"I really love you, Arnold," Ashley sighed blissfully as they watched the sunset together after another make-out session. Arnold tensed when she said this and looked away. An awkward silence followed and he cleared his throat as he felt her gaze on him. He knew she expected him to reply with an 'I love you too', but he just couldn't.

"Well?" She asked unsure, loosening his grip on her waist as she made a little space between them.

"Um, thanks," Arnold shrugged, still avoiding her eyes.

"That's all? Arnold, we've been dating over four months – do you still JUST like me?" She asked.

"No," Arnold said quietly.

"You love me, then?" Ashley asked; a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she tried searching for his hidden eyes again.

"No!" Arnold said too quickly. He realized his impulsive mistake as he saw her hurt expression and back paddled, "I mean… Just give me some time. You know I don't really do love, baby," Arnold grunted, feeling confused.

"Yet here we are after four months," She pressed, looking sarcastically thoughtful.

"Yes, but," Arnold paused, trying to find the right words. After failing he settled for, "I'm really trying…" He sighed. This brunette girl next to him was serious – he was too, of course, he really, really, REALLY wanted to give her his heart, but he just couldn't. He just couldn't afford yet another heartbreak.

First it was his parents, Lila, then Ruth, Helga left after that, and finally his grandparents died – first his grandmother, then his grandfather, a sign of true love. Everyone he ever loved had left him and stolen from his heart. Out of everyone who had hurt him, Helga had hurt him the most. Not her bullying, he had gotten over that. But the day she left, he almost gave up on love, hope, trust and the bright side of everything.

Then a year after that, his grandmother had gotten sick – she was on her deathbed. Two short hours after she had passed away, his grandfather's heart stopped beating. That night Arnold considered suicide. It was the lowest point in Arnold Shortman's life. Alas, his wound had gotten better over the years, but it never truly healed. He started dating again. But the second that the girl expected him to love her; he dumped her, scared that she would also hurt him. So he stopped things before they ever could. This led to Hillwood High's pupils deciding that he was unbelievably hot, smart, calm, and a total heartbreaker. Sure, this lead to a very lonely life, but he was used to it, and he had all his friends and Gerald at his side.

She rolled her eyes, "Come on, just say it. Then you'll have permission to roam my body… naked… you can do whatever you want to!" She grinned and licked his cheek.

He distanced himself farther away from her, feeling utterly disgusted. The gossipers could believe what they want, but Arnold still had his moral values. He didn't at all believe in sex before marriage, as his grandfather had taught him to. "You know what, Ashley? Thank you."

"For?" She asked innocently. He stood up and she followed suit.

"Showing me that we're just… not gonna work out." He chuckled at looked her in the eyes for the first time. She had the expected facial expressions. Hurt… shock… anger... yep, everything was there. "Sorry, Ashley, but we're over," He braced himself for what was about to happen. He closed his eyes as he felt the all too familiar sting of a female's hand crash into his cheek as she slapped him – hard. He grunted and reached for his cheek. That hurt like hell, he decided, a little amused. He opened his eyes again to find her wailing in tears. He rolled his eyes. He left before he cracked and gave her a hug, assuring her that everything would be alright, that this was, in fact, not the end of the world. He hated it when girls cried in front of him, he just couldn't stand it. As he climbed onto his motorcycle and raced off, he prayed that she wouldn't be following him. He would have to avoid her for a few weeks. He should've felt a little bad that his relationship was over, but he felt rather relieved that his heart was still beating – a sign that it was not broken.