SORRY! I'm so sorry about the ridiculous delay from the last chapter. But I had my finals then I spent my holidays abroad and the places I stayed at either had no internet or a really bad connection. I could read updates from other people but when I want to upload my own chapter…? Noooo – it has to die on me. But I'm finally back home, with a lovely internet connection! :)

So sorry again.

Disclaimer: I don't own JONAS or JONAS LA.


"No," Macy turned her head to the side, making his lips land on her cheek.

Rejection burned through him. It's egotistic of him to say this but he hasn't been rejected in a long time. He doesn't think it's ever been this bad though. Part of him wanted to get up and run away. Pretend this never happened. Go back to ignoring Macy in general. Pretend that bet never happed and that Macy was just another girl. And with any other girl, he would have.

But the problem was that she wasn't just another girl. She was Macy. He wanted her to be his.

So instead he tucked his head into the crook of her neck and asked "Why not?"

She was trembling beneath him. Like she was fighting tears. And when he raised his head to see if he was wrong – prayed he was wrong –, he was right. Her big brown eyes were tearing up but she wasn't letting any fall. His heart ached, and he gave in.

Even when he acknowledged the way he felt towards her, he didn't want to gave in. Giving in meant he was vulnerable. And Nick hated being vulnerable. He didn't need someone having the power to hurt him.

But he realized as he gazed into her teary eyes, that he rather be vulnerable then hurt her with his self-protection. He hurt her once too much already.

So, he gave fully into his feelings. It didn't seem to matter anymore that she rejected him. He could handle that pain more then her tears.

He cupped her face with both hands and whispered "Macy."

She sniffled. "I want my first kiss to be with a guy I've dated for a while. A guy I like and who likes me back."

Who ever said words don't hurt was an idiot because Macy's words cut right through.

"I thought you forgave me." Nick whispered, unwillingly to admit defeat.

"I do! Nick I do!" Macy cried as she clutched his jacket. They were both still wrapped around each other lying on the soccer field. "I forgive you as a friend! I forgive you in terms of friendship. We've been friends for a while, so I trust Nick Lucas as my friend." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "But in terms of romance or love, I don't trust you not to hurt me because the only time you showed you cared that way was due to a bet."

"Macy…" Nick's chest was tightening up painfully.

She had her arm flung over her eyes. "Did you know I knew? I knew about the bet before the date. I heard Joe and you talking about it." She was shaking again and Nick had no idea how to stop her. "I couldn't believe that you guys would be so cruel." She whispered the words that cut through him. "I didn't think it was possible. I thought my ears were deceiving me but then you asked me out. I said yes because how could I not. I was crushing hard on you for so very long." Nick's heart hurt at the use of past tense. "But then you immediately went to Joe and I heard you say-" she choked on a sob. "I heard you say get ready to pay up."

She whipped her arm off her face. "I can't trust you again, not with my heart."

She wiggled out of his frozen embrace and ran off again.

Nick just rolled onto his back and draped his arm over his face. "Damn," he whispered as laid there.


P.S. I'm sad that JONAS is cancelled…