"Order a pizza," I toss a handful of popcorn at Matt.

"You order it," he throws back a couple of pieces.

"You're the one with a pocket full of cash," I argue.

"I'll order it," Leo shrugs happily, "a large pepperoni? Two?"

"I can go half with you," Matt suggests.

"Don't worry about it."

I snicker at his response. Leo doesn't spend money like this...he's always saving for no reason in particular. He only blows money on music and movies by Wes Craven or Stephen King.

But he's been on some sort of sugar high ever since I gave him that newspaper.

"I didn't take your stupid hairbrush!" We all hear Zach shout as Peyton starts chasing him back to where we are in the living room.

"Then where is it!" Peyton yells.

"I don't care!" Zach tries to stand his ground, but Peyton pushes him and he crashes into the side of the couch.

I told him she was a bitch.

"Oh," she takes a deep breath, "hey, boyfriend," she says to Leo, and he nods at her instead of actually saying anything. "Come hang with me," she holds her hand out for him to take, "you can help me get ready."

"No thanks," he shakes his head.

the look on her face is almost as priceless as the look on Matt and Zach's faces.

"Okay..." Peyton furrows her eyebrows and walks back toward her room or wherever.

"What the fuck was that?" Matt speaks up, "did you really say 'no' to watching her change?"

"Shut up, Matt," Leo said in amusement.

"Are you sick?" He puts his hand on Leo's forehead to check for a fever.

"He's sick," I nod with a smirk, "sick in love."

Leo rolls his eyes, "I'm not in love."

"Who does he love?" Matt questions and Zach just smiles like he already knows.

"Heather," Zach answers before I can.

"I don't love Heather," Leo denied.

"He thinks Heather loves him, though," I explain.

"She doesn't love me either— stop using that word," he sighs.

"What did I miss? What happened?" Zach sat on the floor by the couch and looked eagerly up at him for the full story.

Leo reaches into his pocket and takes out a folded piece of paper before handing it to Zach.

Yeah, you don't love her...you just carry poems in your pocket.

Matt reads over his shoulder as Zach's eyes intently scan over the page in his hands.

I bet Leo can recite it by heart at this point...

"You know, I gave you that because everyone said it was about Jace Kendal...I thought it would let you down easy...not make you even crazier about her," I admit.

"Why would anyone think it was about Kendal?" Leo raises an eyebrow and laughs lightly.

"I don't know," I shrug, "maybe she said it was."

"It's not."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Don't you call her that?" Zach asks and points to a word in the poem.

"Butterfly?" Leo says without looking.

"I knew it," Zach smiled to himself and kept reading.

"...Maybe it's just me...but this doesn't make sense...I mean...this line right here sounds like a Smashing Pumpkins song," Matt narrows his eyes in confusion.

"It is," Leo nods, "Track 3 on Siamese Dream. I played it for her."

"Does the other guy have blue eyes?" Zach asks randomly.

"...Jace?"

"Yeah, what color are his eyes?" He looks between Leo and me for an answer.

"I don't know...brown?" Leo responds.

"Definitely not blue?" Zach asks for reassurance.

"Not blue," I say. That guy has given me enough dirty looks for me to be sure.

"Then it's not about him," Zach hands the poem back to Leo. We all shoot a few confused glances his way, but he takes a second to notice. "...she says your eyes are seas...because...they're blue."

"How'd you catch that?" Leo says, visibly impressed.

"It's something I'd say, I guess...if eyes are the first thing you notice about someone."

"Cool," Leo smirked at the validation Zach gave him.

"What did Heather do when you told her you knew?" Matt questions.

"I didn't...and I won't."

"What?" I practically shout at him.

"I don't want to corner her and make her say she likes me...I don't want to force things," he shrugs.

"If you start dating a rich girl...will you buy us all houses on park avenue?" Matt teases.

"Maybe I don't want a girlfriend...I don't know. I haven't even seen her..."

"Why not?" Zach asks, "you might like it...being with her."

I think Leo took it to heart when his dad left his mom and married someone else. He expects every relationship to fail.

"Having a girlfriend is like having a best friend you don't have to pretend to be cool around...and they smell nice, their skin is soft, and they're pretty," I say truthfully.

"Tell that to Zach's friend," Matt chimes in.

"Evan?" Zach turns to Matt, his entire demeanor changing.

"Yeah, sorry to break it to you, man. But I think he's gay."

"Andrews!" I turn away once I'm splashed by pool water.

Jared and Riley showed up to my house and convinced my aunt that we were trying out for the swim team. I knew they were lying...Chester doesn't have a swim team...but I didn't know why they were trying to get me out for the night.

"What?" I wipe the water off my face.

