Blackmailing Isn't cool

16. She just can't turn him down

Kate POV

I hate myself. I hate Seth, but I hate myself for falling for him. I can't believe it. I'm such a jerk.

Grace just stormed out of here. I understand why she is mad.

She just found out that one of her friends was dating a guy that was blackmailing her, and now her biggest secret is going to spread because of her other friend. I would be angry too.

Caylie is sitting on the ground, sobbing.

"It's okay" I say. "Grace will get over it. She can be forgiving"

"It will not be okay!" she sobs. "She was my best friend! And now she hates me!"

"It isn't your fault if she does end up hating you" Ashlyn says, entering the conversation.

I forgot that Alex, Cheryl, and Ashlyn were even there. They were just sitting there, watching it all happen.

"I know" Caylie says, looking at me. "It's Kate's fault"

I know it is my fault, but that was a little harsh. "I'm sorry" I say. I truly am sorry.

"I know" she says, standing up. "I'm going home"

And that is what she does. Along with my other friends (?). Eventually, I am the only one left.

I get up off the ground, and sit down at an empty table. I put my head in my hands. All I can think is how much I regret what I did.

And what my boyfriend did. Or, ex-boyfriend, I should say.

Speaking of ex-boyfriends, I didn't realize that Seth was still here. He is. He sits down at the table, across from me.

"Get away from me" I say, not looking up.

"No, Kate. I am going to explain wether you like it, or not."

"Fine" I say, looking up. "Explain to me why you blackmailed my friend, and made me lose them all"

His eyes are filled with regret. I would pity him, but I hate him too much.

"There is no explanation for that" he begins. "But I did love you. I really did."

"How can I believe you? How can I know for sure that this isn't another lie?"

"Because." He says, and then he smiles. "Because 'I'm in love with you and I'm not in the business of denying the simple pleasures of saying true things.'"

I stare at him, and he continues. " 'I'm in love with you, and I know love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labour has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you' "

I stare at him, tears welling in my eyes. He may have blackmailed my friend, but he memorized the quote from one of my favourite books for me. He may hate my friend, but he loves me. I know he loves me. Only someone who loves me would do that.

"How did you memorize that quote?" I ask "how did you know you would need it?"

"I knew your friends would figure me out eventually, and I knew you would hate me. But, I didn't want to lose you, so I memorized it just in case"

I smile. "What were you thinking?" I ask. "Why on earth would you do that?"

He gulps, his smile vanishing. "It was funny at first, I mean, making Grace do embarrassing things. I thought it was a joke. Then, they started to get on my case. They started looking for me. I didn't want that to happen. I would be in so much trouble. Then it got more serious. I couldn't just stop. I kept going. Now, she knows it's me. She is going to tell someone it was me."

"How did you figure out her secret in the first place?"

"I heard her dad talking to her mom on the phone while he was at the grocery store."

"Wow" is all I can say.

"God, Kate I'm really sorry" he says, and he reaches out and grabs my hand. I let him take it. I guess I can forgive him.

There you go. It may seam like it may be nearing the end of the story, but I'm not done yet. It's going to be awesome. Also, I would like to give a shout out to trissingdivergent (Kate) for the idea for this chapter. And FYI, the quote was from the fault in our stars. Augustus says it to Hazel on the airplane.

-GoodyGoody