As soon as I got home; the first thing I did was to pull off my now scuffed pair of high heels. I looked down at my dirty, slightly bloody toes. I had walked a couple miles home all by myself in those God awful shoes; it wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done…especially the walking alone part. I had quite a few cars honk as they drove by, but it really didn't bother me. I could only dare one of those perverts to mess with me while I was in a mood like that. I went from crying, to being angry, to crying again and back to angry. Now that I was home; I had only one thing on my mind…

Who was lying to me?

I still haven't figured out the answer to that question. One of them had to be. But the truth of the matter is that I didn't want either one of them to be lying to me. Yes, Matt had hurt me very badly, but we still had our history…and the good weighs out the bad…doesn't it? But Jason…Jason is everything to me right now.

I didn't want to believe that Jason could do such a thing, but in reality, how long have I really known him? But he'd done so many good things for me…and his family…I felt as if they were my family now as well.

I groaned as I literally crawled into the bathtub to try and reduce the throbbing coming from my feet. I laid in the tub for about an hour; the entire time debating with myself who I thought could be lying to me.

As I crawled into my bed that night, I realized that this was the first night since I met Jason that I cried myself to sleep.

The next morning – or afternoon, I should say - I tried to keep myself busy by cleaning my loft. I cleaned until about 5 in the afternoon, when I heard someone knocking at my door. I could feel my heart drop into my stomach. "I hope it isn't one of the boys, but who else could it be?" I thought to myself, before slowly walking to the door.

I took a deep breath before opening the door. I hadn't even bothered to take my cleaning bandana out of my hair, because right now I really didn't care about seeing either one of those boys.

"Kristie!" I heard a familiar voice squeal. "Jessica!" I squealed back, relieved that it wasn't who I thought it was. We embraced each other in a warm hug. "What are you doing here?" I asked astonished that my best friend from back home was now standing at my doorstep.

"Well you know next week is my birthday, and someone gave me a plane ticket so I could come visit you," she said with a small smile.

"Aw that was nice. Who was it?" I asked curiously. Then Matt stepped out from his hiding spot and waved slightly. "You?" I asked, truly amazed, but it didn't seem to come out that way.

"Gee, that's not very nice, Kris," Jess said as she placed her hands on her hips. "No-no, I just…wasn't expecting him," I said trying to defend myself.

"Well, I thought you might want to see an old friend. Refresh your memory of who you use to be," Matt seemed to speak as bitter as he thought I was being.

"Don't start that crap with me," I said firmly. "But-" he started to speak but was interrupted by Jess, "So you gonna keep us out here in the hall or day or what?" she asked as she pushed her way through me, into my loft.

"No please, come in," I said sarcastically to the girl who was already inside my place. Matt looked at me; I could only sigh, "You too, I guess."

As Matt walked inside, it was the first time I actually got a good look at the marks on his face. For some reason, I totally remember the cut on his lip being on the left side of his mouth last night…now it was in the right. I don't know…I could be wrong.

"So," Jess started excitedly, "since this is my first time being in Cali I say we hit the clubs!" Jess had always been the outgoing partier, while I was the stay-at-home and read a book type. I really don't know how we got to become best friends, but somehow we did.

"I dunno, why don't you two go without me? You know what they say, 'three's a crowd,'" I said trying to get myself out of it. "Well if anyone should stay home it should be me," Matt said.

"What? Please, you've been out west the longest; and besides you brought me out here. You gotta come!" she whined. "And you," she now turned her focus on me, "you are coming too!" she ordered. "It's my birthday…you gottaaaa," she whined and pouted. I sighed as I gave in.

"Fine," was all I said; she squealed with delight.

"Matt, be back here at 9 tonight. Got that?" she asked as she walked Matt to the door. I made a mental note as he was leaving that tonight Matt's cut lip was on right; and his black eye was on the left. I'd wait and see if later tonight they'd match up again or not.

"See you later," Jess told Matt.

"Bye Jess…Bye Kristie," I could hear him say softly before the door shut.

Jess rushed back to me as soon as the door shut.

"Oh my gosh, we got to get you ready! You look a mess!" she said as she pulled me up and tried to push me towards my bathroom.

"Wow, nice to see you too."