"I can't believe school has already start...again!" Anna groaned, taking her books out of her locker, "I swear we just let out for winter break like a day ago" she said exasperated, "It's not fair".

I shrugged, "I don't know, I guess it's kind of good to be back in school" I said honestly. Being in school meant that much closer to my first date with Max this weekend. And the closer I got to the date, the happier I got.

Anna raised an eyebrow at me, her facial features giving me the impression she was irritated, "Since when have you liked school? Why would you even want to go back to school?"

I just shrugged again, too caught up in my own fantasies about Saturday night to even respond appropriately.

Anna crossed her arms, "You're one weird dude, dude" she said.

I let out a small laugh, "Ok," I said.

I should've told Anna immediately about what had happened but I hadn't found the right time to tell her. After the New Year's Party, she had gone on for about an hour about how much of a slut Becca was. And then after that she went on about how cute Evan was. And now, days later, I was still trying to find a way to bring up what had happened between Max and I.

"I forgot to ask after the party, but where in the world were you all night? Evan and I spent a great deal of time looking for you and then you just pop up toward the end of the night," Anna said, basically parting the Red sea for me.

"I was with Max" I said, biting my lip.

I didn't know if she would be super happy because Max and I were kind of a thing or if she'd be upset because I had waited so long to tell her. It could really go both ways.

"Oh my goodness, were you doing the nasty?" She said in a hushed whisper, "Because that's not good to do before marriage. I mean I figured your parents had given you the talk - "

My eyes grew wide, "No!" I said defensively, "I would never do that. I've know Max for like a couple months! That's just-no" I said, a blush crawling up my cheeks.

Anna let out a huge laugh, "I'm just playing. I know you'd never do that" she said, patting me reassuringly on the shoulder, "But seriously, what happened with you two? And I swear, if something big happened and you didn't tell me, I'm going to be upset" she said, crossing her arms.

I shrugged slowly, "I mean, we just kissed and he asked me out but that was it" I said quickly, playing it off as 'no big deal'.

Anna clapped her hands together in excitement, "Just kissed? Just? How many kisses have you actually shared in your entire life?! 3? This is a big deal!" she said, "And it's not like Max is just some ordinary Joe! He's Max! You like him! I'd say this is a very big deal" she said defiantly.

I internally sighed in relief. Good. This was good. She wasn't upset after all.

My face lit up and a huge grin spread across my face, "I know! It is great-isn't it?" I asked, extremely happy she had taken it in good way. Sometimes you just don't know with Anna.

Anna hugged me and jumped up and down, "I'm so happy for you, Finn" she said, "See, didn't I tell you everything would work out for the best? You lost Colton because he was a douche bag, but in the end you got a super sweet guy that isn't going to take advantage of you!"

I hugged her back, joining in with her jumping, "Yeah, it seems like a pretty fair trade-off to me," I said, letting out a small laugh.

Anna pulled away once we had done a fair amount of jumping.

"It's a darn good trade off," she said, "Operation Folton is henceforth eradicated. For good," she added, nodding her head sternly.

I laugh, "What now, Operation Fax?" I asked jokingly.

Anna nodded, "Yeah sure, why not?" she asked, "Goal one, make him fall in love with you" she said.

I laughed, "How about we start off with a more reasonable goal?" I asked, "like not die on my first date?" I teased.

"First date? Did I hear that Finn has a date planned?" Evan asked, finding this time the perfect opportunity to enter the conversation.

"Yes! Isn't is just fabulous?!" Anna asked, gripping his arm enthusiastically.

Evan nodded slowly, laughing, "Yeah it's great. Congratulations Finn" he said, offering a huge smile my way.

I nodded, "Thanks, I'm really happy about it" I said.

"Douche alert! I repeat, douche alert" Anna said in a frantic hushes whisper.

I didn't have time to ask 'who' before none other than Colton appeared in front of our group.

"Finnly, I need to talk to you" Colton said, rubbing his jaw slowly. He had bags underneath his eyes and his usual 'disheveled but attractive' hair was now just 'disheveled'. Contrary to his normal appearance, he looked like complete and utter crap.

I crossed my arms, "Ok, shoot" I said coldly.

"Alone? Please?" He asked, his voice almost coming out in a struggled stutter.

I raised my eyebrows questionably, not allowing myself to have any pity for him. Whatever happened to him, he brought it upon himself. He wasn't my concern anymore.

"Whatever you need to say you can say in front of my friends" I said, gesturing toward Anna and Evan.

