My parents finally noticed my depression. (Finally.) They also finally found out that I broke up with Nate. They tried asking me why, but I would never answer them. They couldn't get the answer out of Max, Justin, or Harper either.

It's been days. I'm still getting messages from Nate and Hannah. I wouldn't answer or reply them of course. Thinking about them even makes me wanna cry. I won't cry though. Crying is a sign of weakness. I am not weak. I, Alex Russo, broke up with the Nate Gray twice. I don't think I'm weak.

I was in my room, laying on my stomach. My face was buried in my pillow while I was playing depressing emo music. I am not sad. I am not freaking sad! I do not miss Nate! Okay - take a deep breath Alex. Just breathe. There's nothing wrong…or at least I could keep on telling myself that. I think I need freaking therapy.

There was a knock on my door. "Come in" I said in a muffled voice. My mom came in.

"Sweetie, how are ya?" she said, rubbing my back. I just shrug. "You really need to get out. You know, hang out with Harper or your new friend again." I shrug again. Mom sighed. "I just don't want to see you like this. It's so…" My eyes start getting watery. "That's it. You're going out right now."

I get up, confused. "What?"

"You heard me. You are going to go out and have fun. And you better not come back before 10:00." I frown. I want to stay home. I don't want to see the light of day ever again. My mom pulled me up from my bed and pushed me towards my closet. I sigh.

She smiled and patted my shoulder. Then she leaves for me to change my clothes. I step into my ripped jeans and a yellow and black skater shirt. I put on my black Uggs and walk outside.

I folded my arms and looked back at my house. My parents smile at me, looking excited that I'm actually getting out of the house. Once they saw me, unmoving, they motion my brothers to go outside. Great, now they're gonna make them hang out with me. How joyful.

Justin and Max came out shortly. It is really embarrassing to have to hang out with your seventeen year old, nerdy brother and your stupid, twelve year old brother. We walked towards downtown. Everything was an awkward silence.

"So…" Max started, hating the silence. I didn't respond while Justin just kept his hands in his pockets. "What do you think is going to happen at school tomorrow?" Max asked. School reminds me of Jake….which reminds me of Nate. This sucks eggs.

"I don't wanna go to school tomorrow." I said softly.

"You have to though. You have no choice." Justin said. I shrug again.

"Either way, I don't want to go to school." Justin put his arm around my shoulders. I try to avoid the urge to shrug it off. I mean, he is trying to help me. (Trying but not succeeding.)

"Come on Alex. Don't be such a downer. I mean, you were the one who broke up with Nate. If you miss him so much, just get back with him. He wants to get back with you." Max said. So he does have common sense. Too bad he doesn't know anything about teenagers yet.

"I don't want to get back with Nate!" I yell. Max put his hands up in defense.

Suddenly, the paparazzi starts attacking us with their freaking cameras. Wonderful timing. Justin covers me as we walk away.

"Hey Alex! How are you taking the fact that you broke up with Nate Gray?!"

"Do you know how Nate is taking it?!"

"Do you wanna get back with Nate?!"

"Did you break up with Nate because he had sex with your best friend Hannah Montanan?!"

I seriously wanna freaking kick them in the stomach so freaking bad! GAH! I'm so freaking mad! Forget about being sad! Forget about being depressed! I need to let my anger out!

I turn to the paparazzi. "I fell hecka bad about breaking up with Nate, but I know I did it for a good reason. Nate is taking it…averagely. I do not wanna get back with Nate. And yes, I did break up with him because he had sex with my best friend." I said. This is the first time I answered the paparazzi. Heck, they even look surprised.

I just walk away, actually happy that the paparazzi weren't following me. Justin and Max caught up.

"Why the hell did you say that?! Do you wanna ruin Nate and Hannah or something?!" Justin asked.

"Psh, that video probably already ruined Nate's good boy image and Hannah's pop princess look already." I answered. "Two sixteen year olds having sex isn't really a good influence on little kids."

"Alex! Either way they're still our friends! They wouldn't do that to you!" I glared at Justin, hating him for being right. I turn back. What did I just do?


Tonight I watched Teen News to see what other 'scandalous' things Brooke and Briana has to say today. (And hoping that my little outburst wouldn't go on national TV.)

"Well lookie here Brooke!" Briana started. "Our little friends from New York has some news for us!"

"And that scandalous news is?" Brooke said.

