© Sandra Corton 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental

Shanay and Link have been the best of friends since the day he moved next door at the beginning of high school. Link had come to love Shanay more than he had ever expected.

Neither of them anticipated what happened that night and the aftermath was the beginning of the tale that led them forward. Shanay is left with questions that she isn’t even sure she wants answers to.

Who exactly is Link? Why would he humiliate her like this? Can their relationship possibly survive the turmoil that one simple game of spin the bottle creates?

With new additions into their lives that only add to the questions and coping with their senior year of high school, Link and Shanay find their lives changing dramatically. They can only wonder if their story will be one to remember.

Chapter 1 - The beginning of the end?

Link’s POV

My name is Lucas Lincoln but all my mates call me Link, all except for my best friend who now thinks I’m nothing but scum. Geez why did I do that? How could I have been so damn stupid? I blame it on love, maybe if I didn’t love her so deeply I could’ve kissed her and walked away with a grin on my face.

Instead of being truthful, I kissed another girl and now she’s mad as hell. I couldn’t blame her, shit if it had been the other way around I would’ve been ropable. But it wasn’t. I’m pretty sure she will never forgive me for this one.

Shanay’s POV

Lucas Lincoln, my next door neighbour and my best friend in the whole world for the last five years or so. I believed he could do no wrong. At least until last night where my whole world came crashing down around me.

Now before we get to that lets go back a bit further….

He had just spent the summer with his father in the city. I missed him like you wouldn’t believe, even though we talked every day I still missed him. I drove to the train station in the closest town to pick him up this morning and I was unbelievably excited. I was so thrilled that he was coming home that I couldn’t stop the huge grin that was glued on my face.

He hopped off the train looking tired but when he saw me his whole face lit up. He dropped his bags where he stood and ran over to me, smothering me in the biggest bear hug ever. God it felt so good! I had missed him way too much.

“Hey, my Shay!” He exclaimed and I felt tingly all over as those gorgeous sky blue eyes met mine.

“Hey Link, how was the city?” I asked and waited for the grimace to appear and when it did I just laughed.

“Just as awesome as ever.” He told me sarcastically.

We were country mice and damn proud of it! My Mum was the town’s vet and my Dad unfortunately was my English teacher. We lived on the outskirts of a small country town on a quaint hobby farm that was adjacent to another hobby farm which was where Link and his mother lived.

Ever since Link moved in when we began high school, we had been the closest of friends. There was just something so special about him. I don’t know if it was because he always listened to me no matter how much I was griping or because he always knew what to say to make things better. All I knew was that he was the person I was closest to in my world.

He was my best friend and I could want for no more. He slung an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close to his side as he watched me lost in my thoughts. He gave me a quick shake and I just poked my tongue out at him.

“Thank God I don’t have to do that anymore.” He said on a sigh. “Next year he can bloody come and find me.” He grumbled and I tightened my hold on his waist.

“What happened?” I asked getting the feeling that something bad had occurred.

“He spent about five minutes with me the whole time I was there, always running off to attend his stupid meetings. Then he has a bloody go at me just before I left that we didn’t spend enough time together. I mean whose fault was that? It sure as hell wasn’t mine.” He told me furiously and I held back a sigh.

This happened every year. I know he didn’t realise it and I felt terrible for him so I just squeezed him a bit tighter and let him have his rant. He picked up his bag miraculously without letting go of me and we walked out to where I’d parked our car.

“I’m sorry Shay. God I’m always griping about him aren’t I?” He said with a shake of his head.

“It doesn’t matter Link. C’mon chuck your bag in the back and let’s go.” I told him.

Driving home was filled with the comfortable warmth of our friendship. We chatted aimlessly about nothing and everything while he never once let go of my hand. It was as he was grabbing his bag from the back that I asked those dreadful words that I would live to regret all too soon.

“So Jessie is having a party tonight, do you wanna go?” I asked. Geez I wish I had forgotten about that damn party!

“Sure Shay, it’ll be great to catch up with everyone.” He told me warmly before kissing my forehead and walking to his door with a wave. I stupidly rubbed that tingling spot where he had kissed me and left the Ute in his yard to walk to my door.

The way our houses were positioned was weird. Sure we had separate farms but our houses were really close together, only separated by a vegetable patch on his side and a horse pen on ours. In fact, he could wave to me from his bedroom window and I could see him clearly.

