My tears have brought so much attention to my palms. You could've mistaken me for sweaty when I'm really just a twisted kid with love issues.

I sit down on the curb of the street and bury my face into my hands and check the time.

9:53 P.M.

Lovely, am I going to have to order an Uber?

I wipe my eyes but suddenly, I hear rapid footsteps in my direction. Which scares the crap out of me.

But what scares the crap out of meeven more was that this person, was none other than the one person I couldn't face.

Colby freaking Brock.

"Ashlyn, are you okay?" He says, kneeling down beside me.

"No, I mean- yeah, I'm fine, thanks. You can leave me now," I say, turning my head away. I pray that he doesn't see my hag of a face. He could take my lowest point for granted.

"Neil, stop lying. I may be a boy but I'm not that oblivious," He replies, bluntly.

My senses shoot up. What does he mean that he's not oblivious? Does he know the truth of how I feel towards him?

"Oblivious to what, Brock," I say roughly back. The saliva and snot in the back of my throat was surely building up. I swear I sounded like a depressed man.

"You're crying! I see right through you," He replies.

"Colby, fucking get out!" I scream with drops of water rushing through my eyes. I couldn't let him see me like this.

"Ash-"

"LEAVE!"

"But-"

"GO."

"NO!"

I shut up, shook my head and attempted to walk away, but he got up, and pulled me back by my arm. This side of Colby really alerted me.

"Colby! What do you want from me!" I scream, yanking my arm away from his grasp.

"Oh I don't know, ANSWERS?" He yells back.

I put my hand on my head and shake my head, "Answers? What answers for what questions asshole!"

"Okay, not answers but I need for you to calm down, why were you so angry back there?" He settles, more composed.

"You,... and Ellie, just drive me crazy!" I say, sitting back down on the cold sidewalk.

"Why? Why would we drive you crazy?" He asks, putting a hand on my shoulder. I look at it and move farther away from him. Whatever I say next could jeopardize lots of things.

My relationship with my best friend.

My relationship with Sam.

My life for all I know.

"My best friend means the world to me," I pause, looking at the moon, "She's the moon to my Earth. Without her, my lakes, rivers and oceans will crash all over the place. And the Earth is 75% covered in water," I sigh.

He half smiles, "You're such a nerd." Then sighs, "Do you think I'm going to hurt her?"

I laugh, "That's funny."

He asks, perplexed, "What? Why? Why is that funny?"

"Nah, forget it..." I put a hand to cover my face.

"Ash! Tell me!"

"Colby sto-"

"Tell!"

"No."

"ASHLYN!"

"Because she's going to hurt you!" I loudly cry to him.

It goes quiet for a moment.

"Why would you think that," He looks down at me and sits next to me again.

"I know Ellie Parker. She's a heartbreaker," I shrug, wiping a tear away.

He looks at me sadly and I can't take pity. Especially not from him.

"I want to be clear with you about that night," He says.

"You had sex with Ellie, I get it!" I bawl.

"It's not that-"

"YOU FUCKED-"

"BUT WE DIDN'T!" He yells back.

I turn to face him, and he looks into my eyes.

I look into his ocean eyes and see him making up my Earth, my world. I am mainly consumed of him.

And it's a problem.

"I didn't have sex with Ellie, Ash," He says with sincerity.

My face turns into confusion. "Y-you didn't? But I saw-"

"You saw us about to. We didn't," He says, "We kept saying it's not what you think and we didn't have sex."

"You never said you didn't have sex directly!" I say, throwing my hands back into my face.

"Really? I thought Ellie said so."

"No, fool."

"Well we didn't but I still don't understand why you hate our relationship so much!" He exasperates, "You and Sam are practically together since you also hooked up!"

"We didn't hookup either," I say, remembering how I made it look like we did.

"But you-"

"I just made it look like I did to trick you."

"My god, are you serious," He slides his hands down his cheeks, "Ellie said you guys did something really bad and illegal, like you admitted it."

"Yeah, we spray painted the Hollywood sign," I say obviously.

