^^West High corridor

After dropping Lillian at her house, I drove back to my home. When I entered, I heard my parents' voices coming from the living room and I knew they must be talking about Lillian. I walked upstairs to my room and heard Abigail's whimpers as she talked to AJ.

Sneaking to her room, I stood outside and listened to her.

"I hate her AJ. I really, really hate her. She's so pretty and smart and nice and kind and I'm nothing like her. Nate will never like me with her around. She's just a year younger than him and they go to the same school... They might even end up in the same college and I'll be left behind!" She sniffed. "I'm no match for her! Even daddy is impressed by her."

I sighed and entered her room. "How about you find someone of your age?"

"Andrew!" she shrieked and threw her pillow at me. "Eavesdropping is bad manners!"

"Says the girl who doesn't even know the spelling of it." I retorted, catching her pillow.

"I know!"

"Oh really," I smirked. "Then tell me, please."

"It's um... E.v...e.sdropping." She flipped her hair. "Told ya I knew it."

"It's e.a.v, not e.v." I chuckled.

"That's what I said." She stuck her tongue out.

"Of course you did." I rolled my eyes and walked into her room. "You shouldn't judge people you just met. You know nothing about Lillian." I sat beside her bed.

"I was not judging." She huffed and crossed her arms.

"You were and you know that." She ducked her head and played with her little finger. "You know... I don't like Nate for you. You deserve someone cooler than him, not a geek."

"I like a geek." She narrowed her eyes at me.

"There is a bro code between boys and that's never to date your friend's sister," I said, trying to change her mind. "He will never go for you."

"That's a stupid code." She said deadpan. "And I don't care. Nate is my prince charming."

"He thinks of you as his little sister."

"That doesn't make me his sister." She snorted.

"Abigail, he's old for you." I sighed. "I mean, when you'll be eighteen, he'll be like what... Twentynine something. Do you think he's going to wait for you that long?"

She opened her mouth but nothing came out, and I knew I hit the nail. "I... You can wait for love."

Shaking my head, I got up from her bed. "It's easier said than done. Do the math Abigail, I know you're good at it," I said, walking out of her room. "Come on AJ. Let's go for a walk."

I heard her groaning in frustration and sighed.

She needs to get over this obsession.

I changed into my grey hoodie and shorts and took AJ out for a ran. Every Sunday morning, I jogged around our streets with him. I passed the supermarket on my way and saw Chloe and Louis in the parking lot. Shaking my head, I continued running.

They must be shopping for the Singletines party next week.

After running for about an hour and playing with AJ, I came back home and gave him food and water. Then I walked to my room and took a quick shower. Feeling a little sleepy, I popped onto my bed and closed my eyes.

My thoughts went to Lillian and how I woke up this morning and found Lillian's place empty.

At first, I thought she might have sneaked out and when I run downstairs to ask my mom I found her sitting with my family. It wasn't like I didn't want them to meet her, but I wanted to properly introduce her.

Mom and Dad like her in an instant and as for Abigail, she'll get into her senses soon. With the thoughts running through my head, I dozed off.

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

Around one in the afternoon, my mom came to wake me up for lunch. I sat on my bed and leaned against my headboard.

"I'm coming," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes and when I looked up, I saw mom standing there with a silly grin on her face. "What?"

"She's a nice girl." She adored.

"I know." My lips curled into a smile and saw mom staring at me. "Will you stop with the staring?"

"You're a big kid, Andrew, and I don't mind you bringing girls home, but since she's the first one you ever brought here and at night without us knowing. I'd like to know what exactly happened." She came and sat on my bed.

I brought none of the girls I dated home. I always went to their houses and seeing Lillian must have surprised her.

"Well um..."

I told her how I asked Lillian to hang out and she said she was with her friends, then found from Louis that she was not with Chloe and I got worried that she might be with Mark but she was with Toby at a gay club.

"... When I reached the club, I saw her drunk and then I thought I might bring her home before she gets in trouble." I finished.

"She was alone?"

"No... She was with Toby and a blue-haired girl, and she also knew the bartender."