I was choosing what to wear to the party when he clambered up the orange tree outside my window as dusk was settling in. He landed on my window sill grinning like crazy and I let him in with a shake of my head.

“I swear you were born half monkey.” I told him with a giggle and he slapped my backside cheekily.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say to the guy that’s driving you to the party.” He told me with a pretend sulky expression.

“Ugh! stop being such a sook.” I sighed dramatically which just made him chase me around the room until I was squealing while he tickled me like crazy.

“Stop!” I shrieked through my laughter.

“Never!” He stated boldly as he practically tossed me on the bed before lying down next to me and pulling me into his arms “I missed you.” He whispered.

“I missed you too.” I said feeling my heart melt as he stroked my cheek gently.

“God Shay I really…” My door swung open and my Dad peered in.

“I guess you still can’t remember where the front door is Lucas.” My father said sarcastically and I laughed.

“Yeah sorry about that but the tree is far too tempting.” Link said with a grin while my father shook his head wryly.

“So how were your holidays?” Dad asked and Link just shrugged but muttered something in the affirmative. “I’m guessing that you two are going to Jessica’s party?” We both nodded. “Excellent! We are going over to Margie’s house for our kids back to school party so I guess we’ll see you in the morning.” He told us and I just smiled.

“Neither of you should be partying, it means that you’re both going back to work.” I said wryly while Dad just grinned at me.

“Have a goodnight then.” He replied with a laugh.

I always found it funny that they held this party at the end of every holiday. My Dad, Mum and Link’s mum Margie invited a heap of other parents over to one of our houses and literally partied until dawn. To me all it meant was that Dad became my English teacher and Margie became my Science teacher.

As soon as Dad left I rolled back over to Link only to find him staring at me rather intensely. It was weird, I mean I’ve always had a tiny bit of a crush on him. I could at least admit that to myself. It was the way he was looking at me now that made me catch my breath as my heart started thumping.

“What’s wrong?” I asked feeling uncertain.

“Absolutely nothing.” He murmured as he pushed my crazy, curling hair away from my face.

“Something is. I know you, now tell me what’s bothering you.” I grabbed hold of his chin and forced him to look at me properly.

“Shay, geez you’re such a bloody worry wart.” He told me with a frown as he pushed off the bed. “Now why don’t you choose something to wear so that we can go?” He gestured to my wardrobe.

“Alright I’m going bossy.” I grumbled at him as I grabbed some jeans and was about to choose a shirt when he interrupted me

“I forgot I got this made up for you.”

He threw a bunch of bright fabric at me and I laughed when I saw what it was. This was so typically Link. It was hot pink with a cute cartoon monkey and the words ‘That Blasted Monkey’. I ran into the bathroom to change.

I pulled on the shirt and rolled my eyes. I couldn’t wear this, as cute as it was. I just like my mother before me was unfortunately well endowed in the breast department and this shirt clung way too much.

“I so can’t wear this Link. Throw another shirt in here.” I yelled out not wanting him to see.

“Nope walk out here first.” He replied and I groaned.

He would talk me into wearing it, I just knew it. Still I walked out, never able to resist anything he asked of me. I saw his eyes darken to a stormy blue as his jaw dropped open and I bit my lip in hesitation.

“Yep I knew it! I’m so getting another shirt.” I complained to which he frowned.

“You had better! That is going to give all the guys some bad ideas. Heck it’s giving me bad ideas.” He murmured and for a second I could do nothing but stare at him.

Nowhere in our five year friendship had he ever said anything like that to me. Not that he didn’t compliment me because he did. But it has never been said with quite so much heat in his eyes or in his voice.

“Um right. Let me just get something else.” I stammered out my words.

I quickly snatched a long baggy t-shirt from my cupboard. Feeling slightly more covered up I walked out to him. He smiled wryly at me as he clicked his tongue in approval and his eyes reverted back to their sky blue.

“Well I can’t say better ‘cause I don’t think anything could beat that shirt.” He told me as he offered me his arm and I frowned at him but he just shrugged.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?” I said boldly. I’ve never been the shy, retiring type and I had always thought that Link had respected that about me.

He shook his head “Maybe later.” He mumbled as he ushered us towards the car.

We had both pooled our savings from the last few years and with our parents help had managed to buy the car. So we had shared ownership of it which was never a problem when we were always going to the same places.

We drove the couple of kilometres into town in companionable silence. That was what I loved, that we didn’t always have to fill the air with white noise or awkward conversation. I kept singing along to my favourite song on the radio while Link just grinned at me.

