A/N: Ok, so right now I'm happy dancing for three reasons. 1. I'm on a major sugar rush 2. Last chapter got 12 reviews!! You guys rock!! and 3. WE'VE REACHED 50 TOTAL REVIEWS!! THE BIG FIVE-OH! I am so insanely excited you have no idea. SO in honor of the review count, I posted early, and I wrote a lot, so ENJOY!

Chapter 7: Break Downs

Wednesday and Thursday passed with nothing terribly significant happening. Aimee and Levi were acting much the same as before they were official, so I had the nagging feeling that Levi wanted to claim her as his own before someone else did, and then progress slowly with the rest of their relationship. Fine by Aimee. I could sense her relief that he wasn't trying to pressure her into anything, and I couldn't help feeling relief that my bat, so far, would not be necessary.

My mom had rampaged around both nights, hollering insults up the stairs at me. My dad had to come up twice to reassure me that she didn't mean it, but that didn't stop it from hurting. It all sounded like the truth to me by now. She picked on my clothes, my weight, and my lack of a boyfriend. Anything she knew that would put me in a miserable mood like her. Why she was in a bad mood, I may never know, as she doesn't even work or even do laundry half the time. I had managed to keep my sanity though, and I was even able to feel cheerful at school and softball, especially when I was with Seth.

Seth was treating me exactly the same as before, if not a bit more distanced. We flirted easily through most of our classes together, but quite often, he looked nervous or worried. I asked him what was wrong once, and he seemed surprised that I'd even noticed something like that. What can I say, I'm just very perceptive. On Thursday, he joined our lunch table, startling me so much that I started to choke. Consequently, Seth patted me on the back to dislodge my sandwich from my throat, which worked, but sent me to hyperventilating, which defeated the purpose of helping me regain my ability to breath. His touch sent chills through my body even though his hands were so warm. I couldn't even fathom how it would feel if he were hugging me, when even the most casual of brushes sent my heart into frenzied palpitations. Gosh, did I have it bad.

We were sitting in the courtyard outside of the school. The table was a bright blue, round fixture, with four, two-people benches bolted to the ground around it. Aimee and Levi were sitting on one of the benches together, and I was sitting directly opposite of them. When Seth joined us, he sat on my bench, rather than on his own. This meant that we were sitting so close that our shoulders were touching. I wondered how we looked to outsiders. Obviously, Aimee and Levi were a couple, but did Seth and I look like a couple, or just like friends? Hard as I tried, I couldn't imagine anyone seeing us as a couple. I couldn't help but think about how wonderful that would feel. People walking by and thinking to themselves, "Gee, Seth and Kayla sure make a great couple." Or "Isn't she lucky, she has Seth all to herself."

I reluctantly pulled myself out of my daydreams, back into reality, and tried to tune back in to the conversation.

"So, Aimee, Levi, you guys going to the football game?" Seth was asking casually.

Levi shrugged. "We haven't really talked about it yet." His face flushed lightly when he said "we." "Are you two going?"

I felt hidden pleasure at being grouped with Seth as "you two."

"I think we are." Seth answered, just as casually as before.

I felt like dancing with joy. He just said "we." It wasn't as significant as Levi's, but it was enough for me. That had to mean there was something between us, right? Even if we could only be good friends.

Levi turned to Aimee. "You want to go to the after game dance?" He asked, barely getting the words out in his nervousness.

"Sure." She practically screamed, her eyes lighting up with excitement. I smiled reassuring her.

"Aimee, have you told your parents about you guys being 'official' yet?" I asked, wanting to see her sweat it a little. I'm not mean; she's just so funny when she's worried.

Her brow furrowed. "Not yet. I'm with Mom tonight, and I was thinking about telling her, but I'm not sure how she'll take it. I mean, come on, I'm her daughter, not to mention her only child, with diabetes, plus she's divorced… I don't know if she can take the shock of the 'first b-boyfriend.' Plus the dance…" She trailed off, after stumbling over the word boyfriend. I was one-hundred percent sure that was the first time she'd ever said the word aloud.

I chuckled. "Well, I'm sure she's rather find out sooner rather than later. Isn't your dad coming to the football game? I doubt Levi will be able to handle sitting in a different part of the bleachers than you." I said, winking at them. Aimee started breathing heavily and turned pale.

"Oh my gosh. What the heck have I gotten myself into?" She shrieked, fretting. "Mom is going to kill me! Dad might kill you! AHH!" She groaned and put her face in her hands, he shoulders shaking slightly.

"Shh, Aimee, calm down!" Levi murmured, wrapping his arms around her. Immediately she stopped talking and her head shot up. She looked at him incredulously and turned bright red. Then, she sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Sorry, minor panic attack." She said, a little breathlessly.

I hadn't meant to set her off so badly. She seemed just fine now though, resting in the arms of her "lover." I felt nauseous. They were so perfect. I could see it now, as if it was set in stone. Their wedding, their tiny little kids, their house with the picket fence, their in-laws sitting on the patio joking together… Everything that felt illusive to me. Because who could ever love me? I stood up quickly and grabbed my bag, nearly sprinting in my haste to get to somewhere where I could cry without someone bothering me. I dove into the crowd of people surging into the building and swam through them to the one place I could go with out being bothered: The landing of the emergency staircase near the English hall. I thrust the door open and sank to the floor. The alarm had long since been disconnected due to pranksters, and the security cameras here were rarely paid attention too. I pulled my knees up to my chest and laid my head on them, sobbing without making any noise.

I lost track of time. Classes meant little to me at that point. Why did I even bother coming the first week, all they did was pointless review from sixth grade! I didn't hear the door open, but suddenly that huge, warm body was next to me again. He sat down on the floor next to me and put his arm around my shoulders. I was too sad to even care.

