I was so angry.

Angry at myself for letting Warner leave for the party thinking, I hooked up with Adam under the bleachers. And angry at Warner for believing a stupid rumour over me. For saying he was done with me, for throwing that ribbon to the ground and telling me he was going to get lucky with girls tonight.

Amy filled me in on the rumour as soon as I found her. Sam had told almost everyone that he saw me giving Adam a blow job under the bleachers. I was seething; the funniest part was that I had never even given a blowjob before. If the gossip about that Instagram post wasn't bad enough now, I had to deal with people calling me a cheating whore as well. Even though Warner and I weren't together anymore. Not to mention I also didn't fucking do it.

Amy was doing her best to clear my name, but the rumour had already spread like wildfire. I couldn't let it bother me because I was going to that party, and I was going to make Warner talk to me whether he wanted to or not.

Luckily, I had backup. Maggie, Abby, Sarah and Amy all got ready with me at my house. I changed into tight leather pants and a lace bodysuit. Abby, Maggie and Amy had raided my closet for party clothes; it was nice finally having a wardrobe I could share with my friends. Maggie and I weren't able to share in high school, not unless she wanted to go for an oversized look.

We were in the uber to Max's house, and I was trying to calm my breathing. But with each minute that passed, my nerves got worse. I was scared that I might not be able to get Warner to listen to me. Even if he did believe me, would he take me back? Would he forgive me for pushing him away? The thought of truly losing him hurt more than I liked to admit.

Max's house was packed, and students filled the house, front yard and back yard. Even the street was full of people. I keep my head up high and walk up to the door with my friends at my side. I just had to find Warner and explain. Even Adam agreed that he would meet me here and try to talk some sense into Warner. I was thankful he was willing to face Warner's rage just to clear our names.

I could do this.

We walked towards the door, and I spotted Kenji arriving at the same time. I remembered the last words Kenji said to me, and my confidence faltered. I'm sure with this new rumour, he had some more choice words for me. I avoided his gaze, even though I felt it on the side of my face. Unfortunately, he wasn't going to let me get away that easy because his arm shot out and wrapped around my wrist.

"Not now, Kenji," I grit out and tried to pull my wrist back, but he wasn't letting go. I gave my friends the go-ahead look, "I'll meet you guys inside; let me know if you find him." And turn back to Kenji.

"I ran into Adam earlier." Kenji's hands were in his pockets, and he looked guilty.

"And?"

"And I'm sorry for what I said. For believing that you would do that to Warner, I should've known better. I never should've said you don't deserve him; I was just upset he didn't tell me about the breakup, and I saw how he was looking at you and Adam- "he kicked a nearby stone, still not looking me in the eye. "Adam told me nothing happened, and he also told me that you asked him to throw the game. He might not know why you asked him to do that, but I do"

My heartbeat sped up. Kenji knew about Warner's dad. "I did it for Warner. I wanted to help."

He nods at me. "I know. I'm sorry, Juliet, for doubting you. Of course, you deserve Warner, and he deserves a girl like you. Someone who is brave enough to stand up to his dad. I came here to try to talk to him. I texted him, but I don't think he got it."

"So did I." I glanced towards the house; I needed to find him. Kenji follows me as we walked into the packed house.

I scan the room for Warner immediately and don't spot him anywhere. After some searching for what feels like forever, I receive a text from Kenji.

I practically run up the stairs, stumbling over myself to get up them. I get to the door, and Kenji is outside it waiting for me. "Now, he has no choice but to listen to you." He grins and opens the door for me, shutting it behind me. I hoped he was guarding it.

"Are you going to tell me why you- "

Warner stops at the sight of me entering. He's like a frozen statute. A deer in headlights. He hesitates. Then angles his body toward me and a beat later, our gazes met. I've never seen him like this before. Hard, bloodshot eyes, Jaw tense. Hair wild, sticking up, unsure of which way it wants to fall. He stands in place for a few agonizing beats. I don't have time to waste, so I start explaining myself before he tries to escape.

"I have some explaining to do." I twist my fingers together, trying to fight my nerves. "So, you are going to sit down, shut up and let me explain. I have been running around all night trying to find you so I can make you listen to me." My gaze follows the bob in his throat as he swallows. He looks like he's in complete anguish. I'm convinced he's about to bypass me and run to the door, but he doesn't. He stays in place and dips his chin for me to continue.

"I was not hooking up with Adam under the bleaches. I was asking him to throw the game." I can see that my words catch him off guard.

