Dedicated to Buttercup, my 90th fan! Glad you loved LaL enough to fan me for it. xD

Chapter Three - Shane's POV

That sneaky little devil has ditched me once again.

When I saw that freak kissing her, I knew I had to get away before I did something stupid, like throwing my cup of beer at his idiotic emo head. I mean, how could she choose him over me?! I'm Shane Mason: star football player, school golden boy, smooth and sexy player. And out of the millions - no, trillions - of girls I could have, I decided to choose nerdy little Julie Ann Jones.

Biggest mistake. Of my life. Ever.

Knocking back another cup, I stomped over to the keg in the kitchen. I'd come to check on the two sickening sweethearts, but they'd mysteriously disappeared. I knew what that dirt bag probably had planned for tonight, and it made me want to punch something. I was the one who was supposed to get her.

I had already begun chugging my fourth cup when someone brushed past me, almost making me spill the beer over my light blue polo. Snarling, I was about to tell the person off when I saw who it was.

Speechless, I watched as the girl continued walking, as if she hadn't nearly caused a disaster. She stopped to chat with a group of friends, tucking her blond hair behind one ear as she laughed. Another girl whispered something to her, giggling, and she turned around to meet my gaze with a pair of dark blue-gray eyes (A/N: Know it's not her real eye color, but it was never mentioned in MWL).

Before I realized it, I had walked over to stand in front of her, beer incident forgotten as her name came tumbling off my lips. "Melissa."

She gave me the once over, glancing at the cup still held in my hand with a blank expression. "Shane. Last time we crossed paths, you were drunk. Is that the way you're planning to greet me each time we meet?"

A laugh escaped me before I could rein it back in, and I gave her my signature smirk. "Wit's still sharp as ever, eh Liss?"

I expected the nickname I'd given her to set her off, but Melissa just tossed back her gold mane and laughed. I took a sip of my beer, watching her over the rim of the cup as she smiled at me. "I'm not so sure that you're right..."

"Oh, really? And why's that?"

"Because I have a really bad idea, but I still wanna do it." Grabbing my beer, Melissa drank the rest before setting the empty cup down on the arm of the couch and taking my hand in hers. She began to tug on my arm, pulling me back towards the other room where people still danced to the wall-thumping music. "Dance with me, Shane."

"Alright," I agreed, letting her drag me onto the floor. Wrapping her long arms around my neck, she pressed up close against me, sinuously moving to the beat of some Rihanna song. Following her lead, I placed my hands around her slim waist, dancing with her.

"So," Melissa began, moving a bit closer to me. "How are things with you and Julie?"

I faltered for a moment, but soon regained my tempo. "Why are you asking?" I asked in what I hoped was a nonchalant tone.

She let out another throaty laugh, which made my blood pressure speed up...noticeably. "Ah, Shane, don't you remember?" Turning around, she pressed back up against me and shot me a sultry look over her shoulder. "You sure had a lot to say about her before."

My grip tightened imperceivably. "What are you talking ab-"

Melissa grabbed my hair and yanked my face to hers, eyes now the color of storm clouds. "All your questions will be answered in time, Shane," she purred, loosening her grip to stroke the back of my neck, which prickled with goosebumps. "But right now, you're with me - so enough talk about other girls, alright?"

"Fine," I spit out through clenched teeth.

She laughed, and her eyes were back to their normal shade. "Don't be like that, Shane." Turning back around, she pressed her front against mine, stroking one hand down my chest and making the muscles ripple. "For tonight, I'm all yours..."

"Really?" I asked, not convinced. "Because last time I checked, you were just a bang for a bet."

My harsh words didn't phase her at all. "Are you saying you wouldn't do me for free?"

I looked her over. Melissa had on a sleek silver dress, with satin covering half her legs, long sleeves, and a decent neckline; however, the gown was so tight it openly displayed each dip and nuance of her shapely body, from the arch of her butt to the dip in between her breasts. Silk stockings slithered up her shapely thighs, and stiletto heels brought her luscious pink lips closer to mine.

Suddenly, I had difficulty swallowing. Oh, definitely. But instead of saying what I really felt, I just leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Depends on if you've gotten any better, Liss."

