Fucking love. It's hell, I tell you.

It all started here. My always trustworthy school, Shiloh High. It was a normal winter day; a blizzard raging outside, the lights flickering as the generator struggled against the cold, as the pool of students in the cafeteria consumed possibly illegal food. I poked my peas as my trustworthy friend, Celina, rambled about her boyfriend, Andy.

"Okay, so, he took me out to this FAB seafood restaurant on Saturday, and it had these amazing crab cake things, and they were SO yummy! After that, we went to the park and we fed the birds and played Frisbee with some kids and watched the ducks in the pond and it was SO romantic! And then he took me back to his house, and we watched romantic comedies and listened to some music and then he TOTES kissed me, ON, THE LIPS."

"Wow..." I mutter. "That's so interesting..."

"Are you even listening to me, Alyson?" Celina gripes. "I'm spilling every single captivating detail of my weekend, and you haven't even told me where you got that to-die-for top!"

"Banana Republic." I sigh, shifting my weight to the other arm.

"What's wrong, babe?" Celina asks, placing her hand on my arm. "Who hurt you? I will fucking beat a bitch if anyone got on your nerves."

"No, no." I laughs. "Celina, it's fine. I just..." I sighed.

"Is it Richard?"

I groan and slam my head on the table. "God dammit Celina! Why did you have to say his name? Now I'm thinking about him again."

"Come on, perk up. Just because he dumped you-"

I groan loudly, to show that she's heading in the wrong direction.

"I mean, since you two went your separate ways, you've been better without him. He hasn't come to school in three days, Alyson. Three days. He's probably at home, sobbing into his pillow, tearfully looking up at a framed picture of you two. He's garbage without you. You are the best fucking cunt I know! You are a man destroyer! You teach them why you don't fuck with women! You fucking kick ASS, Alyson! YOU ARE A FUCKING ASS KICKER, GOD DAMMIT! BE FUCKING PROUD!"

I look at Celina. "Are you fucking high?"

"Maybe I am!" She states with confirmatory.

"Fuck my life..." I slam my head on the table again. "I'm fifteen! Why am I tangled up in all this lovey-dovey shit? I shouldn't be worried about what my ex is doing. I should be focusing on my ever-decreasing Algebra grade before I flunk the 10th grade and end up a as a filthy prostitute..."

"Hun, you're not hot enough or slutty enough to be a prostitute. That's a job cut out for professionals."

"Like you?" I ask, lifting my head off the table.

She glares and files her nails. "You know, you really need something to help you get over all this break-up business. How about you come ice skating tonight with me and Andy? Poppin' music, high calorie drinks, freezing your ass off, it'll be fun."

"You make it sound so appealing..." I sigh again. "Honestly though, seeing Andy spinning you around on the ice, hugging you, kissing you? I'd end up on the table, downing Mt. Dew and moping about how much life sucks."

"I'm going to take you ice skating with me, and you're going to have fun, and you're gonna fucking like it."

I laugh. "Thanks for being there for me, Celina."

"Don't make this a family moment. I still think you're a cunt muncher."

The skating rink is a popular place in my town. Summer, winter, spring, fall; no matter the season, they are open. Luckily, in the winter, most people go to skate on the lake, so the rink wasn't crowded that night.

"Hey, babe, I'm gonna go get a soda." Andy announced to Celina. "You guys want anything?"

"No, I'm good." I replied.

"Diet Pepsi." Celina answered, grabbing her sides. "Watching my figure."

"Your figure is perfect." Andy swooned, kissing her. "I'll be right back."

I sigh in depression. Celina notices and pats my back. "Perk up, bitch. You're gonna have fun tonight, or I'mma drag your ass home in a wagon."

I look at her in disbelief. "You couldn't drag a fly."

"You are a fly. Go skate." She pushes me towards the ice and walks to Andy. They sit down at the table and start chatting. I sigh again and pull on my skates.

I spend the night twirling around on the ice. Random people take my hand and we start skating together. Nothing romantic, just childish fun. That's the great part about this place. Everyone is friendlier. You can go up to some one who is by themselves, and you can skate with them. No commitment, no tie-downs, just fun. I love it.

I feel like a ballerina. I twirl, do a little jump, twist, hold out my arms; do everything. The icy wind shoots from my hair like tiny electric shocks. I feel energy flowing through me like a powerful river, gushing and foaming and blasting over rocks. I've never felt better in my life.

It's 9 by the time I come off the rink. I order some nachos. They're doused with hot cheese. I take an empty table and chow down. It warms my mouth and my stomach. For once in the past week, I actually felt like I was getting over Richard. He was nothing now. I was me, he was nothing. He was pointless, a stepping stone on my path to happiness.

God, I sound so cliche sometimes...

Celina and Andy come over and sit with me. "Hey girl, how ya doing?" Celina asks, swiping a chip.

"I'm actually doing pretty good." I answer truthfully. "I'm glad you dragged my mopey ass to the rink, Celina. I feel pretty good tonight. I haven't even given a single care to Richard."

"See?" Andy spoke up. He playfully punched my shoulder. "All you have to do is have a little fun. You can get over practically anything."

"I know! It's amazi..." I freeze as my glance shifts to the entrance. "Oh my god, Celina... Celina..." I shake her arm and point to the entrance.

She and Andy both look at the entrance and quickly turn back around. "Oh my god, Alyson!" Celina exclaimed. "It's Richard!"

