"Hunny, you need to get up and get ready for school." My father announced, shaking me awake.

"Can I stay home today? I don't feel too good." I replied, holding my stomach.

"No. You don't need to miss any school. This is your last year and in a month and a half you have Christmas break. You can handle it. You're a tough girl. Just take some medicine and off you go!" My dad stated, enthusiastically.

"Ugh!!!" I grunted.

My dad held out his hand to help me up. I took it reluctantly, giving him a death glare in the process.

"Don't look at me like that! You will thank me in the end. Breakfast is ready downstairs. Just get dressed and come on down. I have to work late again tonight so you can order in some pizza or something." He stated, handing me $40.

I gave him a fake smile and walked into my bathroom. I started my water and plugged my iPod into my jukebox. Nothing like a nice shower and music to start off your day.

After my shower, I brushed my teeth and threw my hair into a sloppy side ponytail. I don't really care what I look like right now. School is gonna be a hell hole. Not only do I have to tell Brooklyn the whole story, but I have to face Ezra and everyone that witnessed our argument at the party. I'm gonna try to avoid the 21 questions and the apologetic looks I get from Ezra. It's gonna be hard but I can do it. I got over Austen. I can get over Ezra. I'm gonna start focusing on myself; figure out who I am and who I want to be. I've never really done that before. I've always been as my mom would call it 'boy crazy.' But I'm a teenager. Of course I'm gonna be boy crazy.

I slipped into my oversized purple tap out hoddie and black yoga pants. I paired it with black mid-shin length UGGS. I'm not wearing much makeup. Just some voluminous mascara on my bottom and top eyelashes. I threw my bag over my shoulder and ran down stairs to grab some breakfast.

"Ooooo!! A country styled omelet! I'm in love with these things dad! I haven't had one since....." I trailed off.

I hate mentioning her death. It hurts too much hearing it out loud.

"Yeah, I know. That's why I made it. You seemed pretty down last night and this morning so I thought this might cheer you up."

"It has." I smiled. "Thank you daddy." I stated, giving him a much needed hug.

"What's got you so down in the blues?" He asked curiously.

"Umm.....Nothing. Just some drama."

"What kind of drama?"

"You wouldn't understand." I replied.

He paused for a second. His face turned serious. He pushed his plate to the side and looked me straight in the eyes. It scared me sh**less.

"W-What's wrong?" I asked, scared of the answer.

"I may not understand the teenage mind like your mother did but I can still try and help. I'm here for you whenever you need me. You just have to learn how to open up."

I've always had problems with opening up. It took me several years to open up to Brooklyn and she's my best friend. I was slowly learning how to open up to Ezra. Trust is something you have to earn. It's not just granted to anyone. I put up walls to protect myself from the people that just want to hurt me. I put up walls not to keep others out, but to see who cares enough to break them down. Only a few people in my life have actually cared enough to knock them over. Ezra, I thought, was one of them. He broke my trust and that's something hard to get back.

"I know dad. It's..... It's just hard to explain."

He wouldn't want to hear my explanation because it involves a boy breaking my heart. He hated Austen so he told me I couldn't date again until I was out of high school. He would kill me if he found out about us...... or what we were.

"I know what this is about." My dad stated, confusing me.

"What?"

"I told you to not get involved with a boy again. This boy in particular made you happy so I pushed it aside. He was different from Austen. I thought you finally found someone worthy of your love. I guess I should have made you end whatever you had from the start. It would have saved you from another heartbreak Although, this guy is different. I can tell he truly cares about you."

My eyes were wide. My jaw was down to the floor. I was speechless. He knew this whole time and didn't say a word. This is so unlike him. The father I knew would have broke out into a killing spree. Ezra wouldn't be alive and I would be lucky to still be here. He would probably have just locked me in my room for the rest of my life. Where is this new man coming from?

"W-W-Huh?" I questioned, shocked and bewildered.

"Ezra seemed like a nice guy. That's why I asked him to come back and help me around the house. I wanted to get to know him better. The way you two looked at each other was the same way your mother and I used to look at each other. No matter how much I hate facing the fact that you're gonna get married one day, I know Ezra is someone that can take care of you the way a husband should. He's definitely someone special Kylie. I don't know what he did but I know he cares about you. Looks don't lie. I can tell he loves you."

"Woah!! Slow your role buddy. He doesn't love me. We were only dating for 3 months."

"Love can find it's way into a relationship within a single day. It's a very strong feeling. You may not think you're in love, but I can see it. Your expressions say it all."

