"Today we are starting a new project," Mr. Micheals said from the front of the room, causing a mix of reactions to sound from the class. Clara sat up straighter beside me, flicking her blue pen between her fingers excitedly. I felt the groan of exhaustion leave my lips.

"You should have already read the outline which was passed out in class yesterday. You have all period to begin, and you don't need to remain in the classroom for it. You and your partner can find a place in the school to focus and try to do your best work." Mr. Micheals continued.

I felt my eyebrow raise in question of his trust for us. Surely he must have known that most of the students weren't going to work on it at all. Maybe I could convince my partner to let me take a nap somewhere.

"And... yes, you can choose your own partners. Save me from the misery of the begging that will no doubt occur if I deprive you from that luxury." Mr. Micheals waved his hand at us, clearly dismissing us

There goes my hopes of having a nap. Or, maybe I could do everything wrong on purpose and Clara will take over. I titled my head as I weighed the option. It could work, she's enough of control freak for it.

"Let's go." Clara said, and though I knew she was happy about having a new project to showcase her intellect, her voice was still off from the way it usually sounded.

I picked up my books, sighing as I followed her out of the classroom. We were the last to leave, the other students no doubt excited for this permitted excuse to skip. Clara seemed to know where she was going, so I didn't question her as she weaved through the hallways.

"No one will be in here, no one will bug us." Clara said to me, her head turning over her shoulder like she wanted to confirm I was still following her. She pushed through a door I wasn't familiar with. Which wasn't surprising, considering our school was so huge.

"Okay." I knew full well that Clara's knowledge of the school beat mine any day.

I looked over her as she pushed the door open. It was a large room, filled with rows of seats and a small stage at the end of it. It must be one of the threatre spaces, maybe a back up since the main one was much larger than this. I don't know how Clara knew about it, though, she was no good at theatre.

"I used to sneak around with Chett here in freshman year." Clara spoke out, seemingly reading my thoughts.

"Ah, Chett. How could I forget?" I mused back to her. He was the beginning of Clara's promiscuous behaviour. They were well suited for each other actually, Clara almost cried when he moved away.

We made our way to the small stage, climbing up the stairs on the right side and walking out on the black floor. The wood creaked beneath us, feeling hollow under my feet. There were two picnic tables on the stage, one on either side. I debated sitting on one, but my suspicion that it might be a prop got the better of me. You can never trust anything to do with theatre.

I lowered my body to the stage floor instead, throwing my books on the ground beside me. I let my legs fall to the side, crossing my ankles together. Clara followed my actions, but she laid down on her stomach instead. She sprawled out her many books In front of her, and a notebook front and centre.

"Ok, Lilly, it's enough. I'll do it. Just... sit there and don't touch anything else." Clara said after ten minutes. I had spent the last eight of those purposely writing down the wrong information and misspelling everything. Some of the latter was on purpose.

I sat back, feeling the smirk show up on my face. She could pretend she wasn't happy about it, but she and I both knew that this was better for her control freak self. I watched her as she worked, feeling admiration for my best friend bloom in my stomach. I loved her so much. And I was worried for her. The remembrance of what we were currently involved in wiped that smirk right off my face.

Clara's head flicked upwards, away from the book her nose was buried in. I heard what she heard, the door to the auditorium had been pushed open. I didn't care enough to look at who it was that interrupted us, I watched Clara instead. I watched Clara because I knew she was about to give a tongue lashing to whoever dared to interrupt us.

But the sass never came, only a small smile. I noticed the way her eyes opened wide, and the way she chewed her bottom lip. It could only mean one thing, a boy. I wondered who it could be, so I turned my head to the direction that I could hear footsteps coming from.

I don't know why I was shocked to see Roman and Samuel. I don't know why I would be surprised. This is the way it would be now, it seemed, running into these two when we least expected it.

Samuel was walking a few steps in front of Roman. His eyes were trained on Clara, the cocky grin that I don't think ever left his face on full display. I rolled my eyes, before turning back towards Clara. I didn't give myself time to take in Roman at all. Maybe because I knew exactly what was going to happen, I was going to look at him and realize, for the third time, just how good looking he was.

Clara looked back towards me, sending me a small wink before she turned back to Samuel. "In case you haven't noticed, this space is occupied."

I heard the low laugh that came from Samuel. "I can see that. It's occupied by two gorgeous girls, but I think it's big enough that we can share."

"Oh, you do?" Clara answered, and I heard the way her tone switched. I guess she was done with phase 1 and phase 2, and was on to phrase 3. Disgustingly forward flirting.

"What do you think, Rome? Do you think it's big enough for all of us?" Samuel said, and I had to will my eyes not to snap towards them. I looked down at my paper, instead, though I wasn't focused enough to actually read anything.

"It's definitely big enough, but even if it weren't... I think we could find a way to squeeze together anyways." Roman answered him, his voicing coming out low, like he knew what he was suggesting wasn't innocent.