"What's your deal, man?" Riley asks as he holds a girl up on his shoulders.

"I don't...feel good," I make up an excuse.

Physically I'm fine, but I know what they're trying to get me to do...

"Yeah, right," Riley snickers, "I bet he doesn't know how to swim." The people around him laugh too, but I don't care.

"It's a good thing the water doesn't go past my head then, isn't it?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Loosen up, Andrews," Jared chimes in, "he's just trying to give you a hard time."

"Do you want a beer?" Naomi, one of the South East girls suggest, "Aimee, get him a beer," she says before I can even respond.

I hear noise behind me and soon enough, Aimee, I presume, is at my side with a cold beer.

"Thanks..." I take it but don't open it, and she sits next to me at the edge. "Uh— I'm Evan," I say to shake the awkwardness.

"Aimee Lee," she says kindly.

I'm guessing she's the class president they only befriended for the keys to the school.

"Are you as bored as I am?" I chuckle.

She shrugs, "I'm used to it."

Used, is right.

"Then I feel sorry for you, " I sigh, "this is my third beer and I'm still not having any fun." Aimee smiles up at me before laughing as if what I said was a joke. "Why aren't you in the pool?"

"I'd kind of be by myself." I don't ask for elaboration, because it's obvious what she means. Even if she did try to interact with everyone...they'd brush her off.

"I can get in with you," I suggest.

"Really? You don't have to..." she says skeptically.

I chuckle, "it's no big deal." I bring my hand out for her to take so I can help her into the water, but she doesn't get a chance to accept...

"Aw...does someone have a crush? " Naomi looks over at us, "Aimee," she says deviously, "I dare you to kiss him."

I glance at her, content in the idea that she's way too shy to make that kind of move. I even almost smile in satisfaction when she inches away from me a bit.

"Um—" she keeps her head down, clearly uncomfortable.

"You know you want to," Naomi continues but scoffs in annoyance when Aimee doesn't budge. "Loser," she says under her breath, "she's never even kissed a boy...look at her."

"It looks like there's a lot she hasn't done."

Aimee turned away from me completely in embarrassment.

I would've defended her...but I just couldn't.

"I have an idea," Naomi climbed out of the pool, "Let's play...never have I ever."

"Sounds sexy, will you strip?" Rylie says suggestively.

"You wish," she purses her lips at him, "now take a cup."

My eyes practically roll to the back of my head...and yet I still join the circle.

She brought out a half-filled liter bottle of Sprite and started pouring it in our cups, but when I took a sip, I cringed at the taste of pure liquor.

"I'll go first," Naomi smiled, "Never have I ever...gave a blowjob behind the bleachers at homecoming," she looks directly at the girl sitting across from her...who glares before taking a drink from her cup.

"Okay, my turn," that same girl speaks up, "never have I ever made out with my best friend's boyfriend."

Naomi drinks along with three other girls.

"Can I go?" Rylie asks, but starts before anyone gives him an answer, "never have I ever done it in a car."

Almost everyone drank including me. The only exceptions were Aimee and Rylie, so I took two extra gulps on their behalf.

"Never have I ever gotten to second base on the first date."

Drink.

"Never have I ever made out with more than one person in a day."

Drink.

"Never have I ever messed around while someone else was in the room."

No, that's weird.

"Never have I ever had to sneak out of someone's house after hooking up."

Drink.

"Evan, your turn," I hear my name, but I don't pick my head up from where I decided to rest on the ground. "Evan...dude," Rylie laughs.

"Yeah— okay," I agree but stay lying down, "I never...hooked up— wait I did do that....uh," I close my eyes tightly and try to think past the alcohol, "never have I ever said 'I love you' without meaning it."

No one says anything...no one drinks...

"Fucking hell, man, he's drunk," Rylie breaks the silence, "fucking buzzkill," they all laugh in agreement.

"Never have I ever fooled around with someone of the same sex," Naomi starts again, "oh wait," she says slyly and takes a sip to let us know she did it.

"I'm all out," I slide my cup over.

"So, what? You gonna drink to that?" Rylie teases.

"Shut up," I sigh in annoyance and knock over the empty cup.

"No wonder she wouldn't kiss you. You're a-"

I huff as I sit up, "For fuck's sake, Aimee, come here, " I hook my hand around her face and pull her onto my lips. She gasps in surprise but makes no effort to stop me. I feel her kissing back hesitantly, trying to follow the lead of the drunken, sloppy kisses I'm leaving on her lips. I bring her in even closer to me, sealing the space between us and making things a lot heavier than I should for a girl who was nervous to even kiss me...but I have to prove a point, right?

"Now who's having a good time," Jared says through laughter when I finally move away from Aimee.

