It's been a week since the party, and things have been surprisingly uneventful. Chris has been preoccupying my thoughts ever since he apologised, because honestly, I never expected him to. But, he did and that was surprising as hell.

I tried to talk to him, but Caitlyn and he made up before the weekend even ended, so they have been sticking at each other's sides ever since.

As for Evan, the guy has been busy with his own girlfriend and it bothers me that I have been seeing so less of him, but Breanna has been keeping me just as much company.

"So, what's new at school?" My father asks, taking a bite from the chicken pasta I prepared.

We were having the usual dinner which we did, only the two of us. He talks about his business, while I discuss school. I like to hear about his cases sometimes, even though most of them are corporate related.

"Nothing much, hating biology, physics and basically, everything else." I shrug and he frowns at me.

It's like he's in between a thought process, "But your grades say otherwise." He points out and I nod.

"Just because I'm managing somewhere between an A and B doesn't mean I understand rocket science, Dad." I shrug and I know he gets my point because he doesn't argue further.

"Well, are you still on part time job hunting?" He asks and I shake my head.

So, a few weeks back I thought job would be a good thing, but that was before senior year started. I cannot even think about it right now! Even though I have not much to do, but homework makes up most of my time.

"Not anymore. The thought was very appealing, though." I give out an amused smile and he laughs.

We talk a little more before I clear the table and Dad does the dishes. I make my way up to the room and change into my pj shorts for bed. But, before I slide under the blanket, I go and open the window.

Evan's sitting by his desk near the window and I stare at him, observing his strong jaw and how his arm muscles clench when bend his elbow. My eyes train down to his lips and even though we have a lot of distance between us, I have the picture imprinted in my mind. I would do anything to have him like me back, for him to even consider kissing me for a moment.

When my gaze focuses back on his eyes, I am taken aback to notice that he's already staring at me. He gets up from the desk chair and comes closer to the window, and I give him a small wave.

"Hey, best friend." He grins at me and I roll my eyes at him.

"Hey, you. Doing homework?" I ask and he nods, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yus. Calculus is sucking the life out of me." He pouts, jutting out his lower lip and it takes everything in me not to stare at his lips.

"Wish I could help you there, but I am a lost cause myself." I shrug and he nods.

"How have you been? It feels like I haven't seen in you ages, An. Pass me a virtual hug from there." He says and I laugh, opening my arms wide for him and he does the same, only to end up laughing.

"You've been busy with Rose, I just didn't want to interrupt you old-new couple during your honeymoon phase." I shrug and he frowns at me.

"Old-new couple? What shit have you been getting high on?" He asks and I roll my eyes.

"You're not exactly in a new relationship but you are, since you guys broke up and all. And that's why you were in a honeymoon period for a week. Things will fall back into place within a week." I explain and he gapes at me.

"You're observant." He says and I show him my best fake smile, just to annoy him.

"Why, thank you, you jock." I stick my tongue out at him and he shakes his head at me, amused.

"Soo..." he trails off and his head move to his left and his eyes fix on the house across the street. I immediately know what's coming and I prepare for his question, "Talked to Chris lately?" He asks and I shake my head.

"Not since he slept over." I tell him truthfully.

"You didn't smoke after that day, did you?"

I gape at him. I cannot be mad at him for asking me that question because I deserve it, because I already smoked once, what's stopping me for doing it again? Exactly, nothing. Except me myself, and the horrible taste that comes after you smoke. Yup, that's pretty much it.

"No. That was like one puff thing. Over it now." I say and he gives me a smile, a genuine smile that melts away all the frustration that has been building up since a week of his ignorance against our friendship. Yes, I am pretty much screwed when it comes to this guy.

"Glad to hear that." He says and we talk for a while at the window before I bid him goodnight.

The next morning Breanna shows up to give me a ride and as soon as I get in, she turns to me, an excited smile on her face.

"Luke asked me out." She says and I frown.

"Junior Luke?" I ask and she nods. "But I thought you just made out with him and that was it."

"Well, we've been talking. He's fun to be around, you know? Then last night he asked me if I would go to dinner with him." She explains, driving towards the school and I nod.

"Alright then. This Friday, I assume?" I ask and she nods.

"Yup. What's been going on in your life though? Talk to any hot guys lately?" She asks and I roll my eyes.

"If you want to know whether Jones and I talked or not, all you have to do is ask." I tell her and she nods so I inform her, "He apologised and that was it. He has been avoiding me like plague in school. Not that I mind, I am thankful to be out of his sight." I shrug as she parks her car and we get out, grabbing our bags.

As soon as I step into the school, a hand wraps around my wrist and before I can comprehend anything, I am being dragged somewhere. My life has turned into this cliché story where I have almost no control or say in my life anymore.

When the janitor's closet shuts behind me, I let out a huge breath I was holding as I was swamped against people and dragged here. When a familiar yet a strange cologne hits me, I let out an aggravated sigh.

"Seriously, we have come to this level of cliché Jay?" I ask, looking up at those captivating gray eyes.

"Yes, Claire, but don't worry honey, nothing about this makes me a happy man." He says and I feel like barfing at his use of endearment.

"What do you want, Jones?" I ask, clearly irritated and he takes a step closer to me, and seeing as to how he just trapped in a janitors closet, we have very very limited space.

Due to my nervousness, my heart beat picks up but I don't let it show to my face as I look at him, not daring to break eye contact.

"Well, for starters, stick to one name. Either first, middle or last. I don't like fluctuating. Secondly, I hope you haven't been telling anyone that I slept at your place, and was wasted to the point of passing out." He says, embarrassment lacing his tone and I grin, crossing my arms against my chest.

"Aww hon, are you ashamed? No need to be. Your secret is safe with me." I give him a toothy grin and he narrows his eyes at me.

