"...It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down..."
-Bonnie Tyler, "Heartache"

***

Dan

I could feel butterflies in my stomach as I rolled into PJ's driveway. I really didn't want to do what I was about to do, but I really had no other option. I slammed my car door shut and held back a frustrated scream.

"Cat? Cat, where are you?"

"Right here, Dan!" She fought her way through the crowd and greeted me with a kiss. "How are you?"

"I...um..." Feelings of guilt flooded my stomach. "I need to...I need to talk to you."

"Alright! Outside?"

I nodded and slowly walked out to the yard. The smell of cigarette smoke made me sick. I followed Cat out to the corner of the yard, away from the vomiting teenagers. "So, what'd you want to talk to me about?" She said happily, holding my hand.

"Cat, I..."

"What?" The smile on her face slowly began to fade away. "Danny, what's going on? Are you okay?"

"Cat..." I let go of her hand. "I'm really sorry."

Cat's smile fell. "What? Danny?"

"I...feel nothing but platonic feelings towards you." I could feel a single tear roll down my cheek. "I'm so so sorry."

I only saw Cat for a split second before I turned around and ran to my car. I drove to the edge of the street and sat in the driver's seat as I cried.

***

Well, I did it. I broke up with Cat, and I have never felt more guilty in my entire life.

Thinking back, did I really need to do that? Couldn't I have just pretending? Wouldn't that have been better than leaving her so upset?

I care about her so much...platonically, I mean. I don't want to see her hurting.

I heard a bark. Slamming my journal shut, I saw Bailey running towards me, her floppy ears in her eyes. She leaped up onto my bed and into my lap, her tail wagging excitedly. I couldn't help but smile as I stroked her fur, but I quickly remember what had occurred earlier. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I reopened my journal.

I wonder if we can still be friends. I don't know what I'm gonna do without her. She was a great person to be around, and I hope that me "dating" her didn't fuck that up.

As I wrote the words, a teardrop fell onto my paper and smeared them. I knew damn well that I had fucked up. I closed my journal and set it beside Bailey. There was no need to relive what happened. Sitting on the piano, I began to play.

"...Where are you?
And I'm so sorry
I cannot sleep I cannot dream tonight
I need somebody and always
This sick strange darkness
Comes creeping on so haunting every time
And as I stared I counted
The Webs from all the spiders
Catching things and eating their insides
Like indecision to call you
And hear your voice of treason
Will you come home and stop the pain tonight
Stop this pain tonight..."

***

A/N-I know these chapters are really short and I'm sorry.

Also I'm very aware that "I Miss You" came out in 2003, which is after the time setting of this story, but it was the perfect fit for the scenario, so I decided to use it anyway. Whoops.

Anyways, I'm mapping out the next few chapters and I think it's gonna be really...well, you'll wait and see.