"Really? I don't like to squeeze in anywhere. And neither does Lilly." Clara purred out, and I cursed her for dragging me into it.

"I think Lilac can speak for herself, can't you Lilac?" Roman mused, his voice heavy with an undercurrent of... something. Something that I felt in my core.

I turned my head towards him, and was only slightly surprised to see they were standing just before us, at the end of the stage. I had hope they would only linger at the door, leaving after they had me sufficiently annoyed.

"Do you two actually go to our school are or you just stalking us?" I asked them. I heard Clara's laughter at the same time I saw the look on their faces. It wasn't the look of offence I was hoping to cause, they both looked amused.

"Stalking you? And why would I do that?" Roman asked me, rubbing his chin.

"You tell me." I rolled my eyes at him. "I've never seen you before in my life, and now what is this? The third day in a row?"

"Third day?" Samuel voiced his surprise. "Did you two have a secret rendezvous yesterday?"

"Thought you had a headache yesterday, Lilly." Clara said, I looked back to her, and I rolled my eyes again at the way she was smiling at me. Like she knew I was lying all along, and she just found out she was right.

"I did." I insisted, shooting her a glare.

"A headache? You looked pretty good when I left you at your house. Well, you looked really good, but that's besides the point." Roman interjected.

I clenched my teeth together. Why can't he just leave me alone?

"Your... house?" Clara tilted her head at me and the question in her eyes was as clear as day. Clara knew that I didn't like anyone at my house, besides her. We had been friends for years before I finally invited her over for the first time.

"Leave it." I muttered to her, and she raised her eyebrows as if to say we'll continue this later.

While Clara and I were having our silent exchange, it seems the two boys didn't wait for an invitation to join us. They climbed up the stairs, coming onto the stage. Samuel walked straight to Clara, sitting down beside her. Roman came to my side, but instead of sitting beside me, he sat on the picnic table right behind me. He had his legs open, and he was so close to me that I could see each of his feet on either side of me.

I took a deep breath as I smelled the cologne that I recognized from yesterday. I cursed it in my mind as I wondered why he had to smell so good. Why he had to look so good, too.

"What are you girls doing?" Samuel asked Clara, taking her pen out of her hands. I noticed the way Clara's eyes sparkled at his actions. It was the same sparkle that had been missing from her eyes all day.

"It's a secret." Clara breathed, flicking her blonde hair behind her shoulder. "I'm afraid you don't have the security clearance to know."

"It's Mr. Micheals bullshit assignment. You remember the one, you bailed and made me do it all." Roman spoke out, seemingly reading our work from over me.

"Oh, interesting. That's what Lilly did too." Clara raised her eyebrows at me.

I almost jumped at the feeling of my hair moving, apparently of its own accord. It only took me a second to realize it was Roman who moved it. He gathered it in his hand, moving it away from my ear. He leaned in close to me, so close that only I could hear what he was saying.

"Is that true, Lilac? I thought you took your studies more seriously." Roman whispered, he was so close to me that I could feel his breath. Then, just as quick as he leaned into me, he leaned back.

I was stunned into silence. Mainly, by the fact that his actions took me by complete surprise. But also, because the way his voice sounded left goosebumps on my skin.

I looked up, meeting Clara's eyes once again. I could tell she was fighting laughter, no doubt having watched every second of that interaction.

"What are you guys doing tonight?" Samuel saved me by saying. I went to open my mouth to answer, but Clara beat me to it.

"We're busy... unless you can convince me not to be." She said, her voice sounding as smooth as silk.

I felt my eyebrows lower, and my hand raising in the air, like I was saying what are you doing? Clara only winked back at me.

"No, I think we're just busy, period. We have plans." I added, shaking my head at Clara.

"Plans with who? Your boyfriends?" Roman asked from behind me, and I could tell by his voice that he had leaned towards me again.

"Maybe." I said, and although a part of me wanted to scoot away from him, the other parts of me didn't.

"We have a fight tonight. You should come." Samuel said, and I noticed the way he only looked at Clara.

"We can't." I muttered.

"What's in it for us?" Clara said at the same time, fluttering her lashes.

I sighed, shaking my head again.

"It's a good time, you'll see." Samuel told Clara, laughing at our contradicting answers. "Your boyfriends might not like it though."

"Well, what they don't know won't hurt them." Clara flirted back, and I wanted to bury my head in my hands.

Samuel passed Clara his phone, and I noticed the way their hands touched as if it was on purpose. I had to focus on breathing while she entered her number into it, so I didn't shout at her instead. She was being stupid. She was being reckless, she had to know that.

Samuel leaned to her then, whispering into her ear. I wanted to watch his mouth and try and see what he was saying, but a voice in my own ear distracted me.

"You should come tonight, Lilac. If you do, I'll show you how a real man is supposed to act. I promise you, one night with me and you'll wonder why the hell you ever gave that loser the time of day."