Abigail knew her life wasn't<span style="font-style: italic">actually</span>falling apart, but it sure felt like it. James was just a guy, and guys<span style="font-style: italic">shouldn't</span>be the center of any girl's life. Up until today, she had fancied herself a strong, independent<span style="font-style: italic">woman</span>that would never crumble so easily under the influence of a guy. Younger her was stupid, naive, such a<span style="font-style: italic">child</span>. She loved him. It changed everything.<br/><br/>As if senior year wasn't stressful enough. SATs, college applications, prom, Tiffy's mid-life crisis, and now she had to figure out how to patch things up with James? Tears bit at her eyes as she unlocked the front door. She tried to hold them back, she was suppose to be strong, but they came bubbling up anyways. The house was dark. She softly closed the door behind her and let her brick of a book bag drop to the ground.<br/><br/>"Ian?" she called softly, her voice breaking. She knew it was him she'd find in the living room. He was always there, waiting for her. He was the only steadfast thing in her life, and it was to him that padded directly over to. She hesitated for a moment. In the glow of the tv, the look on her face said it all. A trail of her mascara smudged across her cheek, remnants of tears she had wiped away. Her jaw was stubbornly set, refusing to  wobble under the waves of emotions shinning in her eyes.<br/><br/>She deflated into the protection of his arms, pressing her face into his shoulder. "I'm sorry I'm late," she mumbled pathetically.