.

"What did he say?"

"That he appreciated my use of pepper spray and did not appreciate the use of my knee..." I lie in bed giggling into the rose-gold iPhone in my hand.

I'd been home from the bar for roughly two hours. My dad knew about Tyler before I even walked through the door. Even though he acted as though he was upset about it, I couldn't help but to notice the smirk on his face during the 'you don't just knee a guy in the groin in front of half the town...' speech. I firmly believe he was proud of me tonight.

"Books that was the most amazing thing to watch... the way that kid dropped - he'll be lucky to have children."

"That would make me happy knowing no mini Tyler Porters would enter this world."

We sit in our own rooms, me in pajamas, watching How I Met Your Mother episodes. A couple weeks of not talking to him on the phone was enough, I've missed our night chats. It seemed silly that I had dropped him off at his house only a few hours ago and already we were discussing what had happened tonight.

A lot happened tonight.

"Dad doesn't think he will really press charges. His mom is too sick, they need the money. Plus everyone in the bar heard him and saw him grab my arm first."

"He's probably right, but that may just piss him off more... do not go into town by yourself..."

"Okay dad" I roll my eyes as if he can see me.

"I'm serious Gabby. Town isn't the same right now. The riff between the bars is about to get bad. If it's true that Tyler could be one of the assaulters from prom night, and Mickey's daughter was one of the victims, there's going to be a blowup at some point. Town is going to pick sides. They will either pick the poor family with the sick mother who are locals but have a monster as a child. Or they will pick the out-of-towners who hike up prices during peak seasons of the lake but whose daughter was raped. I'm rooting for Mickey."

I sigh. I know he's right. This town thrives on gossip and bickering. The town will divide. I'm staying out of it. Someone will win, I'm stuck here for the rest of my life; I'm not about to pick sides. As pissed as I was at Kane, he was still someone I considered a friend. I didn't know Mickey that well, but my heart bled for his daughter Lily.

"Have you talked to Kane since this happened?" I can hear the hesitation in his voice. Jax is not a fan of either Porter brother.

"Not since I left him at prom." My gut twists. Years. I loved that boy for years. Now I don't even want to see him in town. I'm torn. I miss him, but I'm dreading the day I see him.

"Stay away from him and his bar Books, nothing good will come of it. Older siblings protect the younger ones. It's our job."

Sydney. Suddenly I am so glad that she wasn't old enough to attend the dance. Then I think of the day at the mall when Tyler was hanging all over her, my underage little sister. The way he looked at her was disgusting.

If he goes anywhere near her I will rip his limbs off, starting with one between his legs.

"There are so many places I need to stay away from now, I don't feel like I can go anywhere..."

"Just don't go to town alone. Please?" He is practically begging, in a way I find it a bit adorable.

"I won't Jax. Promise."

The promise that fell from my lips... already I worry I won't be able to keep it. Kane is still my friend, as stupid as he's being. The truth, whatever it is, will come out. Kane will be here, Jax don't be. I try and put that thought to the back of my mind, but it's hard. Tonight I slept with him. One more.

We both fall silent as we watch our show together. We are only on season two, but we love it. Suddenly we find ourselves laughing to the point of crying as we watch them form a slap bet against Barney.

"Who do you think the mother is?"

"Better not be Lily" he chuckles.

"Why? Would you be jealous? Have a thing for Alyson Hannigan too?"

"Books you know Zooey is the only girl for me, we've discussed this..."

Tonight our conversation has been nearly twice as long than normal. I'm not sure if he's worried about me and thinks I need a laugh, or if he feels obligated because tonight we slept together, or if he's just being protective.

"I think it's going to be Robin. I mean the blue horn episode... it was super romantic."

"Nah, no way. He's calls her Aunt Robin, that won't work..."

"I think I'm right. No way Marshall and Lily will end. They are perfect together. We will just have to binge watch all nine seasons and figure it out."

His laugh booms through the phone, bringing a smile to my face. Only he has been able to do that these last two days.

"Alfie?"

"Yeah Books?"

I stare out my window to the one across the street. The one I know is his and has the same rhythmic flickering of light as mine from watching his TV.

"What happens after the last one? Does this end? Do I lose my friend? Or just the guy I'm sleeping with?"

As soon as I ask, nothing but regret plagues me, because I know I don't want to know his answer. Courtney already told me the first day I was at her house. "He will destroy you."

He's quiet. The silence tells me exactly what I didn't want to know. I lose both sides of him. I lose him.

"I- I don't know Gabby..."

I wish I had asked this in person, or not at all. I wish I could see the panic in his face that I hear through his voice. He wants it to end but he feels bad because I'm broken now.

A steady stream of tears run down my cheeks. One minute he's the only person making me laugh and the next he's making me cry. I know I brought this one upon myself. I take my phone and hold it away from my face for a moment in the hopes he doesn't hear me cry. I've never been one to cry a lot, this week has been an exception.

Once I know I'm calm, letting out a deep breath just as Courtney taught me, I bring the phone back to my ear.

"I guess I was just wondering."

"You aren't exactly the same as other girls Gabby... they didn't realize they were just a game. We'd have sex quickly, get it over with and I'd end it. I never became friends with them... I-"

"Humped and dumped them" nod as I cut him off.

"Yeah..." he agrees. His tone telling me it's not something he's particularly proud of.

"How many girls exactly?" I force my laughter trying to make the conversation seem playful, even though it's not. This conversation has become anything but.

"Gabby..." a deep sigh comes him.

Enough that he doesn't want to talk about it.

In my head, judging by just how smooth he is and how hot he is... way over ten.

"How many?" I ask again.

The phone goes quiet. I plan to keep asking him until he finally gives me an answer.

"Seven."

"That's it?!" I ask with genuine shock. "Seven and me?!"

"First off, I'm not a complete man-whore Gabby. I told you that the night we played pool. Second, seven includes you."

"That just doesn't seem like many compared to how Courtney first explained you."

"Well gee, remind me to thank her for that. I was in jail for awhile, had an ankle bracelet for awhile, then I started seeing girls again..."

"Wait..." I stop him. "So this only started since Jimmy?"

"Books..." he sighs. "It's late. You have school tomorrow. Get some sleep."

He can't just leave me hanging like that...

"Fine. I'll talk to you later."

"Gabby?" I hear as I go to hang up. I put the phone back against my ear.

"What?"

"Tonight... it was... amazing. Not the part where you dropped Tyler. The other part. I'm not looking forward to this ending either..."

Then why end it?

More tears begin to fall as I look back out my window to his. He's standing in his own now, looking back to me. He's too far away to see his facial expression, only his silhouette is viable through the flickering lights behind him, but it's enough that my breath hitches in my throat.

"Yeah Alfie it was. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Good night."

"Night, Books."