Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Pride and Prejudice, they belong to Jane Austen.

Ch. 14

Lexie had been nervous all day although she had seen John in passing and in class they hadn't spoken to each other. Anne and Mary noticed something was off at breakfast, but didn't say anything. They had seen her scratch her hand multiple times, fully aware that she didn't even know she was doing it.

"Are you sure you want to go to school today?" Anne asked cautiously.

"Yes. Why wouldn't I? I mean I know why, but I am fine." She said not noticing their skeptical faces as she served herself a second plate.

They spoke about Will's apology and Lexie told Mary about her feelings towards him before yesterday.

"How do you feel about him now?" Mary asked.

"Honestly. I don't know… I was thinking of speaking to Johnathan today, tell him about myself. What do you think?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." Anne said bluntly. "Not after what happened yesterday."

"I think you should wait awhile. You don't know him and he has never been a big fan of yours." Mary added.

"You should wait to make sure you can handle it. Get your feelings and thought in line."

Lexie nodded and contemplated on what she was going to do, she was really glad she was with both of them right now. Last night she had fallen asleep after Wil left her, she was exhausted, her body was sore, her head and ankle hurt like hell, but surprisingly she felt at peace. Anne and Mary woke her up when they came to sleep with her. She fell asleep happy to be with her family, happy to be loved.

It was lunchtime and Mary was still staying for practice so as usual John helped her with her bag. Things were a little awkward; they still hadn't said anything other than hello.

As they walked outside in silence, his heart broke a little. He had been ecstatic last night; she agreed to play a duet with him and they were going to spend time alone together. She was going to open up and he was worried that she changed her mind. He didn't want to be back where he started but that's what it seemed like.

"Are you alright?" He asked as they sat down next to her.

She looked around paranoid and scratched her hand. "I-I. I don't like it when I am asked that question." She said hesitantly. "May I ask you a question and receive the honest truth?"

"Yes." He said staring into her eyes.

"Why are you being nice to me? I mean what changed? We've never truly spoken and now we are spending time together. Alone even." She stated.

"Well you're blatantly honest." He smirked.

He couldn't tell her the truth; he would scare her away if he told her he was in love with her. Not yet.

"I want us to be friends; I spent so much of our youth being mean to you. I never got to know you, and I suppose now that it is our senior year I realized we are Hurst's best friends. We probably share many of the same interests and dislikes. And like you said we have never really spoken or hung out. I just hope it's not too late and I hope we become great friends. Best friends even." He smiled.

She smiled at him for the first time. He just wants to be your friend. He doesn't like you that way. Told you! It was easier to breathe and she thought it would be easier to tell him but she just nodded and remained quiet. She couldn't do it. Will came to her mind, John would react the same way he would reject her friendship again and worse he would know about her. He is a different person, they are not the same; they just have certain similarities.

Looking up at him it wasn't hard to see the similarities. They were both were tall, big and muscular, had dark hair, strong jaws and handsome. They were both wealthy, though John was wealthier. All she knew about Will were all the praises Mrs. De Bough had sung him and that didn't say anything about his character. He was a very protective brother and something bad happened to him. John had also been hurt, she knew that and he didn't like her. He was also a great and passionate cellist.

She tried to speak but nothing came. She couldn't do it.

John saw her look around again and scratch her hand. "Why don't we go somewhere more private to speak?"

"I am afraid that is going to be impossible, Anne and Hurst will soon be here and soon we will have to go back to class."

"We could go off campus to eat." She looked at him as if he were crazy. "I know this great pizza place and I also know that you do not need to go to class, nor do I. We don't have to get pizza; we may get whatever you like."

She didn't say anything, she was thinking. He saw her scratch her hand again and that it was turning red. He placed his hand over it, "Lexie if you do not wish to talk to me, it is fine I understand. Please do not make yourself uncomfortable on my behalf."

She exhaled deeply. Just rip the scab off. Hearing he did not want her to be uncomfortable made her relax a bit. "No, it is best you know now sooner than later." She felt her eyes begin to water thinking about Will. She grabbed his hand which was still over hers and controlled her feelings. "I just need to know what I tell you will remain between us."

Anne and Hurst were walking up to them, "I promise."

She gave him a curt nod and let go of his hand as Hurst and Anne got closer and they stood up.

"Johnathan and I are going to get something to eat off campus." Lexie stated.

