And the last chapter dedication goes to MissNMLL, the best commentator on Loving a Loner! Thanks for your awesomely amazing support. x)

Chapter Six - Laura's POV

3 Hours Before "The Confession"

I paced my room in agitation. Does what I did with Jason make me a cheater? I mean, I hadn't kissed him or anything, but it's not like I hadn't wanted to. And oh, did I want to. Just thinking about it made my heartbeat faster: his soft lips trailing across my skin, his cypress smell enveloping my thoughts, his elegant hands touching my body...

"Arrgh!" I yelled, flopping onto my bed. This was driving me crazy with guilt. I'd been thinking that Jordan was being a bad boyfriend, when it was me who was acting like a cheating slut.

But I didn't respond, I thought. That comforted me slightly; I didn't kiss Jason back, I pushed him away. Raising a hand, I fingered the hickey on my neck. Looks like I didn't push him away fast enough.

Groaning, I turned and picked up my phone, staring at the background image on the screen. It was a picture of all of us the day after Julie and Evan got together by the pool. Jules and her poet were wrapped around each other, as usual; Shane was looking off into the distance, still a bit hungover; Jordan had his arm around my waist, wearing his trademark grin; and Jason was in the pool (no surprise there), winking at the camera to Helen, who was taking the picture.

I sighed wistfully, fervently wishing that things were as easy as they were back then. When Jordan was still madly in love with me, when Jason had a girl and didn't flirt with me, when I was happy and confident. But people change with time, and this picture no longer represented us: it was just a memory that felt more and more like a dream. And I couldn't change that.

Standing up abruptly, I said out loud, "That's not true." I could do something to change this. It was time to start taking control of my relationships again - and the first one would be with my boyfriend, Jordan. I'd known for a long time that we needed to talk about what was happening between us. Neither of us could continue on like this for long, and what happened with Jason proved that.

Obviously, being neglected and tossed aside by Jordan was leaving my body craving for someone to show me affection, and so that's why Jay's caresses felt so nice. And even though my boyfriend may not be my favorite person right now, I still loved him and wanted to be with him. So it was high time I found out once and for all if he wished the same.

Picking up my wallet, I marched downstairs. I knew that appearances didn't matter, but it wouldn't hurt to look my best when asking how Jordan if he still desired me. I left my house, climbing into my car and steering it towards the mall. My mission was one every girl would have at one point or another:

It's time to go shopping.

**

1 Hour Before "The Confession"

I was so ready for this.

Leaning back, I screwed on the cap to my mascara and admired myself in the vanity mirror. It taken me less time than I'd thought to find the perfect knock-your-socks-off dress: an actual Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti dress (A/N: photo up above). It was a green fitted, with long sleeves and a nude/black tri-colour block design. Sure, it had cost me more than $500, but the way it looked on me proved that it was worth every single dime. And maybe every penny, too.

Shaking back my hair, I took a matching green headband and slid it on. My make-up was more subtle than I usually had it, giving slight emphasize to my eyes and lips. The natural style worked for what I wanted - a look that made me sexy and still looking like myself.

Maybe Julie was right; being a make-up artist seemed like a good side profession.

I quickly slipped on my Jimmy Choo white pumps as my ankle felt fine and walked out of my house. To try and make amends, Jason had promised to take care of my little brother Timmy. Which left me free for the night. Checking my watch, I'd realized I would be early if I left now. For a moment, the hesitant side of me cautioned that I should wait. Ignoring it, I marched down the street. Jordan could either screw himself or screw me. The choice was up to him.

Passing Shane's house, I saw a blonde poke her head out from the front door. I came to a halt as I realized it Melissa. Well, well, well. It seemed that she was getting her revenge right now. Waving to her from across the street, I continued on. Though Melissa and Julie's relationship was strained to the point of nonexistence, her and I were on relatively good terms. When she'd told me the plan to reek her vengeance on Shane, I'd been fully supportive. The prick definitely needed an attitude check to knock that massive ego of his down a few notches.

A few moments later, I reached Jordan's door. Instead of knocking, I used the key he'd given me to let myself in. Besides surprising him, I wanted to reassert my boldness in our relationship. I was done cowering beneath him - he was going to treat me like an equal now.

Most of the lights were on when I slipped in, and out of habit I began turning them off as I walked past the rooms. Jordan had his room on the first floor, like Shane. When I'd asked why, he started to talk about "sneaking girls in", but the look on my face quickly ended whatever explanation he was going to give.