"I am serious, Claire." He says and the way my middle name rolls off his tongue makes me gulp a little but I maintain my demeanour. "My reputation is at serious risk here."

"You say such sweet things to me, baby." I fake pout, my hand coming to rest on his cheek to tease him further but my voice is caught in my throat when my hands meet his skin. I have no idea why I am being so playful around him, but a part of me just doesn't see the point of being scared of him anymore. He's a human, after all. So what if he's rude? I'll rather handle it in a friendly way than a coward way.

My hands are cold but his skin is soft, softer than I expected and almost unconsciously, my thumb caresses his cheeks. His gray eyes turn dark at my actions but I hear the hitch of his breath at my action. He almost leans into my touch and that is when the door to janitors closet opens behind us.

My eyes peek over Chris' shoulder to find a very irritated and shocked looking Evan standing there, Breanna by his side. That is when I snap, retreating my hand back to myself and Chris immediately turns around. An amused smirk takes over his features as he looks at a very dumbfounded Breanna and an annoyed Evan.

Evan is the first one to speak, "What's going on here?" He asks and he's not even meeting my eye, his glare is set on Chris who looks more than amused with the whole situation.

"Nothing." I say and Evan finally looks at me, hurt and disappointment clear in his eye.

What the hell is that for?

"Seriously? You going to lie to my face especially with him standing right there?" He asks and I frown.

That's when the dots connect in my mind. He's hurt and disappointed because he thinks that something is going on between Chris and me and I hid it from him deliberately, breaking the best friend code and all.

I scrunch up my nose, "Ew. Him, seriously?" I ask Evan who now frowns at me, clearly confused

"Ew?" Chris looks at me, clearly taken aback and gives me a look conveying that I just hurt his pride and ego, "Girls would die to have some of this. Consider yourself lucky for those last five minutes, Claire." He says and I huff at his words.

"I am not interested in you, nor will I ever be. Get that through your head." I say to him and look at Evan, "Both of you!"

He frowns and this time I am the one disappointed in Evan for clearly not trusting me after I assured him so many times that there's nothing going on between Chris and I.

"Goodbye, Jay!" I say and pull Breanna with me to our first class. It's a good thing I don't need to run to locker for the books since I have it in my bag.

When we reach the classroom, the teacher is just one step behind us and I mentally high five myself for making it in time. The class goes by slowly, and Breanna tries to get my attention but I would rather be dead than talk during Physics class. Mrs. Mason would chew me alive if that happens, because she is one scary teacher.

As soon as the bell rings, I get out of the class and I know Breanna is not far behind me and she is dying to have answers but I rush to my locker, pull out my Calculus notebook, put back my physics stuff and rush to the class, managing not to run into Evan, Chris or Breanna.

Unfortunately, I forgot the part where Chris and Evan are both in my Calculus class. I reach the class early and take the sit in the row by the window, away from everyone and sit in the middle row. I am aware Chris sits in the last row, so I avoided that deliberately.

I put my head in my hands and close my eyes before realising that this morning when Chris held my wrist and dragged me to the Janitors Closet, he made sure that his grip wasn't tight enough to leave marks. For some reason, that makes me smile but that is gone as soon as someone kicks my chair from behind.

A groan escapes my lips when I look behind myself only to find Chris sitting there, chewing gum and he winks at me. Besides him is his best friend, Jordan Woods, the blonde hot player of the school. When my gaze meets his, he gives me a two finger salute and I frown. I have never talked to the guy in my entire life and now he's greeting me.

Someone clears their throat and I look beside me, to find my best friend looking at me with something undetectable behind his eyes, as if they are searching for something in mine. I give him a blank look before staring state ahead.

I am glad when Mr. Mathew comes in and starts the class. He explains new concepts that almost go right through my head because I can feel a particular pair of eyes on me from behind. Being around Chris unnerves me, a lot! I sigh when Mr. Mathew ends the class five minutes early and asks us to pass on our homeworks.

Someone taps on my shoulder and I turn behind to look at Chris. He passes me his sheets and I pass them along. But then I hear movement behind me, and a warm breath hits my ear, a shiver passes down me as I turn to look at Chris.

"If Caitlyn asks where I was at the night of the party, you say that you have no idea. Got it?" He asks and I frown.

"Why the hell would your girlfriend ask me?"

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, "Because people saw us leave together. That's why. If she finds out that I slept at your place, that means no sex for me for a week." He says and I almost want to laugh at his horrified expression.

"Okay.. But you know that Evan and Breanna know as well, right?" I say and my eyes flicker to Evan who's gripping the side of the table too hard, his knuckles almost turning white.

When my eyes meet his, he looks beyond angry and his gaze is fixed on Chris and I. It makes me frown, literally. What the hell is this guy's problem?

"He's jealous." Chris says, following my gaze and I scowl at him.

"Of who? Why would he be jealous? Unless of course, you're screwing with Rose." I say and he gives me a look.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I didn't know you were this naive, Claire. Open your eyes." He mocks me, making me scowl even further at him.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I say and he sighs.

"The thing is, tell Evan and Breanna not to say anything to anyone. They are your best friends, they'll listen to you." He says, changing the topic and I nod.

My reputation is just at as much risk as his, why would I want to tell anyone that I let him be refugee in my house for a night when he was drunk out of his mind? This is better for everyone, especially considering I don't want Caitlyn on my tail. She's the queen bee, and I have had enough of high school drama lately to cope with.

When the bell rings, I shoot out of my seat but Chris calls me out again, making me turn around to look at him.

"And Claire?" He says and I wait for him to complete his sentence, "Next time, remember what I said about not touching me without my permission."

•••

so, what do you guys think so far?

who do you like better? Evan or Chris?

vote. comment. support. x