It was a new day and an exciting week. Danielle was joining us today and Luke informed us about the weekend camping. 

I saw Connor in the college parking but I quickly made my way to my classrooms. The feeling was weird around him, I felt comfortable but insecure with him. Adding his past actions, I was feeling fooled and angry. My gut told he was a good guy but the video proof said otherwise. However, I enjoyed the minimal friendship I had with him with a great cost.

Chadd never stopped talking. He was either bragging about his charming girlfriend and about her life here or texting her, laughing like an idiot.

"You need to calm down", I said munching my fries. Our table was bouncing with earthquake because Chadd was nervous about his five years of girlfriend still had to come for lunch. If he hadn't mentioned that they were indeed doing it this long, I would've assumed Chadd was falling in love with her first sight. They were still on honeymoon phase.

On the contrary, Abby and I were like married couples for years. We have been sitting her fifteen minutes without a word, a single gossip or a quirky comment, still comfortable with the each other's presence. 

She was still going out with Dustin. I couldn't do anything until I come up with a different plan but I had to admit that it really hurt seeing her doing something that was going to hurt her.

Danielle was chirpy and witty, complementing the areas Chadd lacked and blended in like an air. We were discussing about the weekend plans and how to accommodate  Chadd and Danielle with us.

A light tap on my shoulder, I turned to see the familiar annoying face. I rolled my eyes and went back to my food.

"Can I have a minute, Emily?", Connor asked awkwardly between the stares. I mean whole food court was looking at us but I limited myself thinking that my friends were the only ones glaring.

"I don't think I have anything to talk with you", I said without turning back.

"Please, Emily. I just want to ask if you are okay. I know Ryder..", I cut him off my slamming my spoon on the table. I grabbed my bag, not giving attention to my friend's confused glare, and walked out of the door aware that Connor was following me. I was definitely getting hate letters for that.

"Why did you do that?", I hit him in the chest, throwing my bag while I got out of the door. We were on the pathway to Luke's department and was pretty secluded compared to others.

"What did I do?", he asked looking at my damn face for answer. 

"Don't act like you don't know. You were about to say every damn things you and your fucking friends put me through", I fumed pointing to the way we came.

"They don't know.", He said rather a question. I scoffed.

"Of course, they wouldn't. Do you think I will hurt my friends just like your friends are doing?"

"I am sorry, Emily. I am truly sorry for what my friends are doing to you"

"What did you want to talk to me?"

"What can I do to make everything right and make it back to the way it was"., he asked shamelessly as if that was easy.

His honey eyes were on me, with hope.

"Do you think I'll trust you again? After what you did behind my back. I would rather let Ryder hurt me than the person I truly trusted. You hurt me enough Connor. We'll leave it at it. I don't want to go back to how it was if this is what I'm going to face in the future "

His eyes flashed hurt. "I can never hurt you", he mumbled taking my hands in his and pleading me with his eyes.

"Then why did you watch the video, Connor?. Why did you watch it when it was my friend who was in the video? Why did you comment about what Dustin did in that video? Why did you even talk to me if this how you are gonna treat me? I wanted to stand for you then why are hurting me?", the questions fired welling my eyes as well. Connor was stunned at his place until I took my  bag back.

"I didn't know about the video until I watched it. I just thought he was showing something else. It shocked me like you"

"If you knew about the video, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you stop Dustin from passing it on to Ryder? Why didn't you stop Ryder from threatening me with those videos?", I shouted among my tears. The betrayal was hitting me hard as my chest tightened.

"I am sorry, Emily", Connor hugged me. I pushed him away like I was burnt from his warmth. "Don't touch me. You don't know how it is for me. You don't what I am going through to save my friend from the mess. You don't know how much it is killing me to be with Ryder who put me through such harassment. You don't know how I can't look at my mirror without hating myself. You don't know anything, Connor. So don't you dare be sorry."

"Harassed? Emily, did Ryder harass you?", Connor asked me grabbing my shoulders. Even through my tears I somehow knew Connor was going to snap the moment I opened my mouth. I shrugged his hands and turned around to see one person who I wished wasn't there.

Abby's eyes were brimming, cheeks red and hands formed into fist. I was frozen on the spot. The switch between anger and to shock took a time but Abby spoke before I could figure out the situation.

"Emily", she whispered with more tears flowing down her cheeks. I ran towards her and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Emily, are those true?", she asked. I pulled her and looked her in the eyes.

"Abby, no. I was just messing with Connor. It isn't true", I said with a fake smile. She swatted my hands away taking a step back.

"Why?!!", she shouted. "Why did Dustin do that to me? Why?!", my friend broke down.

"Abby please. Please, don't cry. I am with you please", I pleaded, hugging kneeling to her level.

"I thought he was sincere. I love him, Em. I love the guy who took videos of our private matter and enjoy that with his friends.", she sounded disgusted.

I stayed silent while she went through a heart break. I could see Connor behind me standing embarrassed about his and his friend's action but Abby was too absorbed to notice him.

She looked up at me, like finally registering me. She closed her mouth with her hands and eyes went wide as she looked at me.

"Emily. What have I done to you?", she gasped getting grip of the situation. Yeah, she totally heard every damn syllable I threw. But clearing Abby's situation was the bigger picture here.

"Abby, I want you take a deep breathe for me. Can you do it for me?", I asked and she nodded. She took a few deep breathes only hiccupping as I picked her and walked out of there. Luke was with the car and Matt stayed clear off the situation. 

We three travelled back home with Luke looking back at us through the mirror now and then. I gave him a knowing look and thinking that I jinxed myself for being a good day.