I Told You So

The after party was at Macey's house. Her basement was an apartment itself and she had it set up perfectly for good house party. There were three beer pong tables in one area with fuze-ball next to it. There were speakers in every corner and the flatscreen tv was playing famous music videos that had come out during this year. She even had a bar with an actual bartender that could fix drinks and mix cocktails. It was crazy. And with it's sound proof walls we wouldn't be having any issues with the neighbors or any police either.

It was nicer than the party I had gone to with Liz earlier during the semester. Classier almost as people had exchanged their long gowns and tux's for more casual, shorter dresses and button up shirts. Still people looked way nicer than a regular house party. I couldn't tell if it was because of the dance or because people knew whose house they were going to be in.

Either way it seemed like the perfect setting for a pick me up and I was gonna try and make the most of what was left of the night.

"Whoa, this place is impressive." I heard Jonas mummer and I smiled at him. He was in awe.

"Oh yeah, Macey isn't anything less than that." I replied with a slight laugh. He nodded. His hand was clutching Lizzie's but she seemed a little distant leaving a weird space between them. I wondered if she was still worried about being intimate with him. I would have to talk to her about it since we were good again.

"What'd you think of the girls? Sabrina and what was her name? You know, Finn's date." I asked her and she shrugged.

"They seemed nice enough. I didn't really talk to them."

"I thought they were both pretty sweet. Shocking they could John and him could nag someone genuine." I joked and she laughed with me.

"Speak of the devil."

"Cammie! There you are!" Finn put his arm around my shoulder and tucked me into his side. He grinned down at me and then, quite dramatically noticed Lizzie and Jonas.

"Gosh! I didn't see you two. How are you enjoying the party? Amazing eh?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. I almost laughed out loud at his behavior. Jonas seemed oblivious, but Liz seemed to find it less than funny.

"Yeah it's great man. You?" Jonas responded politely. Jonas was definitely out of his comfort zone and had been all night, even when he was at the school. He rarely interacts with Austen and his crowd. However, I did think he was doing a great job socializing. I think he was having fun with it too. Finn just gave him a look and shrugged before turning back to me and then tugging me away without even a word at the other two people we were talking to.

I frowned at him. It wasn't like him to be rude and his brush off of Jonas's question was rude.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"What was what?"

"That. You were just really weird and then kinda rude to Jonas."

"Was I? I didn't mean to be." He responded noncommittally "What did you think of Yasmin?" He asked, his eyes bright. I felt happy for him if he really liked her.

"She was lovely! You should invite her out more." I said and he nodded.

"What did everyone else thing of her? Did anyone not like her?"

"Finn if you like her up shouldn't worry about what other people think. It's your opinion that matters"

"What? Oh yeah, I was just curious. No one said anything about her?" He wasn't smiling anymore he was quizzing me. I was so confused.

"No I don't think so, I mean I think Bex said she has gym with her and they get along?" He sighed and shook his head.

"Why do you want someone to not like her?" I joked, but he looked away.

"I saw your friend Zach around here by the way. Looking a little gloomy, he okay?"

Wait oh my god.

Zach was here?

I hadn't seen him at the Snow Ball and figured he and the boys decided not to go out tonight.

"Zach's here? Where? Where did you see him?" I fired my questions quickly and Finn chuckled.

"Slow down there little Cammie. Yeah he's here I think I saw him by the pong tables. I think his friends were gonna play against Macey and Bex."

Grant and Preston were here too!

"You never told me how you met such a big star? He's got like 2 million subscribers and shit. You think he knows Cody Ko? You think he could introduce me? Shit that'd be awesome!"

"Yeah yeah maybe, look Finn, um I'm gonna go see if I can find him okay? I'll see you later." I said already pushing through the crowd of people and heading towards the pong tables. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw Preston come into view and then Grant. Sure enough Finn was right they were playing against Macey and Bex. Having blast it seemed. I didn't see Zach with them. He was have gone somewhere, maybe to get a drink?

I paused a few feet away nervous to see how they would react when I asked them where Zach was. I figured Preston would be find, but I hadn't spoken to Grant for a while. Of Zach was pissed at me then Grant probably was too.

I took a deep breath and closed the last bit of floor between us.

"Hey guys." I said chirpily.

