My stomach was doing flips when I left The Dot. I wanted nothing more than to forget that I'd ever seen anything. I wish I could erase the memory of Declan and Jane kissing from my brain. I wish I didn't care so much about Spinner's feelings. I wish I knew that if he found out, he wouldn't completely fall apart.

It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to face them every single day.

I started my walk home thinking about which excuse I could give my parents for being home early. Maybe I could tell them that the grill had blown up and The Dot had to shut down. That probably wasn't the best idea. Ever since the place was held up, they hadn't been too keen on me working there. Now that Jane and I had the babysitting gig going, I didn't really need the money as much. I wasn't contemplating quitting or anything, it just wasn't a necessity as it once had been.

It was about ten minutes into my walk when I started to hear a loud engine and some hip-hop music. A car pulled up beside me. Of course, I had heard it coming and didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. The car window rolled down.

"You know, you don't do stealth very well," I said without looking up.

"Duly noted. Let me bring you home," Jay replied

"I'm good. I need a nice walk to clear my head," I said, finally stopping.

"Holly J. Sinclair."

"Jason Eugene Hogart."

"That's not my middle name."

"I know, but wouldn't it be funny if it was?" I said, trying to lighten the mood.

"We gotta talk. Get in the car," he said reaching over to open the door for me.

"Jay, I know you think we need to talk, but just trust me on this one. You're better off not knowing anything."

"J, I'm not sure what this is about, but from the vibe you were giving off back there, I can guess. Tell me what you know."

"I can't."

"Fine, then let me tell you what I do," he replied.

Suddenly, I was riding shotgun while Jay blasted whatever Canadian hip-hop was en vogue. I was pretty sure that this is what happens in Hell. I bit on my lip and tried to regain my composure. We sat without talking for a minute.

"Jay, whatever you think you know, you're wrong. Okay? In fact, it wouldn't matter if you were right, because it isn't any of our business."

"Listen, Spin's my best friend. We've been causing trouble together since Grade 10. I've watched him go through a lot of girls, but I've never seen him the way he is with Jane. He's in love. He'd do anything for that girl. He's there at her every beck and call."

"Yeah."

"Yeah, well, I've dated girls like that. They don't last too long. You get bored when someone is always there. You get annoyed. You start to slowly pull yourself away and try new things. Am I getting close?"

"Jay..."

"I've noticed it, Sinclair. She hasn't been around as much. She turned him down when he asked her to move in with her. She refuses to talk about what their post-grad plans are. She's always working on that school play with the kid with the eyebrows. Remember, that rich guy who you basically told to go kick rocks today? These aren't the actions of someone who is ecstatic in their relationship. Not to mention, the other day Spin was convinced he was getting dumped. He said Jane came in acting all weird and thought she was going to end it. He was laughing about it, J. He was laughing that he could have gotten it so wrong. You know what I was thinking? Maybe he got it right. He's my friend. I can't see him go down like this. If you know something, you have to give him the heads up."

"Jay, their relationship issues aren't my business."

"He's your friend. If he finds out that you kept something from him, that might no longer be the case."

"I guess that's a chance I have to take."

"Look, I know you and Jane are friends," Jay said. His tone had gone from giving me a lecture to understanding. I wasn't all that familiar with this side of Jay. "I also know there's something going on with her. If she told you she's done with him or she's done anything that could hurt him, tell him. You and Jane have been cool for what, a few weeks? Listen to me when I tell you Spinner is the kind of friend who will be there for you no matter what."

"I know he is."

"He told me that you had feelings for him. I know that's probably not what you want to hear right now, but he wasn't sure if he'd handled it the right way. He told me he couldn't lose you as his friend, but he also couldn't think of anyone but Jane in that way. When you bounced back like it was nothing, he was impressed. And grateful. Really grateful that he still had you in his life. Now this conversation never happened. Got it, Waitress?"

"Never happened."

I couldn't think straight anymore. Jay pulled into my driveway and I started to lean for the door. Jay put his hand on my arm and I looked over at him.

"You let me know if I have to kick someone's ass. There's nothing I like more than to make pretty boys bleed."

"Now your mother used to tell me you ain't nothing but some trouble. Now it's a couple troublemakers making mayhem on the double."