My friend Jessie lived in the heart of town and music was already thumping when we arrived. Everyone was happy that Link was home, it never seemed the same without him. So we spent the night catching up and being crazy like normal.

When Allie, one of my other friends emptied her soft drink bottle and tipped it teasingly at us, I should’ve said no. In fact I should’ve screamed hell no and ran from the house. This is the point where my life turned into a nasty pit of despair.

There was a girl that always hung around us even though she wasn’t really one of our friends. Personally I thought she belonged with the more popular crowd at our school. I’ve known why she hangs around us for a long time, I had just never admitted it to myself.

She had the hugest crush on Link. So this is the point where Cara Pinshki, affectionately known by me and Link as ‘pinch me’, becomes a massive problem in my life.

Ah spin the bottle! It was a game that my friends have insisted on playing for a very long time. It now came with very strict rules that when I look back at it makes no sense whatsoever. The thing is that through playing this game, all my friends had ended up with their current boyfriends.

I rolled my eyes at Allie who looked so spunky with her new haircut, which resembled a freaked echidna. But I still liked it because it suited her rather warped personality. Regardless to my thoughts though, Allie gathered everyone into the lounge room.

I should have ran out of the door right then instead of jumping on Link’s back like an idiot and pointing into the lounge room. But no, I went straight into my doom quite happily, stupid me.

“Faster Horsey faster!” I ordered Link.

He just shook his head at me, hooked his arms around my legs and carried me into the room. I tucked my chin against his shoulder as I held him a bit closer to me. I really missed him and was so glad to have him back with me.

I wish that feeling had lasted. I wish he had just – bloody hell why didn’t he choose me?

Within a few moments we were all laughing like crazy loons as Allie spun the bottle and got Jessie. She pecked her on the cheek to everyone’s laughter. It continued this way for quite a while and as our rules stated if you didn’t want to kiss the person the bottle fell to you could choose someone else.

The only thing was the person you chose was pretty much someone you wanted to be dating or had a crush on for a while now. That’s how Allie and Jessie had ended up with Liam and Jake. Instead of kissing me, Liam and Jake chose the other girls.

Yeah of course I was hurt that they didn’t want me but at least my friends got to have their first boyfriend’s. Plus I always had Link, sure he wasn’t my boyfriend but he was the next best thing. It finally got to Link’s turn and he looked hesitant. I had no idea why he suddenly looked so nervous but he quickly glanced at me before looking at the bottle in his hands.

“Geez Link, c’mon it’s not that bad.” I teased which made him look at me again, his eyes going that stormy blue.

What the hell was wrong with him? He sighed but put the bottle in the middle of the circle and spun it. God I hoped it landed on me! Then what do you know, it did. If you haven’t figured it out yet this is the moment where my life completely fell apart.

The look in his eyes was so intense that I caught my breath and felt tingly all over. He stared at me for what felt like forever before moving across the circle to me. He grabbed my hand and threaded his fingers through mine.

The waiting was starting to quite literally kill me. I was just closing my eyes when I realised that he had moved away from me. He squeezed my hand tight while he kissed Cara Pinshki.

The anger that flowed through me in that one instant was scalding hot. Okay yes all he had done was a small kiss on her lips but that meant he chose her over me! He chose ‘pinch me’ instead of me! Tears burnt my eyes but I forced them away.

I felt the world stop around us as I stared in complete and utter fury at him. His one glance at me had a heck of a lot of guilt in it but there was something else in there that I couldn’t quite comprehend. I heard Cara giggle next to me and I wanted to slap her silly but instead I yanked my hand from his and glared at him.

“Shay.” He said it so softly that I almost felt like crying again.

Instead I let my fury ride me as my hand tightened into a fist before punching him smartly in the face. I got up as he groaned in pain and I walked out of the house. The most ironic thing had to be the fact that if he never taught me the correct way to throw a punch he may not have been the one in pain. Sure my hand hurt but nowhere near as much as his face would.

I heard him swear ridiculously as I stormed away but I kept going. It seemed that was when the rest of the people in the circle snapped out of their daze as well because they all started yelling at Link.

By this time I reached the front door and as soon as the balmy air hit my face I started to cry. Why did he choose her? Why did he never seem to pick me? God what was wrong with me? There had to be something otherwise he would have kissed me.