"Mmm," I groan and lay back against the ground, "he's going to be so mad at me."

"What?" Jared chuckles awkwardly, and I shake my head.

"I fucked up."

"...you must have the wrong...hotel," A tall, suited man says once he opens the door.

"Nah, Heather lives here, so..."

"Who are you might I ask?" The man crosses his arms, "what is your business with my daughter?"

"Oh..." I say in surprise, "You're Mr. Blakely," I nod and reach out to shake his hand, "I'm Leo Rylin."

"Ah," he says in familiarity with my name, "I was wondering when I'd meet you," he accepts the handshake.

"Leo?" Heather slides past her dad to see me, "I didn't know you were here."

"Thought I'd use the door this time," I say with a small smile.

"You can go now, dad," she looks over at him since instead of leaving, he just stood a few feet away.

"We've only begun to get acquainted. Perhaps I'll stay..."

Heather rolls her eyes and pulls me inside, "we're going to my room."

Well, now your dad definitely doesn't like me.

He doesn't protest, but he glares at me the whole time as I make my way through his house and to his daughter's bedroom.

It's not even what you might think, sir.

"Why didn't you call and tell me you were coming?" Heather asks once we're behind closed doors.

"It was a spur of the moment decision. I just needed to say something to you."

"...okay," she starts to get nervous.

See, this is why I don't want to bring up the poem...I don't want to make her feel anything she doesn't want to.

Though, I doubt she wanted to feel anything at all for me...so, my bad.

"I overstepped the other day when I tried to tell you what to do with Alison. It wasn't my place, and you were right, I do have this thing where I think everyone secretly needs my help," I sigh, "I should probably work on that...but it usually turns out okay...it just didn't with you...I'm sorry."

"No," Heather says sadly, "don't apologize. Now, I feel bad."

"Why do you have to be so confusing?" I laugh to myself.

"I only argued with you because I was frustrated with everyone else, and it makes me so mad when you're right."

"Why, what's wrong with me?" I say in amusement.

"You always have to be the good guy. It's so annoying not being able to win against you,"

"If I was the bad guy, that would make you even madder," I chuckle.

"I hate you," she pouts at me.

"No, you don't," I smirk at her, "so, shut up and come here," I pat the spot next to me on her bed. "You can argue with me all you want if it makes you feel better...I'll be the annoying good guy," I say once she sits next to me.

"Leo to the rescue, as usual," she teases.

"At least you know I'm always here."

"Whether I like it or not," Heather says slyly.

"You like it," I say with a smirk, and she eyes me knowingly until tension starts to build around us. When she looks away she seems almost nervous..."So—uh, how long before your dad throws me out?"

"He won't," Heather says, "stay as long as you want."

"Are you sure?" I ask for reassurance and tug on the end of her little nightgown, "you're in your PJs...I can leave."

"And go where this late?" She challenges with a sly smile, "to Amanda?"

I smirk at her assumption. She said it jokingly, but I can tell she really wants to know.

"Why would I do that?"

"Why not?"

I'll say it if you say it...

I shrug, "I don't want to go...is that okay?"

Heather sent me a pleased expression before crawling further up her bed. I watched as she got under her covers, pulling them back on the left side as an invitation for me.

I smile and begin unlacing my shoestrings so I can take off my sneakers before getting under the blankets with her.

I love that I'm not the one freaking over slight of touch anymore...when I sat next to her, closer than she thought I would, and my fingers brushed over her thigh a bit when I pulled the blanket over us...she's the one who got flustered.

We're going to make this so much harder than it has to be.

I promised myself I'd stop wanting you, and now I can't...but you'll never admit you feel the same way.

"What's wrong?" Heather asks after my gaze lingers on her a little too long.

"Nothing," I shake my head in response and look away, "what were you doing before I showed up?"

"Well," she grabs a remote from off her nightstand and turns the tv on, "I was watching Edward Scissorhands, but I turned it off when I thought I heard your voice."

I chuckle at her choice in movies, "of course, you were."

"Are you making fun of me?" She says in amusement.

"Yes," I admit and keep laughing, "I am."

"This happens to be a great movie," Heather tries to defend.

"Oh, yeah," I say sarcastically, "He has scissor hands. What's not to like?"

She scoffs, "it's a concept." I nod in fake understanding, and she playfully rolls her eyes at me. "Winona Ryder is my favorite actress, and she is stunning in this."

"Yeah, sure," I agreed indifferently.

Heather seemed surprised, "she is!"

"So, what, butterfly?" I chuckle at her response.

"Who is prettier than Winona Ryder?" She asks in disbelief.

And instead of giving her an actual answer...

I just looked at her.