5 months later

He was dead, that's what he felt when she walked out of his life. He wasn't himself and it really hit him when he got home and found all of her stuff was gone, as if she wasn't there anymore.

In that cold, lifeless apartment did he fall to his knees and cried out his heart, yelling out his frustration, anger, everything.

She was truly gone and she was never coming back. Laurel had tried to get his attention when he walked the halls but he simply made an excuse so he could quickly walk away and Yuki too.

Even David noticed Tamani's attitude and as much he hated Tamani, he felt pity towards him. He didn't know what was going on but he only assumed it was Isalinda.

David had noticed if they had a fight, Tamani would come to school upset and tense.

Laurel tried cheering him up and tried to get his attention. She had the chance to be with him but Tamani was shutting her out and pushing her away.

She didn't understand. Isalinda left him while Laurel stayed for him.

Now Laurel was determined to talk to him and demand to know why he wasn't even trying to win back the intimacy they had shared.

As she approached the double doors at the front of the school, one swung open, revealing Tamani.

Laurel stopped in her tracks and stared. He looked so sad.

Laurel grabbed the front of Tamani's shirt and dragged him around the side of the building.

"What?" Tamani asked, his voice full of irritation.

"What's the matter with you?" She said

Tamani said nothing but stared at her. His eyes were pale green pools of sorrow so intense, it took her breath away.

"Tam, what is going on with you? You're not acting yourself. You have bags in your eyes, you're losing weight, you're always tense and upset. What is going on? I'm worried about you?"

"You don't get it do you?" he said, his voice full of resentment.

She was confused.

"Get what?"

He growled and slammed a fist into the wall beside her making her jump.

"Isalinda! Get that, Laurel! Because of you and your stupid excuse of not knowing what you want, you dragged me along to test it out and made me lose the thing that made me live!" He was angry and she saw tears in his eyes.

Was it because of that girl he was acting like that?

"I didn't…"

"Don't" He whispered. His breath was coming out in shallow breaths. "We both knew that I loved her, I was in love with her. I was perfectly happy and content with her but you come along and mess it up. You had to bring up the confusions and mixed messages. You always have to make yourself the victim, the girl who doesn't know what she wants and decides to play with other people's feelings!"

"I never did that."

His laugh was bitter and frankly, Laurel was a little afraid. "You know what your problem is? You don't know what you want and you don't think of the damage you cause other people. Don't you see what the hell you done with me, with David, with yourself!"

She started to open her mouth then shut it. Was that how he saw her?

"I do know what I want."

"Really? Well then tell me, Laurel. Cause all of us are wondering what going on in that head of yours!"

You, she thought but for some strange reason she couldn't say it.

Tamani was starting to shake with frustration.

"You didn't complain that day in the cabin in Orwick" She said quietly.

He stepped back like she slapped him. "No, I didn't because like you, I was caught in the heat of the moment and I needed to make sure that what I was feeling for you was an obsession or something else."

Now she was nervous. She understood that they both were confused about their feeling and their undeniable attraction but Tamani was telling her something and she couldn't find out what it means.

"I love you, Tamani." She did love him but was it enough for him.

Tamani sighed loudly and when he looked at her, she flinched to see so much pain, sorrow and disbelief in them.

"No, you don't."

"I do!"

"Prove it!"

How? She loved him but how in the world was she going to prove it. Then, she thought of kissing him and started to lean toward him.

"No." he said, stopping her. She was hurt. Didn't he want to kiss her?

"Tell me. Tell me why you love me." His voice was serious and there was nothing in his eyes to indicate what he was feeling.

Then, she realized. She didn't know why she loved him. She just did.

"I…I don't…know." She said softly. There was pain in his eyes and she looked.

"David."

She narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

"Why do you love David?"

This was easy for her, David was supportive, caring, and intimate and when she was with him, it felt like it was just the two of them in the entire world. Her whole world would brighten up.

She smiled and was about to answer until she saw the look on his face and lost her nerve.

There was a knowing smug smile on his face and his eyes said, you are in love with him not me.

She wanted to take it back. She didn't want to lose Tamani after working so hard to win him back.

"No, I mean. It's not the same."

"No, it's not. Laurel you're madly in love with him." Surprisingly there was no edge in his voice.

"No I…"

He raised a hand. "Don't fight it. Tell me when you're with him, it's just the two of you as if you were all alone in the world and no one could bother you. You feel solid; you feel important and want to make the best of yourself. When you're away from him, even for a minute, you get a ache in your chest that won't go away until you see him. There's a tingle and warmth from him that you don't feel with anyone."

Tamani was right on track with what he was saying. It was true and Laurel felt longing grow in the pit of her stomach and head all over to her body.

"How do you know?" She asked.

"Because Isalinda made me feel that when I was with her. And I miss her. I'm in love with her and I realize that what I thought was love was actually an obsession with you, Laurel. But Isalinda, I feel perfect, I feel balanced. She's like my drug and I can't get enough of her."

"Don't let him suffer any more. Please. I know exactly what he's feeling and it isn't good. Go back to him.

"And you?"

"I'll be okay." He smiled but it was wrong. It didn't reach his eyes.

She didn't believe him.

"I have to go. Bye Laurel." He walked off not once looking behind him.