"Great job, dad. You really missed the hole with that one."

"See if you can do any better. These sticks are defective."

I lean over the table, pool stick in hand before easily striking the cue.

"Two in," I smirk, "Would you like to use mine?"

He huffs at my arrogance but loses ammunition fast.

"No time, here she is." My father walks past me with a dumb smile on his face. He greets a woman whose neck is draped in diamonds. If he put a collar on you, you must be pretty special.

Hell, if he's introducing me to you, you must be pretty special.

They start walking toward me, and I make sure I'm stood straight up with my clothes neatly pressed.

"Vivian, this is my son, Trevor."

She looks at me as if she's just seen a ghost.

"How's it going?" I reach out to shake her oddly unsteady hand.

"...it's nice to finally meet you. Your father has told me so much."

"Try not to believe him," I wink, and she shifts her eyes quickly.

Vivian, I'm aware that I can be a tad intimidating, but this is ridiculous.

"I'll go get us some drinks. Please, have a seat," he pulls out a chair at the nearest table.

"Nothing strong, honey. It's early."

"Okay, dear," his hands brush down her arms as he kisses her temple.

Revolting, truly.

Vivian sits quietly at the table, and I go over and join her. If I didn't know any better...I'd think she was keeping her head low to avoid eye contact.

"Say, don't I know you from somewhere?" I analyze her face despite her best efforts to hide it.

"No, I don't think so."

"You look insanely familiar."

"Your father may have a picture of me lying around," she suggests.

"No, he's not one for photo keeping."

"Well...I've been in New York for a while now. We may have seen each other around."

"That doesn't sound right either. I'm seeing sun— in my mind, it's your face in natural light. I just can't place it exactly."

"I guess I just have one of those faces. We've never met."

I snap my fingers, "the wedding."

"Oh, no."

"A few summers ago, I did know you...intimately." Someone from my dad's company had a beautiful, outside wedding in California. I remember the smell of flowers, the heat on my face, and Vivian dragging me into the empty, master bedroom and letting me have my way with her up against the dresser with the curtains of the balcony pulled open.

"Please, Trevor— I wasn't aware of your age or who you were or who your father was for that matter. I had too many glasses of champagne, and weddings make me lonely and vulnerable." Let's hope you never marry my father, then.

"It's so funny reacquainting this way, isn't it?" I smile, "small world."

"If your father finds out-"

"He'd blame me and hate me a little more than he already does."

"You won't tell him?"

"What's the fun in that?"

"Thank you."

"Besides, it will be so interesting having you around the house. It could use a feminine touch."

"I'll stay out of your way."

"You don't have to. We've shared so much already."

We both fall quiet when my dad arrives with the drinks.

"I trust you've kept yourselves entertained in my absence."

"We were just talking about how much you love Trevor," Vivian lies. There goes everything I need to know about her.

"Yes, my only son. Dear to my heart, he is," my dad lies. Match made in heaven.

"Sound more robotic, could you?" I say sarcastically. "And, orange juice? Why'd you bring me that?"

"Because the legal drinking age is 21. What kind of father would I be if I fed my underage son alcohol?"

"Mine..."

Believe me, dad, she knows I drink. We clinked glasses before clinking bodies.

"Hey," I smile and put my arms around him.

He lets me give him a short kiss. "Hey, Heather."

"Are you trying to hide? I've been looking for you all morning."

"I've been here."

"Well, good morning, anyway. How are you?"

He shrugs a shoulder, "you know."

"You know," I playfully roll my eyes. "Should I come over today and actually tutor you this time?"

He takes in a sharp breath, "I don't think so, Heather. I have to study for the exam, and you'll just distract me."

"Oh...that's okay. Do you want me to write down some study points?"

"You can."

"...are we going to talk later?"

"I'll call you," he nods.

"Well, don't go out of your way to do it." Leo furrows his eyebrows. "I guess I'll get to class then..."

"Everything alright?"

"Fine," I press my lips into a line. "Oh, and-" I take a muffin out of my bag and put it in his hand, "this is why I was looking for you. It wasn't to bother you...I just know you skip breakfast sometimes."