I had an entire speech prepared, but now that he is right in front of me, all of my thoughts jumble, and he notices because he clears his throat and helps me, asking, "Why would you do that?"

I pause to take in a breath, "I know what your dad makes you do, Warner. I overheard at one of the games, and when I snuck out to that betting site. I was also in your dad's office during his charity event when you guys had your...discussion."

A range of emotions passes through Warner's face, relief, confusion, and anger. He almost reaches his arm out to me but pulls it back in.

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, turning away from him and his blinding intensity. "I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to get mad at me for involving myself. But instead, you decided I was hooking up with Adam behind your back." Warner is sat still and silent. He's staring at a point on the floor, and I know he needs a moment to pull himself together. He clears his throat twice.

So, I continue. "I get why you didn't believe me, not with all the evidence in front of you, with your dad in your ear and Sam telling you what he thought he saw. But I need you to know that I would never do that to you" I finally let out a breath. It felt good getting this all out while Warner was stood there actually listening and not yelling back at me.

He swallows, head hanging in regret "I'm so sorry I didn't believe you" he jumps up to his feet, shaking his head in disbelief. One of his hands runs through his hair in frustration.

"It's okay."

He doesn't look like he believes me, but I let him see the vulnerability in my eyes. That I forgive him. That I am just glad I am here with him.

"Well, I'm glad you managed to get me to listen and got the truth into my thick skull. But I guess that's it then, right? It doesn't change anything that you said to me earlier this week." To anyone else, what Warner said was a statement but to me, it was a lingering question. I knew what he was asking. I may not have hooked up with Adam, but it didn't change what I said to him earlier this week.

I open my mouth and no words come out. I'm practically screaming at myself.

"Thank you for clarifying things." He gets up from the bed and attempts to walk around me to the door.

"Warner," I step in his way, and he backs up a few steps to create even more distance between us as If he can't bear being close to me. We are standing on opposite sides of the room now.

"No, Juliet I meant what I said when I said I was done making a fool out of myself. I can't be around you; it hurts too much."

"Well then, it's a good thing I'm not done. So, for the second time, shut up and let me talk." I've caught myself off guard with my bravado, but I came here on a mission.

This was it. Putting my feelings out there. It meant acknowledging that I felt something for him. Letting him inside my head meant he would see everything. The worst parts of me. What if it changed his feelings? He says he loves me, but if he knew how disgusting I was would he feel the same? If he knew what I did to my body and the thoughts I had, he might not want to be with me.

No. No. Shut up.

This was my chance. To make up for earlier this week when I freaked out and pushed him away.

There is only silence as I take a shuddering breath "To start, you are not an idiot, you are not a lovesick fool and most importantly, you are not nothing. You are enough; you are more than enough."

His jaw ticks, "Juliet, please, Don't say things like that to me."

"What? Why?" I look at him, and it dawns on me that he is angry. Frustration shines in his eyes and his jaw is clenched.

"Because it's mean," he says, losing his composure. "You don't get to say things like that. Not if you are going to walk out on me again or push me away." His voice broke, ragged.

"Warner-"

"You can't be with me, right? That's what you said. You don't want to be with someone you can't trust." He trails off when he notices my grimace.

"I want to explain"

He tosses his palms in the air, red-hot irritation flaring. "Then tell me this, why did you shut me out after that post was made? Why did you do that to me? To us?"

I sink farther back towards the wall to get a grip, eyes welling. Every time I went to call or text him this entire week, I chickened out, terrified of what would happen if he read those comments on that post and agreed with them. But having him right here, obviously having read them, how can I even begin to explain?

He scoffs, standing tall, hands-on-hips. "You know, this is the entire problem with us. It always has been. You don't trust me. You don't trust me enough to rely on me when shit goes wrong. You don't have to do things by yourself anymore. That's the entire point of a relationship. You have me now. We're supposed to get through these things together. As a team."

The silence is deafening. I think it's about to swallow us both.

"Did you see the comments?" I ask quietly.

His severe expression softens, his thumb and index finger pinched over the bridge of his nose, eyes closed. "Yeah, but I had to stop before I smashed my phone. They're bullshit," he says, expression tightening. "You know none of those comments are true, right? I—"

The look on my face makes him pause for a moment, pulling back as if I've slapped him in the face. "So that's what this about?"

I nod.

He stares at the floor under his feet for what feels like a hellish eternity. "So...you...what? You just ended things? After I told you I loved you for the first time? Everything we went through to get to this point, you were willing to toss it all out the window because of what other people think?" he asks, voice low, gravelling and exhausted.

