I sit on one of the two beds in my and Ryella's shared room. Salty tears run down my face as I replay the scenario with Lana over and over.

I'm overall better than you.

My mind is like a broken record; it will play those words on repeat until I am overcome by sheer exhaustion.

There is a knock at the door.

"Yeah, come in," I bury my face in my hands.

I hear the door open, and suddenly feel hands on my wrists, pulling my hands away from my face. I see Dakota's handsome face looking at me with sympathy in his eyes.

"Hey, you," He takes my hands gently in his own. "Wanna talk about it?"

I shake my head. "No, but I should."

Dakota rubs circles on the backs of my hands with his thumbs.

"I just don't know what I did to her. I met her once, for Christ's sake!"

"She's jealous, Cass," Dakota says.

I raise my head. "No, there's no way. She knows she's better than me."

"Hey, Cass, listen," Dakota tilts my chin up with two fingers. "She is not better. She's jealous of you, and she's not really telling you she's better, she is trying to convince herself. She does that."

I'm taken aback by this, and then everything makes sense. Until Dakota traces his thumb across my cheekbone and down to my lips. My breath catches as he leans in and connects our lips softly. He pulls away shortly.

"Hey, Cass?"

"Mm."

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

My immediate response of "yes" is caught between my lips, unable to escape. Thankfully, Caden opens the door, interrupting us. He looks enthusiastic, but when he sees me with Dakota, his face falls.

"There's been a change of plans. Everyone's antsy and needs to do something. And plus, there are government officials outside the hotel disguised as everyday citizens. There's no doubt they're on to us. We have to go through with the mission tonight," Caden says with his head down, and walks out straight after.

"I guess that's settled, then," I stand up quickly and follow after Caden.

I don't know why I didn't say yes. I should have said yes. But I didn't. No, I couldn't.