Hey guys! I'm sorry it's been quite a long wait, but here it is!

Sorry about the shortness...I just found the perfect ending for it, and I couldn't write any more. I have a severe case of writer's block for this story right now, but I will continue it because I couldn't live with myself if I gave up on it.

Hope you like the chapter! Thank you for reading! :D

Chapter 14

I woke to the sound of one of my favourite songs blaring out from my phone. For a moment I was confused; after all the time in rehab, I still wasn't used to having my phone again. But then I saw my phone lit up, and I sat up and grabbed it. I saw Selena's name on the caller ID and smiled, answering.

"Hello?" I said sleepily.

"Hey Demi. Sorry about yesterday, I was just upset. I really didn't think Cassie was like that, you know? It just hurt to see her like that." She sighed.

"I understand. Don't feel bad, I don't mind at all." I said. I could hear the relief in her voice.

"Good. So, erm…you wanna hang out today? We could ask Joe to come along if you'd like…" she offered.

"No! I mean, I like Joe, but I think…I think he likes me a bit too much, if you get me…" I sighed. She chuckled.

"And you've only just figured this out? Demi, Joe has liked you since forever. That's one of the reasons he bullied you. He didn't want people to suspect that he liked you. And since you guys became friends, well…the guy is in love with you, Demi." She said. I winced.

"That's what I was afraid of. Sel, I really don't feel the same way. I mean, I'm sure I would if I…erm…if I wasn't gay." I muttered. She laughed.

"Don't worry about it, if you tell him that he'll get over it." She said.

"Yeah, but what if he gets angry? I really don't wanna ruin our friendship." I sighed.

"And you don't think him being in love with you won't ruin your friendship?" she asked, and I knew she had a point. I sighed.

"I guess I'll have to tell him next time I see him. But could we just…can we hang out just the two of us?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure. I'll meet you at the park in ten, okay?"

"Yeah, see you there." I replied, before hanging up the phone and throwing myself back down on the bed, my scream of frustration muffled by the pillows. Then I realised what Selena had said; we were meeting at the park in ten minutes. Cursing my stupidity, I dashed into the shower, washed and dressed in record time, and I was out of the house seven minutes after I hung up the phone. I knew that if I ran to the park I could make it.

When I got there, two minutes late, Selena was sat on a bench looking like she'd been there a while. I sighed, shaking my head as I approached her.

"You've been here all morning, haven't you?" I asked her. She looked at me and nodded, tears in her eyes.

"My parents were fighting…I had to get out of there." She sighed. I placed a comforting arm around her shoulder and she leant into me.

"You're having a pretty shitty couple of days, aren't you?" she laughed dryly.

"I have a pretty shitty life. I'm probably the only person in the world who prefers to be in school than at home. Things used to be better; I had my iPod to drown out the sounds of their shouting and shit, but they took that and my laptop off me when I got expelled…" she sighed. I felt guilty.

"I'm sorry. Maybe I should-"

"Don't you dare feel bad, Demetria Devonne Lovato. This was my fault, not yours, and there is nothing you can do about it." She said sternly, turning around to look me in the eyes. I smiled sadly.

"I guess….I still feel guilty though. If I hadn't told my mom in the first place, you never would have been kicked out."

"Yeah, and if I hadn't made your life hell for years, you would have had nothing to tell your mom. You did nothing wrong, Demi. Don't blame yourself, baby." She murmured, burying her head in my shoulder. I smiled softly to myself; I could get used to her calling me baby.

"Erm, Selena…do you think you're going to get back together with Cassie?" I asked her softly. She shook her head.

"Cassie is known for holding grudges for years; she won't want me back anyway. Besides, there's someone else." She admitted. I felt my heart stop beating for a second. There was someone else? I don't know why, but this revelation crushed me. Okay, maybe I do know why. I'm still in love with Selena. Nine months in rehab hasn't changed that.

"Wh-who?" I stammered. She chuckled a little, although I don't know why. I hoped she didn't pick up on the disappointment in my voice.

