All of the fear and anxiety I felt when I left the principle's office drains from my system, rage and betrayal acting as the replacements. My best friend, one person I thought would never intentionally hurt me. He's the one that got those photographs somehow, the one that gave them to the principle. He's the reason that everything is going to be ruined. Harrys job, both of our reputations and probably our relationship. All because he's under the delusion that he likes me and we should be together.

"Sav," he says, holding his hands up and walking towards me. "I know you're pissed, but I did this for you. To protect you."

"Protect me? Troy, that's insane! I don't need you to take care of me, I don't fucking need you at all. Don't you get that? Did I not make that clear?" I shout. "How the hell did you even find out?"

"I noticed you guys acting weird at the Christmas party, especially when you were talking to his friends. You already knew them, I could tell. One day after school I followed you to his building and ten minutes later he pulled up. I knew it wasn't a coincidence."

"So you figured you'd stalk us, take a few pictures and ruin both of our lives just because you have a crush on me?" I ask harshly. I don't even care if I hurt his feelings right now. He ruined everything.

"You didn't honestly think that would work, did you? Fucking a teacher? They were going to find out sooner or later," he says, like it's an obvious conclusion. "I just sped up the process."

"You're such an asshole," I spit, walking past him.

"It wasn't real, anyway! He was probably just using you because you're young. He took advantage of you, Sav. He deserves whatever he gets."

"Took advantage?" My bags drop to the ground as I swivel on my heel to look at him again, my anger reaching impossible heights. "I love him, Troy. We're in love. You telling the school doesn't change that. You think that after this kind of betrayal that I'm ever going to want to be anywhere near you?"

"Sav, you'll get over this."

"Do you even realize what you did?" I step towards him and do my best not to slap him across the face. "He's going to get fired and I'll be suspended at the very least. This will go on his record and he'll never be able to get away from that kind of reputation. You've ruined everything, Troy!"

He sighs. "It's not that big a deal."

My hand raises without thinking and makes sharp contact with his cheek. His mouth drops open as he raises his hand to his face, a red mark already forming.

"Go to hell," I spit, turning and walking to my car. I shove my stuff in and turn the ignition, not really sure where to go but knowing I need to leave. I wonder if they've already called my parents.

What are we supposed to do now? If they have proof there isn't going to be the option of making sure we're more careful or proving that it isn't true, it's just out there. People are going to find out and neither of us can stop that. I'm guessing there aren't going to be too many people that are happy for us.

But that's what they should be. Harry and I have both had our problems, but being together has made all of that better. We need each other, we love each other. People won't see that, though. It's going to be an inappropriate and wrong relationship that never should have happened in the first place. Maybe it shouldn't have, but it did and I could not be happier. Even if our worlds get turned upside down now, I would never regret a single day that Harry and I spent together. I could never regret him.

My thoughts drift over the past six months and without realizing I arrive at the beach. I haven't been here in a while, but apparently this is where my mind wanted to go.

When I get to the sand I remove my sandals and just leave them, walking straight up to the water and letting the cold ocean waves hit my toes. The lids of my eyes fall closed and I tilt my chin up into the breeze. This is the only place that's ever been able to make me feel calm, peaceful, to wash away the emotions that can sometimes become too much. Right now I'm not even sure it can.

I wonder when they'll fire him. I would assume that the school would want to keep this as quiet as possible so it doesn't affect them, but in a town like this everyone talks and there's no doubt in my mind that everyone will know. There are so many ways this could play out and each scenario that runs through my head is worst than the last.

The only person I'm worried about is Harry. The worst I can get is a suspension and a reputation around this place, but I don't intend on staying here anyway. This will follow him everywhere. Even if we could stick it out until graduation and then move away together, this is going to be so much worse for him. Will he ever be able to teach again? Anywhere?

I start wading out into the ocean without thinking, my cropped pants eventually coming into contact with the waves. The thought doesn't bother me, and eventually it's halfway up my calves, the water far too cold for anyone to be swimming.

"Savannah!"

I spin around and can't help but smile when I see Harry standing in the sand. His curly hair blows around in the wind and the sad smile on his face tells me he knows what's happened. The terrible circumstances we're in don't even make it to my mind as I run through the water towards him. The motion sends more water splashing onto my jeans, but it doesn't matter. Nothing else matters when he holds his arms out to catch me, my arms around his neck and legs wrapping around his waist. He holds me so tight I feel like I might break, but he's also the one holding me together. Harry buries his face against my hair and I kiss press my lips to his shoulder.

