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Theo helped me into my Jeep while I could hear someone calling my name in the car park. I don't stop to acknowledge them. I'm stunned by what just happened.

"Marnie!" I finally turn my head and see Sky running towards me, a frantic look on her face. She stops outside the car, her face showing concern and bewilderment as she scans my tear-filled expression.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

I start crying in my hands again. I can't control my emotions anymore, it's just too much to bear. I hear the passenger door opening and feel Sky's arms embrace me. "It's okay Marnie. Look, why don't you come over to my place tonight? We'll have a girls night, yeah?"

I sniffle on her shoulder. "No, it's okay. I just need to go home."

"You need to get out of your house otherwise you'll be overthinking, you don't need to be sulking about that jerk." I think it over for a couple of seconds and then I concede. Maybe a girls night is what I need right now.

Sky's face lights up before she catches a glimpse of the boy sitting in the driver's seat. He watches her intently with a tiny smile on his face. Sky's eyes widen and she looks back and forth between us. "Sky, this is my brother Theo, Theo this is my best friend Sky."

Theo smirks at Sky while she looks beyond confused. I know how she feels, I had the same reaction when I realised I had a brother. Besides, it isn't public knowledge, everyone thinks Marnie Love is an only child. "It's nice to meet you, Sky," Theo says, waving at her.

"Uh... hi." Sky blinks down at me, her cheeks redden.

I wipe away the fresh tears and manage a small smile. "I'll pack a bag and I'll text you when I'm on my way over."

"No need, I'll pick you up around seven. Is that okay?"

I nod my head and she embraces me one last time. "Nice to meet you, Theo," she whispers breathlessly.

"Ditto," he replies. I notice Theo continuing to stare at Sky as she walks over to her parked vehicle.

He drives me home and I apologise to him for Reese's behaviour. I briefly tell him about our relationship and he listens thoughtfully. He tells me how he knew something was going on between us ever since he saw Reese glaring at him from outside the school.

I was pleasantly surprised by how calm Theo was when Reese punched him in the nose. Luckily, he hadn't broken it considering the amount of blood oozing from his face. I'm relieved he is okay. Theo tells me he doesn't react to violence -- especially high school students -- and it's good to know I have a mature older brother.

My mind keeps going back to Reese and how much my heart aches because of him. How could he do this to me? How could he say those words?

Spoilt brat.

Easy.

Slut.

I was so baffled when he came over and started fighting with my brother. It didn't matter how much I was screaming his name and begging him to stop. The look in his eyes was murderous, it shook me to the core. I've seen Reese fighting before, but this time it looked like he didn't want to stop.

By the time I pulled him off Theo and he staggered back, I was taken aback by the disgusted look he gave me. What did I do? I was just trying to stop the fight. If anyone should be disgusted it should be me considering he had his tongue down another girls throat this morning. He had some nerve.

Reese decided to throw salt in that fresh wound when he started insulting me. I've been called a brat and spoilt a lot over the years, yet when he called me 'easy' and a 'slut'. Well, that just hurt like hell.

I didn't understand why he was so angry? He was the one who cheated on me.

Instead of getting angry, I felt the hot tears build up. I didn't want him to see how much he affected me. I won't let him break me.

I couldn't have been happier when Theo had my back, pulling me away from Reese. I could see the look of betrayal and anger in his forest orbs and the next few words he said confused the hell out of me.

He thought I was with Theo.

I didn't even respond and I didn't even want to respond because at the time I was so angry and upset with him.

So everything made sense. Reese was trying to hurt me because he felt hurt. He thought I betrayed him so he betrayed me. Is that why he cheated on me?

I could feel more tears building up but I refused to cry anymore. He doesn't deserve my tears or my pain. He doesn't deserve me.

Theo parks outside my house and watches over me warily. "Are you going to be okay?"

I smile softly. "Yeah, I'll be fine, don't worry about me. I hope your nose is going to be okay."

Theo chuckles, cleaning the blood from his cheek with a tissue. "Don't worry, I've had worse than a bloodied face in my past. I used to get in stupid fights all the time as a teenager. Let's just say I've grown up since then."

"I wish high school boys could grow up," I mumble under my breath.

"They will. Some guys are immature but they will grow out of it over time. However, you can't let them disrespect you."

I take in Theo's words. Reese did disrespect me. The more I think about today's events, the more I want to cry in frustration. Why did he do this to me? Why didn't he just talk to me in the first place?

You brought this on yourself, Marnie, you knew this guy would ruin you.

He has. Reese has ruined me.

I sat cross-legged on Sky's bed, my eyes bloodshot and my face puffy from crying. Sky grabbed a box of tissues and lay by my side. She groans. "I'll kill him. He had no right to call you that. Who the hell does he think he is?"

I breathe unsteady. I feel completely drained.

"At first I was upset... and then I was angry. Now I'm just... disappointed." He wasn't the guy I believed he was. I thought he changed from his player reputation. Did he lie to me this entire time? Was he sleeping with other girls while we were dating?

"Do you want me to hurt him? Cause I'll do it for you." I smile and Sky sighs dramatically. "Shame. I was looking forward to cutting him up and feeding him to my dogs." We giggle.

Later, I decide to check my social media. As I'm scrolling through the app, my heart drops to my stomach when I see something so shocking on the screen. My hands are shaking so hard, that I couldn't see the screen past the fresh set of tears.

Reese's Facebook status had been changed from 'single' to 'in a relationship with Kira Summers'.

What the hell?

I was his girlfriend and he never changed his relationship status when we were together?

"What's wrong?" I manage to hold up the phone. Sky gasps.

"What!?" My already fragile heart slices as I sob uncontrollably. I can't believe this is happening. We were happy twenty-four hours ago! So how has everything flipped so damn quickly?

"No, that stupid, selfish jerk!" she yells as I fall into my own despair.

Sky helps me through the pain and I gradually start to feel better, but I still feel numb.

Unable to get my mind off Reese, Sky decides to play a random comedy movie on Netflix. She dashes downstairs and a moment later, she brings up some sugary snacks from the kitchen.

"So... do you want to tell me about your brother?"

And I tell Sky everything. Starting with what happened at the club and how my brother saved me from the creepy guy. I told her how my mother spoke to Theo. Sky's eyes were wide with shock and disbelief.

"Woah. That's crazy. I can't believe your mother kept that from you."

I drop a few sour skittles in my mouth, "Me too. I feel so bad because Theo is lovely. He doesn't deserve her hostility."

"What are you going to do?"

I sigh sadly, "My mom can't stop me from seeing my brother. She can't control me anymore -- I'm eighteen." All my life she's been controlling me. I'm an adult now, she doesn't have the power to push me around anymore."

"Good. I'm here for you too of course." I'm grateful to have Sky. Ever since I started high school four months ago, I can't seem to believe how far I've come.

I'm not the naive, shy girl I once was. I've changed for the better. Although I've been hurt so much by a guy I like. I still made some great friends and good memories I'll keep forever.

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