Artemis:

I placed the yearbook down on the desk in my dorm room, or, as I better say, my suite. These were almost impossible to get, basically reserved for the best of the best, or the scholars who they wanted to bribe out of rushing so they wouldn't lose track of their studies. I was proud to have gotten this three bedroom, one bath, dorm room even if Annie wasn't. Annie had barely even taken the time to check it out because she wanted to get into a sorority and wasn't staying here. I knew that sororities weren't for me even though Annie had spent the last summer convincing me that I had to join with her. Zak started laughing at the idea of me in one, but that's not the reason I decided against it. Fine, my boyfriend laughing may have been a benefactor, but that isn't my point here.

I was signed up for some of the hardest courses the school has to offer. I don't have time for formals and drama. I'm here for the college, not the college life. Besides, what example would I be to my baby brother to be getting drunk and flirting with Frat boys? No, I'm not making fun on Sororities or anything for that matter, but it just isn't for me. To tell you the truth, that would probably end up happening. My boyfriend having a drinking problem isn't the only reason I stay away from drinks. It only takes like four drinks for me to get drunk. Anyway, I like the arrangement right now. Nikki isn't too far for me to drive over to see her. Zak's in the dorm beside mine. This is just the way I want it. I don't want to leave my sister, though. Over the last few years, we've barely spent any time apart. I don't know what I'd do without being able to run home and snuggle up to a blanket while Annie pops in 'When In Rome' after a bad day. It isn't just me. She's never been without me. She may never study if I don't bore her into it because she's got nothing else to do while I'm studying. Maybe I should go for Annie?

Wait, this is college. I don't need to take care of Annie. She wouldn't be stupid enough to lose her scholarship anyway. I don't need to give in anymore. I can do what I want, and I want to stay here. I turned back to the drab room. It may be nicer than all of the others, but that doesn't mean it's not dull. The grey room wasn't big but wasn't small. The walls were white, and a bare double bed sat awaiting me to make it. I'm guessing this used to be one of the married life rooms. People used to beg to get these rooms because there was so much young marriage, but that's recently declined. So, I got one of the rooms. In the corner of the room, by the door, a black desk with only my Senior Yearbook on it sat, awaiting long study nights. A cork board waited for me to pin up pictures, dates, and who knows what else. All of the bookcases and all were in the living room where nothing but a couch, black coffee table, and a fireplace from when heating wasn't too popular in this place sat. Two doors led off from there to the other bedrooms, one where Annie was just hiding her suitcase as she didn't want to stay here, the other empty.

I personally didn't find it fair for Annie to have claimed a room if she was sure she didn't want to stay. Our mystery roommate could be staying and may want that room. Annie did care though. She just wanted to get rush over with so she could start her new college life whereas mine started when I had to make Beck cry when I got on the plane. I looked at the brown boxes and grey suitcases. I started off with grey suitcase with the purple tag reading 'Clothes'. Until now, I wasn't even aware how much clothes I packed. I remembered leaving some things there as I would be going back eventually and may need the clothes. I had also managed to take the crammed clothes that meant something to me from the back of the closet and hang them where they deserved to be hung. The dress of when our parents got together and Annie won the art show, the dress I wore to my mom's wedding, the pajamas from when Zak kissed me for the first time, my prom dress, and a few others now proudly hung in my closet, awaiting my arrival back for me to look at them once again. It felt like that Zak was right when he said I had too much clothes as I managed to force the last of the dresses into the crammed closet.

"Arty, you have to see this one!" Annie ran in to see my packed closet, a bunch of boxes spread out everywhere, and the picture of me and Zak at prom sitting on my desk. The look on her face told me that she understood everything from this one glance, but she had to ask anyway.

"Why are you unpacking? You'll have to pack it all back up for Rush," Annie pointed out.

"Ann, I'm not rushing," I told her, trying to make it sound like I was declaring it, not like the little peep I managed to say. I shouldn't be feeling like this.

"But I thought you said you'd wait until we got here to decide?" Annie sat down on my bed, almost knocking off a box. Calling on the strength of my two best friends, Nikki and Zak, I sat down next to her. I sometimes wonder why they hang out with me. They're fearless, but I'm still scared. You'd think they'd go find some hardcore girl to take my place.

"Annie, we're here, and look around. We got the suite. I'm only a short walk away from my boyfriend. I'll be so busy with my classes that they may not even want me," I tried to convince her.

