Chapter 1

A L E X I S

The pain of seeing your best friend—the person you've loved since you realized what it meant to like a guy more than a friend—fall for another woman is worse than breaking a bone and feeling every motion; even watching your world shatter doesn't compare because it all happened to be.

I broke a bone in kindergarten when falling off a bike, my parents separated when I was sixteen, and I witnessed everything I knew fall apart, another woman take my mother's place, and me being pushed from daddy's spoiled princess to daddy's hardworking girl.

I even moved across states at the age of sixteen, from Seattle to Los Angeles, and I felt alone and helpless, but that sorrow was nothing compared to this: seeing the boy you love, the one you can't have, cry for another woman.

Elliot.

I've been in love with him since the first time we met in college; I was sixteen and suffering through the ordeal of my parents' divorce, but I knew right away that I belonged to him.

I've spent five years silently loving him and pretending we're just friends; finally, I won't have to watch him make love to another woman, I won't have to hide in the bathroom, crying my eyes out, and, even better, I won't wish death upon anyone.

Yes, they finally broke up; I hated that he was upset, but I also loved that he was suddenly alone and available, because who else was single? Me.

It's weird, but I've waited for him, rejected everyone for him, and it's not like I had men queued up for me; I was too nerdy for their liking.

After one last look in the mirror, I dug into my shirt pockets and divided the money I was going to spend from the money I was going to save.

My shift just ended; I worked as a waitress at a restaurant to help pay for college; I made $70 in tips today; I usually make close to $200 in tips alone, but today I only worked for four hours; I needed to be home to show Elliot that I was there for him, and that I will always be there.

"Boo!" Sandra tried to scare me, but I was used to it, so it didn't bother me. "Oh, is that my share?" She inquired, and I hurriedly shoved the thirty back into my pockets, holding the forty in my palms. "Wait, you're really missing out on money because of him?"

"Sandra, you know how he gets when she pisses him off."

"Which is only temporarily, after a week, they will be back together and he won't even spare you a glance."

"He texted me, he wants me home and I'm going."

"It's Sunday, the tips are great today."

"Sorry I will pass, please cover for me okay?”

"I'm not sure, Lex, how long do you think you'll keep doing this? Those two have already broken up twice this month alone; do you think it's worth the risk?" Sandra sounded concerned; she had watched me burn, and she was always the one I phoned when Elliot and Chloe were at their happiest.

When they asked for the room, Elliot and I shared the apartment with two other people, and since there were only two bedrooms, Elliot and I shared the room.

"I know but this time, trust me it's over.”

"What makes you say that?" She worriedly inquired, brushing my hair off my face, and I bit my cheek, covering the smile as I remembered last night, when he kissed my lips, well, not the kiss kiss, but a peck, and even said he hoped I was Chloe, that he wished I was his girlfriend, claiming I was simple to handle.

Yes, he was drunk, but as the saying goes, there is truth in every word spoken in a drunken state, and Elliot just admitted to liking me.

"Okay, what is that face for?" She snapped me out of my dreamy state, and I hastily reached for my phone, which was in my denim pocket.

As I searched for his phone number, I froze at his contact photo.

God, he was everything: a sweet smile, green eyes that I could see my future in, and lovely milk chocolate hair that looked so healthy.

"Lex?!"

"Oh sorry, just sending him a text, he's probably lonely now." I sent him a brief text message informing him that I was on my way; we had been chatting earlier, and he wanted me home so we could watch our favorite Marvel series; yes, that was another reason I was risking the $100 tip.

"Wow, I don't know how you do it.”

"You don't have to know, now can I have the keys?" I was using her car because mine was at the service; she reached into her pockets and pulled them out, then handed them to me; I thanked her quickly, said goodbye with a quick hug, and rushed out.

I heard her warn me to be careful, but I didn't react since I didn't want Elliot to wait any longer.

Outside, I got in the car, started it, and drove to Starbucks. Fortunately, I had already placed an order for his big mac burger at McDonald's, so I only needed to pick it up.

It didn't take long because I was already parked in front of our apartment.

I waited in the car for a bit and adjusted myself in the mirror; I didn't appear to have enough lipstick, so I added more, and I was set to go.

I checked my phone for any messages, but he hadn't responded. Elliot had a habit of falling asleep when she crushed his heart.

I got the brown bag, secured the car, and headed inside; fortunately, the door was unlocked, so I strolled in without difficulty.

I placed the brown bag of burgers and fries on the coffee table so my hands could hold the cup of coffee.

"What did you bring for me?" My irritating apartment mate, Harvey, was about to touch the bag when I told him to stop. "I wouldn't go in there if I were you." He said, and I fired him with daggers, warning him not to touch my belongings.

I walked towards the door, and I could hear grunts and moans from a distance; it had to be Jake, my third apartment mate, because there was no way.

The more steps I walked, the clearer the voices were; I'm not sure why I didn't stop as I continued walking till I reached the room; even when it was obvious that the voices were coming from the room, I denied it; no, it couldn't be Elliot and Chloe again; those two had broken up for good this time.

I'm not sure what I was doing as I opened the door, but as soon as the room came into view, my heart stopped pounding because I saw what I was frightened of.

It was them. Elliot and Chloe.

They were both naked, with Chloe on all fours and Elliot standing behind her, pressing deeply and hard into her as if his life depended on it, even sweating.