** Brad **Candice couldn't get away from me fast enough. Jesus, what the hell was Sarah thinking? I haven't spoken to her in weeks and she pulls that shit? A normal person would have moved on but she isn't normal and she hasn't changed. She's still the same immature, entitled, over-privileged girl I was stupid enough to date. This is my fault. I should have known when she walked up to us nothing good would come from it. Why didn't I just ignore her and walk away? Either way I looked like an asshole. Glancing over at the passenger seat, I can still imagine Candice sitting there. Hell, I can still smell her and it's driving me nuts that I don't know what's going on inside her head. When she got out of my car, I realized something. I want to spend as much time with her as possible. But I have to be cool about it because she's almost like a scared animal and I don't want to spook her. It's entirely possible I'll scare her away. Instead of going home, I decide to drive around to cle

After freshening up my makeup and curling the ends of my hair, I grab a pen and piece of notebook paper from my backpack. Out with friends to the movies, I write. Be back by midnight. No 'love, Candice' or silly little hearts because even I can't fake those. Still holding the note, I pull the strap of my purse across my chest, tossing in a few leftover coins, some lip gloss, and my I.D. I take one last look at myself in the mirror before closing my window and heading down stairs. I flip on the kitchen light, startled when I see a black roach scamper across the counter, immediately making me cringe. I can't stand bugs, especially disgusting roaches. We don't have enough food lying around to attract them so they must be coming from some other apartment. I'm so grossed out, I tiptoe into the kitchen like I'm walking through a minefield. I take Mom's note and fold it in half, leaving it upside down on the table like a little tent so it'll catch her eye in case she wakes up and doesn'

His warm, firm grip leads me straight into the music and chaos.Twenty minutes later, I'm holding one of those red Solo cups (full of lukewarm beer) as I watch Brad socialize with ease. My hand is still in his and there's a certain beauty in the way he's able to make me a part of his world even though he's doing all the talking. He makes me want to be here as much as he wants to be and I'm in awe of him all over again. He's introduced me to countless people as they welcome me into their Parkview High kegger society.The simplicity of the moment is an epiphany for me. I'm falling for him.Hard.**Almost an hour has gone by when Nick and Beth eventually join the circle of people surrounding Brad and me. They disappeared a while ago and I was starting to wonder if they'd gone. When I get a closer look, I see that Nick's shirt is buttoned wrong and the back of Beth's hair is a knotted mess with pieces of grass in it. Nick keeps scratching his chest between sips of beer while Beth l

Brad asked if he could pick me up in the morning and I told him he could. I also told him he didn't have to walk me to the door because I didn't want to take the chance of waking Mom. As soon as I walk in, I hear his car drive away and I'm relieved I made the decision to walk up by myself. Cigarette smoke practically wafts out at me. I can feel my nose scrunching up the second I race up the stairs, hoping somehow I'll avoid the stench. I make it to my room so fast I wonder if the smoke even knew I was there. I close my bedroom door as softly as I can before yanking up the window and turning on the lamp just below.The house is very quiet. More than likely, Mom passed out long ago. I could check on her, like the dutiful daughter I'm not, or I could relax and think about my date. The night couldn't have gone any smoother. So why am I waiting for my world to come crashing down? I force myself to shake off the feeling and glance over at the clock. I made it home ten minutes before my

Is This Real?I open my eyes when I hear footsteps and then I see him. All of him. Just like in the portrait, he has the same clothes; the same youthful look. His emerald eyes catch mine and suddenly it feels like I would sacrifice everything to never have to leave him again."You are beautiful," he says, touching the side of my face and instantly I want his approval. I can't speak because this house, his voice, my want for more is overwhelming. It's as if Atticus knows when he reaches for my hand, pulling me closer to him, that his touch helps. I feel like I'm looking at a beautiful sculpture and the second I take my eyes away, he will disappear. So I don't. I simply stare at him, completely in awe."Do you remember me?" he asks, gazing into my eyes."I don't understand," I whisper, finally finding my voice.He smiles, like he can see into every private piece of my soul. "You will, my darling. You will.""CANDICE, wake up!" I force my eyes to open and see my mother glaring