"But this is college. We're supposed to be having fun, and sororities are fun. And we have to go. Felicia and Lisa will think we're too goody goody if we don't," Annie seemed to be hyperventilating. Since when did her old girly friends matter at all to us? Wait, they're going to one of the biggest party schools in the county. Now that I think about it, Annie didn't really care until she went shopping with them before we left New York. After that, she went into Sorority overdrive, trying to tell me anything that might change my mind.

"Annie, do you seriously want that? You have to uphold a scholarship, train for swimming, and manage to have a little fun. Do you seriously have time to go to Sorority council meetings or do you even want to?" I asked.

"Well, I-I want to have fun and go crazy at a party and –"Annie couldn't find her words.

"Be like Felicia and Lisa?" I crossed my arms. I always hated those girls. They had the perfect hair, were on the cheerleading team, had some guy do their homework in exchange for making out with them behind the bleachers, about two or three boyfriends at a time, and were 'the girls'. No, I am not jealous. Why would you think that? Ugh, I don't want to be a, for lack of a G-Rated word, Harpy. I admit, I do wish I had Lisa's straight blonde hair, versus my crazy curls that just never comply with my wishes. If I want to straighten it, it goes poufy. If I want it curly, it goes straight, "Andromeda, you don't have to be in a Sorority for that. You can go crazy whenever you want without having to worry about Greek rules. If you really want to go, I'll understand, but the question is, do you?"

"I don't know," Annie's straight hair dipped down to fall into her green eyes, and she looked like only one thing could pick up her spirits: really hot guy. I thought about when I dropped by Zak's dorm with Nikki. Hadn't there been a particularly cute boy there that Nikki was probably imagining how hot he was shirtless. What? She and super-hot Gabe broke up a long time ago. Actually, I'm pretty sure they made out at prom. Then, the next day they called it quits. I had to admit, I had even thought about Zak's new roommate.

"Hey, do you want to go see Zak's hot roommate?" I asked with a smile. Well, Nikki would just have to go find her another guy to marvel at. I'll go take her to some club, and she'll be fine.

"How hot?" Annie asked slightly looking up by now.

"A Gabe."

Over the years, we have come along with a hotness meter. Let me explain.

Gabe: Athletic, Tall, A Face That Looks Like It Was Carved Out Of Marble, and Some Really Hot Abs

Carter: Sweet, Not Very Defined, Curly Hair, and Dark Eyes

Terrence: Self Confident, Player-ish, but fun to look at

I think there are a few more, but we use those the most. There used to be a 'ZAK', but it was too weird for me. It feels wrong for me to compare someone to my boyfriend. I don't know why, but it is. Annie's face perked up. One for Artemis, and zero for Lisa and Felicia. Take that. I would have done a little happy dance had Annie not been there. Eh, I'll just make out with Zak in celebration. Besides, he'll probably like that option better. I was about to motion for the door when we heard a knock at the door. Annie and I got from our comfortable positions to check the door.

"Annie and Artemis?" a pretty brunette asked. Her straight hair went just above her shoulder. A black headband held back her brown hair out of her eyes. Modern black glasses almost hid her deep brown eyes. She looked like she had been studying the manual, like I had all summer with Zak, and biting her lip the entire day. I knew her type, and I already liked her.

"I'm Arty," I smiled.

"I'm Megan," the brunette smiled. She had a warm smile, but it still looked nervous as if she hadn't used it much in high school. I managed to see a few acne scars on her right cheek. I knew she would be a good roommate right from the start.

"I'm Annie," Annie told her, probably still picturing how hot Zak's roommate really is.

XXXXXXXX

Megan sat at the couch, sorting through all her new books, some college most fiction. She was setting it in order of her classes. I took my phone out to look at it again to see that I had no messages. We had just gotten to college. What about Nikki, the decorator who always wants to fix up everything as dull is an evil word to her, or my superhot boyfriend who just finally got me away from my parents and brother? Shouldn't they be calling me like crazy? I then closed my bedroom door to go back to my room. I ended up hanging up curtains to hide the grey walls smudged with dirt and with putting up pictures of all my friends, and like twenty of my baby brother. Pathetically, I finally managed to make the bed with a purple comforter with lacey grey print on it. Thousands of pictures were hung on the wall above my bed where I had the aquamarine curtains parting for the bed. My grey, silicon covered laptop sat on my black desk. It looked like it had earned its title as my room, but I still missed my room back home. I missed the fact that Beck could just run into my room, and we could spend hours building card houses as he told me about Katrina. Wow, I got along way too well with this kid.

