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"I orried," he says, his voice groggy frohts are off He’s been waiting for me, in the dark

"I’m sorry," I say I pull out es, but he didn’t text He’s standing close to ood This will be easier if he doesn’t touch ured you wouldn’t see it until now anyhow," he says, his grin that lopsided one he wears when he’s unsure of hi

"I’ out," I say I practiced this all the way home I took a cab, but made it drop me off a block away so I had time to talk to myself as I walked down the street Every time I practiced, this was always the best plan--to say it, and to say it fast

"Why are you doing this?" he asks, stepping closer I step back once He stops, and his eyes--oh god, they are so sad right now

"Houston, I don’t knohat’s going to happen, with the video But I need to be able to focus on that, when the shit hits the fan," I say I wish ht now, and I’ enough Everything hurts

My heart…it hurts

"Let me help," he says He always has an answer for every worry

I closemyself I can’t let him touch me I’ll never be able to leave if he touches me

"That’s sweet, Houston But I think oing to distractto string soe," he says The sound of his voice reaches into ht fall if I tried to walk Joyce’s words play on repeat through my head, as does the flash of evil on Chandra’s face If I stay here, can I pro everything?

"No," I shake ht up"

He rushese by his stare, and I need to pass this test If I fail, he won’t let e And don’t lie--not to me I love you, and you know I love you You feel it You feel it right here," he says, pressing ainst h us both "And you love me too"

"I don’t," I say quickly That’s my plan Say the words that hurt quickly

"Bullshit," he says, his voice growing louder He presses his lips to ht lips, which ulti It feels like home And I have to stop it--now!

With a hard push, I break free from his hold and step away until h Houston starts to step toward ain, but I hold up my hand

"Don’t, Houston Please," I say My voice is forceful, butinsideto pound on his chest, to cos I know I’m supposed to do I can’t stay here; I can’t be with Houston just because I want to That…it isn’t enough I pro if I couldn’t love him as much as he loves me

I can’t And even if I could--the Campbells would find out, and take away Leah’s trust

"Say it," he says He’s crying now As dark as it is, I don’t need to see his eyes to know I hear it--his voice is ragged, and desperate "Say it, Paige Say you don’t love me Make me believe it"

"I’m sorry, Houston But I don’t love you," I say I don’t cry I don’t break My words are cal inside I may as well have stabbed him in the heart within shock, and I know that I’ve sold it He believesbut the way Houston is looking at ht now I stand in place, my arms folded across ainst the counter, stretching his are as he stares intofor me to break, for both of us to wake up, and for this not to be real