"You guys spray painted the Hollywood sign?" He loudly asks, turning directly into my face, stunned.

"Duh. Wait, did you not know that we spray painted the Hollywood sign?" I ask, stunned myself.

"No! Nobody ever said you spray painted the Hollywood sign!" He says, dazed.

"I thought Sam would've told you!"

"NO. Dude didn't tell me a thing. In fact, we never talked alone about it," He says, slapping his face. "I swear this whole thing was just a misunderstanding."

"Guess so," I exhale. "Why didn't you have sex with Ellie?"

"I don't think we were ready for it at this point in our relationship," He utters.

"Really? I thought you really liked her."

"I like her, but I'm trying to uh- get over someone and she's been a great help, but I believe that you only have sex if you love someone. I'm not sure if I love her," He murmurs, running a hand through his hair.

"A-are you a virgin?" I ask. If he is, wow. I couldn't believe it.

"Ye- no. I would like to say I am though. I got drunk once and hooked up with my girlfriend who is definitely now my ex from high school. I barely remember it though." He breathes deeply.

"Don't tell anyone," He slightly smiles.

I give a small smile back, "We can count this in our car pact."

He chuckles lowly, "Whatever is said in this car," I help finish the sentence, "Stays in this car."

We both laugh a little, which makes me feel quite better about the situation.

Then he asks, "Why'd you try to trick Ellie and I that you and Sam hooked up?

I roll my head to the side, "I knew you'd tell Ellie to feel less bad about yourselves for fucking but I also wanted to hope you'd know that-... nevermind," I stammer.

"What Ash! Hope I'd know what?"

"Nevermind."

"Don't do this again."

"No."

"STOP DOING THIS!"

"I hate you," I sputter, "I hate you for everything."

"Don't lie to me."

I stand up, aghast by him thinking I'm lying. I take a few steps backwards and push my hands in front of me so he knows I want him away. He stands up too. "Why would I be lying to my enemy? My worst nightmare!"

He steps so much closer to me so he is towering above. I look dead into his eyes and point at him. I say angrily, "You made highschool hell, tried to take away all my opportunities, made me go insane every time you spoke, annoyed me when I had to do something important, sabotaged me when I had to do something important, interrupted me during speeches, competed, raced, fought against me. Colby Brock, you're my rival and will only be my rival. And it sucks! Because I hate liki-"

He grabs my face and connects our lips together.

Colby Brock is kissing me with lust, aggression, and hunger.

I was shocked at first, my eyes went wide but closed after a few seconds and pulled his sides closer to my body. He was holding my cheeks in his hands and his soft lips were pressed hard against mine. This kiss brought so many fireworks and bumblebees, not butterflies, in my stomach. I melt in his touch, his bold, dynamic and cocky touch that I keep falling head over heels for. I can't help to hate loving it.

As the moon was lit perfectly in this setting, it wasn't as perfect as I desired.

He slowly pulls away, looks into my eyes, kisses me again for another second, like a peck, and walks into the distance.

Away from me, back to the restaurant.

Back to her.

He was here for me.

Then made me feel better.

Kissed me.

Then left me.

I begin to pull out my phone to call, for a ride,from my purse and as I'm unlocking it, I start shedding tears.

I weep, alone.

On the sidewalk where Colby Brock had just kissed me.

I hate him.

Why would he suddenly kiss me?

Build me up so he could just knock me back down again?

You have a weird and messed up way in shutting someone up, Brock.

And for that, I do hate you.

I hate liking my rival.

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This is practically the chapter that just STARTS SHIT WOOOOO. I am in love with this story, I have a great plan that you'll just have to wait and see for. When are they gonna get together KT? Wait and see, read on when I update for more, anticipate!!;) Thank you all SO FUCKING MUCH FOR 1,000+ READS. Thought it deserved a reward for ya'll so this intense chapter was perfection for it. I love youuu<3

COMMENT, *VOTE* & SHARE! DON'T BE SHY, FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED!

hugs, kt