I finally reached his bedroom, and took one deep breath before opening the door. It was dark inside, and I laughed quietly to myself: it was so like Jordan to leave on all the lights in his house except the one he needed. But as I flicked it on, I realized just how wrong I was.

Even though I'd just taken a breath, it felt like there was no air in my lungs. I gasped, clutching my chest as my heart started to pound harder. My voice was weak as I whispered, "Jordan?"

He was staring at me in shock, still laying on top of the girl he'd just been fucking. "L-Laura? What the hell are you doing here?"

Choking, I replied, "W-what the hell are you doing? W-what is...who the hell is she?"

"Shit," the girl mumbled as Jordan climbed off of her. He slid a pair of shorts on and threw the blanket over her, as if that would make her not exist. If it only could do that.

But the lump underneath the cover proved that it wasn't possible, and I pressed down on my chest harder, trying to stop the pain. My heart felt like it was going through the worst heart burn ever - like I was having a heart attack. Oh, God, is this what it felt like to die?

"Laura? Lau, are you okay?" Jordan's voice sounded fuzzy, like static on a radio. I shook my head to clear it, but the move made me dizzier than I already was. Wheezing, I fell into a familiar pair of arms. They enveloped me, pressing against a hard chest as he said in a broken whisper, "Laura, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

The rage pushed my panic back enough so that I was able to breath again. "Don't touch me," I said angrily, wrenching myself out of his grip. "You're not sorry at all! If you were, then you - you wouldn't have..."

My strength failed me once more, and I couldn't speak. Stumbling backwards, I turned and ran from the room. I will not cry over him, I will not cry over him, I will not cry over him.

Chanting the order like a prayer in my head, I struggled with the lock on the door. Hearing footsteps behind me, I spun around to see Jordan standing there, remorse in his eyes and a hand outstretched to me. "Please don't go, Lau," he said, taking a few baby steps in my direction. "Let's just talk and try to fix this, alright? Just don't leave."

I hesistated, furiously blinking to stop the tears threatening to leak from my eyes. My lungs were starting to feel compressed again, and it worsened when I saw the girl peek out from his bedroom, blonde hair tangled. The sight spurred me into movement once more, and I was able to twist the lock open as I told him, "You've already left, Jordan. You've already left."

Walking out, I didn't bother to shut the door as I stepped off the porch and into the light rain that had begun to fall. I wanted him to see me leave - wanted his chest to hurt as much as mine did - wanted him to cry like I was. Hugging myself tightly, I headed down the street, no real destination in mind. Just anywhere but here.

And even though I tried not to, my thoughts couldn't help returning to Jordan. The day he'd first asked me out; the smile he gave me whenever we kissed; the twinkle in his eyes when I laughed. A streak of water ran down my face, but I wasn't sure whether it was a tear or rain droplet - and I really didn't care. I let go of all the frustration and pain and anger I'd been feeling for the past few months. Because though I was imagining Jordan, I was not crying over him - only for me. For how wrong I'd been.

None of the lights in his house needed to be on - his the least of all.

**

A Few Minutes Before "The Confession"

I knocked on the door, shivering slightly as I waited to be let in. I'd wandered around my neighborhood until my tears had stopped and I could think again. It only took a few minutes for him to open to door. "Laura? What the - "

"Can I come in?"

Jason's eyes were about to pop out of his sockets, but he stepped back to allow me inside. He didn't complain that I dripped water over the pale carpet as I trudged into the living room, and barely winced as I plopped onto the couch. All he did was take a blanket and wrap it around me before asking, "What happened, Lau?"

It pained me to laugh, but I did it anyway. After all, nothing hurt as much as seeing my boyfr- I mean, seeing my ex with that blond bimbo. "Everything that could possibly go wrong. I went to Jordan's house to spend the night, caught him cheating on me, had my heart broken, and left crying while it rained."

Though I'd tried to keep my voice steady from the beginning, by the time I'd finished, I was sobbing again. Without a word, Jason reached out and hugged me. Burrowing my head into his chest, I cried over what a fool I'd been. How I hadn't noticed the signs sooner: avoiding my calls, not eager to spend time together, snappy when I asked questions. I'm so weak.

"That's not true." Jason's voice startled me; I hadn't realized I'd spoken aloud. "You're not weak."

