.

"You weren't in class today... you didn't warn me." I phone Courtney the moment I walk out of the school. "Morgan wasn't there either, not that she would have spoken to me."

"I had a rough night Gabs. My parents decided to take me back to Illinois to see some family and old friends for the weekend in hopes it would cheer me up."

I stop walking for a moment. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be okay. Sometimes I get night terrors where I dream that it's happening again, it sets me back. I just need a mini trip and I'll be good as new."

There's something in the tone of her voice that isn't convincing me she's actually okay. She's been helping me so much lately, I've been a terrible friend and only thinking of myself. I didn't think of how all of his would affect her. She moved here to get away from this, that's what Jax told me. When she gets back I need to make sure I'm here for her, just as I know she is here for me.

"So who's watching your dog?" I can clearly see Cooper on his leash running around their yard.

"Jax didn't come with. He had his probation meeting and he can't sleep anywhere but his own house."

"Right." I roll my eyes and look both ways to cross the road. That's when I see him. Tyler Porter, walking straight towards me on a mission. "Court I'll call you back."

I hang up before she can even answer and dial 911 into my phone, just in case. I begin walking faster, focusing my eyes on my house.

"Gabby wait up!" he yells.

"Get away from me!" My breathing begins to labor as I begin booking it home.

I run quickly up the porch steps and realize I've forgotten something. Keys.

Fuck Gabby. You never learn.

Sydney has the keys but had softball practice right after school. I jiggle the brass door handle in the hopes that it will magically open. I just don't appear to have that type of luck.

I turn and he's behind me on the steps, staring into my face. His hands remain in his pockets.

"There's a party tonight at the lake..."

"I don't care" I press my back up against the door.

"Kane will be there. He said Felix is coming too, come hang out with everyone tonight." He keeps his distance, remaining on the steps.

"No."

"You have no friends left Gabby. It's the senior party tonight. The whole class is going. Come have drinks with us."

"Why the hell would I drink around you?" I push him away so I can walk quickly across the street.

"Gabby!" He calls out after me. "You can bring your own cup this time buttercup. I don't want you in my backseat but Kane still does. He saw how upset you were and now I have him pissed at me... come out with him."

I use my palm to hit the door of the blue Victorian home as I begin to cry. I attempt to call Syd to bring my keys with no answer, I figured she wouldn't but I needed to try.

"Jesus Gabby I'm not trying to rape you in the middle of the damn street!" Tyler yells. "Call Kane if you don't believe me."

I hit the door again. I know Jax is home because the dog is outside. Tyler starts walking towards me, again and I jiggle the handle to the Parker's door. It opens without hesitation and I walk freely inside, shutting the door quickly as I begin my crying again. I lock it and watch Tyler walk off the porch shaking his head.

There's no one in sight, but I do hear what sounds like his TV left on.

Maybe he isn't home.

I descend the hallway to Jax's room. Lights from the TV flicker beneath the door with muffled sounds. He's likely asleep. I hit the door twice. "Jax I'm sorry but I'm scared..." I swing the door open and step in. "Tyler is outside..."

His eyes fly up at me as he breaks his kiss. A kiss... with someone else.

"Books..." he frowns.

Another pair of eyes meet mine. He is hovered in a make out session with... Morgan. She lies flat on her back on his bed, her head hanging over the edge, her long dark hair cascading to the floor and her big brown eyes are on me in a look of horror.

I nod my head, feeling the tears down past my neck, turning away from them. I'm going to puke.

"Books wait!"

He crawls off of her and follows me out to the kitchen, grabbing my arm and turning me around to face him. My eyes go anywhere but to him, I can't look at him.

"It's not what it looks like..."

"The fuck it doesn't!" I push him and he releases his arm. "Two weeks before you start the next game, huh? Or did you start it when I was still playing?"

"It was just you!" he yells. There is a panic in his eyes that I've never seen before. Did he honestly think I wouldn't find out?

Morgan walks into the kitchen and stares at me. She's begun crying, wrapping her arms around her waist.

"Does Cole know?" I glare at the girl who claimed that she was my best friend. The one who has ignored me for a month.

