Later on, during fifth period I got called in to see Principal Phifer again.

"Seems you've been exonerated," he said smiling.

"What do you mean?"

Principal Phifer let out a sigh of frustration. "Exonerated means..."

"I know what that means. But I don't understand why or how?"

"Three girls, who are being dealt with, have stepped forward to say that they fabricated all the evidence against you. As to why they did it, that I cannot say." I looked away embarrassed.

"I'm going to assume though you're a smart girl and can put together what this is all about, though." I turned back and nodded. "It seems that people have it out for you, Miss Kent. Same with your mother and father," Principal Phifer said as he stood up. I couldn't help but think of the box in my room that I still didn't open. What in the world was in there?

"They were pretty crazy when we were in school. Probably not as crazy as you and your brother." Principal Phider shook his head. "Anyways, here is your pass and a letter to allow you to participate again with the volleyball team and cheer with the squad. I would suggest you practice well, for the scouts."

"Thank you Principal Phifer."

I was so excited. I ran back to fifth period. The second I sat down, I turned to tell Eric, but remembered what I had mentioned earlier this morning and turned back in my chair. I showed the letter to Aidan.

"See I told you everything would work out," he said.

As much as I was glad that it did. I still felt so alone in that moment. I was back on the team, but I had just lost one of my best friends.

Practice was short. Sharon said that we could take the moment to rest and Tori said the same too. We only did a few warm ups and then were allowed to leave. I hung out with Lauren and Shauna in their room after Christina told me that Will was coming by. Apparently, some of the football team were skipping practice today.

"As much as you're a joy to have around, because I'm reminded of myself when I see you," stated Lauren. "You can't really stay here all the time," she finished with a smile.

"I'm guessing because your boyfriends would probably be coming over too," I smiled back at Lauren to let her know that I didn't really care if she was going to be straightforward with me. I actually welcomed it. They were all pretty much honest with their feelings about me and about Eric and I being friends.

"I rarely allow Zeke here," added Shauna.

"They haven't done it," whispered Lauren. She obviously said it loud enough for Shauna to hear.

"Lauren!"

"What," Lauren asked confused. "You've been together since freshman year."

"I want to say that I'm waiting for marriage, but I know it probably won't last. I don't want to just to give that part of me to anyone." She must have seen the look on my face. "Not that I'm calling Zeke just anyone. I love him, a lot. But, It's a big deal for me. Zeke knows it. He's been by my side no matter what. I know he cares about me and values me, not just for my body, but me. When the time is right, I'll know. And I'm not the only girl who feels that way, Lauren!"

"Right right," muttered Lauren. "What about you Alex? I mean we all know that you claim you haven't found anyone here, yet," she said looking at Shauna. They both put smirks on their face. "But were there any guys back at Amity?"

"No actually," I answered softly. "I didn't date anyone there, not that I wasn't asked. I guess I was just too busy with school, cheer, and sports. I didn't want to throw a guy into the mix."

"You too?!"

"I think I sort of have to side with Shauna on that. I know it's stupid to say that I want that person to be my one and only."

"It's not stupid," said Shauna. "You just want it to be…" she looked around searching for the word. "Special."

"Every time I'm with Peter, it's special," Lauren accused.

"I wouldn't know exactly how to explain it either. But I want it count, I want it matter. I want to count, I want to matter." I let out a sigh and before I knew what was happening my mouth spoke before my brain could tell it to stop. "I guess that's why I keep calling Eric out on it."

Lauren immediately spit out the Coca Cola she was drinking and Shauna dropped the clothes she had in her hand.

"What exactly did you do to Eric," questioned Lauren.

"I basically called him a player. I said it so cold too. I didn't mean for it to be taken that way. Maybe I did." I shook my head of the guilt that was trying to creep up into my mind. I looked up to see them both staring at me with shocked expressions. "Look guys, don't scold me about it, I already feel guilty about what I said."

"You shouldn't feel guilty. I mean he can be a complete asshole."

"Lauren," Shauna reprimanded.

"Well he can," Lauren screamed at Shauna. "Although I swear I haven't seen asshole Eric in a while." She paused and then looked at me. "Alex," Lauren said more seriously. "What's going on with you and Eric anyways? I mean do you like him?"

I took a breath. "I do." I looked away.

"Thank God," cried out Lauren. "See, didn't I tell you that I would get you to admit you liked each other." I started to laugh.

