Nate

"Oh no," whined Kimmy leaning back into the cushioned bench of our booth. "Who invited him?"

"Nice seeing you too, princess." Bear mocked, but at least had enough sense of self preservation to sit by my side and not hers.

"Fuck you."

"Is that a suggestion?"

Seth slid next the raven-haired girl just as she was turning her frown his way. "Seth?"

"Hey, chill." he raised his hands claming peace. "It's just Bear."

I felt like smacking him right now. As if he didn't know how much she despites the player. When my best friend told me to convince Kimmy to come along I'd assumed she already knew Bear would be here as well. She'd been so weird lately, wouldn't hang out with us as much, was always moody, tired... It was hard enough to convince her to tag along, now the next time we'd want to hang out she surely would be suspicious.

"Yeah, love." smirked Bear leaning back into the bench and reached out to take one of the menus the waitress'd left here a minute ago. "Just me. Calm your tits."

I could practically see the smoke fuming through her nostrils, but instead of barking back another remark she glared and gave Seth a murderous glare he held nervously. Way to gain points with her, dude. If he really wanted her to like him, this won't help his cause in the slightest.

"Let's order, shall we?" he gulped, picking a menu as well. Pussy.

But I was no better. What was I supposed to do? I wanted Kimberly to feel comfortable, but it wasn't like I could act on it since Bear was also part of the group somehow, part of the football team and -most important- was paying for our dinner.

So I guess there wasn't much I could do other than roll my eyes dismissively when Kimmy's found mine. "The more the merrier, right?"

From her scowl I could tell she didn't agree. At all. I still yet to know what exactly had happened between both of them. I mean, the dark haired girl was never a fan of the big player, but these past months her dislike was more like hatred.

I got distracted by my train of thoughts when my phone beeped in my pocket, and for some reason I felt like holding my breath until I unlocked the screen and saw it was just another text on the chat's group about tonight.

"Why the disappointed face?" asked Seth snapping me out my inner frustration- well, maybe not that 'inner'. His brows rose when I met his gaze. "What?"

Forcing down the crushing sensation in my lungs I shrugged. "Just Gabby in the group. They'll be there in half an hour."

"Then we better start ordering." Bear snapped his fingers and gestured the waitress to come take our notes. I swear his antics made me cringe sometimes, but again, this was on him, I couldn't exactly complain.

"So no Gracie yet, uh?" Kimberly wondered once the girl marched away with our orders. At Hailey's mention my pulse quickened involuntarily and as if sensing it she leaned forward, her head carefully leaning over her hands. "What? You think I haven't noticed you looking at your phone every ten minutes?"

"That's bullshit."

She snorted. "Right. Every five."

My eye narrowed and that sensation in my chest clenched all the more because... she wasn't all wrong.

Kimmy wasn't the only girl acting weird lately. Ever since I last spend the night at Hailey's farm, she'd been all closed up and that, surprisingly, sucks.

I didn't like opening up, nor having Hailey getting close enough to actually see me, but she's making her way in somehow, enough to scrape the borders of that barrier I'd worked so hard to build. Everything inside it could hurt me, everything outside was comfortably detached, yet that girl was nearing a dangerous turf and that freaked the shit out of me.

I found myself beginning to allow myself to trust, to lean into her... It was awkward at first, a terrifying realization I was letting her close, but I thought we were getting comfortable with each other, right? But now she'd shut down and I felt lost.

It'd been like this all week. Hailey didn't look for me anymore, didn't ramble as she usually would, didn't smile that much -I'd noticed too. And when we were together it was either for tutoring or to make out. She wanted to snog, like, all the time and I'm not complaining, but something about it felt odd.

Hailey wouldn't talk to me anymore. It pinched my insides realizing she was using me to distract herself. I could recognize that barely concealed frenezy she had; thinking the more passionate we'd get, the more numbing her problems would seemed. And whether that was the whole plan of this deal in the first place, I could tell whatever it was tormenting her didn't just go away. I could tell by her increasing tension and dark bags under her eyes.

