Carden

Zoë hadn't even glanced at Carden after that stunt of her kissing Dean. Anytime he tried to talk to her, she'd sprint the other way or completely blow him off. And honestly, it was killing him.

He missed her bright, perfect smile. Her light laugh that made his heart flutter. The raised eyebrow when she was confused. The way she twirled a strand of her chocolate brown hair around her left pointer finger when she was bored. Her beautiful eyes and the way they rolled when he said something stupid. The natural blush that was always on her cheeks.

But she'd moved on. She didn't need him anymore cause he'd screwed up big time.

"Dude, are you okay?" Derek asked quietly as he followed Carden's gaze to a table across the room where a light, cheerful laugh was coming from.

Zoë sat next to her boyfriend, Dean, and laughed at something Chloe had said. Yeah, Chloe had released the reigns she held on Clarkston High and Cora took her place as Queen of the School. Now she spent her time with Zoë and Amber and the three of them were practically inseparable.

The newest addition to their group, besides Chloe, was Cam. He still supported Carden but after what he'd done, Cam went to Team Zoë. He spent his time flirting with Amber and there was hope they'd be a couple soon enough. He was the reason Carden knew so much about Zoë's group.

"Dude," Derek repeated impatiently.

"Hmm?" He turned to face Derek but the dizziness, the thing that caused the constant nausea, that had held Carden captive for a long time contorted Derek's face.

He could see Derek's green eyes blink quickly and the cheesy smile he always wore dropping quickly. "You good?"

Carden forced a nod. "Yup. I'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick."

Derek didn't stop him as Carden stood quickly and speed walked out of the cafeteria. When he walked past Zoë's table, Cam waved and called his name, along with Amber. But as Chloe had said so long ago, he needed to stay away from Zoë. She didn't need him around. She was okay living a life that didn't include Carden Ash.

Plus if he looked at her, he might pass out. The guilt had been chewing at him for so long that it was becoming unbearable.

He quickly walked into the bathroom and splashed water onto his pale face. When he looked into the mirror, the ghost of the boy he used to be stared back. His eyes that were usually so bright were dull and seemed to pop out of his head and his light brown hair was disheveled. He hadn't looked this bad since Jared's death. Since he'd lost a part of himself.

But then again, he did lose a part of himself. The part of himself that had love. Someone that made his life wonderful. Made it...life.

The door opened and Cam walked in, making Carden jump, with a concerned expression. "Hey dude, what's up?"

"Nothing."

Cam's eyes scanned Carden skeptically. "Well, you look like, um, absolute trash." He paused for a moment. "Oh, no offense by the way."

Carden waved a hand. "None taken." He desperately needed a subject change before the tears rushed back again. "So how's it going with your friend group? You guys look pretty happy."

"It's fine. It would be a lot more fun if you hung out with us. Things are getting pretty boring without you around."

He clutched the side of the counter. "You know I can't." The words were more for Carden than for Cam. She is happy. She is happy. She is happy.

"Why?"

"Because!" The word came out as a yell and he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Chloe said she didn't need me around. I practically ruined her life. She even told me so so don't go around and try to fix everything. It's not going to work." He met Cam's eyes in the mirror. "She doesn't need me."

Cam rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall by the door. "She seems pretty lonely. Dean isn't that great of a boyfriend, y'know. He's so formal and all that." He paused. "You were good to her."

Carden spun around, a wild look in his eyes. "And yet I ruined everything!"

"Why did you?" Cam asked tentatively. He knew he was on thin ice.

"I..." Carden ran a hand aggressively through his hair with a frown. "I don't know. It just kinda happened. Cora was at the park when I was running and she seemed cold and I offered her my hoodie. Then she said to meet up at the Starbucks and I was so ashamed of how I'd given Cora something that I should've given to Zoë that I didn't meet her for lunch. I ditched and got the hoodie back from Cora and then she kissed me," he tensed at the memory, "but I didn't know Zoë would be there!"

"But then she caught you."

"Yeah." He ran a hand down his face. "I'm such an idiot. We were so happy and then I had to go and ruin it."

"Then just tell Zo that."

Carden raised an eyebrow. "That I'm an idiot?"

Cam shrugged, a playful smile resting on his lips. "I'm pretty sure she already knows that dude."

"Shut up."

Cam sighed and put a hand to the door. "Just think about it. She won't admit it but she's been an absolute mess without you around. Her grades are tanking. Tanking," he emphasized, "she needs you back in her life. Dean is just a placeholder until your back in the picture. You gotta fight for her, man. Yeah, you may have screwed up terribly by being in the wrong place at the wrong time but you can still fix it." His eyes narrowed in on Carden. "Do what you gotta do to get her back. Besides, me and Ambi have agreed we need Zarden in our lives again."

And with that bombshell, he walked out of the bathroom.

Carden turned back to the mirror with a very small smile. She needed him and he needed her. Without each other, they would fall.

So with a boost of confidence, he pulled out his phone and clicked on her contact. Miss Dedicated stood out in its beautiful glory, the last text like a ghost of his fears.

I never want to talk to you again. Goodbye Carden.

No Captain Flirt.

Not even Car.

Carden.

She had never used his full name the entire time they had been together. She was always using a playful nickname or Car in an annoyed tone but never Carden. And it hurt.

With a deep breath he typed Hey, his finger hovering over the blue arrow. Just send it. And he did.

The blue word appeared on the white background and he held his breath as he waited for a response. Sometime, in the middle of his scared trance, the bell rang but he could care less. He needed to fix this.

After what seemed like a lifetime, the gray dots appeared and the word Hi stood in its wake.

He might've cheered, might've burst out hysterically laughing but he didn't know. He was on Cloud 9. Nothing could bring him down now because his Zo was talking to him again. If only he could hear her voice again...

How are you?

Don't push it, Carden. I'm still mad at you.

Ah, there it was again. Carden. No nicknames or any hint of happiness. It was all seriousness.

I'm sorry.

Carden sucked in a gulp of air. No response. Had he already crossed the line? Or was she being her usual self and torturing him? Probably the latter...right?

Can we talk? Please?

The dots appeared again and Carden nearly passed out from the lack of oxygen. Did Zoë know what she did to him? How she made his heart flutter and made him feel lighter than air when they were together?

Yes.

Another cheer escaped his lips as he read her text. He could finally apologize and hopefully make things right. Zarden would be together again, hopefully. All he needed to do was tell her how he felt and maybe show her.

Actions speak louder than words, right?

His phone chimed with another text: My house, at 4. A minute late and I'll delete your contact, got it?

Got it. I'll be there, Miss Dedicated.

Alright, Captain Flirt.

His stubborn heart fluttered. Things were looking up already. Now all he needed to do was show up at her house, on time, and make things right.

That couldn't be to hard, could it?