"Hun...we need to talk."

There it was. That dreadful look on Jimmy's face; I could shoot myself for making him express such a thing, but what what I to do? Play along until everything grew stagnant and he suffered all the more for it?

No, stay strong, Nat. You can do this.

"Wha-what about, Nattie?" His voice was tremulous and heartbreaking. Oh, sweet innocent soul, why did it have to be so?

I took a deep breath and took the plunge, "Babe...I mean, listen honey," I was putting it off, saying it, but it wasn't something I ever wanted to say, "You know this isn't working out." His entire face shattered in a moment, but stayed exactly the same. I pushed my words forward, "You are lovelier than words can describe, but-"

"But NOTHING, Nat!" My lunch tray was shoved off the table with all the anger the boy could muster, and I bit my lip as he ran away...crying. It clattered on the floor, foodstuffs going everywhere. I didn't even flinch at the sound.

I hated myself. The moment he left, I knew what I should have done, and regretted being such a coward. I should have sat him down, told him the truth, and let him cry it out to ME, not them. I mean, I could still tell him, some day, but he wasn't going to hear me anytime soon. Regrets, Nat, stop making them and start learning from them...

"Well that didn't go as planned." Kevin's gravelly voice lifted me somewhat out of my stupor, but I still wasn't particularly thrilled with myself, or life, for that matter.

"No, it did not," I stated eloquently, holding myself to silence for a moment...then falling forward, hands over my face on the lunch table. I spoke through muffling hands, "It couldn't have gone worse."

"Nah...I mean, you got Nazz over there doing recon and playing the devil's advocate n' crap, should be smooth sailing soon enough." The cocky teen leaned back in his chair, a smug look on his face as his hands rested behind his head. I sat up and sighed.

"I know, but..." I grunted, "The little darling didn't deserve any of this..."

"Yeah, and you act like you did?" I turned to look into Kevin's eyes, as we had a silent conversation. He won.

"No...but..."

"Yeah, that's the whole point, Nat." He couldn't help but snigger after that remark, and I found my mouth forming a grin soon as well.

If you want the truth, I guess that's the core of it. I'd been through all of it with Kevin, bless his tolerant heart, but the guilt I felt for leaving Jimmy ate at me anyways. I just couldn't force him to...and I was just getting too...

You gotta understand! I spent hours thinking hard about this, no pun intended (okay maybe a little), and came to the conclusion that I didn't like Jimmy genuinely enough to continue our relationship as it was. First of all, he was still too young for any of that nonsense. Sure, to me, it's a way of life, but he could barely stand to see mommy's bra in the washing machine. I couldn't kiss the boy, even! It was eating away at me.

I guess no one else knew, though. I'm pretty renowned for being respectful around others, at least when my partner wants it. They probably all thought I saved the naughty stuff for the bedroom, when all that ever happened there with Jimmy was...tea parties.

Now don't get me wrong, I love a well-brewed tea as much as the next guy. But I needed...

I needed more. I saw this baby-faced blonde with crystal blue eyes and needed some of that, and kept getting the short end of the stick. No, I take that back; no stick at all. Except for one pushing me away.

Let's face it, it was never going to work, no matter how much he liked me. I really did like him, too, but there's a certain point you reach where all the things you put up with becomes too much, and I hit that. Weeks ago, actually.

I just hate being a heartbreaker.

Funny how that's what they call me anyways.

"I'm gonna strangle him!" Sarah's gritty voice reverberated through the group as she pounded her fists against the table. I stayed silent, spooning some mashed potato into my mouth whilst the group spoke.

"It can't be that bad, right? ...Jimmy?" Nazz spoke calmly, and likely with the intent of placating the situation. Not that anyone else could figure that out.

"It...it was all fine just yesterday, I swear it! We took a walk to the park, and I...and I-"

Sarah pulled him into a tight hug as he broke into sobs again, "It's alright, Jimmy. The bad man's not here."

"I'm s-so alone, Sarah..." He sobbed and cried, sniffling against Sarah's shoulder, and we all shared a look.

