Proof that I couldn't have lasted if Jace picked me up is Sonya asking the moment I step into the vehicle, "You ok?"

Good thing she picked me up.

"Fine," I answer too swiftly for my own good. Sonya's frown informs me she isn't buying my bullshit. Pity, I thought it was pretty good shit.

"For you to leave work early it mustn't be fine."

"I didn't say I was leaving early."

She's giving me the look. The one someone gives when they don't want to argue with you but they know they can and they will win if they do. Still, I don't respond to her. Instead, I lean against the car door while resting my head against the glass. Feeling the cool glass on my skin actually helps.

Sonya is speaking but her voice isn't reaching me. My body is relaxing until I feel my eyes close and...that's it.

I wake up, completely unaware that I had fallen asleep in the first place, when Sonya shakes me. Shocked, I sit up so fast that my seat belt locks and pushes me right back down. Sonya giggles and smiles at me from the drivers side while I glance around to find that we're already at my place.

When and how in the fuck?

"I didn't think it'd be a good idea to let you drive home," Sonya explains since my car is still at Korey's and that was where we were meant to go. "You were out cold."

"Oh, thanks," I mumble, rubbing my tired eyes. I didn't even know I was tired but I must have been exhausted to have passed out the moment I got in the car. She was right, it was good I didn't drive.

"No problem." Sonya shrugs. Her gaze tells me she wants to ask something. I'm tempted to just leave because I know that if she asks I won't give her an answer but I decide to humor her.

"What is it?" I ask around a tired yawn. "You look like you want to ask something."

"Why couldn't Jace get you?" She inquires, her voice doesn't give away any annoyance for having to get me instead. Rather, she sounds concerned, like she doesn't like the idea that my boyfriend couldn't pick me up.

Well, he could but I didn't want him to for plenty of stupid reasons that I rather not discuss so let's not!

"He was busy," I answer, taking off my seat belt while trying to leave as fast as I can. I don't want to explain because I know Sonya is going to tell me what I already know. I'm acting stupid.

While I'm jumping out of the car, Sonya asks if I'd like her to follow me up or hang out for a bit. I shake my head and insist she get home, quickly heading inside before she can try to argue. I really just want to be alone, maybe lay back down and go to sleep early but now my senses are on full alert. That power nap has made it impossible for me to shut my eyes so I'm left pacing my bedroom like a mad man.

There is far too much going on in my head right now. I'm thinking about running into Danielle, all the emotions from my childhood have returned with a vengeance. It's making my entire body burn with an uncontrollable anger, something I haven't felt for a long time. When I hit high school I was even more annoyed with her for leaving because, high school is tough and she should have been here to help me through it! Except she wasn't then we run into each other and she wants to talk? Bitch, please!

Then there's Chad and Will. She goes off and, I'm assuming, gets married to the man she cheated on my dad with and they have a kid? How can they be in a happy relationship when they both know she is the type of woman who can cheat? I-I can't. I don't get it. I can't handle all this right now, especially with Jace and Mackenzie being topped onto all that.

Now that isn't something I should be thinking about because, again, his grandparents are there. It's clearly like a family get together and they consider Mackenzie family. I can't tell him to not hang out with family because I'm...because I'm feeling...

Jealous? Worried? Scared? So much at once that I don't get how I'm still standing.

I need to get a bath. That's it, I'm lighting some fucking candles, putting them on the edge of the tub and having me a bubble bath! I need to relax and play in the soap suds like I did when I was kid. I am making a beard out of soap and nothing is going to stop me!

So that is exactly what I do. Santa Claus it up bitches.

I sit in the tub of bubbles until I turn all pruney and, when I feel like I can breathe again, I step out to clean up my mess. Finally, my mind has enough ease that I can rest in bed. The TV is on but once more I cannot bring myself to pay attention. Thoughts and feelings linger in the back of my mind and, although I fall asleep, all that comes to me are nightmares.