I looked again to make sure it was him, and not some one who looked like him. Yep, it was him. Richard had come to the skating rink the very same night that Celina had taken me. I was in the same building as my ex boyfriend.

"Oh my god, Celina, you've gotta help get me out of here!" I beg.

"Calm down, Alyson. The rink closes at 10. It's -" she pulls Andy's arm up and looks at his watch. "- 9:06 right now. You only have to stay in here for 54 minutes and then my mom is going to be here to pick us up."

"But what if he comes over and tries to talk to me?"

"That won't happen." Celina assures me. She thinks for a moment and then comes up with an idea. "Okay, I've got it. Andy. You're the first defense. If you see Richard coming over to Alyson, go up and distract him. Take him somewhere else, across the room, as far from her as possible."

"I can do that."

"Okay. And I'm the second defense. If Richard gets around Andy, I'll come over and pull Alyson away when he tries to talk to her. Believe me, I'm capable of it. Now, here's the sticky part."

I gulp. "Alyson, if Richard avoids Andy and I can't find you anywhere, you're going to have to wall up. Don't let Richard in. No matter what he's saying to you, he's lying. He left you for Rebecca. He just wants you as a fuck buddy. Don't let him seduce you. Be strong."

I sigh. "You better not give me a weapon. I might end up bashing his face in."

"You'll be fine. Now, come on. We can go skating. Andy will stand around and watch for Richard. Besides, we're pretty much safe on the ice. You know he can't skate."

I laugh. "Yeah. Oh, that was funny. It was his first time at the rink, and he wore that parka jacket I got him for his 16th birthd -"

Suddenly, Celina reached over and slapped me across the face. "Celina! What the fuck are you doing?"

"Don't think about happy memories with him!" She states in a firm voice. "If he does manage to talk to you, then any memory will make it easier for him to get into your psyche!"

I rub my cheek. "Okay, I get it. Was is necessary to slap me?"

"No, but I love playing up the drama of the moment." She grabs my wrist and pulls me to the ice. "Andy, keep watch!"

"You got it babe." Andy walks off to keep watch while Celina and I skate on the ice.

It's 9:38. Just 22 minutes, and I'm home free. I've managed to avoid Richard so far. Andy did a pretty good job of keeping him away, but then the bad news struck.

"Babe." Andy came over as Celina and I were sharing another basket of nachos. "My mom just called. I have to go home now and get my brother out of a tree."

"... A tree?" I asked in disbelief.

"He's twelve." He looks back at Celina. "I have to go now."

"Andy, you can't go!" Celina stands up. "You're the first defense! You have to protect Alyson from Richard!"

"Look..." Andy put his hand on Celina's shoulder. "As much as I'd love to stay here and keep Alyson's apparently crazy ex away from her, I have to get unsuspend my younger brother's underwear from the branches of the oak tree in my backyard. Bye." He kissed her and ran out.

"Well fuck. Now what are we gonna do, Celina?" I slam my head on the table.

"You're gonna bruise your forehead if you keep doing that." Celina sighs. "Look, I'm still here, and as long as I stay by your side, Richard will not talk to you."

"What if you get distracted and I'm alone?"

"If he comes over, run to the ladies' room. Haul ass like you're a fucking donkey. Just get out of the situation. You've only got 21 minutes left. You can do this, Alyson."

"I certainly hope so."

I've fucked it up. Everything is fucked up.

Celina's in line at the order window, and fuck-tard me decided to keep in my seat. Almost as soon as she was gone, I saw Richard get up and make his way towards me. What's even worse is, my purse strap got caught on the edge of the seat, and in my panic I broke it after I struggled for half a minute. I started "hauling ass", as I was told, to the ladies' room.

Now, here I am, hiding not in the women's bathroom, but in the supply closet, hoping to god that Richard doesn't think to check in here. I quietly shuffle through my purse in the dark, feeling around for my phone.

Suddenly, I'm struck with horror. My phone was on the table! I'm so fucking stupid! Here I am, stuck in a smelly supply closet, hiding from my ex, who's currently searching the rink for me and running out of places to look.

I squint at my watch in the darkness. 9:56. Okay, I'm not totally fucked yet. In four minutes, Celina's going to notice I'm gone, she'll come find me, and we can high-tail it out of this place.

A knock on the door makes me jump. There's silence at first. I still have no idea whether or not it's Richard or Celina, so I say nothing. Suddenly, I hear the doorknob turning. I suck in my breath as the door opens. I squish back against the wall as much as possible. The door barely hits me, and I'm completely hidden. Some one walks in.

I sneak a peek around the edge of the door. Dark violet hair, plaid parka, skinny jeans with that godforsaken wallet chain. It's Richard. I can feel my heart throbbing in my chest. Sweat trickles down my forehead. He's standing there, listening for me. He must know I'm in here. He's going to try and take me back again.

Suddenly, he turns and leaves, shutting the door behind him. I wait a minute, and then breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank you God..."

I slide down against the wall and look at my watch. 9:59. Where is Celina?

Suddenly, the door swings open and instantly shuts. "Alyson?"

It's Celina. I jump up and hug her. "Oh thank you! Thank you Celina!"

She hugs me back. "I saw Richard come in here. I couldn't find you anywhere, and you left your phone on the table, you dumbass." We laugh.