TANGLED PLANS

33

Scratch that.

I had been used.

So well too, to be honest.

He gave me the perfect amount of attention to keep me hooked, and tonight he told me that his plan had worked and he didn't need to keep me hooked on him anymore, which is why he spent the whole night not talking to me.

"You used me," I say to him softly, and the music in the background wants to make me cry. Justin's eyes are filled with panic when he says, "No, Daisy, I do like you."

I nod and say, "But you know, you just used me in the process as well."

"Well—"

"You did," I whisper, and he hangs his head in between his shoulders. "My brother, Max. Both of them. You had used me to get their attention and to make them think that I didn't notice. That I wouldn't notice."

"Oh, shut up, Daisy," he says when he looks at me again, his eyes no longer panicky. "You and fucking Max. Think I didn't notice that?"

"Max and I?" I say with incredible strength in my voice. "We didn't do anything."

"Maybe not," Justin says, and then runs a hand through his hair. "Only you like him more than you like me."

That part was true. I had realized it now. But what I didn't understand was him accusing me of anything. He didn't have the right to accuse me of anything when he had used me.

Justin looks back at the boys that were looking at us, and his cheeks redden when he says, "And he embarrassed me back there with my new friends."

"Right," I say with a tilt of my head. "The same friends I made you have."

"Daisy, I didn't mean to ignore you the whole night," he apologizes then, and I shake my head.

It dawns on me that I don't need his apology. It dawns on me, like the last part of the puzzle, that I don't feel anything in this moment. I'm fighting with Justin, but what he did and didn't do doesn't have an affect on me. I'm not mad.

"Daisy, what's happening?" Justin asks, and I take a step back from him.

"No, it's okay," I say to him as I put my hand up. I meet his eyes and give him a smile. "Go, you got what you wanted from me. I'll be fine."

I didn't need him.

I didn't want him.

That was the last realization of the conversation.

I knew the reason why I wasn't feeling hurt by him. I knew the reason why my heart didn't flutter at the sight of him. I knew why his kisses made me feel neutral and not at all exciting. My heart was never leaning toward him; my heart was stuck to the idea of Max.

"Daisy?" Justin asks after a moment, and I lean forward and press a kiss to his cheek. "I'm sorry for not liking you enough, Justin," I whisper to him. I'm not excusing his behavior by using me for what he truly wanted; I'm only doing a better thing. I'm walking away.

I needed to.

It was time to go after what I truly wanted anyway.

I walk away from him without a single glance back and start to look for the person in my heart. I cannot seem to find him anywhere, so I start to head for my brother's table. Only when I get to their table do I find the two of them in a heated argument together. I cringe and walk away from the scene. I wondered what they were arguing about and if they would get out of this okay.

Grabbing my purse, I walk out of the venue with the intent of finding him. My feet take me out of the building, and standing on the front steps is none other than the guy I'm looking for. His head is titling to the sky as he watches the stars, his hands tucked in his pockets.