Hurst looked shocked but agreed along with Anne, but Anne knew why they were leaving. She gave John a pointed look along with Hurst and he got the message. There would be hell to pay if he hurt her. He wouldn't want a furious Anne after him, especially since she had Hurst wrapped around her finger. He also knew how angry Hurst was from yesterday and would jump at the opportunity to hit someone.

He led her to the parking lot and to his car, a '64 Mustang; she had always seen it and wondered whose car it was. It was out of place in this parking lot, the red paint was faded and looked as old as it was but when he turned it on it sounded new.

"I didn't know this was your car. I've always seen it. It's a 60's car?"

He smiled brightly. "64 Mustang, are you a car aficionado?"

She couldn't help but smile. "No not really. My sister Lizzie is and she always points out older cars in the road, stating the year and model." He smile faded. "It's one of the many things she and my father do together." She said quietly. "So where are we going?"

"Wherever you'd like, I'll eat just about anything."

"You may get what you like. To be honest I'm not too hungry."

"Great me either. Technically we can eat whenever since we're not at school. How about we go to the park?"

"That would be nice. No people." She turned the volume up on the radio and listened. "Is this the, The Chariot?" She asked with a big smile.

"No it's '68, Josh Scogin's new band. I didn't think you liked them. Hurst doesn't which is strange because he never returned on of my CD's."

"I love them! They are one of my favorite bands. Chaotic harmony; it's azmaing! I believe I have your CD. He lent it to me and I never returned it. To be fair though he never said it wasn't his and he informed me he didn't like it. But I will return it tomorrow."

"No! It's fine, you may keep it. I already bought another one. I'm glad you like them, not many people do."

"I wish I could sing and yell like he does. And the lyrics! Although of a religious aspect are amazing! Awesome! But I could go on forever." She said excitedly.

"You may borrow this album if you wish. Return it when you like." She nodded happily.

"You know you can trust right? Nothing you tell me will go beyond us." He told her hoping it would help her open up. They had been sitting quietly for several minutes and she still looked apprehensive.

"The truth is I do not trust anyone. Not fully anyways. It is hard when all people do is disappoint you time and time again."

"I didn't think Anne, Mary or Hurst would ever disappoint you. You seem more like a family rather than friends."

She smiled widely. "Yes, they are my family. They have never disappointed me. I just meant that… I do not trust them with my inner deepest thoughts. No one but I know them."

"What about your doctor? Don't you trust them? You can tell them anything and they couldn't tell anyone else."

"I have been seeing Dr. Stone for a very long time now. I trust her to some extent but it wasn't easy. I used to have to see her three times a week and now it's once a month and two to three times on a bad one. I know she would never tell anyone what I tell her. But I can't open up completely. I-I am afraid that if anyone knew how I felt, how I feel, how I truly am, they would no longer wish to know me."

"I am afraid to be alone which is ironic because I love to be alone. When I'm alone no one criticizes me, makes me feel inferior, less than, different. I don't have to listen to the mindless numerous things one talks about…at the same time however. I want nothing more to be with someone who wants to be with me. Does that make any sense?" She quizzically looked at him.

"Yes. You want someone to accept you for who you are, with all of your faults. In your mind your flaws are huge. The ones that know what little of them you've shared have accepted you. They love you enough to have earned that trust. You like to be with them because they make you happy. But around others you wish to be alone."

She beamed up at him, gracing im with her big smile that he couldn't help return. "Yes!" She said happily. He understood her ramble perfectly. Would he understand the rest?

"They have all met my family, and still love me." She paused. "Wow that sounded horrible." She giggled. "That did not help at all. It is just that… well you've seen them at concerts and other events. Yet I am the embarrassment of my family." She said solemnly, "I do wish I could love them… I do on some level. I would be sad if they died, but how can someone who loves you make you feel so horrible?" She took in a deep breath. ''I mean it both ways; Rose hates me because she blames me for so much; things beyond my control. I make it easy for her to hate me because of the way I am. My father does not truly love me; I am a burden to him. He just loves that I am 'smart and talented;' he likes to brag. But he does not love me."

"Lizzie is his favorite. She's the only one he spends anytime with." She paused. "Would you like to know what I do with my time with him? Nothing. He does not speak to me. After several times of trying, I finally give up. The sad thing is no matter how much I know this, how many times I remind myself, I try. All he tells me is to keep working hard and he makes sure I have perfect grades. But his standards do not apply to the others. I'm the only one who has to do as he wishes. Jane and Lizzie could get C's and B's and he does not care enough about Kitty or Lydia, they can do as they please."

