There was so much going on through my head at the moment, I didn't even realize we were already home until my dad shook me, startling me from my thoughts.

"Are you ok?" he quietly asked me and I nodded mutely. I got out and ran inside, not even bothering to say anything to my mom as she stood up from the couch. Once inside my room, I quickly changed into my pjs and slumped down on my bed.

What just happened? What in the world did I just go through?

The heel that I had thrown on the floor caught my attention and I slowly stood up and grabbed it. I spun it in my hands before walking over to my closet and grabbed the other match.

So many memories with these shoes. And none that I really liked. I scrunched up my nose, chucked them back with all my other shoes and slumped back down in bed.

Gaaahhhhhh! What was happening to me!!!

The knock on my door startled me and I cleared my throat before speaking up. "Come in." My mom slowly walked in and I smiled at her. "Sorry about earlier. I just needed some space to think of what just happened."

"Do you want to talk about it? Have another girls point of view?"

So for the next ten minutes, I gave her a simpler version of what happened. She was quiet the entire time I spoke and when I finally finished, she just nodded her head and said, "Uh huh."

"That's all you have to say?"

"Well what do you want me to say? Everything I have said has gotten you in this mess!"

"What are you talking about?"

"If I hadn't bothered you two to start dating, this would have never happened!" she cried and I threw the pillow I was holding to the floor to hug her instead.

"Mom, no. This was never your fault. You were just being a mom and seeing something we both were too blind to see. Even if you hadn't said anything, this would have eventually happened, but it could have probably been worse. Don't blame yourself mom because it isn't your fault."

"Are you girls alright in there?" my dad asked from the closed door.

"We're fine. Go back to bed dear. I'll be there in a second." She then looked at me and sighed. "Do you really want my opinion, even though you probably won't like it?" Knowing her, I already knew what she was thinking, but I needed her to say it. So I nodded and she rubbed my cheek before speaking. "You should give him another chance. At least be friends with him. He did all of this for you and he even explained what he did. He backed out of it way before you two got into a relationship so whatever you two felt at that time was real. Don't let his mistakes cost you your happiness honey. Yeah your happiness may be with him, but he did do something to try and make up for it. He's a good boy Claire and he deserves a second chance."

"Well third," I corrected her with a giggle.

"Huh?"

"Something else happened that I don't want to go through. So should I really forgive him?"

"Yeah. I think so. Not just because he is a fine looking boy-"

"HEY! I HEARD THAT!"

"DAD! THIS IS A PRIVATE CONVERSATION!!" Once his steps left, we both laughed and she continued.

"Where was I? Oh right. Like I was saying, not because he is good looking, but because he has a good heart. He didn't mean to hurt you and after he did, he respected your boundaries and didn't go after you like some crazy person. I think he really likes you Claire..... And I know you still like him too."

"I do miss him....." I murmured as my blush spread. She smiled and hugged me.

"Well forgive and be friends. Now I have to go before your father goes all crazy again. Love you."

"Love you too. Kiss dad for me."

"Oh I will," she giggled and I gagged.

"TMI MOM. T.M.I."

*

*

*

Monday morning came and I didn't tell him anything. When he walked into class, he looked at me, then switched his stare to my bag on the empty chair and then sighed. He didn't even look back at me as he took his usual spot from before.

The next two days were nothing but review for both classes and I couldn't be even happier than I was. When piano came, Mr. Zee just let us study for our finals or do whatever we wanted so I just sat in a corner and listened to music. I didn't even get through one song before I was swarmed with my classmates as they began to talk about what had happened Friday night.

"Oh my god! He was talking about you, right?" Sarah, asked. Don't ask me how I remembered her name. I blushed and quickly nodded as they all squealed. "Soooo? Did you forgive him?"

"No. I'm still thinking about it."

"What! Why?" Wendy, another girl asked.

I shrugged. "I can't just forgive him like that. He needs to be patient for my answer."

"What did he do?" Sarah asked and I stiffen.

"Nothing important. Can we change the subject please?"

They all quickly did as I asked and I found myself laughing and actually exchanging numbers with a few of them. The entire time, Gabbys follower -who surprisingly I never heard anyone say her name- glared at us as she sat in a corner all by herself.

Sixth went by pretty much the same and when it was time to go home, I slipped out and got there in no time. Everything went the same the next day and when it came down to the finals I couldn't stop my groan.