I awake the next morning after an absolute shitty night of sleep. Most of it I was tossing and turning, waking suddenly and groaning or staring at the clock in hopes it will help me sleep. It didn't and it's why I'm so moody that my dad doesn't even tell me good morning. He simply stares when I walk into the kitchen to get some food.

I am on autopilot and start our breakfast because that's usually what I do if we're both here and awake. I don't even ask him what he wants, simply make it, sit it before him then return to my room without a word. Why he hasn't sent me to a psych ward yet, I don't know.

While I'm eating, my phone buzzes on the bedside table. I already know who it is before I even look. When I see Jace's text telling me good morning and asking what I'd like to do today, I sigh. He probably thinks I'm still sleeping so I can get away with not responding for a while. However, I don't want to see him today.

No, that's not quite right. I know it's best not to see him because I can't deal with anyone today. I'm irritable and moody and on edge, it won't do either of us any good. If Olivia or Sonya were here they would argue against that, state that I need to talk to Jace because who else am I meant to talk to? But...

But what? Why don't I want to?

Because it will further cement what he is. Because it will further prove how close we've become. Because I will be revealing parts of my life that are a secret to basically everyone to someone who means more to me than I'm willing to admit.

Because I'm scared that he'll leave me too?

The sound of my fork scraping the plate makes me wince. Quickly, I sit it all on my bedside table so I can furiously run my fingers through my hair. That thought sure made my heart race in ways I wish it wouldn't. Suddenly, it feels hot in the room, like I ran a marathon and all the heat that was produced got trapped around me.

I'm an idiot. I'm acting like a fucking idiot. What the hell is wrong with me? Scared he'll leave me? What kind of bogus is that? Of course we'll break up one day. We're in high school, well, he is and I'm just starting college. There's so much of our life left that we're bound to end this relationship before it even really begins so who cares?!

Right?

The ringing of my phone makes me swing my head to the side so fast my neck cracks. I hiss at the feeling, rubbing my slightly sore neck while leaning over to inspect who's calling. I'm shocked to see that it's Jace because normally he doesn't call so early in the morning.

I suppose it has been, holy shit, 30 minutes since he messaged me. Was I thinking for that long? I need some help.

His call makes me a little concerned so I answer a bit hesitant, "Hello?"

"Hey," Jace's voice sounds soft but not like his usual self. It's hard to explain. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I was eating breakfast," I answer, curious to why he's calling and why he sounds so off.

Jace hums, our conversation ending before it even began. There's a tension in the room without him even being here and it makes me squirm.

"Olivia messaged me-"

"You have her number?" When the hell did that happen and why was I not informed?

"On facebook."

"You still use facebook?" I bet he doesn't have any other social media.

"Mylo," Jace sighs, his voice telling me that whatever he wants to discuss is serious and it makes me even more curious. What the hell did Olivia say to him? "Olivia told me Sonya picked you up early from work yesterday."

That traitor.

I clear my throat, my legs crossing on the bed while I grip my ankle with my unoccupied hand. "I left a little early, yeah."

"Sonya was telling her you were pretty upset–"

Shit. I should have called a fucking uber or something.

"–why didn't you tell me? I would have came and got you. You didn't even tell me anything was wrong and they don't know what happened but...why didn't you just ask me to come get you?"

"They're overreacting," I answer, desperately trying to respond without really giving a clear answer. "I just left early because Korey didn't need–"

"Bullshit."

My eyes go wide. Jace doesn't interrupt and certainly not with a curse word in such a serious tone. "Is this really Jace on the phone or are you an imposter with an impeccable way to mimic voices?"

"Mylo, why do you do this?"

"Do what?"

"Try to keep what's bothering you bottled up like it's going to fix anything," Jace answers without any hesitation and, honestly, he kind of hit the nail on the head. "You did this with Mackenzie, didn't it cause more issues than solve them?"

I mean, yes but...when he points it out like that I feel even worse. I know I'm an idiot and I'm acting dumb. It's obvious what I should do but, just because it's obvious doesn't mean that it's easy. Why does the world act like doing the right thing is the easiest thing? If anything, it's the hardest one, that's why it's right.