And it bothered me.

Way more than it should.

I didn't know I would miss her calls until she stopped. We'd gotten to a point she would call me every now and then, to ask things, to smooth talk or simply to rant about random stuff that went through her mind. Now all I get where text with hours of availability. So impersonal and detached it made me feel empty.

"What?" Kimmy tilted her head tauntingly, a malicious glint in her eyes. "Am I wrong?"

"You mean Gracie as in the interview girl?" Bear rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Aren't you done with her yet?" My jaw clenched at his mocking tone, but before I could say anything his head snapped up at me. "Wait a second is that why you rejected Nadia on Seth's gathering last week?"

My guts tightened more at the reminder. It was after that horrible hangover, when I first woke up in Hailey's barn. I wasn't in my right mind. It was fucked up to say, but I hadn't been since we start this not so innocent deal, only I lasted a bit too much to realize it. That day Nadia came to me, but just like with Trish, the idea of letting loose with the blond cheerleader didn't sound so appealing anymore and I couldn't pinpoint the reason.

But I couldn't say that out loud, now could I? So instead I scoffed. "I didn't reject her."

"It looked like it to me." Bear let out a chuckled, so aggressive his head fell backwards. "So what's the deal? Gracie is playing hard to get? What a surprise, always knew she was a prude. " Don't punch him, Nate. Don't. He noticed and smirked at me. "Dude, you're screwed."

I know.

But I couldn't say that either, so I just shrugged and took my coke just as the waitress let it with the rest of our drink on the table.

"So what?" Seth intervened, lifting one shoulder. "I like the girl. She's cool."

Not taking the hint, Bear huffed. "Please. If she's half as lame as her fat friend then you're not missing that much."

My fist clenched automatically at his words, but Seth beat me before the bubbled of vexation in my chest exploded. "Come on, dude, Victoria Abbot is not fat."

"Then why do they call her Fatoria?"

Kimmy narrowed her eyes at him over her Soda light. "You call her that, you big bloody jerk."

"Well, maybe I wouldn't if she wasn't a chubby cow." he huffed, still more amused than actually bothered. "And if that girl you're banging is half as nuisance then I don't get where the big problem is." he took in the way my knuckles were turning white and his brows lifted tauntingly. "Hit a nerve, haven't I?"

"Bear-"

"I mean, what's the big deal? Trish is prettier and Nadia is hotter. And you have them both. Screw Gracie, if she's that much of a deal." he lifted his cup as if toasting and the corners of my vision began fading to red. "If you're this bothered over some girl then this is your hint to-"

"You don't fucking get a hint, uh?" snapped Kimmy cutting his obnoxious ramble. "Just shut the fuck up already about Gracie. And Victoria. And any other girl... no, person. You don't get to speak about people you don't know a fuck about."

After the first moment of shock at her sudden outburst, a proud wave spread in my chest and twitched the corner of my mouth. Luckily, they both were too busy holding each other stare to notice. Seth on the other hand looked more freaked out than I'd seen his chill ass in a long time. But just I was sure it couldn't get any more tense, Bear smirked and stood, smugly.

"Well, someone seems to be on her period... I'll go to the washroom as you calm your PMS bullshit."

As soon as he left Kimmy turned her glare at Seth. "I hate you."

The tall guy choked on his Coke. "Me?"

"Him. And you for bringing him!"

"Kimmy-"

"I'm going to the washroom as well." cut her standing up just as the waitress came with our orders. Kimmy eyes waited for her to put it all on, with that sharp look still persistent making Seth flinch, but as soon as the girl moved she slid out the bench as well.

"Fuck." Seth muttered once she walked away airily. "I screw up, didn't I?"

"Dude." I scoffed earning his attention once more. "How could you not advise her Bear was coming? You know she hates him."

"Well, yeah... but I thought it was more like dislike. This right now felt like the Cold War." It totally did. "Why didn't you tell her?"

