A/N:For those of you who are still reading, thank you. I apologize for the long delay. I never meant for this story to take two years to write, but I wanted to finish it eventually. Next chapter will be the last chapter of the story! Review if you'd like, your thoughts are always welcome :)

Selena's POV

One Month Later

I wish I could say that things between Demi and I had miraculously resolved since the incident in Paris, but unfortunately, they hadn't. Things had actually gotten a lot worse.

Since our break up, I haven't had a single day or even a single hour when I'm not thinking about that mistake. I had promised her that I would risk it, that being with her was worth it, but when it came down to the wire, things weren't as easy as we'd thought they'd be.

It was crazy how quickly things had gone from perfect to absolutely horrible. One second I was on cloud nine and the next I was doing the one thing I never thought I'd have to do. Maybe breaking up with her was the right thing to do, maybe it wasn't, but what I knew was that I had really handled things the wrong way. I could have fought for her, or hell, I could have stood up for us.

After Miley and Demi left my room that night, I felt myself fall into a state of depression. I didn't sleep at all; instead I tossed and turned all night. I kept repeating the scene in my head. I wanted it to be some twisted dream that I could just wake up from.

Paris was supposed to be special, it was supposed to be three of the best days of my life. Not only was I finally visiting one of my favorite cities, but I was doing so with someone I really cared about. She made everything about that trip worthwhile. I had been planning our date since before we left the States. Getting caught by Miley turned everything upside down. I hadn't felt so useless since my divorce with Justin.

The last couple days in France have since become a blur. I try to think back to those two weeks in Europe but all I see is the distraught look on Demi's face when I broke up with her. To make matters worse, it's been a little over a month since we've spoken. I've tried so hard to talk to her since the incident, but she's ignored me each and every time.

The first two weeks after we returned were hard, especially since I couldn't see her at all. The last of winter break felt like time stood still and I was in a war with my own thoughts. All texts and calls to Demi had gone unanswered, and every thought of visiting her was quickly erased. I couldn't muster the courage to go see her nor could I come up with a reason for me, her teacher, to show up at her step in the middle of the holidays.

Once class started back up, things went from bad to worse. For the first week, Demi came to class and just kept to herself. I knew better than to try and talk to her afterwards, especially since I could tell that she didn't want to talk to me. It took everything in me not to say something, to just apologize then and there. Even if I tried, she wouldn't want to hear it.

For those five days that she came to class, something seemed off about her, like she was slowly giving up. To say I was worried about her was an understatement. Up until our break up, Demi had dealt with her fair share of problems. I know that the bullying and the fight with her mother had broken her and she was honestly hanging by a thread. She was fragile even if she tried so hard to seem strong.

Now that I was to blame for this, who was she going to turn to for help? I was the one who was supposed to be there for her but yet I was the reason she was suffering.

Demi only came to school for five days after winter break ended, and since then she's missed an entire week. The first two days I didn't try to think much of it, I thought she might want the rest. But as the week came to a close, I knew she wasn't coming back. Not unless I tried to talk to her. I needed to find a way to see her, to make sure she's okay.

What was worse about her missing from school, was knowing how important today is for her. The thought of Demi spending her eighteenth birthday alone and depressed made me almost teary eyed. And I, I am to blame for it.

All these thoughts about Demi had been harboring in my mind all day. I had barely made it through her French class without calling it quits and just leaving to find her. I spent my off period alone in my classroom, as miserable as I had been the past month. The only reason I managed to leave my room was because I needed to make copies for my final class.

As I return to my classroom from the office, I am interrupted from my thoughts as I near a group of four girls who are gathered by the lockers. Neither of them looked familiar, but upon hearing Demi's name being whispered between them, I was intrigued. I probably wouldn't have noticed them if it wasn't for the topic of their conversation.

"I heard she went crazy and had to be institutionalized," said a tall, blonde girl who had her back turned away from me. She was facing the three other girls who stood with her.

"Come on, Jana, you can't say you didn't see that one coming," said the smallest of the four, a petite brunette with a long ponytail.