"Kayla, please stop crying." He begged. He sounded so out of his element. "Kayla, we need to get to class in fifteen minutes!" He sounded frantic. Even he had heard of my perfect no skipping record.

"D-don't c-care!" I hiccupped.

Suddenly, his two warm arms wrapped around me and pulled me into his lap. My head rested on his chest, tears still escaping my eyes. He was so massive that I fit perfectly in his lap, like he had been made for me, and I for him. Which only made me cry harder. He rested his chin on my head and rubbed my back for a few minutes. It felt so good, and I felt so much worse. I wanted to keep him for myself, and I could never have him. He was only here because he was a gentleman, taught to help damsels in distress.

In only a matter of minutes, I had cried myself dry. I sniffled a little bit and blinked back the last drops of moisture left. I noticed how good he smelled, like pine trees and fresh plants. I needed to get out of his warm embrace before I gave myself a complex. I shakily tried to stand up, but I very nearly fell right back down, only to be caught by Seth.

"Why are you so sad?" He asked, sounding sad himself. He pulled me into a hug. My chest exploded with feelings that were new to me. I felt loved and wanted. Was this what it felt like to like someone, to really like them? No wonder I had waited so long, this was stressful!

I wrapped me arms awkwardly around him. "Lots of reasons. My mom hates me. My sister picks on me. I got maybe three hours of sleep last night." I decided to shut my mouth before something slipped out that I would regret.

He squeezed me a little tighter. "Well, I'm always here for you." He said, sounding sure.

"Thanks Seth."

"No problem. Now, can I take you to the girl's room so you can clean up and get to class? We have about five minutes before the bell rings, and I'm pretty sure your class is near here."

I nodded. We let go of each other and I made to grab my bag, but Seth already had it.

"Let me have my bag Seth, we don't want people making the wrong assumptions."

I could have sworn he said something like "let them make whatever assumptions they want." Nevertheless, he still passed my bag to me. I cracked the door open and checked to see if the coast was clear. If we walked out of a rarely used stairway together, who knew what people would think. We safely made it out and I dashed to the bathroom to wash my face. I glanced in the mirror to find that I looked horrible. My eyes were puffy and red, my face streaked with tears. I turned the water on as cold as it would go and scrubbed my face as fast as I could manage without making myself look worse. When I saw that I had at least made a minor improvement, I exited the restroom to find Seth waiting for me.

"Feeling any better?" He asked uncertainly. The heat from his body had already dried the tears I had left on his shirt.

"Yeah." I sounded dead tired.

He walked me to my classroom, walking with his hand occasionally brushing mine. Total coincidence. I thought. He hugged me again at the doorway, earning us a couple of bugged eyed looks from incredulous peers. Great. I entered the room and slid into my seat next to Aimee, who promptly slid a note to me.

What happened?! And did he seriously hug you in front of everyone??

I sighed. Before scribbling a message back.

Long story. It mostly involves me collapsing in tears and Seth pulling me into his lap and comforting me. And yes, he did just hug me in front of everyone. Wonderful.

As much as I would have loved the giddy little butterflies that were threatening to invade my stomach, I was equally disgruntled. What was he playing at? Was he trying to cause me to self-combust?

The note appeared under my nose again.

HIS LAP? And what exactly does "comforting" involve?? Are you guys together now?

A slightly hysterical giggle slipped from my lips. I glanced up to see Aimee ogling at me. I thought very hard about how I was going to answer.

Yes, Aimee, his lap. Have you suddenly forgotten how to read? And comforting involves him rubbing my back and his chin resting on my head. And no, we're not together, he's just a gosh darn gentleman saving damsels in distress! And no, that wasn't sarcasm!

I flicked the note at her and watched her face as she read my crazed ramblings. Mr. Jacobson had already started his lecture on the joys of linear equations, but both of us were already quite familiar with that, and too wrapped up with our boy drama to have cared if we hadn't. Aimee was writing so fast to respond to my note that I was surprised the pencil didn't have smoke rising from it.

Kayla, I don't think you realize how major this is! He just admitted to the world that he likes you, and don't give me that crud about him being a gentleman!

Aimee, I don't think you realize how confused I am right now! Can we please talk about something else? Like what happened between you and Levi after me and Seth left?

She turned about five shades of red. Ooh, this ought to be good.

Well… We uh… kind of… Well, it wasn't a full on LIPS kiss, but he kissed my cheek when he walked me to class…

Wow! Congrats!

Thanks.

He eyes stared at the wall in front of her, and I could see she was about to be whisked away by the memory fairy, so first I wrote her a quick note back.

I think you should check your blood sugar before you go off into la la land. I doubt that much emotion is good for you.

I was only half kidding.

Oh, right! She scribbled, before pulling out her kit. What would she do without me?

"Crud." She murmured before pulling a juice box out of her bag. Ha ha, she was low.

"Told you so!" I whispered, glad the conversation had steered away from me.

She stuck her tongue out at me. I chuckled, and then decided to further analyze the meeting between Seth and me. After looking at it from all angles, I concluded that my wildest dream really had come true. Seth liked me back. I felt a strange high at my realization. A nice, funny, drop-dead gorgeous guy liked me! Who would've thought? Certainly not me. I did a little happy dance in my chair, and Aimee looked knowingly at me. I shrugged and tried to seem nonchalant, but I couldn't hide the excitement shining in my eyes.

A/N: Thanks for helping me reach 50 reviews everyone! My goal is to get 15 reviews for this chapter, but I will likely post very soon regardless. Still, reviews are like sugar: I can't live without it and the more I have the faster I type! :-)