An upload? Yes! Please vote and comment! It makes me want to update faster :)

Someone asked me to make a picture slideshow of all the people in this story so I did! It's in the sidebar :)

____________________________________       

   I straightened out the leather jacket that I wore with some jeans since today I was going to go visit Alan’s grave with Jace. It was the morning and he said that he had to do some things and that we could just meet up there around noon. I was about to grab my keys to drive there when I got a call.     

            “Hello?”

            “Peyton?” Jace’s voice said from over the receiver. His voice was raspy and I think I heard a sniff in the background. “I’m sorry that I’m calling so late but don’t come to the cemetery.”

            “Are you alright?” I asked with concern.      

            “Y-yeah,” His voice cracked. “Look, gotta go. See you tomorrow!”

            And with that, the line ended.

            I sighed and flopped down on my bed. Jace was definitely not fine so what should I do? Should I just stay here while he’s alone for yet another year?

            I made my decision as I grabbed my keys and walked out the door. I put my car—well, Dillon’s car—into reverse and sped down the street to the graveyard that Jace told me to go to yesterday.

            When I got there, I parked and jumped out of the car quickly. I started running through the place, not stepping where there would be bodies of course, while looking for Jace but I couldn’t find him. Let me tell you, running in a tight jacket, skinny jeans, and boots wasn’t an easy task either.

            I saw some people having their own burial ceremony so I slowed down to give them respect and that’s when I noticed Jace near a tree, slouched down. I sprinted over there and he looked up when I was close. I noticed that his cheeks glistened so I quickly sat down and wrapped my arms around him.

            “I told you not to come…” He whispered.

            “I knew you’d need someone here.”

            I looked at Alan’s grave and it said his full name, his birth date and death date, the place where he was stationed, and what force he was in. We stayed there for minutes in silence but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I played with the hair on the back of his neck while he mess with my fingers.

            “You know, I’ve never cried in front of any of my friends.”

            “So, I’m the first?” I smiled and he gave me a little chuckle.

            “I never felt like I trusted them enough. Sure, Dillon is my best friend but I also think he’d laugh in my face if I ever opened up to him like I did to you a few days ago. He’d probably call me gay or something like that.”

            I pressed my lips together in a hard line, “I’m sorry…”

            He gave me a light smile, “Don’t be. I should be sorry for being such a baby in front of you.”

            I kissed his forehead and squeezed his hand that was in mine. “You shouldn’t be. Everyone cries… it’s healthy.”

            He gave a lifeless laugh and laid back onto the ground, pulling him with me so my head rested on his chest, looking at him. “Guys shouldn’t cry. Well, straight ones at least.”

            I was about to crack a Dillon/Jace bromance joke but it really wasn’t the time. “You know…” I started. “Dillon cried when I was in the hospital after the fire.  He wasn’t crying about losing everything, he was crying about me. I remember it even though I was four years old. I remember that whole day, it’s one of my first memories that I can remember.”

            “I thought you said that you were okay?”

            I gave him a sad smile,” I didn’t tell you the whole story.” I sighed and played with the hair behind his ear while I held one of his hands. “Our house completely collapsed from the fire and I was in it when it started. I was passed out on the ground and I guess that part of the ceiling fell onto my back, giving me a really bad third degree burn.” I pulled away to take off my jacket and pull down the top of my shirt to expose my upper back. A rugged, ugly scar lay there reminding me of that day.

            “How come I’ve never seen it before?” He asked me.

            “Why do you think I have long hair?” I pulled my clothes back on and went back to lying on his stomach.

            He gave me a light smile and put his head back onto the ground, closing his eyes. I moved forward and looked at the face that almost every girl at our school dies over. He was really attractive so why would he want to give up all those girls to be in a fake relationship with me?

            I lightly wiped away the stray tears and he opened one eye to look at me. I gave him my best ‘innocent’ look and he laughed making me feel the stomach muscles underneath his thin t-shirt.

            He sat up, pulling my body with him, wrapped one arm around my shoulders and used the other arm to put his hand in mine again. He twirled a piece of red hair with his fingers as we looked at his brother’s grave.

            “Tell me about him,” I whispered.

            He sighed and leaned his head against mine. “I don’t even know where to begin…”

            I spent the rest of the day with Jace down at the cemetery. I couldn’t care less that I had school the next day and I hadn’t done my homework nor did I care about getting Dillon his precious food. Hell, he should just have that pole of his make him dinner or distract him until I get home.

            “Thanks for coming with me today,” He smiled as he followed me home even though we both took two different cars.

