…no apologies…

It's silent for a beat before I find my voice.

"I get it. We didn't label anything. We weren't anything special. Everything you told me was probably a ploy to get into my pants, and at the end of the day you won. Bravo. I hope you feel special," I say, sarcastically applauding his great accomplishment. He looks away from me, and for a moment, I think he looks abashed.

"Bella—" he starts, but I cut him off. I'm not finished.

"But just so you know, I hate you're fucking depressing music, and I think pot taste like shit. I like watching bad reality TV and listening to fucking Taylor Swift. And one day I'm going to meet someone who I won't feel the need to change for because he'll like me for all of it. Your opinion has and never will matter, and I'm sorry I ever thought it did." I take a breath and turn to leave, but my mother's words chime in my mind. I turn back to his widened eyes.

"Oh, and Pudge wasn't pathetic for not being afraid to fall for a girl. He was brave. It takes a kind of courage that you will never know, Edward Cullen. Being too afraid to care about anyone; that's what's pathetic."

I turn and open the door of the classroom, walking out before he can say anything.

I'm surprised to find a line of students waiting outside.

"You may all enter your class now. I thank you for your patience," a voice says beside me, and I turn to find Angela pushing away from the wall she was leaning against. She saddles up next to me as we walk toward our first period. "I figured you probably didn't need any witnesses if you were going to murder him."

"Ang, I—" she waves off whatever words I had planned for her.

"Water under the bridge. So, did you murder him? Maybe castrate him?" she asks, and the hopeful gleam in her eyes sends me into fits of laughter. I don't know if it's the relief of her forgiveness, or the closure my heated words gave me, but I feel lighter.

I loop my arm around hers, and she goes on about all the things I missed in the time we were apart.

I can still feel the heavy chains of heartbreak wrapped around my shoulders, but in that moment, I feel a few links fall away.

*Pudge was the main character of Looking for Alaska. A book they discussed during his party.

You guys are awesome. In case you haven't been told that today. :)