Chapter 1

"It's not you, Seth, it's me." Candy said, trying not to look into his eyes.

Seth stood there with his mouth hanging open. "What do you mean it's not me, it's you. What kind of bullshit is that Candy? Just last night--you remember last night don't you?" he asked, reaching for any straw to cling to. He'd had a sinking feeling when he opened Candy's note asking him if they could talk after lunch.

"We made love last night Candy, L-O-V-E! Christ, you told me you loved me! What changed between last night and today?" Seth could feel the tears welling up behind his eyes, but he'd be damned if he left them fall.

"I was trying to say goodbye in the only way I knew. Seth, I do love you, but I need... I need to find myself, I guess." She raised her eyes, using them to implore him to understand. "I just need some time to myself. We've been going out for almost two years now..."

"Two years and six days to be exact." Seth mumbled, not caring if she heard him.

"...and I just need space. You understand, don't you?"

"No, Candy, I don't understand. What the hell is going on? I mean, how can you do this? Is there someone else?" His heart was beating a tattoo in his chest and he wasn't sure he wanted the answer to that last question.

Candy didn't reply at first, and when she finally looked into his eyes again, he knew...

"I was going to tell you..." she began, but Seth had heard enough.

He felt as if she had just reached inside of his chest and pulled his still beating heart out and showed it to him, as if to say, You won't be needing this anymore!

He needed air. He needed to get out of this stupid school and get some air. Without even saying a word to Candy, Seth turned on his heel and walked down the Senior's hallway. He slammed his locker shut as he walked by it, not bothering to get his backpack or even his coat. He walked in a daze, not seeing anyone in his path, just focusing on the double doors that would lead him into the open air.

Someone grabbed his sleeve. "Hey Seth, I'm talking to you, man."

Without thinking, he took a swing at the idiot who dared to slow him. His fist connected. There was no thrill, no rush of adrenaline, just the need to get outside.

"Hey Dickhead--what was that for? Geez man, I just asked you a question. You didn't have to haul off and hit me. What the hell is the matter with you?"

Seth just shoved him back and tried to get around him.

"I think Candy gave him the heave. I heard her talking to her friends that she needed some time to herself--whatever that shit means. Personally I never liked the bitch anyway."

Seth turned around and tried to find the jerk who had just said that. Through the red haze of his anger, he tried to focus on the idiots blocking his path. He shook his head and looked again.

They were his friends. Jimmy was holding the hem of his shirt up to his bleeding nose. Joe was holding Jimmy's backpack, and glaring at Seth.

"What did you just say?" Seth snarled.

"I said you're a dickhead, that's what. What did you go and hit Jimmy for? All he was asking is if you're all right. You're not the only one who got dumped today, ya know. Jimmy and Steph broke up too. But hey, it's always about you, isn't it? I don't know about you guys," Joe said to the rest of the group, "but I'm out of here."

He walked by Seth, purposely knocking him in the shoulder as he went past. "Why don't you just keep going where you were going and don't bother coming back. You are such a jerk, you know that, Seth?"

Seth grabbed Joe's arm and pushed him into the wall and held him there. "I'm not a dickhead and it's not always about me!" Seth gave him one last push before he let him go.

His friends all gave Seth blistering looks as they turned and walked back down the hallway.

Seth just stood there, breathing heavily, trying to figure out what the hell just happened. What the hell was wrong with him? He never, ever turned on his friends. He dragged a shaking hand down his face. When the class bell rang, he stared up at the ceiling trying to clear his eyes. The anger he felt moments ago was still raging through his body, "Screw it, I'm out of here," he said out loud, and walked through the double doors, making a bee-line to his car.

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