Sarah looked ready to kill, but I knew she wouldn't try anything, as much as she wanted to. Eddy looked...bored out of his mind as he flicked a pea off his tray, how surprising. Johnny was holding Plank tightly, and Ed was blubbering along with Jimmy.

Meanwhile, I was simply adding this to the list of the despicable traits of Nathan. Jimmy was the third this school year, but apparently the first that he didn't even bother explaining himself to. How a guy could call themselves mature and yet break the heart of such an innocent soul, I couldn't believe. No wonder Kevin was his friend, with his cocky attitude and self-serving ways. I mean, that does describe Eddy quite well, but...at least he never associated with scum of the Earth like Nat.

No; something had to be done. No one ever said a word to Nat as he played his cruel little games on everyone's hearts. Pah, by next week he could have another victim at his doorstep, and none would be the wiser.

No, this could not stand!

I got up, immediately drawing Eddy's attention. Ed looked my way as well, but no one else paid me any mind. I wasn't one to care, for I had something to do and did not need any interruptions.

I glared at the teal-haired masochist, already laughing alongside his cohort, Kevin. I straightened myself out, took a confident breath, and strode towards the pair with anger in my heart and ice in my eyes.

"S-so there I was, wearing this frilly little apron, when he asks, 'Is the tea too hot?' And, and I have to bite my tongue before I say, 'No, but I totally am. Wanna blow on me until I cool down?'"

The laughter was riotous, Kevin pounding on the table with a fist, tears in his eyes. I was glad to be smiling again, even if I was doing so remembering some not-so-fond deprivations from my now-former relationship. If anyone could understand, it'd be Kevin. He was a Godsend, and I wished to death he was gay. I made it a point to ask him at least once a month; it was pretty much a game by now.

"He probably woulda thought you were catching something, haha! 'Oh, Nat dearie, let me take your temperature and get you some soup, it'll make you feel right as rain!'" His mocking of Jimmy's voice nearly made me snort out the water I was drinking. I could almost forget the pain in my heart.

"Excuse me."

The silence was so heavy you could have dropped a pin. Kevin and I both looked to the side, coming face to face with an angry Double D. This wasn't something I was entirely unused to, seeing as pretty much everyone knew he hated what I was like. But I still withered under that gaze.

Kevin sat up, arms crossing, "Yeah? What do you want, Double Dweeb."

He has nothing against the kid, but when you associate with someone like Eddy...kinda makes people dislike you. Personally, I was on the fence about him.

"What I want is to speak to your 'friend,'" his gaze turned to me, piercing me as he spoke, "How DARE you hurt Jimmy like that? He was such a good kid..."

I went to speak up, and he held out his hand to me, "No, not a word from you. Now, I did not know Sharon or Cassie personally, but I imagine they were both fine, upstanding young women. But now, you've done something completely despicable. How could you even DARE to stomp on Jimmy's heart in such a way, and not even grace him with an explanation?"

Kevin stood up defensively behind me, "Hey, he was-"

"NOT another word," I think Kevin was just as shocked by the confidence in the boy's tone, and we both remained silent as he spoke, "I will be watching you, Nat. You might have the rest of the student population fooled into thinking you're a decent human being, but I now know...you're nothing but scum." He spat the last word.

He shook his head and sighed, "Simply despicable."

He turned and walked away, leaving Kevin and I to look at one another in shock.

Kevin spoke first. "Well...that was weird."

I didn't reply, instead looking down at the table for a pensive moment. I looked back up at Double D, his shrinking figure having lost most of the confidence he had before. I...I felt kind-of bad. I mean, I knew I wasn't what he said I was, but to have someone think of me that way? It hurt.

"Hey, forget him, okay? He's just a Dork."

I huffed weakly, "Yeah...but he's the smart Dork."

Kevin chuckled darkly, "Too smart for you."

I looked up into his eyes, an impish grin on his lips, and smirked back, "Is that a challenge?"