A/N: thank you so much to everyone who left me a note. it probably sounds insincere by now, due to the number of times i've said it, but i really do appreciate it. sometimes this gets so tiring just because it takes so much out of my daily life and everything else that's going on in it. it just gets me down when people read and read and read but feel that it's not their courtesy to give you feedback whether it be good or bad. i mean, i don't want it to be forced or anything... but seriously, who wants to continue giving 150 of themselves to something when they don't feel like they're even acknowledged?

i know it just seems like i'm whining, but i want you to know why your feedback is so crucial to keeping this whole process going. essentially, this is why was created. this is why i come here. i wholeheartedly enjoy getting feedback from fellow fans and writers, people who know what it takes. :)

so, thank you, to everyone's whose still supporting this project. i am devoted to this and i really don't want to disappoint. onwards we go...

CHAPTER EIGHT - My Disconcerted Heart

Everything's such a fucking mess. I scribbled furiously in my journal, my tears blotting the ink on the page. I roughly wiped my wet cheeks with my sleeve, my shoulders heaving from my cries.

I am such a fucking IDIOT. Why did I believe that things were going to be different this time around?

...ARRRGH!!! Fuck. How the hell did I get myself into this?

Oh, god.

I have to tell her.

- -

I beeped twice, drumming my hands impatiently on the steering wheel. The clock stereo blinked 8:04. If we didn't get a move on, we were going to be late for sure. I smiled with relief as Amber made her way out of her front door, her backpack wobbling off one shoulder as she jogged to my car.

"Sorry," she said, smiling sheepishly as she slid into the front seat. "I spent too much time in the shower this morning and plus, Orlando Bloom was on Regis & Kelly." I rolled by eyes and laughed, checking behind my right shoulder as I backed out of her driveway.

"You're seriously obsessed. Don't tell me you actually taped it," I teased.

"So what if I did?" Amber asked, sticking her tongue out at me. "He's hot and he's my future husband. Only he doesn't know it yet."

"Rrright..." I said warily as I stopped at a stop sign.

"But enough about The Bloom!" Amber exclaimed. "I totally hate you for not telling me what happened at the party when I called you last night!"

"That's what you get for not coming," I smirked.

"Oh, shut up!" Amber huffed. "I told you a week ago that I had to go to New York with my parents. Visited stupid relatives. Bo-o-ring! I would've much rather gone to your little shin-dig. Tell me already!!"

"Maybe later..." I replied with a sly smile. I liked torturing her.

"You suck!" Amber cried out, but with a huge grin on her face. "You're killing me! Out with it! Is it Byron-related? Ohmigod! It is! I see the twinkle in your eyes!" She groaned loudly. "Charlotte!" Amber whined. "Pleeeease?"

"Alright already!" I said, grinning as I drove into the SHS Student Parking Lot. I made a left to the closest empty space I spotted. "I think I've held you in enough suspense."

"You think?" Amber replied with mock bitterness. I carefully parked my Jetta and took the key out of the ignition.

"The whole night was amazing," I started, turning in my seat to face Amber. "Everyone was having such a good time. Byron held me in his arms and danced with me," I sighed, a smile playing on my lips as I remembered that night. "He was funny, adorable and so sweet all at the same time. It was like we were back to were we were supposed to be. It was like Sea City all over again. Stolen glances and secret smiles." My smile grew wider at the memory of it all.

"And...." Amber prompted impatiently.

"There was a silly string war and I, well, we.... We almost kissed," I said breathlessly. I let a few moments of silence pass, to let in all sink in.

"That's it?" Amber asked in a flat tone. I opened my mouth in disbelief and swatted her arm.

"Shut up!" I exclaimed, letting out a big laugh. "This is big. This is huge."

"Char, reality check: an 'almost' kiss isn't huge," she replied pointedly. Boy, was she ever abrupt..

"Excuse me? Have you not listened these past few weeks to the saga that is my life?" I asked keenly. "This is huge, considering he wasn't even talking to me a month ago."

Amber made a face. "Fine. I guess if you put it that way..." I had made my point. The first bell rang loudly and we got out of the car, grabbing our things. We had five minutes to get to class, which was plenty of time.

"So, did you talk to him at all after the party?" Amber asked as we made our way to the front doors.

"No," I frowned. "I picked up the phone about a million times but decided not to. I thought it was maybe too soon."

"Well, you get to see him todaaay," Amber teased playfully.

"I know!" I squealed, giggling like a six year old, unable to conceal my excitement. We walked into the halls of Stoneybrook High and separated ways.

"Maybe there'll be more opportunities for an 'almost kiss,'" Amber called out after me. I made a face but waved good-bye as I turned the corner. The halls were full of students trying to get to class on time but I saw him through the crowd. He was at his locker, his back towards me. He was wearing my favorite shirt, the one that brought out his gorgeous eyes.

What do I do? What do I say? My thoughts started racing but it was like everything around me started to move in slow motion. The crowd started thinning out and I could see him more clearly now. He turned to close his locker and that was when I noticed he was talking to someone else. I cocked my head to the side, slightly disconcerted, but the next few moments explained it all too well.

I felt my heart literally stop and every inch of my being went numb as Byron slowly bent his head down and softly kissed her lips.

Haley...

A/N: dun, dun, DUNNNN.... c'mon now, did anyone see that coming??! i LOVE having all the control for once! insert evil laugh byron's a jerk, isn't he? :P i really hope this didn't seem too far off from left field or too impossible. when first i introduced haley's character (ch.5), i was actually concerned about doing too much to lead you on because i had all this planned out. if you didn't expect this twist, i know i did my job. ;) either way, i'd love to know what you think. you can hate me all you want! once again, i must sorry to all the byron&char fans!:( don't worry.. there'll be some interesting developments, as you can tell from that teaser i decided to add at the beginning of this chapter. just keep reading! :)