The weekend came and went, filled with sporadic crying episodes. Saturday Kim had decided we should have another family bonding experience, so that's what we did. My dad hadn't been home much since the beach trip we all took at the beginning of the year; his job had been keeping him busy, but he made it a priority to take off work for the bonding time.

Over the weekend Anna and I found out they were planning the wedding for some time in May, and yeah it was early, but they wanted to get it in before I went to college.

My dad had also taken me aside and talked to me about the Thanksgiving trip coming up in a matter of weeks. Apparently he had noticed my sulky behavior and told me that although my transition was tough, I really had to at least try to have a good time on the trip. He also decided to bring up my mom and tell me that I should call her more often despite the fact she practically dumped me in her ex-husband's house to go to Paris.

But right now, more than anything, I was solely focused on how I would face Colton and Becca when I saw them in Mr.Fells' class. Homecoming had been a complete disaster - in more ways than one. Becca had crossed the line and I really couldn't handle it any longer.

And although I say it almost every day- I was actually going to talk to Colton.

Because this shit has got to stop.

"Ok Finnly, now just remember what we talked about! Don't show Becca any sign of weakness" Anna said, as we walked down the hall toward our first period class.

I nodded, "Yeah, I know I know, and I have Evan to talk to so it'll be fine. Seriously, don't worry about it" I said.

I was pretty sure I was reassuring myself more than I was trying to reassure Anna.

Anna smiled, "Say 'Hi' to Evan for me will ya?" she asked, before making a dash up the stairs as the first bell rang.

A small smile spread across my face. What If Anna actually liked Evan?

I walked into Mr. Fells classroom and sat down in my normal spot. Shortly after, Evan sat down in Mia's old seat.

"Not that I really mind sitting next to you, but it was kind of rude for Mia just to take my seat" Evan mumbled, setting his backpack down on the floor.

I frowned, "hey, I'm sorry I brought this upon you" I said, "I mean I know she was a little rude to you before homecoming, but now she'll be even worse" I sighed.

Evan shrugged, "Mia was never nice to me. Honestly, I don't even know why I liked her as much as I did" he said.

"Sometimes you can't help who you like...it just happens" I said reassuringly.

"Was that supposed to refer to Mia or Colton?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I laughed, "Both I guess" I said.

I suppose we both had a problem with liking people who weren't the slightest bit interested in us.

I looked over toward Mia, completely surprised when I saw her talking with the other kids around her. I guess being in a relationship with Kyle did more to open her up than I had previously thought.

Evan followed my gaze and rolled his eyes , "I'm just glad I have friends like you and Anna, you have no idea what you guys actually did for me by becoming my friends" he said, turning back to face me.

I smiled, "You're a pretty good friend too" I said.

And without you and Anna, I'd probably be completely lost.

"Bolton alert" Evan said in a hushed whisper.

Bolton?

I looked up at the doorway as Becca and Colton entered the classroom.

I turned to face Evan again, laughing softly, "Please tell me you did not just say 'Bolton'." I said

Colton and Becca sat down and Evan laughed, "I didn't think I'd have time to say both of their names so I shortened it" he said.

I rolled my eyes and glanced toward Mr.Fells who had started to clear his throat at the front of the room, "I know it has taken me awhile to grade your Romeo and Juliet projects, but they are finally in the gradebook. Some of you did poorly and it dropped your grades severely. Others of you, who did very well, have high A's in my class at the moment. Congratulations"

Evan checked his grade on his phone and showed it to me, "Mia is really going to kill me when she finds out we got an 80" he said, laughing quietly.

I let out a small laugh. Mia was going to be pissed. And so was Becca when she finds out Colton and I got a perfect score.

I wanted so bad to turn around and give Becca a smirk but I didn't think she cared about her grades that much so I just dwelled in my own self pride.

Mr.Fells spent the rest of class talking about Shakespeare's "Hamlet". In all honestly, I thought 12th grade literature would be a little more diverse than just Shakespeare, but if that was really Mr.Fells passion, than who was I to stop him?

~*~*~*~

I was never happier for the school day to be over. I had a couple close calls with Becca in the hallway, but overall had been able to avoid her. Becca hadn't made much of an effort to 'terrorize' me so I assumed she had taken the day off.

I was all set on walking home until I remembered I wanted to talk to Colton about all the stuff that had been going on...and I seriously didn't want to walk in the cold.

I took my phone out of my back pocket and dialed Colton's number, holding the phone up to my ear as I waited for Colton to pick up.

I couldn't remember when I had gotten Colton's number. Honestly, it was probably Anna who had put it into my phone. I swear, she tried everything in her power to make 'Folton' happen.

"Who is this?" a deep voice asked on the other end of the phone.

"Uh Hi Colton, this is Finnly...I know you're busy and everything but can I have a ride home?" I asked, biting my lip nervously "Please?" I added.