"Blueberry," he looks at it, "thanks."

"It's nothing." I start to leave.

"See you."

"Right...see you."

Oh, no...

Even when we didn't like each other, you never gave me the cold shoulder.

And why is the coldest thing about that conversation the fact that you only called me by name?

You were hiding.

The uneasy feeling in my stomach crawled its way up to give me that sick feeling in my face. I take deep breaths and keep walking, hoping I don't visibly look like I want to curl up in a corner.

It's all in my head...

He's probably tired and doesn't feel like talking...and it would've taken too much energy to look me in the eye...

Who am I kidding? I'm an idiot...I said it too soon.

"I'm sensing morning sickness, Blakely. Don't tell me he knocked you up."

"Leave me alone, Jace."

"What's the matter? First big fight?"

"Would you drop it, please?"

"Is he brushing you off?"

"Mind your business."

Jace laughs, "he is, isn't he? No making up for you."

"We didn't fight."

"Oh, he must be bored then." I roll my eyes. "I'm guessing you've already had sex. Nothing left to look forward to, it's all downhill from here."

"Shut up," I stop in the middle of the hall.

"It's a fair warning, Heather. A guy will tell you anything you want to hear if it gets you to pry those knees apart."

"He's not like you."

"Oh, really? What's the difference? The fact that I could like you for more than a month?"

My breath hitches in my throat and stays there— a building sob waiting for the tears to finally drop. I hold back, digging my nails into my palms to feel something else, "fuck you," I said harshly but diluted my words with hot tears.

"Shit...Heather," Jace backs away cautiously like sudden movement will make me cry harder. "I'm sorry. Since when do you listen to anything I say?"

He tries to put his hand on my shoulder, but I pull away and scowl. "Stay away from me," I step back further and further from him, "stop talking to me. Leave me the hell alone."

"Should I find one of your friends? Is this one of those meeting in the girls' restroom times?" Jace yells down the hall, "...are you going to stop crying when you get there?"

"Hey, Ethan!"

My eyes meet the strange girl the excited voice belongs to.

"Oh, hi..."

"Natalie," she says.

"Yes, Natalie," I respond as if I recognize her.

"I'm with the Addington Press, can I ask you a few questions?"

"Me?"

"Well, I'm asking all the nominees for King and Queen of hearts."

"Oh, the ball thing," I say in realization. "I'm nominated?" School news doesn't make it to me anymore. Nothing in my mind registers other than Carnal and contracts and sometimes Elizabeth.

"Of course," Natalie says as if it's an obvious scenario.

"Interesting...no point in interviewing me though. Trevor's going to win, he always does."

"He's not nominated."

"...and I am?"

"Between you and me, most of 'the greats' have fallen. The vote isn't for the biggest embarrassment— it's for the most popular, and the best looking, and the most impressive."

In other words, Trevor lost out when he was momentarily out of action.

"Understandable."

"I think you're going to win, and there's always a column in the school paper about these things. The people want to know who they're voting for."

"Okay, sure, why not?" I say, "just make me look good."

"You don't need me for that," she laughs before her comment could make this awkward. "The first question is an easy one."

"I'm ready," I motion for her to proceed.

"Do you have a date?"

"No, it will just be me."

"In that case, who do you want your queen of hearts to be?"

"Who's nominated? Actually— don't answer that, I don't want to pick favorites."

"What will you do if you win?"

I furrow my eyebrows, "Is there a prize other than the crown?"

"Roses...chocolates...admiration."

"Then, I suppose I'll thank my fans— or, change that to friends, I don't want to sound cocky."

"Friends, got it," she writes it on her notepad. "And, why should we vote for you?"

"Because...because..." I shake my head, "why don't you make something up for me, you seem like a girl who's good with words."

"I am," Natalie smiles.

"See, I need you to make me look good, after all."

I leave her shy and smiling as I start down the stairs.

"Ethan-" she calls, and I turn around to face her. "You have my vote. I was always going to vote for you."

"Thank you, I'll remember that."