He nodded slowly, "Yeah, Ok" he said, "Listen" he continued, taking a breath, "I wanted to say sorry. Honestly, I had no idea that my rejection would be so hard for you" he said, "but now I know... Becca was cheating on me with Aspen, and it hurt"

I gave him a shrug, "Becca cheating on you is a different kind of rejection than the one you gave me,"I said, "I'm sorry that Becca cheated on you. No one should have that happen to them, not even you," I said truthfully.

Was I sorry that Becca had cheated on him? Yes. But did I feel sorry for him? No way.

Anna decided this was the perfect opportunity to inject something, "We don't really care, Colton" she said, "Finn has moved on. She doesn't need you anymore, and she most certainly does not feel sorry for you. So keep walking"

Evan took Anna by the wrist, "We'll be in the the cafeteria" he said to me, before pulling Anna away.

Colton let out a deep breath, probably relieved he had two less audience members. I was even happy Evan had decided to leave with Anna. Not that I actually wanted to talk to Colton, I just didn't want to act like a complete brat toward him.

"Yeah, I get that the rejections were kind of different" he said slowly, obviously processing everything I had said, "But I just wanted to say that I am sorry. I shouldn't have been such a jerk to you. It wasn't right. And I don't want you to think that I hate you or anything, because I don't. And ever since I found out Becca has been cheating on me, I've realized how good of a person you are...and how much I've thrown away to be with someone who didn't really care about me. "

I let out a sigh, "Colton, I believe that you're sorry, but if this is you attempting to reconcile everything that has happened in the past 6 months, I really don't want to hear it" I said, "Like Anna said, I've moved on."

Colton nodded earnestly, "I know, I know. But I made a mistake, Finnly. I was stupid and blind. And I want you back."

I shook my head,"See, that's the problem, Colton," I said, " I don't want you back. I can definitely forgive you for all that you've done and said to me, but I most certainly cannot forget them. "

Colton gripped my hand in his,"I know, but please, try to forget" he pleaded, "Please. I need you"

I quickly shook me hand away from his, "I can't" I said, "I've found someone that likes me for me. And I like him...a lot. I wasn't his second choice- I wasn't behind someone like Becca, I was his first choice. Nothing you're going to say is going to change the way I feel about you and especially isn't going to change the way I feel about the guy I actually like."

I wanted to get it pounded into his head that I wasn't interested in him anymore. There was no part of me that wanted him back in my life in any romantic kind of way. And although I was a pretty forgiving person, I wasn't just completely going to forget all the harsh things he had said to me. No girl deserved to be talk to like that. Guys needed to know that saying that kind of stuff wasn't going to be acceptable. By rejecting him now, I hoped he would learn his lesson for later, when he actually found another girl worth fighting for.

"How do you feel about me?" he asked, "I thought just last week you liked me..." he trailed off, looking lost.

I shrugged, "I don't feel anything" I said plainly.

He looked down at his hands and we stood there in silence for a couple minutes before he had decided on something to say, "Who is he?" he asked.

"Who is who?" I asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Who is the guy you like?"

"Max" I said, loving the way his name rolled off my tongue.

More than anything I wanted Max here right now, holding my hand through this whole confrontation with Colton. But deep down I knew that I needed to do this alone; it was the only right way to do it.

Colton scoffed, rolling his eyes, "I can't believe it. You can drop the act now" he said, giving me a harsh laugh.

I was taken aback by his response. The 'sorry and distressed' Colton had quickly morphed back into the 'haughty and angry' Colton. It was like some bitch switch had been turned on.

"Drop what act?" I asked, adding a bite to my voice.

"You know Max and I have issues, so you're dating him to get back at me." he said, narrowing his eyes.

I clenched my jaw, "I am not" I said, "I'm dating him because I like him. When the hell are you actually going to realize that maybe everything isn't about you?" I said, throwing my hands up in the air.

Colton's nostrils flared in anger,"No you don't," he said, "You haven't liked anyone but me for the past 3 years"

"Things change,"I said, "People change. I do not like you and now it's you're turn to get over it and accept it"

He opened his mouth to retort something back, but I stopped him, holding up my hand, "I'm sorry Colton, and I really hope one day, when you mature a little, we can be friends. But until then, this is me telling you 'good bye',"I said, before spinning on my heel and walking away from him.

As I walked to the cafeteria where Anna and Evan were, I realized exactly what I had left in the dirt behind me. I had said goodbye to my past...and this time, for good.

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Sorry for the delayed update :/ I have to confess that I honestly don't have as much time as I use to on here...I have a job and I've started my last year in high school...so things are a bit hectic...

However, I will try harder to find time for this because writing is really really important to me :)

Anyway, as you guys can kind of tell, the story is kinda coming to a close... or is it?

I want to hear your predictions so comment what you think is going to happen :)

Song of the chapter- Drag me down by 1D

As always,

Kisses- A