            “No problem, just call me whenever you want to back.” I gave him a smile.

            He looked like he wanted to kiss me right there and truth be told, I would’ve kissed back. His eyes kept darting to my lips and I gulped as we both started to lean in when no one was around to witness this act.

            “Peyton! Get the hell in here, I’m about to die, I’m so hungry!” I groaned and stopped leaning in then mentally slapped Dillon for being such an idiot.

            “Uh,” Jace cleared his throat nervously and I stepped away from his car. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

            “Sure—“

            “Peyton!”

            “Oh, shut up Dillon!” I yelled back to my annoying brother. “Bye,” I waved and walked up to the house, pushing Dill out of the way.

            “Damn, you kiss that boy too much so don’t be mad that I just stopped one kiss.”

            Oh, Dillon… If only you knew.

            <><><><><><><><><><><><>

            A few days past and Jace called me in the morning saying that he couldn’t pick me up today because he had a dentist appointment and would miss the first half of the day so

            Dill drove me. Let me tell you about Dillon’s driving techniques: If there aren’t any cars around then I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t think that the state laws apply to him.

            “Damn, I got eighty on that one!” He yelled excitedly as we slowly pulled up to the school. Meanwhile, I was grabbing the seat cushion for my life.

            I grabbed my bag and all but ran out of the car. There was only a few minutes to the bell so I walked down the hall, saying hello to some people that said it to me, and went to my first people.

            I was almost there when I was pulled into the girl’s bathroom. I screamed a little but a hand covered my mouth and released me.

            “Lindsay?” I exclaimed when she took her hand off of my mouth. Sure enough, Jace’s brunette stalker glared back at me. “Where the hell have you been?” I haven’t seen her at all this school year and it’s been more than a month.

(AN: If you don't remember who Lindsay is then refer to the first chapter when Peyton is listing off why she and Jace shouldn't go into a fake relationship.)

            “I come back from Jamaica to find that you’re going out with my Jace?” She shrieked at me. Thankfully no one was in here to see this idiot yelling at me.

            “You found out on Facebook!”

            “I didn’t think it was true until Kayla started complaining about you two to me so I came home,” She said self-consciously. “I can’t believe he cheated on me so publicly…”

            My eyes widened at her stupidity, “Uh… Jace and you weren’t even going out in the first place.”

            She let out a shrill laugh and rolled her eyes at me, “We made out at a party.”

            I just stared at her, “Did he ask you out?”

            “Well, no—“

            “Then you weren’t going out.” I turned to leave but she grabbed my arm.

            “Break up with Jace!” She stared at me and it almost made me shiver from her fierce gaze. “I need him to be mine!”

            “No, Jace and I are together and I’m happy.”

            “Are you sure he isn’t sloppy seconds?”

            “No! I’m over Sean, he can be with Kayla or even you for all I care.” I sighed, “Look. You’ve been away for a while so you really don’t know what has happened. Just please, leave me alone.”

            She gave me a creepy smile, “Ah but I can’t. Jace is meant for me and only me.”

            “Okay, cool.” I rolled my eyes and ran a hand through my red hair. “Bye now.”

            “Break up with him!” She yelled after me as I left the bathroom with a ‘what the hell just happened’ look on my face. That girl was crazy… No doubt about that.

            I walked to my class and took the seat next to Lauren who gave me a confused look.

            “Where’s your man candy? You two are usually over there making out before you come inside,” She looked at me weirdly then her eyes widened before yelling out, “Did you two break up?”

            I slapped her arm while everyone looked over to us. I noticed at Sean in particular looked very excited. I sent a glare over his way to let him know that even if Jace and I had ‘broken up,’ we wouldn’t be getting anything.

            “No! We’re happy and together. He just isn’t at school right now.” Everyone relaxed and I breathed out.

            Lauren’s mouth formed an ‘O’ shape, “So listen, we should hang out soon! How about…”      

            I agreed with Lauren to have her come over next weekend because she had to baby-sit her brother and sister this weekend. We had a substitute today so nothing happened and we didn’t learn anything at all.

            By the time lunch rolled around, I went to sit at my friends’ table because Jace wasn’t back yet.

            “Are you sure that you two didn’t broken up? He’s not back yet…” Lauren looked unsurely around the cafeteria.

            “We haven’t broken up, okay?”

            She just stared at me then went back to talking with everyone. I sighed, getting to my feet, and walked out of the cafeteria to get some water at the drinking fountain.       

            “Kayla! Just leave me alone for awhile, I need to think about this.” I froze because I heard Jace’s voice around the hall and he was with Kayla yet again.

