A/N: Significant revisions were made to this chapter in January 2012.

I'm immediately snapped out of my daze.

"Mer!" I scream, chasing after her.

She runs quickly past Josh and Rashmi – who I nearly missed seeing right behind her – and goes toward the maze of shrubbery near the Grand Bassin.

Her trainers pound furiously against the ground.

"Stop it!" she screams, choking back tears. "Just leave me alone!"

She slows down and I finally catch up with her. Her face is stained with tears.

I feel like hell. Mer's always fancied me. And while I like her very much as a friend – a close one, at that – I've never been able to reciprocate those feelings. We never talked about it because, I presumed, neither of us wanted to change our world.

Perhaps I was wrong.

"Mer," I say quietly. "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Of course," she says, letting out a bitter laugh. "Your tongue just accidentally found its way down Anna's throat."

I try to find a calming breath. This is not going to be easy.

"I should have been more upfront. I should have told you how I felt about Anna."

"And how you didn't feel about me," she says. Her voice quivers. Please don't cry anymore.

"You're a great person."

She shakes her head.

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't believe it. And I know you'll meet someone just as great as you. Someone who will be better for you than I could ever be."

"Easy for you to say," she says. "Everyone loves you. You've never been turned down before…and that's all I ever been."

"Nothing is ever as it seems," I say. "We all have our problems."

She looks down at me in disbelief, but it's true. My life is far from charmed. She used to know that as well as anyone else in our group.

"Whatever," she says dismissively. "I'm not going to let you ruin anything else for me today. I'm off to a team party."

She never goes to those parties. She must really hate me now. She might never not hate me.

As she turns to leave, I start my slow walk back toward the main part of the park. I imagine Anna has already left, probably with Josh and Rash.

I can't bear to look.

I don't want Anna to think this was some sort of fluke. I've got to get things sorted out before I see her again.

I've got to break up with Ellie.