When the day ends, I meet Breanna and Evan at the locker. Thankfully, Rose is nowhere to be seen so I maintain the calm composure I have been practicing since my conversation with Chris. The intensity that radiates off him, shook me inside and made me question how did I ever stand up to him. Honestly, I am starting to doubt my conversations with him.

Maybe, I should have just let it go rather than asking him to apologise.

"Where are you lost?" Evan asks, closing his locker and I shrug, my biology book in my hand.

"Thinking." I mumble.

Breanna frowns from behind me, "You're acting weird, Adriana. If I didn't know better, I would say that a guy has been occupying all your thoughts." She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively and I cringe.

"There's a lot more to life than stupid boy drama." I say and Evan grins.

"Good to have you back on track, An. I thought I lost you for a moment."

Evan is aware that I run away from complications where boys are involved, but lately, the blows have been coming right to my face, being unavoidable.

"Geez, thanks Evan." I say, making him grin wider.

His smile annoys me sometimes. But have you seen at how breathtaking it is? I close my eyes and take a deep breath before turning to Breanna.

"You ready to go, Bri?" I ask and she nods, slinging her bag over her shoulders.

Evan frowns at my words, "You going home with her?" He asks, scowling.

Wait, am I misreading something here? He was the one who asked me to catch a ride with Breanna. Maybe he only meant it for the morning. But before I get my hopes up, I pose the question.

"You not driving Rose back?" I ask and he looks a little confused, but nods nonetheless.

"But I never asked you to get a ride back home. You can still come along." He says and I ignore the amount of hurt his words bring me.

"You didn't have to ask that after last night, Evan. It was implied, and anyway, I don't want to third wheel." I shrug before catching Breanna's arm and dragging her to the parking lot.

Breanna doesn't say anything, because she knows I wouldn't talk about it. It hurts her, I know, that I keep myself so shut down but even Evan has grown used to it, and she needs to accept it someday as well. He doesn't pushes me to talk, yes, he asks.. once, and then he knows that the moment I feel like things are overwhelming me, I'll just give him a text to come over.

We would then watch a movie and he'll sleep on the floor while I'll take the bed. It was a routine.

-

Chris and I didn't have any other encounters for the whole week, and it's only because as soon as I saw him, I ran in the other direction. I have been ignoring him, and it's a good thing because he doesn't give a damn about me, so he hasn't tried to say anything either.

I just assumed that he didn't tell anyone about the bleachers, because if he had, it would have spread by the whole school by now. So, I am thankful for that. I haven't told about it to Breanna or Evan either, because it's nothing important. Yes, I had the first smoke drag, but that was just it. It was Chris' cigarette, but no big deal, right? We still hate each other.

Tonight is the first game of the season and the whole school is hyped about it, going crazy about the party afterwards. Evan and Breanna have been dragging me to those since Sophomore year, but I have only been drunk a couple of times in my life, and I've never been a fan. Again, because, I fear the consequences.

"Can't believe it's the first game of the senior year already." Evan says as we eat lunch, Rose leaning on his shoulder. I know their hands are connected beneath the table, and that's something all I can think about.

"I know right? First party to get trashed at!" Breanna grins.

"I am not bearing with either of you after you get drunk." I say, putting up my hands in defeat.

Evan chuckles, "You won't have to. I don't plan on getting drunk tonight."

I glare at him to fess him up but then I notice Rose blushing at what Evan just said. It takes me a moment to process it, but as soon as I do, I start coughing out so loudly that the whole cafeteria turns towards me.

Evan was planning on screwing his girlfriend tonight, just great! And the whole cafeteria is staring at me — exactly what I needed!

Breanna immediately pushes a water bottle in my direction and I gulp a lot of it in one go. Everyone goes back to what they were doing except a particular someone whose gaze I can feel on myself. I look over at Chris who's smirking, looking directly at me.

So much for avoiding him.

I know why he has that smug look on his face, because it reminds him of how I coughed after the cigarette. Color rises to my cheeks as I avert my gaze from him and notice Evan and Breanna staring at me, obviously witnessing what just happened.

"What?" I ask the two of them.

"Evan just asked you twice whether you were alright." Rose says and I give out an apologetic look.

"Sorry, and yes, I am alright." I say.

Evan doesn't stop looking at me and when Breanna leaves early for the class with Rose, because they both share AP Calculus, he focuses whole his attention on me. Rose is in a junior year, but she's really smart.

"Are you nervous about the game tonight?" I ask and he doesn't say anything in response, looking straight into my eyes.

"What was that about?" He shoots back and I frown.

"What?" I ask, trying to play innocent even though I know what he's referring at.

"Chris and you, what's going on between the two of you?" He asks.

Why would he immediately assume that there's something going on between the two of us? The only thing we have in common is the hatred for each other. Okay maybe not hate, but we dislike each other a lot. Evan knows me better than that, and his assumption almost sounds like an accusation to me. But then, I shouldn't overreact.

"Nothing." I say, simply.

He scoffs, "You're kidding me, right? Of course there's something. You are lying to me." He says and I frown, his words saddening me but annoying me at the same time.

"Well, you shouldn't assume now, should you?" I snap.

Just as I am about to stand, he takes ahold of my wrist, stopping me and I sigh, looking at him. "I am sorry, that sounded like an accusation. But An, I know you. You would never come up to tell me anything on your own unless I question you about it. As much as I respect you for that, it also hurts me sometimes because I am your best friend. I am supposed to know things about you, you know?" He sounds so sincere that I almost feel guilty for being the way I am.

