Things seemed fairly... normal from then on. Well, apart from the fact that Mark and Jack ignored me and PJ and Chris were just quiet about it all. But that was okay. Listening to my best friends' laughter again was like the antidote to the constant, dull pain in my chest.

A few weeks or so had passed since I started to sit with them and, from what I could see, Kayla didn't seem very broken-hearted anymore. That was a good thing.

Then the world came crashing down when she bumped into me in the corridors. Her eyes were bloodshot and it was clear she was on the verge of crying. From the look on her face, I could tell I was the last person she wanted to see. "Kay..." I mumbled, going to hug her but she shoved me away.

"Leave me alone." She grumbled, trying to push passed me. I stepped to the right to get in her way.

"No. What's wrong?"

"Dan, please-" Her lip began to wobble rather violently then she just burst into tears. She didn't push me away that time when I wrapped my arms around her.

"I'm not letting you go until you tell me what's up."

"I really want to hate you," Her voice was muffled but still fairly audible. "But I can't. You pulled my heart right out of my chest and crushed it into a million tiny pieces but I can't hate you. Every time I try, I think about how sweet you used to be and how you were constantly there for me. My heart keeps trying to convince me you loved me at one point."

"I did." I rubbed her back gently, remembering how it always used to soothe her pain. I thought back to the nights when I comforted her as she broke down. I'd hold her and wipe away her tears as she poured her heart out to me.

"But you're gay-"

"I know. I did love you, just as a sister. I love you as if you're my family. I never wanted to cause you pain, Kay. I want you to be happy."

"Really?"

"Yes. If it would make you feel better, Phil and I could sit somewhere else?"

She shook her head, sniffing gently. "No, it's okay."

"If you ever need to talk, I'm here, alright?"

"Yeah."

"I love you, Kay."

"I love you too."

We broke apart as soon as the bell rang. I sent Kayla one last smile before we parted ways.

-

"Truth or dare?" Someone asked Kayla across the circle. I watched the girl closely, making sure she was alright. After breaking her heart, I felt like it was my duty to make sure she didn't get any worse. Plus, we were pretty okay by then, the harsh breakup being over two months ago.

Kayla laughed, "Dare!" She was obviously very tipsy due to her fit of giggles that were entirely uncalled for. The guy who had asked in the first place had a wicked smirk on his face, screaming trouble.

"I dare you to make out with Awstin!" The whole circle, with the exception of me and Phil, whooped as Kayla moved closer to the other boy. I recognised him to be someone in my English class. He was fairly new so I didn't know much about him. He seemed nice enough, although his demeanour seemed kind of unapproachable. He fit right in with the punk kids, his hair a lilac colour and his clothing style was always black. Their lips touched, emitting another deafening cheer from the group.

When they pulled apart again, both were a dark red. For some reason Phil put a hand on my knee, leaning closer to my ear and whispering, "You okay?" Puzzled, I nodded.

-

I had lost Phil and finding him was proven an impossible task in my drunken state. I stumbled through the hallway, my hands touching the walls to keep my balance. I hadn't planned on getting drunk again, I had had one and then I just kept drinking. I bumped into someone and muttered an apology. I glanced at the person- or people- I had walked into, blinking to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Both Awstin and Kayla were staring at me, red faced. Obviously I had interrupted something. "Sorry." I repeated. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

Kayla smiled gently. "It's okay, Da-"

"I hope he makes you happy. You look happy. You've got that sparkle in your eye again."

"Do you need me to find Phil?" Funny how she ended up being the more sober of us two, considering her state earlier.

"I'll find-" As if on cue, my name was called. I turned to see my amazing boyfriend, relief in his expression. "Phil!"

"You need to learn to control your alcohol intake. You always get drunk so easily and I'm the one who has to deal with your wasted ass-"

"Phil..." I whined, taking his hand into mine.

"I'm taking you home."

"Okay but you," I pointed a very shaky hand at Awstin who had just been standing there with a confused expression on his face. "Make her happy. Don't break her heart and-" Phil started to pull me away so I yelled the last line, "Give her the love I couldn't!"

Phil ended up taking me to his house: his parents had taken an emergency trip to another city after his uncle had a fall or something (nothing too bad, he just needed some help) and I was too drunk to go to my house. He was the sweetest man on the Earth because he insisted on helping me get into bed, even if I was really defiant when drunk.

My shirt was on the floor, along with my shoes. Phil was working on my skinny jeans whilst I giggled and kept trying to kiss him. "Dan," His voice was stern but he let out a light chuckle after speaking. "Let me take off your trousers." I continued to giggle but let him pull them down so I was left in just my boxers.

I attached our lips, wrapping my arms around my boyfriend's neck. Phil's hands were messing up my hair but they pulled away as he did. I whined, wanting more.

"No," Phil whispered. He delivered a gentle kiss to my cheek which made me grin. "You need to get some sleep."

:)