Tears were falling from her eyes, her feelings were coming up again; this was the best she could contain them. It was no use, she was embarrassed. She hadn't meant to tell him so much, it just came out. "So they must not love me if I make them feel horrible." She sobbed.

He moved closer and wrapped an arm around her for a hug and she turned into his embrace.

*"Mother, you had me
But I never had you
I wanted you
You didn't want me
So I,

I just got to tell you
Goodbye
Goodbye

Father, you left me
But I never left you
I needed you
You didn't need me
So I,
I just got to tell you
Goodbye
Goodbye…"

"You have a lovely voice. It is one of my favorite songs. It's funny how relatable songs can be she said through sniffles as she calmed down.

"Thank you, though I enjoy hearing you sing more than myself." He smirked.

She giggled and he chuckled. "Presumptuous are we?" She said giggling.

"Very. In fact I wake up every morning, get ready and tell myself that I look good before coming to school." He said trying not to laugh; he couldn't contain it and soon Lexie was laughing with him.

She stayed in his embrace and it made her feel stronger. "That is a good thing though. There is nothing wrong with knowing you are handsome as long as you don't let it get to your head. Like I know I'm not ugly and I'm happy that I am plain."

"What do you mean? You're beautiful!" He blushed; he didn't mean to say it, the words just spilled out.

"No. My sister Jane is beautiful. Everyone would tell you as much. Tall, skinny, blonde, blue eyes, she's an angel. Then it would be Lizzie in my opinion. Then Kitty, she can be very pretty if she didn't cover her face with all the makeup she uses, then Lydia leaving me last. I suppose it depends on who you ask. Rose would say Jane, Lydia, Lizzie Kitty and me but she wouldn't call me pretty, just plain. But thank you for the compliment. I believe I can look beautiful but I am plain. I'm ok with that, it's better than how I used to feel. I used to feel so ugly."

"Rose is your mother?" She nodded, "Why do you call her Rose but your father is still father?"

"Well Rose has never been a mother to me, not in private at least. She likes to brag about me and my friendship with Anne and Hurst to her friends, but in the confines of the house all she does is tear me down. Well at least she used to; it is not so bad anymore. On bad days she still gets under my skin. My main goal there is to be invisible and for the most part I am. I have given up on trying to get her to love me. I honestly do not care anymore." She took a minute to think.

"No that is not true, though I wish it was…Yes it stings, but the pain dies away every day. One would think it would be gone by now, but no it's still barley there." She took another deep breath. "My father on the other hand, I find myself still trying. I do what I can to try and make him proud of me. In my mind I believe that if he is proud of me, then it must mean he loves me. No matter how hard I try though; how many trophies and ribbons I get; if all my grades are 100's, he still resents me. Both of my parents do. I should know better. Logically I do and I tell myself that none of this matters, how they feel about me; my feelings, nothing is going to change."

He stayed quiet and she began to worry. She only meant to tell him the exact thing she told Will. She wasn't supposed to tell him any of this. These were things she kept to herself and that Anne and Hurst picked up on but he didn't know her family. He already wanted to distance himself and she knew it. At least he didn't know everything. She was startled when he lifted her up and sat her on his lap, turning her sideways to hug her tightly.

"So you see Will was right. I infect people. I know that is I was normal they would at least love me a little."

"It's not your fault Lexie. They are the ones who helped shape you, there actions and words are responsible for your sadness. Do you not see that?"

"Yes. Dr. Stone said as much. Every single shred of joy and wonder was tarnished, consumed and rejected by cold reality. From a young age I saw the world differently they helped shape me, it's true but there must have been something about me that made me unlovable."

"That is not true! Anne, Mary and Hurst love you deeply as does your family."

"Anne, Mary, and Hurst are my family. I am not close to my actual family. I have explained my relationship with my parents but not my sisters. Lydia is Rose's favorite so their views of me are the same. Kitty is jealous though I don't know why. She is capable of what I have achieved, all of them are. She doesn't know and refuses to listen to how hard I work. I don't speak to either of them. Jane and Lizzie do love me, I am closest to them but even then."

