front of school I was winning until that picture."

"Until the picture was taken or before she kissed you?"

"Brynn you can't possibly believe that I care anything for her?"

As the silence ticked on I began to feel more nervous.

"So what you told Stephanie...is that the truth? I have to admit Finn, it's hard to decipher what is real, the words I read or the picture I'm looking at, or either or both."

"I know." Now it was my turn to be quiet. I knew better than to try and convince her. It only mattered what she believed and she had to make that decision for herself as "a person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still." That was a Momism that was drilled into my head at a very young age. I don't think I fully understood it's meaning until this moment.

"Thank you," she says.

"For what?" I ask not seeing any reason she would have to thank me for anything.

"For not trying to convince me. It would all sound like lies. For letting me make up my own mind. For being you."

"Hang up, Brynn."

"What?" she asks.

"Hang up and Facetime me. You can you do that on that fancy new phone of yours can't you?"

"Yes."

"Then hang up." She did and the phone immediately rang back. I hit the Facetime button. I see her face. I know she can see mine.

I look at her and I see the glistening in her eyes. Some things you can hide on the phone, but not face to face. I can see her doubt and it cuts through me like a knife but I deserve the pain. I can see her attempt to smile and I smile back.

"I'm going to give it to you straight," I begin, "You are the key, the key to everything inside of me. Good, bad I want it all. I hate that you're not here because I want to hold you so badly. I want to show you, not just with words but with actions what you mean to me, what you've done to my world. You've shaken me to my core, Brynn."

I needed her to see my face. I needed to see hers. I'd seen the flicker of acknowledgement, and then I seen the walls go back into place.

"F@#%!" I said I didn't curse and I didn't but I couldn't help thinking it.

She smiles at me sadly. "You didn't say that you love me."

I grin at her.

"And I won't. Not until I know you'll believe me. Not until you're ready to accept that I mean it. The words mean too much to me, Brynn. I haven't known you very long, and I won't deny that I care for you deeply but when I say those words I want you to be sure without a shadow of doubt that I mean every word, because when I do say them I'm giving you the key to destroy me."

She looked panicked. "I don't want... I don't want that kind of power over you... over anyone."

"Too bad. It's not your choice. You don't get to decide if I love you, you only get to decide if you love me back."

"Brynn!"

I hear a man's voice call for her. She looks around. "I gotta go!"

"Goodnight, Brynn."

"Goodbye, Finn."

I know she meant it just in the context of ending our conversation but it didn't feel that way. It felt like my whole world went black, as her image disappeared from the screen.