CHAPTER 17:

*3RD PERSON POV*
About a month has gone by. It is a couple days before thanksgiving and Kevin and Is haven't spoken since the day he left. Joe and her still remain friends and chat online everyday but he still hasn't gotten the courage to tell her who he really is. Since Kevin left, Joe and her have gotten closer and she is really staring to like him a lot. Lucas still talks to her every now and then to make sure she's okay and Ariel and Peyton still hang around her at work when the evil cousins aren't around. Edward still has this huge crush on Ariel. Ariel and Joe don't really speak to each other anymore the whole long distance relationship didn't quite work for Ariel. Nick and Peyton are still talking and they are dating but not publicly. And Nicole hasn't quit being a bitch. Kevin still believes that Virginia is Joanna but he hasn't officially made her his girlfriend yet. Brooke and him still ride their little love roller coaster because he doesn't feel that Joanna is the one. He no longer feels what he felt that one night.

*ISABELLA'S POV*
"So Luke how's college?" I asked into the phone.
"It's alright but it would be better if I had you here to share it with" he replied.
"I know I really wish I was there it's been a year already since I last saw you"
"I miss you Is life isn't the same here without you" he said sweetly.

Lucas ever since we were five has always had a crush on me. Sometimes I believe he still does but I can only see him as my best friend like a brother. I know he's always wanted us to be more but I've told him that it would just be too weird. I mean don't get me wrong Lucas is gorgeous he has girls always after him but he only has the eyes for me. He is tall with black shaggy hair and green eyes. He has the body of an underwear model and the mind of a romantic poet/genius. He could be so happy with many other way prettier girls but he chooses not to because he believes his happiness is only found in me. I know that's very sweet but my heart just never felt right for him. He deserves a lot better and he deserves the love that I can't give him. I only loved him as a friend not as a boyfriend.

"Neither is home" I replied.
"I'm thinking about taking some time off school and visiting for Christmas"
"Really that's great I need to see you soon. All I've been doing is working like crazy. I need some time off to spend time with you," I answered.
"Then I will be there soon I promise" he replied.
"Great well I gotta go" I said looking at my watch. "My shift starts in half an hour so I have to start heading out," I said sadly not wanting to let him go.
"Alright then I have to start heading to class anyway. Just call me as soon as you get out" he replied sadly.
"I will Luke take care"
"You too" he said sweetly. "I love you and remember that always," he added.
"I love you too bye" I answered.
"Bye" he said and then clicked.
I stared at my computer screen from where I had signed off from talking with Joe before Lucas called. I was really starting to fall deep for Joe. Kevin wasn't really in my mind much since he left and we never spoke again. Joe took his place in my mind and my heart. I closed aim and headed up the basement stairs to my car.


*ARIEL'S POV*
"Hey Lucas" I said after answering my cell.
"Hi El" he replied. "Listen I need the biggest favor"
"What is it?" I asked.
"I just finished speaking to Is and she was pretty excited when I told her that I might be going down to Florida for Christmas and she told me that she really needed me" he explained.
"Okay and I come in where?"
"Do you think you could look on the internet for a cheap ticket to go down there for thanksgiving this Thursday?" he asked.
"Yeah sure to return when?" I asked.
"Monday morning would be good" he replied.
"Omg wait till I tell Is your coming in two days. She's going to be so excited shoot I'm excited omg ah," I yelled.
"Don't tell her I want to surprise her," he advised me.
"Aw man I wanted to see her expression when I told her but fine okay I won't tell her" I assured him. "I promise"
"Alright" he replied.
"Just give me a second the page is opening on the computer," I said.
"Oh you're going to do it now?" he asked.
"Yea I'm already in front of the computer I might as well" I replied. "Just give me a second"

After about five minutes, I found a ticket on Spirit Airlines for $120. It was a round trip from L.A., California to Miami, Florida and back. It was from Thursday at 2pm our time 10am his time arriving at 7pm our time to Monday at 12pm our time.

"That's good," he said after I explained to him everything.
"Alright then I'll just email the confirmation code to you and everything all you have to do is print that and take it to the check out counter on Thursday and you're set" I explained.
"Alright then thanks El I love you and I gotta go. Tell mom and Peyton I love them"
"Will do and I love you too bro bye"
"Bye" he clicked.


*KEVIN'S POV*
It was almost a month since I met Joanna and Brooke and I were still on our roller coaster ride of break ups and make-ups. I still spoke to Joanna every now and then but we really weren't getting any where. She wasn't the same girl I met on Halloween. Sometimes my brothers would try to convince me that she was an imposter but I never believed it. I was really starting to believe it lately, I was really getting tired of Brooke's jealousy, and Joanna's all the time phone calls. She was beginning to scare me because she was getting a little obsessed. She sometimes thought her and I were actually dating when the only thing I saw in her was being friends.

*Ring*
*Ring*

Who was calling me at midnight?

*Ring*

"Hello" I answered to tired to even check my caller ID.
"Heeeeelooooooo" Brooke answered weirdly.
"Brooke are you drunk?" I asked immediately.
"Noooo silly now now w-w-why would y-you think thaaat" she answered as she stuttered and slurred the words. "Just tell him that youuuu love meeee Brooke" I heard a guy say in the back.
"Listen to the way you're talking Brooke you can't even speak right" I half yelled into the phone.
"Kevin I-I hate you you k-kno-know that. I-I never loved you ha ha ha" she said as she broke into a fit of laughter.
"I'm not going to speak to you like this" I replied.
"You sh-sh-shouldn't speak to me e-everrrrrrrr" she replied. "I've be-been p-p-playing with youuuu everrrrr since the beginng the begin the beginning of our relationship" she added.
"Bye Brooke" I clicked.

I lay in bed just looking up at the ceiling. Was she saying the truth? Did she ever really love me as she said she did? I mean she was drunk so it all could've been a lie. Then again, drunk usually tell the truth. Then who was the guy in the background? I tossed and turned all night. She kept calling me. Until around 2am, she finally quit and I finally closed my eyes and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up wishing everything that happened last night was a dream. When I looked at my phone and saw all the missed calls and text messages saying 'I hate you', 'It's over' I realized it was all real. I decided to call her And see what was up with the phone call and the texts.

*Ring*
*Ring*

The phone rung twice until a guy answered very sleepily.
"Hello"