I grabbed my purse and my keys as I slipped through my bedroom door. Annie was going for a swim, and I was beyond bored. Nikki had dropped off my keys along with the car in my dorm room as she had gotten here a whole lot earlier than I did. Her dad had said his heartfelt goodbyes before having to go off to Peru. Her aunt cried but let her go, and her Cousin even flew in to see her even though she hated flying, especially since she was worried for her unborn baby. Nikki cried the entire drive up here, but she managed. Nikki had come up here two days before me, as I was supposed to, but I didn't tell my parents as they were taking the thought of the little time we had was hurting them.

As I opened the door, I managed to find a boy with high cheekbones, light green eyes, curly black hair, and a look of surprise. If I hadn't truly, like really loved Zak, I would have gone weak in the knees.

"Keep it going!" Nikki yelled at him. I moved away from the door frame. He groaned before lugging a box in. After him, Zak came in looking like he was going to die. I was too shocked to kiss him hello. Instead, I looked at the girl behind them. I had to admit, only she could pull her look off. Her once black hair was now bubblegum pink and cut to be short and spiky, and she wore a black pair of skinny jeans, a polka dot tee-shirt, a pair of black combat boots, and a look of bossiness.

"Sweetheart, I am so sorry I'm late. I know I'm a terrible a friend for letting you live like this," Nikki hugged me for a second before turning back to her slaves, err, the boys.

"And I'm a terrible boyfriend for letting your best friend do this to you," Zak kissed my cheek. I took a second. Okay, breathe, I'm good. Now, I'm good. I looked over at Megan who was now looking at the four of us.

"This is Nikki," I pointed to the crazy girl, "This is my boyfriend, Zak, and I'm pretty sure that he is Zak's roommate, Marco," I guessed.

"Close enough. I'm Marcus," Maracas shrugged. I looked at Megan. This has to be hard to take in. A guy, Marcus, who is so hot he looks like a god walks in carrying a box marked 'Decorating'. Following him, a hot punk, who happens to be my boyfriend, walks in, also lugging a similar box. Then a girl with pink hair is directing them, and they all know her roommate. Poor girl.

"Now, boys, get back to work. Go get the other boxes, and I'll supervise," Nikki ordered. They did not prompt into action which didn't surprise me. Nikki, probably knowing that she wouldn't end up with Marcus, snapped her fingers as she looked at the two boys. A fear registered in their eyes before they ran off to do as she said.

"What's up with your hair?" I asked looked at Nikki. I had always coveted my best friend's hair. When I first met her, she had red hair. Ever since then, she's died it a new color every year at the beginning of the school year. Personally, I always preferred red with her, but she still could pull off the crazy colors somehow.

"Don't you just love it? It'll make a sensation in class, don't ya think? I love it, but I'm considering dying it back to red. What do you think? Oh, what if I dye my hair red and get blue, purple, white, and pink streaks? Or should I just get a white streak in this one? Ugh, you are so lucky that you keep your hair so boringly natural," Nikki groaned. I tried not to let the insult get to me.

"Thanks," I sarcastically said under my breath as I put down my tote on the counter of the kitchenette. Nikki ignored my comment as she critically looked around the room. I tried not to notice how she looked at Megan. Nikki is nice, but she doesn't like… well, geeky people. When we were thirteen, she almost got killed by and got a scar from a monster who disguised himself as a geeky boy, who she developed a huge crush on. Ever since, she avoids them at all cost as if they were to blame for her first broken heart. Zak and I try to keep Nikki away from them because she keeps us away from people who think all skaters are stupid and high, which we're not. For crying out loud, I was valedictorian and Zak got second. Could a stupid, high person do that? I think not. Even if she didn't, it makes her happy, and she is our friend.

"Who are you?" Nikki unconcernedly asked Megan. It may sound rude to you, but it is a huge step up from screaming and storming away from them. So, I knew she was desperately trying, even if she was probably grinding her teeth as she turned away from Megan to look at the boxes.

"I'm Megan," Megan's voice was timid as if she could sense Nikki's frigid attitude. You'd have to be stupid not to.

"Megan's Psychiatry major," I pointed out, hoping it might just help, but it didn't. Nikki is an undecided, and so am I. Technically, we have to wait until next year to choose our majors, but most have secretly already done so.