"Guys that sounds a little overboard, don't you think?" Another blonde girl spoke. She looked a little uncomfortable with the situation but didn't really make any attempts to change the conversation.

"Don't tell me you don't think it's believable?" Jana, who I had quickly gathered to be the tall blonde, spoke again.

"She's probably just sick," the second blonde girl replied in defense. It was nice to see someone else stick up for Demi.

"Yeah," Jana giggled to herself before pointing to her skull. "Sick in the head. She's fucking nuts."

"Did you see her last week?" the petite brunette interjected. "She looked like she was going to blow up the school."

I swallowed hard. I couldn't keep listening to these students bash my girlfriend. Well, ex-girlfriend.

"Do you girls plan on getting to class?" I ask with a harsh tone. All four girls look up at me with confused looks.

"Oh! We totally didn't hear it," Jana spoke for the group. "Sorry miss!"

The girls waste no time in making their way down the hall and disappearing completely. I used what little energy I have left in me to return to my classroom just in time to begin my last class of the day.

Fortunately for me, I didn't have to lecture much for this class since I had prepared an assignment for them to complete. I had strategically planned their task to take all class period, that way I wouldn't have to deal with standing in front of them and risking a breakdown.

As I distributed the papers to my students, an idea came to my mind. The only way I could see Demi was if I went to visit her. But how could I, her teacher, show up at her house in the middle of the day without causing any speculation? The answer was right in front of me: Demi's assignments.

As soon as the final bell rang, I was up and ready to go. I didn't bother to stick around for any students who might need to see me after school. Part of me felt bad for leaving so quickly, but I was dying to see Demi, I couldn't really wait any longer. I needed to know that she was alright, that she was safe.

The conversation between those girls made it's way back into my head as I drove the short distance from campus to Demi's. While our break up was my main concern, the thought of Demi dealing with all this bullying was starting to worry me. Had she left school because of me or because she couldn't take the way these students talked about her?

I knew that everything they had said was speculation, just pathetic high school gossip. But it bothered me the way they would talk about her, as if she had ever done anything to them.

"Just my luck," I mutter to myself as I park my car in front of Demi's house. I noticed a single black car parked in the driveway but not hers. Was she even here? Or did she leave her parents too?

"May I help you?" Eddie, Demi's stepdad asks after I exit my car and walk up to the pathway that leads to the front door. I didn't notice him exit the house while I was parking.

He walked down the pathway and met me at the end of the sidewalk. He was pulling a suitcase with him, bearing a semi-panicked look.

"Yes, I'm Demi's French teach-" I start to say.

"Ah yes, Miss Russo, correct?" He asks and I nod. "I remember meeting you at the airport."

"I wanted to bring Demi's assignments," I point to the stack of my papers in my arms, mentally thanking myself for taking them out of the car.

"She's upstairs in her room," Eddie tells me before panicked look turns into a more pained one. "She hasn't come out side last Friday. I… We… My wife and I aren't sure what's going on with her."

Eddie took a deep breath and looked down at the grown. "She hardly eats, she won't talk to us. Even before the accident she-"

"Accident?" I question. I could feel my heart almost beating out of my chest at the mention of the word. Does he think something happened in Europe? "Is she okay?" I ask, trying to sound less freaked out.

"She's fine," Eddie shakes his head. "You're welcome to go upstairs and drop off whatever papers you have for her."

"I apologize for disturbing," I admit. "I just wanted to make sure she got this."

"I appreciate you coming by to drop off her work. I have a flight to catch and her mom's been busy with work," he sighs. "Neither of us had a chance to run to the school."

"I should get going before I miss this flight," he admits as he checks his watch. "Please feel free to visit Demi, she's in the first room to the left."

"Thank you," I say with sincerity as Eddie steps aside to let me walk up towards the front door.

I felt a sudden rush of nerves as I walked into the living room of Demi's house. I had been here once before, but the place felt knew to me.

