They Say Love is the Key

Zach felt his shoulders slump after hearing her words. His shocked and upset expression was soon replaced with one of anger, though. "Fine, whatever you want, Addy," he said simply before standing up and making his way out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Julia smirked and shrugged a bit. Again, instead of answering the question, she led the way up the stairs and into an empty bedroom, closing and locking the door behind them.

Addy felt hurt when he had actually stood up and gone, but she didn't try to stop him. It wasn't worth the fight... She was angry at him for not understanding - not seeing the way that she always loved him. She went up to her bedroom and slammed the door as he had, climbing into her bed and sobbing. Love did hurt - but only because he was blind to it.

Josh smirked as she led him upstairs and watched her lock the door behind them. "I see you're eager," he teased in her ear, slowly sucking on her earlobe as they stood together. This was definitely going to make him forget for now.

(I'm also at a block for this one. Perhaps we could skip a week or so, but still have the characters mostly upset with each other?)

(Sure - do you want to start? :D)

(Sure! :D)

Zach sighed, running a hand through his hair as he made his way into the school, looking around. He and Addy hadn't spoken much in a week, since their argument and it had taken its toll on him, only driving him to go to even more parties than he usually did. With a frown, he made his way to his locker, hoping that the day would go by quickly.

Lily made her way to school, sighing to herself. She had been walking to school on her own for the past week, rather than riding with Josh, having left early each day, so she wasn't even sure if he ever went to her house to pick her up anyways. Shaking the thought away, she stepped into the school, looking around as she made her way to find somebody to talk to and hang out with before school would start.

Addy felt sad as she made her way to school. It was like half of her heart was gone. There was no excitement in the idea of seeing Zach - and she hated that. Why couldn't he just understand it like she did?! It hurt her... She made her way to her locker and Eric was standing there waiting for her. They had started talking a little - and it wasnt like Addy would ever go for a guy like that... But she was hoping it would make Zach jealous.

Josh made his way to her house and sat outside for five minutes, honking his horn. After the week he had, he knew she wasn't coming out - but he hated if... Why couldn't they just make up? It made him feel even more depressed - and he went to even more parties. He needed them to feel whole again, and that was all he had that was normal. He got to school and sighed.

Zach glanced around, his eyes soon falling on Addy when he saw her by her locker. A frown crossed his lips at noticing Eric there as well. Through the past few days, he had noticed the two spending time together and it bothered him quite a bit. He was unsure as to why, but he assumed it was because if the two ended up dating, things would only be more complicated and the friendship he and Addy shared would become even more strained.

Lily blinked when she heard somebody call her name and turned to see Matt making his way over to her rather quickly. It was only recently that she had even begun talking to him, but it was more so to get back at Josh than anything. Though it seemed rather petty, she decided it didn't matter. Once Matt was beside her, the two walked to her locker, sharing idle chit chat, though it wasn't very interesting to her.

Addy mustered up a smile at Eric as she got into her locker. "How are you this morning, beautiful?" He asked and the smile actually was completely genuine now. "I'm good this morning," she teased right back. She noticed Zach looking but she didn't look at him. She was just trying to be okay without him.

Josh walked into the school and found himself on the route to Lily's locker like he was used to instead of getting to his own. He frowned as he saw Matt walking with Lily. He wasnt one to get jealous... He really wasnt... It was the very fact that there was someone else that she was happy about seeing rather than him. Was he being replaced as her best friend?

Zach's frown only deepened when he noticed Addy smile. He was so used to being the only one to make her smile and, though he didn't want her unhappy, he didn't want anybody else to make her smile like he did. It bothered him quite a bit and he nearly groaned in annoyance when he couldn't comprehend what had changed between their friendship.

Lily moved to open her locker, Matt moving to lean against the locker next to hers. "What are you doing this weekend?" the boy asked with an arched eyebrow. The question caught Lily off guard and she blinked, looking towards him for a few moments before she went back to rummaging through her locker. "I don't know yet," she decided with a shrug.

Addy sincerely hoped that she would be making him jealous. She wanted him jealous... Maybe then he might understand that he should really love her. That he already did, even when out his own knowing. "You look beautiful," Eric complimented and Addy ran a hand through her hair with a giggle. "Thank you." She blushed. She didn't know how to take his compliments. "What are you doing this weekend?" Addy blushed. She didn't know how to respond to that.

