A/N: Not much to say, but this and the next 2-3 chapters will cover Winter Break chapters. Than we'll be heading into the final semester, which will be a lot of time jumping to keep chapters a good length. Hope you guys enjoy.

Chapter 21

*Carly's POV*

I met Brad at a Mexican restaurant down the street from the Bushwell. I had come to the conclusion that I should drive myself just in case things made a turn for the worst.

"Carly, I am really sorry for not telling you about Mika." He said for the fourth hundred time that night. We held hands as we sat across from each other. "I never meant to hurt you."

"I know," I said back to him. "You know what hurt the worst about you lying to me. The fact that I would react that horrible if you would have told me the truth, like do you really seem as some jealous, unreasonable, clingy girlfriend?"

"No, it's not that at all. I just was nervous. I knew there was a chance that you would react well, and there was a chance that you wouldn't react so well. I just let the first get the best of me." He said.

"Well, from now on, just tell me the truth from now on, okay." I said back to him before letting his hand go.

"I agree, and will from now on. That's why I want to do this." He said. I smiled nervously at him as he talked. "I want us to start fresh. No secrets." He said.

I shrugged. "Are you sure you want to do this. I mean most of the time these don't go well." I tried to talk him out of his suggestion.

"Carly, I'm trusting that you can handle anything I tell you." I said. "And, there is nothing you can say that will make me think any less of you." He said grabbing my hand and kissing it.

I took a deep breath. "I'm not so sure about that." I mumbled.

"What was that honey?" He asked. I let go of his hand.

"Oh, nothing, I'm just a little nervous." I quickly covered. I took another deep breath. "Brad, there is something you should know…" I started, but he cut me off.

"Carls, you don't have to go first. This was my idea, so I'll go first." He said.

"Babe, I don't think there is anything about you I don't know. All your past relationships, the other girls, your family…" I stated.

"Yeah, and that's the good thing about us starting out as friends, but um there is one thing you don't know about." He said with a shrug.

I looked at him with questioning eyes. "Um, okay…"I said. "What is it?"

"Well, last year right before we got together, I went with the guys to The Shack." He said.

"Um, I know that. That's when Tasha and Gibby got together." I said slightly confused about why he thought this was news.

"Yeah, well something happened there that only Freddie and I know about." He said.

"Okay," I beckoned for him to continue.

He visibly gulped. "Yeah, well I was there with the boys and of course I was dancing with a bunch of different girls…" He started.

"Not out of the ordinary for a single guy." I said. Honestly, I was a little nervous about where this was going.

"Yeah, well there was this one girl I ended up taking back to my place." He said.

"Oh…" I said feeling my heart slowly sinking. "So, I'm guessing you two…" I started. Brad nodded his head. My heart fell all the way. He had told me that since we had started talking he hadn't slept with any other girl. I put on my brave face and continued the conversation. "Well, not that I really want to know, but do I know her?"

He took another deep breath. "It was Rachael." He said with a wince.

"Two-faced, psycho-leader, slut Rachael; the same Rachael that almost got Sam expelled last year." I clarified more to me than to him. "You slept with her?"

I tried to remain calm, but Brad knew that none of us girls could stand her. None more than me, ever since I had beat her out of freshmen princess during homecoming our first year at Ridgeway she's had it out for me.

"I know, I'm sorry. I don't even like her. I just… I don't know. I guess I didn't know if we were going anywhere yet, and she was there." I said.

"She's a ho Brad, that's her job to be open for access at the drop of a hat. Or, in the case of middle, have her mouth wide open for a damn used bottle of perfume." I said obviously pissed about this news.

Brad slightly snickered, but he stopped when he saw the look on my face. "It was a mistake Carly. So much so that I had put it in the back of my mind. I love you Carly, and I don't want this to come in between us.

This was worse than I was expecting. I would've received his news better if it was a stranger, but this I wasn't expecting. However, I was in no place to talk. I had my own bones in my closet.

"I don't either Brad. She's not worth my aggravation, nor is the situation." I said touching the side of his face. He took my hand and kissed my palm. "I just hope you can still look at me the same way when I tell you my secret."

He nodded. "Go on," He said kissing my hand again.

"Brad, I sle…" I looked at Brad eyes and found myself at a loss for words. I couldn't bring myself to tell him about Gibby. "I sle… I sleep with a baby blanket."

He laughed. "Honey is that it?" He asked with a look of relief.

I felt my guilt, but I continued to push it down. "Don't laugh its kind of embarrassing. I mean how many seventeen year olds do you know that still sleep with a baby blanket?" I said crossing my arms to keep up with my show.

