“And what?” he says gently.

“I was tired of waiting for love.” I sigh big. “The Keats guy and I got together. Like, we kissed. We hung out. It felt different. He quoted me poetry and I was so happy. Then there was this camping trip I was supposed to go on with him and his friends. They left without me. I thought he was hooking up with other girls. That was the first time he sort of broke my heart.”

“And the second time he broke your heart, was that Labor Day Weekend?”

“That was the third time.”

“Is that why you slept with Dawson in the Hamptons?”

“I never said I slept with Dawson in the Hamptons.”

“Who did you sleep with the second time he broke your heart?

“No one.”

“What’d he do?”

“He wouldn’t dance with me at my birthday party.”

Aiden shakes his head. “What a douche. Why would you even give a guy like that a third chance?”

I blow out a big breath of air. “Love.”

Aiden puts down his notebook. “Want to know the findings of my survey?”

“Uh, sure. When you figure it out.”

“I already have. I think I learned it last year, but after interviewing a lot of people, I’ve confirmed it.”

I nod my head at him, telling him to go on.

“Sex doesn’t equal love.”

I think about my sweet, sexy ass Dawson and say, “I agree with you on that point, but sometimes, if you’re really lucky, sex can lead to love.” I grab my phone and say, “Excuse me,” to Aiden.

“Hey,” I say when Dawson answers.

“Hey, yourself. You about done with practice?”

“It’s not really over yet, but I don’t think they are going to get to my next scene, so I’m going to sneak out of here. I need some real kisses. Not fake play kisses.”

The first thing out of Dawson’s mouth when I get to his room is, “Just how many fake kisses did you get tonight?”

“Just one. But the director didn’t like it, so he made us do it again. Differently.”

“Who did you kiss?”

“The Bad Prince.”

Dawson pulls me onto his bed and kisses me. “I can be bad.”

“I’m pretty sure we couldn’t do your kind of bad in front of an audience.” I run my hand through the back of his hair and down his back. Then I just wrap my arms around him and hug him. Tightly.

He pulls me closer to his chest and hugs me back. “What’s this for?”

“I love you, Dawson. I did this survey thing tonight about sex and the person’s conclusion was that sex doesn’t equal love, but I told him that sometimes, if you’re really lucky, sex can lead to love. I feel really lucky to be with you. I can’t tell you how excited I am for you to meet my family. For us to spend the weekend with them. I’m sorry that I waited so long to tell you that I love you. I was just scared. I’m not scared anymore. I totally and completely am in love with you.”

He buries his head in my chest and gives me another hug. “I love you too, Keatie. I know we did things a little bit backward, but it worked for us. You made me believe in love again.”

I get tears in my eyes because he makes me so happy. “You made me believe in love too.”

He kisses me. Just kisses me. Over and over again until I have to leave to make curfew.

An emergency landing.

11pm

After I get to my room, I dig through my clothes and pack for our trip. We’ll be leaving at six, which doesn’t give me much time to shower and get ready after dance practice.

I pack mostly casual clothes. Yoga pants and sweatshirts for hanging out with the girls. A cute sweater dress and boots to wear for dinner Saturday night. A sexy bra and panties for Dawson’s enjoyment. A skirt, tights, sweater and boots to wear back home.

I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. My little sisters are going to be so surprised. Mom and Tommy will be happy. And I’ll even get to meet Kiki, my namesake dog.

I fall into bed, close my eyes, and imagine how good it will feel to hug my family again.

I wake a few hours later in a cold sweat. I was on the plane with Dawson. I told him everything and he was super supportive and understanding, but then the captain announced that we were making an emergency landing. Vincent walked out of the cockpit dressed as a pilot. He pulled a gun out of his pocket and shot Dawson. I started screaming.

Friday, October 14th

Effortless.

Drama

Just as the bell rings for the end of drama class, my teacher says, “Miss Monroe, could you stay for a moment, please?”

“Sure,” I say.

He walks up to the stage and sits on it.

“We called you on stage at 9:45 last night to do a scene and you weren’t here.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I left a little early because I didn’t think you’d get to any more of my scenes.”

“You have a lot of raw talent. Acting seems to be effortless for you. But you need to understand that acting is a business. It’s long hours, hard work, and commitment.”

I’m tempted to tell him that I know exactly what is required of an actor. I’ve seen it. Lived it.

I’m also tempted to tell him that I quit. It pisses me off that he has the nerve to suggest I’m not committed.

I’m the only one who has all her freaking lines memorized!

And it sucks not seeing Dawson every night from seven until ten. That’s really our only free time all day. And I’m not sure a stupid school play is worth it.

“I’m thinking about quitting,” I blurt out.

“That would be upsetting. You have star potential and I’d hate to see you waste it because of a boy.”

“It’s not just because of a boy,” I lie.

“Tell you what,” he says. “Take this weekend to think about it. I’ll expect an answer from you on Tuesday.”

Second-guess myself.

5:30pm

I'm sitting on Dawson's bed trying not to second-guess myself.

But my drama teacher pissed me off and that stupid dream left me rattled.

So, now I’m worried about, well, everything.

How will Dawson take the truth?

Will he understand? Will he be mad?

Will he freak out about Vincent? Will it make him treat me differently?

Will Tommy and Mom get pissed at me for showing up?

And the fact that Dawson still isn’t packed is making me even more stressed.

Our car will be here in ten minutes.

He’s standing in his mess of a closet, not really doing anything, just staring at it.

I’m about to start pulling clothes out of it and packing for him when his phone buzzes.

I glance at it.

Whitney: Baby, please.

I instantly can't breathe.

