I'm more into this story than you guys are. *Yuk yuk yuk* I keel myself.

"I mean… If you just leave… I would miss you," he said, chomping down on one of the cheese puffs, wiping his orange fingers on the velvet couch. "But I would never forget you," he added.

I crisscrossed my legs as I sat. "…But is that a good or a bad thing?" I questioned.

"I bet it would be like… Skyla," he said, struggling to say the name we had avoided all morning. "I'm always gonna remember her and smile when I think about her," he explained. I couldn't help but notice that he was, indeed, smiling lightly. "But I'll still miss her."

I smirked. "You should hate her."

His head snapped up to look at me. "Why would you say something like that?"

"She's the reason I'm at your house right now. If she hadn't had showed up, we would both be at school and I'd be doing what I've been doing for the last eight years," I shrugged.

He blinked slowly, taking a breath. "I thought you said you didn't regret any of that."

"I don't," I said, looking down at my hands. "I feel guilty."

"Aren't guilt and regret the same thing?" he asked.

I shook my head, raising my eyes to meet his. I kept my head lowered, though. "No."

A few moments of silence passed in which I avoided the truth will all my might. Luckily, his voice broke through my thoughts.

"Hey," he started, waiting for me to look up at him. I obliged and he continued. "Do you realize that in an alternate universe, we partake in baby-making activities?"

I think I may have legitimately snorted at that one. I lightly slapped his arm. "Shut up."

I knew his intentions were pure, though. He wanted to take the focus away from what I was dreading. And it was semi-working. My mind was like a mill. No… It was more like a big blob of spaghetti noodles. Everything was twisted and tangled up, and I kept changing from subject to subject. In my head, the topic at hand changed in an instant. It would go from my parents, to my brother, to the turtle I had when I was five. It was ridiculous. And I appreciate Robbie for trying to get my mind… Off of my mind.

My brother. My brother was the only person I considered family here. I mean, sure, we don't talk to each other and he avoids me. But that's what brothers are supposed to do. It feels realistic. Nothing else does.

"So," he began again. "Do you want..."

"I want to go back," I interrupted, not wanting to discuss this anymore than I had to. Get it over with. Like a bandage. "I want to finish this. I don't have any control over it anymore. If Beck and Jade get together right now, I'm gonna have to go back. It's not my decision." I looked down, avoiding the hurt in his eyes. "You were sidestepping that, weren't you?"

"Of course I was," he responded quickly – in his 'wasn't it obvious' tone.

"Me too," I added glumly, reaching into the snack bowl again.

We threw the puffs in the air, catching them in synchronization.

I heard him take a deep breath. "Then let's do it."

I stared at him confusedly. He couldn't possibly mean… "Do what?"

"Let's get you back," he said, reaching into his pocket.

In the next instant I saw the green Pear Phone in his hand, already rapidly pressing digits.

I stood up quickly, walking closer to him. "W-Wait, who are you calling?"

"Tori," he said, holding the phone to his ear.

"Tori, why Tori? Tori?" I repeated hurriedly, anxiety coursing through my veins.

But he was already talking to her. "Yeah, Tori? Hey, remember what we talked about last night?"

I desperately reached out for the phone, trying to take it away. But he kept fidgeting and pulling it just out of my reach.

He was on his feet now. "Yeah. Uh-huh. Let's do it. Mm-kay, bye."

And then the phone was back in his pocket, just like that.

I looked at him in shock. "What did you do? What is she doing?" I yelled.

"A favor," he said simply, smirking.

I knew what he was up to. Oh my God. "You… You planned my…" I struggled for the right word. "Departure?"

Do you know what it's like to train a pit bull. Do you. Do you really.