Wow great opening line Cammie, we got a winner here.

They paused in there game. The girls grinned at me, even Macey and the boys, to my relief, did the same.

"Hey Cam."

"Didn't see you guys at the ball."

"We decided not go, but couldn't miss out on the after party. This is where the fun goes down we heard." Grant replied sending a wink flying at Bex who just rolled her eyes and flashed him the finger.

"Is... um is Zach with you?" I asked, my voice unsure as I realized he wasn't with them.

"Well he's definitely here, not sure where he wondered off to though." Preston replied.

"Oh well um let him know I'm looking for him if you see him."

"See who?" Liana came up behind me.

"Zach." She looked at me for a moment as though hesitant about something.

"I think I just saw him head outside. To the conservatory."

"Oh really thanks. I'll go check there." I smiled at the others and excused myself.

My heart was pouring in my chest as I rushed towards the conservatory. It was basically a glass room, with heated floors. No one would be chilling outside during a party in December.

For some reason I couldn't wait to see him.

I needed to talk to him. I needed to let him know I was sorry for how I'd treated him. I couldn't go on not talking to him like this. There were a lot less people upstairs so I didn't have to push through a tone of bodies anymore. I stepped out into the beautiful glass room.

I froze.

The site in front of me was a gut wrenching site.

Austen was kissing some girl.

The worst part was I didn't even know her. It wasn't Liana. All this time I had seen her as my enemy. I had painted her as the girl who was going to ruin things for me, but I had been wrong.

Everyone had tried to warn me.

John, Lizzie, even Liana had warned me, but god I had been so blind. So dumb.

If it had been her I could at least tell myself it was because of their history. But a stranger? He had chosen a stranger over me.

"Austen?" I don't know why it came out like a question, I knew my boyfriend when I saw him. When Liana said he saw Zach go outside I didn't think this is what I would find out here.

All thoughts of Zach flew from my mind.

Austen didn't even hear me, it was the girl who saw me staring and pulled back. She looked confused and gave me a weird look. She probably thought I was some pervert. Little did she know shit was about to go down.

Austen looked down at her at first, his chest heaving and his lips red from hers. My heart clenched at the thought of it not being because of me.

Oh god this had really happened. I had really been cheated on.

Damn it hurt like hell.

He followed the girl's line of vision and found me standing there. I can only imagined what I looked like.

Sweaty from dancing in my little black dress I'd changed into for the after dance party. My hair was still in its due from earlier, but it was probably less put together by now. Overall I probably looked pathetic. I felt pathetic. Just a few hours ago I had asked him if he loved me and now look where we were.

"Shit." Was the first word he said and I felt my eyes burn.

"I can't believe this." It felt like I wasn't the one speaking, it didn't sound like me.

"What's going on?" The girl asked looking genuinely confused.

"Why don't you tell her Austen. At least I won't be the only one blindsided in this situation." He suddenly had the sense to step away from her, sadly he was stupid enough to head towards me.

"Oh my god Cammie it's not- shit I mean it is but I-"

"Oh my god." The girl echoed as she finally caught on "You have a girlfriend? You're his girlfriend. I'm so sorry. Oh my god." Her face was a tomato as she suddenly rushed passed me into the house again.

"How could you do this?"

"I didn't mean for it to happen... it just did."

"Jeez! It just happened? That's your excuse?" I wanted scream at him. I wanted to cry. I wanted to be strong too. I didn't want him to see how I was crumbling inside. I was humiliated. I felt used and stupid for ever thinking a guy like him could be with a girl like me. He was a golden boy, my golden boy. He was Austen Cole and I never thought... never thought he would have done such a thing to me.

"I'm sorry."

Oh for the love of god how I wished he hadn't said that. I could feel it. The pity in the air.

It was sick after all he had done that he had the audacity to feel sorry for me.

"Save it, you don't have the right to apologize to me." I cringed at the cracks in my voice and the warmth I felt in my eyes as the tears trailed down my cheeks. He said nothing as I reached up to wipe them away.

"I thought we had something! I thought you cared about me, you said you did! You just said you did!" I cried out, this time my voice was higher, almost shrill. It seemed I couldn't give off the powerful badass woman vibe and I decided to stop trying.

"I did- I mean I do. I do care about you, but..."

