I stood coldly humiliated in front of everyone as Brittany and Ben fought with Fiona and her friends. Everyone was recording the scene created in front of them on their phones.

"I'm confused," Toby blinked his eyes as he watched them.

"Shouldn't Ben be breaking Drew's bones instead of defending him?" Madeleine muttered to Jordan, who was scratching his head.

"I don't know."

"I'm still trying to grasp that Andrew asked Lillian out," Chloe murmured.

"I thought I was the slow one," Louis whispered. "Good to know I'm on the same page with everyone."

Our attention turned back to Brittany when she said. "It was a prank for him to ask a nerd out. Right Drew."

I knew it.

Of course, it was a prank.

Andrew asked me out was too good to be true and, as she said, I wasn't his type. I was glad that I say no to him but was confused that why would he do that to me. I thought we became friends after our dispute at the beginning of the year.

I didn't know why, but my eyes became teary and when I peeked at Andrew, I saw him already looking at me. If he says yes to Brittany, then I'll be the laughingstock of West High.

"He doesn't have to answer that," Ben interrupted, looking at me.

"Yes, he does. He needs to clear this to everyone here." She spun around. "I'm sure everyone is interested to know the truth."

"Brittany, it wasn't a prank." Ben snapped at her and stopped defending his best friend, knowing he had to choose between me and him.

"Then how do you explain him asking her out?" She snorted. "And please don't say that he likes her-"

"I do like her." Andrew intervened, and a loud gasp echoed throughout the room.

"Excuse me?" Brittany tilted her head.

"I like Lillian and I asked her to be Valentine." He answered, darting his eyes at me. "It wasn't a prank or a dare or anything else like that. I asked her out because I have feelings for her."

My jaw dropped, and my eyes widened when he said that.

He has feelings for me?!

"What the f**k?" Madeleine shrieked.

"Is he on drugs?" Toby looked around while Louis, Jordan, and Chloe watched Andrew with their mouths hanging open.

Is he for real?

"Are you for real?" Brittany said my thoughts out loud.

"Yes." He bobbed his head, jamming his hands in his pockets. "I can't say how or when, but I like her. And it's also true that she rejected me as you all can see in the video there." He gestured towards the projector. Everyone went silent and watched between us, making me shrink.

"I wish I was this confident to confess my love," Chloe murmured.

"You are just going to admit it?" Fiona raised her brows.

"Yes. And now that I know what rejection feels like. I'm sorry for you all." He put his hand on his heart. "But I can't help you with anything because I felt nothing towards you guys."

"This is absurd!" Fiona's friend screamed. "This isn't how this was supposed to happen!"

"Sad you know you didn't get the drama." Ben gestured towards the door. "It's enough for the day. You three can leave now."

The girls huffed and stomped out of the house while the others watched each other in confusion.

"Dude..." Madeleine looked at Ben in disbelief. "Are you going to say something or not?"

"I already asked them to leave. What else am I supposed to do?" He frowned.

"Fight for her dumba**!" She shrieked, and Ben scrunched his face in confusion.

"Huh?"

"You know what, I'm done." She threw her hands in surrender. "I need a drink."

"Me too," Chloe mumbled, and they walked into the kitchen.

"Drama is over people. Go back to your work!" Ben clapped his hands, snapping everyone out of their trace. They scattered around, chatting about the obvious. I kept my head ducked when I feel them watching me.

"I'll go play the music." Louis walked to the DJ and dragged Jordan with him.

I looked up and saw Brittany glaring at Andrew, then she walked away. Andrew sighed and followed her, casting a last glance at me.

Toby and I looked at each other, not sure what to say, and Ben came up to us, clearing his throat.

"Umm... Nice party."

I groaned and covered my face with my hands. "Can you please not?"

"I'm sorry for what happened Lilly-"

"Don't be." I stopped him. "It wasn't your fault."

"It is his fault," Toby announced.

"What?" I looked at him in confusion.

"You knew he asked her out, didn't you?" He narrowed his eyes at Ben.

"I..." He avoided eye contact.

"He would have never asked her out without you knowing since you guys are-" he air quoted, "-best friends."

"You knew?" I turned to Ben, and he bit his lip.

"He asked me."

"But... Why did you let him do it?"

"He said he likes you. First, I was angry, but then I realized it wasn't my place to say anything, so I allowed him to ask you. And I knew you would say no to him, but what I didn't know was that all this mess would happen." He finished.

"I..." I trailed off, not sure how to respond to that. "I need some air."

"I'll come with you-"

"No Toby. I need to be alone." I mumbled and ran upstairs to the guest room.

Pacing the room, I rubbed my hands on my face as a train of thoughts ran through my head. I wanted to scream out my frustration, but I couldn't. For whatever took place from day one of this year, I wanted to blame Ben.

If we hadn't met after the winter vacations in the high school in the library, nothing like this would have happened. I would have peacefully spent the rest of my high school life with no one knowing who I was.

Brittany wouldn't have hated me. Andrew would have never noticed me and all those secrets I had to keep. Nothing like that would have happened.