I felt her stiffen, and heaved an internal sigh. I knew I was being an asshole, just like the one I'd been before I met Julie. Pulling away, I shook my head, trying to clear out the images of the little devil. It hurt to much to think about her. Too bad I couldn't stop myself from doing it. But maybe there's someone else who could.

Glancing back at Melissa, I lifted her chin until she had to look me in the eye. Gently, I pressed my lips against her soft cheek and told her, "I'm sorry; the real answer is a definite yes. So let's start over, okay? The night is still young."

"That it is," she replied, bright mood restored. We'd stopped dancing a long time ago, and now she stood up on tiptoe to push her lips against mine. I kissed her back, tongues tangling as I re-familiarized myself with her sweet taste and smooth skin. And all thoughts of Julie Ann Jones disappeared.

Just. Like. That.

**

I blinked my eyes open, staring at the alarm clock beside my bed. 11:53 P.M. Groaning, I rolled over to cuddle with Melissa, but all my arms grabbed were empty sheets.

I shot up, searching the semi-dark room. The moonlight shined through the window, its illumination bright enough for me to know that the girl I'd taken home was no longer here. Still, I called her name. "Melissa?"

When no one replied, I cursed, blood boiling in rage. No way in hell did that blondie ditch me. I'm Shane Mason, the Shane Mason. I'm the one who ditches girls! Before I knew it, I'd hurled my clock against the door, making it bang against the wood and fall to the ground in broken pieces. But I was already up and moving, running out of my room and down the hall to the front door. Lights were turning on upstairs, but I knew I'd be out before my folks or little sister came. One of the many perks of having your room on the first floor.

Storming down my driveway, I looked around. The bed had still been warm on her side, so the little blonde couldn't be very far. Glancing to the right, I saw a flash of honey-colored hair and took off.

"MELISSA!" I roared, bare feet pounding against the pavement. I saw her turn around, eyes widening in shock. She quickly darted away, but I was beginning to catch up. "Melissa, when I catch you, you are gonna sorely regret ditching me!"

"Leave me alone, jerk!" she shouted back, beginning to run in some sort of zigzag pattern to throw me off. It didn't work, and a few moments later I was close enough to hook one arm around her waist and pull her up against me. Melissa struggled, flailing around as she tried to free herself. "Get your grimy paws off me!"

"You seemed to enjoy being in my 'grimy paws' just a few hours ago," I said, easily heaving her onto my shoulder. I began walking back to my house, cursing as I realized I was only wearing a pair of boxers. The little spitfire didn't stay quiet for long.

"Let me go, Shane Mason!" She was beating her hands against my back, though there was barely enough force to feel, let alone bruise. "I'm warning you for the last time."

"Why do girls try to run away in that stupid pattern?" I mused out loud, ignoring her threats. "I mean, how would that even work? Doesn't it waste even more energy?"

"Put me down or I'll scream!"

"Then I'll just have to shut you up." With a quick move, I whisked her into my arms, carrying her bridal-style. "This better?"

Melissa looked up at me, and I stopped in my tracks. Her eyes were the lightest I'd ever seen them, and tears ran down from their steely blue depths. She let out a small sob, covering her face and whispered, "Just stop, ok? Stop."

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, gently placing her back on her feet. She didn't answer, face still hidden in her hands. Tugging lightly on her wrists, I bent down a bit so that our heads were level. "Tell me what's the problem, Liss."

Dropping her hands, I saw her eyes were more like her normal shade. Melissa snarled, hands shoving me away. "You! You are my goddamn problem!" As she yelled at me, she kept attacking, not seeming to notice both the fact that I was warding off the blows nor that tears were still dripping down her cheeks. "You, with your stupid charm and stupid eyes and stupid smile! You used me, had sex with me only for money, and how do I repay the favor? By helping you when you were drunk all alone in a goddamn bar! Shittiest revenge ever! So I decided to do you like you did me - screw you then leave! I thought you'd get mad and your pride would be wounded, but why the hell did you chase after me?!"

She collasped against my chest, heaving with sobs as she feebly banged her fists on my chest. "Why why why..."

"You really want to know why?" I said in a soft voice, holding her to me tightly. I felt awful, more awful than I did when I saw her (and Julie's) face the first time I'd screwed her over - literally. "It's because I couldn't stand to have another girl ditch me."

