I saw him from across the room, Micheal, he had his arms intwined so tightly around someone their bodies moulded into one passionate mess. His hands were in her hair, on her face, under her shirt right there in the kitchen where everyone could see. I knew he didn't think I'd be here but surely he must've realised someone would see and tell me. Or maybe he just didn't care, my feelings were irrelevant in all this as long as he got laid. Or maybe he knew no one would tell me, had he done this before? Was this something he did at every party and just expected everyone to keep their mouths shut? Was I a laughing stock at school because they all knew how he was tricking me and how easily I was falling for it.

I stared at them my mouth open slightly as he pushed her against the wall like he'd done to me before. He kissed her like he kissed me, like he was putting his mark on me, making me his. I was going to be sick.

"Hey Cara I got you a drink," Mitchell appeared by my side with his constant happy smile on his face that I just wanted to slap off right now, "where's this boyfriend then?"

I blinked back my tears, put on my hard shell and pointed at Micheal who was sucking up that other girls mouth like a Hoover, "that's him over there."

With that I turned my back and walked straight out of the party leaving Mitch gaping at the scene behind me.

I stormed out, forcing my way through the swarms of laughing teens flailing their arms everywhere making it difficult for me to push past. My tears threatening to reveal my true pain but I forced myself to fight them back and put on a blank mask. I was emotionless, uncaring, unbroken.

"Cara," Mitchell raced after me the drinks still in his hands.

"Thanks for these," I took them straight off him as he arrived by my side on the square front lawn of the house. He looked bewildered by my blank expression and lack of upset. Then more confused as I downed both cups one after another in two long gulps.

"Slow down Cara, just talk to me," Mitch tried to reach for my arm but I placed the cups into his outstretched hand before his touch could make me crumble. "What's going on?"

"My boyfriends making out with someone who isn't me," I shrugged pretending to be unaffected by the whole thing when really saying those words snapped me inside. I pulled out my phone and started typing furiously so I wouldn't have to meet Mitchell's ferocious gaze.

"Bastard," he roared violently, "I'll kill the guy."

"Don't bother," I sighed simply like the situation was boring me, "I never liked him anyway, this just gives me an excuse to end it with him," I lied easily and for a moment I think I even convinced Mitch.

"Either way," Mitch was examining me and I knew my story hadn't quite deceived him, "that shit head needs to be taught a lesson."

"Mitch don't," I cried but it was already too late, he was gone. Racing inside to probably beat the shit out of Micheal. Something about that made my heart swell, Mitch's loyalty made my body warm from the inside out.

"Cara what's going on?" Grey appeared by my side out of nowhere.

"I caught my boyfriend cheating on me so Mitch has gone inside to beat him up," I shrugged like I'd just asked Grey to pass me the salt.

"What?" Greys whole face darkened rapidly as his grey eyes narrowed venomously.

"Hey why does Mitch look like he wants to castrate someone," Nico called as him and Sawyer approached from the front door, I almost rolled my eyes. Of course the whole gang had to be here to watch my humiliation.

I didn't even have time to answer before Mitch appeared at the front door dragging Micheal by the hair like he was no more than a Ken doll.

"Come on you ass you owe someone an apology," Mitch's voice was mutinous and I could see blood by Michaels lip, it looked like Mitch wasn't going to let him get away with this too easily. Mitch shoved Micheal down on his knees on the grass in front of me, "now apologise for what you did to Cara before I make sure you can never kiss again."

"Cara," Micheal gazed up at me stunned, I stood with a hand on one hip like I was watching the dullest game of tennis, "what are you doing here?"

"What difference does that make?" Grey spat at the cowering Micheal who shrank away from Greys terrifying gaze.

"Calm down guys it's fine," I sighed not wanting a fight to break out, I took a step towards Micheal aware of the fact most of the party had now gathered outside to watch the drama unfold, "we were broken up anyway."

"What?" Micheal stammered confused.

"I broke up with you already shit dick," I smiled sweetly, "check your phone." Dumbly Micheal took out his phone and saw the text I'd just sent dumping his sorry ass cause everyone knew there was nothing more humiliating than being dumped by text. A low hum of appreciation arose from the crowd as they waited to see what happened next.

"I'm so sorry," Micheal mumbled his face red with embarrassment.

"For what Micheal, your cheating or your shit kissing?" I tilted my head innocently as the whole crowd erupted into cries and howls of laughter. Next to me Greys scowl only deepened, was he jealous?

"Please can I hit him now?" Mitch was almost begging as he cracked his knuckles ready to beat the shit out of Micheal who was staring determinedly at the ground and I guess wishing he could disappear into it.

"No he's not worth it," Mitch's whole face fell like a kid who's candy had been stolen. He stared at me pleadingly and I could see his whole body itching to mash up the face of anyone who hurt his friends.

Usually I would've allowed him to scramble Michaels face like an egg but I wasn't in the mood to start more drama around me right now. I just wanted to go back to my bedroom. So I shook my head at Mitch and gave him a look that said my decision was final, no one was getting beaten up tonight.

Mitch stepped away from Micheal with a disappointed scowl, he leant down and spat disgustedly at Micheal, "if I find out you ever speak to her again I will end you, understand asshole."

"Mitch play nice," I kept a lighthearted reading tone to me voice, "he might wet himself." Another whoop of jeering laughter rose up from the ever growing crowd of spectators.

"Cara," Grey looked right into my eyes as his hands brushed up and down my arms soothingly, "tell me what you're thinking."

I wanted to curl up in his arms and tell him how I felt; unwanted, undesirable. That I felt wrecked, each piece of my self confidence crushed into a thousand pieces. But I didn't because I couldn't, because I had trained myself not to.

"I'm fine," I whispered back, my lie didn't even convince him in the slightest. I sounded ridiculous but something about my face must have told Grey not to push the matter, "I just want to go home."

That was the first truthful thing I'd said in a long time and Grey seemed to accept that I was trying to let him in but couldn't quite. He nodded, always the understanding one and moved towards the car giving Micheal one final scathing look.

"Don't ever speak to me again," I growled at Micheal who was still kowtowing on the floor like a child. With that I spun on my heel and headed for the car with all the boys at my heels. I felt protected with all them by my side and for a moment it made me feel just a little less alone.

I knew they'd all want to talk to me as soon as we got in Greys car and I was dreading that. I hated being seen as the weak helpless one, who had been chucked by the sidewalk, unwanted all over again.

"I don't want to talk about it," I announced solemnly once everyone was in the car and we were sat there in silence.

"Car...," Grey started but I cut him off sharply.

"Please Grey, I'm tired and I want to go home," I stared out the window at the darkness knowing that if I looked at them my tears would escape from the cages I'd locked them in. I couldn't cry, I wouldn't.

Thankfully no one objected to my request and Grey started the car in a deathly silence that continued the whole way home.

When we got back to Kings Bridge I was the first out the car and ran towards the house before any of the boys could stop me. It seemed crazy that just two hours ago we had been setting off and I'd never been happier. Now I was racing back to my room trying to hold back my tears until I could shut my bedroom door behind me.

It was always a boys fault. I let myself believe they could want me for one minute and then they left me hopeless and helpless on the floor wondering what I did wrong. Each time I thought I'd found someone who might like me for me I found that I was never enough.

I wasn't good enough.

In the safety of my room finally, I turned in the shower peeled off my dress that now felt revolting and dirty on my skin. I sat under the hot jets and tried to convince myself that my tears were merely the showers water.

I felted wrecked, pieces of me had slowly been chopped away and now I was nothing but an ugly broken shipwreck.