"But what? You care about me so much you shove your tongue down her throat?"

"I never wanted this, never thought I'd be... that guy and I do care about you, fuck I wouldn't be with you if I didn't but then earlier you came out with all that love crap and it was just a lot and then you've been stiff all night. I just got caught up in the moment. It won't happen again."

I was so confused. He thought he'd have the chance to do it again? That would mean he thinks we're not over.

"You think I'm gonna stay with you after this?"

"What do you mean? You're breaking up with me?" I stared at him like he had grown not one, not two, but three extra heads.

"You think I'd stay with you after this? How could I- how could I ever trust you again? I already felt like the inferior one in this relationship. The one who wasn't good enough and you just made all my fears come true. Do you know I feel right now? After what Liana has done to you, humiliated you by seeing other guys behind your back. Gosh you're more stupid than I thought."

"Mer-"

"Don't you fucking Mer me. It's over." I growled through clenched teeth and he dropped the arm he had extended towards me like a beacon of hope. I turned my back on him then and pushed my way through the crowd. He didn't follow this time and he never would again.

I only made it to the bar before I couldn't keep going.

I needed a drink. Then I'd leave.

"I'm just going to get it over with: I told you so." My shoulders tensed at the voice coming from behind me. I was waiting for my rum and coke that I had just ordered. I hadn't planned on drinking tonight, but I wasn't driving. What the heck right? I slowly turned around and pursed my lips. The dirty blonde boy, who towered over me with a beer in his hand, had a satisfied smirk on his face that aggravated me. Stupid, self-righteous jerk boy. I didn't want to talk to him let alone listen to his gloating about how he knew that Austen and I would break up.

I just never saw it coming like this.

"You're an asshole." I said crossing my arms over my chest and narrowing my eyes. I had decided to pretend that they weren't red rimmed and puffy from crying. Thankfully John decided to as well and he just continued to smirk and set my teeth on edge. His eyes had a strange glint in them that I didn't trust. It was so unusual for me to witness it in him let alone have it directed at me. Although I had to admit there was something about it that caused the corners of my lips to reluctantly twitch up and a gratified feeling to swell within me. And despite my heartache and the sob I felt threatening to break through I felt accomplished at making Mr. Sourpuss lighten up, or maybe he was more sadistic than I thought and just liked see my pain. The second was the more likely explanations.

"That is something I have heard before, though I didn't think wimpy Morgan would ever say it to my face."

"Jerk is your middle name." I said now almost showing teeth through my watery smile as I pretended to inspect my cuticles. I glanced up at him discretely through my damp eyelashes and he wouldn't have noticed if he hadn't been staring right at my face anyway. I quickly looked back to fingers.

"I don't recall sharing my middle name with you, Morgan. How did you figure it out?"

"It's been written on your forehead this whole time." I said and he laughed. His laugh was deep and smooth and not his usual sniggering snorting that usually came at my expense. I liked this laugh much better.

"Okay Cam. You got me this time." I smirked at him and tossed my curled hair over my shoulder triumphantly. Through my façade of being fine I picked up on the fact he just called me by my nickname and not my last name for the first time. Being playful was keeping my mind off of Liana's chest pressed against Austen's and their lips molded as one and I didn't want to ruin it. "Now hold on a second. Don't go climbing up on any high horse. It's just the battle not the war. Besides I've had a few beers and so I'm not at the top of my game." And with that he took a long gulp from the bottle to prove his point.

"Excuses." I mumbled and he grinned. Flashing me a bright and almost charming smile. I would even say that the beer and atmosphere of the party seemed to have caused his usually cool eyes to warm into something of a softer nature. It was quite comforting actually to look into them…. And with that scary thought I turned to take my new drink from the bar and expected that to be the end of our conversation.

"You don't look ugly tonight." He said out of the blue, leaning on a barstool and casually resting an elbow on the table. I snorted out a laugh, if anyone else had said that to me I probably would have blushed or taken offense, but it was John.

"Well you really know how to flatter a girl." I said taking a sip of my drink and instantly my shoulders relaxed, it felt good to get some alcohol tonight, after all that had happened. "It's a mystery you don't have a girlfriend."

"So I've been told."