"Alex broke up with Nate!" Brooke rolled her eyes.

"We know that idiot. We wanna know what she said though."

"O…right. Well she did in fact break up with little Natey because he had sex with Hannah. Which we were all had the opportunity to see."

"Porn on Teen News!" Brooke laughed. I rolled my eyes. Not funny.

"Nate is taking it as if he doesn't give a damn. I wouldn't think he would by the way he treated his last girlfriends. Alex has to be the only one he actually liked. Too bad Nate's an idiotic bastard." I cringed a little. I swear, I can't believe the news station hasn't cancelled this show. Or the fact that nobody sued them yet!

"O and guess what Nate! We have bad news for you!" Brooke said, smiling wickedly. "Alex doesn't want to get back with you. Aw, too bad."

My lip started to quiver. I just told the biggest lie of my life and it got aired on the worst show ever. I break down into tears. OKAY I ADMIT IT! I WANNA GET BACK WITH NATE!


The next day, I walked to school with people staring at me and whispering. O great. More questions galore. I walk quickly towards my locker, ignoring people who were calling my name and dodging the nosey people with their annoying questions.

Jake then came up to me. He looked sort of happy. "Hey Alex" he said, smiling. I gave him a small smile.

"Hi Jake." He put his arm around my shoulders. No butterflies. No warm feeling. Nothing.

"I know things are pretty rough for you right now…and I feel as if this is a really wrong time to be on the rebound but -"

"Say no more. When and where?" Maybe this is the only way. I need to go out with Jake. I mean, I can't get back with Nate and I need to get my mind completely off of him. As if he's just another celebrity I didn't take time to care about.

Jake flashed me a good boy smile. "Awesome. How about after school today? I'll pick you up at six."

"Sounds good." I smile and walk away. I was suddenly pulled back. "What the hell?!" I whip around to see Harper and Justin looking at me disappointingly.

"Alex" Harper whined. "I understand why you broke up with Nate…but why did you have to announce why in live TV?"

"It's not as if it wasn't obvious." I said, darkly. Don't cry. Don't cry Alex! Harper sighed.

"Alex, you're being stupid. Don't ruin your life like this. Just keep quiet and don't attract attention to yourself. That's the last thing you want to do after a break up." I nod. Harper looked at me sadly then at Justin. Then she walked away.

I looked at Justin. He gave me that big brother look. O fabulous, another lecture. "Alex, I don't think you should be going out with Jake." I widen my eyes.

"How could you know that we're going out?"

"Well you guys weren't that far away. Plus I expected that you two would want to be going out."

"Justin. I don't go around telling you what to do or who you should date. Please. Just leave this to me."

"Last time I did that your heart got broken multiple times."

"Then why do you prefer Nate than Jake?" I said, getting angrier.

"Because. I don't trust Nate but I see it in the way he does things…he actually loves you. Jake on the other hand. Well I don't trust him either but I can totally see that he doesn't love you."

"At least he treats me right!" Then the bell rang. I glare at Justin and walk to class.


After school I rush home to get ready for my date. While I do that, I watch Teen News. You know what I just noticed? - no one, as in no one put any pictures of me and Jake or even talked about us. That is so…weird. I'm not complaining but I did expect that.

I slipped into a red skirt, and cool shirt, and a jean blazer. (A/N: the outfit she was wearing in the Smarty Pants episode.) I looked into the mirror and smiled. I applied lip gloss and a little of eyeliner. Okay, I'm done.

I looked at the clock - 4:00. Wow, why did I do it so early? Now I have to sit around in this outfit for the next two hours, trying to look pretty. O well. Jake's worth it.

I sit on my bed, smiling. I'm going on a date with Jake! I sigh in happiness.

(No One's POV)

As Jake got ready, he smiled evilly at the mirror. Step one completed. Step two - get her to sleep with me…just the way Nate got Hannah to sleep with him. he thought.

Jake had no feelings what so ever for Alex. He the only feeling he has for her is sorry. He feels so sorry for her that it has to end like this, just because she picked Nate to be her boyfriend.

But of course, he hates Nate more than he feels sorry for Alex. Jake's hate for Nate could never change. It is as big as the size of the universe.

Jake turned the TV on. A show was showing a clip of Hannah helping kids who have cancer. Jake smiled. Then he frowned. He shook his head and turned the TV off. His feelings for Hannah…they were unknown to him.