Brendan's already gone when I get out to the parking lot. He's nowhere to be seen. I don't know where he could have possibly gone, because his car is still three blocks away, out of gas.

My tears flow freely now. I stop on the curb just outside the school, sitting down. I put my face in my hands, willing myself to believe that it's a dream. No, only ten minutes ago we were happy as can be.

What just happened?

A constricted noise comes from my throat when I picture his face in my mind. The hurt look. He might never trust me again.

It's probably best that I start walking home. Before it's too late. It takes a moment for me to bring myself to stand. I take off my mask and drop it onto the sidewalk. Then I pull off my shoes and throw them across the parking lot as hard as I can, screaming. My entire body pumps with unused adrenaline, anger, and sadness.

I start walking towards the way I know to be home. My cheeks are wet, my eyes red. My head aches. My mind is foggy. My feet hurt. I feel dazed.

"I trusted you."

I stop, folding forward, hands over my ears, elbows on my knees, letting out a sob.

There's no way I can let Brendan go. I can't. Not after I realize how much I actually care about him. I feel the reality of everything hit me.

And Caleb. Who I thought was going to start making things better. We were going to make up. Be friends again. And then he does something like this.

One name comes to mind.

It's the only thing that makes sense.

Shelby.

Her threats to me. That I should leave Brendan alone. Caleb's strange actions earlier at my house. She was using him as a pawn in her evil schemes. And he did it. I can't believe this.

I have nobody left for me.

If Brendan never talks to me again, Caleb betrayed me, and the school hates me, I'll have a heck of the rest of the senior year.

Maybe I should try calling him. Even now, I know it's a stupid idea. I can't help myself. I dial his number.

"Hey, this is Brendan, leave me a message and I'll get back to you."

It didn't even ring. He rejected my phone call.

Then again, what was I expecting to happen? Him to answer and tell me how sorry he is? No. I put my phone away and start walking again.

My eyes are so blurry with tears that I can't see which direction I'm going in. I just keep moving. At this rate, I'll never get home.

"I guess I misunderstood you."

The cold air around me chills my arms to the point of me thinking they'll be amputated come morning. Only an hour earlier, I had Brendan's jacket over my shoulders.

Where could he have gone?

Did he really run away?

No, he probably stopped somewhere to calm down.

Maybe I should do that too, because right now I'm going to wander into the road accidentally because of my lack of vision.

I stop where I am and try to wipe away my tears. As soon as I do, new ones replace them.

"I don't want to hear it."

He won't hear my side of the story. And if he did, would he ever believe me? He seems set on thinking I cheated on him.

My legs are shaking. Maybe it's because of the walking earlier. Maybe it's because I'm exhausted by the impossible last twenty minutes I've had.

I slowly drop to my knees, wrapping my arms around me. My head spins, and I feel sick. I need to explain this to him. He has to give me a chance to talk to him.

Caleb has no right to do something like this. I don't care how much he hates Brendan and the cheddar rolls. I don't give a crap about his personal opinion. Throwing himself into my personal life and ripping it apart is not okay. We will never be the same. Not after everything that's happened. It isn't fair.

Shelby is someone I don't even want to talk about. Her threats to me are stupid and uncalled for. If she had a hand in this, I'm going to have a nice chat with that girl.

And Brendan, I know this is unexpected for him too. But for him to leave without giving me any chance to explain is wrong on his end. It isn't his fault, I know. I would do the same in his position. That's what makes me the most sad.

My dress is covered in tears that have fallen down off my cheeks. I don't even want to think about what my makeup looks like right now. I try to wipe under my eyes, but give up realizing it'll just get messed up again with the next coming tears.

A car pulls up next to me. I can't tell who it is. It could be a kidnapper for all I know. At this point, I don't even care. My life sucks enough as is at the moment.

"Lili?" The voice says. I recognize it anywhere. It's Drew.

I can't bring myself to look up. My throat hurts with the sobs. Drew comes over to me and kneels on the ground, taking me into his arms. I'm grateful for him to be here. He left the dance to come after me.

And right now, a friend is what I need.

I cry onto his shoulder for a long time, and he rubs my back gently. I try to speak a few times, but it comes out as a croak and turns into another sob.