"Since when," Shauna said jumping on her bed enthusiastically.

"I believe it was ever since the Navy Pier prep game. That night in the science building, he just seemed so... so into me. Ever since then, I feel like I'm flying when I'm with him. Like everything that matters to me, matters to him, just because he makes me feel important. He treats me like I'm important. He listens to me, even when it sounds like a bunch of nonsense. He remembered little things I say in our conversations. Like I mentioned how pretty the purple rose in Erudite was, he got me it for my birthday. When I'm upset or sad, he always tells me that I'll get through it, that I'm strong enough. I love it when he smiles at me. He told me that he rarely smiles at anyone and it makes me feel needed to know that it's only me that he shares bits and pieces of himself with. I just..." I paused and saw Shauna tearing.

"Well, I just wanted a simple yes or no, Alex," teased Lauren. "Now look you made Shauna go and cry," she said laughing.

"If it matters, I believe you do all those things to him, too." I looked at Shauna like she was crazy. Well, I almost did just make her cry so she was pretty much an emotional wreck right now. "You can't deny it."

"I guess. But after our argument this morning, I'm not so sure."

"He likes you, Alex. I know he does. Everybody knows he does," said Shauna. "He just has a hard time showing it."

"That doesn't mean that he should treat her any differently," defended Lauren.

"It's just that last year was hard on him. I think he's just debating about opening up and trusting someone."

"What did happen last year anyways," I asked looking at both of them.

Lauren turned to me. "I think we should start in the beginning."

"And just so you know," Shauna stated. "We don't know everything. Just what we saw on the outside." Who did know everything, I thought.

Lauren nodded and continued. "When he transferred here, in the middle of freshman year, he and the guys really hit it off. Zeke, Uriah, Four, Peter, and your brother totally took to him. Edward and Will grew up with him, so that sort of helped too. He was a total prankster, class clown even. He and the guys were always getting into trouble, nothing major though. A lot of girls liked him, but honestly he was a bit of a jerk to them, so nothing ever happened. When he came back junior year, he changed."

Oh my goodness? Was it because his dad passed away then? He shared that with me. And I just threw that moment away.

"He was acting out even more. Missing a whole lot of classes," explained Shauna. "We all skip here and there, but he just wouldn't attend. Sometimes we sneak some alcohol, but he was getting even more drunk and wasted, got suspended twice. One of those was for drug possession."

Drugs? That's right, he told me that too. He felt so guilty about it and I forgave him and promised him I'd always be there, yet right now I wasn't.

"Eventually, we saw him with a girl."

"A girl turned into a second and then a third. I don't know how many girls he was with last year. We didn't really keep track of that. So in a sense, Alex is right Shauna. Eric was a player," she said to Shauna and then turned back to me. "He ran into problems with the guys, cause they tried to get him to stop getting into trouble."

"Got into fights with Four a whole lot," interjected Shauna. "They had their differences because of their parents, but last year Eric just wanted to fight. Not just with Four, but with anyone. If he wasn't fighting, then he would cause others to fight."

"It led to the huge fight in the locker room between Edward and Peter, too. Edward temporarily lost his sight," Lauren said looking away. It probably upset her to think that her boyfriend had something to do with that. "Edward and Peter were out for the rest of football season last year. Edward's sight improved and eventually he went back to sports when baseball came around though. Come to think about it, I guess that's why we lost our football season last year. No one was really into it towards the end."

That's what Peter was talking about the other week when he, Uriah, and Four talked to me outside the cafeteria.

"Apparently during spring camp, they sorted everything out, even the whole fight between Al, Drew, and Four."

"Al had a crush on Tris when she first got here. Eric sort of forced it out of him to confront Four and Drew backed Al up," explained Lauren.

"The boys started to take sides in every argument, which made things worst. And as much as Aidan and Zeke tried to remain neutral, I know it got to them too. And Eric started all of it. They put it all pass them somehow," Shauna said as she looked at Lauren who gave her a weak smile. It probably got to them too. "The last month of junior year, they got even closer when they returned from spring football."

I couldn't help but think back to the first day I met them and all the way up until this morning. They were close and it seemed like they all had each others backs no matter what. Like it was some unspoken pact they all took.

"They don't really mention it anymore though," finished Lauren while breaking me from my thoughts.

