To protect her smile...

Jayden Callen's heart was pounding as he quickly parked his car, undid his seatbelt, stepped out of the car, locked it and quickly walked towards the town's library. He had recently gotten a message from his childhood best friend that read "Please pick me up. I'm at the library. In our usual spot." Jayden frowned as he reread the message over and over on his phone. Something had to have happened for Alana to ask him to pick her up. He'd instantly dropped everything he'd been doing (which had been struggling to get through a blind date his mother had set him up for) and rushed over. He knew that Alana had had a date with her douchebag of a boyfriend, Kyle, today so if she was asking him to pick her up something must have gone wrong.

  Jayden quickly entered the library and wordlessly walked up the stairs which led to the young adult's section of books. When he reached the second floor and turner right after the stack of Harry Potter books he found his best friend sitting on the window seat and crying her eyes out silently. His heart dropped. He hated seeing her cry. Ever since they'd been little she had always been the one with a smile on her face that was as bright as the sun, she'd always been the one to cheer him up, but the few times he had seen her cry...Well, it would suffice to say he was shocked and wanted to punch the person who made her cry at least a dozen times. She hadn't cried in a long time now or at least it been a long time since she'd let him see her cry. Quietly, he approached her.

"Alana..."

Her name fell from his lips quietly, but it was enough for her to hear it. He sank down into the window seat beside her and gently wrapped his arms around her trembling form. She was 22 now and yet right now she seemed so small to him. She buried her face in his chest and continued sobbing quietly. Taking a deep breath, he quietly probed.

"Was it Kyle again?"

Alana nodded against his chest and he hugged her tighter. She'd been dating that jerk for a year now and periodically she'd end up depressed because of him. Jayden had suggested that she break with him, he couldn't stand to see her get hurt any longer, but she'd just smiled and said these things happened and Kyle was an amazing guy - he was just stressed. Yeah, Jayden didn't believe that excuse for a second. Maybe his attitude towards Kyle was so negative because he was the one his best friend, the woman he loved had picked. He been in love with her for years now, but he'd never mustered up the courage to tell her. Eventually, he resolved to just watching over her - as long as she was happily smiling every single day that was enough for him. This- Kyle hurting her- was not okay. Not okay at all. Barely audibly, choking on her sobs as small spasm wracked her entire body, Alana whispered.

"He accused....me of cheating on him. He said I needed...to get my priorities....straight. That he was...my boyfriend...and that he should be enough...He said that I was cheating on him...with you..."

Alana sobbed, her hands clutching his shirt as she cried. Jayden felt that urge to punch Kyle's teeth in rise up again. He! How dare that jerk say something like that to Alana?! The most loyal and kindest person he knew! She had forgiven Kyle for every one of his supposed outings with his "cousins" and he had the nerve to accuse her of cheating?! The gall of that man! He was her best friend since childhood - wasn't it natural that they'd hang out?! Was he planning to deprive her of her friends!? Alana deserved better than him!! Jayden sighed as he stroked her head gently.

"Haaah. Alana that guy is a jerk and doesn't know what he's talking about. Come on, let's take you home."

Alana nodded weakly and Jayden carefully pried her away from him. As she stood up she swayed a bit on her legs. Jayden shook his head and crouched down in front of her.

"Get on. I'll give you a piggyback rides just like I did when we were little. I know you always liked those."

Alana gave a watery chuckled and climbed on. Jayden easily hooked his arms under her knees and stood up. She was much lighter than he remembered her being, but she was definitely bigger. Alana leaned her head against his shoulder. Thankfully, she's stopped crying. Jayden ignored the odd looks they got as he carried her to car. Quietly, she whispered.

"Thanks. You're the best. I'm such a crybaby. Kyle--"

"Was wrong completely. Alana, you're the most loyal, loving and faithful person I know. If anyone was cheating it was that bastard."

"Those were just his cousins..."

"Yeah, because we kiss our cousins all the time. And that guy has at least 12 cousins! And I know for a fact that both his parents were only children."

Alana sighed and closed her eyes. A few minutes passed before she mumbled.

"I'm an idiot. He took me for the gullible fool I am."

"You are too trusting, but you're not a fool. Here."

Jayden let her down and she got in the passenger side of the car. After Jayden slipped into the dodgers seat and as they drove away, Alana leaned her head against the window. The car ride was silent for a few minutes before Alana spoke quietly.

"I guess hoping the Kyle really did like me was too much, huh? I really am no good to anyone after all. I ruined my parents life, my best friend's and here I am ruining yours too. I'm a walking disaster. My grandparents were right all along."

Jayden frowned and clenched the wheel tighter in his hands, keeping his eyes glued to the road. If there was anyone he hated more than Kyle it was Alana's grandparents. Just because she had been born out of wedlock that didn't mean she was worse than anyone else. Her parents loved her, but she always said that she had ruined their lives. Jayden shook his head, objecting to her words.

"No. You're not ruining anyone's life. Yes, you messed up with Kira, but you were just 12 and now look at Kira - she's happily married and has her dream job. Your parents love you and are happy and proud of you. Kyle's an absolute asshole so he doesn't matter. And me? Alana, you could never ruin my life for me. Never ever."

"Even when I'm selfish and ask you for things?"

Jayden lips quirked up a bit. He shrugged.

"Name one outrageous thing you've asked me to do."

"Um, go shopping with me?"

"Not a problem."

"I dragged you away from your date today to pick me up."

"Eh, it was way too boring and awkward anyway."

"I wake you up in the middle of the night by calling you when I have nightmares."

"I asked you to do that. I don't mind."

"I keep having you pick me up when I'm drunk."

"That's a rare occurrence."

"I asked you to help me move in and didn't give you anything for it."

"Yeah and you don't have to - we're friends."

"I come over at the weirdest of times and you let me stay over."

"I like having you around."

"I take your stuff when I'm cold because I underestimated the weather."

"I don't care. I want you to be warm."

Alana sighed and leaned against the window when she realised she wouldn't win this argument. Jayden was way too nice to her. He always had been and she had always taken that for granted. She looked at him silently before quietly musing.

"Kyle never does any of that."

"Because he's an asshole. Alana, you're an amazing person. You deserve better."

"What about you? I can't keep you from finding happiness because I'm always around."

Jayden smiled, but to Alana that smile seemed somehow sad. There was pause before he took a deep breath and murmured.

"Alana, your happiness is my happiness. As long as you're smiling and laughing every single day - I'm happy. All I ever wanted is for you to be happy. I'd give anything to make you smile."

"Why?"

"Because I want to,"

Jayden simply smiled and made a left turn, silently. Yes, as long as she was happy, as long as she was living life to the fullest every single day....That was all he needed. She deserved better than Kyle and she deserved better than someone like him. As far as he was concerned Alana deserved the best person in the world. To him, Alana was worth any sacrifice no matter how big or small. Gripping the steering wheel, her repeated.

"You deserve better."