R-E-V-I-E-W! What does that spell? REVIEW!!

xoxo, kristyn

shout out to anonymous review Renee: you're actually not the biggest fan if you threaten not to read it unless i update. please don't do that, i'm so busy right now with finals and graduation and stuff. i'll update whenever i can, and you have to accept that.

Westchester, NY

WHS Homecoming, Junior Class

Saturday, September 14

8:38 PM

Claire sat down on a narrow bench at the side of the gym, sipping her drink and scrutinizing the dance. She had already witnessed Massie's revenge, and she thought that she had gone a little bit too far, but she was Massie, so she shouldn't expect otherwise.

She had also witnessed Massie and Derrick dancing. And kissing. And dancing. And kissing. And kissing. And kissing! She knew that Massie was going to be in an amazing mood after the dance.

She had only seen Cam once, and he was walking over to the food table, alone and with an ah-dorable confused expression on his face. Every time she saw him, her heart broke all over again. Josh had told her that that was how he felt every time he saw Massie and Derrick together for the first few days after they had gotten back together.

Josh was a good guy, and they had gotten to be good friends over the past two weeks. He was always willing to listen to her vent, usually about Cam. She was glad for his sake he had gotten over Massie. He liked someone else now, but he wouldn't say who.

She sighed, and continued observing the room. Couple after couple were dancing, kissing, talking, laughing. She wished she was one of them, but she just couldn't seem to get it together with Cam.

Finally, she stood up, determination in her eyes. She was going to find Cam, and tell him how she felt. If he liked her like Derrick and Massie had both said, he would want to get back together right away, right?

She pushed her way through the crowded dance floor, her heels scuffing the glassy floors. She searched for his unmistakable black hair and Drakkar Noir, standing on her toes in the packed gym.

Was he standing by himself, wishing she was with him? Rehearsing a romantic poem to beg for her forgiveness? Waiting by the door to catch her attention when she left?

All of her fantasies came crashing back to earth with a loud bang when she finally found him.

He was slow dancing, his arms wrapped around a girl's waist, leaning in to whisper something into her ear. The girl's arms were tightly wound around him, and her fingers played with his hair. His posture was stiff and forced, but he was doing this of his own free will. When they spun around, Claire immediately recognized the girl.

Kristen. Kristen Gregory, one of her supposed best friends, was dancing with her guy. Claire's heart tore right down the middle, and she wondered how this could get any worse.

As if to answer her thoughts, Kristen stood up on her tiptoes and pulled Cam's head down to kiss her. He reacted instantly, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Claire couldn't take anymore. She turned and fled, slamming the double doors open and dashing out through the football field.

It was raining heavily, and the raindrops fell to the ground along with her heartbroken tears.

She was soaking wet, her hair was limp and matted down to her face, and her makeup was washing off her face, but she didn't care. What did she have to care bout?

She walked away from the school building, past the metal bleachers, and was about to call the limo when she heard someone yelling.

"Claire!" The mystery person yelled. She couldn't see anything through the heavy sheets of rain but a dim outline.

The person ran towards her, and she stopped walking to face him.

She immediately turned around again when she saw that it was Cam.

"Claire, please stop and just listen to me," Cam pleaded, grabbing her arm.

Claire jerked her arm away and continued to huff across the marshy field.

"Claire, please!" Cam yelled, running in front of her to cut her off.

"What?" She snapped, slamming to a stop only inches away from him.

"I know you saw what happened back there. It was all Kristen, you have to believe me," Cam said, his eyes heartbroken.

Claire glared at him, barely able to see him in the furious downfall.

"Why should I?" She scowled, wringing out her sopping ponytail.

"Because," Cam said, taking in a deep breath. "Because I love you."

Claire felt herself being torn right down the middle. One side was screaming, "He loves you! He loves you! Forgive him!" While the other side hissed, "Jerk. Asshole. Liar. Cheater. Scumbag. Sleazeball. Break his sorry little heart."

"It's raining," She finally replied. "You better go back inside before you get wet."

Cam laughed. "Do you really think I could get any wetter?"

She glanced at his slicked-down-with-rain hair, shirt sticking to his skin, and shoes covered in mud. "True."

She shifted in her heels, trying to keep them from sinking in the swampy field. She was at a dead end. Did she forgive him or not? In her heart, she knew the answer, but her head was telling her the opposite.

"Well, what do you want?" Claire asked impatiently, crossing her arms.

"You to forgive me. I want time to go back to when it was me and you," Cam said softly, his eyes warm and honest.

Claire's frozen heart melted. He was so cheesy, but it was so cute.

"Give me one more good reason," She challenged him.

"I brought you these," Cam answered, slipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out a bag of gummy worms.

"This good enough for you?" He asked, handing her the bag.

"Always," She whispered, and he tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes.

She gazed right back into his, and she didn't say a word when he leaned in to kiss her.

To Claire, it felt like the world had just started spinning again after a three-year standstill.

The rain pounded down on their bodies, but she didn't care. At all. Not even that her perfect hair, makeup and outfit were ruined. This was worth it by far.

She had subconsciously waiting for this for three years, and finally, finally, she was getting it.

She finally pulled away to breathe, and Cam said, "Miss Lyons, may I have this dance?"

She giggled, and objected, "But there's no music. And it's raining!"

"So?" Cam asked, eyebrows raised.

"Okay," She said, blushing slightly.

She pressed her shivery body up against his strong, warm one and they swayed back and forth under the full moon, the rain running down both of them.

"I love you, Claire Lyons," Cam breathed in her ear.

"And I love you, Cam Fisher," She replied, her heart soaring. "Always have, always will.

And in the pouring rain, in the middle of the football field, while thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, the pieces of Claire's heart finally realigned themselves.

Eh. I'm not so sure how I feel about this chapter, but whatevs! Review!