Chapter One:

It had been a week. Exactly a week since she had made out with her best friend's (ex) boyfriend. Exactly one week since he had confessed that he had feelings for her and proceeded to give her the most incredible kiss she had ever had. And now she couldn't stop thinking about him.

Sure, Craig was handsome and sweet and understood her like no one else. But she couldn't betray Ashley. Craig was just her friend and that's all he could ever be. She would just get her heart broken again. She didn't have feelings for Craig Manning; she couldn't. That kiss was just a momentary thing.

Right?

She angrily kicked a stone on the ground. Even in her own mind she wasn't so sure, but she didn't want to screw up one of the few good things she still had left. She couldn't get him out of her thoughts, though, no matter how hard she tried. She couldn't even sleep, which was why she was now taking a late night walk through the woods. It really was beautiful here, with the stars shining through the leafy canopy. She felt safe. Her phone vibrated yet again and she checked the ID.

He was calling her yet again.

"Why can't you just leave me alone, Craig" she whispered to no one in particular as she continued to stare at the name displayed on her phone. Maybe all the drama was making her crazy but she kind of liked talking to herself out here. It was refreshing to let all her feelings out without being judged. "It would be so much easier if you could just take a hint." The phone stopped ringing but she knew he would call back again.

"Things just have to be complicated, don't they," she said angrily as she snapped the rubberband on her wrist.

---

Craig sighed as he hung up again. Ellie wasn't answering his phone calls. Was she mad at him? What was so wrong about them being together? Did she feel the same? He wondered.

He knew that he shouldn't have kissed her but she had kissed him back. She had to have felt something; he knew she did. Now he didn't know what to do but he wasn't going to give up on her. Not now. Not when he was so close. He grabbed his coat and snuck out of the house. Joey would be mad if he found out but he didn't care.

She was worth it.

TBC