"I don't get one thing." She tapped her chin. "If she was with her friends and her parents knew about her, then... Why were you worried?"

I blinked my eyes and tried to process it. "I uh... I don't know... I thought she was with the Mark jerk and I didn't like that guy-"

"Mark uh..." She smirked. "That means you were jealous.

"What?! Pfft! No! I was not jealous." I let out a laugh, which came out shrill.

"You sound like you didn't want her to spend time with that guy."

"I told you I was worried, and that guy didn't give me the right vibes."

"I'm your mom Andrew." She grinned. "And I can tell that you like her." I opened my mouth, but nothing came out and she continued. "And I don't blame you. She's a really sweet girl." She said, getting up.

"How can you say that?" I said, making her halt. "Friends also get worried too."

"They do, but if you didn't like her you would have said no without hesitation." She smiled, then scowled. "It's clear that you are unaware of your feelings and it's because of your nature of playing with girls and not taking them seriously."

"It's not that I mean I like her. She's a nice girl..." I trailed off. "But Mom Ben likes her."

"He does?" Her brows shot up.

"He says that they are friends, but Maddie is hell-bent that it's just a phase and they'll get together someday."

"You and Ben are best friends and a girl between you too would be horrible for your friendship. I would suggest you talk to him about this and sort your feeling out before it's late." She said, walking out. "You won't find a girl like her easily."

I sat there thinking about what she said. Lillian isn't anything like my usual type, but I do like to spend time with her. Groaning, I jumped from my bed and frowned when I saw a paper folded on my study table. I picked it up and read a note from Lillian. Chuckling, I placed it down and walked to my closet.

Maybe I do like her.

I wore a Nike shirt with black pants and white sneakers, then walked downstairs and went to the dining room. Mom and Abigail were sitting at the table. I sauntered to my seat and my tummy grumbled when I saw Reuben's sandwich.

"Where's dad?" I asked and took a bite of it.

"In his study room. He got a call for a case." Mom answered.

"Busy as always," I mumbled.

"Are you going somewhere?" Abigail inquired, looking at me carefully.

"I am going to meet Ben," I answered and saw my mom grinning.

"I wrote a letter for Nate. Can you give it to him tomorrow at school?" Abigail extended a pink envelope.

"What's this?" I asked, observing the hearts drawn on it.

"It's a sorry letter for him." She announced. "I don't think it'll work for us anymore."

Finally!

I pressed my lips to stop myself from laughing while my mom mumbled under her breath. "Thank God," she gave Abigail a side hug and kissed her head. "It's alright my baby. You'll find someone else."

"I know I will. I'm not planning to die alone or live my whole life with cats." She murmured and looked at me. "Can you say sorry to Lillian too? I was rude to her."

"How about you say it yourself when I'll invite her to dinner," I said and her eyes widened.

"Wait... You like her too?" She asked, and I ignored her 'too'.

"Yeah, I do," I mumbled, finishing my meal.

"It's the glasses isn't it." She grumbled. "I need to start wearing too."

"You don't need to change yourself, my darling." Mom patted her. "Anyone who loves you will accept you for who you are."

"Mom, how did you know dad was the one."

I groaned and before my mom would repeat the story for the hundredth time; I got up from my seat. "I need to get going. Bye!"

My parents met at some family event and mom fell for dad at the first sight, dad wasn't interested in marriage at first but eventually, he fell for mom, and now they are happily married. Abigail is just like mom when she sets her eyes on something. She does everything to get it.

But now she gets that there's no point in trying with Nate.

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

I parked my car in the Forbes driveway and didn't see Ben's car. Entering the house, I asked the maid where Brittany was and she signaled toward the living room.

"Andrew." Brittany glanced at me and grinned when I entered the living room. "What are you doing here?"

She was on the couch, fining her nail. I sat beside her and kissed her cheek.

"I'm looking for Ben."

"He hasn't come home since last night." She grunted.

"Where is he?"

"No idea." She shrugged.

"And you are not freaking out?" I asked. It was unusual to see her this calm.