Giving a sad chuckle, Melissa replied, "I know all about Julie - you talk a lot when you're drunk. I know you yearn to possess her, and how she chose Evan over you. I don't want to hear your confession again. I get that it hurts your stupid pride to have girls ditch you, okay? I get it."

"No, you don't." She pulled back, confused, and I wiped the remaining moisture off her face before cupping it in my hands. "It doesn't hurt when girls ditch me - it hurts when crushes ditch me."

She tried to turn her face away, but I wouldn't let her. Leaning down, I pushed my forehead against hers. "Don't you see, Liss?" I said softly, staring into her eyes. "I loved Julie, and it hurt when she left me...alone...at that party. But I've come to realize that what you said, about possession and yearning - that's not really love. I thought it was, but it's not. And do you know what - who - made me realize that?" She mouthed the word no, and now I was finally able to smile. "It was you."

"H-how?" Melissa asked as the tears started again. "How d-did I...?"

I moved closer, until our noses too were pressed together. "With your stubborness, your smartness, your determination. But the thing that really tipped me off was how with one kiss from you, I could forget any other girl, Julie included. Before, whenever I kissed someone, I would always be comparing her against others, judging whether she was better or not. But with you...with you, none of that happened."

"W-why?" she bawled, gripping my hands to press them tighter against her cheeks. "T-tell me."

Smirking, I brought her even closer, until my lips were brushing up against hers as I spoke. "You first. Tell me why you helped me that night a year ago. Tell me why you're crying."

She tried to shake her head, but I was clasping her too tightly at this point. I felt her slightly minty breath wash over my mouth and held back a moan, feeling the tension in my body start to grow. "Tell me," I commanded, restraining the urge to kiss her.

Melissa licked her lips, and also my own, which made the urge build. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she said four simple words.

Four words. That's all it takes to change your life - unbelievable, right? Such a small amount of letters, just enough to put a smile on a face, dry the tears from someone's eyes, warm the very heart of a lonely soul. I knew that I probably couldn't say the words back, but soon enough I would be able to; after all, I was falling hard and fast. And that's just how the kiss Melissa and I shared afterwards was - how I hoped all the ones we shared (and that was planning to be a lot) would be. As we locked lips underneath the moonlight, clasping our bodies tightly together, I couldn't feel the chill in the air despite the fact of being basically nude. I couldn't hear any sound at all, even though both our hearts were pounding pretty loud. I could barely breath - though that may have been due to the fact that I was still kissing Melissa, and not because of the words still echoing in my head.

Fifteen letters. Four words. One phrase. That's all it took - and all I needed. As I pulled her closer, tangling my fingers into her gold strands, all I imagined was a bright blue-gray scene with that phrase written on it.

Fifteen letters. Four words. One...wait, I'm repeating myself, aren't I? Oh well, might as well cut the suspense and just tell you what she said. But let's rewind just a bit, before my internal monologue began.

Melissa licked her lips, and also my own, which made the urge build. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she said four simple words.

"Because I love you."

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

For just a moment, I thought about not telling you guys what Melissa said, but that would make me an assh-, I mean, a jerkpid. Sorry if their "getting together" seems a bit rushed - I would LOVE to draw out all the strife that Shane should face, but it is a one shot, so gotta keep it short...ish. ;)

But hope you all liked Loving a Loner! Amazed at the feedback it has gotten - after all, it's only for a contest - but I love it! And you! All of you! Love love love for everyone! ...alright, no I'm not crazy, just a little slaphappy. Please try not to freak out and stop reading because of my weirdness.

Really, it's been a lot funner than I thought it would! I frequently plan out endings for books I enjoy (i.e. Destiny, my fanfic), and this story has been no different. In the next chapter, we'll get to see some of Laura and Jordan, oooooh! And don't worry, Juvan fans (or would it be "Elie"?), the most prominent couple in MWL will return to the scene, I promise! And the epilogue is gonna be AMAZING...but best not give any spoilers away, right?

Okay then, tah tah for now, readers! No Spanish phrase today - maybe la próxima vez, alright? <3

- Nikkisha16