Tears poured down my face as I walked determinedly to the end of the street. I hadn’t brought my keys so I was going to have to walk the five kilometres home. So I walked, I didn’t come to any conclusions and nobody came after me.

How did I not know that my best friend actually liked Cara Pinshki? I hated that stupid game of spin the bottle; I hated it so damn much! I was on the outskirts of town when I heard a rumbling from behind me and some headlights brightening the road.

I stepped off onto the grass and wished that I could stop bloody crying. The vehicle stopped just behind me and I turned to see our car sitting there. That just made me cry all the harder. Who was Lucas Lincoln? Because I was pretty damn sure that I didn’t know anymore.

Chapter 2 - Too much idiocy

Link’s POV

What had I done? God my face was killing me. I knew I deserved it. Of course I bloody deserved it. I watched her march angrily out of the door and just sat there like an idiot.

For some strange reason Cara was simpering at me and I felt an intense dislike for her go through me. I just blew the one chance that I had to kiss Shay. Shit I’m such an idiot. What the hell had I been thinking?

“What the hell man?” Liam muttered angrily as he dragged me away from the girls who were almost shooting daggers at me with their eyes.

“I don’t know.” I muttered.

“Why would you do that to Shanay?” He asked me while shaking his head in disgust at me and I couldn’t blame him, not one little bit.

“I don’t know okay, I chickened out.” I told him lamely.

“She’s never gonna forgive you for this man. You know that right?” I just groaned at his words. Hell I don’t even think I could forgive myself.

“Yeah shit, I’ve gotta go talk to her.” I muttered

“That might not be such a good idea; you know what her tempers like.” Jake said as he joined us.

“I don’t care. I just have to explain my idiocy to her.” I said as I went to walk away.

“Hey one thing Link, I didn’t know you had the hots for Cara.” Liam sent me a questioning look.

“Uh I don’t.” I said with a volume of revulsion.

“Then why in hell did you kiss her man?”

His words echoed in my brain as I walked out of the door. Why did I kiss her and not the girl I was actually in love with? God just looking at Shay’s eyes and the way she hitched her breath in when I got closer to her drove me crazy.

I had wanted to kiss her so badly but I had a strong feeling that I couldn’t just stop at one. I knew the day I kissed Shay again was the day I would never be able to stop kissing her. Was that why I kissed that desperate Cara?

Guilt pounded at me along with the headache from where she had punched me as I got in our car and drove to find her. I knew Shanay, she would be storming home and the five kilometre walk would be nothing to her when she was furious. Shit I’m the reason she’s this mad.

I saw her from a distance and the slump of her shoulders told me she was crying. Shanay hardly ever cried. I’ve seen her break her arm and not cry. The fact that she was crying because of something I’d done was breaking my heart. I had to make this right, I just had to.

Shanay’s POV

“Shay I’m sorry.” I heard his words and all the heartfelt emotion behind them but I said nothing, I didn’t even turn to face him.

“Why didn’t you tell me you liked Cara?’ I asked croakily through the tears that were still pouring down my face.

“I don’t.” I could hear the truth in his words.

“You must have to kiss her instead of me, you know the rules.” I told him angrily.

“What rules Shay?” He asked in confusion.

“Are you kidding me right now?” I turned to face him and poked my finger into his chest, noticing how his cheek was beginning to swell and his eye to bruise. “You must know the rules.”

“Shay I don’t know what rules you’re talking about.” He said simply.

Oh God he really didn’t know? I felt a glimmer of hope in my heart that maybe he hadn’t wanted to go out with Cara. But then why in hell would he kiss her? Was I really that repugnant? Why didn’t he choose me?

“If you choose to kiss another person other than who the bottle fell on it means you want to go out with them.” I told him abruptly.

I saw the light bulb moment and then the horror cross his face. Now that gave me some satisfaction! It still didn’t explain why he kissed her instead of me but it made me realise that he hadn’t kissed her because he liked her.

“Shit! Oh shit so she now thinks I want to go out with her?” He asked aghast and I nodded at him.

“Hope it was worth losing a friendship over.” I told him sadly then I turned and kept walking home.

“Shay, don’t say that. Please just come back and talk to me.” He pleaded with me but I just kept walking.

My phone beeped for about the billionth time in my pocket but I ignored it. I really didn’t want to talk to anyone. I knew that my friends would be like ‘c’mon you know Link, he’s a good guy and I’m sure he didn’t mean it’. I sure as hell didn’t need that bull crap.

