"Nessie!" It was a week after the night down at the clearing and so far I had managed to steer clear of Jake, on my mother's orders. Of course I was distraught, of course I was hurting for hurting him... But I couldn't do anything to help him. I knew he watched me everyday, outside the house. He'd follow me to school, follow me home, watch me every night. And I wasn't allowed to see him. Dad passed on the odd message to him now and again, but Mum found out and forbade me from doing that as well.

"Nessie!" Jake called again, he was closer now, running to keep up with me. I was walking to my car after school. No one else was in the parking lot as I had got out late.

"Nessie! Listen to me! Please can we talk?" He pleaded.

I opened the car and tried to shut the door, Jake shoved his fist in. Ouch!, that must have hurt, but his face showed a different kind of hurt.

"Please?" He asked again. I looked up at his face and almost broke down. It was strained, tired and full of hurt. I had done this to him and I wanted to die for it.

"Jake..." I whispered. Jake lifted me out the seat and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. I wrapped my limbs around him and nuzzled my head into his naked, warm shoulder. I could feel his heart beating, stronger before, right next to mine. Beating in time...

"Oh Jake!" I cried.

"Ssh," Jake said, "It's OK. I understand." We looked at each other. I could feel his warm breath against my skin and leant in to kiss him. Jake was a taken back but returned the kiss enthusiastically.

He pressed me up against the car hood and leaned against me, deepening the kiss. I grabbed his head and pressed it against me harder, tangling my fingers into his hair. We paused for air briefly and looked up. I could see teachers walking past, going to their cars. I grabbed Jake's hand and pulled him into the car. We sped out of the parking lot and I drove us miles away. Too far away for Dad to hear.

I pulled Jake into the back seat with me and we began where we left off.

--

I don't know how long we kissed for but it was amazing. To have Jake back in my arms again. To kiss him, to see him, to smell him. I couldn't believe it. Jake pulled off my jacket and undid my shirt. I was wearing a skimpy vest top underneath. Jake smiled down at me as I traced his stomach muscles with my finger tips. I smiled back and pushed him over so I was on top. I leaned in and kissed him with all the passion I could muster. I would have to go soon an I knew I couldn't see him ever again.

I tried to make the kiss last as long as I possibly could but in the end we had to stop. We sat up and said nothing. We both knew, we had to go again. Go our separate ways again, go back to the pain and hurting.

"Jake," I said, "You have to go." Jake nodded and didn't say anything. I felt so bad, like I was using him. I wanted to cry whenever I saw his face filled with pain.

We stepped out of the car and I pulled on my shirt again quickly.

"Nessie..." Jake said, "I still love you. I will always love you. Remember that... please?" I nodded as Jake ran away, across the highway and into the forest.