Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise! In fact I only own the plot…

I suppose I should have known that one day they'd just shut me out. I was horrible to them and the most sensible thing to do would be to leave me on my own. But as I sat on my empty table, gazing over at my friends, I couldn't help but feel a little bittersweet. It was almost as though there had always been pressure on our friendships and suddenly it had all just collapsed.

The week before today I could feel the tension building with every bickering argument we had. They were about stupid things, so stupid I hadn't even bothered to remember them, yet at the time they felt so important. I'd fight with everyone: Tori, Andre and Robbie… Sometimes even Cat and Beck, but they would never fight amongst themselves. It would always be me vs. one of them.

Tori let out a shrill laugh from their table, Andre had just told a joke or something and, apparently, it had been amusing. They all burst into layers of laughter, the sound was so rich ad pure. And I hated it. I wanted it to stop. It reminded me of the fact that when I'd been around no one had ever laughed like that, they would all just shout… or cry… or both.

I pulled out my headphones and blared music from them, not really listening to it, just effectively blocking out the happiness radiating from the table across from mine.

But I never meant to hurt you

I know it's time that I learned to

Treat the people I love like I wanna be loved…

These are the three lines I heard, the three lines I really listened to. Because they were true.

I'd decided what I was going to do, I knew my plan, I knew the lyrics back to front, I knew what I was going to say and when I was going to say it… But what I didn't know was how they would react, so I just had to wait and see.

I walked across to their table and sat down, ignoring their shocked expressions. "Jade, what are you doing here?" Robbie asked bluntly. "I need to tell you something," I whispered, looking round the table and meeting eyes with every single person sat there.

I took a deep breath, pressed the play button, and sang the words I'd been too scared to speak.

Remember all the things we wanted

Now all our memories, they're haunted

We were always meant to say goodbye

Even with our fists held high

It never would have worked out right, yeah

We were never meant for do or die

I didn't want us to burn out

I didn't come here to hurt you now I can't stop

[Chorus]

I want you to know

That it doesn't matter

Where we take this road

But someone's gotta go

And I want you to know

You couldn't have loved me better

But I want you to move on

So I'm already gone

Looking at you makes it harder

But I know that you'll find another

That doesn't always make you wanna cry

It started with the perfect kiss then

We could feel the poison set in

"Perfect" couldn't keep this love alive

You know that I love you so

I love you enough to let you go

[Chorus]

You can't make it feel right

When you know that it's wrong

I'm already gone, already gone

There's no moving on

So I'm already gone

Ah already gone, already gone, already gone

Ah already gone, already gone, already gone

Remember all the things we wanted

Now all our memories, they're haunted

We were always meant to say goodbye

[Chorus]

You can't make it feel right

When you know that it's wrong

I'm already gone, already gone

There's no moving on

So I'm already gone

"What do you mean? You're not leaving are you?" Beck asked, panicked. "You can't leave!" Tori protested. I turned on my heel and fled, but not before I whispered, "I'm sorry… Thank you." They had been good friends to me, I just hadn't been a good friend to them… and so this was how it had to end… But it was for the best… And I couldn't hurt them, not anymore.