Shattered Fragments

Chapter 10

"Let me explain, Willow," came Mark's voice from behind me. Cornering me while cycling, what a slightly clever move. I pulled over and dismounted.
"There's nothing to explain."
"I didn't write that letter. Daniel did." he said, his eyes pleading with me.
"How do I know I can believe you?"
"Look," he bought out a piece of paper and a pen, and started writing: Does this look like the writing on the letter? His writing was much thicker and less neat than the writing on the letter. I really wanted to believe him, I knew he was telling the truth, but I didn't want to be broken again.
"I still don't know, Mark."

"He's right, you know, Willow," said Gabriella, cycling down next to us.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"I planted the letter. I'm not proud, but there's no going back on what I did."
"Why would you do that?!" asked Mark, slightly confused.
"Quinn gets everything; the attention, the friends, the guys. And she can be crazy and still get it all! I finally got a boyfriend and I was going to do anything to keep him. I didn't want to beat you up, but I was afraid of losing Danny. He promised me that the letter was the last thing and we'd just enjoy our holiday afterwards. We made one for Quinn too but I lost it. I am so, so sorry!"
"I didn't know, but you don't have to do that to get a guy! Also, why did you do it to me?"
"I just wanted revenge on Quinn, but he wanted to stop you and Mark talking. I think he just wanted to keep his brother with him. He didn't want to loose you, Mark."

Maybe, just maybe, Gabriella and Daniel weren't so bad. She was jealous and he was afraid of losing his brother. They weren't the worst motives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~********~~~~ Two days Later

The sunset was beautiful, like an artist had painted the sky.  The hill was the perfect place to watch  the sun disappear beneath the surface of the lake. I was waiting for Mark. I was leaving tomorrow and I wanted to tell him about me, all of me, "Hey, Willow," said Mark, sitting down next to me.
"Hi, I need to tell you something," and I told him everything. Well, except for Dove's t-shirt with his face on. At the end, there was an awkward silence, "Told you I was crazy."
"It's okay. Because," he pulled me closer, face to face. My heart was beating so fast that I couldn't pick out one beat, "I want to get to know you. Really get to know you, all eight of you."

And we kissed under the sunset. Definitely, the weirdest holiday I've been on. Definitely the best.