^^Gym room

"Tell me what?" He repeated through his gritted teeth.

"A-Andrew." I got up from my seat and took a slow step toward him, but halted when he narrowed his piercing blue eyes at me.

With his jaw clenched, his eyes examined the room and his fists clutched. I glanced at the beautiful Lily bouquet in his hands and my heart dropped.

He brought flowers for me...

And my favorite ones.

"What is it you want to tell me?" He inquired.

I side glimpsed at Ben and saw him staring at the floor with his lips pressed into a thin line. His shoulders were tensed, and he kept swallowing, darting his eyes on the floor absently like something was running in his head.

He's not ready.

"Is there something going on that I'm not aware of?" Andrew asked, making me look at him. His narrowed gaze darted back and forth between me and Ben. "Between you two?"

My eyes widened, and my heartbeat almost stopped at that.

He is thinking wrong.

"Andrew..." I said, but it came out as a whisper. "It's nothing..." I tried, but I could speak up. I didn't know why, but I was feeling terrified.

"Dude..." Ben finally snapped out of his trace and stepped forward, running his finger through his hair in confusion. "It's not what you think."

"Really?!" He let out a dry laugh, making my stomach clench. "Then care to explain to me why the f**k you are in her house alone and naked?"

I squeezed my eyes shut, and Ben groaned. Of course, he thinks something is going on here. Ben was still shirtless, and we were having breakfast in my living room after the storm last night.

"Drew... I know this looks..." Ben searched for words in his head. "Bad, but it's not what you think it is. You know the storm that happened last night? My car broke, and I came here-"

"Last night?!" Andrew snarled and darted his eyes at me. "You said you were alone."

"I-I was alone when you called Andrew," I said, getting my voice back. "He came after that."

"Is he telling the truth?" He asked, and I halted.

"Andrew... Let me explain." I gulped.

"Then explain." His chest heaved with anger and his fists clenched.

I knew he was trying to control himself. Jealously was written all over his face and he didn't even hide the fact.

"I..." I trailed off.

My eyes darted from Andrew to behind him at Toby. He was casually walking into the living room but wavered in his steps when he saw Andrew. His eyes bugged out, and he looked at me and Ben. Andrew's back was on him so he didn't see him. Toby, without wasting another second, tiptoed backward.

"Lillian." I flinched when I heard Andrew say my name.

I've heard him say it a lot of times, but this time it was full of sadness and hurt.

"Drew, I'm telling you-" Ben stepped between us, but Andrew stopped him.

"I don't want to listen to you!" He fumed. "Since this year has begun, you have nothing but lied to me and hidden things, so no Benjamin F**king Forbes. I don't want to listen to your lies anymore. Move!"

Ben cursed and shifted aside as Andrew stood in front of me, toe to toe, and looked deep into my eyes.

"Lillian. What is going on?" He asked darting his eyes between mine. I opened my mouth again, but nothing came out. "Please say something."

I can't lie to him, neither I can tell him the truth.

What am I supposed to say?

"Are you going to say something, or are you just going to stay quiet?" He growled.

Tears began building in my eyes, and I couldn't utter a word. I stared at him like an idiot and the agonized expression on his face almost made me scream the truth, but I couldn't. I promised Ben and I couldn't break it. Andrew's shoulders slumped in defeat and he took a step back.

"You're not even going to explain." He gulped and dropped the flower bouquet on the floor. "Fine."

"A-Andrew." My voice cracked, and I tried to hold his hand, but he backed away, shaking his head.

"I thought everything was going great between us. But I guess I was wrong." He whispered and stormed out of my house, slamming the door.

"F**k!" Ben cursed and dashed after him while I stood frozen in my place.

I should have said something...

I should have told him...

But what?

I stumbled to the floor and Toby came next to me, running.

"Lilly." He shook me lightly. "Are you alright?"

"I couldn't tell him," I mumbled as tears rolled down my cheeks. "He... He thinks Ben and I and I couldn't lie to him-" I couldn't even utter the words as I burst out crying.

"Come here." Toby picked me up and helped me sit on the couch beside him. "It's going to be alright."

"Is it?" I whimpered. Toby opened his mouth, but nothing came out of it. "Toby?"

"We'll think of something." He clasped my cheek in his hands and wiped the tears with his thumbs. "It's a misunderstanding and we'll clear it."

"How?" I sniffed. "How can we clear this, Toby? He won't believe it. Not until we tell him the truth-"

"F**k! F**k!" Ben shouted as he came inside, looking like a mess. He had a cut on his lip and it was clear Andrew punched him.

"What happened?" Toby jolted from the seat towards Ben and examined his lip cut.

"That a**hole won't listen to me!" Ben growled. "He thinks something is going between me and Lilly."

"You need to tell him." Toby firmly said, making Ben's face scrunched in confusion.

"Tell him what?"

"Tell him the truth!" Toby shouted, making Ben gawk at him.

"Are you crazy?!"

"I'm crazy?! Didn't you see what the f**k just happened?! You need to tell him!"

"I can't..." Ben mumbled, and my heart cracked. "I'm not ready."