"I saw it happen, Lili," he whispers after a while. "It isn't your fault. If I can do anything to talk some sense into Brendan I will. I'm sorry this happened to you."

"Thank you," is all I return.

Maybe all Brendan needs is time to cool off. The thought makes me calm down more. Maybe when his anger wears down, we can talk about this. He always has had a quick temper.

"I'm sorry you had to come after me," I say after what must be five minutes.

"I wouldn't just watch you leave like that," he says softly. "You're one of my best friends, Lili. Of course I'd come after you."

I lean back now, taking a deep breath. My tears have stopped. My throat hurts. My head aches. My legs feel weak. My eyes are red and sting. I wipe them off one last time.

"Why don't I drive you home?" Drew says.

"I'm fine-"

"No," he shakes his head, helping me up. "Let's go."

*•*•*

I guess time isn't what he needed.

I've called 13 times.

Left 6 messages.

Texted him 10 times.

It's clear he doesn't want to hear a word from me.

It's been two days since I've spoken to him last, at the dance. My mom has questioned me, but I don't exactly feel like talking about it. Basically, the last two days have been spent in my room.

I'm not ready to go to school tomorrow. Brendan will be there. The school will all have seen the blow out. They'll all be just giddy that we're fighting with each other.

Are we even together still?

I don't know.

All I want is the chance to talk to him. I'm going to get that. I deserve at least a chance to show my side to him.

I'm already out of my house before I've even truly decided I'm going to talk to him. There's no turning back now. The walk is the same as it has always been. I've walked there plenty of times for the article, which I was actually cut out of, but it only takes me about five minutes to get there.

What am I going to say to him?

I guess I'll find out when I get to it.

His car is parked in the driveway as always.

I walk past it up to the door step. I ring the doorbell before I can rethink this. I need to talk to him. He should know that.

I wait for about twenty seconds before the door opens up. Daniel Marks, Brendan's successful father is the one who opens the door. I've only met him one time, and I don't think I had much appeal to him. He's a very professional and intimidating person.

"Hello," I say. "I'm here for Brendan."

"Ah, Lili," he nods. "I would love to let you kids work out your issues, but I'm afraid I've been instructed by my son not to, and I quote, 'listen to a single freaking thing she says because she's a liar.' I'm afraid he's in no mood to see you here."

"But, he doesn't understand-"

"I'm sorry," he says. "I'm just doing as he asks."

"He hasn't given me a chance to explain what happened!" I exclaim, frustrated.

"This isn't my business or problem," he says. "I'm sorry." He then shuts the door on me. I let out a groan of frustration. Of course. He doesn't want to speak to me. What else would he do?

*•*•*

On Monday at school, I ignore the looks and whispers. I walk straight up to Shelby, fury flowing through me.

I push her against the lockers.

"You did this to me," I hiss, hardly three inches away from her face.

"Did what?" She asks innocently, batting her eyelashes.

"Shut up and explain yourself before I beat the crap out of you," I say.

I know I might be doing a little much, but with the kind of weekend I've had, I can't help myself.

"I didn't do a thing," she says calmly. "Are you referring to your sad little fight with your 'loyal boyfriend'?"

"Tell me what you did now," I say, fist taking a handful of her shirt.

"Obviously you know what I did," she rolls her eyes.

"I can't believe you," I say, narrowing my eyes and shaking my head.

"Believe me?" She asks, eyebrows raised. "You ruined my life. I wanted you to have a taste."

"I didn't touch your pretty little life," I tell her.

"Oh, but you did. And you know it," Shelby replies.

"What could you possibly do, what could you possibly threat Caleb with to get him to do that?" I ask her quietly, impatiently.

"Threat?" She looks amused. "He came to me first."

That can't be true. She's lying. I know she is. "You're full of it."

"You should know that I'm not," she smirks. "Anyone in this school would take any opportunity to take your name of of Brendan's heart."

I can't help myself from pulling back my fist and throwing it at Shelby. I aim for her nose. I don't know where it actually hits, but I hear her scream in pain. My knuckles hurt. And the commotion strikes some interest.

Needless to say, I get sent home for the rest of the day due to uncalled for violence.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*

GO ADD REMIND ME AND POUR OUT YOUR HEART TO YOUR LIBRARIES PLEASE AND THANK YOU:)