“Shay, at least let me give you a ride home.” He called out to me and I paused considering. I knew my sandals wouldn’t last the distance so with a frown I turned back towards him. I saw a glimmer of a smile bloom on his face until I scowled at him.

“Don’t you dare smile at me! The only reason I’m doing this is because I don’t want to wreck my shoes.” I told him sharply and he looked a little forlorn.

There was no way that I was falling for those puppy dog eyes of his, I was way too pissed off for that. I got in the cab and was doubly frustrated. I had so many unanswered questions that I just didn’t want to ask him.

I was so afraid of what his answers would be. My problem was that there was one answer that I needed to know. In fact I just needed rather desperately to hear his reasoning. As we drove along, I got up the gumption and turned to face him as he drove silently through the darkness.

“Why did you hold my hand and kiss another girl?” I whispered the words feeling so betrayed by that one movement. I saw him run his hand through his hair in frustration like he didn’t even know the answer.

“Shay, I wanted to kiss you.” He said the words softly and I snorted.

“Yeah sure you did. That’s why you kissed ‘Pinch Me’” I said sarcastically.

“It just happened.” He spluttered and I knew he wasn’t telling me the whole truth.

“You know what I don’t think I want to know anymore.” I said sadly before turning around and staring out the darkened window. My eyes filled with tears again but I blinked them back. I felt his hand reach for me and I stiffened. “Don’t ever touch me! You lost that privilege when you kissed another girl right in front of me.” I told him coldly.

“Shit!” He muttered but I didn’t really care.

The stupid thing was he had girlfriends before and it had bothered me but I had never let on. This time was different though. How dare he hold my hand and then kiss another girl! I felt the hot acid of betrayal and pain slash though me just thinking about it. He pulled up in my driveway and I jumped out as quickly as I could.

“Shay….” He trailed off and I turned to him.

“Well I sure hope you enjoy your new girlfriend. I’m sure Cara Pinshki is the one for you.” I told him sarcastically before slamming the door of the car and storming furiously into my house.

I lay on my bed for hours later, hearing the music thump from next door with some weird oldies music. Everything kept rolling around in my head making me cry even harder when I came to no simple solutions. I couldn’t make sense of what had happened so I just kept lying there relieving my misery.

A knock on the window startled me from the light rather depressing doze I was having. I looked over to see a silhouette of someone on my window sill. I knew who it was but there was no way in hell that I wanted to talk to him.

“Go away!” I said shortly.

“Shay, c’mon let me explain.” He begged through the glass at me.

“No go and enjoy the party.” I told him snidely and he groaned.

“Yeah like anyone could.” He grumbled and I almost smiled but I forced myself to frown at him. “Please Shay.”

“Oh for pity’s sake get in here!” I ordered as I opened the window and he quickly jumped in. I went and sat down on my bed and just watched as he walked over to me. “Well tell me and it had better be good.”

“I hate that I made you cry.” He murmured as he reached out to touch my cheek but I pulled away from him before he could touch me.

“Just tell me what you came to say.” I told him sharply and he sat down next to me on the bed.

“I know you think I did that…crap I don’t know what you’re thinking.” He paused and scratched his chin as he looked closely at me.

“I’m thinking that if you just kissed her without holding my hand and involving me in whatever you were doing than things would’ve been a bit better.” I told him harshly.

“Shit! I’ve really screwed this up.” He flopped back on the bed and continued cursing loudly.

“Yeah you know what you have! So will you just bloody get on with it, I have better things to do.” I snapped at him and I saw anger flare in his face, whether it was at me or himself I didn’t know.

“Shit Shay, will you even let me get a word in?” He fumed.

“You know I don’t get why you’re being so pissed about this. You hurt me here; I haven’t done a damn thing to you!” I practically shouted at him.

“Oh for God’s sake!” He muttered and one glance at his eyes and I knew he was furious.

“Oh sorry I didn’t realise you kissing ‘Pinch Me’ hurt you. Geez what an idiot I am.” I said sarcastically.

I saw him snap, when his anger finally took over. In that instant he had pushed me back on the bed and held me down. He was pressed against me from head to toe and his breathing was erratic.

“Get the hell off me right now!” I screamed at him while thumping my fists against his chest.

“Not until you start listening to me.” He told me firmly but I just kept wriggling beneath his grip. “Shay, shit stop doing that.”

“Uh! I don’t need to feel how much you want damn ‘Pinch Me’.” I shouted while feeling a bulge pressing into my stomach.