"Ben, open your eyes and look at what mess you've created!" Toby said, pointing at me.

"I..." Ben gulped and averted his gaze from me. "I can't do this right now."

"Stop being so f**king selfish for once in your life, Ben!"

"Selfish? I'm being selfish?!"

Ben and Toby continued fighting, but I zoned out, staring at the floor. Until Ben tells Andrew exactly what's going on, he won't believe it.

And Ben is not ready to tell anyone.

Then what about Andrew?

What about... Us?

I jolted from my thoughts when I heard Toby shouting.

"... You go around being Macho, but you are the weakest person I've ever met!"

"Oh, I'm sorry if I'm not as strong as you to come out." Ben mocked.

"I'm done." Toby's shoulders slumped. "I've waited two years for you to come out. Two years in a f**king secret relationship, but I'm done hiding. I want to be like those other couples who go around without hiding from the world."

"What do you mean?" Ben gulped, knowing exactly what he means.

"I'm done..." Toby looked dead into Ben's eyes. "I'm done hiding again when I've already faced the struggle of coming out. I don't want to be in a secret relationship anymore. For me, it's like overall coming out again."

"Toby, I already told you I need time." Ben gripped his hair.

"Two years is enough and I can't do it anymore."

"Toby-" Ben took a step, but he shook his head.

"Until you tell Andrew what's going on or we are over." My eyes widened, and I glanced at Ben, who looked horrified.

"Toby, maybe we should calm down and think this through." I tried to steady the situation down, but it was already out of our hands.

"Being with you feels like hiding in that closet again." Toby clenched his fists as he faced him. "And I'm not going back into that darkness again, Ben."

"Fine! Be in the open alone, then!" Ben growled and ran out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Toby groaned and dropped onto the couch beside me.

"Toby..."

"I'm fine." He gave me a sad smile. "It's going to be fine." He placed his hand over mine and squeezed it.

Fine?

My eyes went to the Lily bouquet crushed on the floor and a tear dropped from my eyes again.

I'm not sure about that.

"F**k... F**k... F**K!"

I brought my right arm back and with all the power I had in me; I thrust it forward. My fist connected with the bag and knocked it away. The bag swung back and then came towards me again, and I whacked it again with my left fist.

Each punch came out heavier than the last one and every time I imagined the bag to be Ben's cocky face.

F**k him!

"Hold your horses, Drew." I ceased and grabbed the bag when I was interrupted. "I'm here."

My chest heaved as I took a few deep breaths to calm down, but I couldn't. I couldn't calm down after what had just happened at Lillian's house.

After running from her house, I came straight to mine, and I called Brittany. I knew if I go to hers, Ben will come there and I won't be able to control myself.

"B..." I took a deep breath and turned to her.

She was standing in the middle of my gym room with crossed arms. She gave me a once over and arched her brow at me.

"You look wracked."

Groaning, I walked to the bench and picked up my water bottle and towel. Brittany sat on the bench in front of me and crossed one leg over another.

"What? The nerd finally snapped into reality and broke up with you?" She smirked.

"Opposite," I grumbled, gulping down the water.

"Huh?" She cocked her head. "I'm confused. Care to explain what's going on?" She asked, and I let out a humorless laugh.

"As a matter of fact. Even I'm not aware of what's going on." I rubbed the towel over my forehead to clean the sweat.

"Enough with the riddles, Drew." She sighed. "Tell me from the beginning and every detail."

"Yesterday when the storm happened, Lillian was supposed to go to Chloe's, but before she could leave, the storm began." Brittany leaned forward, paying attention to my story.

"I thought of going to her since she was alone at home and I was worried about her. But then I knew it was stupid to go to her house at night, so I didn't, but this morning..." I trailed off as I recalled it.

In the morning, I tried to call Lillian, but she didn't pick up my phone and it was around twelve. I knew she woke up early every day, so I got a little worried. I got out of my bed and changed into my blue shirt and black pants.

I picked the small card I made to ask her to be my prom. She didn't like fancy things, so I made it simple. On my way to her house, I got a bouquet of Lily.

I wasn't sure which flowers she likes, so I went with Lily thinking it'll be cute since it was her nickname. When I was near her house, I saw Ben's car in the driveway and it confused me.

What the f**k is he doing here?

I parked my car behind his Range Rover and walked to the main door to see it was slightly open. Slowly creaking the door open, I stepped inside and heard Lillian's voice.

"When are you planning to tell Andrew?" I halted in my steps.

What?

"What?" Ben's muffled voice came, and I walked to the living room.

"You said you'll tell him, but you need time."

"I... I still need it." He gulped.

I stood at the entrance of the living room and watched them both sitting on the couch. There were two coffees in front of them at the table and a few bags.

"Ben, the longer you take, the more it'll hurt him-"

"Tell me what?" I cut out Lillian, making them aware of my presence.

Their eyes bugged out like they were caught doing something they shouldn't be. Ben and Lillian deliberately turned their heads towards me.

"Tell me what?" I repeated through gritted teeth.

"A-Andrew." She got up from her seat and tried to step forward, but halted.

