Disclaimer: Well, I'm still not Kiera Cass! She owns all of the characters!

A shout-out to all of my reviewers so far: (In order from oldest to newest)

netanyar: Thank you for being the first reviewer. Honestly, I don't know how to express all of my gratitude.

Guest: Thanks! Your compliments really make my day!

Guest: I really appreciate that you actually like this!

Guest: Aww, thank you! That's so sweet!

TheElite: Wow, is it really? I'm still wrapping my head around the idea of people actually liking this, a random thing I envisioned in my head.

Guest: Eek, thank you!

Bellelove: Don't worry, I will!

StarryEyes: Wow! I ship Maxerica a lot, too!

Your reviews keep me motivated to post multiple chapters a day! Sadly, all I have right now is this lame filler chapter. It does have a bit of Maxerica and a small Celeste moment. :D

When Maxon dropped by my house and rang the doorbell, May was the one to answer it. Unfortunately. She squealed, the sound piercing my eardrums. "Ames! Who is this?" I rushed towards the door, the panic obvious in my eyes.

"May, you aren't supposed to call me Ames or America! It's Mer, remember?!" I hissed in her ear.

"Oh, right!" The innocence in her eyes made me forget all about getting angry. "Sorry, Mer." She uses my fake name.

Maxon watches the exchange quietly, his eyes never leaving me. May stares up at him in wonder. I snap irritatedly, "That's Maxon. And no, he's not my boyfriend." May seemingly deflates and floats somewhere else.

I lead Maxon into my room, blushing as I remember what happened the last time we were here together. I don't even know why, but I blurt out, "I broke up with Aspen today."

He looks strangely satisfied. "Oh. So, do you want to talk to me? You seemed kind of troubled during Math."

"Some issues with Aspen. It's nothing," I lie, averting my eyes so that I wouldn't have to look at him.

"Come on, Mer. You can talk to me." He encouraged. "I'll be your confidant."

I decide on the topic I want to approach Maxon about the most. "There are reasons I stay away from you, Maxon. Th-there are rumors. Rumors that you date a girl for one week. Rumors that you toy with girls, using them for your bedroom activities. That's c-cruel, Maxon!"

He freezes, a sad, empty look taking place. "I'm sorry, Mer. I just don't want to ever fully commit to someone."

"Then why sleep with them? Where is your morale?!"

"It helps take my mind off the stress of things. And most of the girls I sleep with are just nasty."

I give him a disgusted look. "That's not an excuse to break their hearts. And don't use girls to relieve your own problems! Have you ever thought of how they felt? How crushed they are when they see through your charm?"

Maxon looks desperate by now. "Please, Mer, I'm not like that! Just give me a chance."

I was about to say something I was going to regret when he smashed his lips on mine. I don't know what came over me. I tangled my fingers through his honey blond hair and pulled him closer to me. I was encapsulated in this small bubble of euphoria with Maxon, and I would have been content to stay there forever.

And at the worst moment possible, May barged in through my bedroom door. Her large blue eyes widened at the sight of Maxon and I jumping apart, hair messed up and lips swollen. "You said that there was nothing going on!"

"May, I, uh…." I was at a loss for words. "Don't mention this to Mom, okay? And I'll let you interrogate him. Deal?"

She jumped up and down, a wide grin taking over her face. "Deal!" Then, turning to her next victim, she stroked her chin, thinking of questions. I backed out of the room and retreated to the basement.

My face flamed when my mind accidentally traveled to our recent make-out session. To distract myself, I practiced my piano.

I headed upstairs again. As I made my way to my room, Maxon walked out, face entirely red from blushing. "What did she talk about?"

His face reddened further. "I'd rather not say."

I cracked my bedroom door open. May was sitting on my bed, looking smug. She narrowed her eyes at me, letting me know that she was watching the two of us.

"You should go."

Wordlessly, he left, brushing his hand on mine for a second before walking out the door. Sighing, I was left on my own once again.

After I got off the bus, I ran up to Kriss and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around, surprised, then saw that it was me. "I don't want to talk right now, Mer."

Rejected, I headed towards the courtyard. In the distance, I heard faint sobbing. Confused, I looked around. The fountain. A figure was sitting on the edge, crying softly. I slowly approached them, then realized that it was a girl. But not just any girl. It was Celeste. And she was crying.

No matter what she had done in the past, I was still human. "What's wrong? You can tell me."

Celeste looked up, her eyes puffy and makeup smeared. "I don't need your fake sympathy, Singer. I'm perfectly fine on my own."

"Seriously, Celeste. You don't always have to act strong. It's okay to break down sometimes. And you have to let loose occasionally," I say, my voice gentle.

She breaks down. "M-my mother died! She left me, with nothing but an alcoholic father! She was everything to me…"

I didn't know how that felt, losing a loved one, but I tried. "It'll be fine. Just remember that she'll always be watching you, wishing you luck."

"It's not just that. Maxon—h-he abandoned me! He broke up with me this morning after I told him that my mom died. He left me when I needed support the most, Mer! My so-called friends, too! After I explained everything to them, they took joy in the fact that I was being brought down."

I was infuriated. How could people be so heartless? How could Maxon do this, of all people? "Well, that'll never happen. Because I'll help you, Celeste. I don't care about what happened in the past, what matters is that we fix it." And to prove my point, I hugged her.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because everyone deserves a second chance."

I could feel everyone's stares as I led Celeste to her homeroom. "Bye, Celeste." She nodded her thanks. And I realized: Being cruel and nasty will get you nowhere. It will never satisfy you completely. But helping someone else? It fills you up with pride and joy. And I resolved to do just that: Forgive and forget.