"I'm coming over," he says in such a stern tone that I am starting to believe my imposter theory.

"I won't let you in."

"I'll wait outside the door all day."

"Seriously, don't come over," I order, already panicking at the idea of it.

"I'll see you soon." Jace hangs up without giving me a chance to argue, again. I'm left sitting on the bed with my phone resting against my ear, completely still while my mind is in panic mode.

Shit. What am I going to do? I could leave but, my car is at Korey's. That doesn't matter, I can take the bus, get to Korey's and grab my car then drive off into the sunset to spend my day doing nothing in order to avoid Jace. How much of a dick move would that be though?

He's coming over because he's concerned and, sure, I get it. If I were in his position I would feel the same way. However, I don't want to talk. How many times have I said that? I've lost count but the feeling remains, I don't want to talk about any of it so...I'm not going to.

I jump out of bed with haste, throw on some clothes, grab my camera and walk out of the apartment. My dad is asking where I'm going but I'm out the door before he finishes his question. My steps are quick to the elevator and out the front doors until I reach the nearest bus stop. To be honest, I have no idea which one to take to Korey's so I hop on the first one just in order to get away before Jace arrives.

As I'm sitting in one of the seats I can't help but to laugh. How childish am I to run away from my boyfriend simply because he wants to talk? I bet most people would kill to have someone care enough to do that yet I'm running at the mere idea of it. I'm acting like a spoiled brat and I know it. Even with such thoughts, it doesn't make me turn back.

I get off a few stops down and just walk around. Luckily it's a nice day out. It isn't so hot that it's making me feel like I'm going to melt. It's the perfect summer day, which means people are out and I take advantage of that. Removing the hairband from my wrist, I tie up the mess that is my hair and soon my camera is on.

I realize that it's so much easier to speak with complete strangers. Asking for their permission to get some pictures, talking about our days, it's so easy because it isn't personal. They know nothing about me. I know nothing about them. There's no connection other than the quick pictures I take and that's it.

I wonder what that says about me.

It doesn't take long for Jace to try and contact me again. My phone is going off in my back pocket. When his name dances across the screen I simply ignore it, turn everything on silent and slip it back into my pocket. Wow, I have reached a whole new tier of asshole. Sometimes I really do hate myself.

And that is how my phone remains, completely ignored for the next few hours. I have no idea where I'm headed because my feet are moving on their own. Whatever looks like it'll make a good picture becomes my next target. However, after a little more than an hour I decide that I better go get my car. I'll probably hit up the park, maybe drive out of the city a bit.

I have to google the bus route to get to Korey's. It's been so long since I've taken it that I've forgotten but it clicks once I see the map. After that, I hop onto the right bus and patiently wait the next ten minutes until I arrive. Jumping off the bus, I take a short walk to Korey's parking lot expecting to find my car. I find it, however, that's not all that's waiting for me.

Jace is sitting on the bench outside Korey's studio. Sitting next to him is a bag from a local market, some sort of fast food and two drinks. He's munching on a burger until he sees me. I wonder how long he's been there. Leaning over, Jace reaches into the bag of food and pulls out a thing of hot fries, waving it wildly in the air for me to see.

My lips really want to smile but I am stubborn and refuse to let them.

When I don't make a move to come over, Jace reaches into the other bag and pulls out what appears to be my meal, some fries and a burger. My stomach immediately growls while my legs start to ache. Not because they're tired but because I am using all my willpower to keep me in place. I'm so freaking hungry all of a sudden and, damn it, he is not coaxing me with food! I refuse!

My determination is shattered when he opens the bag of hot fries and starts to eat them.

I'm walking across the lot and sitting at his side in a matter of seconds, ripping the bag from him along with whatever meal he got for me. It's cold, telling me that he has probably been waiting for some time. I still eat it though while Jace says nothing, only smiles at me in silence, which remains that way the entire time we eat.

However, it isn't the least bit uncomfortable and, in a way, that almost scares me.