AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oh and in case you don't get why it keeps skipping ahead, I'm doing it to cover main parts in their relationship. And it's like 500 Days of Summer where they do that but my story is in order haha. Oh and reviews please :D

One year and four months later…

I sit on the couch in the back of the club. I can hear Nick saying something into the microphone but I don't really listen. I'm too busy with studying for a huge Calculus test to pay attention. It would be easier to concentrate without the loud music but I always come to all of Nick's shows. I'm not going to miss one just because of some stupid test. The crowd screams about God knows what.

I stare at the extensive problem on the notes on my lap. My head hurts. Graduation is soon. I'm so stressed. I haven't gotten any acceptance letters yet. It's hard to believe that soon I'll be going to college and moving out. Nick and I haven't talked about it yet. I'm pretty sure he said something about going to whatever college I'm going to. I'm still on the fence about that. I don't want to limit him. He should go where he wants.

I'm scared that he'll ask me to move in with him. Not that I wouldn't like that but it would be a nerve-wracking experience. Doesn't that ruin couples sometimes? Being an adult sounds hard. What a joy senior year is. I rake a hand through my hair and take a deep breath. A strand falls in my eyes and I don't bother to move it.

Eventually, someone moves it for me and tucks it behind my ear. I feel a head rest against my shoulder. I already know who it is. He's showered and smells like cologne.

"You look stressed," Nick says.

"Yeah…just thinking about the future," I say.

"What about it?" He nuzzles against my neck.

"College, job, money, where I'm going to live, blah, blah, blah."

"About that last one," he begins. My heart skips a beat. But then he's interrupted by someone telling him how good he was.

"Hey, let's go out front. We can listen to the next act or we could go get some food," I say before he can start talking again.

"Sure." He kisses my neck and stands up.

I pack up my study material into my bag and sling it over my shoulder. Nick takes my hand and we walk out into the crowd. People yell at Nick as we walk by, saying how great he was. He nods and thanks them all. We stand at the bar as the man on stage talks about how he lives in a van and would appreciate if everyone would 'show their tips'. The crowd gasps, not realizing he had clearly said tips, not the other word. Nick and I burst out laughing.

A guy with white-blond hair approaches us, looming over us because he's so tall. "Nick!" he exclaims. "You comin' to Jared's party tonight?"

"Jared?" Nick asks. "Who's that?"

The guy fingers the gauges in his ears. "He's the drummer of the headlining band. He's having this huge party at his house for all the bands that played tonight. There's probably going to be some important people there. You guys were looking for a record label, right? You and your band should come."

"That's awesome! I'll be there. Can Ella come to?"

The guy looks down at me, biting his lip. "I don't think so. Jared wanted to keep it kind of private, just a party for the bands to chill together. Sorry." He frowns.

"Hmm," Nick says. He looks down at me. "Well, I'll have to turn your invitation down. Sorry, maybe another time."

"Oh," the guy gasps. "Okay, then. See you later, I guess."

"Why would you do that?" I ask, confused. "What if you had met someone from a record label there? That would have been huge! Why did you say no?"

"Because you couldn't come with me."

"So? I don't care. Go!"

His arm snakes around my waist. "I'm good right where I am."

I close my eyes and shake my head. I sigh but let it drop for now. I copy him and put my arm around his waist too. I feel something gnawing at me. Something's not right.

"Let's go," Nick says and leads me away.

Nick drives me home and even walks me to the door, just like he does every time he drops me off. He pushes me against the door, hands on either side of me so I can't leave yet. He kisses me hard.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" he asks after he pulls away.

"Yes," I say, unlocking the door and walking inside. "I'll see you later."

"Okay. I love you," he says.

I freeze. He's never said that before. Should I say it back?

"Love you too," I say with my back to him. I close the door and sprint to my room, feeling miserable for some reason. I crawl into bed.

I don't sleep much that night. I toss and turn, trying to figure out what's wrong.

Then it hits me.

And I know what I have to do now.

In the morning, I drag myself out of bed. There are dark circles under my eyes from my sleepless night. I throw on a pair of jeans and a white v-neck shirt with a purple sweatshirt. I walk past my parents closed door and out into the morning air. I climb into my car and speed over to Nick's house. My throat is thick and my heart is thudding in my chest.

Nick answers the door in only a t-shirt and his boxers. He rubs the sleep from his eyes. "You're here earlier than I expected," he says groggily.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I just…"

"It's fine; I don't care. Come in." He takes my hand and we go to his room. His parents aren't here, probably running an errand of some kind. Good.

Nick lies on his bed, on top of the overturned covers. I sit next to him, not even bothering to kick off my shoes, feeling uncomfortable.

"You still look stressed," he says, patting my leg. "What's wrong?"

I take a shaky breath and look at my trembling hands. My mouth opens but all that comes out is a squeak. Tears escape from the corners of my eyes. Nick looks up at me with a surprised look on his face. He tightly holds my hands as if trying to stop them from shaking.

"Baby, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" When I don't answer, he gets worried. "Did something happen? Ella, I need to know. Please."

I pull my hands away and cover my face. I shake my head. I try to catch my breath but it seems to escape me every time so all that comes out are sharp gasps. I can't believe I'm actually going to go through with this. I have to.

"I-I-I can't t-take this," I sputter.

"Take what?" he asks anxiously. He sits up and grips me by the shoulders. "Why are you so upset?" he asks gently.

"Nick…I think we should s-stop."

"Stop what? I'm confused."

"You know what I'm talking about," I say hopelessly. I can't control my sobbing.

He pauses and then his eyes widen again. His face flushes. "But why?" he asks loudly. "What did I do?"

"Nothing…" I almost tell him but decide he wouldn't understand. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry, for everything. You'll find someone better." I move to leave. He stops me.

"I don't understand what I did wrong!"

"Nothing, Nick. You did nothing wrong." I run out of the room and out the front door. I speed home and park in the driveway. I lay my head on the steering wheel and cry some more. Crying until there are no tears left.

Nick will be better off without me.