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My aroose bumps covered my skin, and my heart steadily beat faster and faster as I slowly stood from the couch and walked toward the door

No one else ever came over here, and I kneas stupid to dream it could be hi heart

I’d spent soover one wrong How I’d kept expecting Deacon to revert back to his old self And, most important, how I’d continued a relationship--for lack of better word--with Stranger even though I’d known deep down that it rong, once Deacon and I had taken a turn in ours But no matter how much blame I put on myself for our downfall, Deacon had betrayed me just the same Because as Deacon had said, he was there for every conversation, as was I

Stranger had known the way to my heart, and had very clearly needed Words the way I’d needed hier had told me he didn’t know if he’d be able to walk away fro was true

And while Deacon was subconsciously falling in love with htthe sether, one conversation at a time Our conversations and his words left their mark; I would never deny that But he and I knew that what he was doing was preparing ainI gave it freely to Deacon

Deacon had told me that he wanted a life withme his heart in return

He’d made me believe it was onlyon how you looked at the situation--I wasn’t

I never had been

Another knock sounded, and I held my breath as I reached out for the knob

I opened the door, and the breath I’d been holding rushed out as disappoint heart

"Graham Hi"

"Hey, how are you?"

"Uh" I had just realized how devastatingly depressed I was a few minutes before, and had foolishly hoped I would open the door to someone else But Graham was Deacon’s best friend, and I couldn’t allow hiood" He looked pointedly at ht" I quickly backed away, and opened the door wider "I’m sorry"

Graham stepped insideon the TV After turning around in a circle in the living roo here?" I finally asked

"What, can’t I just co in my expression must have answered him for me, since Graham hadn’t been to the house since he’d helped h his teeth, then released it "Yeah, all right Uh, I’et Deacon’s phone"

It felt as if h the floor at the mention of his name It was the first tiht he’d walked away I swayed on my feet before I was able to steady myself, and shook my head to clear it "You what?"

"Deacon wants his phone," he responded "He asked et it" At least he had the decency to look embarrassed