"Well, not many, but where is it I've been in your room many times and have never seen it." He said. I thought of Sam for a minute. When she lies she's so smooth with it, that it's damn near impossible to see through it. I had to channel my inner Puckett.

"I hide it, and by hide it I mean it's no where near my room when you're over, or anyone for that matter. Something like this could ruin me in high school." I said.

"Sweetheart, you don't even care about popularity." He laughed.

"Yeah, but I also don't want to be the laughing stock of the school either." I said. He nodded his head.

"You know I would never tell anyone." He said. "I don't want you to be afraid to tell me these kind of things about you."

"I know," I said.

"You know I would love to see your baby blanket." He said flashing me a charming smile.

I felt my heart drop. "Um, maybe one of these days, when I'm ready to show you." I covered. He nodded his head. "Brad, no matter what, I just want you to remember that I love you."

"I know," He said. He started to lean over the table. "I love you too." He finished before placing his lips on mine. I kissed back, but not fully there I was too busy thinking, 'Great, where the hell am I going to get an old raggedy baby blanket from.'

*Two Weeks Later*

"Ugh, why can't I just skip the midterms and go straight to winter break?" I stated as I stretched across Carly's bed and watched her pack for her trip to Yakima at the end of the week. "Better yet, let's just skip the rest of this and graduate already."

Carly laughed and shook her head. "I wish, but I am looking forward to next semester. Think about it, we have prom, senior skip day, and more importantly graduation." Carly said.

"Bleh, all things I can leave without, except graduation." I said with a wiggle of my eyebrow. "Okay, Carls I have to ask why are you packing so early?"

"It's not early." She said with a pout.

"You don't leave until Friday, it's Monday." I slightly laughed.

"Well, I always forget something so if I pack early I have chance to remember what isn't in my bag." She said.

"I guess," I said before laying down on her bed.

"Alright, what's wrong?" She said. "Still contemplating what Jonah said to you the other week. I cringed when she mentioned him. I had been avoiding him the past two weeks.

Ever since his confession…

*Flashback*

"Because, he had the girl I want and it was killing me Sam." He said.

I stopped in my tracks. I felt that everything around me had frozen and time was standing still. I know I didn't just hear what I thought I heard. I couldn't of.

"I'm sorry… come again," I stated with a look of confusion.

Jonah sighed and took out a cigarette lightening it, and taking a puff.

"I'm in love with you Sam." He said.

"You cannot be serious?" I said to his confession.

"Come on Sam, would I really lie about something like this?" He said back to me. "Can you ever recall a time that I told any girl I was in love with them?" He started to come closer to me, but I put my hand up and stopped him.

"I can't do this right now." I said before walking off.

*End of Flashback*

"Oh God no," I said to Carly.

Carly rolled her eyes. "You know you can't avoid him forever."

"Sure I can." I said back to her

"You do realize he has been at school every day since his confession." Carly said with a laugh.

"You know, I hate that you're going to be gone for the winter break." I stated changing the subject.

Carly starred at me for a minute before continuing with the conversation. "I'll be back the day after Christmas." She said.

"Yeah, I know. It just sucks because you all are going to be gone." I said sitting back up.

"Not all of us, I mean Brad's going to see his dad's side of the family, Jessica is going to Ireland for Christmas, Wendy's going to L.A. to see her uncle, Wes is going to be in the country somewhere, Gibby and Tasha are going to Tasha's modeling thing, and Freddie is going to his grandparents." She paused and starred for a minute.

"Damn, you are going to be here alone." She said shaking her head.

"Exactly," I said laying back down.

"But, we all will be back before New Years. Well almost all of us, Freddie is staying at his grandparents until right before school starts back." She said.

"Which, I never did understand. I mean if it was decided post breakup, then I would see why he decided to stay there the whole. We barely say hi in the hallway it's awkward, but this decision was made when we were together." I said picking up on of her pillows and putting it on my head.

"Yeah, I hear you. I thought he would've changed his mind especially considering recent events. At least come home for New Years Eve." Carly said

I rolled my eyes; sometimes Carly didn't use her complete mind. "Why would he change his mind about coming home early?" I said in a monotone, thinking that it would click that we had indeed just broken up.

"I mean you know, New Years Eve is a big night. It's The Bash at the cabin, and kind of a couples' thing. I just figured he would be here you know with him and Emma being all official now." Carly stated as she continued to fold clothes not even stopping for a moment.

