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“Screw both of you.” I ran out of the kitchen. And I kept running until I reached my bedroom. I closed the door behind me and collapsed face first into my bed. My body shook with my tears.

I hadn’t slept with my teacher.

Jacob hadn’t called me a slut.

And yet I was grounded forever and wasn’t allowed to be with my boyfriend anymore? What the actual F?! I screamed into my pillow.

My phone started ringing. It was probably RJ. I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to him after the fight. And he knew who my kiss thief was. I rolled over and tried to answer my phone, but I couldn’t. Ugh. I grabbed my glasses from my pocket and slid them on. My phone unlocked and I saw Jacob’s name on my screen.

I quickly answered. “Jacob,” I sobbed. “My dad doesn’t believe me and he says I can’t see you anymore and that he’s going to call Uncle Matt and I’m going to be homeschooled...”

“Scarlett, everything is going to be okay. But I honestly can’t understand a word you’re saying.”

I laughed through my tears.

“How about you just let me in so we can talk?”

“What?”

There was a knocking noise.

“You’re here?” I tossed my glasses onto my nightstand and slid off my bed.

“Of course I’m here.”

I pushed open the trapdoor and smiled down at him through my tears.

“I needed to make sure my girlfriend was okay.” He climbed into my room and pulled me into his arms. He held me just like that as I cried. Until my body stopped shaking and the tears dried on my cheeks. “Now, can you please say everything you just said again?”

I laughed, but it caught weirdly in my throat. “My dad has banned me from seeing you. He thinks you called me a slut.”

“Yeah, I heard him and Mr. Halifax yelling that. Sophie explained what happened to me.”

I groaned.

“I’m sure we can figure out a way to explain it to him,” Jacob said.

“He’s not listening to anything I say. And he threatened to call Uncle Matt...”

Jacob’s phone started ringing. He pulled it out. “Seems like he probably already did that.” He showed me his screen. It said that Coach was calling. Jacob put his phone back in his pocket.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?”

“Nope. I’m a little busy.” He smiled.

“You’re acting all cool, calm, and collected right now, but I’m freaking out. My dad said he’s going to homeschool me and that I’m grounded for literally forever.”

“I’m sure he just needs a minute to cool down.”

“You don’t know my dad.”

Jacob laughed. “Actually, I do. And it’s going to be okay. I’ll explain everything to him tomorrow morning.”

I stared at him. “I don’t think you’re allowed into the apartment.”

He shrugged.

“I don’t think you’re understanding what I’m saying. We aren’t allowed to date anymore. My dad made himself very clear.”