Then again, it wasn't Ben's mistake, either.

He also wanted to enjoy his high school with his boyfriend and whatever occurred that day changed everything for me and him. It wasn't anyone's fault; it was faith.

Groaning, I plopped on the bed of the guest room and stuffed my face in the pillow. I didn't know how long I stayed like that, but I got up from the bed when someone knocked on the door.

"Lillian?" I heard Louis's voice and opened the door.

"Yeah-" I mid paused when I saw him carrying sleepy Chloe in his arms. "Is she alright?"

"She's drunk." He said and stepped inside. "Maddie and Chloe were having a drinking competition after the... drama and both of them got drunk."

"Then?" I asked as he took Chloe to the bed.

"They both danced and cursed Ben and Andrew a lot, then the drinks kicked in. Jordan took Maddie home, and I thought I'd let Chloe stay the night here."

Standing at the doorframe, I watched as Louis laid Chloe on the bed and covered her with the duvet. He moved her hair from her face and I saw his lips curling into a smile.

"I'm jealous of Andrew," Chloe mumbled and plopped on her stomach. Louis chuckled and switched off the lamp on the side table.

"You like her. Don't you?" I said, scrutinizing him.

"Huh?" He tilted his head towards me.

"You like her." I crossed my arms. "And you know she likes you too."

"What?"

"Oh, come on Louis." I let out a humorless laugh. "Whole West High knows that Chloe's into you. There's no way you aren't aware of it."

"I don't know..." He avoided eye contact.

"She has warned every girl in high school to stay away from you," I said deadpan.

"I uh..." He scratched his head and walked toward me. "I mean..."

"Why?" I asked. "Why do you act oblivious?"

"You know why." He looked into my eyes.

"I don't please explain."

"You know I'm sick." He groaned.

"So what?"

"So what?" He let out a dry laugh. "What is going to happen is that I'll die. I don't want to start something with her and the next we know is that she's crying over my grave."

"She'll still cry over your grave, Louis, and this is no excuse. "

"I don't want to hurt her, that's all-"

"That's what you are doing right now. You are hurting her." I argued. "She dreams every day about you and how you both will spend the rest of your lives together. Acting oblivious won't help you."

"Then what do you expect me to do?!" He shrieked.

"Tell her the truth for once and be with her!" I snapped, feeling frustrated with all the lies.

"I can't." He shook his head.

"Listen, Louis." I tried to explain in his ways. "Everyone is going to die one day. Spend your time with her and be happy. When this all will be over, she's always going to regret not asking you. How about you give her some wonderful memories worth remembering?"

"I..." He glanced back at her.

"Life is unpredictable. And once a smart guy told me." I repeated the words he said to me at the hospital. "You should live your life to the fullest so you won't have regrets later, because-"

"You only live once." He completed.

"Don't over analysis this Louis and give it a chance... Before it's gone." I said began walking out of the room but halted when he said.

"You should take your own advise." I turned to him. "Andrew isn't a bad guy."

I gulped and ducked my head. "This is different."

"A guy and girl like each other. It's quite the same."

"I don't..." I paused when the words didn't come out.

"You haven't realized it yet." He shrugged his shoulders.

I blew a breath and began stepping backward. "I'll go home now."

He nodded his head. "I'll take care of her."

"I know you will." I smiled.

Walking towards the stairs, I descend them. I shook the thought of Andrew and when I stepped down; I saw Ben and Toby at the front door, talking to each other.

"How is she?" Toby asked when I reached them.

"Louis will take care of her," I answered, and he nodded.

"Lilly..." Ben stepped towards me. "Are you alright?"

"I am fine, Ben," I said, looking at him. "But your friend isn't."

"I know how he treats everyone, but he isn't a bad guy." He sighed. "And you know too."

"Whether he's good or bad doesn't make any difference. I'm thankful to you. You tried to keep it low profile and still, all this happened." I gestured towards the living room. "But I'm tired of all this drama and..." I sighed and looked into his dull blue eyes. "I'm tired of you. I need a break."

His eyes widened for a second, then he darted them away and ran fingers through his hair. "I get it. I'll leave you alone."

"How about we take a night off and then talk about this with cool heads?" Toby looked between us.

"It's alright." Ben stepped back. "Take your time. But remember this..." He looked into my eyes and gave me a sad smile. "I'll always be here for you."

I adjusted my glasses and turned to Toby. "Can you drop me?"

"Sure." He nodded and opened the door. "Do you need a ride?" He asked Ben.

"No. I need to take B's car home. She went with Drew." He answered, then looked at me cautiously.

"Let's go," I said. "Good night Ben."

"Good night, Lilly," Ben said when we exit. "Give him a chance,"

I glanced at him but didn't answer and walked with Toby to his car.

I don't think my heart is strong enough to do his.

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

"B... B listen to me." I rushed after her as she stormed out of Louis's house to her car. "Brittany stop!"

"Why?!" she fumed and turned towards me with her red face.

"Let me explain..." I took a step forward but stopped when she narrowed her eyes.