"Demi?" I asked semi-loudly as I walked up the set of stairs. I got no answer from her so I continued up until I reached the top of the stairs.

"Dem?" I asked again before lightly tapping on her bedroom door. When she didn't answer, I grabbed the doorknob and slowly opened her door.

Her room was dimly lit by the sunlight that peered from her window. I could make her out in the center of bed, wrapped to the top in her blankets. She looked peaceful sleeping; I couldn't bear to wake her.

I noticed her desk underneath the window and settled on just leaving the stack of papers upon it. If she woke and saw them, maybe she'd realize I had been here. Prior to arriving I had contemplated writing her a letter to stick with her assignments, but the risk of her parents finding it and reading it kept me from it.

"What are you doing here?" Demi asks as I set the papers down on top of her desk. I could have sworn she was asleep.

"I wanted to bring you your missed work and I know it's your-" I tried to explain but I was interrupted before I could finish.

"Forget it, I don't care," she let out. Her voice sounded shaky as she spoke.

"Demi," I sighed. "Can we please talk?"

"Please leave or I'll tell my dad." She warned.

"He just left," I admit. "But okay."

I start to walk toward the door but suddenly I hear Demi sniffle. I turn my head to find her with her head in her hands, crying. Out of complete instinct and without a single thought, I turn completely towards her and make my way to her bed. I bring her in my arms and try to hold her as she cries.

"Go away," she pushes me off softly. When I don't budge she tries again, only harder this time.

"Demi," I try. "Please let me explain."

"You don't have to explain anything, Selena. I'm not your girlfriend anymore."

"I had no choice, Dem." I admit as I drop my hands from around her. She had pushed me off enough for me to get the hint. I let my hands rest on my lap as I sighed.

"You said you would risk it." She says, her voice sounding very shaky. I looked up to find her trying to wipe away her tears. "For me, for us."

"I know and I hate myself for breaking up with you. I want to take it all back but..." I trailed off.

"But what?"

"But we can't keep doing what we were doing. I'm not going to lie I spent the last three weeks worried sick about you. I just wanted to make things right but the only thing that I know is right is to give us a break. We needed a break. You don't understand the damage that can come from us getting exposed." I continued. "If Miley goes to someone with that information..."

"I get it, okay, I wasn't worth losing your job." She says. I could tell that it took everything in her not to cry but the tears started to slowly fall down her cheek.

"Please listen," I admit as I reach up to wipe away one of her tears. I knew she didn't really want me touching her, but trying to comfort her was almost second nature by now. "It stopped being about my job the day I realized I was in love with you."

Demi smiled softly but it was quickly replaced by a frown. "If I get caught with you," I shake my head at the thought. "It means losing you completely."

"You said it yourself," she looks up at me. "You can't get in trouble for being with me. We never..." She starts and then looks down at her hands. "We never had sex."

"It's not about the sex. It's about me being a teacher having a relationship with a student. People would want me out of this town and your parents would keep you from me. I would never see you again." I pout. "It's the rational thing to do. I was too caught up falling for you to realize how risky it all is. I don't want to lose you."

"So this is it?" she pushes my hands away from her face and sits back a little, wincing in pain as she does so. She brings one hand over to her right ribcage and sighs audibly. "We're done for good?"

"Dem," I say quietly. "What's going on? Why are you in so much pain?"

I didn't mean to interrupt her and ignore her question, but the sight of her shuddering in pain had reminded me of what Eddie mentioned.

"Because you broke up with me," she cries. "Isn't it obvious?"

"No, I get that but I mean physical pain," I bring my hand up to feel her ribs and she winces again. "What happened?"

"I got in a car accident last Friday," she shrugs. "It's nothing, I just wrecked my car but I'm fine."

"You don't look fine. Have you been to a doctor? You look like you're in-" I was going into worry mode as I tried to examine her.

"Stop, Selena." Demi demanded as she pushed my hand away. "You don't get to worry about me anymore. Stop fucking worrying about me."

"I'm fine. I went to the doctor and he told me to rest." She finally adds.

