(Erica's POV)

Zoe said the best way to get over a boy was a rebound... someone who was the opposite of the boy you wanted to get over... and there was a logical answer for that.

That famous director guy that had followed my Instagram, Adam Berns. But he just seemed so boring!

And... usually, I wasn't the type of girl to immediately start something new. No, usually after a breakup or a rejection, I put up a wall and didn't let people see my emotions.

All the heartbreak, all the pent up emotions, the wall was a dam, holding them back, threatening to crack at any moment. And eventually, one day, all of those feelings would eventually break the wall, a hurricane of emotions and feelings and tears and screaming.

No, I couldn't allow myself to break. Because no matter how much heartbreak I went through, Erica Hale would never show the broken bits and shards of ice that she was behind the wall.

It was like Ben had taken a sledgehammer to the ice wall, completely shattered it, and in the end, he had shattered the inner wall. The outer wall was rebuilt, stronger than ever, but the inner wall... it was the broken bits I was hiding.

I was a logical person. And the logical answer to get over Ben was to accept the answer Zoe had given me.

So it was settled. I was going to try to get over Ben by dating Adam Berns.

Was it stupid? Yes? Did I hope it would work? Yes. Did I think it would work? No. I could only hope.

(Ben's POV)

I jumped up into the air as I caught the nerf football Ever had thrown. "And the crowd goes wild!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Not like anyone could hear me besides Ever and Mike. We were in the backyard of the giant house that I used to share with Erica.

I did a touchdown dance in the 'end zone' (A strip of grass spray painted silver.) And pointed at Mike. "Maybe I should've played in the NFL!" I declared jokingly.

His eyes glinted dangerously. "Challenge accepted, Ripley."

He picked up the nerf football and threw a tight spiral that hit my hands right on the mark, somehow making the nerf football sting so bad I almost dropped it. Mike stared at me in disbelief. "How did you catch that?" I smirked smugly at him. "I could've been drafted 2nd in the MLB draft, ya know." He rolled his eyes teasingly. "Not so humble humblebrag." He mumbled, coughing before and after the sentence. "What was that?" I asked. He smiled innocently. "Nothing, just clearing my throat."

Ever jumped onto my back suddenly, and somehow managed to push me over. She stood up and grinned. "Bu' I is the linebacker!" I sprung up and swung her over my shoulder. "Super Ever!" I shouted. She giggled. "Tha me! I am super Ever!" I picked her up and put her on my shoulders. "You're so tall!" I told her. She held on tightly to two tufts of my hair, squealing in delight as I ran around the backyard with her on my shoulders.

Mike pretended to chase after us, making loud "RAWRRS!" And pretending to get defeated by Ever in the end. No matter how intelligent Ever was, she loved games like this, when she could be a four-year-old, not someone who had been forced to grow up much faster then she should've been. I had heard what her foster home was like from Mike.

It wasn't pretty. And I was overjoyed that a spirit like Ever's somehow wasn't dampened by the gloomy environment she had been raised in.

Because Ever truly was the light that had been brightening both Mike and I's life recently.

(Adam Bern's POV)

I was confused. For some reason, Erica Hale was walking towards me. I was at one of my favourite bars, the A-Listers only, the infamous, Lava Lava Beach Bar.

I was drinking a Lava Flow (The bars signature drink, a pina colada with thick blended strawberries mixed in. Non-alcoholic, of course.)

I had casually chatted with a few actors who had been in my movie and had been enjoying my Lava Flow in peace until Erica saw fit to join me at my table.

"So. How are you?" She asked me like we were old pals. I blinked slowly. "Uhm... I'm good, I guess. And you?"

She flashed a dazzling smile. "Just wonderful." A tremulous smile spread on my lips. "Wonderful. Is there any way I can help you?" She flashed yet another smile. "Yes, I couldn't help but wonder why you followed my Insta. Could you tell me?" I wiped my brow with a handkerchief, quite flustered. I was 28ish, but everyone told me I acted like an old man.

"Well, I just thought you were quite dazzling if you must know," I mumbled awkwardly. She flashed another 1000-watt smile. "Amazing. So, would you like to possibly go to dinner next week?" I blinked again. Dinner? With Erica Hale? "I'll pick you up. Does Saturday at 6:45 work for you?" She asked me. I nodded slowly. "Great! All set! Adios!"

Jeez, this girl was going to be the death of me.

(Ben's POV)

Ping. That was my phone! Did something new come up with Erica? (Ok, yes fine, I had a google alert on her, don't judge me, it was a rough breakup.)

My mouth moved soundlessly as I stared down in horror at the blue-lit screen of my phone. A google alert shone up at me clear as day, on top of my background of a picture of Ever smelling a sunflower in the backyard.

I had heard Mike screaming about how Zoe has told Erica to rebound, I just didn't expect her to actually follow Zoe's advice.

I stared down at horror of a picture of Erica talking to some random guy, captioned:

"Erica Hale seen chatting up critically acclaimed director Adam Berns at the Lava Lava Beach Bar."

"Oh no," I murmured. "Oh no, oh no, oh no, this CANNOT BE HAPPENING!"

I don't understand! Erica didn't take drastic measures like this! What was she thinking? Had our breakup actually driven her insane?

Why in living hell would she date Adam Berns all people? He was a great director, but the guy was boring as dirt!

That's it. Love is dead. Love is dead if she chose freaking Adam Berns.