“You think this is for her?” He asked me in amazement which made me go still and look at him. “It’s for you, it’s always for you.” He whispered while I shook my head.

“No you’ve had other girlfriends.” I argued.

“Yeah but there’s a reason they are no longer my girlfriends. They could never live up to you.” He murmured.

His words sent melting warmth through me and I had to admit that I liked being pressed up against him so very tight. Wake up Shana, he kissed another girl when he was supposed to be kissing you. Just thinking of his ‘pinch me’ kiss was enough to get my resolve back for fighting with him.

“That still doesn’t explain what happened tonight.” I said glaring at him and I was surprised when he laughed.

“It does actually. Do you remember the first time I kissed you?” He asked and I looked at him in confusion wondering why he was backtracking.

“You mean when we first played spin the bottle?”

Just thinking about that moment I unconsciously licked my lips in the memory of when we were thirteen. He’d charged across that circle so fast and yet kissed me so softly. He was my first kiss, not that I had ever told him. It still felt like one of the most beautiful moments of my life.

“Yeah Shay. I had to force myself to stop kissing you like crazy. It would have been the same way tonight, except I know I couldn’t have stopped.” He told me, his tone dropping down to a deep husky one that I had never heard before.

“Yeah right.” I said with a shake of my head even though I believed him.

“Are you wanting me to test that theory right now?” He asked huskily and I shivered at the intensity of his words.

“Why what would that prove? You still kissed another girl while you held my hand. Do you even know how much that hurt me Link?” I said unhappily and he sighed.

“I know and I’m sorry.” He replied sincerely as he placed his forehead on mine.

“I don’t think I can just let it go because you now regret it. If you wanted to kiss me then you bloody well should have.” I told him angrily.

“Hmmm well you’re right about the last part.” His voice hit that husky timbre again and I noticed his eyes darkening to that stormy blue that took my breath away.

Then he kissed me. And it wasn’t just any kiss, it was a mind blowing, power packed rocket of a kiss. I could hardly catch my breath as his mouth took command and demanded a response from me. With all my pent up anger and frustration I kissed him back just as ferociously.

“God Shay that was mind numbingly good.” He murmured. “I warned you that I couldn’t stop once I’ve started and now I’ve got the taste of you, all honey and spices, I don’t think I can resist.”

His lips crashed down on mine and for long glorious minutes he kissed me like he could never get enough. I couldn’t stop him. When his hands plunged into my hair so he could tilt my head the way he wanted to deepen the kiss more all I could do was moan and want so much more.

It was the moment that my fisted hands gave way to stroking and caressing up his chest to weave into his hair and pull him even closer to me that I realised what I was doing. Fury swept through me in an intense wave as I pushed against him. Instantly he pulled back to look at me and the intense heated stormy blue of his eyes made me gulp.

“I haven’t stopped being pissed at you about this. And no you can’t kiss it better.” I told him angrily as I pushed him further away.

“Shay, you know I wasn’t lying to you just now. I told you the truth.” He said warmly.

“I know but it doesn’t change the facts. You really hurt me tonight. Not just a little bit Link, it felt like you ripped my heart out and I just don’t know if I can forgive you for that.” I told him seriously and his face fell.

“But I don’t even like ‘Pinch Me’, you know that. God she’s always hanging around like a bad smell. Desperation does not help her.” He explained but I shook my head.

“I think I need you to leave Link.” I said softly and he looked at me in complete shock.

“Even though we just shared the best kiss of my life?” He asked in surprise.

“You just don’t get it do you Link? If you had kissed me like that when we were playing the game then you would probably be still kissing me right now and I would be bloody happy. But you didn’t. You kissed Cara Pinshki while you held my hand and nothing can change that. So please leave.” I pointed to the door and he frowned looking exceedingly worried.

“Shay, please don’t give up on me. Yes I was an idiot and I shouldn’t have kissed her but well…you’re my girl and I…crap, I don’t want to be without you.” He stumbled over his words anxiously and put a hand out to me imploringly.

My anger was still riding me so all I did was point to the door silently. He glanced back at me as he reached the door but I was resolute. I still felt the painful bite from what he did. It still hurt me more than I could bear.

Yes the heart melting kisses were spectacular but beneath that there was a lot of overwhelming amounts of hurt and anger. I couldn’t just snap that off and be fine with everything. Without knowing it he had broken my heart by that simple gesture and I wasn’t sure if I could ever look at him the same way again.