I instantly regretted having asked him when there was a silence on the other end of the phone. Maybe I had sounded too desperate.

"Uh neverm-"

"Sure. It's not a problem. I'll be outside the stadium in a couple minutes" Colton said, interrupting my last attempt to save myself.

Colton hung up before I could say 'thank you' and I took a deep breath. This was it. This was when I was finally going to confront him. Maybe things would be different after this car ride. I was hoping at least he wouldn't avoid me like the black plague.

I started heading over to the stadium, calming myself by taking slow breaths. This would be good. Nothing bad could really come from it. Maybe we could be friends. Or maybe we wouldn't and he'd move to Timbuktu to get away from me.

I groaned. Why did things have to be so hard?

When I reached the stadium, Colton was already there in his fancy black car.

He unlocked the door for me and I slid into the passenger's seat, setting my backpack on the floor, "thanks" I said.

"No problem" Colton said, moving the car out of the school parking lot.

I started opening my mouth to say something to him, but his phone rang, causing me to close it.

"I have to get this." He said, handing me his phone, "hold this for me, will you?" he asked.

At least he had the decency not to answer his phone while driving.

"Yeah" I said, answering his phone and putting it on speaker for him.

"COLTON! I thought I told you to do the dishes before you went to school this morning! I came home from work and-wait; don't tell me you answered your phone while driving! Do you realize how dangerous that is?!"

"Mom, Finnly has my phone. It's alright" Colton said, speaking loudly so Carol could here.

"Hi Carol!" I said enthusiastically into his phone.

"Oh Finnly, darling! How is everything going?! Are you getting excited for the Thanksgiving trip?!" Carol asked, her voice rising with excitement.

I smiled as if she could see me, "Everything is going great!" I said, "I can't wait for Thanksgiving" I said, hoping she wouldn't sense the lie tinged in my voice.

"Oh oh! That reminds me why I actually called you, Colton! I wanted to let you know that Max is coming on the Thanksgiving trip!" Carol said

"I haven't talked to him since elementary school, Mom." Colton sighed.

I could hear Carol grumble, "I know, son. But his parents just separated and I thought I would be nice if he could have somewhere to celebrate Thanksgiving" she said.

Colton frowned slightly, "Fine" he said, "I'll talk to you later ok, Mom?" he said.

"And make sure to do the dishes when you get home!" Carol said, before Colton reached over and ended the call.

"Who's Max?" I asked. Guessing from his reaction he didn't want anything to do with him.

"He used to be my neighbor. He goes to Riverwood" Colton said.

I remembered our highschool going against them in the first football game of the season...before Becca threw her slushie at me.

"Cool" I said.

He just nodded and like many of the other car rides I took with him, we experienced an awkward silence.

"So uh I've been meaning to talk to you" I said, playing with my bracelet.

When he didn't say anything, I proceeded, "Well uh I just don't I don't really know what..." I stopped short. I couldn't show any weakness. I needed to do this.

"What the hell happened, Colton?" I said, turning to face him, a blank look on my face.

Colton looked over at me in surprise, "What do you mean?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes, "What happened when I left, Colton?!" I said my voice heavy with annoyance.

"I don't unders-"

"You can't just steal my first kiss, tell me you like me, and then never talk to me again! My brother died and you weren't even there for me!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air.

"You were the one that just left! You were the one that 'needed space' and 'needed a break from me'!" Colton said, his voice rising.

"What are you even talking about? You said you weren't interested anymore!" I said, "Do you realize how hard that was to hear?!" I said, anger consuming me.

"I never said that! Where the hell are you getting all of this?" Colton asked, snapping his head over to face me.

"Wait...who told you I needed space?" I said, trying to calm down.

"Becca" Colton said, as if it was obvious.

I grew silent, pondering what he just said.

Had Becca been screwing with both of us all this time?"

"Wait...so Becca did this?" Colton asked quietly.

I gave him a small shrug, "I don't know why she would...we were friends..." I said.

The car was silent as Colton pulled into his driveway and turned off his car.

He put his head back on the headrest and let out a big breath of air, "This is so fucked up" he said.

"It's been fucked up since I've come back" I said, "It's quite hilarious how you've just realized it"

Colton looked over at me, "I'll talk to Becca. It's probably some big misunderstanding" he said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"You keep telling yourself that" I said, climbing out of the car.

In my eyes, it was one hundred percent Becca's fault. It was only step one in Becca's plan to snatch Colton away.

And unfortunately, it had worked.

Up until now... because her secret was out and things were going to change.

<><><><><><><><>

this chapter is dedicated to @floralkate_x ! thanks for commenting so much on my last chapter and being an active reader! :)

COMMENT YOUR PREDICTIONS :) 

Song of the chap: Budapest by George Ezra

Love always

-A