I want to look at the rest of their texts. I want to know what else she said. I could be sneaky and read them. He wouldn't notice. But I decide on a direct approach instead.

“Dawson.”

“Yeah?”

“You just got a text from Whitney.”

He walks out of the closet looking pale. “Uh, I, um . . . we’re just talking.”

“Just talking does not say, Baby please. I get it. We did it. Our image makeover was successful and now she wants you back, right?”

He stands stick still. "Yeah, I guess.”

Tears start to prickle my eyes. "When were you going to tell me?"

He still doesn't move. "She just started texting me. I wasn't sure what to tell you.” He finally moves, grabs his phone off the desk, and hands it to me. "Just read it."

Whitney: When we danced for old time's sake at Homecoming, you can't deny that we both felt something. You and I together is how it was always supposed to be. That's why you stopped dancing with me so suddenly, because you felt it, right?

Dawson: I stopped dancing with you because I didn't want to hurt Keatyn.

Whitney: I'm sorry I broke up with you.

Dawson: Thanks for saying it, but it's too late.

Whitney: It's never too late. I'm really sorry, baby. If I could take it all back, I would. Don't go out of town with her this weekend. Stay here with me. We can hang out and see what happens. I promise I'll make it all up to you.

Whitney: Baby, please.

I want to tell Dawson that she is a lying bitch who slept with his brother. But I don't want that to be the reason he chooses me.

I want him to choose me because he loves me.

“Is that really true? Is that why you stopped dancing with her?”

“She said, Peyton never would’ve won if we were still together. And I said, Yeah, you're right, but then you dumped me for some college asshole. That’s when I got pissed and walked away.”

“And now she's begging?”

“Yeah.”

“And that was what you wanted all along.”

“Yeah.”

“Is that all we were? You took my idea of making her want you? Was it all about making her jealous?”

“No, it wasn’t. Keatie, I do love you. I meant everything I’ve ever said to you.”

I hold up my hand. “Don’t, okay. Don't lie.”

“I’ve never lied to you about anything.”

“This week when I was at rehearsal. Were you talking to her then, too?”

“No. This completely caught me off guard. And I want to meet your parents but . . .”

“But why bother?”

“No. Just give me a minute. I just need a minute to think.”

“You don't need a minute to think, Dawson. You’ve already decided. You're not packed. That says it all.”

“I just . . . try to understand.” He puts his hand to his forehead and rubs it across his temple. “It's what I wanted for so long."

I nod, holding back the tears, and calmly walk past him to the bathroom.

When I open the door, Jake is standing naked in front of the sink. He shoves a towel in front of himself and yells, “Keatyn, what the hell?”

“You and Whitney are still going out, right?”

He looks at me like I'm an idiot. "Yeah, I’m getting ready to go pick her up.”

“You should maybe look at this first.” I hand him Dawson’s phone.

He reads the texts and his eyes get big. “That bitch.”

"Yes, she is," I say as I walk back into Dawson’s room.

“So, congratulations, you’re finally getting what you dreamed of." I take the key from around my neck, drop it into his hand, and say, “I understand perfectly.”

Then I walk out his door and hope the drama of giving him back the key to his heart will make him think. Will make him realize her doesn’t want her.

I stand outside his door for a minute, expecting him to come running out to say, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I don't want her. I love you.

But he doesn't.

I wait for a few more minutes.

I picture him tossing the key on his dresser and happily calling Whitney to tell her yes.

And it starts to sink in.

We're over.

I start to tear up as I walk down the hall in a daze because I can’t believe it.

Can’t believe he would do that.

Aiden walks by me. “Boots, are you okay?”

I look at his green eyes and shake my head. Because I’m not okay. But I say, “I’m fine,” and walk quickly past him.

Then I start running. I don’t even think about where to go. I run straight to Dallas and Riley’s room and pound on their door.

The minute Riley opens it, I lose it. I dive my head into his chest and start bawling.

“Aw, shit,” he says, “Am I gonna have to kick my brother’s ass?”

I nod my head and keep crying. Then I start babbling about Whitney, and her text, and how he never loved me. How no one ever really loves me.

He wraps me in a tight hug and pats my back to comfort me.

Dallas walks in saying, “I just ran into Jake. Keatyn and Dawson just broke . . .” He sees me and stops talking.

"Up," I say, finishing his sentence. "We were supposed to leave for the airport in a few minutes."

My phone buzzes with a text.

I hold it tight to my chest and pray it's Dawson.

That he's sorry. That he's stupid. That he realizes he made a mistake. That he doesn't want her.

That he loves me.

Only me.

For the first time in my life, I'm a little disappointed to see a text from Damian.

D: I don't care what plans you have for this weekend. Change them. One of the Moran Films' jets is sitting at an airport near you waiting for your arrival. (Don't tell Dad. I worked it all out with Margie, his assistant.) The crew is "waiting to pick up guests who won a contest." I didn't want anyone you knew from the past on the plane, so there is just a pilot and co-pilot. Bring the guy who treats you too well, bring some friends. Whatever you want. Just get your ass here. We'll tell your friends we know each other from grade school. Which is true.

Me: You have NO idea how perfect your timing is. Just broke up with the guy who was treating me too well. His ex texted him and said baby please and now he wants her back. I was supposed to take him on a trip this weekend. To meet my parents.

D: I can't believe your parents were okay with that.

Me: I was going to surprise them all. I figured if no one but me knew I was coming, V couldn't know. He said he loved me, Damian. I believed him. I was going to tell him everything. I'm an idiot.

D: Guess my ass-kicking list just got longer.

Me: Are you talking about my ass? Because I'm stupid to believe boys when they say they love me?