Josh watched Lily with Matt in anger. Part of him wanted to go up and beat the guy up just for looking at his best friend. He was the only one with the right to make her smile... Anything else just wasn't right. He was the one who was supposed to take care of her. He almost growled... He was so angry.

Zach frowned as he watched them, taking notice of her blush. What the hell was this guy saying to his best friend to get her to blush like that? To get her to giggle? That was something that only he had ever done, that only he felt should be allowed to do. His fists clenched in annoyance and he debated on whether or not to interrupt the two. It seemed that his body decided that for him, though, as he approached them in quick strides, his fists still clenched, though he tried to control his anger. "Is this guy bothering you, Addy?" he questioned. Surely, that had to be the answer. She couldn't just replace him in her life that quickly because of one argument, right?

Lily could see the broad grin that spread across Matt's face and she couldn't help but to smile in return, though she could see Josh nearby and wondered why he was watching. It made her hopes rise, if only a little. "Well, how about we go do something this weekend?" he asked with an arched eyebrow, his grin still in place, "We could go to the movies or to the park or something, yeah?" Lily was surprised with how eager he sounded, though she wasn't sure how to answer. With the smile still in place, she shrugged. "I don't know," she murmured, tapping her chin in thought, "Would it be any fun?" Matt's grin widened as he threw an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close. "Of course it will be!" he assured.

Addy knew what he was going to say before he even said it. She braced herself and ran a hand through his hair. "You know - we've been spending a lot of time together... How's about you and I go out this weekend... Go to dinner or something?" She had never had to turn someone like that down before and she didn't know how to answer- but she didn't have to when Zach interrupted. She flinched a little, wanting to throw her arms around him but also still angry at him for what he did. "No - he's not, Zach. What see you doing?" She asked and in spite of not wanting to, she grabbed Eric's hand. "Of course that sounds like fun!"

Josh hated this. How was she smiling at some buffoon who simply wanted her attention for some bad things?! Josh may not have been the most honest himself - but he would never hurt Lily like that. Nonetheless, it hurt that he was being betrayed. He was the one who usually made her smile in the morning... Who walked her to her locker - and even to her first class if there was time. He couldn't take it anymore and his body carried him over to them before he knew what he was doing. "Are you okay over here, Lil?" He asked in anger, never taking his eyes away from the boy...Matt. Ugh, he hated him. "Maybe you should keep your hands away from where they don't belong," he pushed space between the two.

Zach blinked when he heard Addy agree to Eric's idea and even hold his hand. His frown only deepened and he felt like somebody had stabbed him in the heart - though he wasn't sure where that feeling came from. "So, you're seriously going to go on a date with him?" he asked, pointing an accusing finger at Eric. "Can't you see that he's only after one thing? He doesn't deserve for you to go on a date with him! Or for you to even talk to him, for that matter!"

Lily was confused when she saw how angry Josh was, but she frowned at how he was acting. "I'm fine, Josh," she said simply, "Besides, I wasn't complaining to his arm around me." Matt simply ignored Josh, knowing that there was no point in giving him a reaction. Offering a smile to Lily, he said, "So, about this weekend...?" Lily, more to spite Josh than anything, offered a smile to Matt and nodded. "Yeah, I'm up for hanging out, then."

Addy knew that Zach would either not care or get mad. She hoped he got mad... Maybe it would stir up some anger in him from this love that he didn't know existed and he wanted that. That was the only reason she said yes to Eric in the first place! "Yes - what is your problem, Zach?" She asked innocently. "Coming from you that's a compliment - you're no different than anyone here!"

Josh felt stupid coming here - but he didn't like this Matt kid having his arm around her. That wasn't right. He shouldn't be touching her at all. The jackass! She could tell he wasn't good. "So you're with this guy now?" He asked angrily, crossing his arms. "All he wants your for is a quick fuck and then he'll drop you - he's not worthy of you!" His heart swelled. He didn't know why.

(Sorry. On Monday, I found out that my aunt died, so I haven't been very active on Mibba lately.)