"Yes, I am," I argued. I didn't want to turn this into a pity party, but I couldn't help myself from saying, "I'm weak and stupid and insecure and needy and - "

"No you're not!" he said, volume raising. I pulled back slightly, and his green eyes were dark with anger and...something more. "You're not any of those things, Lau. You're one of the bravest, boldest, most beautiful girls I've ever met. And Jordan was a fool to let go of someone like you."

I blinked in surprise. This sounded like some kind of confession. "Jay..."

"I was a fool to let go of you," he said, still staring into my eyes. "That day when you started going out with Jordan, you called and told me that - that we couldn't 'do this anymore.' And you told me again today, right here. But the thing is that I wanted to keep doing this. I've wanted to be with you since forever, Laura."

"B-b-but what about Helen?" I stuttered, feeling woozy - but this time for a very different reason.

Jason stiffened for a moment before relaxing once more. "Helen - I thought I loved her, I really did. But for some reason, I was never able to take that final step - I was never able to commit. So she left me. Now, I know that you were the reason for that, Laura. Hell, you may have been the reason I was interested in Helen in the first place; however, her hair was a lot darker, and your eyes are much brighter green..."

He began playing with the ends of my hair. "What I'm trying to say is that I love you, Lau. Have ever since we first met in grade school."

I frowned. "You acted like you hated me, though."

Laughing, he explained, "I was five - what else do you expect? And while I always wanted there to be something more, you made it clear you weren't interested. So I gave up and became a man-whore. But I'm done trying to deny it. I'm in love with you, Laura."

My mouth opened, but no words came out. I sat there gaping at him for a few moments more before standing and backtracking out of the room, stuttering, "I - y-you - can't... "

"Don't leave," Jason begged, the sound of his broken voice making me halt. He slowly rose and kept his eyes on me, as if I was a wild animal who'd bolt at any sudden movements. My mouth was still hanging open. I mean, I was more than surprised; I was completely and utterly baffled. How could this be possible?

"Laura...say something. Please." He came closer, and fear nailed me in place. What do I do, what do I do, what do I do.

Shaking my head, I tried to backtrack and find out how I'd gotten into this situation. Remembering Jordan's betrayal, I shakily replied, "I can't - I mean, you can't love me. Jordan...I loved him, Jason. And he broke my heart. So how could I - with you, how - "

He reached forward and stopped my panicked babbling. "I know how you felt about Jordan, Lau. Know how you still feel about him. And I didn't confess to push you into anything you're not ready for." Jason moved his hand so that it was cupping my cheek, and his dark green eyes were kind. "I just want you to know how I feel so that you know I'll always be here for you."

I turned around, hunching my shoulders as I struggled not to let the pain overwhelm me once again. "Jordan promised me the same thing, and look what he did."

His wiry arms hugged me from behind as he whispered in my ear, "I'm not Jordan, Laura. I will never hurt you intentionally, and I will never leave you. I'll wait however long it takes to gain your trust."

My chest loosened slightly. "Would you wait forever?"

"No." Jason turned me around, leaning down so that our foreheads were touching. "Longer. I'd wait for eternity."

Even though my heart still ached, he could still make me laugh. "They're the same thing, doofus."

"Debatable," he argued, wearing the familar cute-and-goofy grin I'd grown up with. "Can I kiss you?"

The question caught me off guard. I thought for a moment, before giving him a shrug. "Sure, a kiss won't hurt." Jason's grinned widened before he pulled me up and pressed our lips together. Little tingles of electricity shot through me as his tongue stroked mine, and my pulse rose. I'd thought that the kiss wouldn't mean much, but somehow, he was able to make it mean everything.

I didn't know how long it would take for me to fully accept Jason. I didn't know what the future had in store for us. I didn't know if I would have to face Jordan again, and I didn't know if my heart would ever manage to get past the pain. But I did know one thing: that even though my blood was racing, my lungs could breath.

And as long as they were fine, I knew I would be, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That concludes the final chapter of Loving a Loner! Hope you all enjoyed the crazy ride I took you on. Through all the ups and downs, love eventually can make its way to each and everyone one of us. No matter what you've been through, or what you look like, or who you are, I guarantee there is one person in this world that is capable of falling in love with you.

Or maybe I'm just a sap. ;)

But this is the end - except for the epilogue, hahaha. That is in Julie's point of view; told you guys she'd return to the scene! It also offers a glimpse into their future, and will be up within minutes of this chapter.

Thanks for reading! <3

- Nikkisha16