They changed up the schedule. We would still attend all of our classes for the rest of the week, but we would have two finals each day. Each final was two hours like before so we would have finals for four days. So yes, we would end up taking our last finals with everyone else -not that it mattered to me.

So for the first day of finals, my classes were short and sweet and I loved them. Again, Nathan looked over at me when he walked in and then sighed as he saw the same thing as the day before. He didn't peek over during Math and piano went by fast.

When it was actually time for me to take my two finals, I didn't bother to even check if he looked at me. I just twirled my pencil and went over everything for the last time before the bell rang and everything became quiet.

The four hours passed by faster than I expected and I released a big breath I didn't know I was holding. A big weight was off my chest and it seemed like I could think properly now. Only one thing was on my mind now though, and that one thing would stay there for a while until I resolved it.

Nathan.

*

*

The entire weekend passed, and all I could think about was him and what he had done. My heart told me that I had already forgiven him -not completely, but enough for him to earn my trust again- but my mind did not want to say anything. My mom asked me a little about my progress with him and my answer was always the same. "I haven't done anything."

When Monday came, my classes were short like before, and I told myself I would tell him my answer before I left. So before the bell rang, I found myself standing besides his room, nervously waiting for him to get out.

As soon as the bell rang and he walked out, he froze and made a small traffic jam, making my lips twitch as I fought a smile. "Can I talk to you?" He gulped loudly but nodded and stood there. I licked my lips and then pointed my thumb behind me. "Outside maybe?"

"Sure," he whispered and followed me. Once we were there, I turned around to face him and I actually saw him tremble.

Get him out of his misery! I told myself and I sighed. I looked him in the eyes and then I spoke out my words loud and clear so he could hear me. "I forgive you."

He looked at me like if I had spoken pig Latin or something. A couple of seconds passed and then his eyes widen and his mouth dropped. "Wh-what?"

"I. Forgive. You."

One second, I was standing feet away from him. When I blinked the next second, I was crushed into his arms and he was hugging the life out of me. "Are you serious? You forgive me?" he gasped out and I nodded. My laughter sounded breathless and he released me slightly, but only to cup my face so I couldn't escape. "Am I dreaming? Or is this real?" I flicked his nose and he scrunched it up. "That's not a good way to wake someone up."

"We'll do you want me to hit you somewhere again?" I warned and he winced.

"No! Please don't!" I laughed quietly and he gave me a small smile. "So you're not joking? You really do forgive me?"

"I'm not joking. And this is not a dream," I said slowly so he could clearly hear me. "I am not ready for a relationship so you'll have to do with the friendship version now. Will that be a problem?"

"No!" He quickly said and I raised an eyebrow. "I mean it's not a problem. Friends will be good right now."

"Great!" I said and smiled. "Cause I'm starving! And you're inviting!"

"Yes ma'am," he laughed and we went to our cars after deciding on a place.

*

*

Once I had gotten his number back -he was sad that I had deleted it- we separated and went home. When I got there, my mom had a pissed look on her face and she was taping her foot.

What did I do now?

"Where in the world did you go? You were supposed to be home hours ago!"

"I was with Nathan," I said with a shrug and she gasped. Her mood quickly changed and then she smiled.

"So you forgave him?" I nodded and she hugged me. "I knew you would do the right thing."

"Yeah. Can I go to my room please? I really need to nap." She let me go and I skipped happily to my location. It seemed like everything was going back to normal.

*

*

On the last few remaining days of school, every Senior were either busy making up work so they could graduate or practicing for the actual graduation. Luckily for me, I passed both my exams so I was with the practicing group. Nathan got lucky as well so the entire time, we were laughing and munching on candy as the principal droned on and on about what was going to happen on that specific day.

"Can you believe we are graduating in just one day? Tomorrow we walk out of this place for the last time and then the day after that, we will be walking out of the stadium with our diplomas. This seems like a dream....." Nathan breathed out as he blanked out into space and I rolled my eyes. I flicked his nose and he snapped his gaze to me. "What was that for?"

"You're being over dramatic," I laughed. "Yeah we are graduating, but we have waited and worked hard for this. I can't wait to leave this jail!" I may have screamed the last part, earning me glares from the people who heard me. I blushed and crouched down on my seat as best as I could as Nathan laughed at me.

"And I'm being over dramatic."

"Shut up."