"They fired me," he whispers after a while.

"I know." I smooth my hand over the back of his head. "The principle showed me the photos."

"What are we going to do?"

I unravel myself from him, sliding down his body and placing my hands on either side of his face. His eyes close and I'm sure he's much sadder than he's letting on.

"We'll figure it out," I assure him. "We're going to be fine."

"I don't understand how they got them. The photos. It doesn't make sense, we were so careful," he says.

"I know," I mutter. His brow furrows and I take a deep breath. "Troy did it."

"What? How is that possible?"

"I don't know. I had no idea that he knew, he said he just figured it it. I'm so sorry, Harry. This is completely my fault, I feel terrible."

Without warning tears start rolling down my cheeks and everything seems to come barreling down on me. Harry's thumbs profusely wipe away the tears and suddenly he wraps me up in his arms. I mumble apologies against his chest continuously. I ruined his life.

"Savannah, stop." He puts his hands on either side of my face and makes me look at him. "Stop apologizing. We knew this could happen, I knew it could happen when we started this. But I would never take it back, I couldn't regret it if I tried. You mean more to me than any job and that's not going to change because things get hard. You're my entire world and I would not give you up for anything or anyone. Okay?"

I smile through my tears. "Okay."

He takes my hand and pulls me towards the light, dry sand. He sits down and pulls me down to sit in front of him. It's weird being able to do this without having to worry about people seeing, but it's nice. Really nice. I place my hands on his arms when they wrap tight around my chest. I don't know what's going to happen, but this is going to work. It has to. There's no way I'm losing him.

Harry leans his head down beside mine, my eyes closing when his lips press to my cheek.

"I love you," he breathes, warm breath fanning my cheek.

"I love you," I reply, smiling at the water.

---

The next morning I wait at home for my parents, who told me they don't want me to leave the house until they get home. Well, more my Dad. My mother made it seem like she doesn't really care what happens, as long as they're not embarrassed. I'm not even sure if she's coming.

When he gets back to San Francisco the principle will meet with him to inform him fully on the situation. With Harry already being fired there isn't much more to do except work out my punishment, but with the way my parents donate to our school I'm sure it won't be much. I tried arguing with my parents about going to school today, but then I realized that since it was a big secret scandal everyone probably already knows and I don't feel like dealing with the whispers and looks on top of everything else.

When Harry and I finally left the beach last night we promised each other that we wouldn't let this ruin what we have. Our relationship has always been hard, but it's about to get ten times worse and we both know that. We need to be prepared, although I don't think we really can be. I'm not sure how this is going to go and neither is he, but we do know that it's going to take a lot to get through it.

Harry also told me he was going to get a second phone, one with just texting on it so that we can still talk without anyone suspecting it. Those prepaid ones can't be traced even with the help of a private investigator, which I'm sure my parents will get after this is all over. They're going to want to make sure that I never see him again. Never going to happen.

---

"That sounds reasonable. I think we can all agree to that, right Savannah?"

I take a bored glance at my father and shrug my shoulders. He made me come with him to the meeting with the principle for some reason, and now we've decided that I'll be suspended for the rest of the week, which is two days, and that I'll be serving detentions for the rest of the month. I honestly couldn't care less.

"I'll take that as a yes," the principle says. "Savannah, you need to understand how serious this is. Mr. Styles is lucky that no one is pressing charges and this won't go on his permanent record. I'm not sure if he'll ever teach again."

"Harry will figure something out," I assure him, emphasizing his name just to make him uncomfortable. My dad squirms in his seat and I smile triumphantly.

"Thank you," my father says, standing up.

We exit the office and head straight for his car. He didn't speak to me at all on the way here, but I have a feeling I'm about to get a mouthful. For a few minutes he doesn't say anything, just taps his fingers against the steering wheel.

"Are you going to say anything?" I ask irritably.

"I'm not sure what to say. I don't understand how this happened," he says quietly. "Why would you ever think seeing your teacher would be a good idea?"

"It just happened, Dad. It's not like I went to school this year with a plan to fall in love with my english teacher."