"It hasn't been twenty-four hours yet. Even the police wait for a day when someone goes missing. I'll freak out at..." She glanced at the wall clock. "Six."

I chuckled. "Did you call him?"

"As usual, he isn't picking. Not even a text to tell me if he's alive or not." She blew her nails and murmured. "I have a feeling he's with Lillian."

"No, he isn't," I said without thinking.

"How do you know that?" She raised her brows.

"Because..." I cleared my throat strolling and Ben's voice saved me when he stalked into the living room.

"Hello, my dear family." Ben grinned, spinning his car keys on his forefinger.

"You look oddly happy." Brittany narrowed her eyes at him.

"Can't I be happy, my sister?" He smirked.

"I didn't say that." She growled. "I was just asking to know if there is some special occasion."

"I had fun last night." He gave her a short answer and glanced at me. "How is Lilly?"

My eyes widened while Brittany looked at me in confusion.

How the f**k does he knows about that?!

"She's at her house... Safely." I answered vaguely.

"Good." He beamed and walked into the kitchen. "I'm hungry."

"What the f**k was that?" Brittany snapped at me.

"I don't know," I mumbled, and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"You know what. F**k it. I'm going to the saloon." She grabbed her purse, and I tried to stop her, but she ignore me and slammed the door in my face.

F**k!

Rubbing my hands on my face in frustration, I walked to the kitchen. I wanted to tell Brittany about Lillian, but first I need to make sure of it with Ben. I saw Ben putting something in the microwave and he turned to me.

"Brittany's gone?" He asked, and I nodded. "She looked angry."

"How the f**k you knew about Lillian?" I crossed my arms.

"Toby told me." He gave me e half-shrug.

"Toby?" I raised my brows. "And why would he tell you that?"

"Because we talk." He said in a duh tone.

"Where were you last night?"

"Out..." He said. "Now my time to question. Why were you at the gay club?"

The microwave beeped, and he got the plate out. I took my time to think of an answer as I sat on the stool.

"I was worried about her," I answered as he sat in front of me.

"Why?" He asked, taking a bite of his paste. "Do you want some?"

"I'm full and I was worried because I have feelings for her."

He began choking on his bite. I hurried and gave him a glass of water and patted his back.

"What the f**k Andrew?" He looked at me in disbelief.

"I do like her," I answered, taking my seat again. "But I'm here to ask you if you have feelings for her. I don't want us fighting over her."

"And if I say I do, will you back away?"

"Probably not." I shrugged.

"She's not even your type, Drew." He grunted. "You were the one who said that at the after-party, remember."

I clearly remembered that I asked Ben if he liked Lillian and he said yes and when he asked why was I interested I denied it and told him she wasn't my type.

Maybe I did like her back then too but wasn't ready to accept it.

"I did and maybe that's why I like her."

"You said she was weird."

"She is." I chuckled. "But in a good way. She isn't like the ones I usually date and doesn't babble nonsense. She is simple, cute, and fun to be with-" I shut my mouth when he gawked at me. "In short, she isn't clingy, and that's the only thing I hate in girls."

"Dude, are you sick or something?" He frowned.

"Well..." I trialed off and smirked. "The feeling is overwhelming. I need to do something about it fast. My weak heart can't handle the distance anymore."

"How did this even happen?" He grumbled, running his fingers through his hair.

"I don't know..." I think of a time when it might start. "Maybe at the fundraiser." We actually became friends back then and talked properly.

"Fundraiser?" He looked stunned and scratched his head. "That was not my plan." He muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing." He sighed and looked at me seriously. "I like Lilly but as a friend."

"Good-"

"No." He looked at me sternly. "She is my friend and so are you, but I will not allow you to date her."

"Why?!" I shrieked.

"Because you are a player!" He yelled. "You play with girls Drew and when they have feelings for you, you left them. I will not let you break her heart."

"I will not hurt her, dammit I said I like her!"

"You also like the previous dozen girls you dated."

"That was different-"

"How?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "All you do is use them and when you have your fun, you don't even look at them again. Tell me otherwise."

