CASSIE GRANT

The sight is painful. Seeing Stella on the hospital bed is painful, but I am supposed to be the strong one. The one that never cried. I didn't cry when my mom died, and I didn't cry when Stella's brother (who I had a crush on since I was 10) died. There was no way I was going to cry in front of so many people now. Anyway, Stella would hop out of the bed any minute now. I am sure of it. I just know it.

Zach is leaning on the wall near the door. He's wearing his black hoodie and blue jeans. His hair swept to one side. He always dressed casually, but he can walk a red carpet any time, any day.

On the other hand, I am wearing my blue check shirt over a grey tank top with black sweatpants. My hair is a mess, as always. If I were to ever walk a red carpet, I would look like a beggar among everyone else.

Nevertheless, I was still his girlfriend. He didn't even look at me. He just walked in and stood there like I'm just another person in the room. How could he just ignore me? But then again, he didn't want anyone to know that I was his girlfriend. I dating Stella's ex would be an issue. That's why we kept it a secret till now. It is frustrating to finally have a boyfriend and not being able to tell anyone about it.

I loved Zach. He was amazing. He was sweet and rude in a way that just mixed to create a perfect boyfriend.

I know bragging about him when Stella was recovering from the breakup wasn't right, so I didn't tell Amy about us either. She would overreact. I was sure of it. Not just that, she would be annoying about it. She would pester me about how wrong it was. I know it is, but it feels so right. I also knew that she would say that Zach was a player, and he would just dump me after a while. I didn't think so. Sure, he dated a lot of girls, but we were different. He broke up with Stella, the most beautiful girl I know, for me.

He told me I was special and made me feel like it every single day ever since we started dating a week back. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but every time I saw him across the hallway my heart would drop. I ignored it for Stella's sake, but I couldn't. He started talking to me and I fell too deep. I couldn't get out, so I stayed. After a week, he broke up with Stella, to prove his love for me.

We went to a fancy restaurant on our first date. I am not known to be the type that would go to one, but that is because I couldn't afford it. It was great. He said that I was the first girl that he had brought to this restaurant. He's perfect and he made me feel perfect. I am complete. And here he is acting like he didn't know me.

I continue the act because he is right. This is not a good time to let people know. So, I act like I don't like him and throw in a few death glares for the act's sake.

"What is he doing here?" I ask Amy, spitefully.

"Why don't you ask him?" she replies, angrily. She's no longer crying, but her eyes are red.

"Like I would ever talk to him."

"So, you are past the talking phase?" she asks, mockingly.

I scoff and turn away.

What was that supposed to mean? My heart drops. Did she know? How did she know? There is no way she could have known. I had made sure that no one was following me every time I went to Zach's house. No way. She doesn't know.

If she did know then she would be hysterical about it. She would have called me when she saw me with Zach and would've given me a whole embarrassing lecture. She doesn't know.

I kept watching Stella. If Amy did know then Stella probably did too. If Stella knows then her mom knows. If her mom knows then her dad knows too. So, everyone in this room knows. Zach and I certainly look like fools acting like we hate each other. I should talk to him.

I storm out of the room pretending like I am going to have a break down. I go straight to the end of the hall and turn right to stop outside the bathroom. I text Zach that we needed to talk.

The time was 12:50PM. Almost 14 hours back Zach and I were outside his gate. Yesterday was amazing. Why did today have to come? Why did it have to be so horrible? I hear footsteps and ready myself to see him.

"Hey," he said, giving me a kiss.

"Hey."

"You really wanted to talk or..."

"Yes, I wanted to talk." He gave me a disappointed look. "I think Amy knows about us."

"You told her?" his back straightened.

"What? No. Of course not, but I think she followed me last night to your house. Anyway, what's the problem if she knows? At least we wouldn't have to be a secret anymore." I gave him a flirtatious smile, but he wasn't having it. I didn't like the idea of Amy knowing but now that I think of it—so what if she knows?

"I told you no one should know." He closed in on me.

"You're taking this way too seriously. Calm down."

"She is your friend. Stella is your best friend. How could you be ok with her knowing that you're dating her ex?"

"Oh. So, you don't want anyone to know because you're scared Stella will know. I'm sorry Zach, but I don't think I'm the one that broke up with her over text." At this point our volume was increasing and the people walking by were giving us weird looks, but I didn't care. This had to be settled.

"I broke up with her because of you. The least you could do is be grateful."

"Grateful? For what?"

"For at least pretending to love you. Do you think that if I didn't date you, you would have had your first kiss by now? Do you really think anyone else would have at least cared enough about you to fake love for you? Your own mother threw herself in front of a car because of you Cassie. Wake up."

His words hit me like a high wave. I removed the necklace that he gave me yesterday and dropped it on the floor before walking away.

I wanted to hate him, but he just said everything that I already knew. Nobody really loved me. My mom killed herself. My father couldn't care less about me. Stella did and Amy did too, but I had betrayed them too. Now I'll be alone for the rest of my life.

Somewhere down the hallway I began crying. I cried like I never had before, but then I walked into the hospital room like nothing had happened. I was here for Stella even if she didn't want me. Zach was just another guy that would never give me a second glance. Amy would get over it now that we had broken up. If she didn't then I'll move on. I don't need favor love.

-X-

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