As the service progressed, Katie grew more and more angry. How could Sandra say those things? Why was she so interested in their relationship? She was about to smack Sandra and never speak to Zac again. The sermon that night was about forgiveness. How ironic... Katie thought bitterly.

When the service was over, Katie wanted to jump for joy. She was the first person into the car and ready to just go home. When she was safe in her bedroom, she began to pace. Did he really think she dumped him for no reason? She heard the phone ring in the back of her mind, but she decided to let someone else get it. No one called for her except for Nicole these days, and she didn't want to talk to her anyway. She heard a knock on her door. She stopped her pacing to unlock the door and open it.

Sandra shoved the phone at her. "Guess who!" She said sarcastically. Katie sighed and slammed the door in her sister's face. She really didn't feel like dealing with her just then.

Katie put the phone up to her ear, assuming it was Nicole. "I really dont' feel like talking right now, so what is it?" She snapped.

The other end of the line was silent for a few moments before the person spoke. "Sheesh, I guess not." Zac said.

Katie was in shock. "Zac?"

"Yeah. I can just talk to you tomorrow if you want..."

"No. I wanted to talk to you anyway." She said. "What did you want?" She asked.

Zac paused. Maybe he shouldn't have called her, but Morgan had said...

"Go ahead." He said.

"I might take awhile." She said.

"I'm sitting down."

"Good." She said. "Why would you tell Sandra that? Why were you talking about me behind my back? Do you really think that's why we broke up?" She asked, walking over to her bullitin board. She ripped the picture of them in the leaves off of it and held it in her hand.

Zac sighed. "First of all, I was dumped. I was perfectly happy."

"Zac, We weren't happy. I resented you because of all those rumors you-someone started." SHe finished.

"I told you I didn't start them." He said, his voice raising. "Secondly, I didn't tell Sandra anything. She made half of that up."

"What half?" Katie challenged. The words just kept flying out of her mouth.

"The part about...I dunno..."

"The friends thing?"

"Well....yeah."

"Zac, let's face it. We aren't exactly buddies." She said sarcastically.

"Well I want to be friends again. I told you again and again that I didn't start those. I never said anything about you."

"But they were so bad."

"Katie, I didn't start them. I swear. WHy would I have done that?"

"I don't know!" She said, getting flustered.

"But I just want to know why!" He hollered. "I'm not asking you to jump off a cliff or something. I just want to know how you can shut off all of your emtions and just forget about us."

"I didn't!" She yelled back.

"It sure seems it! You won't even talk to me or even look at me! You hurt me too."

"I didn't forget about us."

"I didn't either!" He said. He was obviously flustered.

"Well why do you think I dumped you for no reason?" She asked. That was another thing she was wondering about.

"Because it just happened out of the blue!" He said.

"It did not."

"Did too."

"You heard all those rumors...Zac, it was embarassing. I was pissed." She said.

"I didn't know that!" He said.

"You should have." She snapped.

"Well maybe if you would have talked to me, I would have known!" He said.

"How could I? I didn't even trust you!" She said.

"I don't know who started the rumors...but it wasn't me." He said.

"But those were so terrible....I-I didn't know w-what to think." She said, wiping her tearing eyes.

"I know that. But I still didn't say anything." They were both silent for a few moments.

"You promise?" She whispered.

"I promise." He said, his voice softening. "I promise I didn't say them. You meant so much to me. I would have never....I wouldn't have wanted to intentionally hurt you." He said.

Katie could feel herself start to tear up again. She looked down at the picture in her hands. They were so happy, so close. That was all she wanted.

"I just want to know...I just want to know why you hate me." He said.

"I don't hate you." She whispered.

"Then can we at least try to be friends?" He asked hopefully.

"I don't know." She said.

"I understand but...but let's just try..."

"Zac, I have to tell you, I dont' know if we'll get back together." She said.

Zac was speechless. She continued. "I will try to be friends with you. Let's just go that far." She said.

"Okay." He said.

"Well...that was all I wanted to say." She said.

"Okay, bye." He replied. Katie paused for a moment. She wanted to tell him that she missed him terribly, and she wanted to beg him to take her back. She hung up before she said something she would regret later.

She didn't even realize she was crying until tears started to flow down her cheeks. She wiped her eyes, immidiately feeling silly for crying. He said they could be friends, and Zac usually meant those things. So why was she still so upset?

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