"Well thanks… for the compliment," I gave him a quick up down with my eyes "Wish I could say the same for you." I retorted seriously and straight faced and his grey eyes widened. I cleared my throat as I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. When had I gotten so snippy?

"Um… anyway, Sabrina seems nice." I said as I took a larger swig of my drink. I looked down into its condense, but I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye.

"Yeah she's sweet." He said and I snorted, "What?" he snapped defensive all of a sudden.

"Nothing, I just didn't think you thought nicely of anyone."

"Glad you think so highly of me, Morgan. But to answer your unspoken question I can be nice, you just happen to always see me at my worst."

"Oh is that how it happens? I always thought you were a complete ass to me for no reason." I countered a little harshly. I expected this semi-pleasant conversation to go down hill after that, but it didn't. John smiled.

"You're right, you are usually the reason I'm in a pissy mood."

"There! You see? Jerk."

"Everything that comes out of your mouth surprises me now." He says with a genuine smile that seemed laced with curiosity and intrigue. I felt my cheeks heat up and turned my head away from his gaze. Hopefully he wouldn't notice it because of my already blotchy red face from crying.

Its because you're an emotional wreck right now because you witnessed your boyfriend kissing someone else, you're not yourself right now.

The logical voice in my head was right.

"Yeah well you can thank yourself for that. You really do bring out the worst in me."

But what the actual freaking fudge-balls, Cammie? Why are you blushing at John?

"Thank you."

"It wasn't a compliment."

"I'm taking it as one."

"Asshole."

"Yeah you are." He shot back. I shook my head in defeat. His grey eyes were swirling with depths I had never seen before. His lips twitched down though as he realized I was staring. "What?" He asked frowning slightly.

"Nothing." It was my time to smirk.

"What?" he asked again, his tone on the defensive side again.

"It's just… you seem in a good mood."

"Oh, yeah well I usually am when I win a bet."

"What bet is that?"

"The bet that I'm better at comebacks than you are."

"Please, there was no bet." I said rolling my eyes and taking a long gulp of my drink. John chuckled.

"Think what you want, but it was a bet, and I beat you fair and square. Besides, even if it wasn't I still won the other one. Austen was gonna use you."

"Shut up." I shot out a bit harsher than intended, but John didn't seem to care. At least I wouldn't have thought he had if I hadn't seen his grey eyes soften at the sight of my eyes burning with fresh tears.

Austen's words had weaseled their way into my head again randomly and I was trying to push them away. John just grinned wider though, pleased to have gotten a rise out of me probably. I turned my face away from him.

"You can go now. If you're just going to gloat I'm really not in the mood." I snapped as a tear rolled down my cheek. I probably looked hideous now. Glitter and mascara running down my face.

"I'm done." He said and there was silence between us. My neck was stiff and my face still not facing him. I was waiting to hear his fading footsteps, but I didn't. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "For what it's worth, I really am sorry… Cam." My eye's fluttered closed as more tears flowed down my cheeks at his words.

"Thanks, John. I know it must hurt to say my real name." I tried to joke lamely, but he didn't even humor me with a forced laugh. It hurt to think it, but John truly did have the right to say I told you so. He really had and I had really ignored him, completely and totally. And now? I was paying for it.

I felt sick all of a sudden.

"Maybe you should go home, Morgan." He said and I looked up at him, "I could give you a ride." His offer was a surprise to me, but I almost fell down when I heard a different, familiar voice chime in.

"No. I've got her." I saw John's face closed up so suddenly and I realized that he had his guard down just now. He gave a stiff nod to the person behind me. I swallowed hard as I felt a hand on my shoulder slowly spin me around.

"Zach?"

"Gallagher girl."

A/N- UNEDITED.

HEY EVERYONE! ANOTHER UPDATE, LATE BY NORMAL STANDARDS, BUT EARLY COMPARED TO MY USUAL UPDATING THAT CAN TAKE OVER SIX MONTHS.

THIS STORY IS ALSO BEING EDITED INTO AN ORIGINAL WORK ON WATTPAD BY ME: AFEWMOREWORDS. I WOULD BE HONORED IF YOU CHECKED IT OUT!

LOVE YOU ALL FOR STILL READING, I REALLY THOUGHT THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT ON HERE INTERESTED IN THIS STORY.

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

~LOVEWORDS