"Oh, no." I scoffed, pushing away his accusatory pointing finger. "Don't put this on me. You told me to remind her 'your offer'. How was I to know what 'your offer' was?"

"Y-you... I-" but his words died as he realized I did have a point and hanged his head low with a defeated sigh. "Whatever."

I brushed the back of my nape, carefully glancing where they'd disappeared, making sure they weren't coming back yet. "She's weird lately, isn't she?" I finally voiced it and his eyes snapped at mine again. I gulped. "I mean, it took me so much to convince her to come. She wanted to meet there instead. And it's not the first time she would cancel plans."

My friend lowered his gaze, a hint of dejection in his eyes before he hid them from me and absently took a bunch of french fries, fiddling with them more than actually eating them. "You think..." he cleared his throat, turning serious. "You think she's mad at us?"

"Nah," I quickly reassured him even though my chest churned at the thought. She was distant and all, but... I shook my head unwrapping my burger and biting it slowly. With one girl mad at me, I got enough. Not Kimmy as well, please. "It's something else. I'm sure."

"Then what is it?" he huffed hurriedly, his worry very badly concealed. "I've tried talking to her... but it's like talking to a brick wall. I don't know what's wrong and she needs to talk it out because it's clearly eating her." he distractedly munched the fries, his brows pursing. "You think she's talked to her other friends?" he asked, but I gave him a flat look.

"What friends?"

"I don't know, the other cheerleaders?"

But we both know those girls weren't her friends. As much as I love her, Kimmy has a strong personality that made her difficult to befriend and she wasn't very popular with other girls. Some were nicer than others, but none really get to a friendly area. She'd never looked like she needed them, but I knew she could use a girl companion too, I don't know, talk about the things she couldn't with us. Like what was bothering her, for instance.

"Hey," Bear was back just then, sliding into his seat and taking an obnoxious bit of his burger. "Alan just called," he announced mouth full. Gross, I rolled my eyes at his lack of tact at interrupting our chat and took another nip of my own. Well, at least the food was good here. "Jill's parents came back before they say so the party would be in Al's instead." he swallowed and took another revoltingly huge bite. "They need us there as soon as possible to help bring everything there."

"Us?" Kimmy huffed, sitting back in her place as well, fixing her hair and eying the player with narrowed eyes. "Can't you stop bossing for a second?"

"Can't you stop bitching for a second?"

"Alright." Seth chipped casually covering Kimberly's hand as it closed tensely around her fork. "Let's calm down. All of us."

Bear, shrugged, almost amused. "Anyways," one more abnormally large bite and there was no burger anymore. He stood, munching still, and brushed his hands on the paper towel before reaching for his back pocket to take out his wallet. "I'll be heading there now, to help and make sure they don't fuck up. You come as soon as you can." he threw a couple bills on the table, winking at us in that smug attitude both irked me and frustrate me. "Later, everyone." his eyes flickered to me one last time with that smirk. "Let's see if you can convince Herond here to fuck that gal quick and come as well."

I saw red. Okay, I'm gonna punch him. Didn't know when, but it was settled. Luckily he just left with that, leaving this rage caged inside of me and only showing off by the way my hands clenched for the umpteenth time tonight.

I swear sometimes it was hard to remember why I was still friends with someone so idiotic, egocentric, disrespectful...

Seth reached out a hand for the bills over the table and sighed. A voice in the back of my head comes alive at that:

That's why.

Would you and your two dollar allowance be able to afford this lame burger?

I was so pathetic.

I adverted my gaze, taking a deep breath through my nostrils to relax my sudden ire and the bad turn my thoughts were taking. I didn't know why I get so worked up over his nonsense. Most of the things that left his mouth lately were sheer bullshit, but somehow him bullshitting over whatever Hailey and I were having stirred something in me.

I wouldn't tolerate it. Just no.

"Yeah, Nate." Kimberly pouted her plump lips and snatched me out my small zoned out and back to the table with now just the three of us. "Please, don't leave me alone with Mr Asshole there. I need backup."