"If he loved me, he wouldn't have cheated on me with his stupid ex-girlfriend!!! That's not love dad!!" I exclaimed, on the verge of tears once again.

"We're not perfect. We make mistakes. I'm not condoning what he did. I'm just saying we have to learn to forgive one another. Everyone deserves a second chance."

"No!! I'm done with being used!! I've been cheated on too many times!! Once is enough!! Now, I've been cheated on twice!!! Giving him another chance is like saying it's okay to cheat and it's not!! I'm done talking about this!" I yelled, stomping towards the door.

"I love you. Please just be careful on your way to school. Road rage kills hundreds of people."

"I will. Love you too." I replied, calming down but still pissed off.

I slammed the door and stormed off to my truck. I put the key in the ignition and started my journey. Brooklyn and Cody better be prepared for an angry 17 year old girl.

*★*★*★*★*★*★*★*★*★*★*★

I don't know why they call it heartbreak. Every part of my body hurts too. Seeing Ezra in the hallway was hard. He kept trying to make eye contact with me but I kept looking away. It's a bit awkward being around him; knowing what he did and what we had. But that's it. It's something we had. It's in the past. I have to move on. Loren tried explaining what happened but I didn't let her. I walked away from her. I don't want to hear her lame excuse. She knows what she did. She's part of the reason behind my pain. Loren is just a backstabbing whore who had to take away my happiness. I was so depressed and lost when we moved back. Seeing Austen again was painful. I was reminded of how he hurt me. But then Ezra came along. He brought back my happiness. I was completely over Austen. I had finally moved on. Ezra made me the person I was when I had my mom. Loren took that away from me and I don't think I will ever be able to get it back.

"Hey Kylie. You okay?" Cody asked.

"Yeah." I lied. "I'm fine."

"I don't believe you, but I won't ask about it anymore until you're ready." He replied.

"Thanks." I smiled, very grateful to have a friend like him.

We walked into the cafeteria and I immediately felt like a celebrity. I was the center of attention which I hate. I heard a few whispers from different groups. It seems like I'm always the center of the gossip world. People need to learn how to mind their own business.

I grabbed a tray full of what looks like leftovers from last weeks lunch and took a seat at my regular table. Brooklyn was looking at me with pitty written all over her face. I told her what happened this morning and she kept saying how sorry she was. I hate that. I hate people pitying me. I don't need them to feel bad for me. It doesn't help anything.

"Everything's gonna be okay." She stated, trying her best to comfort me.

I don't want comfort. I want to be left alone.

"We'll see." I sighed.

I didn't even get to take one bite of my lunch before Ezra tapped my shoulder.

"What do you want?!?" I yelled, getting a few looks.

"Give me 5 minutes. That's all I want."

"No. You don't deserve 5 minutes. I shouldn't even be talking to you now."

"Kylie.....Please!" He begged.

"Say what you want here. I'm not moving."

"Umm....Okay...." He replied, scratching the back of his neck.

"I'm waiting." I stated impatiently.

"I'm sorry. I didn't cheat on you. I was telling the truth when I said she fell on me. I would never hurt you like that....I......I....."

"Spit it out Ezra." I demanded.

"I.....Love you."

"No you don't!! That's not something you can just throw out there!! Saying you love me will not win me back!! It just makes me even more pissed off!! If you really loved me, you wouldn't have cheated on me!!!" I exclaimed, standing up looking him straight in the eyes.

This is the first time I've looked him in the eyes since the party. All I see is fear and regret. He should be afraid; very afraid.

"I said I was sorry!! I really do love you!! I knew I loved you when I realized that there was no one else I would rather laugh, cry and make memories with."

"You don't love me Ezra. Don't tell me you love me unless you really mean it, because I might do something crazy, like believe it."

"Well believe it because I do. When I first saw you, I was afraid to talk to you. When I first talked to you, I was afraid to like you. When I first liked you, I was afraid to love you. Now that I love you, I'm afraid to lose you. Please Kylie! I'm begging you to believe me and give me another chance. I will prove to you that I'm worth it."

"Well guess what? You lost me." I stated, walking out of the cafeteria.

Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together.

I'm done with him. It's time to focus on me.

(A/N Wow!!! Over 1,000 reads!! Omg!! That's amazing!! :) I just want to say thank you to @brittney77971 for voting for almost all of my chapters and to @HeatherFolk for leaving such a nice comment and for following me!! Y'all are so amazing!! You are the reason I keep writing!! Please keep voting and commenting!!)