The next morning, I showed up to school with a lot on my mind. My conversation with my dad had taken up more time than I expected it to and by the time I got home, I spent the rest of the night getting my photos finished for the month's issue of the paper with the intentions of handing them in first thing in the morning. After that, all my other thoughts were drowned out and replaced with Felix, and only Felix.

"These are wonderful, Stevie," Miss. Arthur smiles as our editor slides the images into place on the front page with Janelle's article. "I appreciate you getting this done for me so quickly."

"It was no problem," I assure her, brushing my fingertips over my bottom lip as the thought of Felix's lips on them flood my memory. The tingling in my toes returning.

Exhaling softly, I pulled out a chair at the common table in the center of the room. Planning to spend my free period in the news room, I set my bag in the empty chair next to me and pull out my notebook ready to ignore my thoughts and continue to run from my problems for as long as I can. Knowing full well I'm causing my own distress, and that I'm truly the only person that can undo any of it.

"There you are!" Robyn's voice echoes after Miss. Arthur leaves to teach her class, leaving me alone in the big empty room. "I knew you were avoiding us."

"Not avoiding you," I shake my head.

"What is this about you kissing Felix?" Isla quizzes, coming in behind her and sitting with me at the table.

"First of all, he kissed me," I correct her.

"Does this mean you two made up?" Isla asks and before I can even answer, Robyn is hitting me with another question.

"What about your talk? How was it?"

"We haven't made up and we never talked," I swallow. "I haven't talked to him since we kissed."

"What are you talking about?" Robyn frowns, sitting on the edge of the table. "I thought you guys were going to talk after he finished practice."

"I ended up leaving," I sigh. "My dad wanted to talk and I got scared, I guess."

"Scared?" Isla raises an eyebrow. "What are you scared of?"

My eyes drop to my hands, resting my elbows on the table and leaning into my palms. "I'm scared of needing him. Of relying on him just so he can break my heart. I'm scared of giving him the power to destroy me."

"Stevie, it's okay to let your guard down every once in a while," she smiles, reaching over to take my hand away from my face. Forcing me to meet her eyes, but she doesn't let go of my hand and instead squeezes it tightly. "Getting your heart broken is all part of the process, and it's scary but it means you might find something great too. Something that's the closest thing to magic."

"I can't," I shake my head, my heart and head playing tug of war with each other. "Isla, you were devastated when you and Miles broke up the first time and every time since."

"Yeah, I was," she nods. "And I'll likely be heartbroken when we break up again, but it's because I love him so much and yeah, it hurts. I felt broken because I depended on him, but guess what? You two picked me back up and put me back together. Every single time."

Robyn nods in agreement, reaching over for my other hand. "And we'll pick you back up too."

With that my fears melt away, my heart swelling knowing that even if things with Felix and me don't work out, at least I have my girls. And I don't know why I ever doubted that I couldn't pick myself back up, because the truth is even if I can't, my friends will be there. They always have been. Through thick and thin, in my highest and lowest points. They were there. Both of them. And this is no different.

"So, if you want to go for it then go for it, boo," Robyn urges me.

I remember my conversation with Lena and that if I have one reason to go out with Felix, even if I have a thousand reasons not to that it's worth trying. And the truth is I have more than one reason, and even if I am petrified of getting my heart broken. I'm willing to try, because he could be worth it.

"Thank you," I tell them. "I love you guys."

"We love you too," Robyn tells me.

Not even a moment of silence to linger on the words goes by before Isla is back to her nosy self, a wide grin on her face and I can't help but love her more for it. Her undeniable need to be involved in every aspect of my life. Her desire to support my every decision.

"So?" She hums. "Are you going to do it?"

My lips curl up at the question because they both know my answer as I reach for my phone on the table. Opening a new message to Felix, I let the excitement in my chest lead the way.

meet me at the pool after school

The day goes by, classes drag on as I impatiently wait for school to be over. I have no idea what I'm going to say or do, all I know is that I need to start putting myself out there instead of running away from possibilities because of my fears. I need to face them head on, and this is my first step towards facing my future.

I don't know if Felix is my future or not. It's likely wishful thinking, but for right now he's right in front of me and not taking this chance with him would leave me wondering what if. What if I did try? He could be my person, or maybe he's just a stepping stone. Either way, I'm willing to try after talking with Isla and Robyn.

"Nicks?" Felix voice echoes in the empty pool, walking on the tiled floor toward the stands.

"Hi," I smile gently when he stops at the rails, leaning into them as he looks up at me.

"Hey..." he trails off, exhaling softly. "You ran out on me yesterday."

"I know," I sigh and loosely tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. "I'm really sorry. I could make excuses, which I do have but I'm not going to. I'm just going to be honest and tell you that you terrify me."

"What?"

I nod. "Yeah, I'm scared to let you in because I know when I do you'll have the power to break me but I'm tired of being scared. When I heard you talking about me with your friends, I used it as an excuse not to let you in."

"I don't blame you," he admits. "I really am sorry, Stevie."

"I know," I smile and walk down the bleachers, climbing through the space between the rails, forcing him to back up as I stand in front of him. "And I forgive you, but I want to make it very clear that if you ever talk about me or any other woman like that ever again my brothers will have your head."

"Noted."

"Good," I move around him and walk towards the edge of the pool, holding my arms out wide. "Then welcome to your new home, Ozzie Wyatt."

"Ozzie Wyatt?" Felix asks curiously as he walks to the edge of the pool.

I nod my head and turn on my heels to face him again, my lips stretching up. "You told me sometimes you wish you didn't have to be Felix Montgomery. Star player. Golden boy of Malibu Heights. And you don't need to be him with me. You can be whoever you want."

His lips curl up. "Tell me about this Ozzie Wyatt."