Her green eyes were full of shock and fear. Her gaze darted from me to the flower bouquet in my hand, which I was clenching.

"What is it you want to tell me?" I inquired. Lillian side glanced at Ben, who was busy staring at the floor.

"Is there something going on that I'm not aware of?" I narrowed my eyes at her, then darted it to Ben. "Between you two."

Lillian's eyes widened, and she whispered something I couldn't understand.

"Dude..." Ben stepped forward, running his finger through his hair. "It's not what you think."

"Really?!" I let out a dry laugh. "Then care to explain to me why the f**k you are in her house alone and naked?"

"Drew... I know this looks..." Ben rummaged for words in his head. "Bad, but it's not what you think it is. You know the storm that happened last night? My car broke, and I came here-"

"Last night?!" I snarled and darted my eyes at Lillian. "You said you were alone."

"I-I was alone when you called Andrew." She took a step toward me. "He came after that."

"Is he telling the truth?" I asked, making her halt.

"Andrew... Let me explain." She gulped.

"Then explain." My chest heaved with anger and my fists clenched. I was ready to punch the hell out of Ben. Just say the words, Lillian.

"I..." she trailed off, looking behind me.

"Lillian." She flinched when I called her name.

"Drew, I'm telling you-" Ben stepped between us, but I stopped him.

"I don't want to listen to you!" I fumed. "Since this year has begun, you have nothing but lied to me and hidden things, so no Benjamin F**king Forbes. I don't want to listen to your lies anymore. Move!"

Ben cursed and shifted aside as I stood in front of her, toe to toe, and looked deep into her eyes.

"Lillian. What is going on? Please say something." I pleaded, darting my eyes between her. "Are you going to say something, or are you just going to stay quiet?" I growled.

But nothing.

She didn't even open her mouth or tried anything. My shoulders slumped in defeat and I took a step back.

"You're not even going to explain." I gulped and dropped the Lily bouquet on the floor. "Fine."

"A-Andrew." Her voice cracked, and she tried to hold my hand, but I backed away, shaking my head.

"I thought everything was going great between us. But I guess I was wrong." I whispered and stormed out of my house, slamming the door.

My insides clenched just at the thought of my best friend and -

Mothers**ker!

How could they do this to me?

How could she do this to me?

I cursed as I walked to my car, but then heard Ben calling me.

"Drew! Listen! There's a misunderstanding-"

"Misunderstanding?" I scoffed and turned to face him. "I saw my best friend at my girl's house in nothing but his shorts and you are calling this a misunderstanding?!"

"Nothing happened between me and Lillian Drew!"

"Don't f**king lie!" I shoved his shoulder. "How could you do this, Ben?! I even f**king asked you before and you said you are not interested in her!"

"I'm not!"

"Then why the f**k were you here?!"

"I-I told you my car broke down and I-"

"Stop lying!" I punched his face, and he stumbled backward.

"You punched him?!" Brittany shrieked, cutting my story.

"Of course, I punched him." I snorted, remembering how he was surprised by it. "I wanted to kick his a** and bury him alive right there and-"

"Violent much?" She coughed, cutting me.

"He was with my girlfriend. What else did you expect me to do?"

"Your girlfriend?" She arched her brow. "You asked her to be your girlfriend, and you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't ask her... Yet." I said and Brittany watched me deadpan. "But that's not the point."

"Listen, Drew." She massaged her forehead. "I know this is all confusing, but Ben wouldn't do such a thing."

"How can you say that?"

"Because he's..." She halted and closed her mouth.

"He's what?"

"He's... He's your best friend." She finished.

"I'm thinking otherwise now." I scoffed.

"Drew. I know Ben's been all weird and shit since this year. he can be a stupid idiot and an a**hole but he's never going to do anything to break your heart. He loves you. I can assure you because he's my brother.

"Then what was he doing there?" I crossed my arms. "Naked, I might add."

"I-I don't know about that. Ask him." She huffed.

"I don't believe a single word coming out of his mouth."

"Then ask Lillian."

"That's the problem!" I threw my hands in frustration. "She isn't saying anything! I asked her again and again and waited for her to explain, but she just stood there like a deer caught in the headlights!"

"Then give them some time-"

"Time for what?" I growled. "There's definitely something they are hiding from me, and how long do you expect me to wait for them to say?"

"If you love her, then you have to wait for as long as she takes." She said, making me freeze.

"H-How do you-"

"Come on, Drew." She smirked. "I'm not the oblivious one here and it's written all over your face."

"It's not." I frowned.

"You love her. That's why you are here thinking over it instead of breaking things with her." She said, grabbing her bag from the floor. "You are being insecure, which I don't know why-"

"I'm not insecure." I rolled my eyes.

"Your actions tell me otherwise." She sighed, pulling her bag strap over her shoulder. "I know you want this to work, so how about you wait for them to come out? You trust her, right?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation, then frowned.

If I trust her, why does it hurt being in oblivion?

"Then you have nothing to worry about. They'll tell whatever the f**k is cooking between them. You just have to wait." She said and walked out of the gym room while I sat there staring at my punching bag.

Wait...

For how long?