"This was the first time I kissed him Gabby I swear... he was upset and I took him home from Mickey's..."

"Screw you Morgan. You knew I had slept with him..."

"Gabby..." Jax attempts to take my hand in his.

"Don't touch me Jackson Parker!" I scream. He pulls away quickly and stares at the floor. "You know the day in the kitchen when I asked if you regretted it?"

He nods yes and doesn't look at me.

"Well you might not but I sure as hell do."

His eyes fly to mine with tears in them.

"I loved you!"

My tears won't stop. No amount of breathing techniques or anti-anxiety pills will stop this. My heart, what was left of it after this month, is smashed to absolute bits.

"I know Gabby..." His tears fall freely down his cheeks, causing the tattoos on his neck to glisten.

"You and Court were the only ones who believed me. You were my only friends. You, you were the guy who kept me, me. I loved you, you stupid selfish asshole!"

I walk quickly back to the front door. I need to get out of here and I can't go home.

"Gabby! Don't leave!" he yells angrily.

I continue down the porch steps and stand on the sidewalk. I clutch my backpack tight as I pull up my contacts on my phone selecting one I thought I never would.

"Hello?" He answers on the first ring, which doesn't surprise me one bit.

"Gabby!" Jax yells again from the porch.

I glare back up to Jax. If I could murder him with my eyes I would a thousand times over again.

"Tyler where is this party at? Tell Kane to come get me."

I can almost hear his creepy smile appear on the other end of the call.

"I'm not with him. He's at the bar. See you tonight Gabby." The screen goes black as the call ends.

"Damnit Books!" Jax yells angrily. "Stay away from him!"

I glare back at Jax, my blood boils in my veins. Both of our faces are full of tears.

It takes everything in me to force a few more words from my lips towards his direction.

"At least what he did I will never remember."

His shoulders slouch as he watches me.

"Everyone was right about you. Stay away from me Jax."

I turn away from him, my stomach twisting in complete torture. Of all the fucking girls in town... Morgan. I walk as quickly as my feet will allow me. I make my way to Main Street in record time and throw the door open to Kane's Bar & Grill.

He stands behind the bar, wearing his normal tight jeans with a black t-shirt. He's wiping spots from glasses and placing them on the shelf, neatly. He looks up to the sound of the bell above the door and sees me, letting out a loud sigh.

"What can I help you with Gabby?"

"Take me to the party tonight." It comes out demanding, which I slightly intended for. I'm still pissed at him, but it doesn't even compare to the rage I'm feeling towards Jax.

He lets out a chuckle. "You sleep with my brother, you left me at prom, you accused my little brother of rape, you slept with Jackson Parker and you slammed a door in my face."

"You were being an ass at prom, Tyler did rape me and you were being an ass in my home. You don't get to come into my home and say my story is bullshit Kane, you weren't there!"

He scrunches his nose, looking confused. I choose to ignore this and continue my pleads for him to take me to the party tonight.

"I want to go to a party. I want to get smashed. I want forget this day ever happened."

"Relationship issues with Thug?" His laughter is full of bitterness. He won't even look me in the eyes right now. He just keeps his focus on his damn rag.

Of all the people giving me a hard time about Jax, this one I didn't want to hear. Especially not right now. Tyler was a prick, Kane was not interested in fixing this friendship he just wanted to make me squirm in front of him.

"Forget it Kane." I turn back to the door. "I guess this is another friendship down the drain today."

"Gabby wait..."

I stop as he comes out from the bar. I turn back to him and he looks me square in the eye for the first time since I walked in the door.

"Party starts in an hour. Felix is picking us up. Sit at one of the tables and wait."

I throw my backpack up onto a table and sit as he watches me closely. Now he can actually see I've been crying again as I wipe my face.

"What's your poison tonight Brooks?" he smiles big, something I haven't seen him do in a long time. I wish I could force the muscles in my face do the same.

I glance to the wall behind the bar. It's lined with about fifty bottles in different shapes and colors.

"Whatever will make me forget Jackson Parker."