"I won't do the same to her because she is nothing like the ones I dated and you know that too." I glared at him. "She is also my friend and I am serious about this. I want to give it a shot."

"I don't know-"

"Just one date and we'll know if it's going to work or not." He narrowed his eyes at me. "I won't touch her or anything else. Just want to have a heart-to-heart talk about my feelings."

He continued to glare at me, but unexpectedly, his face lit up as something clicked in his head.

"You know what, go ahead and ask her."

"Are you serious?" I looked at him, stunned, not sure what happened.

"Yup."

"You have no problem."

"Nup." He waved his hand and took a bite of pasta. "Lilly is a big girl. She can make her own decisions. If she wants to date you, then I'm no one to interfere."

"You don't mind if I ask her to be my Valentine?" I asked cautiously, and he gave me a grin.

"Be my guest."

Huh... That's weird.

"Alright then." I got up from the stool. "You sure you don't have feelings for her?"

"Hundred percent sure." I nodded.

"Then I'll plan how to ask her."

"Keep it simple." He said. "She doesn't like unwanted attention and things big."

"You are helping me?"

"Why not? You are my best friend, right?"

"A minute ago you were against it." I raised my brows.

"And I realized it wasn't my place to say anything." He gave me a toothy grin.

"Alright..." I walked towards the door. "I'll go then and plan something."

"Good luck!" He screamed behind then I heard him snickering.

What is with this guy?

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

After a week of planning how to ask Lillian out. I stood behind the wall in the corridor of Lillian's locker on Friday and watched as she lumbered to her locker. The lunch break was about to get over and the corridor was empty. Valentine's day was on Sunday, so everyone was asking for their dates today.

At lunch, Louis distributed his party card to the singles and when he came to me, I refused it. Everyone was shocked since I told them I wouldn't ask anyone this year and forced me to tell them who it was.

Ben intervened and changed the topic to the letter Abigail made for Nate, not letting me tell them. When I questioned him, he told me to first get an answer from Lillian and then announce it.

I came back from my thoughts when Lillian opened her locker and a note fell out of it. She crouched down and pick it up.

At first, I thought to put a banner at the school gate, but Ben stopped me, saying it was a bit too much for her. Then I thought of asking her in the cafeteria with dozens of balloons and maybe get someone to play guitar, but Ben denied.

So I simply wrote a note with 'Date?' on it.

What could be more straightforward than that?

I saw Lillian looking around and hid behind the wall. Then I took a deep breath and walked up to her.

"So?" I asked, standing behind her.

She spun on her heels and looked at me wide-eyed. "Andrew?! What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for my answer." I pointed at the note.

"Oh... Wait... You put this?" She tilted her head.

"Yup." I grinned.

"Oh..." She frowned and closed her locker. "Well, it's twelve February." She answered and walked away while I stood in my place.

What the f**k?

"What does that mean?!" I asked, running behind her.

"You asked the date, right?" She asked, showing me the note.

"No!" I chuckled and stepped in front of her. "I asked you to be my date."

"A-A date?" Her eyes widened.

"Yeah." I jammed my hands in my pockets. "You know it's Valentine's on Sunday. So I'm asking you on a date to be my Valentine." I finished with a toothy grin.

"Oh..." Her face flushed, and she adjusted her glasses.

"Oh?" My grin faltered.

"I mean..." She cleared her throat and avoided eye contact. "No."

"No?" My brows shot up.

"No."

"No, as in no."

"Yes," she said, and I blinked my eyes. "I-I mean no Andrew I can't."

"But why?!" I shrieked.

"You're a really nice guy-" my eyes widened when she started with this and I knew how it was going to end. "-but I don't think it's ever going to work for us. I mean, you are you and I'm me and... Well, I'm not into dating at this moment."

"Oh..." I mumbled and felt my heart shattered. This was the first time any girl ever refused me.

"I'm sorry." She ducked her head and walked past me while I froze in my place. Now I realized what the girls I rejected must have felt like.

F**k it sucks!

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

A/N

Ouch! I feel bad for Andrew but... He kinda had it coming 😬

What do you think Lillian was feeling when she said no? 💀