Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to Kiera Cass... not me!

The next week was euphoria. Aspen stopped bothering me when he saw Maxon and me together, laughing over one of Maxon's corny jokes. My friends? They couldn't be happier for me, calling me "the girl who dated Maxon for over a week".

And Maxon? We couldn't be happier together. We would laugh, talk, confess our love for each other, or just simply be together. He had promised a surprise for me today, and I couldn't wait.

Kriss seemed to be happier lately, too. She would go on rambling about a boy that would kiss her in unique ways… I was ecstatic for her.

"His lips are my very own piece of pure joy!" Kriss sighed.

Marlee added on. "No, that can't be right. Carter is pure joy!" We all laughed. It felt satisfying, the way such different people could form lasting bonds throughout their entire lives.

The Phantom of the Opera play was going smoothly, too. The Drama teacher would coo every time Maxon and I rehearsed in front of her. "'You two are the best performers I've ever seen!'"

It continued this way until my concert was staring right at my face. I still had to write another song for tomorrow.

After school was dismissed, I strode down an empty hallway, intending to talk to my Math teacher about the Statistics project I had worked on with Maxon. In an empty classroom, I heard two students talking together. I shrugged them off and continued walking.

"Oh! Mer, you're here." She smiled at me. Funny how the Math teacher goes from giving me detention, to smiling affectionately at me.

"Yeah. I came here to ask about the Statistics project we did."

"Ask away!"

I asked all of the questions I had about the project. She kindly answered them, and I was grateful for her support. As I started to walk down that hallway again, I heard some moaning from a classroom. It's just some other students making out in an empty classroom after school. I was about to stroll past them when I caught a brief glimpse of blond hair.

I would know that hair anywhere. The very same hair I would tangle my fingers into. My eyes widened. No, it couldn't be. Maxon loves me. Right?

I adjusted my wig as I cracked open the door a little. There, against the classroom wall, was Maxon. And he was furiously kissing a girl. A girl that wasn't me.

I gasped when I saw her face. Kriss. She edged down his pants and attempted to take off his shirt, but he wouldn't let her touch his shirt. I could see where this was going.

I watched, horrified. Maxon and Kriss? This was too awful to be happening. You knew this was coming, America. Remember how Kriss wanted to be Christine for no apparent reason? Well, that reason was Maxon. How distant he was when he told you that he loved you yesterday? That's because he's used to saying that to Kriss. And you're just the roadblock in their way.

Maxon suddenly stiffened and pushed her aside. "We can't, Kriss. We can't take it this far yet." He straightened his clothes. I took this as my cue to run out of the building. I wanted to run, run far away, away from Maxon and Kriss. And I didn't want to come back.

My phone buzzed, dragging me out of my misery. It was Maxon. I gritted my teeth. He had texted me. Meet me in the park? I kept my answer short. Okay.

I walked towards the park, carefully arranging a calm and composed façade. As if you didn't need to be faker, America! Maxon was already there, smiling at me. And I hated him. I hated how he acted like nothing was wrong, how he lied to me, how he smiled, how he laughed.

"Hey, Mer. I have a surprise for you!" Maxon sure seemed normal for a liar.

"Well, I don't want it, Schreave." My voice was cold and harsh.

He stumbled back, confused. "What do you mean, Mer? I don't understand."

"I h-hate you, Maxon! I thought you'd changed. But you didn't. Instead, you lied to me, you stomped on my heart, and kept a smile the entire time! H-how could you?!" I spat.

He looked like I'd crushed him. And splintered him into tiny bits. Good. "Mer? What did I do wrong? Mer!"

"You really don't know? You don't think I know?! I saw you with Kriss today! Don't play dumb with me."

His eyes widen, and his mouth opens as if he wants to say something, but he closes it. Finally, he speaks. "Mer? I'm sorry; I wasn't thinking right. Please, please—."

I throw unforgiving words at him. "You're just an ass. I don't need any more of your lies, okay? How many times have you lied through your teeth, telling me you loved me? How long has this been going on?!"

"The start of this week," Maxon hangs his head. "Mer, I don't know what I was thinking. Please, I love you!"

The start of this week? The time I was happiest? "I can't believe you! You lied to me, Maxon! And your new girlfriend is a bitch too. She must get her personality from her boyfriend," I snarl, turning my back on him and walking away.

Maxon isn't so keen on me getting away. "Mer!" He grabs me by the wig and tugs, hard.

Everything happened in slow motion. The blonde wig slips off, revealing my recognizable red hair. Maxon stands there like a gaping fish. "Mer?"

Tears start to brim in my eyes. "I'm not Mer. She doesn't exist," And I punch him in the face, watching him stumble back, clutching his bleeding lip. I use the time to snatch my wig and run off.

"Please, Mer!" I hear him calling after me as he tries to run after me. "Mer! I'm sorry!"

But I keep running, running away from my other half, and away from my whole existence. I don't ever look back.