"He's on the swim team," I tell him. "Very mediocre swimmer. He's really only on the team because his parents insisted he be on a school team."

Felix laughs. "Sounds like a cool dude. What else?"

"There isn't much else to him. He's really just trying to discover himself."

"Oh yeah?" He questions. "So, tell me. This Ozzie, does he get to kiss pretty blondes?"

I hum for a second, a small smirk growing on my face. "Yes, he does."

"I was hoping you'd say that," he says before quickly leaning down and finding my lips, pulling my tightly against his body and I can't stop myself from smiling into the kiss as I wrap my arms around his neck.

Everything about this moment is perfect and I don't feel like I made the wrong choice. I feel like I made the right one. My stomach instantly filling with butterflies, and ease coating the stress that was once on my shoulders. Around him, all the problems in my life just seem to fade away. He's the best kind of stress reliever, one that makes me happier than I have been in weeks.

"You know, I heard you were making out with the football captain yesterday," he pulls back. "What would Felix think if he knew you were kissing me right now?"

A laugh falls from my lips and without thinking, I push him into the pool causing a big splash as he hits the water. When he resurfaces, he's glaring at me and I hold my lips together in attempt of controlling the laughter dying to come out.

"What the hell?" He yells.

"Sorry," I smile innocently.

"No, you aren't!" He laughs, pushing away from the wall. "You're dead."

"I think you'll forgive me," I tell him as I take my canvas sneakers of, sliding my phone into my shoe with my socks before jumping into the pool with him. His lips curl up as I glide over to him, a smile on my own face as I stop in front of him. "Now we're even."

"You're so beautiful," he hums out and pulls me towards him as a grin forms on my face. "So damn beautiful," he mutters as our lips find their way to each other.

I'm completely taken with him as my arms move around his neck and my legs hook around his waist. Felix moves his arms around my back as he moves us closer to the wall, my back hitting the tiling and his fingers trace up my spine and then back down. My whole body covering in chills in excitement of being this close to him and I find myself gasping for air when he pulls away.

"You know, it's not so bad being Felix Montgomery when I'm around you," he admits and my heart sings in contentment, excitement surging through my bones.

"Really?"

He nods and kisses me again. "Absolutely."

I don't know what to say so the only thing I can think to do is to kiss him, missing the feeling of his lips on mine already. My fingers run down his back as I move my hand down his shoulder, curling the fabric of his shirt into my fingers. Butterflies filling my stomach and hitting me harder than anything else has ever. His touch making me spiral out of control.

"Does this mean you'll finally go on a date with me?" He asks when we pull away, his arm still wrapped around my waist – holding me tightly to his chest.

This time I don't need to think because I already have my answer.

"Yes," I nod.

"Finally," he laughs and kisses my cheek. "Clear your Saturday, okay?"

"It's all yours," I tell him, touching his jaw with my fingertips.

It's nearly five by the time I get home with my heart happy for the first time since my parents told me they were separating. For a long time, it felt like it was never going to get better but today proves that it just takes time for wounds to heal and for the right person to come along. After sitting poolside with Felix, waiting to dry off I knew that it may not always be this good. The beginning of the relationship always striking with excitement, but things only get better with time. Aging to perfection, and I know it can be the same.

"Stevie? Is that you, sweetheart?" Mom shouts when she hears the door open and close.

"Yeah, I'm home," I shout in response, kicking my shoes off to the side as I run my fingers through my slightly damp hair. Still not completely dry from the pool.

"The boys are in the living room," she calls in response and as I walk further into the house I spot my brothers piled on the couch, their eyes glued to the television screen.

"Hey," I smile as I walk in, setting my car keys down on the coffee table as Isaac and Greyson move over to let me sit in between them. "What are you guys doing?"

"We were thinking about watching a movie," Riker answers my question.

"Why do you smell like chlorine?" Greyson asks when I rest my head on his shoulder.

"I went for a swim."

"In your clothes?" Isaac questions, pointing out the fact that my jeans are a shade darker from being damp and my shirt is wrinkled.

I shrug my shoulders in response.

"How do you guys feel about a game night on Saturday?" Mom asks as she walks into the room with a bowl of popcorn, setting it on the coffee table before taking a seat in the arm chair. "We could have everyone over. Lena, Mika, Robyn, Isla, Miles? What do you say?"

"Sounds good to me," Riker nods.

"I'm in," Greyson agrees.

"Me too," Isaac chimes in.

Her eyes left to linger on me. "Vee?"

"I kind of can't," I tell her and bring my bottom lip between my teeth before letting it go. "I have a date."

"A date?" She asks. "With who?"

"Wait, are you talking about Felix?" Riker asks. "That whole kiss on the football field was real?"

I roll my eyes at the gossip that roams the halls of our high school. "Yes, with Felix. And yes, it's true. Don't make a big deal out of it. I talked to him, we worked it out and I'm excited about it so I don't need the three of you turning into brother bears, okay?"

"Good for you, Vee," Isaac smiles and squeezes my arm. "If you're excited about it, so am I. As long as you're happy."

"Thanks Ike," I smile softly before looking at our mom. "Sorry."

"No, hang on," she holds her hand up. "We'll do game night tomorrow night than and you'll bring Felix so your dad and me can meet him, or else I'm afraid you can't go out with him."

"Dad?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Yes, I thought I'd invite him to join us," she nods and my eyes move between my brothers.

"Seriously?" Greyson asks.

"Yes," she tells us. "I promise Stevie we'd try to the end of the school year and I keep my promises."

My lips curl up, "Then my answer is yes."

a/n;

How is everyone's Tuesday? I had the day off from work so I went to get my haircut and colored last night, fully expecting to come home with blonde hair and instead my hair is a dark violet. It's supposed to be blonde when it washes out though so...we'll wait and see. I'll keep you posted on that.