"If you want me to come back, just let me know, okay?" I said, forcing a smile. She nodded, holding her stare on me. This was torture. All I wanted to do was stay with her. Why did this have to be so hard? I really thought.. it was just going to be us. I thought.. after all this time, it was finally perfect. I still don't understand how Jake even came into the picture.

I went over to her, pulling her in and kissing her forehead before finally forcing myself to leave, reluctantly shutting the door behind me, basically nailing my coffin shut.

I loved her.

I loved her so much.

And she knew it.

And yet.. here we were.

I made my way downstairs and out her front door, but before I could get back to our house, I immediately saw Jake hastily bolting out the back door, hurrying past me with one of the biggest bouquets of flowers I had ever seen. My heart dropped.

I wasn't going to be hearing from her today.

I forced myself to stop, turning around to face him.

"Hey.." I called out. He stopped, staring back at me, wide-eyed.

"What?" He snapped. As much as it killed me, it was nice to finally see him care about someone like this. I don't think Jake had ever gotten a girl flowers before. I just hoped he wasn't going to make a habit out of hurting her and expecting to come back with these kind of gestures.

"Just.. please don't hurt her." I sighed. His face dropped.

"I would never hurt her." He said softly, now seemingly frozen in place. We still hadn't discussed it, and to be honest, I didn't see us ever talking about it directly, but.. we didn't have to. I could already tell.. he was in too deep now.

They both were.

"Did.. did anything happen with you two last night?" He asked again. I bit down on my lip, feeling my face get hot. For a moment, it felt like something could have, but that's not how I wanted it to happen. She was hurt, and.. just needed someone, but.. after everything I've been through, I didn't see why I had to tell him that.

"That's none of your business." I said again. He nodded, visibly more upset now. Finally I turned away, heading back inside before he could say anything else.

Now I couldn't help but think about the two of them. There's no way she would have been able to move on that fast, right? I shook the thought, not wanting to make myself even more upset than I already was.

When I walked into the kitchen, I could see Sam sitting down at the counter, peeking back at me from over his mug.

"And where did you go last night?" He smirked. I shook my head, avoiding his eyes as I went into the fridge.

"What, you're really not gonna tell me?" He laughed.

"I really don't want to talk about it." I muttered, aimlessly looking around.

I had already lost my appetite.

"Well, then.. do you know where Jake went?" I slammed the fridge door, leaning back against the counter.

"Yeah, he's why I don't want to talk about it." I snapped. He stared back at me, confused, taking another big sip.

"W-what's going on with you guys? Is this one of those twin things?"

"No." I sighed. "This is one of those.. Jaime things." His face dropped.

"Oh.." He said simply, nodding to himself. He didn't sound very surprised.

"W-what?" I asked. He shook his head, avoiding my eyes.

"Sam.."

"He confided in me, I can't tell you." I felt my body get hot, the anger growing inside me. He knew? He knew this whole time and he didn't tell me?

"What did he tell you?" I asked, now going over to him. He took another sip.

"He just.. it's different this time, Josh." He said softly, keeping his focus on his cup.

"What do you mean it's different?"

"I mean.. the way he talks about her.. it's not.. it's not like the other girls. It's different. She's different to him. I've.. I've never seen him like this, and.. usually he'd talk to you about things like this but.. considering.." He trailed off.

"What did he say about her?"

"I.. really don't think I should be telling you." He said softly, peeking back up at me.

"Can you just-"

"I just think.. it's better if you don't know."

"I already know, Sam." I sighed. He held his stare on me, finally nodding.

"He's.. always loved her, Josh. This.. this isn't new." My stomach dropped.

"W-what do you mean?"

"The way he talks about her, I mean.. it's.. it's actually.. really sweet. And weird. Coming from him." He laughed. "I've never heard him talk this way before." I tried my best to suppress my anger, feeling somewhat relieved that at least he didn't view her as just another girl.

"What else does he say?"

"Did you know the first song he ever wrote was about her?" He said, smirking back at me. I bit down on my lip, shaking my head.

"No. He.. he never shows me his songs."

"Well, cause you basically claimed her that first day. And.. he's just.. kinda dealt with that."

"So this whole time..." He nodded, taking another sip.

"You should've heard him last night." He muttered. "He was a wreck."

I couldn't believe this. Here I was, heartbroken over her, and he still managed to make me feel bad for him.

"Well, maybe if he could just control himself-"

"He didn't do anything, Josh." He said. "Cait basically jumped him in the hot tub, and.. she saw. He said he didn't know what to do, he just.. he froze, he could barely comprehend what was happening."

Now I felt bad.

"Sam.. do you know.. I mean, well.. has he talked about how serious-"

"They haven't done it, if that's what you're asking, don't worry." He giggled to himself, rolling his eyes. "And as far as I know, they're not together. But.. he wants them to be. They're sneaking around to spare your feelings. Apparently he doesn't want to anymore, but.. she still does."

So she's the one who won't commit to him?

I tried my best not to let myself overthink it, but.. that had to mean something right? What if.. this was just a phase for her, and.. it's still me. Maybe this was just something she needed to get out of her system. I can't say it wouldn't hurt but.. knowing she'd always come back to me..

Finally he got up, making his way over to the sink, laughing to himself.

"What's so funny?" I asked, turning around to face him. He rinsed out his cup, turning back around to face me, tightly crossing his arms across his chest.

"It's just.. there are how many girls in the world.. and you two.. really have to fight over the same one?" I sighed, looking away.

"He could have anyone. I've.. I've only had eyes for her, my whole life, and now.. he has to do this? I just.. I don't understand-"

"Look.. I don't understand either, which is why I stay out of it, but you two keep trying to drag me back into it." He laughed.

"I'd really love it if you both stayed out of it." I mumbled.

"And.. what do you guys plan on doing when we have to leave?" He asked. I hated the thought that I would have to leave her one day. My whole life, she had always been right next door. I don't know what I was going to do when I woke up to her a million miles away. Though, I wouldn't mind her being that far away from Jake.

"Cause.. he's pretty torn up about it." He said. "Apparently.. he invited her to come with us. Though, I don't really know where she'd stay. The van is gonna be pretty cramped as it is." I felt my whole body go cold.

He invited her?

"He invited her too?" I snapped. He stared back at me, wide-eyed.

"Well.. I guess the odds of her coming are pretty good then." He laughed.

"Do you know if she-"

"Apparently she's still thinking about it, but.. he's been persistent."

"What, so they can rub it in my face?" I yelled. He shook his head, his face dropping.

"Josh, you know this isn't about you. Neither of them would want to hurt you, they just-"

"They just what?" He shot me a look, like I should already know.

And I did.

But I didn't want to admit it.