"The truth is, it's more than just the comments on the post. I have never felt quite good enough." I wring my hands in front of me, unable to stop fidgeting. "Having someone, like you, someone seemingly too good to be true. Well, I felt like I wasn't good enough for you either, and it was only a matter of time before you realized it."

Warner looks up at me as if he wants to say something. But he doesn't; he just lets me speak.

"When that post blew up, it was like a manifestation of everything I was afraid of. People commenting, confirming what I already thought...telling me that I wasn't worthy of you." I take another shaky breath. "I am sorry I didn't consider your feelings. I honestly thought I was doing you a favour. I was being selfish. Completely." He nods, which I take as acceptance but still keeps his distance.

"Sometimes, it just feels like such a burden...feeling like this." I whisper the truth as if unsure I am even saying it out loud.

He looks at me, his eyes so open and trusting that my heart aches. "Then let me help carry it," he whispers back to me.

That was all it took for the words to come tumbling out, ones that were meant to be part of some beautiful speech. "I lied to you," I tell him, words tripping and stumbling out of me. "That day. When I said, I didn't want to be with you. I lied. Because you were right. I was a coward. I was so scared of losing you, so scared of being some kind of burden to you. I didn't think I was worthy of your love. I was stupid and inconsiderate, and in doing what I thought was the right thing, I hurt you so badly." I try to breathe. "And I'm so sorry."

I stare at the strength in his jaw, in his eyes, in his body. I try to understand the confidence he has in who he thinks I am and realize his reassurance is the only thing stopping me from diving into a pool of my own insanity. He's always believed in me. Even soundlessly, silently, he fought for me. Always.

"I know I can never make it up to you. It took me longer than it should have to realize that I trust you more than anyone. It was myself I didn't trust because I didn't trust myself to not somehow mess everything up." I pause. "I realized that you have loved me through everything, and I'm sorry if I'm too late, but...I want you on my team."

He finally smiles a real genuine smile for the first time in a week, and I am reminded of how attractive he is. Especially when he is smiling at me. Those green eyes looked at me like I was the centre of his universe. Nobody had ever made me feel so special with a single look.

"I thought it was obvious...I planned on keeping you on my team forever. Regardless if you wanted to be on it." He smiles at me, grinning from across the room.

I wait for a few beats before practically lunging at him like a flying squirrel, desperate to be back in his arms. Warner wraps his arms around me, tighter than he ever has before. His entire body seems to relax in our embrace. I never want to let him go. I don't care that we got into a massive fight. I don't care about the hurt feelings.

"I am so sorry for pushing you away," I whisper into his neck.

He glosses his thumbs over my cheeks, pressing his forehead to mine. "I'm sorry for not believing you. It will never happen again."

"Warner, it's okay."

"I swear to you; I will never let anyone between us again. I care about you so much; I don't even know what to do with myself. I can't lose you again." He tugs my hand, holding it to his chest. His heart is racing against my palm. "Never do that again. You need to promise me. Promise me you won't push me away again, no matter how scared you are. We are a team now."

I practically melt into him. "I promise I won't push you away again. Ever." I whisper, tracing my finger over his stubbled jaw.

His eyes flicker to my lips as he drops his forehead to mine again, tightening his other arm around my lower back, securing me to him. He lets out a long sigh as I run my hands over his shoulders, up to his neck, and through his hair. "You deserve to feel love," he says finally as his thumb begins to trace the inside of my palm.

There is a heaviness to his gaze, and it isn't just lust. It's an overwhelming effect. The intensity of the moment steals my breath, rendering me to putty in his arms. I want to capture this look and keep it forever. "You deserve to feel adored." His thumb strokes the inside of my wrist. "To feel pleasure." He pauses. "To feel a love where you are the first thing they look for in every room." I look away because the intensity of his gaze is too much. His hand slides under my chin and tremors slightly as he forces me to look at him. He holds my gaze for a long time. "And I can give you that."

"My heart is in your hands, Juliet. Feel free to do whatever you want with it. Break it into a hundred pieces; I don't care anymore."

His eyes flicker to my lips, gazing intently. I slide both of my hands behind his neck and lift onto my toes to press my lips to his. If I ever questioned what I felt for Warner, this kiss is the answer. A simple brush of his lips, and I want to wrap myself around him.

He pulls away and brings up his hands to my face, his fingers trailing over every feature. My lips, nose, eyes, chin and even the sensitive spot behind my ear burn where his fingers trail. His touch lingers, almost worshipping. "I've missed this." He breathes, and my eyes close on their own accord, a content sigh escaping me.

"Me too," I whisper.