"Fall in love?" he repeats, more to himself than to me.

Those words hang between us as we drive the rest of the way in silence. I didn't really mean to say that, but I guess it's out there now. When we pull up to the house I exit first, confused when I don't hear my dad follow me. Maybe I should just give him some time.

I'm not sure why schools think suspensions are punishment. I get to stay home all day instead of going to school and my parents don't live at home...I'd say I have it pretty good for the next few days. I know exactly where I plan to be.

What the principle said to me swims in my head for a while. Will Harry never teach again? He went through all that schooling to become a teacher, and now because of me he won't get to teach at all, maybe ever again. What will he do? Go back to school? Will he stay in California just for me, or will he move back home with his family? There are so many ways for all of this to unravel and the thought completely terrifies me. Harry is my world, the way I depend on him is probably unhealthy. But I need him and I can't help that now.

When my Dad enters my bedroom he looks completely worn out. It confuses me, and when he walks in and sits on my bed I'm not sure what to do. I don't remember the last time he was even in my room.

"I'm sorry," he mutters.

"What?"

"This is my fault. Your mother and I are gone so much...you didn't have guidance...I should have been here. I should have known you were looking for something-"

"Dad, this is not about you. And it's not a bad thing, either."

"Yes it is, Savannah."

"He makes me happy; happier than I even thought was possible," I tell him urgently. That may be corny but it's so true. I didn't realize what I'd been missing out on.

"It's not real."

"Excuse me?"

He sighs. "You're looking for something and he happened to be there. I'm sure with him not teaching anymore it will fade and you'll see that this was a mistake."

He stands and walks to the door, my eyes staring at him incredulously, unable to move. Mistake? Never in a million years would that be the word I use to describe Harry. He could never be a mistake to me, no matter how this turns out.

My dad places his hand on the door handle and turns to look at me with sad eyes. I just stare back, surprised by the blunt statement he just made. If he really knew me he would be able to see how different I've been since Harry and he would see that he's the furthest thing from a mistake. In fact, Harry is probably the only good decision I've made.

"You're grounded," he says finally. I scoff.

"Grounded? Since when are you deciding to be an actual parent?"

"Enough, Savannah. You don't leave this house unless it's for school."

"Right." I roll my eyes and lay back against my pillows. As if he's going to enforce that.

"A month."

"What!" I shout. "That's so unfair! You aren't even going to be home for a month."

"No, it isn't. And that's only if you behave. Try to see him again and I'll keep extending it. As for my presence around here, I think this incident is enough for me to know that I need to be around more."

He exits the room before I can protest. I guess this means my dad might be trying to...be my dad. Well, too little too late. He's not going to start trying now to tell me how to live my life. I'm almost eighteen, so it's not like he's suddenly going to make me a model child. Plus, this 'incident' isn't a random act of rebellion and it's not some problem he can pay to go away.

When Mason gets home later that day I'm in the same position as when my father left my room; still completely surprised and annoyed by how he's responding to this. I'm sure Mase will be thrilled to find out that he's planning on sticking around, but I could not be any more upset about it. Seeing Harry is going to be a lot harder. I guess that's the point.

"Hey," Mason says, coming in my room and shutting the door. I smile weakly at him and he lays on his back beside me, staring at the ceiling like I am. We just lay there in silence for a while, and I've never been more grateful that I'm not an only child.

"What am I going to do?" I whisper, almost to myself but a little bit to him as well.

"You know I thought this was a bad idea, Sav."

"I don't need you to tell me 'I told you so' right now, Mase," I snap. "Save it for another day."

"Let me finish, geez. I was going to say, I know I thought it was bad at first, but I know you well enough to know that you're happy with him. Everyone deserves that," he explains. "I don't really want you to go back to closed off and afraid."

"Wow, thanks so much," I say sarcastically, laughing a little.

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah. Thanks, Mase."

"You still didn't let me finish," he says, sitting up so he can look at me. My eyebrows pull together and he smiles slightly.

"Okay..." I encourage. "What does that mean?"

"I'm going to help you."

Notes

sorry this is so short its like part 1 of two cuz its all i have and i said i'd update at 100 votes...part two will be coming whenever i actually have time to finish it!! thanks so much for all the feedback :) you guys are the bestest

keep voting :)