Seth straightened, offended by her words. "And what am I? No one?"

"Oh, please." the brunette rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't hurt a fly."

Yeah... Everyone knew Seth was like a big, fluffy marshmellow, but for the way he was looking at her I could tell that wasn't the image he wanted to project. He even crossed his arms, purposely budging bicep and yet he still looked like a big teddy bear.

"Maybe I would." he tantalized to both our shock. And I perked my brows as he bit his lip self-consciously when Kimmy gaze slid on him, noticing too his futile attempts, and then lowly added: "If you ask."

I almost smirked. Totally whipped.

But even if it was meant to be chivalrous in his head, the mood died quickly when Kimberly rose her brows in disbelief and the next second her head tilted backwards in soft genuine laughs.

I could almost see Seth deflating as he stared at her sniggering form. "What?"

"Seth, come on. Aggressive? You?"

"And why not?" he looked at me as if seeking support, but I had to drown my own chuckle in a fist. "What?"

Yeah, he was huge and could be scary looking when he frowned, I guess. But Seth is the softest guy I knew. Just imagining him getting aggressive in any way was rather weird and almost comical, but hey, he got her laughing. That was a step, right? Kimberly shook her head as her giggles die down slowly.

"I really appreciate it, dude." she wiped the corner of her eyes, but her contagious cheeky grin was enough to reassure part of my chest pressure. She wasn't mad at us, after all. "I really do. But leave the fights to me. We'll all be safer."

"Amen."

He glared at my contribution, but I raised my hands.

"Just so you know," Seth crossed his arms, pursing his brows. "I'm deeply offended."

"You'll get over it." waved Kimberly taking her purse. "So, are we done here, then?"

Eager to leave now? Wasn't she complaining a minute ago? I swear Kimmy was becoming harder and harder for me to read. I eyed her untouched veggie wrap and scowled.

"Aren't you gonna eat that?"

She rolled her eyes and took the lamest nibble ever. "Done." then stood, stretching her arms. "Can we go now? Or you pussies got more bullshit to complain about?"

Seth and I shared a look, seeing right through her attempt to divert the topic, but whatever it was, it was clear Kimmy wouldn't talk about it and it wasn't like we could force it out. At least we got her to laugh, that's more than I could say for the past week. So at Seth's concerned frown, I shrug.

"Okay, then get moving... And you," she sent me one last glare. "Are you sure you can't convince Gracie to join?"

It's not like I'd tried in the first place. Tonight I was gonna get to what was bothering Hailey for the past days, and for that I needed some time alone, a party wasn't exactly the best place to talk. But I couldn't tell them that so I gave Kimmy an ambiguous gesture. Let her take it however she wanted to.

"Have it your way." she pouted some more before shaking her head. "But, for our sake, make up with your fucking girlfriend."

My eyes widened, too baffled to react at first, but when I regained my words she was already stomping towards the door calling for Seth to follow her. It didn't help the knot in my guts that my best friend had that look when I turned towards him.

"She's not my girlfriend." the word tasted bitter in my mouth.

He smiled knowingly, rubbing my vexation further. "But she's not like other girls, either, uh?"

"Shut up." I cut him, not wanting to hear it. His words still ringing in my head no matter what. I wasn't... I wasn't in for a relationship. What we had was amazing -or at least until recently- but not that serious.

She wasn't my girlfr- No.

I got flustered at the rush of thoughts and Seth's knowing stare only made it worst. "Just- No. She's not like that. And won't be. So shut up." I stood abruptly, but he didn't blink and his chillness irked me further. "You know nothing. It's not like that so stop."

"I didn't say a word."

"Good. Now for fuck's sake, go with Kimmy and tell her straight how you feel at once."

Far from letting my dig bother him, the corner of his mouth twitched. "I will if you do with Gracie."

"I'm literally this close of punching you." but we both know it was all bluff.

Thank fuck he still get it and rose his hands peacefully. "Okay. Is that all?"

"Yes."