"And— since you don't have a date..." I should have anticipated this. "Will you go with me?"

"Uh-"

"You're right, of course not. That was a stupid question, my mistake-"

Ah, fine, what the hell.

"Sure, I'll take you."

"You will?"

"Slide your address into my locker. I've got to go, um-"

"Natalie."

"Yes, Natalie."

I wave her off before continuing down the stairs to the car waiting for me.

"Sorry for the delay," I climb into the back seat, "let's get going, shall we?"

"Who was that?" Elizabeth questions.

"Who was who?"

"The girl you were talking to."

"Oh, Addington Press, masquerade date—Natalie, she said."

"Date?"

"That's right."

"Lucky you," she clasped her hands in contempt.

You still don't know what you want from me. Natalie asked directly.

I walk through the doors, and my mom immediately blocks me from going any further.

"No, leave, now."

"Mom, I'm starving."

"There is food at home, go."

"No, there's not."

"I do the grocery shopping. I know what's in my kitchen, Leo. You're trying to find a loophole to be with your friends," she crosses her arms.

"I came here just so you'd know I'm following your crazy rules and not going anywhere without your permission."

"You don't have my permission to be here."

"I just want a sandwich."

"Leonardo Rylin."

"Isabel Rylin."

She takes a deep breath, and I can tell she's counting to ten in her head. "You eat and then you leave."

"I know," my arms wave in annoyance. I can't wait until these two weeks are up.

"Took you long enough," Danny sighs when I get to the table.

"Sorry."

"So, come on, where's the fire?" Matt asks.

"There's no fire...I'm just— I don't know what I am, I'm spiraling or something."

"About what? What happened?"

"So...Heather comes over yesterday after school..."

"Oh, a little house arrest action, eh," Matt raises his eyebrows up and down.

"Exactly."

"But you didn't call us here to announce that you and your girlfriend are doing it regularly now," Danny shakes his head.

"No, I called because while we were having sex, Heather said she loved me."

I watch the expressions on their face turn to surprise and bemusement.

"Is that a good thing?" Matt questions...and I shrug in response.

"...Well, what did you say?" Danny adds.

"...nothing? I just kept going."

"She didn't press you for a response?"

"No, it was like nothing happened," I say exasperatedly. "Do you think she meant it?"

Danny nods, "Of course-"

Matt shakes his head, "Not at all-"

They exchange looks before facing me again.

"She meant it-"

"No-"

"Look," Danny huffs, "you've been going with her for a couple months, right? You're attached at the fucking tongue, so why doubt it? She a hundred percent meant it. Matt doesn't know shit about shit."

"I know my girlfriend didn't just dump me for not knowing how to love someone," he sneered.

"Because you never have a fucking girlfriend!"

Penny comes up to our table with her signature disregard for customer service. "What do you guys want?"

"Ugh," I lay my head on the cold surface of the table.

"And do you want a drink with that?"

"He's having woman troubles," Matt tells her.

She laughs, "I knew boyfriend Leo was just a guest star and not a recurring character."

"Boyfriend Leo is doing fine, his girlfriend loves him," Danny says defensively.

"I don't know if she loves me. She said it at a questionable time," I whine.

"What's a questionable time? Were you speeding down the road at 120 mph with your brakes failing?"

"No, we were naked and preoccupied."

"She said 'I love you' during sex?"

"Yeah."

"Wow, well...that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Sex is intimate, it's a great time to say it...probably not for the first time but— it could mean she really loves you..." Penny advises, and for a second I agree with her. "That or she was at the peak of an orgasm."

"Ugh," I put my head down again.

"Was she?" Penny sits next to me. It goes without saying, and she gasps. "Good job, Leo!"

"This is not the time," I complain. I don't want applause, getting your girl off once is a bare minimum. Do it again— she'll give you more than applause...do it again, she might tell you she loves you.

"Do you know how statistically low it is for women to reach climax in heterosexual relationships?"

"Yeah, Meg Ryan warned us in When Harry Met Sally," Matt says excitedly. "Practice makes perfect, though."