I nod, understanding where he's coming from, "It's okay, I am sorry too. But trust me, there's nothing going on between him and I." I tell him and it looks like he wants to argue, but he just nods, letting go of it.

"Will you be at game tonight?" He asks and I smile.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, you know it." I say and his smile appears, almost knocking me over.

The rest of the day goes eventless and I mentally thank god for it. Breanna and I go to my place, where she keeps her overnight bag as we order lunch. We both end up slouching on couch through a movie before she literally kicks me to stand up.

"You're very annoying, you know?" I grumble and she grins.

"We have to look hot. I want to at least make out tonight."

"You would have a guy offering you that even if you go to the party in pjs." I say, meaning it.

Breanna was gorgeous, like her blonde hair were not the ones that make your eyes hurt, just the amount of blonde that made them the best. Her features were sharp enough to stand out than ordinary and she had curves just in the right places.

I was actually checking her out.

Nice.

"You done?" She asks me when we reach the room and I smile.

"I am settling on jeans and a nice tank top." I say and she nods, showing me her floral print dress. "Hot." I comment and she smiles.

As we start to get ready, Breanna and I talk about the most random things. She tells me how she's trying to smooth out things with her step mother to have a positive family environment that would be less stressful for her father, who has anxiety issues.

"Look, I saw you blush today when you looked at Chris, and I am aware you blush easily, but it didn't look like nothing. If there's something, and you don't tell me, I would seriously take offence in that." She says as she puts on the concealer beneath her eyes.

Why are the two people who despite my lack of sharing know me the best just assuming things? I sigh and turn towards her, ready to tell her something honestly.

"Nothing's going on between the two of us. I have talked to that guy four times, and each time it was an argument. I promise you, Bri, if, god forbid, anything happens I would tell you. And yes, I hate talking about myself but well, you can at least benefit the entertainment out of the boy drama, if there's any." I shrug, trying to bring her some sense of peace and she grins at me.

"That's like my girl."

My windows are shut and curtains are drawn because I hate when Evan tries to talk to us through window while we get ready. But, I think he didn't come back to his place today. He mentioned taking a shower in the school itself and Rose staying back as well. I lost my interest after that was mentioned.

"You look different, nicer than your shabby school look." Breanna comments once I am done putting the black liner on the upper lid.

She's right though. I go to school like I have been forced to get out of bed, which is also true. But I don't put effort in that. Today, my hair are down and brown waves meeting somewhere in the middle of my back. My eyes are lined with kohl and eye liner, and I have the slightest hint of lip gloss. Olive green tank top that I am wearing is plain with a little lace around the neck and I have paired it with dark blue jeans, and that, with my converse.

That's as far as I go.

"You ready?" I ask, looking at her and she looks beautiful, just like always. Just her make up makes her look a little prettier than she does in school normally.

"Yup. Let's go! I know you would hate to miss even a second of the game." She smiles and we lock the house behind ourselves as we hop in the car.

When we reach the inner court, we take a seat at the bleachers and Rose joins us five minutes later. She looks really beautiful, because she's an attractive girl but also because she's wearing a beautiful black dress, and her hair are curled at the ends.

I notice the cheerleading squad, and notice Caitlyn shooting me an eye which makes me frown. But as soon as the team enters, everyone starts cheering for them.

Evan's eyes roam around the bleachers and when he spots us, I notice the way his eyes linger at Rose, a smile forming on his face before he waves at us and we wave back.

Since the captain are yet to be announced, Coach asks Chris to step forward to initiate the game. I don't understand a lot of technicalities about the game, but yes, I understand enough to know who's winning and who's losing. It was obvious by the first round that Highland Park would be winning. Everyone cheers loudly and I notice Evan give a high-five to Chris to does the same.

"We are going to leave, alright? Tell Evan to find us at the party." I tell Rose and she nods, smiling.

After I drag Breanna to the car, she gets in and immediately turns towards me, "You always wait for him after the game!" She yells and I try not to wince.

"Rose is waiting for him." I point out and she starts the car, driving out and leading to Omar's party. He's a guy on the team, filthy rich.

"That's something you do, Adrianna! What's going on with you?" She asks, sounding pissed and I sigh, trying to find the words to explain it to her.

I want to say nothing, but I know it would only piss her off more. So I recollect my thoughts and come up with the only explanation that I know would get through her.

"Imagine having a boyfriend, Bri. And then imagine that he has a best friend, who has been there in his life since childhood. They are inseparable to the point that he does things like drive her to and from the school, he spends weekends at her place and she waits for him after every game of his. Wouldn't you be hurt? Because those are the things you, as his girlfriend should be sharing with him. Just let that feeling sink in, alright? And imagine what that would feel like." I say, letting out a breath.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if she still doesn't understand it. I don't expect anyone to, but it's something I feel. Rose makes Evan happy, and that's the only thing that matters to me and I would never do anything to come in between that. They weren't this serious before, but now I can actually see their relationship heading somewhere, so I am taking a step back.

"I get it. But—" she starts but I shake my head.

"But nothing. I would never want a girl that my best friend likes to feel insecure in their relationship just because I matter in his life. I know my place, I always will and I am secure about it. I don't need to challenge anyone else's insecurity because I am his best friend." I say and she nods, giving me a smile.

"You're way too selfless, Adria. That ass is lucky to have you." She says and I smile.

Or maybe I am too selfish. I am stepping away because I cannot bear to see him choose someone else over me. So, instead of giving him the choice, I remove the option itself. I step away because the day Evan chooses another person, that might certainly be my breakdown point.

•••

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