I shot up and looked at her. "I'm sorry come again?" I said shooting her a dumbfounded look.

She didn't look up at me as she started her statement. "New Years Eve is a couples' thing, and you would think he would be here since he and Emma… are… official… Wait, didn't you know?" She asked finally looking up at me.

"Does it look like I know Carly Shay?" I asked standing up. "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't any of you tell me?"

"I'm sorry, we all thought you knew and just didn't want to talk about. They changed their splashfaces on Saturday. He asked her on Friday night." Carly stated.

"Wow," was all I could manage to get out. I didn't know how I was feeling. Grant it, yes I knew eventually they would end up together, but not this soon. "Good for him… her… them, they are perfect for each other."

"Sam, I am so sorry. If I knew that you didn't know I wouldn't have said anything." She said sitting next to me at the table.

"Carls, it's okay. It wasn't your ordeal to tell, and me and Freddie barely talk as it is." I said. "I'm not surprised he didn't tell me. I mean is that something you honestly want to tell an ex?" I said. I had no right to be mad especially considering that I broke up with him.

"Yeah, but you still shouldn't have found out like this." She said.

"Yeah, well I hope they're happy together." I said. Carly starred at me for a little while until I broke contact and changed the subject.

"Hey have you seen Jessica lately?" I asked.

Carly caught my drift and switched subjects with me. "You mean like outside of school? No, not in weeks, what's been up with her lately." She said.

"I don't know. Like a few weeks ago, she told me she was grounded, but I know her parents. She has never been grounded for more than a weekend, ever." I stated

Carly shrugged. "Maybe it has something to do with Twitch doesn't she drive up to see him sometimes?" She asked.

"Yeah, but that's once a month and only on weekdays." I said. I was talking about Jessica, but secretly I was still focusing on the fact that Freddie and Emma were together.

"Well, maybe she's been spending time with her new best friend Wesley." She said.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" I said.

"Well, I mean they are the only single ones, since Wendy started seeing that dude from Ridge Crest. Maybe, they just like hanging out together." Carly said.

"Yeah, maybe you're right, but that's a lot of time hanging out." I said.

"Come on Sam, do you really believe she would be with Wes while she is still hung up on Twitch?" Carly asked.

I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right." I said laying back down on the bed. My mind going from Wesley and Jess back to Freddie and Emma.

*Same Day*

*Jessica's POV*

"YES… YES… OH FUCK YES!" I screamed out as I reached my climax. I laid there for a minute before rolling off of Wes, and landed next to him in his bed.

"Wow," He said.

"I know," I said kissing him on his cheek. I closed my eyes, knowing not to fall asleep his mom would be home in another hour.

"We really just did that." He said with a smile.

I laughed. "Yes we did, and you sir were fucking amazing." I said leaning on his strong chest.

"You weren't so bad yourself Legs." He stated rubbing his hand down my thigh towards them. I shook my head at his secret nickname for me. He claimed I had the best legs he had ever seen, and was infatuated with them.

"Alright, don't start anything that you know you won't be able to finish before your mom gets home." I said before he started trying to kiss on me again.

"I can be fast," He said turning me over and gnawing on my ear. I rubbed my hand down his bulging oversized biceps ready to give in, but I knew I couldn't.

"I highly doubt that." I giggled as I pushed him off and sat up.

"Fine, fine," he said laying back down on his hands. I stretched my arms around his wide torso and relaxed again. He wrapped his arm around my back and sighed. "I still can't believe that happened. I mean I guess it's been heading this way for the past five months, huh?" He asked.

"I mean, you can only make out with hands landing everywhere for so long if that's what you mean." I said with a laugh.

I honestly don't know how this thing with Wes started. I guess with everyone coupled up or completely busy with school activities and detentions. I just needed a friend to hangout with, and Wes was there. However, who knew that we would end up here.

It was just like one day I noticed him.

*Flashback*

"So, if you never really liked her why were you with her?" I asked Wes as I laid on his bed. He was working on an old school mix for an upcoming gig he had.

"I guess it was something Freddie said about random hook ups." He said. "And, how maybe randomly hooking up with women may not be the best thing in the world. It just makes women think that we're man hoes. Like how many hook ups does it take to make you a man hoe?" He asked.

"Um, I don't think the amount of times you hooked up with the same person counts. Didn't you say you two had hooked up like four times since sophomore year?" I asked.

"Yeah but none of it meant anything to me. If you're constantly hooking up with someone eventually they think you're going to end up with them? And, I didn't want to be an asshole. So, I guess I hoped that maybe if I called her my girlfriend than maybe I would you know find something there. However, she just got crazier." He said leaving his mix board and coming to sit by me.