"They were the only ones that cared that I got hurt last Saturday, but they don't spend any time with me for the same reason. They don't understand me and do not wish to. They have never tried. I once spoke to Lizzie, I remember that. She is my twin and we have never had that weird connection. That was the first and last time, I remember making her sad but I don't remember what I told her. I just remember that afterwards she didn't want to talk to me and neither did Jane."

"She must have told our father, I remember him being so angry and he started avoiding me. My guess is Lizzie asked him not to say anything. So I stay to myself. Well I go for jogs with Lizzie and I've been riding with Jane several times and I sometimes help them with their homework but that's about it. Once again bringing Will's words justice."

"Please stop saying he was right. He was wrong. Do you not see the effect you have on your friends? You should have seen them when you were missing. Hurst was the same when you fell last weekend. You are a really big part of their lives. I don't think they would know what to do without you. You have this aura about you Lexie. I only see it when you are with them. When you're happy you radiate this energy. You make others around you happy too."

"You honestly think so?" She asked happily.

He smiled, "Yes you have that same effect on Georgiana and even on me. Your smile, you have a beautiful smile. You glow."

She looked down and blushed, realizing she was still in his embrace. She must have shown her discomfort because he let her go and she slid off him. He got angry at himself but he couldn't help but tell her the truth.

"Would you like to get something to eat? We can continue speaking if you like. If you would rather return to school though, I understand." She asked wanting to see if he still wanted to get to know her.

"Yes, where would you like to go?"

"I am not picky, anyplace will do. How about you?" She asked.

"I asked you first."

"And I answered your question." She smirked. "So now you must answer mine," she giggled as he frowned.

"Touché," He said and chuckled. "Very well then," he said with an evil smirk. "Do you like Mexican food?"

"I have never tried it, but I like I said I am not picky."

"Great, let's go." He said a little too enthusiastically.

On the car ride to the restaurant he told her the story of how he and Hurst found this restaurant one time when they were bored and how it quickly became one of their favorites. They also spoke about her like and dislikes and they found that they were almost the same, his dislikes were things Lexie didn't know about and therefore couldn't say she disliked them.

"Do you mind if I order for you?" He asked with a sly smirk as they were seated in a corner.

"No," she said knowing he was up to something.

"Do you think Anne will be angry that I kept you out of school too long?"

"No, she knows why. She may not like it, but she knows you aren't holding a gun to my head and respects my decision."

"You told her you were going to speak to me?"

"No I asked her opinion; what she thought about me telling you about myself." She glanced at him and his eyes asked a question. "She thought that I should wait insight of what happened yesterday. To be sure I could handle it."

"I think you are doing a good job. I believe that things happen for a reason, although a lot of bad things happen I believe something good comes out of it. It might take a while to see, but it happens."

Her smile fell and she felt guilty. She believed that life was pointless and the world was just a fucked up place. Bad things just happened; people were evil. It was human nature to want more than, be vain, self-centered. But yesterday she had come to the conclusion that there was a point of people existing; just not her.

"You do not have to keep going if you do not wish. Thank you for telling me what you have. I just hope one day to earn more of your trust."

"You, you would still like to get to know me?" He said yes staring straight into her eyes and smiled. "That was nothing just the tip of the iceberg. I would like to tell you now if it is all right."

The waitress came and placed a bowl with tostadas and a salsa on the table, and took the order. He ordered two plates of enchiladas, which came with rice and beans. He encouraged her to try the tostadas and salsa. It was priceless to see her try and stay composed. He was sure she would react as he and Hurst had, but she was tough. To his surprise she just smiled at him turning red and took a small sip of tea.

"You are tougher than Hurst and I, we chugged the whole glass." He told her smirking. "Did you like it?"

She tried another, then another. She smiled, "Yes," and took another small sip. "It is nice to know I beat you at something." She said smiling.

"What do you mean you beat me all the time." He said in a clipped tone, he saw her face fill with fear.

"I did not mean to say that. It was more of a joke because I did not beat you at anything in the literal sense. You only said that I could handle this one thing that you… I am really, very truly, deeply, really sorry. I do not think I am better than you at all." She said quickly, and added "I have never thought so," quietly. "This was a bad idea. I was getting to comfortable with you. But now I know so it will not happen again Ok? Are we still friends?" She asked panicking.