"I don't want to know what inanimate objects you violated, Matthew." I hear Penny sigh before I feel her hand sympathetically rubbing my back. "Leo..."

"Yes?"

"Want some pie?"

"Yes."

"Wanna ask your girlfriend if she loves you?"

"No."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Wanna tell her that?"

"Penny!" The manager calls out. "You're on the clock!"

"Can I ask you something?" Aaron says as I sift through the packet for yellow skittles.

"Shoot."

"What's the deal with you and Evan?"

"Deal?" I pop one into my mouth. "There's no deal."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, why would you ask that?"

Aaron shrugs, "he still likes you, and you hang out with him a lot so-"

"I don't hang out with him that much. I mean— yeah, he's been around more, but it's only because I wanted to know everything was okay with him after the whole coming out situation."

"Really?"

"You've seen the after school specials. When someone is forced out, something bad always happens they— do drugs, bring a gun to school, or go goth."

"Goth Evan would be a bad thing," he nods.

"Goths are great. Goth jocks?" I shake my head in disapproval, "Against nature."

"So...you're over him? Completely?"

"Completely. Been there, done that, too many times."

"Okay, I just didn't want you to use me to make him jealous or anything. I like you."

"I like you too. I hit on you first, remember?"

"Yeah, but Evan said you mentioned us hooking up a while before we ever even hung out." I was hoping you forgot that part.

"Wishful thinking..."

"Zach's so cool," Aaron teases.

I shrug with sarcastic confidence, "What can I say?"

"Well, if you're not interested in the goth jock...and you don't mind being seen with a slightly older, less cool, minimum wage working, amateur artist with no known allergies...I'd like to take you off the market."

"Are you proposing to me right now?"

He laughs and reaches behind him. I hear the sound of his fingers rummaging through something, and when he shows me his hand, he's holding a unicorn.

"Zach, will you wear this button and tell people it means we're dating?"

"We're going to be those guys, huh?"

"I think so," he nods.

"In that case..." I go to the pail and take out a button too, "should we exchange vows or?"

"Aw, a puppy," he smiles when I pin it to his shirt

"This is where we say 'I do,' right?"

"And—" Aaron looks around the store, "If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Customers glance at us for a moment but then continue to ignore.

I laugh, "peace is held."

"Mhm," he leans down to kiss me.

I tap my pencil against my notebook. "Static equilibrium...net force...calculating net force..." I sigh and rub my eyes, "or...calling Heather."

I'll ask her if 'I love you' means 'I love you' even when her legs are wrapped around me.

What's the worse she could say?"

"You're still awake?" My mom asks when I step out of my room.

"I'm going to bed soon," I reach for the phone.

"What do you think you're doing?" She snatches it off its post. "No phone calls, remember?"

"Oh, my god, mom. I'm calling Heather." She gives me a look of disbelief. "I'm calling Heather, I swear. I don't know how to calculate net force, so I need to talk to her."

"Heather?"

"Unless you know how to do it," I say frustratedly and hold my hand out.

"Her and no one else," she gives me the phone.

"Thank you, good night."

Now stop breathing down my neck since you're nowhere near understanding enough to hear the things I need to talk about.

I look over my shoulder to check if she's gone, and then I take the phone into my room.

It rings for longer than usual.

I guess, it is pretty late...

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's Leo."

"Hi..."

"I told you I'd call."

"I told you that you didn't have to," Heather says in a solemn tone.

"I wanted to...I want to talk to you."

"Oh...okay."

"Don't sound so nervous," I smile. "What do you think is about to happen?"

"We're fine...aren't we?"

"Are you serious? Yeah, we're fine, butterfly. More than that."

She sighs in relief, "good."

"You were worried?"

"It's been a bad day..." she admits.

"I just need to ask you something." I take her silence as an opening. "Remember when you were over here last time, and we were-"

"Yes, I remember. I was there," she cuts me off quickly, and I realize there's a possibility her parents are listening in on another line.

"Do you remember what you said to me?"

"Maybe."

"Is that a 'yes?'"

"I knew that's why you were acting so weird today."