"This isn't it," I admit to her in reference to the question she had asked me earlier.

"What are you talking about?" she asks with a confused look on her face.

"This isn't the end for us," I begin to explain. " But we can't see each other. Not now, at least. And I do have a right to worry about you, Demi, I love you."

"Don't say that, please." She shakes her head. "It's already hard enough knowing you don't want to be with me."

"That's the thing, Dem, I do… I do want to be with you it's just we can't right now." I straightened myself up before I continued. "If we can just hold off until you graduate then we're going to be okay."

"I can't wait that long I want to be with you now," she cries. "Why can't you be with me now?"

"Because I'd rather wait for you than lose you completely," I admit, looking up into her brown eyes as I speak. "I'd be damned if I lost you, Demi."

"I'm an impatient person," she states.

"Four months aren't that long, you know," I remind her. "They'll go by fast, especially since you're a senior. Before you know it you'll be getting your acceptance letters and then there's prom and then grad-"I continue before she interrupts me.

"Prom?" she says softly then looks away. "I don't want to go to prom."

"Why not?" I ask her. She looks down at her hands and then back up at me, silently answering my question. "Because you can't go with me?"

"No one will want me there anyway," she admits.

"We can have our own prom," I state, thinking out loud.

"We can?" she asks.

"If you can hold off for the next few months then yes," I breathe in deeply. "We can."

"Four months, huh?" she asks rhetorically.

"Four months," I nod.

The two of us sit there silently as Demi fidgets with her hands and I watch her intently. I was glad that we had settled this and that she understood how important waiting is. But something was still bugging her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I ask her with a small laugh.

"Sel, can I ask you something?" she asks, looking up at me with concern.

"Anything," I admit.

"Do you think we would have... You know... If Miley hadn't-" she looks nervous as she asks.

"Yes." I interrupt. I knew where she was going with that question.

"You didn't let me finish." she sighed.

"You don't have to," I tell her. "I know what you were going to ask and the answer is yes. I mean, you wanted to right?"

"I really wanted to."

"Then yes, I would have done whatever you wanted me to do."

"Sel." She sighs. "Do you know what today is?"

"It's your birthday." I admit.

"You remember?"

"It's part of why I came." I tell her. "I wanted to see you and wish you happy birthday."

"You know what the only thing I want for my birthday is?"

"No, baby, what is it?" I let the baby slip. It just came naturally.

"I want you."

"Dem," I sighed. "We just went over it. If we can hold off on dating for the next four months..."

Demi leaned up and pressed her lips on mine, interrupting me. As much as I liked feeling her lips on mine, I needed her to not do that. "I got that. Trust me, I got it. But that's not what I meant."

I looked at her a little dumbfounded. "Then I'm not sure what you're..." My eyes widen as it starts to make sense.

"I want you." She repeats. She brings her hand up to my lips when she notices I'm about to speak. "I know that we can't be together until I graduate and I get it but no one will have to know. I'm 18 as off today."

"It takes us back to square one." I shake my head. "It won't be about sleeping with a minor but sleeping with my student."

"No one would really know," she says.

"Dem, it's not just about someone finding out." I admit as I search for her eyes. I wanted her to listen and understand what I was trying to get to. "Sex can make things complicated."

"You love me?" She asks and I nod. "And I love you so what's so complicated about it?"

"For one we just decided that we're not going to date until you graduate. So what, this would be a one night stand? I just become your fuck buddy?" I admit. She looks at me and then shakes her head. "Secondly, once we have sex things change."

"How?"

"Wait," I pull back. Demi had talked about being with other people before and it never occurred to me that she might still be a virgin. "You've never... Right?"

"No," she admits, turning a shade of light pink.

"If we didn't have feelings for each other then sex would just be sex, it'd be meaningless." I start. "But giving yourself to me like that, it's something special. I don't want our first time to be when we're not even together."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, Demi. I promise that when you graduate and the time is right, we'll get to it."

"I just want to be with you," she sighs.

"You will, Dem." I promise. "Just give it time."