"Oh, so you plan on talking to crazy people for the rest of your life?" Nikki tried to make it not sound mean, but even I knew it was impossible. Megan nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. I didn't know how to defuse the tension, and I hated not knowing things. So, my anger was also mixed into the atmosphere.

"I plan on helping people through their problems, which I suppose would fit into 'talking to crazy people for the rest of my life' as you put it," Megan looked down at the rest of her books.

Well, now, I have another reason to kiss my boyfriend. You know, I don't know what I'd do without him. No, I do. I would never had learned to skate, couldn't have gotten Beck to stop crying multiple times, would have gone crazy with all the drama in our school, and who knows what else. I would have been miserable. What if I hadn't taken him back after I found out he was drinking? I would have gone insane.

"This should be the last of it," Zak told Nikki as Marcus set his box down. It took all of my willpower not to kiss him.

"So, Nik, why are you forcing boys to bring boxes in my dorm, again?" I asked with my arms crossed. The only problem was that a playful smile gave away my cover.

"Dearest Art, you are great, but if I am to hang out with you here, this place has to be…" Nikki's pink lips tried to find the right word.

"Dramatically redecorated?" I guessed with a roll of my eyes. Nikki's face lit up as she thanked me before going back into her little speech, obviously missing the eye roll. The door swung open to show a frustrated Annie.

"Artemis, where is my phone? It's not in my purse, and I didn't leave it in New York. Ugh, if Charlie came down here to get my phone, I'm going to kill him. Beck is supposed to be sending us a picture of his first day, and Will even promised he wouldn't do a prank. And I lost my-!" Annie was cut off from yelling and searching everywhere for her phone by seeing Marcus. I have to admit that the two were both speechless. Zak stepped forward to stand beside me as he saw that his roommate was a little preoccupied. Megan, I guess feeling uncomfortable, got up with an armful of books to take to her room

"Annie and Marcus sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Zak whispered in my ear. I couldn't hold back a laugh, but Annie and Marcus didn't seem to notice.

"Should I break them out of it?" I whispered back at him. Zak wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I tried to keep away a smile.

"Fine," Zak groaned.

"Annie, I think I saw your phone in your room," I let my voice be audible to more than just Zak.

"Oh yeah. Uh, thanks, Arty," Annie still seemed fazed as she walked into her room. I leaned deeper into Zak letting him know that just because they were done staring at each other didn't mean I wanted him to let go of me. He seemed to understand as he gripped me tighter.

"So, Will promised not to pull any pranks?" Zak asked me.

"Katrina told him that she would tell everyone in class that he had 'cooties' if he didn't," I would have shrugged had his arm not been around me.

"How's Katrina? She was just so cute. I cannot wait until they end up together. Hopefully, it won't take as long as you did," Nikki rolled her black eyes. Looking at her now, I couldn't believe that she was the same girl I met at camp so many years ago. When I first saw her, she was wearing a button-up blouse, orange hair braided behind her back, a black pleated skirt, matching knee socks, a black blazer with the sign of 'Clarion School For Girls', where we both went to the day classes. A monster attacked and a satyr brought us to Camp Half-Blood along with Zak. The next time I saw her after I blacked out after a hard hit to my head she was still wearing a ripped up, pink long sleeve top from where she ran the monster, a pair of grey shorts, and white Nikes. Now, she looked like the girl she was all along, a wild little girl who has the brain of a geek and the personality of a hardcore partier. I couldn't help but want to drag her to the salon, give her extensions, and dye her hair back to the original orange.

"It only took-"I started off, "Wait, how long were we just friends?" I asked turning to Zak.

"Let me see. We were fifteen, and we met when we were about nine. So, six years or so," Zak shrugged.

"You guys were best friends for six years?" Marcus asked us.

"Yes, we spent six years of our lives with him breaking me apart from any guy I ever liked, me hating his girlfriend, my baby brother almost begging us to go out, and of course my step father giving him glares anytime we left the apartment together," I answered.

"Ugh, now I miss Becky," Nikki complained as she cut open the box with a celestial bronze knife. I had absolutely no idea how it went through, but I know it did. I tried not to ponder that as I thought of Beck. I missed him like crazy. We all did. Me mostly, but we all did.