            “Come on, Jace!” Kayla was silent for a moment. “Just kiss me, it’ll make up your mind!”

            “No!” Jace gave out an exasperated sigh.  “I won’t kiss you. I never will! In fact, it just turns me off more.”

            “Fine,” Kayla huffed out. “But don’t keep me waiting a long time for your answer, I have plans in mind.”

            I ran down the hallway and back to the cafeteria, standing by the door. What were they talking about? Did this have anything to do with the conversation they had at the dance? And what plans did Kayla have in mind?

            I felt some hands cover my eyes and I jumped in surprise, “Guess who?”

            I spun around and Jace gave me a huge smile. I gave him one in return but it wasn’t quite up to par with his. “Hey…” I said shakily then cleared my throat. I didn’t want Jace knowing that I knew about him and Kayla… well, to some extent. “How was the dentist?”

            “Good, no cavities as always.” His hand found mine and I felt the familiar warmth go through my body. “How was your day?”

            We walked into the cafeteria and Lauren laid eyes on us, giving me a smile because she now knew they we hadn’t ‘broken up.’

            I sighed, “Look… Jace. Do you want to continue this whole ‘fake relationship’ thing? You don’t seem into it—“

            “I do.” He said a little too quickly then took both of my hands into his. “This is fun and I like it. But if you don’t want to—“

            “No, I do too.” I smiled and it was the truth. Even though something was going on between him and Kayla, this was still a lot of fun. It’s like friends with benefits without the sex.

            We walked to his friends’ table and Alyssa smiled at our approach, “Peyton! Jace! I’m having a get together at my house tonight. It’s not a party and we’re the only ones that are invited,” She gestured to the table where everyone was a senior. “Wanna join us?”

            I smiled and squeezed Jace’s hand. “Sure, I’m in.” I looked at Jace pleadingly and he rolled his eyes.

            “I’m coming then,” he laughed and sat down in the last chair at the table. He patted his leg for me to sit and I did before pecking his cheek.

            Dillon faked gagged, “Do you guys seriously have to do that in front of me? It’s still weird for you two to be going out.”

            “Dillon, it’s been a month. You should be used to it by now.” Jace said and his best friend just stared at us.

            “Whatever,” he slumped in his chair like a three year old that didn’t get the right toy for Christmas.

            I finished off the school day and I found myself forgetting that Jace was with Kayla again. Jace came over after school with me and Dillon so the three of us collapsed onto the couch, thankful that the school week was now over.

            “Hey, why do you always come over here?” Dillon asked Jace when he came back from the kitchen with a bag of chips. “You have a house too, you know.”

            Jace shrugged, “You know that it’s better here.”

            Dillon smirked while I looked between the two with a confused look. I haven’t been over to Jace’s house nor have I seen in.

            “Yeah, this place is kind of amazing. I’ll give my parents one thing, they allowed me and Pey to have no rules.” He eyed the two of us. “Peyton… Have you ever met Jace’s mom?”

            I pursed my lips and I felt Jace play with my hair from where his arm was on the back on the couch. “No,” I said truthfully. “I haven’t.”

            “She literally has the best cooking skills ever. I wish you were like normal girls, Pey. You can’t cook for the live of you.”

            I turned red like my hair. “Hey! I’m great at making a… a…”

            “A sandwich but every girl has to make that.”

            I rolled my eyes and Dillon went to go to the bathroom. I noticed Jace with a dazed look in his eye and I bumped his shoulder. “What’s up?

            Jace pursed his lips then started talking, “Want to go see my mom tomorrow? Since it’s the weekend, Cara will also be there.”

            I smiled, “Sure!”

            I met Sean’s mom and dad after going out with him for two months. They were uptight people but seemed to love me. I actually saw them once after the breakup and his mom basically cried into my arms, saying that she doesn’t know where she went wrong with her son.

            But back when I met them, Sean did tell me one thing.

            Whenever a guy brings a girl to meet his parents, he’s serious.

___________________________________

Have you guys ever seen a guy friend or boyfriend cry for real? It's heartbreaking. :|

But anyways, who's excited for the HP movie? I am, :) I would go at midnight but I have to wake up early in the morning the next day... Plus, Twitter/Facebook is probably going to ruin the whole movie, just watch. Stupid people :(

Really though, I actually have something important to say! Would anyone be interested if I made  a banner or video trailer contest for this story? I know that someone asked me if I was going to make one but I'm not sure...

ALSO! Should I enter the Watty Awards with this story for humor?

PLEASE give me your input! :)