Tom turned to look at Laura. "I still love you Laura. And I just realized that if I never try to get you back, I never will get you back. And so that's why I'm here. To at least try and be the man you want me to be."
Race turned to look at Laura. "I love you Laura. As I was going out with Cassandra, I realized that she was nothing like you, and that there was only one person in the world for me. And that person is you.
Mush turned to look at Laura. "Laura, I'm really upset about what you did to me. But I love you anyway. And I'm willing to hear what you have to say for yourself. Since Spot obviously doesn't love you, it seems like your little date with him meant nothing. And that we might still have something. But I need to hear this from you."
"But I love you Mush!" shouted Cassandra.
Mush continued to stare at Laura as he said, "Shut up Cassandra."
"Whoa," said Spot and Nessa at the same time.
"You are one lucky girl Laura. All these guys love you. Now you just have to pick one," Nessa said.
"Lucky? You call me lucky? Lucky that I have to break two of these guys' hearts?" Laura cried.
"Laura, you were with me first. Just tell them that you choose me, because you loved me before you even met either of them," Tom said.
"But you left Tom for me, so you obviously love me more than Tom. And admit it, even after I broke up with you, you never stopped loving me," Race smirked.
"Laura, I know this must be hard for you, so I'm not going to say anything to influence your decision. There is no reason that you should choose me over these two guys. They are both great guys, in some ways. So you make the decision. I'll I'm asking is that you don't make it right now. Think about it," Mush said.
"Okay." Laura sighed, and slowly shut her door, pushing Race out onto her stoop with the others.
Race stared at Mush and Tom in disbelief. "You really think she's gonna choose one of you? You guys are complete idiots," he smirked.
"Race, shut your face before I make you shut it."
Everyone turned to look at the sound of the voice, because it was Cassandra who had said this, not Mush or Tom. Everyone had almost completely forgotten that she was there, since she hadn't said much except for the occasional "I love you Mush!" and the group had begun to tune that out.
"What are you talking about Cassandra? This has nothing to do with you. You should just go home," Race said, advancing towards her.
Cassandra did not back down. "It does have something to do with me. You broke up with Laura for me, then you broke up with me for Laura. Now you're just expecting her to take you back, and you're insulting these other guys. Well I've had it, Race. You are such a huge jerk." She started to back away, but changed her mind and instead slapped Race right across the face so hard that he staggered backwards, clutching his face in pain.
"What was that for?" he screamed, a huge red mark now covering the left side of his face.
"Wow, you really didn't listen to anything I just said, did you?" Cassandra laughed dryly and walked to the park across the street from Laura's house, sitting down on a bench.
"Ha, Race, she got you good!" yelled Spot.
"Shut the fuck up, Spot," Race mumbled.
Laura sat on her bed once again, not sure what she should do. She looked up as the door opened, and this time it was who she thought it would be. It was Seth.
"Boy troubles again Laura?" Seth asked, for once in a non teasing way.
"Yeah, I guess you could call them that."
"What happened this time?"
"Well, I finally decided that I loved Mush, right? And then Race shows up telling me that he dumped Cassandra and that he wants me back. And then Tom shows up saying that he still loves me too, and that he finally realized that he needs to chase after me if I'm ever going to want to be with him. Which is so sweet, by the way."
"Well, it seems pretty simple to me."
"Really?" Laura asked in doubtfully.
"Well if you look at this logically, Race would be out first. Just because he is scum. Then it seems like Tom would be out next, because you cheated on him so you obviously aren't in love with him. But you cheated on Mush too. So maybe the only one you really love is Race, since you didn't cheat on him, which sucks, since he is scum."
"Yeah. Everything you just said is why it is not simple at all," Laura sighed.
"Well, I know this sounds very cliché, but you just need to stop listening to logic and listen to your heart. That's the only way to solve this."
"Thanks Seth."
"Anytime."
Laura sat on her bed in silence for the next hour, just thinking about why she loved all three of the guys she had to choose from. Tom, because he was so sweet. Race, because he was so full of life, and Laura had always wanted to be more like him. Mush because he was also so sweet, and he made her laugh and feel good about herself whenever she was sad. But maybe Mush was just friend material? And maybe so was Tom? But maybe getting together with Race was a bad idea, because who was to say that he wouldn't cheat on her again? Since he was the only one she never cheated on, does this mean that he was the only one that she really loved? And why did Tom and Mush even want to get back with her? She cheated on them! Why didn't they just go find someone else to love? Then she and Race could be together. They deserved each other, since they were both cheaters. She didn't deserve Mush or Tom. But that didn't make her stop loving either of them.
Laura looked out her window to see Mush, Tom, and Race on her front step. Nessa and Spot were off to the side of her house, God only knows why they were still there. Cassandra was across the street in the park. Laura knew why she was there. To comfort the two guys who didn't get picked. Cassandra was a huge flirt, Laura thought.
She slowly opened her door, and as she did, six sets of eyes turned to look at her. It was very unnerving.
"Ummm, hi guys," Laura's voice shook when she spoke.
"Laura, don't sugar coat this. Just tell us."
"Okay. I came out here to tell you that…………… this isn't a bachelorette show, and I can't just come out here and hand one of you a rose and leave the others with nothing. I'm not gonna do that. I can't just say, I pick you. It doesn't seem right. So my answer is, I don't pick anyone."
"Laura! Just pick!" Race shouted.
"Yeah! Just pick!" Tom shouted.
"Its okay if you don't want to pick, Laura. I understand. It seems kind of weird to me too, so I'll just go," Mush shrugged and turned to walk away.
"Mush, wait!" Laura cried.
He turned around.
"You are the only one who understands why I had to do that. And that's why you are perfect for me. Will you please get back together with me?"
"First you have to explain……….." he pointed at Spot.
"Mush I swear, that meant nothing. It was a stupid thing to do, and I just wanted to prove that you were the one for me. But that was stupid. I didn't need to prove it. It was always right there, in front of my face. I love you, Mush."
Mush walked up to Laura so that they were nose to nose. "Even though that doesn't really make sense at all, I accept your apology. I love you, Laura."
And so they kissed, Tom and Race watching along in agony, Nessa shouting with happiness.
Tom, Race, and Cassandra walked home together. Well, nor really home, they were more wandering aimlessly, but since they had all just had their hearts broken, what do you expect?
"That sucked," Tom said.
"Yup," Race agreed.
"Yeah," Cassandra decided. "And why would Mush pick Laura over me? I mean, I can be kind of bratty, but on the other hand, I can be nice, and funny, and of course I'm beautiful."
"You are beautiful," Tom said sheepishly.
"You seem really nice, too Tom. And your cute," Cassandra smiled flirtatiously.
Tom blushed. "Uh, you wanna go to a bar or sumthin?" Tom asked quietly.
"Sure," Cassandra answered.
Tom put his arm around her shoulders, surprised at his own daring, and they began to walk away from Race.
"That's not fair! Everyone got someone but me! Even the cheaters! I cheated! But so did Laura! And she got someone! Why didn't I get someone! This isn't fair!"
Tom turned around, hearing what Race had said. "Well, you know what they say Race, all's fair in love and war."