None of us spoke about what had happened. Shaun forgave Andy, begrudgingly but it meant nothing as far as the rumours circulating around the school were concerned. The latest rumour was that I'd left Shaun for Andy (complete rubbish!) and nothing any of us could say or do would stop it.

A few weeks ago Andy and Shaun had given up trying to make it all better and now they didn't even talk to each other if they could help it and when they couldn't they spoke to each other as though the other one was dirt. I didn't have any real contact with Andy either. Michelle had kept the song hidden away and for a good reason too; so if we didn't want everyone to know the truth we had nothing to talk about… until one day…

It was after school and I was waiting for Bradie so that we could walk home together. I lived near Bradie and we'd been walking to and from school since year seven. He was definitely taking his time…
"Gem?" I spun around to see Andy. I didn't know how to feel. I was angry at him for avoiding me but I did miss him lots, so I decided to be nice.
"Hey, Andy," I smiled, hoping he would feel better.
"Can I talk to you?"
"About what?" I asked.
"Well, it's kind of a lot and Mum wants to see you about something."
"What?"
"You'll see."
"Andrew, tell me." I practically screamed this, "I'm sick of your secrets!"
"Fine!" He turned away. "Don't come… I thought you were my friend; I thought you cared."
"I do care! "I felt hurt. "And besides, I could say the same thing to you!"
"What?" Andy looked outraged. "I'm not the one who decided I might just ditch my best friend for some stuck up jerk who doesn't even care!"
It took a minute for my brain to register that Andy had insulted Shaun. "Shaun is not stuck up! And I didn't ditch you. You stopped talking to me!"
"Yeah sure," Andy said. "Whatever… you coming."
I decided I'd better go. "Fine." I said, "Just let me text Shaun."
I arranged for Shaun to pick me up at five and we set off towards Andy's house.

I was at Andy's house, sitting on his couch and feeling very awkward. Why? Because Michelle didn't want to talk to me, in fact she wasn't even there. "Why?" I asked Andy.
His answer shocked me. "I wanted to be alone with you."
"So you tricked me into coming home with you?"
"You wouldn't come otherwise…" Andy said.
"Why do you even want to be alone with me?"
"Because… there's no one else here so I can say what I want to you and no one will say anything about it."
This was a fair statement. "Don't you think Shaun will be upset about us being alone together for so long?"
"Not unless we give him something to be upset about..." Andy gave me a mischievous grin and I had an idea that now would be a good time to leave, so I stood up and turned towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Andy asked. "Come back... or you'll make me sad."
"I don't care." I reached for the door handle but next thing I knew I was squashed between Andy and the wall. "Ah, let me go!" I protested.
"Why?" Andy asked. "We're alone; nobody's gonna know."
"Except Shaun." I looked Andy straight in the eye as I said this. "Do you want to give him a reason to be upset?"
Andy wrapped his arms around my waist. "Maybe." He whispered and next thing I knew he was kissing me… and kissing me and no matter what I did I couldn't get him off me; so I made the stupidest most crazy, wonderful decision of my life: I kissed him back.

Five o'clock came quickly and we were back on the couch; Andy's arms around me and mine around his neck. I had no idea of the time, so id decided to check my phone. I had three missed calls from Shaun. Crap. And the time… five o'clock, double crap.
"One more kiss?" Andy asked.
"Andy, Shaun will be here soon, no."
"But, if you love me…" He looked into my eyes; how could I say no.
"O-ok then…" And he kissed me again and again and… the door opened. In the split second I had to think I hoped it was just Mrs Clemmensen because Andy was still kissing me and I was kissing him…
"Gem?"
Even before I looked at Shaun I could tell he was close to tears. I felt so guilty.
I pulled away from Andy and looked up at him. The first thing I noticed was my lipstick on his cheek. Tears welled up in my eyes. This wasn't happening. Andy let me go but I immediately went to hold him tighter before realising what was happening. Andy pulled me away from him and got up, brushing past Shaun as he climbed the stairs to his room. "I-I…" I tried to speak as I looked at Shaun but my voice was broken, there was no excuse this time.
"I hate you." He said coldly. "I trusted you to leave you with him and this is what you do?"
"But-
"No buts." I noticed he wasn't using my name anymore. "Don't come around anymore, OK; we're through." And Shaun turned to leave.
I stood and rushed after Shaun but as I reached out for him, he pushed me away and I fell onto the cold stone tiles in the adjacent dining room. "No." he said and that was the last I saw if him.

For a long time I stayed where I landed and cried and soon enough I decided that crying was for babies and it never solved anything. I had to talk to Andy. Now that Shaun was gone I needed someone to talk to.

The journey up the stairs had never felt longer or more painful, but at long last when I reached Andy's bedroom door I knocked and then noticed the door was slightly ajar. I pushed it open. "Andy?" I called.