10k!!!!! GUYS!!!!!! That's unbelievable! I'm so, so, so, so, so grateful for every single one of you! I absolutely love readings your comments and I'm so glad you're enjoying the book. 

I love you all with my entire heart.

--------------------------

I sit in silence, listening to the sound of the second's tick by. As each minute passes, my heart aches more.

It's been a week. Five whole days. Five days of doubt, confusion, and frustration. Five days since Tyler messed with my head. Five days since he kissed me. Five days since I last spoke to him.

He's vanished out of my life. I know he hasn't moved out. His stuff is still all over the apartment. But it sure seems like he has.

He's deliberately avoiding me. Owen and Lena have both seen him, but I haven't. I didn't see him much before the kiss either, but I'd hear him, or smell him, and know he was around.

At first, I thought he was waking up early, and coming home late. But after staying up 24 hours without seeing him, I know that's not the case.

He doesn't sleep in the apartment anymore.

It's ironic, really. Last time I saw him, he was asleep. It was about an hour after the kiss. I was waiting for him in the living room. I had so many questions I needed answers to, but he'd left to go shower. When he didn't come back, I knocked on his door. I didn't receive a response, so I peeked inside.

It was pitch black, but with the light from the hallway I could make out the shape of his body on his bed.

I left him alone. He must've been exhausted. But now, I wish I'd woken him up.

"Sarah Stone?"

"Yes?" I ask, the sound of my name snapping me out of my daze.

"Your grade."

"Oh," I nod. I get up off my seat, grabbing the papers my professor hands me. She gives me a polite smile, but I'm too distracted by the red marks on my exam.

91%. An A+ in biology.

I smile to myself. Just hours ago, I got a C for a music theory test that I thought I did well on. When the semester began, I thought my biology and health classes would be the ones I'd struggle with.

I didn't even do this well in high school biology.

"Alright, everyone," the professor says. "if you have any questions about your grade, feel free to speak to me. Otherwise, you're free to go!"

I get up off my chair, throwing my bag over my shoulder. I slug out of the room, dragging my heels over the old, blue carpet.

Getting a good grade would usually make me happy. But right now, it's just confused me more. How can I be better at biology than music? It doesn't make any sense.

Both my parents hated science. My grandfather was a doctor, but I never spent any time with him. If anything, he made me want to avoid the medical field at all costs.

No, Sarah, I scold myself. This isn't the time for negative thoughts. I have enough of them already.

I step out into the breeze, letting the wind push my hair backwards. I make my way to the parking lot, purposefully avoiding the campus centre. I'm not going to support group today. Instead, Steph and I are taking the free self-defence class Detective Monroe gave me. I asked Lena at first, but she had a test to study for.

"There you are!" Steph calls, waving at me from across the lot. "I've been waiting for you."

"Yeah, sorry. I had to wait to get my test results back," I chuckle.

"Oh, what did you get?"

"A+."

"What?!" she smiles. "Fuck yeah! Congrats, girl!"

"Thank you! It makes up for the C I got this morning."

"Oh shit..."

"It's okay," I shrug. "I can't even think about it right now."

We both step into the car. She's driving of course. I never had to tell her about my inability to drive. Lena did, and I'm thankful. I hate talking about it.

"What's been going on, girl?" Steph asks, starting the car. "Are you stressed?"

"I just... I'm confused," I tell her. "Something happened. With... uhm... Tyler."

"Tyler?" she scowls. "Are you two still arguing?"

"Not exactly..."

"You're getting along now?"

"Not really," I hesitate. "We, uh... kissed."

She gasps. "No!"

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes."

"No way in absolute hell!"

"Yes!"

"No fucking way!"

"Steph!"

"I don't believe it! When was this?"

"After he was arrested last week."

"What, he just came home and kissed you? I need details!"

"We were talking about what happened. I was worried he'd be charged and get sent to prison. But he... he said he wouldn't go to prison without kissing me again. So... we did."

"Sarah!" she gushes. "That's so fucking cute!"

"It was," I can't help but smile at the thought, but I tell myself off.

"Why aren't you happy?"

"Because I haven't heard from him since."

"What?" she scowls. "You haven't spoken?"

"Not one word."

"Is he avoiding you?"

"I think so."

I've been trying to make excuses for him. Thinking he's probably busy with work, or class, but nothing can justify his absence. It doesn't make any sense. It has to be on purpose.

"That's weird..." she says. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he's an ass," I grumble.

"You can say that again," she snickers. "What is wrong with him?!"

"I don't know! It's so frustrating, I just want to scream at him!"

"Do it, sis! Fuck him!"

"Why does he think it's okay to do that to me? I thought we were doing well. We were being nice to each other, and then he does this!" I ramble. "Why would he say such a sweet thing to me, and then ignore me after? It doesn't make any sense!"

"I swear guys are the absolute worst."

"Tell me about it," I sigh. "How are you and Lena?"

"We have a date," she grins.

"You do?!" I gasp. "Finally!"

"She called me, and we talked it out. We're going to get ice cream at the beach."

"Aw, that's so cute!"

"I know, right? I'm excited."

"Well, I'm glad your love life is going well."

"Don't worry, girl. Tyler will come around."

"I'm just happy you and Lena are giving it a shot."

"Me too," she smiles. "Me too."

I eye our surroundings, noticing how industrial the buildings are getting. As soon as Steph flicks her indicator on, my stomach drops. It's the same gym Tyler took me to.

It looks different in the daytime, but it's almost just as unappealing. The main difference is the amount of cars in the parking lot, and the light pouring through the open garage door. In fact, all the doors are wide open. I peek inside, checking to see if Tyler or Owen are there. I don't spot them.

"They'll have change rooms, right?" Steph asks. "I need to change my bra."

"Probably," I nod. "I need to get changed, too."

I can't really exercise in a skirt and blouse.

"I'm not going to risk it. I'm getting changed here."

"What?" I scowl.

She shrugs. "Just get changed in the car."

I give her a quizzical look, but she's completely serious. I look around the parking lot, checking to see if anyone's around to see us. There's no people, but I do spot something even worse.

Tyler's car.