"Well, she's beautiful. Like, really beautiful. She's got a gorgeous body, the kind of body you just want to touch, and hold. And she has gorgeous brown hair, and her eyes are a beautiful dark brown. She used to be really, really skinny and it wasn't attractive, even though I still liked her, but now she's curvy and she's just perfect. She's had a shitty life, especially at school, and a lot of that was my fault, but its okay now. Everything is okay. She's had her ups and downs, and recently she thought everything was better, but then life threw her another curve ball in the form of death. But she got through it, and now she's a better person because of it. She has a loud, slightly obnoxious laugh and her smile is infectious. I never used to see her smile, but now I see it all the time. She's beautiful in every way, and I never used to acknowledge that. I hid my feelings with cruel words and tasteless jokes, and I will always regret that. But she seems to have forgiven me, and although I have no idea why I am willing to accept that and be grateful. I just hope she maybe, possibly feels the same way. Because I think I'm in love with her." She explained. Her voice softened towards the end until she was whispering that last part, but I heard it nonetheless. For a moment or two I was paralysed. I could barely think. Then I saw her finally look me in the eyes, and I grinned. I grinned that smile she thought was 'infectious' and then I laughed my 'loud, slightly obnoxious' laugh. And then I kissed her.

This was so much better than the first time we kissed. The first time, she surprised me. I had no idea she liked me, and we were both confused about everything. Nothing made sense to either of us at that point. But this time, we both knew exactly how we felt. We both liked each other, a lot. I think we might have been in love. And we both wanted this. We both desperately wanted, needed each other. So as our lips melded together and our hands wrapped around each other's bodies, we were both happy as we had ever been. Well, I was anyway. And from the loud moan Selena emitted when we finally broke apart for air, I figured she was too.

"Wow. That was…wow." She puffed, trying to catch her breath. I laughed, struggling for breath a little myself.

"Is 'wow' good?" I asked. She shook her head.

"Wow is amazing. Wow is absolutely perfect. I think I'm in love with you; I have been for a while. And my break-up with Cassie was inevitable. I mean, I wish it didn't have to be so messy, but I think I would have had to break up with her eventually. From that first time I saw you, in the store, I think I knew it. You'd think that my feelings would go away while you were gone, but they just got stronger." She admitted. I was speechless.

"I...erm…" I choked out. She looked hurt for a second, before her features settled into a look of disappointment and resignation.

"I guess if you don't feel the same way, that's fine. I mean, I didn't expect you to, not after-" I cut her off with yet another searing kiss, which she returned instantly. After a couple seconds, I pulled away again.

"Of course I feel the same way, stupid. I was just shocked…I love you too, Selena. A lot." I sighed. She grinned, kissing me for a third time.

When we finally pulled apart again she got to her feet, grabbing my hand and pulling me up with her. Then she slid her arm around my waist, and I did the same, and we started walking around the lake. It was really warm, the sun blazing, and combined with the heat I felt being so close to Selena, it was unbearable. I pulled away from her for a moment to shrug off my jean jacket, sighing in relief at the coolness. Selena chuckled, and then looked around.

"Come on, this is boring. I mean, long leisurely walks look so romantic in the movies, but honestly? I think I'd rather be somewhere else." She explained. I nodded in agreement, then grinned.

"Well…our next door neighbours are on a long vacation in the Bahamas at the moment…and they have a pool in their backyard." I said, smiling. She looked thoughtful for a moment, but she shook her head.

"I can't…I mean, it feels so rude. Using someone else's pool." She sighed. I laughed.

"Come on, it'll be fun. Besides, I've been feeding their cats. They owe me." I shrugged. She hesitated for a second, and then nodded. I beamed at her, grabbing her hand and pulling her along, back out of the park and down the road. She laughed loudly as she stumbled along behind me, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Her laugh was perfect; not roaring and loud, but not squeaky either. And, most importantly, it was the first time I had heard her laugh like that. Properly. Like she meant it. Although it certainly wouldn't be the last.

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