Sky stared after Cody's car, a pit of worry forming in her stomach. On her cheekbone, his short, featherlight kiss was already fading, but his scent still lingered, so familiar to her that her chest ached.

"Don't be sad. It's not your fault."

Those words felt heavy on her heart. Why would he say such a thing? Sky knew perfectly well that everything that had gone wrong between them was her fault, and so did Cody. So why would he say that it wasn't? It made no sense. The memory of his tears, of the way his voice had trembled when he spoke, twisted something into a tight knot in Sky's gut. Something wasn't right—

I should call him. But— he's not gonna pick up, is he? I bet he's blocked my number.

"There you are, I was looking for you," Hawk's voice startled Sky, and she turned around, her heart in her throat. He was walking towards her, a happy grin on his lips, looking handsome as ever in his yellow hoodie and black sweats, the red of his mohawk so bright that it was almost blinding. Sky's heart jumped against her breastbone at the sight of him. Valentine's Day. Right. Our date— But something kept her from answering Hawk's smile. She'd been staring after Cody's car only for a couple of heartbeats, but the cold stone of wrongness had already settled in her gut, erasing her happiness.

"Ummm— was there something you wanted to talk about?" Sky asked, gripping the straps of her backpack as she glanced over her shoulder. Cody's car was already gone, nowhere to be seen, and she tried to shake the nameless worry that thought caused.

"I just— I wanted to make sure you remembered our plans." Nervous pink spots appeared on Hawk's high cheekbones. "And to ask if you… if you still want to come? I mean, it's okay to say no too. If you feel like this is too much, too soon—"

"No, don't be silly, of course, I remember. And of course, I want to come. It's Valentine's Day."

The worried look on Hawk's face melted into a relieved smile, the corner of his mouth turned into that crooked grin Sky loved so much. Valentine's Day. And their first date— She was ready, at least she wanted to be. All the math lessons with Hawk had been great (if you didn't count the math part), but she craved more, she craved his touch, his kisses, his love—

Whatever Hawk had planned for tonight was going to be beautiful, Sky was sure of it. Their date would be nothing short of amazing. Sky didn't really feel like she deserved anything amazing after what she had done to Cody, but that was beside the point. She had made her choice. It was Hawk she was spending this Valentine's Day with, and that was the way she had wanted it, wasn't it? She really needed to stop thinking about Cody already, the way his lips had brushed her cheek, the tears on his face, the tremor in his voice, the way he had run away from her—

Hawk cleared his throat, drawing Sky's attention back to the moment. "Good, so— my place at six? Do you want me to pick you up, or—?"

"No, It's fine. I'll be there. Should I bring something?"

"Just bring yourself," Hawk grinned. "And I hope you're hungry."

"Oh, so we're having dinner?"

"Not just any dinner," Hawk flashed her the cocky grin that made something in her stomach turn hot and restless. "Something special."

Something special— That sounded so nice, Hawk's smile was so nice, everything was so fucking nice except for her, except for the way she couldn't stop thinking about what Cody had said. Don't be sad. It's not your fault. She bit down on her lower lip, and gripping the straps of her backpack a bit harder, she glanced at the road again, in the direction where Cody had taken off. He had left so fast— like he was running away from something or someone. What he had said to her had sounded like a goodbye—

"Don't be sad. It's not your fault."

Sudden, sickening worry twisted Sky's gut. No— he wouldn't do anything horrible, would he? She had thought he was slowly getting over their breakup— he had been in school every day this week - Sky had seen him with his friends in the cafeteria, surrounded by the group of Drama Club girls who all looked at him with doe-eyes, batting their lashes and giggling at everything he said— and if that had stirred some jealousy in Sky's heart, she wasn't going to admit it, she wasn't allowed to feel that way after what she had done. She should be happy that he was getting over her, that he was getting his life back. He should date all of them, if that made him happy, he should date Jess for all that Sky cared, because he deserved love more than anyone else Sky knew. He deserved real love, pure and bright and burning, the kind of love that she had never been able to give him.

But why was he crying then? If things are getting better—

No. Something was wrong. She knew it, could feel it in her gut, where the pit grew deeper and darker by the moment.

"Sky, is everything okay?"

Hawk's voice made her drop back into the moment, and she realized she'd been staring after Cody's car for who knew how long. The parking lot was almost empty by now, just Sky and Hawk's cars were still there, plus a couple of others.

"Yeah, all good, sorry—" She cleared her throat, her cheeks heating with sudden embarrassment. Lying to your boyfriend, are you? But how could she tell him she was thinking about Cody? Hawk wouldn't understand, he would just get angry and jealous like always, and the last thing Sky wanted to do on Valentine's Day, was to deal with that. "I just— I haven't been sleeping too well. Just tired, I guess. You know what? I'd better get going, I'm sure I'll feel better after a shower and a nap."

Hawk's blue eyes softened, he raised a hand to brush her curls behind her ear, and that touch lingered on her neck, on her shoulder a bit longer than would have been strictly necessary. He swallowed, his cheeks turning a shade darker.

"Okay. I'll see you at six, then—"

But Sky was already walking away, raising a quick hand in an awkward goodbye while already searching for her car keys. She hadn't exactly lied, had she? She was tired, she hadn't been sleeping— and she would take a shower and a nap once she got home— but before that, she had to make sure Cody was alright.

Her hand had a slight tremor in it when she started the car, the dark pit in her stomach was making it hard to concentrate on anything but the way Cody had looked at her before running away. Tears in his eyes. His trembling lips—

I'm being so stupid. Freaking out over nothing and lying to my boyfriend— This is fucking stupid. It's all in my head.

