Disclaimer: All characters are property of Meg Cabot. Not mine. Don't sue.

A/N: Please note that this story has been entirely redone. If you read it before, things have changed. The writing has matured as well, thankfully.

ALSO, For the sake of this story Twilight did NOT happen. This is post-Haunted.

A/n: And here's the second chapter!

Enjoy and Thanks for reading.

"We'll talk," he said ever so smoothly as he stepped away.

What just happened? Why did I kiss him back? Why would I fool myself into thinking he was Dawson? I felt like I was in a daze.

Sad thing was that this encounter was more dazzling than my entire time with Dawson.

Oh God, I was a cheater. I just cheated on Dawson. This guilt was going to eat me up alive. I have to call him.

I can't believe I cheated on him with our third anniversary coming up just this weekend. Though, in my defense, Paul initiated this. I needed to think before I had to go back and face any of my classmates. As I headed for the bathroom, my phone started ringing. I'd forgotten to turn it on silent and so I hastily flipped it open to silence it only to find the caller was Dawson. Guess I was going to have this talk now.

"Hello?"

Nothing.

"Hello? Dawson?"

I listened more carefully this time. All I could hear was "mmm."

Oh god, I just got butt-dialed while he was eating. That boy. I was about to hang up when I heard a familiar voice on the other end.

"Dawson, stop. Why didn't you let me talk to Zohra after you guys broke up? I don't like us dating without her knowing. I mean, I'm her best friend," said Abby.

Broke up? We never broke up.

Wait! Hold the phone! Dating!? Dawson is dating Abby?

"Look Abby," I put my ear back up to the phone, "I already told you. She knows and she's happy for us. She's given us her blessings, I'm sure she's just having a hard time adjusting."

Yeah I am. After listening to this, I definitely am. Here I was freaking out and he's been cheating on me. Oh I was going to figure this out right now.

I called Abby's cell through the other line.

"Oh my Gosh, Zohra! We were just talking about you!"

"We? Oh you mean Dawson and you?" I was going to get to the bottom of this.

"Yes ma'am! How are you? How are things in California? I'm so glad you're finally calling me!"

I was going to get straight to the point, "Oh right, of course you and Dawson. Tell me how are things with you two. How long has it been now?"

"We're going to be celebrating our one month tomorrow," Abby exclaimed.

I couldn't believe it. My rock. My Dawson had been cheating on me this entire time. Oh God. My world was crumbling. I wanted to vomit.

"Abby. Dawson and I never broke up. I just found out because he butt-dialed me while you two were making-out. You can tell him to check his phone. It's still on the other line. I'm sorry you had to find out this way sweetie. I'm going back to class now," and with that I hung up both lines.

Not a minute too soon, my phone started going crazy with texts and calls from Dawson. Yeah, like that was going to happen. I took out the battery from the back and tossed the whole thing in my bag. I didn't want to deal with this. If I wanted to make it through the day without breaking down from the pain and guilt I just experienced within the past 10 minutes, then I had to just "keep calm and carry on."

I couldn't wait till this week was over with.

The week took forever. I didn't think Saturday would come. I could finally just sleep everything away.

"Happy Birthday, Appi!" yelled my brother as he stormed in and launched himself at me with the Sanders following behind.

My birthday. I totally forgot about that. I'm 18 now. A legal adult!

I smiled at the surprise, but obviously not being a morning person I managed to get out, "What time is it?"

"It's 7.30, Sweetie. We're so proud of you for choosing to volunteer at the Mission on your birthday," Mrs. Sanders—Ana said.

Volunteer? Oh, right, my detention for yelling out expletives.

I groaned as I pulled the covers over my head. "We've got a birthday breakfast waiting for you, but you better hurry if you want to get to the mission at 8."

Thankfully, it is only a five-minute drive from Scenic Rd to the mission and that I could wear jeans to the mission today. It was a godsend.

Father Dominic has me sort through the items in the library and sort them out. Yay for organizing?

My phone kept buzzing the whole time with all the texts and calls from friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins. But thankfully the Sanders had already transferred all of my contacts to my birthday present—an iPhone, definitely an upgrade from my flip phone any day. However, the only call I ended up picking up was from Thomas.

"Now that you are legal, Zohra, we can begin the process your parents had set up for you and all of the belongings left to you and your brother," he was saying when Father Dominic stepped in to the library to check up on me.

"Zohra," Father D warned.

I mouthed, "just one more minute" holding up the same number of fingers with my hand. As Thomas continued on and Father Dominic began to grow annoyed, Jesse came to join us I'm assuming since he heard Father D was around now-Jesse was reading one of the books that was up for shelving.

"I will maintain guardianship of everything until you are done with high school up in California. However, I will need you to visit Texas at some point before you graduate to get all of the paperwork sorted."

"Uh Ok. I can come during my spring break," I put my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone and whispered to Father Dominic, "When's spring break?"

"April 8," he said peeved. I don't think I'd seen Father Dominic be peeved before. Granted I haven't been here long.

"Mr. Singer, I can be there on April 8 to finalize all of this stuff," I said.

"Perfect. We'll talk later. Happy Birthday, Zohra," he said as he hung up on me.

I hung up as well and just said "Thanks" almost to no one.

"Zohra, this was a special consideration in light of your circumstances. However, I do hope you understand this means that the same rules for detention apply here, especially in regards to your phone."

"I totally understand. It was just my parents' lawyer following up on all the legalities since I'm 18 now," I said going back to shelving the books. "It's the only call I've taken this entire time. I'm going to call all my extended family members back later to thank them. Promise," I claimed holding up my scout's honor. So what if it was the Boy Scout's Honor, something I was obviously never involved with.

"Now? As in today is your…"

"Yes," I said cutting off Father Dominic.

"Oh well, then what are you doing here on your birthday?" he said. Jesse quirked up an eyebrow. "We could've started next week."

I groaned, "It's really fine, Father Dominic. It's not a big deal; I'm just a year older. I just want to get this done so I can go back to bed." I smiled weakly.

They chuckled. "Ok, well just head out at noon and stop by my office before you leave."

"Got it," I said as he left the library leaving me with Jesse.

A moment of silence passed before Jesse said, "¡Felíz Cumpleaños!"

"Thanks," I said stopping to smile before returning back to shelving the books.

"So anything special planned?" he asked.

"Nope," I said not turning. Let's be honest, I'd forgotten about my birthday after the week I'd had.

"Did you at least get something from your novio?" he asked.

I froze mid-shelving. Even though I still got headaches from being around Jesse, I trusted him. Almost blindly, I would say. I just knew deep down inside that he was one of the good guys. The fact that he was with Suze helped his case too. Which is why he became the first person I told him.

I let out a big sigh. "He was cheating on me. With my best friend. I broke up with him early this week," I said carrying on with shelving now.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," Jesse said placing his hand on my shoulder.

I recoiled almost instantaneously. A little too late though.