Caleb went back to his apartment to grab his things and Reece was the one who drove Chloe and me back to our apartment building.

Chloe sat in the back and I sat beside him in the passenger seat. Chloe hopped out when he pulled over but he grabbed my hand before I could leave.

I turned to him in confusion. "What's up?" I asked, pulling the door shut.

"Can we talk?"

I glanced out the window and waved Chloe bye. Chloe walked into the building and I turned back around to look at him. "Tell me."

He opened his mouth and asked, "We've got two weeks left of this year before summer break starts, right?"

I nodded.

"What are you doing during the break?"

"I'm going to Hawaii with Chlo."

"You won't go home to New York?" He cleared his throat. I think he's asking that because he'll be spending the summer in New York with his dad. And three months is a long time.

I'm thinking that might be the end of whatever we're doing and that thought scares me just a bit. But I shook my head, leaning back. "My mom thinks I'll be visiting them but there's no point. I'll get there and they'll be busy. And then I'll be all alone at home. Plus, Chloe and I saved for this trip all throughout last year and this year too. It would be annoying if we didn't go."

"You could go next year," he blurted out.

I turned to look at him, watching him carefully. "Why? Do you want me to come to New York?"

"That's now what I said," he chuckled. "But I will be in New York with my dad. We should meet during the break, don't you think?"

"Why?"

"Probably because if we don't, it's more than likely that when we come back to college, this will be over."

"What will?"

"This." He pointed between us.

"And you don't want that?" I questioned.

He shook his head slowly.

I sighed, torn between emotions. A part of me kind of wanted to see him scared and upset at the thought of us putting an end to this. It would prove that he feels something for me. Something that runs deeper than lust and attraction. But another part of me hates seeing him like this and I couldn't stand the thought of being the reason he felt this way.

"We're only going for two weeks, we'll be back in Boston after that. I could..." I trailed off with a shrug, throwing my hand up and letting it drop to my thigh while I looked through the window.

"You could?" he asked.

I looked back at him. "I suppose I could fly to New York and meet my parents. And then pay you a visit."

He let out a small smile but his face didn't light up as I wanted it to. Of course, it didn't light up, my visit probably doesn't mean much to him anyway. Just another opportunity to get laid.

"Does that work for you?"

He nodded, watching me silently.

"I should go up. I have to change and grab some stuff."

He nodded again.

"See you in a bit," I mumbled before opening the door and hopping out. I waved him bye and then went up to my apartment. I changed into sweatpants and a red, full-sleeve, fitted v-neck. Then I packed a small pouch with my toothbrush, toothpaste, Cherry lip gloss, and I shoved my keys in there too. I washed my face and did all of that before leaving and then pulled on my slides. When I got out of my room, Chloe was coming out of her room too.

She looked at me expectantly.

"What?" I played dumb avoiding her gaze.

"What did he say to you?" She flicked off all the lights and I locked the apartment once we got out. We started walking to the elevator while talking.

"Nothing. He was just asking me about our summer plans."

"Why? Because he suddenly wants you to come to New York just for him?"

"It's not like that. I have to go see my parents anyway. We just made a plan to meet up once or twice."

"Indie," she huffed, turning to me while pressing the button to the lobby. "He's using you."

"I'm using him too."

"You were. But are you still?"

"Of course."

"Really? It doesn't look like it. You do everything according to his convenience, you do everything for him. What does he do for you? It just seems like you have heart eyes for him and he's taking full advantage of that."

"He's not."

"How do you know? Maybe he is. Maybe he's figured it out. Maybe he knows you like him and he's using that to his benefit, to make sure you don't go anywhere and he gets a good fuck when he wants one."

"Chloe."

"Look," she sighed as the doors dinged and opened before we stepped out. "All I'm saying is what is happening between you two isn't right anymore. You're getting hurt now. And if he isn't hurting you, you're still hurting yourself. Which means it's becoming toxic. Which means it has to stop."

"It's not toxic, Chloe. He doesn't know I like him and he won't. I'm not going to tell him."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because he doesn't do relationships, Chlo. I would be stupid to even try."

"Yet you were stupid enough to fall for him." We walked out of our building and a slight breeze blew by. "You need to either fess up the truth, or you need to stop seeing him. Because if it keeps going for too long, he'll walk out when he's done and you'll be left heartbroken. He has to know, Indie, he's not blind. Actually, even a blind man could see how much you like him. There's no way he can't."

"Even if he can, he won't believe it," I said.