But she tried to dial Cody's number anyway, even if the call didn't get through. That didn't stop her - she tried again and again and again, tried even the number of his second cellphone, the one he had used for his drug business— but no one picked up. The uneasiness was creeping into her bones, the fear was clenching her windpipe. She was gripping the steering wheel too hard, driving too fast, a memory of another car drive slipping into her mind, of the day when she had dropped the medal of honor to Sam, and Sam had asked if she was alright. She had lied, and all the way home from Sam's house, her phone had been ringing, Hawk trying to call her again and again and again when she had been driving home to swallow the row of white pills, to end her miserable life.

Her stomach clenched tight with anxiety, her chest was so heavy she could barely breathe

"Don't be sad. It's not your fault."

God—- he meant the breakup, he must have, even if that was totally my fault, but still. It was just that, nothing else. He wouldn't do anything to himself—

But it didn't matter what she kept telling herself. The phone calls went unanswered, and she couldn't shake the awful feeling in her stomach, the sharp taste of wrongness on her lips. She couldn't forget the look on Cody's face, the way he had held her against his chest, the shiver that had run through his body as he kissed her on the cheek.

Her foot grew heavy on the pedal, heavier than it should have. Something was wrong. She felt it, so screw everything, screw it if this was stupid if this was wrong. She had to see him. She had to know he was okay.

Sky reached his house in fifteen minutes and parked her car on the street in front of it. She saw Cody's car in the driveway, and her heart thumped at the sight. Good— at least he's home— Hesitating for a short moment, she turned off the car, gripping the keys in her trembling fingers. Maybe this was a mistake? She was being silly— Maybe she would just make things worse by showing up? He needed to get over her, and she should just leave him alone—

No. Something's wrong. I know it. And in any case, he shouldn't be alone when he's upset and crying.

That thought turned her hesitation into determination and she quickly stepped out of the car, walked to the front door, and raised a hand to press the doorbell—

The door swung open, almost hitting her in the face, making her take a quick step back.

"I've already thrown you out of here once." Cody's Mom snapped, her red-nailed hand gripping the door hard, keeping it only partly open. "Do I really need to do it again?"

Sky swallowed the sudden urge to punch that woman in the face. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to intrude, but I— I need to talk to Cody. It's important."

"He's busy. I'm not letting you in."

Sky frowned, trying to peek behind Cody's mom. She knew Cody was in the house, she could feel it in her stomach, could hear the nervous tension in his Mom's voice. Something was not right in here.

"Look, Mam, this is important," she squared her shoulders trying to look taller and more confident than she felt. "I— I saw him after school, he was really upset about something. I just— I need to make sure he's okay. Please."

Barely controlled anger flashed in Cody's Mom's blue eyes and her grip on the door grew tighter.

"You're here about the drugs, aren't you? I should have known—"

Sky frowned, her knees suddenly feeling a bit weak. What on Earth—? "The drugs? What— what are you talking about?"

"Don't give me any of that," The blond woman seethed. "I'm done with you, with him, with all of this. The school called - I know he's been selling drugs."

"But—" Sky blinked in confusion. "But— he wasn't— I mean, he didn't— he stopped all that. Months ago. This has to be a mistake—"

But in her gut, she knew it was true. Oh God, he had started selling drugs again— And it was her fault. Like everything was her fault, no matter what he had said. He had quit— but he had quit only to be with her, and now…. now that they had broken up, there was no reason for him not to make that easy money again, was there? Sky's heart hurt. She felt awful.

Cody's Mom tried to close the door in her face, but with new determination, Sky pushed herself into the doorway, gripping the door and forcing it open. If it was indeed true that Cody was selling drugs again, he could be in some real trouble. He might need help, and she wasn't going to let that stone-cold bitch stop her from helping him!

"What do you think you're doing—?! You can't just—!" Cody's mom yelled, trying to stop her, but Sky paid her no attention. She pushed past her, shoving her to the side so that she almost lost balance in her stiletto heels.

"Watch me—" Sky breathed, and rushed through the ground floor, her heart in her throat.

"This is my house—!" Cody's Mom yelled, catching up with her and grabbing her arm, her sharp, red nails digging into her skin. "Get out or I'll call the police—"

Sky ripped her arm free, not caring that the nails scraped her skin, drawing blood.

"Well you do that, I don't give a shit!"

She rushed up the stairs, two steps at a time. Screw that woman, who was yelling at her, screw everything. Let her call the police if she wanted to, she wasn't going to stop now, not now that she was this close—

The booming sound of the gun froze her on her feet.

No.

God—

No, no, no—!

"What—?" Cody's Mom breathed, her eyes suddenly wide and filled with fear. "What was that?"

But Sky couldn't answer. She was flying. In her life, she had never run that fast, stumbling with her bad leg, almost falling down a couple of times, but there was no time, no time to stop, to draw in a breath—

Cody's door wasn't locked.

His mom was right behind her. A silent "Oh!" left her lips and she slumped down to the floor, as if all life had suddenly left her, as if her bones had turned to liquid. But Sky couldn't move. She stood frozen in the doorway, not hearing anything except the gunshot that was still ringing in her ears, or maybe it wasn't the gunshot, maybe it was her heart, so loud, drowning every other sound of this world. No. No. No. She didn't want to believe what was in front of her eyes. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true— But the smell of gunpowder and brimstone filled her nostrils, and right under that smell was the heavy, metallic stench of blood—

On the bed that wasn't white anymore, lay Cody, gripping the smoking gun in his fingers.