I heard the ring of my sister's cell phone. I knew the ring anywhere as it was "1 2 3 4" by Plain White T's, and we had listened to the song about a million times when we were younger. Zak and I didn't even have to look at each other to set off the race. I raced out of his embrace towards my room where I'm guessing it fell out of her pocket while we were talking with him dangerously behind me. I slammed the door behind me, hoping that he wasn't too close to squeeze in before I closed it. After the door slammed into his nose, he pushed right back open, but it was too late. I won.

"Beck-A-Dee!" I exclaimed into the phone. Zak tried to reach the phone away from me. Instead, I snapped away his hand as Beck answered me.

"Arty!" his laugh was innocent and sweet. I wondered if I had sounded that way. I even wondered if Zak had been that way. When I met him, he was scared and worried for his life. He had seen too much, and he wouldn't ever be like that again. I

"Oh, Sweetie, I miss you so much. Annie can't come to the phone, but how was your first day of school? How was Katrina?" I asked him making sure I mentioned Kat in some little way. I knew he was totally head over heels for her, even if he would never admit it to me. I know how it feels. So, I'm trying to help him even though I know he doesn't want my help, just as I never wanted Annie's help.

"It was good. Kat seems fine. Will didn't pull any pranks this time. My teacher is really nice," Becky told me. He paused before continuing, "Is Zak there?"

"Becky, Zak-Attack is a little busy, but I'll make sure he calls you because you know what I'll do to him if he doesn't," I managed to see Zak almost let out a groan, and he quickly got away. Oh come on, all I do is ignore him completely for a few days and slap him a few times. It isn't that bad. Or at least, that's what I usually do. There are certain circumstances where things are different, but that's another point.

"How are you?" Beck asked me.

"Tired. Missing you, Mom, and Dad. Hey, how are Charlie and Avery? They haven't done anything bad yet, have they?" I asked hopefully. I love those kids. I really do, but they're pretty mischievous. And I've seen a direct product of Hades. I'm not so sure how Hades and Athena mix? Smart and evil? Oh gods, take care of them.

"Everything is great. Well, Charlie accidentally brought a few skeletons up. It's fine though. Everyone keeps saying it was just a small earthquake, and Charlie sent them all back," Charlie tried to reassure me. I nodded as I knew they were like brothers, not just cousins. I saw Annie walk back in.

"Well, tell them I said hi, okay? I love you, Beck-A-Dee. Here's Annie," I handed Annie the phone. Annie smiled as I'm sure Beck started talking to her.

"Zak is busy?" Zak crossed his arms. I tried not to look into his blue eyes. Instead, I just shrugged.

"My brother, not yours," I pointed out. Zak rolled his eyes.

"Fine. How are my niece and nephew?" Zak just asked me instead of continuing this deep into a fight. I thought of a way to tell him about the earthquake without Marcus having to know about how he actually can cause earthquakes. Let me tell you, it was tricky. I couldn't use the code words without Marcus asking what that meant or thinking I was crazy. I also had to phrase it to where he couldn't find any way to see it as me criticizing Charlie, as he was my cousin as well.

"Avery is wonderful. Charlie, on the other hand, is just like his Uncle Zak," I think it was a good way to put it as I could then explain it to him later. Marcus looked like he was about to laugh that I just insulted my boyfriend, and Zak didn't even seem to notice. He was used to it. I looked over at Nikki who happened to be in full decorating mode. Deciding she would be a while, I plopped down on the couch. I started to wonder what Beck would be telling Annie or if they had already hung up and she was just thinking of Marcus. Tell my boyfriend I ever, I repeat ever, said this you are not just dead but confined to Tartus. Marcus is like insanely hot.

Okay, good. I've gotten that out of my system. Now, I can think of something else, like….. what else is there? Oh, I could think about how I beat out Marnie with getting Zak. Nah. What about….? I have got to get a life.

"Move over," Zak told me. Part of me wanted to stretch out farther, but that wasn't the very bored part of me. I moved my legs to sit erect just as Zak had asked. I hope he knows that this isn't always going to happen as I have earned a reputation of getting what I want back at camp.

"Wait a minute, you didn't pout or anything. I think we're making progress," Zak joked as he sat down on the couch. I took an Ugg-clad foot and kicked his leg. He just smiled. Oh, right, he's wearing thick jeans. Wait, someone could have warned me! Ugh, and I thought you liked me. Humph, this teaches me better.

"Shut up," I mumbled.

"Still missing Becky?" Zak asked me.

"Zak, not everything is about my little brother," I turned to him.

