Kissing Hector was wrong. She knows that. Even so, it felt like the right thing to do, as right as it feels now to accept to herself, and Ricky, that they should break up.

This is the hard part.

Ricky doesn't deserve it.

But more importantly, she doesn't deserve him, not after what she had done.

"Is it Hector?" Ricky asks in a tone she can't quite decipher. "Are you breaking up with me because of him?"

"I'm not seeing him," Rachel says the truth. After the kiss, she left Hector without a word. Forgiveness isn't something that's happening anytime soon. But she's no longer confused.

"Not yet," he says, "but you plan to?"

"No," she lies.

"If not for him, then why?"

"I'm not ready to be with anyone yet. You've always been a good friend, Ricky. But I can't see you as more than that. I should've never agreed to it," she says, regretting what she had put him through.

"But you did. That's gotta mean something."

"It meant I was not being fair. To me, or you."

"So the right thing to do is to ditch me?"

His steadily raising voice alerts Rachel to the reality that he's no longer capable of taking it in stride, understandably. She gets up. Better leave before any regrettable words are exchanged, like it happened with Hector. Even if not now, there could be still a chance to salvage her friendship with Ricky in the future.

"I'm sorry." Rachel leaves.

"You will be," Ricky mutters.

HE'S NOT OFF the hook, Hector knows that. But she's no longer mad at him.

"Guess the clouds over your head parted after all," Vince says in the locker room, "Bet you played the injury card."

"I'll take any pity from her if I can."

"Is she still with Ricky?"

He and Rachel haven't exactly talked things through yet. She may have pitied him and lowered her anger, but the kiss was not a pity. They like each other. Hopefully, Rachel admits that to Ricky. But he won't push her and make another mistake.

"I don't want to pressure her. She hasn't agreed to go out with me. We haven't talked about it yet."

"It may not be easy for her to break it off with him. She might not like him the way she likes you, but from what I've seen they've been friends for a while. So give her some time," Tate says.

Vince nods in agreement. "But now that she's no longer avoiding you like the plague, why don't you ask her out someplace nice? You've been cooped up since you can't ride your bike. When does the cast come off anyway?"

"One more week. Probably another week before I can drive the bike."

Hector's driving his car now. It's not fun. But it's good enough for a date. Now all there's left is to convince her.

WHEN RACHEL ARRIVES at her car in the parking lot, she sees Hector waiting by it. She quickly glances around for Ricky. Seeing it's only her and Hector, she says, "We're not back on good terms."

"I know. But I'm hoping you'll let me make it up to you."

"I'm not in the mood for that either," She says and opens the door.

"Please," he says, "one movie, that's all. Haven't been able to go around much since the accident," he adds hoping to get some pity points.

Rachel pauses. "I'll think about it if you promise to not ambush me in the school's parking lot again. I don't want Ricky to see us together."

Why? He wants to ask, but goes with, "I understand. Promise."