A/N: Hey everyone! Ok, I am going to try and write the last two chapters tonight!! No promises, but I'm trying. Also, just a note here: I'm incredibly pissed off right now. *Note to self: Never write fan fiction while watching a presidential election. Yeah, not a good combination. As well as the fact that Amendment 2 here in Florida, (trying to define marriage as one man and one woman) is more than likely going to pass, though I voted against it. Damn homophobes….I'm glad I can complain about them here, because if you're reading this, you're obviously not one! Lol. OK, onto the chapter now: Oh, and one more thing: to Kit Of Light And Dark, I'm really not a fan of Kevin/Luke; and besides, having Kevin fall in love with Luke is too predictable for my tastes. Thanks to you, and others who have reviews my chapters!! They really make me so happy! Now, REALLY onto the chapter!
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"It doesn't matter!" I yelled at Jonathan for what must've been the fifth time already in the last half hour of the meeting, which he had taken to scheduling daily for the past few days until the election tomorrow, "Whether he drops out or not, I can win! He doesn't stand a chance so what's the difference?"
"The difference is that we did not go through this for nothing!" Jonathan cried, now standing as I rose to my feet as well.
"Hold on just a second!" I yelled in exasperation, "When did this become we? I have been the one pretending to be Snyder's boyfriend to get him to drop out of the damn election!"
"Well you've done a terrible job at it considering he's still running!" Jonathan's reply was as sharp and sour as mine.
"Um, guys?" Jennifer's quiet voice interrupted us.
"What?!" we both yelled at her, turning to face her. At that moment, I really didn't know what to d or say. Over Jennifer's shoulder, I saw a far-too-familiar blonde head, frozen behind the screen door, fixing me with the most horrible look of betrayal I've ever seen in my life.
I felt the blood drain from my face and my breath caught in my throat. The screen door opened slowly, and Jennifer stepped aside to allow him in. Jonathan just stood frozen beside me, not quite sure what to do. I don't think anyone really did. He walked towards me, and I didn't move, focusing more on finding the ability to breathe again as my eyes locked onto his own which glistened with unshed tears.
I didn't realize he was clutching a piece of paper until he shoved it roughly into my hand, "I can't believe you used me," he hissed in an undertone so cold that I wish he'd yelled it at me instead, "I thought you had changed; but you're the same sick asshole you've always been." I tried to open my mouth to protest, but my body was no longer under my control, refusing to move at all, no matter how much I willed it. "That's what you wanted, isn't it?" He asked, gesturing towards the paper he'd shoved at me.
My body moved without my own conscious thought, again as though I had no control over it. Shaking hands unfolded the paper, and my eyes fell to it. I swallowed hard, realizing what it was: a confirmation note given by the dean of Oakdale University, stating that Luke had withdrawn from the race. Unable to look him directly in the eye, I set my gaze into the distance, staring somewhere over his shoulder.
"Well congratulations, Kevin, you win. You always win." I opened my mouth to say something; what exactly, I wasn't sure, but I just had to say something. But he just sneered, shaking his head, "Don't bother," he scoffed a bit, and his fiery glare faltered for just a second before he lowered his voice that I think only I could actually hear it, "You don't know how much I wish I could say 'I hate you.'"
He turned without another word, and stormed out. I wish you could say it too. I thought as I watched his retreating figure. I wished he had yelled at me; made me feel like crap; said he hated me; anything. But I hated that voice, that look. When I knew he felt so betrayed, and more feelings than he meant to show glowed on his face. That look that said he was disappointed in me hurt more than anything he could've screamed at me, or any physical damage he could've done to me.
I jerked back to reality when Jonathan clapped me on the shoulder, grinning broadly, and it took me a moment to realize why he was so happy about what had just happened. Then it hit me: this was what we wanted. This was the whole purpose of the plan. This was a moment of victory, but it didn't feel like that to me. I had lost my best friend all over again, but that had been what this was about. All along….
"We did it!" Jonathan said brightly, and finally the tense silence in the room broke, as everyone broke into cheers. I heard voices congratulating me, and hands clapped me on the back. I forced a smile, determinedly keeping my eyes from the door where Luke had disappeared from.
Jonathan passed me a beer, then started handing them out to everyone in their celebration. Or my celebration, I guess, though I was still trying to figure out what there was to be celebrating. Yeah, I won the election. The cost was my old best friend's self-esteem and re-opened wounds, as well as my pride and self-respect. But I won the election… Yeah, at this point, the election can go to hell for all I care….
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A/N: I know this chapter is u8nbearably short!!! But the last chapter will be up very soon! Tonight, or maybe tomorrow night if I don't finish tonight. And the last chapter will be much longer than this one. I have much in store for that chapter!! Remember to leave me a review!! Especially if you read this tonight when I post this, because those reviews are what will make me want to finish the last chapter and post it tonight!!