That's why he never said anything to me. That's why he promised Aidan he wouldn't speak of what happened between Aidan and I freshmen year. They all promised they wouldn't speak about it. And here I was trying to dig everything back up again. Stupid Alex! I must have looked depressed now, cause Lauren came to sit by me on their couch.

"Hey don't stress about it. Things happen. It's part of life, part of every relationship. Just go and talk about this morning to Eric."

"I don't think he'll want to talk to me. I said some rather mean things."

"He'll overlook it. You both like each other, we know it. Apparently you two just didn't know it."

That's the thing. I'm pretty sure after this morning, he didn't like me at all.

Before heading to my room, not allowing my inner dark side get the best of me and forget about mine and Eric's earlier argument, I was standing in front of Aidan and Eric's door. I knocked rather hard, trying to be determined as I could.

"It's open," a voice that was not Aidan's called from inside. It had to be Eric.

I opened the door and walked in slowly. I stopped when I finally stood between Eric and Aidan's beds. Eric was facing his back towards me and I realized Aidan was no where around. I'm guessing he was still at practice. I didn't know why, but I was suddenly nervous to be here and considered backing out, until Eric turned to face me. He didn't seem to hold any expression as he looked me up and down and then turned back to moving stuff out of this box that he got.

"Your brother isn't here. He is still talking to the football coach," he said with no emotion.

I was still speechless. After he pulled out a few books and put away some jackets, he turned to face me again, probably wondering why I was still here.

"I have something to tell you actually" I answered the unasked question.

He seemed to get flushed with anger. He moved so quickly that he ended up yelling right in my face. "You know what? You're a real piece of work, aren't you? You think that just..."

"I'm sorry" I interrupted while raising my hand to his mouth. Almost immediately his face softened. "I just came to tell you I'm sorry." I moved my hand away and turned to walk out.

"Alex," he grabbed my arm to stop me. I turned to face him and he let go of me, taking a couple steps back. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have yelled at you earlier this morning or even just now."

I nodded and then looked down. I was going to leave earlier and now I just couldn't. The silence was long as we both just stood there. I really didn't want to say anything. It seemed every time I did, we would end up arguing and after hearing part of what went on last year, I couldn't bring myself to yell at him anymore.

"I told you I would never bring it up, told you that you didn't have to tell me anymore," I finally said. "Yet, that's not what I did this morning and I shouldn't have. I accused you of being a player, when I swear I was the very one who told you that you were better than that. I'm really sorry, Eric."

"No, I should have told you. Friends don't keep secrets from each other."

"You shouldn't feel forced to tell me anything. You've told me so much already and I took all of that for granted."

"Alex, it was going to come out sooner or later in our conversations. I just..." he paused. "I just liked the person that I was becoming with you. There were no crazy sluts, there was no getting into trouble with Drake and Clayson, there were no fights between me and the guys. There was just me and you. We became such good friends, and I don't want to lose your friendship by telling you about everything that happened last year."

"You've told me about your dad, you've told me about the drugs, honestly Eric, after all that why would you think that you would lose my friendship?"

"I don't think you would want to be friends with me after you hear about everything that happened."

"That wouldn't happen," I said looking down and shuffling my feet.

"Last month I put your life through hell with that stupid punishment you got for fighting for our friendship. Your parents, they were mad at you because of me. You know it's true, us being friends, got you into that fight in the locker room. It got you off the cheer squad for those three games."

"We overcame that."

"That was minor and I almost loss you as a friend then. I saw your face last night, I almost lost you again. If I had told you about last year and why I was in the office with Emily, which was so much more worst, that you'll look at me differently. You'll probably even hate me. When you brought it up and accused me of stuff this morning, I just couldn't tell you. Because Alex, I don't want to lose you."

When I finally did look up, I realized that he had been staring at me, looking torn, frustrated, and even a bit hurt. I just couldn't turn away from him now. Something really bad must have happened that summer between sophomore and junior year to make him act the way he did. Something more than just him losing his dad. I wanted to tell him that it was alright. I needed to tell him that I cared about him and that he wouldn't lose me. But instead of saying it, my feet started to walk forward towards him.

"Eric," I whispered as I lifted my hand to run on his face. It started right above his eyes, moved down his cheek and then I stopped it at his lips. He softly kissed my fingers as I finished telling him "I don't want to lose you either." I leaned up and kissed his cheek, letting him remember our promise.

He then kissed my forehead. After, I was completely lost when he suddenly grabbed me and pulled me even closer towards him.