She really regretted saying it, it made him angry. It was the reason he didn't like her because she 'was better.' She had already told him too much and formed a small attachment to him, yesterday's events came into her mind and the time it took him to answer didn't help anything.

"You see I told you I was a horrible person and you refused to listen. Now you hate me again, Anne was right I cannot handle this. I should have waited." She said thinking out loud.

"I never hated you Alexa." Back to Alexa, great!

"When you first transferred to Silver M, I had recently lost my parents. I was already angry because it wasn't fair that my peers had their parents and I didn't. They were taken from me." He closed his eyes; he wasn't use to opening up either. Honest truth. He had to share something with her. He was going to lose her and he could not lose her. "Then you came and I felt as if you took my spot. Not to mention the fact that you were a scholarship student and your family. Then you started to play the violin." He looked up at her; realizing he was making her feel worse.

"You know how I believe things happen for a reason. It just takes a while to see the good?" She just nodded. "Well I always thought that I was better than people beneath my station, it was how I was raised. I learned that it was not true and I believe I am a better person for it. When you started to play, I wanted to prove that I could play better, so I learned to play the cello. It was the best thing that could have happened. It helped me work out so many feelings. It was therapeutic, all thanks to you." He smiled brightly at her and she gave a small smile back.

The waitress came and left their plates ending that conversation. She took a bite of the enchiladas and turned as red as a tomato. She took a huge sip of her tea and began to fan herself. She looked at him and pouted when he smirked. Her eyes became watery and her nose was runny and he tried not to laugh as she drank more tea.

"You are truly evil. I hope you know that." She said still trying to compose herself.

He broke out laughing making her semi comfortable. "You did say that you were not picky and anyplace would do. You also allowed me to order for you, so this is your own fault."

"Had I known that you were going to be cruel, I would have ordered myself." She said sniffling.

"I was actually being nice, this is not that spicy compared to the other dishes, so I did you a favor." He said chuckling.

"What about tacos?"

"They come with this salsa that you can put on it. It is spicier than this; I would have suggested you use it and you would have. In the end this was actually being nice."

She just rolled her eyes and tried the rice and beans. She found that by mixing them it was not that spicy and when she finished her tea, she stole John's soda and drank it. He could not stop chuckling and it was hard for her to be serious. When they finished they ordered dessert and it was as if nothing bad had happened. She was a little more comfortable around him, but she couldn't really get passed the fact that she made him angry. He was just hoping he had not scared her away.

"Would you like to go back to the park after dessert or back to school?" He asked her hoping she wouldn't pick the latter.

She thought about it for a while. "I'm not sure." She looked at her watch and then frowned.

"What's wrong? What time is it?"

"It is 1:40." She answered and looked down.

"Do you want to go back to school; we still have two hours left?"

"No it is not that. It's just that..." She couldn't say it, she lifted her hand up to show him with the saddest look in her eyes.

He was confused at first and then he saw it, she had scratch marks on her hand and there were scabs from where she had bled.

"I do not notice when I do it; it is subconscious. I do not want Anne to see. I do not like her to feel bad, nor would I want her to blame you."

"Is this because of me? What happened a while ago?" He asked hurt.

"No. Well, I probably have been doing it all day. Anne and Mary kept glancing at my hands, but I ignored it at the time. I will admit I was nervous about speaking with you." He winced. "It was not your fault. It is a tick of sorts."

"Will you explain that to Anne? And Hurst? I would not want either of them to harm me." He gave her a soft smile.

"Anne would never! Hurst maybe, but never Anne!" She mused.

"If she's willing to slap her cousin, I am sure she is willing to slap me. You actually physically hurt yourself in my company."

"What! She slapped Will?" She looked sharply at him, regret passed his face. "She did not tell me," she smiled. "I wish I would have been there to see it! That is so great, I am glad." She giggled when John made a shocked face. "Let me clarify," she said seriously. "First, I am glad that she slapped someone in general. Second, when am I ever going to get the chance to see that again? Maybe we should keep her waiting for us at school and turn off our phones?" She said smirking.

"You would not! You know I can carry you and you cannot get too far away from me in crutches."

She looked affronted, "You would actually manhandle me? You are supposed to be a gentleman." She said giggling.

His eyes turned dark. "I would rather manhandle you than face Anne's wrath." He smirked at her.

She laughed, "She'd probably do it if I asked her to anyways. So I suggest you play nice."

