Flashes of my parents kept entering my mind. I knew they would want me focusing on school, but I couldn't. Even though I had homework to finish, an essay to start, and newspaper deadlines to meet, I just didn't have the heart to do it all. I'd rather hole myself up in my room and listen to music while ignoring the boxes I still needed to unpack and ignoring my end of semester responsibilities. Jacob was on my arm, babbling about an exam as he walked me to my journalism class. I offered my opinion here and there because I was only half listening. My mind wasn't where it needed to be. Or maybe it was. I wasn't sure. We stopped walking once we reached the door for my newspaper class and Jacob faced me. "Listen," he said, his brown eyes sparkling. "I really want you to go to that party with me tonight. I won't even drink. I'll let you do your thing and wind down and I'll make sure you get home safe." My mind was stuck on the word home. I chewed on my lip, trying to figure out how to decline. "I don't know, Jake. I don't think my aunt would want me out late." How could I go to a party when my parents funerals were just last week? There's a look of disappointment on his face, but he lifted my chin up. "I just want you to have some fun. You know, with everything that's happened...I just want you to have a good time." I appreciated where he was coming from. He was a giver and I never understood how I got so lucky with him. He always made sure I was okay and even more so now. "I know. I just don't think I'm ready to start going out yet. Plus, I have a million assignments I need to catch up on and there's still some unpacking I have to do..." He took my wrist in his hand and stared at my tattoo. He traced the heart and infinity symbol with his fingers then brought it up to his lips for a kiss. "I'm glad we got these together," he said. "I understand, babe. If you don't mind, I'm gonna go tonight. This exam has me stressed the hell out and I'd rather let loose than study." Typical Jacob. Procrastinating and then hating himself for it later on. "Yeah, go ahead," I said instead of trying to argue with him. One of the things I had to learn to live with about him is his ignorance to his responsibilities. His priorities were a little twisted, but I couldn't change his habits. Remembering the first time I saw Jacob, I felt butterflies in my stomach. We ended up with a few classes together freshman year. He was kind of annoying when I first started to get to know him, but he eventually grew on me and everyone seemed to want us to be together. When he asked me to be his girlfriend after one of his soccer games I immediately said yes and haven't looked back since. The bell rang, bringing me back to reality. He raised his eyebrows before kissing my forehead. "I'll see you after school," he said as he turned and jogged down the hallway to his class. I rushed into class and took my seat. As Mrs. Thomas was talking, I stared at my tattoo and traced over it just as Jacob had done. My parents were pissed beyond belief when they found out I got matching tattoos with him. They wouldn't let me see him for a whole month. I never told Jacob, but I kind of regretted getting the tattoo. Jacob proposed the idea for our two-year anniversary at the beginning of the school year and I jumped on it mostly because I wanted a tattoo just to say I had one. It wasn't like we got our names on each other's bodies. He had the same infinity-heart symbol on his forearm. My parents eventually forgave me and Jacob and I could see him again. They grew to really like him once he started coming over for dinner more often. I even introduced him to my aunt Jade and my grandparents. My mom liked Jacob simply because he made me happy. She also liked the fact that he was a captain on the soccer team and made relatively good grades. My dad liked him just as long as he didn't hurt me. Jacob's family had accepted me also, so it seemed perfect. I tried my best to picture my future with Jacob. It was hard to picture other things about my future, especially since my parent's accident. Nothing seemed forever now. I didn't want to imagine what their final moments were like. If they said anything to each other, or if they thought about me, or my aunt, or if they even had time to think or say anything. Forcing myself to stop thinking about it was a little more difficult than usual. After school, I met Jacob in the parking lot at his truck, just like we did every afternoon. When Jacob parked in front of the steps of my aunt's apartment, he smiled at me. "I love you," he said. "I love you too." I slid over and kissed him before I stepped out and ran up the stairs. The unpacked boxes in my room were enough to make me break down. Monday morning my aunt Jade was sick and took the day off, which turned out to be a good thing because Jacob wasn't answering his phone about picking me up to take me to school. He'd hardly talked to me over the weekend. I hoped he was okay. My aunt Jade pulled onto the school's campus and stops at the front. Her nose was bright pink, something that hadn't gone away since the accident, and her short brown hair was pulled back into a messy pony tail. "I promise you'll get a car soon. I know it isn't exactly cool to have to be dropped off by your aunt." "I don't mind, really," I reassured her. "Don't worry about this afternoon. I'm sure Jacob will be here." "You got it, girlie." She leaned over and hugged me. "Have a good day." As soon as I walked into the main building, the atmosphere didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it, but everyone seemed quiet, like they were waiting for something to happen. School was ending in a week, maybe that was the cause. I met my best friend Casey and voiced my thoughts to her. "What's up with everyone today?" "What do you mean?" she asked. Her sandy brown hair was curled slightly at the ends and she was light on her makeup. I always envied her long eyelashes. "I don't know. Something is just off." "Hmm," she pursed her lips. "Is it because Jacob isn't here yet?" Jacob was never late to pick me up. "Maybe. He wasn't answering my calls this morning." "He probably just overslept," she shrugged it off. "Do you want to go shopping with me later? I literally have no decent bras and I can't ignore the wire sticking into my boob right now." I laughed and nodded. I wasn't sure what I would do without her candidness. We walked to our classes and I waved to a few friends I had made through Jacob. The soccer team wasn't as glorified as the football or basketball teams, but Jacob was still popular among everyone. His popularity had brushed me also and it came with people who claimed to be my friend. I knew I could only ever trust Casey. Trudging into class, I sat down and immediately felt someone's eyes on me. Heather, a girl who sits diagonally from me, was staring at me when I turned around. She quickly looked away when I met her gaze. I wasn't sure what that was about, but I ignored it. After class, I shoved my binder into my backpack. In the corner of my eye I could see Heather approaching me slowly. "Hey, Heather," I decided to greet her first. We had only ever spoken a couple times while working on assignments. "Hi, Lacey," she smiled at me. It seemed forced onto her face. She didn't say anything else so I said, "What's up?" "I, uh, wanted to talk to you about something." She seemed to hold her textbook tight against her chest. "Okay," I said as I put my backpack on my shoulder. The expression on her face worried me. Her body language seemed awkward and unsure and it made me slightly uncomfortable. "Can we walk and talk?" I asked her. I didn't want to be late to my next class. I started to walk towards the door, hoping she'd follow me. "Jacob cheated on you," she blurted out when we got to the doorway.