Breathe in, and out…the silence is unnerving me, but it shouldn't. It's been quiet for a couple of days now. No cheery texts, no random hugs, no…I don't even know. All I know is that I'm…single.

I don't even know what the heck happened.

"You aren't perfect Robbie! You constantly fawning on me makes me sick, and sometimes I wish WE weren't together!"

Well, I take that back. That happened. I do know I made more than a few mistakes, but I treated her with love, and apparently she didn't like that.

And now…we've got to keep the appearance for everyone at Tori's. It's just another acting exercise…just we're lying to everyone. I don't even know when we're going to tell them about what happened, Cat left after breakfast with my parents the next morning. She said she was going to do some casting calls for the next few days, and after my mom said that she was welcome to have a nice meal with my parents anytime.

I have been looking for my own place, away from where Cat is living. I've kind of gone on a spending spree after finding out the IRS was going to tax me a ridiculous percentage if my bank account didn't drop below 3 million. The book is still making waves, and numerous news agencies are worried about a Harper Lee type situation that nobody ever finds out who I am. Right now I'm at some expensive jewelry for my parents, a new car for me, along with some stuff for everyone, including Cat.

I texted her that I was going to buy her some stuff, and that it was NOT an attempt to get back with her. What was her response?

I'm still waiting. Actually, that isn't right. I'm not waiting. I've already bought it, and she's getting some nice makeup.

Suddenly I hear two soft knocks on my door. Cat poked her head in and said "Hey."

"Hey sunsh—Cat." I smiled, but her face fell.

I quickly seized the moment to atone for my mistake. "Cat, we need to talk about…how we're going to do this."

Her face seemed set. "Ok." And then she sat on the edge of my bed.

"First, let me ask this ok?" She nodded.

"Do you hate me?"

"NO!" She hopped up, immediately grabbing my arm and tears springing into her eyes. "I don't hate you Robbie…please don't leave me."

"Huh?"

"I need you in my life, even if we aren't…together."

"Oh. Well, do you mind if I call you sunshine?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea."

My spirits fell. "Ok. Umm…do you want me to not be around when you want to see my parents?"

"Not right now…no."

"Ok. I'm ready whenever you are." I said robotically.

It's like saying get out of my life but stay close if I need you. That's not FAIR.

We exited the house and hopped in our respective cars. I am simply hoping this goes well enough that nobody sees what really happened. It would shatter everyone's hearts.

It wasn't somebody else this time. It was each other. Cat and Robbie are why we aren't together anymore.

Man, this is going to take some serious getting used to.

"Hello!" Cat greeted cheerfully as we walked in the door. Jade and Andre were sitting at the table eating Fro-Yo, and Beck and Tori…were talking by the piano, making what looked to be nice conversation.

"How's it going?" Andre called out.

"It's goooooood." Cat smiled cheerfully.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"We're just talking, sitting, relaxing…you should try it, it's very fun." Beck smirked, lounging out on the couch now.

"OK!" Cat exclaimed, jumping into Beck's lap.

I saw Jade's eyes briefly widen, then a quick glance to me. I avoided her eye contact.

"Why so bouncy today?" Tori asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Just happy!" Cat replied, hugging Beck then getting off of him. He looked too happy for his own good, and his face fell once he saw my face.

No point in hiding anger since that would be natural.

"So how's the musica coming?" I changed topics, asking Tori.

"Umm, it's ok. Haven't worked on anything since school ended. I kind of want to just enjoy this summer."

I nodded slowly, and then she punched my arm.

"OW!" I yelled. "Why?" I asked her.

"It hit number 1!" She then tackled me into a hug.

"I forgot, yeah!" Andre said quickly, hopping out of his chair and hugging me once Tori released me. Beck did the same after Andre relinquished me.

"So how does it feel to be so successful?" Jade smiled at me as Cat hugged me softly, like she was asking me not to leave with said hug.

"I don't know, not much has changed, just my bank account. I'm still the same guy." I shrugged.

"That's good; we don't want you to become Trina." Tori said, which earned a glare from her passing mother.

I eased the tension by waving my hand, and she smiled in return. The Vega's have an open door at any time and are very hospitable. They are the best.

Plus they saved everyone at my house, so I guess I could be thankful for that too.

Suddenly Cat's phone rang out.

"Hello…YES!...That's wonderful!...I'll be right over, bye!"She said, hanging up.

"I got something!" She yelled over her shoulder, sprinting out the door.

After the door slammed shut Andre asked "Shouldn't you be going too?"

"Not unless you want me to, she's been going all week, so she drove herself today."

"Oh." He replied.

Oh is right.

"Do you know what she is talking about?" Beck asked.

"No, she's kept it under wraps. Said she doesn't want to jinx it." I replied, and everyone seemed to accept that. Everyone but Jade.

I looked at my phone, and made up an excuse to bail.

"Dang, I'm sorry guys. My last community service thing is today and then I'm taking it down to the court house."

"See you man." Andre waved as I exited the room. I absent mindedly drove right to the beach and sat down on the soft sand before I actually realized I was at the beach.

I was wondering how I got here when someone sat next to me.

"You have an obsession with stalking me." I joked upon seeing Jade sitting in the sand, looking slightly out of place.

"Hey, I just care." She shrugged, then smiling slightly.

"You been here in a while?" I gestured to the pristine, deserted beach.

"No, I was thinking about it during the summer." Jade answered with a yawn.

We both were quiet for a moment.

"Everything ok between you and Cat?" Jade asked.

Crap. I just can't lie to her. She'll find out and probably kill me.

"No."

"That's what I thought, otherwise you would know what movies she's auditioning for. What's up?" She asked, sounding curious.

And then I said the words I hoped to never say. "We…broke up."

She blinked, then quickly glanced at my face, expression quickly changing to shock.

"No…you're joking right? This is some kind of bad joke Robbie."

"No, we broke up."

Upon hearing that, tears started to fall in single file. Then both eyes, then she buried her head in her arms and let out a wail.

"Wha—Why?" She asked, in disbelief.

"After we got out of the hospital, she asked if I was ok, didn't believe I was ok, we ended up yelling about not trusting one another then…"

I wish WE weren't together!"

My stomach dropped and I felt ready to throw up.

"What?" Jade cried out hysterically. "What is it?"

"She said that she wished we weren't together sometimes." I said hollowly, bowing my head.

I vaguely heard Jade sobbing in the background. I did feel her grab i=onto me and sob into my shoulder.

I held her and hoped she would eventually stop. This is her worst nightmare.

"Are you guys still friends?" She asked throatily.

"Yeah."

"Will it be awkward between you guys?"

"As long as she doesn't make it awkward." I replied bluntly.

She sniffled and said "They won. DAMN IT!" Then hopped to her feet and threw a rock into the waves.

"What do you mean?" I asked, bewildered.

"Michael and Colton won! They wanted you two to break up, and they succeeded!" She yelled, punctuating it by throwing another stone.

"You're right…" I say, realizing this for the first time. "They won." I leaned onto the sand and sighed.

We didn't speak much the remaining 45 minutes we were there. I just watched her throw anything throwable in the waves.

As expected, the drive back was quiet.

Both of my parents cars were in the driveway as I pulled in.

"How's it going Mr. Moneybags?" My dad smiled at me when I walked in.

I set my face and prepped for the misery. "Actually, we need to talk."

(A/N: Chapter 1 of part 3 is coming soon! Hopefully tomorrow! Depends how tonight's college algebra goes! Thanks again for all the reads and reviews! I seriously cannot say that enough. Love all you guys! -James)