"Really missing him?" Zak asked again.

"Insanely," I sighed. Why did Zak have to be right? It's just not fair. Then again, I'm usually right, too. I guess it is kind of fair when you really think about it, but wait, what am I saying? I am supposed to be mad, not in a way protecting my boyfriend.

"It'll be okay. I'm sure Beck misses you, too," Zak tried to comfort me, even though it really didn't help. So, is Becky missing me as much as I'm missing him? That's a terrible thought. How could Zak think that would help me at all?

"Not helping, Zachary. Artemis, you and Beck will get along even better when you see each other next. You helped raise the little booger. Even if your boyfriend isn't good with comforting," Nikki hit Zak's head, "You still have me and Annie."

Annie:

I tied my soaking wet hair into a high ponytail. I tried to concentrate on the fact that I needed to get back to the dorm, but I couldn't. All I could think about was him. One look and I can't think of anything but him. I thought I loved Joel. In a few more months, he'll be here just as I dreamed, but I don't know anymore. For crying out loud, I can barely even walk home because of him.

Joel is perfect for me. I've known him for years. What else would I need? But Marcus…Marcus is exciting. Marcus is, well, like insanely hot. What am I doing? I don't even know Marcus. What if he is terrible for me?

But when I looked at him, I just kind of knew. I knew that right there I wouldn't be able to live without him. What am I saying? I don't know him.

Feeling helpless, I turned my walk into a run. I hate this. Guys have never been a problem for me. I like them or I don't. It's always been this easy. It's never made me sick to my stomach with fear and happiness. It definitely never has made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. What is this? I've never felt like this, and I never want to again. I thought I knew everything about guys and relationships. This is my domain. I feel as if someone has wrenched away my title and left me out in the cold. I hate it. I hate it. The next thing I knew, I was almost sent sprawling into the ground by running into Arty.

"Anne, are you okay?" Artemis asked. I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Sorry, just a little jumpy," then I saw him. Marcus was standing beside Artemis and looking at me with those beautiful brown eyes. I felt self-conscious as I noticed it. Yeah, I completely hate this, "Actually, I better get going," I started to walk past them both. I decided against running as I didn't want them to think I was trying to get away, even though I was. Well, there is no point that they should know that.

"Hey, Annie," Artemis ran up to walk beside me. I found myself praying that Marcus wouldn't follow her example, "What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" I tried to act nonchalant, but I don't think I did very well. No, I know I didn't because Arty was now looking at me and had stopped in the middle of a sidewalk, which is something she never does.

"You totally like Marcus," Artemis smiled.

"What? No, why would you think that? No, no, I don't," I tried. I didn't even buy it, but it was true. I hate him. He has made me crazy, and worried, and I have been reduced to having been stuck thinking about him for the last two days. Classes start in three days, and I don't think I can keep up a scholarship feeling like this.

"You so do," Artemis giddily smiled.

"Can we not talk about this in the middle of the sidewalk?" I hissed. Artemis just rolled her eyes and dragged me to sit on a bench. Well, it was still near the sidewalk, but it did have a little more privacy.

"Happy now? Now, what's your problem? You've been head over heels for hundreds of guys. What's so different this time?" Artemis asked like the protectively sweet sister she was, even though I'm pretty sure she thinks she is the eldest as that's how she acts.

"Because it is different. I've never felt like this. I want to kill him and be around him all at the same time. I feel like laughing and crying. He makes me feel sick to my stomach and want to run a marathon. What's happening?" I felt like crying. This isn't fair. It just isn't.

"Annie, you've seriously never felt like this?" Artemis looked like she was going to laugh. I wanted to slap her right there, but I was too busy keeping the tears at bay. I turned to look at her. She had felt this way? Then she knows what it is and how to get rid of it.

"What is it, Artty? How do I get rid of it?" I asked hopefully.

"Annie, you can't get rid of it," Annie tried not to laugh, "I thought you said you loved Joel."

"I did. I mean, I do."

"No, Annie, you didn't. All of this is love. I've been going through it for a year. I can assure you, I've tried to get rid of it, but you cant. Sorry, honey, but you're in love with Marcus," Artemis smiled.

No, I couldn't. I love Joel. I don't know Marcus. I don't. So, I can't love him, right? It's physically impossible. It is.

But now, I just want to see him. I don't want to be anywhere but with him. This has got to stop.

Oh my gods. I love Marcus.