"You are such a man. Why do you guys think that feelings is some kind of conditional trade? They don't work like that. It is possible to not emotionally like someone while just hooking up just like it is possible to be in a relationship with someone you have absolutely no feelings for." I said.

"Oh really so you're saying that if you were just hooking up with someone you can keep things platonic." He said scooting closer to me. By this time the flirting was way in affect, and getting more fluent since he had broken up with Lacey.

"I could," I said back. I scooted closer to him; showing him I wasn't backing down.

"Well let's say it was a friend. Let's say hypothetically the friend is me." He said scooting even closer. I laughed because I knew where this was heading, but I had no thoughts on stopping it. "Is it still possible?"

"You're an unfair hypothetical situation." I said scooting closer.

"Why's that?" He said taking my hand. I turned towards him and kiss him. He let go of my hand and wrapped his arms around me. We pulled apart after a few minutes. "Oh, that's why its unfair. Well safe to say I feel the same." He said.

Wes was a good guy. I liked him a lot, but there was still Twitch to think about. I really wasn't ready for anything heavy.

I laughed before pecking him again. "I won't tell if you won't." I said. He nodded, and we went back into indulging in each other.

*End of Flashback*

That was the start of this "friendship." Now, here we are after months and months of pushing our limits we finally went over. I enjoyed it, but there was still a twinge of guilt.

"I mean yeah I mean that, but come on Jessica, we've been at this for five months now." He said.

"I know," I replied skeptically. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.

"Well, why are we still trying to keep things so secret and casual?" He said. "I mean we made this step." He said.

"Wesley, please don't start this again." I said sitting up and searching for my clothes.

Wesley sat up, but didn't make any moves. "Jess, don't shut me out. You don't have to go."

"Actually I do, your mom will be home soon." I said with a short laugh. "I should at least be dressed, and so should you do." I handed him his basketball shorts.

"Look, all I'm saying is that we've been playing with fire this whole time. When this thing first started there were feelings there. It has never been casual." He said.

"I also told you I wasn't ready for anything serious Wes." I said throwing my shirt over my head.

"What do you call what just happened?" He asked finally getting out of his bed and putting his basketball shorts on.

"I call it sex Wes." I said putting on my shoes and sitting over at his mixing table. "And, I don't want to talk about this right now."

Wesley made his bed, and sat on the edge of it across from me. "Jess, I know Twitch did a number on you. He turned himself in, and after you stood by him through all of his shit, he broke up with you." He said touching my knee. "You told me you felt cheated."

I felt the tears start welling up in the corner of my eyes. Wesley was really easy to open up to. The conversation about my feelings towards Twitch being in prison and breaking up with me came up the first night me and him hung out by ourselves.

"But, he did it for a reason. He wanted you to be happy. He wanted you to live, but to do that you need to let him go." He said.

"I don't know if I can Wes. How the hell do you let go of a first love?" I asked. Wes put his head in his hands. "Have you ever had to give up a first love; because it sure as hell isn't as simple as just walk the fuck away." I said.

"I know Jessica. I'm not asking you to do it today, but damn, you're not trying at all. You told me you had feelings, but kept me at arms length. I respected that. I didn't expect you to just let him go that easy, but I didn't expect you to hold on to him either." He said.

"Wesley, look I really like you. You are the greatest guy I have ever met. But, Twitch was there through a really rough time in my life. He is the only reason I'm still here." I said tears running down my face by this point.

"I understand…" He started, but I cut him off.

"Do you? Do you understand that for the longest time it was as if he was the air I breathed and now I'm having to wean myself off that air and learn how to breathe on my own." I said standing up and grabbing my coat. He sat there in silence. "I'm sorry if this is too much for you to handle, and if it hurts. I don't want to hurt you, so if you want to stop now than that's okay I understand." I finished giving him a lingering kiss on the lips and heading towards the door.

He stood up and grabbing my hand and pulling me back towards him. I smashed to him and his lips came crashing down onto mines. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. We pulled away only when needed to breath.

"What you felt there was real, and too amazing to let go of without giving it a real try first." He said starring at me straight in the eyes. "You need to know something about Jessica I don't give up that damn easy, and it's going to take shit load more than some lingering feelings for an ex to make me back down. I can wait."

I stood there for a few seconds more trying to find the strength to untangle myself from his arms. Once I did, I left his house without a response. I didn't think he really wanted one anyways.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed all the feels this chapter. Next chapter coming soon.