He fidgeted in his seat. She had taken off her blazer and vest earlier and her button up shirt hugged her upper body tightly, it was obviously too small for her. He wanted nothing more than to touch her. Damn teenage hormones. Glancing at her hand, he picked it up and ran his thumb over the scratches.

"How often do you do this?"

"I honestly do not know. Like I said it is a tick." She said pulling her hand back to look at it. "I might do it every day, maybe only when I'm over feeling. The only time I realize it is after I see it, or someone points it out. It is called Neurotic excoriations. The repetitive scratching causes lesions. Luckily, though I always cut my nails. I do not let them get long enough, so all I receive are tiny scratches."

Their dessert came. "Dr. Stone tells me that I am cynical, I have my own views and realistic ones of the world. My jumble thoughts and reasoning make me eccentric. Medically speaking of course I have an Anxious Personality Disorder. It causes me to have panic attacks; at times I cannot control my anxiety. That is what the pills are for." She ate some of her cake. He was going over what she just said.

"It is a mental disorder." She deadpanned. "It accounts for my trust issues; I am preoccupied with my own shortcomings and form relationships with others only if I believe I will not be rejected." She just kept looking at her plate, and continued indifferently. "Loss and rejection are too painful and I would rather be alone than risk trying to connect with others, not to mention I am introverted. I am content. Dr. Stone says I have an inability to identify traits within myself that are positive. She believes that the childhood emotional neglect from my parents developed it along with the rejection of my peers."

He started to feel guilty; it was his fault that others did not accept her at school. He was always the popular guy, everyone always did what he wanted and followed by his example. She could see him blaming himself. She did not mean to blame him. She understood, he already explained.

"I believe it has more to do with my parents. I was already picked on at my first elementary. Lizzie would always protect me and Jane was like my mom, I'd always go to her. From a very young age, I knew my parents did not love me or each other. I've always felt that life is pain, dark depressing loneliness that eats at your soul. Everyone is taught in books and movies to believe in happy fairytale endings but there is only blackness. I have always felt that I have been a disappointment to my whole family, along with invisible, and unwanted."…."The pills numb the pain; they helped me build my wall. But I have decided to stop taking them."

"Why the change?"

"The majority 90% of the time I feel nothing. Words do not get to me nor do my emotions." She had to choose her words wisely. It would be foolish to tell him how Will made her feel without him meaning to, when yesterday he made her feel the lowest she had ever been. "Lately the pills have not been helping. Especially yesterday and today, it is something I am willing to try. Unfortunately I cannot just stop taking them. I would suffer from withdrawals so Dr. Stone will be lowering my doses, that way if I change my mind it wouldn't be a problem to keep taking them."

"I do not care how much you agree with Darcy. He was wrong and I know on some level you know that; but your thoughts get the best of you."

She smiled brightly at him and nodded. "Story of my life: I know, but I think too much. I think I like your belief that things happen for a reason. I do not believe it entirely. Before I used to believe that nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, and everyone is going to die. Mad World by Tears for Fears would be a constant song playing if my life were a movie."

"Yesterday; after the confrontation, I was grateful to have Mary, Anne, Hurst and Dr. Stone. I felt almost as if they were here for me. I do not know what I would do without them. And something good came out of my accident last week; Anne and Hurst are together now, and happy. You started being nice to me and yesterday I cried." She paused. "Well I actually hated that part, I hate to cry. I hate feeling out of control. But now here we are. Friends." She smiled softly.

"I couldn't agree more, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel." He cleared his throat. "So you told all of this to Darcy and he still said those things to you. What an asshat."

She giggled, "That is funny. Asshat! Ha!" She laughed. "I only told him some of what I said here during dessert. I did not explain or go into so much detail; we were at the hospital. He asked about the pills." She shrugged. "I forgave him because he gave me an explanation, and I see his logic. What I told you at the park…I have never told anyone. Well Dr. Stone knows." She got serious, "This is going to sound really bad and if you get offended I understand." She stared at him, "Please do not give me a reason to regret opening up to you. I would say it was not easy, but I honestly did not mean to tell you any of it. I was only going to tell you what I told him, and I told you a lot."

He grabbed her hand and held it, starring back at her. "I promise you will not regret it. I feel honored that you opened up to me. Maybe what happened yesterday helped you open up today."

She smiled and agreed and once they finished eating went back to school, making it in time for their last period.