"Need to explain what, Andrew?" She growled and clenched her fists. "I'm nothing to you, so why bother."

"Don't say this-"

"If I was really your 'best friend'-" she air-quoted. "Then you would have told me you liked that nerd!"

"I wasn't aware of that myself first... It... It just happened!"

"Right." She scoffed. "Feelings like this don't just appear like that." She snapped her fingers. "You are aware of when things changed and you have no control over it, but you at least tell your so-called f**king friend. It doesn't happen out of the blue!"

"For me, it did alright." I ran my fingers through my hair. "You know everything about me, B. From the beginning to end to the girls I dated and the times I cried over my father forcing me to become a lawyer. You know every little thing about me."

"Clearly not everything." She gritted through her teeth.

"I would have told you but I wasn't sure of it."

"I asked you a hundred times who were you asking, but you dodged it. Why?! You could have told me it was her!"

"Ben told me not to say anything until she answers."

"Benjamin f**king Forbes, of course, it was him." She snorted. "He wasn't secretive enough that he's making you hide things from me too."

"It's not like that-"

"You know what." She looked deep into my eyes. "I'm done. With you and with him. Now I just need a peaceful life that doesn't involve my deepsh*it twin or a**hole best friend."

"Brittany-" she flipped me a bird and opened the door of her car.

"Let me at least drive you."

I knew at this point it was useless to say anything to her because she was a hothead and wouldn't listen to me.

"F**k you buddy." She gave me a sarcastic smile.

"I'm serious B," I argued. "You shouldn't drive when you are angry. It is dangerous and you can get into an accident. I don't want you to get hurt. Please let me drive you." I repeated whatever Lillian once told me when I fought with Ben.

She gaped at me for a minute. "What the f**k was that?"

"Just..." I sighed. "Let me drive you and then I'll you alone." She clenched her jaw and looked away. "Please."

"Fine." She slammed the door and pointed her finger at me. "But you will not talk to me ever again."

"Sure." I nodded and gestured towards my car.

She rolled her eyes and got in my car, slamming the door loudly. I winced, knowing my precious car will get damaged, but I keep calm. We silently drove towards the Forbes house. It felt weird to have Brittany quiet because whenever we were together, she would babble about anything and everything.

I just need to give her some time. It was wrong of me to hide. I could have told her and avoided this situation.

When we reached her house, she got out without saying a word and again slammed the door. I blew a breath and watched as she strode into the house. When she was in, I drove out of the driveway towards my house.

On the way, I kept thinking about Lillian and how she was doing. But it assured me that Ben was there and he'll take care of her. When I reached my house, I ran straight to my room and was glad that Mom and Dad went on a date while Abigail was at her friend's house. I took AJ to my room and dialed Ben.

"She's okay." He answered as soon as he picked.

"Where is she?"

"She went home with Toby just now." I nodded, then realized he couldn't see me.

"Did she say something?" I asked, taking my shoes off.

"She said a lot of things and let me conclude it for you... She won't date you."

"I f**ked up, didn't I?" I groaned.

"Yeah, you did." He replied, and I heard him closing a door. "I'm in B's car. How is she?"

"Mad." I plopped on my bed. "She told me to stay away from her."

"Good to know I'm not the only one who got that." He snorted and the voice of ignition came.

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

"Lillian told me to stay away from her too."

"But why?" AJ came and lay next to me.

"Look in the mirror for that. That's what happens when you get too cocky."

"It's all because of that redhead," I grunted and scratched AJ's head.

"Woof!" He barked.

"I know. Bit*h." I muttered.

"We'll have to give them some time," Ben said, and I agreed with him.

"First girls used to run after me and now they are running from me. How did it go like this?"

"This is called life bro." He answered, and I heard the car stopping. "I reached home. If I don't come to school tomorrow, you already know how it went for me."

"It's phase one, dude. Silent treatment. She won't do anything to you... Yet."

"I don't get why she's angry." He muttered, and I listened to a door unlocking.

"Because we hid it from her," I grumbled. "Thanks to you."

"Makes no sense."

"We aren't supposed to hide things from each other, Ben. We are best friends."

I heard him clear his throat. "We'll talk tomorrow about this." His voice turned tense, but I ignored it.

"Alright." I yawned, suddenly feeling sleepy. "Good night, buddy."

"Good night." He replied and hang up.

Putting my phone on the side table, I patted AJ.

"Things didn't work out well tonight."

"Woof."

"Let me tell you from the beginning. I wasn't like this before. I was planning to graduate high school single and have all the fun I can with no plans of what am I going to do with my future." He grumbled. "But now I want this girl who doesn't me."

He put his head on my chest and moaned. "Mom was right..." I stared at the ceiling and remembered how beautiful Lillian looked tonight.

"Karma is a bit*h."

Surprise! 😂

Getting the hang of this now.

Finally, the party came to an end with a lot of breakups 👀 Singles remained single and friends. Not so anymore.

I kinda sorta not so much feel sad for Andrew 😬

let's see what happens in the future 💃

Hope you guys enjoy it!