"Faith, are you crazy?!" Hayley shrieked.

We were currently paused at a McDonald's to get some breakfast because what else could be healthier than a happy meal? I could use one of those.

"Can you keep your voice down? What did I do?" I asked her, leaning my elbows on the table while the guys went to get us food.

"You didn't say it back?!" she freaked out.

"Say it louder, won't you? Make sure he knows we're talking about him," I said sarcastically.

"Why didn't you say it back?" she questioned.

"Because I'd be lying if I said it back," I lied.

"Bullshit, Faith," she groaned, kicking her legs around restlessly. So mature she is.

"Have you seen the way he looks at you?" she sighed.

"No?" I said questioningly.

"Faith, he didn't just say it. He's in love with you, I've never seen you this happy with someone and I've never seen someone treat you so good. How don't you love him?" she interrogated.

"I do," I sighed in defeat. "What if I say it and he leaves because he knows I'm not going anywhere?" I mumbled to myself.

"What if you don't say it and he leaves because he thinks he did something wrong or there's something wrong with him?" she arched an eyebrow at me.

"He said he won't," I replied.

"Even when you break his heart?" she gave me a pointed look.

I sighed while contemplating what to do next.

What the hell am I supposed to do?

"You might just not be ready to say it, Faith. Give it a little time but just keep in mind that time does run out and it doesn't wait for people, even though he might," she suggested.

"Do you think we should keep some distance?" I questioned hesitantly. "Just for a while?"

That's what I was gonna do.

The guys came back with our food and we quickly shut up and acted like we weren't talking about them. It was no secret that we were and they definitely knew that.

Alex came and sat beside me and I felt my body stiffen under his gaze. I felt him staring at me while I refused to look up at him before he sighed in defeat and slid the food tray over to me. "There ya go," he huffed.

Maybe a little distance will be good. At least that way I won't piss him off and upset him any more than I already have.

I sighed before sliding the tray in between us and taking some fries while he took his food. We all ate in a very awkward silence. Very awkward silence, while Daniel and Hayley whispered.

"Faith, can I talk to you?" Daniel spoke up.

"Um- yeah sure," I replied hesitantly before sliding out of my seat and following him to a different table.

"What the hell is going on?" he sighed while we sat down.

"Huh?" I thought out loud.

"What happened between you two? You both seem so- blah," he threw his arms up.

"Nothing happened," I lied while shrugging.

"Faith," he deadpanned.

"Look, if he didn't tell you then maybe he doesn't want you to know. I don't think I should tell you. I don't wanna be the one you hear it from if he doesn't want you to know," I mumbled, my voice breaking off.

"He did tell me, I'm here to hear your side while Hayley hears his. Just so we're not biased," he shrugged slightly.

"This wasn't your idea, was it?"

It's a little frightening to think my best friend's psychotic ideas are getting to him. They may be psychotic, but I never said that wouldn't help.

"No, it wasn't my idea," he chuckled.

"I just- I don't wanna say something I don't genuinely feel," I sighed.

"You don't feel it?" He arched an eyebrow at me. Cat got my tongue. "So you do," he nodded. "Why not say it?" he questioned.

"Doesn't that give him reassurance that I won't go anywhere and then he can just leave whenever he wants?" I mumbled.

"Do you really think he'd do that to you? After he tells you he loves you?" he asked.

"Cody left when I didn't say it, do you think he might?" I asked hesitantly.

"Cody left because he was meant to, he didn't deserve you and he won't because he's not Cody. All guys aren't the same, Faith," he paused.

"If you think distancing yourself is a good idea then no one can stop you from doing that, but that distance might grow and you might run out of time. Saying it back doesn't have to change anything between you two. Loving someone can be the best thing in the world but that doesn't change the fact that love is overrated. Ultimately, it's just a word. What you feel when you say it, is what counts," he finished.

"If you need time to process, take it. Take as much as you need. But don't lie to yourself and say you don't feel it. Don't break his heart like that."

My eyes snapped up to meet his when he said that.

"I'll ask you one last time, do you love him?"

I sighed, running my hand through my hair. "I do," I admitted out loud for the first time.

"Do you wanna wait to tell him?" he questioned further.

"I think just till we get back home," I said as we stood up and headed back to our table.

My conversation with Daniel didn't dull down the tension between Alex and me. It was very much still there and he was still upset. It was written all over his face.

x-X-x

We finally reached home, all of us tired from sitting in the car for this long in that nerve-wracking silence. We barely spoke unless it was to ask someone to hand us something and by we, I mean us four. We were parked in front of my house and while Alex and I grabbed our things from the trunk, we heard Daniel and Hayley arguing.

"She's just scared, Hayley." Daniel tried to talk in a hushed voice.

"For what? He put his heart out on the line, Daniel. What about that?" Hayley huffed.

Is Daniel defending me while Hayley defends Alex?

"I understand that but she just got heartbroken not too long ago. She needs time," Daniel countered.

"How much time can she take before it runs out?" Hayley questioned.

"A lot more than what she's had between last night and right now," he huffed.

I slowly turned to glance at Alex, both of us frozen and listening in. Once our eyes met, he snapped out of it and pulled his bag out, closing the trunk. "Bye!" Alex and I waved in sync.

They drove off while we just stood there. I turned to him, "Do you wanna come over?" I offered.

"Do you think I should? Or should I give you time?" he lifted an eyebrow at me.

"Look, I understand that you're mad, but do you understand what I'm feeling?" I huffed.

"No Faith, I don't because you won't tell me," he sighed.

A car pulled up behind me and I knew it the second my eyes scanned it over. "Can I talk to you?" He got out of the car. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"No, you can't," I answered before turning back to Alex who had his jaw and fists clenched.

"Faith, please?" he pleaded.

"Cody, what do you want? Seriously, what do you keep coming here for? Why can't you just leave me alone?" I lashed out.

"She broke up with me. I just thought that-"

I cut him off. "You just thought you can come over here and let it all out to me and I'll be here to listen while you pour your heart out. No, you can't." I huffed. "You hurt me and you can't just come here when you need someone to talk to." I glared.

"I loved you."

Liar.

"No, you didn't," I argued.

He scoffed, "Well, he doesn't either," he pointed at Alex.

"I do," Alex stepped in.

"Please," Cody laughed humorlessly.

"I do. And I would never hurt her the way you did. You don't understand the pain you cause her. Because of you, she hesitates to let people know she cares. Because of you, she doesn't think people mean it when they tell her they love her. Because of you, she thinks people are gonna walk out when they know she cares. It's all because of you!" Alex stepped forward but I was quick to keep my hands on his chest, making sure they didn't get too close to each other.

"You're gonna do exactly what I did and you're not gonna be able to help it," Cody stepped closer.

"Cody!" I screamed, pushing Alex up my driveway.

"No." Alex shook his head. "I'm gonna love her. I'm gonna do what you never could because you weren't capable of it and you didn't deserve her. You don't deserve someone like her because all you did was cause her pain!" Alex said before I unlocked my door and pushed him into my house, locking the door behind me.

I leaned against the door, sighing while Cody banged his fists onto the door.

Alex wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in when I let out a sniffle.

I stood still before I blurted it out.

"I love you."

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