Zach frowned deeply at her words, his anger only growing when she practically defended Eric. "My problem is that I don't trust him! I don't want you to get hurt by some jackass who only wants you for sex!" he nearly yelled while pointing an accusing finger at Eric, his frown only deepening. "And, I am different than everybody here, Addy. You know that! You know that I would never hurt you like they would!" He didn't know why it bothered him so much.

Lily crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at Josh. Seeing how angry he was almost made her feel accomplished - but it didn't give her full satisfaction, considering how there was still no proof that he loved her the way she loved him. "So what?" she asked with an arched eyebrow, "Even if I am with this guy and even if you're right, what does it matter? You do it all the time, after all - fuck every girl you can, then just drop them."

[oh, I'm so sorry!]

Addy wanted to cry at his words. He was different? How was he different? He was only different because she was the only girl who he didn't look at as a girl... He looked at her like a little sister or something that he would never touch - but the rest of the population of girls were all his toys for sex and things. She shook her head and frowned. "How so? The only girl you're 'different' with is me. In the real world, you're no different, Zach..." Her voice was hoarse.

Josh shook his head. Yeah - so he fucked girls... A lot of girls. The difference here was that he would never hurt her. She was different. She wasn't someone that he wanted to defile like that. "The difference is you! I would never hurt you - and you know that! This asshole here is just looking for a good time, and you shouldn't lower yourself for a guy like that!"

(It's fine. I wasn't really close to her.)

Zach frowned deeply, his eyes locked on her as he tried to ignore the presence of the other guy there. "That's just it, Addy. I'm different with you. It's because you're different. You're not like the other girls who go whoring themselves around. I would never even dream of hurting you the way this guy is likely fantasizing to," he said, wishing that he could make her understand, that he could understand it himself. "I don't want to see you get hurt by this guy, because I know that's exactly what will happen."

Lily crossed her arms over her chest, an audible sigh escaping her lips. "The only difference between me and those random girls that you're always sleeping with is that you see me as your best friend or sister," she pointed out, the pain of the realization causing her eyes to soften. He would never love her like she loved him. In a way, she was just a burden to him, somebody that he kept around for the sake of not hurting her.

(Aw, okay - I just hope everything is alright!)

Addy really wanted to hit him at the moment. He treated her differently because she wasn't a whore?! Why couldn't he just admit it? She wanted him to love her like she loved him - and she didn't understand why he had always been so blind to it. It seemed he was trying to convince her of it now, only he didn't know it himself... "You see me as your best friend - or your sister or something... If you didn't you'd be here trying to do the same thing. Don't you dare tell me you're different!"

Josh crossed his arms and shook his head. Why didn't she understand? Oh right... Almost he didn't understand himself. It didn't make sense why this all bothered him. It shouldn't. She was his best friend - but she would end up being some other guy's lover. He didn't know why that bothered him. It was the way of life. "Yeah - and you should like that about me! I actually care about you as my best friend!"

(It is now.)

Zach was surprised to hear her words, though he couldn't help but wonder. If she wasn't his best friend, would he really be trying to do the same thing? No, he decided, he wouldn't. Because Addy was different, though he didn't understand why. "I am different than him, though!" he nearly yelled, wishing that she would just listen, rather than argue with him. "I actually care about you, whereas he doesn't! All he wants is to be able to say that he fucked you!"

Lily nearly clenched her fists, wishing he would shut up, that he would just accept his emotions, rather than pretend they didn't exist. "So, let me get this straight," she said, narrowing her eyes at him, "You're allowed to fuck whoever you want, but whenever a guy shows any interest in me at all, you get pissed? How is that fair, Josh? Why can you go around, having sex with whatever girl gives you attention, yet nobody's allowed to even try to get with me?"

Addy shook her head. He cared? No, he couldn't! He didn't believe in love - so he couldn't care... They were kind of connected more than he would believe. "You're not..." She said in a weak, nearly-crying voice. "How are you so different? If you knew anything about me, you would know that I wouldn't even let him 'fuck' me so you shouldn't even be here fighting about this." She hated him at the moment.

Josh shook his head. Honestly, it didn't even make sense to him... He really couldn't restrict her - but he just didn't want any guy hurting her. They were a complicated topic. "You're right - that's exactly what I'm saying! You're better than every guy here - you shouldn't need to be with any of them! You're better off not being with a guy who just wants to fuck you!"