Tampons // PAUSED

T E N

_Ashton_

"No, Ashton, you cannot—and will not—do anything to Luke. This time, it's between me, him, and our pride," Sapphire keeps repeating, the wording varying each time she says it.

"He may not have hurt you physically, but he's still hurt you, Sapphire! Luke hurt you and that makes me furious! He can't do what he wants, when he wants, and still think that everything is going to be okay! He should know that he can't say things like that to his little sister. Ever. Especially after you've just seen someone get run over. Not just anyone either; a friend of his, mine, yours, Calum, Michael. He is not the king of the world, and he cannot kick you out of your own house, Sapph," I exclaim, trying my best not to punch the wall.

"First of all, he didn't kick me out; I chose to leave. I could have just hid in my room and waited for him to come crawling back saying sorry like he usually does, but I chose to come here. I chose to come here because I wanted to be with you. Not with Luke. Not with Corrine. Not by myself. I wanted to be with you."

I can clearly see she isn't feeling well, and I can understand why; Luke might be my best friend, but he can't do this. He needs to pay.

"By the way, do you have tampons?" Sapphire asks, changing the subject.

"Uh... I don't think so," I scratch the back of my neck awkwardly, "Why?"

"Because I have an idea," she replies with a mischievous smile.

"I mean, I don't, but Lauren might have left some the last time she was here,," I say looking in my bathroom, "If not, we can go buy some, but first you have to tell me what your plan is."

"Okay, so..."

_Molly_

"Mom, I swear there is something wrong with me..." I say hiding my face in my hands, "When Luke was standing in front of me with tears in his eyes, all I wanted to was to hold him, and forgive him for everything he did... I just don't know what to do anymore."

"He's been your best friend for so many years, so it is normal that you'd want to hug him in that kind of situation, so what makes you think there is something wrong with you? It's all normal," my mom replies, giving me a reassuring smile.

"I'm afraid that... That I fell in love with him," I mumble ashamedly.

"And what's the matter with that? After living together for so many years, it's almost expected. There's also the possibility that you aren't, and just think you are," she answers calmly.

"The thing is," I start, "He has a girlfriend... And her girlfriend hates me, it's difficult to even be his friend."

Mom nods, "Are you jealous?"

"I mean, I've never seen them together. Well... Once, but it was a while ago."

"Molly, answer the question. Are you jealous?" she repeats.

"I... No," I lie.

"Then you aren't in love with him," she answers, even though it isn't true, "But just to be sure, hang out with both of them for a while, see if you get jealous when you see the together, and if you are, then the possibility that you love him is higher. If you aren't, then you don't love him in that way."