"Why not?"

"Because he asked me if I liked him and I lied."

"Indie."

"Yes," I groaned. "I had the chance to tell him the truth and I didn't take it. I lied, okay? Chloe, I'm scared. I don't want to let go of him yet. I haven't been that content and happy in a while. Before I realized my feelings, I was so happy with him. I was satisfied, not just physically. I was having fun."

"But you aren't having fun anymore, are you? No, because now you do have feelings, and you can't just ignore them. It's not even fun anymore, what are you holding onto?"

"Him. Just for a little longer."

She sighed as we reached his apartment building. "Indie, I've never seen you so head over heels for a guy."

"I've never been this head over heels for a guy," I mumbled.

"Why don't you tell him tonight?"

My eyes widened and I shook my head. "No. Absolutely not. He's already acting off and I cannot make it worse. No confessions will happen on my end tonight. None at all."

She eyed me warily before buzzing his apartment.

"Hello?" His voice came through the intercom.

"It's your two favorite people. Open up."

"One second." The door buzzed and then opened. "Come on up."

We started walking inside and I felt it in my bones. Chloe was cooking something. "Chloe, stop. Don't try doing anything tonight, please. I'm not ready," I pleaded, both of us climbing into the elevator. I pressed the button to his floor and then the doors closed.

"You said no confessions, fine. I won't make you confess. At least while you're sober."

"Then I just won't drink," I huffed.

"I'll make you," she smirked. "You're both wasting each other's time and he's hurting your feelings. He's the first guy you've gotten attached to. I won't let him throw you away like that."

"He won't."

"How do you know that?"

"Because he told me! He told me that he wants to but even then, he can't bring himself to stop. He likes being around me just as much as I like being around him."

"Then why won't he fucking fall for you? Indie, look. He even told you that he wants to throw you away. Just because he can't bring himself to do it now, doesn't mean he won't be able to convince himself to do it later. He very well might. And if he does, I will fucking kill him."

"Chlo—"

"What you say or do while you're sober is your responsibility, not mine. But once your drunk, expect me to take full advantage of the situation. Count on it." The doors dinged open and she strutted out.

I followed her while grinding my teeth before we reached his door. I rang the bell and it opened seconds later.

He had on a black, fitted, full-sleeve v-neck and matching black sweatpants with a little, white ball of fluff in his arms. "Come on in, Caleb's on his way." He stepped aside.

Chloe sent me a glance and then walked in and I followed behind. I fell on the couch once we reached it, throwing my head back. I stared at the coffee table.

"I'm going to the bathroom, be right back," Chloe said and then headed for the guest room.

Reece came and sat beside me and set Whiskey in my lap but I just stared at Whiskey, scratching him softly. "No puppy playtime?" Reece asked.

I kept staring and lightly scratching while he started playing with the fluff ball keychain on my pouch.

"Indigo? You okay?"

I turned to look at him. He was watching me carefully with calculating eyes. Why is he doing this to me? All I'm getting are mixed signals and it is confusing the crap out of me.

"Indie?"

I leaned forward and kissed him. I pulled away after a couple of seconds and looked at him.

He frowned, a worried look taking over his face. "What's on your mind?" He scooted closer to me.

You.

I shook my head softly. "Nothing. Just feeling weird." I noticed my lip gloss on his lips and chuckled, lifting my thumb to wipe it off.

"You taste like cherries tonight," he smirked.

I wiped it off, our eyes locked in a tense moment the entire time. I grabbed my pouch and stood up, setting Whiskey down. "Let me put this away."

He pulled me back down. "Put it away later." We both sat in silence.

I was staring at my socked feet but I could feel his eyes on me. I felt a cramp kicking in and my thighs starting to feel heavy and hurting too. The pain was tolerable but annoying so I started hitting my thighs with fists.

"What are you doing?"

"My thighs hurt from my period," I replied, glancing at him.

He grabbed my wrists and then grabbed my legs, pulling them into his lap and turning my body to face his. "Don't do that."

I watched him while he squeezed my thigh a few times and then did little karate chops on it. I laughed, watching the concentrated expression on his face.

"This is very serious, don't laugh," he frowned at me.

"I bet," I smiled.

He turned to look at me while squeezing my thigh again. He leaned over and kissed me, keeping his lips pressed to mine for a long time before he pulled away. He looked into my eyes and then glanced at my lips, pecking them once more. He leaned in again but the door opened and Chloe came out so we both straightened up, acting like nothing happened.

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