~FlAsHbAcK~

The three males sat in the living room, just like they did when planning their Halloween costumes. Gio was still slightly salty as Brandon, though he would never show it.

"Gio I need you to do something for me." Brandon spoke as he sat on the couch next to Chris. Ready to please, Giovanni asked what he needed to do. "I changed my mind, you aren't gonna try to come to the party." Gio felt his heart sink. He was told that he could try to convince Connor to forgive him for the whole Christmas Eve ditch and that he could hang out with him at the party so he wouldn't distract Genevieve.

"What..." For once his smile dropped as he truly felt sad at the sudden change.

"Yeah, it would probably be a problem if the others saw you. I think (Y/n) might recognize you and I just don't want the trouble so you should stay home or something." He didn't even give Gio the courtesy of looking him in the eye when he told him this news.

"I have to use the bathroom" He announced as he stood up. Brandon gave him a quick glance and Gio walked away. He was beginning to tear up when he saw himself on the mirror. He then thought of something, what if he invited Connor over to his house? This would please Brandon, and maybe, get back on his good side!

~FlAsHbAcK eNd~

The week between Christmas and the New Year came and went for the teens, and they had already planned to spend their New Years Eve at a party one of their classmates was throwing.

-

Connor sat on Genevieve's bed as her and (Y/n) got ready for the party.

The plan was that Brandon and Chris were going to meet them at the party, and Allison will pick up Lainy and Beth. Most of the time they all wished one of them owned a school bus so they could all get a round. Jackson would pick up the trio at Genevieve's.

Connor groaned as he listened to the girls gossip about the people who would be there and how crowded they all thought it would be. He groaned again, louder as they continued to ignore him. (Y/n) finally rolled her eyes and turned around. "What's wrong, Connor?"

"Oh nothing! You wouldn't care anyway~" He flopped down and shoved his face into a pillow.

"What a drama king!" Genevieve said as she walked over and slapped his thigh. "Ol'Yellen here is still heartbroken over his man blowing him off on Christmas Eve." She giggled.

"Aww, Connor forget him man, he was just a dude. Besides it was weird anyway that you fell for someone you tutored."

"HE WASN'T WEIRD!" Connor yelled, though it was muffled from the pillow. "HE WAS CUTE! Yeah sure he smiles a lot BUT HE WAS SUPER NICE!" This fact struck (Y/n) for a moment.

"Smiles a lot?" She tried to recall someone who claimed they "smiled a lot" because of a condition. After a few mimutes of silence she disregarded the message. "Maybe he really did have to go to his aunts! You never know, has he texted you?"

"Eh..." Connor rose from the pillow. "He hasn't texted me, but even if he DID... I wouldn't answer." The two females exchanged eye contact and tried to not laugh as they continued to get ready.

About half an hour later they are heading to Jackson's car when Connor gets a call. "Bro answer it in the car we're gonna be late to meet up with the group." Genevieve pulled on her friend but he didnt budge.

"Its him..." He stood in awe at his name as if phone buzzed.

"Dude come on..." (Y/n) pleaded as she stood with one foot in Jackson's car. He, too, was trying to get Connor to move, but or no avail.

"Just hold on! There isn't a set time that you need to be at a party." He took a deep breath and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"Connor! I'm so sorry to call you at random, but I was wondering... Do you have any plans for tonight?" Connor couldn't believe it, he was both flattered and in shock. Maybe he did care about him, maybe he really DID like him and was actually sorry for bail- "I really need help with Math again and I have a huge tests the day we get back." Connor's face dropped, he couldn't believe it.

"Are you kidding me..."

"N-no..." Gio began to nervous smile from the tone. "I really would appreciate it, especially today cause my family is gonna be busy tomorrow and I won't be able to study. I'll even pay you!" He was met with silence, which made him scared. The two females and male watched as Connor stood in pure anger and disbelief. "I-i also don't have anyone to spend new years with. I didn't want to say that..." The whole atmosphere shifted and even the girls could tell by the look in Connor's eye that he was not angry anymore.

"Andrew... You could've just said that man." There was a moment of silence between the two when Connor thought of something. "Hey why don't you come along with me and my friends to a party?" The three friends couldn't believe he just said that, they were already late as it was! Genevieve looked over to (Y/n) and mouthed the word 'SIMP' earning a chuckle from the couple in the car.

"Connor you know I'm afraid of meeting your friends... I don't want to impose! Please just come over today..." The desperation in his voice was getting to Connor, he was close to breaking. He began to contemplate what he would lose if he rejected his request, did he really have anything to gain from going to the party? He figured he would mostly fifth wheel to Genevieve and (Y/n) with their boyfriends. Beth, Allison, and Lainy are always fun to hang out with, but now that Lainy has Chris he would for sure third wheel with the remaining females. He finally decided that spending his new years with Andrew was better than spending it with his friends, who would most likely blow him off anyway.

"You know what, Andrew?" Genevieve and (Y/n) got ready for him to tell him off, to have this huge empowering moment where he would tell him that he didn't need to drop everything for him and would hang up and they would all go to the party and have the night of their lives! "I'll be there soon!" Jaws dropped at his words, he was being ridiculous, they thought. He said goodbye and he looked at the girls.

"What the fuck, Connor? We had this night planned since the day after Christmas and you're just gonna throw it away for some guy?!" Genevieve scolded her friend, angered by his decision.

"Well its not like I'll even have fun at that place! You two will be with your boyfriends, and even if you weren't, I would probably third wheel you two." The two felt a bit guilty by the truth in that statement. "Its fine, ok? You guys will have fun without me, and you'll tell me all the details afterwards, alright?" He smiled and began to walk to Andrew's house.

"W-wait!" (Y/n) yelled to him. Jackson knew where this was going, and braced himself to be asked the dreaded phrase. "C-could we at least give you a ride there?" Connor turned around, looking at his friends. (Y/n) looked at Jackson, "I'll pay you for the gas money, I just don't want him walking there by himself." Jackson chuckled at her statement.

"No need to pay me, babe, its fine." He stuck his head out the window. "Yeah c'mon Connor, I mean who knows how far this guys house is. You might not even make it to his house until next year!" Jackson laughed at his own joke at the rest of the group groaned. Connor yelled a thank you in reply and ran to the car.

-

"Oh this one right here." Connor spoke as they pulled up to the house. He said his goodbyes, throwing in a "See ya next year!" joke as he got out of the car. The three waved goodbye to him as he walked away, but they were going to make sure he got in the house before they left.

Gio opened the door wide to greet his friend. Connor smiled and said hello but then did the worst thing he probably could've ever done. He moved to the side and called attention to his friend. He called out to the vehicle and they all looked over to Gio, which automatically made him terrified. What if (Y/n) recognized him, he doesn't look much different from when he was a little kid. What if Genevieve did! Connor only did that to prove to Genevieve that he was real, since she had sometimes poked fun that he wasn't real since he never wants to hang out with them. Gio quickly waved and stepped aside so Connor could come into the house, and slammed the door shut as quick as he could. His heart was racing and he knew the two females saw his face.

"Did... Did he look familiar Genevieve?" (Y/n) spoke as she stared at the house door. They started to drive away which tore her view of the house away.

"Huh? I mean a little bit, but he was probably just a dude who went to middle school with us or something." She was distracted by her phone, as she was texting Brandon. "This town is quite small, (Y/n)."

~