I haven't met Chris ever since I left his father's party, but he did call me around two in the morning and apologised for waking me up but I was too sleepy to hold up a conversation with him.

On Sunday, he left me a text message that his father had a night flight so he would be spending the day with him, and I replied back with a thumbs up emoticon. He probably didn't even read it, but if he did, he chose to ignore it.

Monday morning I wait for his car honk which is a signal for me to rush out of the house but it never comes so I shut the front door behind me as I wish my father a good day. I look across the street for Chris's car but when I don't see it, I don't bother to lie to myself to tell that it doesn't hurt.

He left without me.

But then another car comes to a halt in front of my house and I frown when Evan hollers over from the window, "Hop in."

I smile, my mood lifting slightly as I cross the porch and get in his car. It feels like a lifetime ago when we used to ride to school together. Evan starts driving towards the school and I turn to him slightly before he can increase the system's volume to resume any kind of conversation.

"What did you tell Chris?" I ask, been meaning to do it since a long time now but I never really got any alone moment with him except for Saturday night, but that was the last thing on my mind then.

"What do you mean?" He smiles innocently.

"I would hit you, but you're driving and I don't want to die yet." I mutter, earning a laugh from him.

Other than replying to my question, he plays the radio, putting some EDM to high volume as we reach the school parking. I shake my head at him and he turns to me.

"What?"

"Show off." I accuse and he doesn't even try to deny it.

After he parks his car, both of us get out, earning a few looks from the students who pass by, including Melissa and Caitlyn. The latter smirks at me, winking as if indicating something which makes me gives her a look.

"People are staring." Evan whispers in my ear and I push him away, not liking the turn of heads towards us more when he stands so close to me.

"Well, stop giving them reasons to." A voice said and I turned to see Breanna looking at the two of us suspiciously.

Luke was nowhere in sight so I immediately took that as the cue to change the subject, "Where's your blondie?" I ask and she narrows her eyes at me.

"He went to class already. Where's your boyfriend?" She shoots back and I shrug as we reach the lockers.

"Shouldn't he already be in school?" I frown, looking down the hallway where Chris's locker is but not placing him anywhere.

"Uh- yeah, he's right there," Breanna points behind me and I turn around to see a very annoyed Chris, "and he looks like he's having a real bad day."

My expression turn to worry as his expression turns even more pissed as he approaches me, glaring right at Evan with Jordan following him suit. When he reaches, he comes to a stop abruptly, giving me an annoyed look before shooting a deathly glare to Evan.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" Chris asks, catching me completely off guard because that's the question I intended on asking.

"Okay, hold up." I put my hand in front as some sort of defence, "Why didn't you wait for me?"

He scowls at me, "What are you talking about? I went to pick you up and Scott was leaving! He said you already left, presumably with me. So, what the hell?" He snaps, making my eyes widen because I don't remember the last time he talked to me in that unless we were fighting.

Evan steps forward, his shoulder brushing with mine as he stares at Chris with a hard look but that only aggravates him further.

"Stay out of it, I mean it." Chris warns him before turning to me, "You came to school with him, didn't you?"

I open my mouth to speak but before I can even get the words out of my mouth, the bell rings and Chris shakes his head at me before storming off and I also receive a disappointed look from Jordan which makes my mouth fall open in shock.

The first class is with Mrs. Clarkson, which Evan and I have together. He's my Chemistry lab partner so when he tugs on my hand, I mindlessly follow him.

"Evan, what shit did you say to him? He looked pissed at you." I whisper as we take a seat.

He turns to me, "Don't worry about it."

"Fine, don't tell me! I'm not talking to you." I snap and look away.

I smack my head against my palm as I feel like either killing myself or both of them. It's not even ten in the morning yet and my brain feels like it has been fried ten times now. The worst part is that someone's having a pity party in my uterus.

The class goes on with me ignoring Evan because I refuse to talk to him unless he tells me exactly what he told Chris. As soon as the bell rings, I shoot out of my seat and rush outside.

A grasp on my wrist jerks me back and I come face to face with Evan, very few distance between us. His eyes search my face and I probably look surprised and shocked at the same time due to our proximity.

"I didn't tell him that I have feelings for you, I just told him that he has a chance with you but if he hurts you any time and screws up, I wouldn't mind swooping in."

My breath falters at his words as I gape at him, "So you basically told him you have feelings for me?" I arch an eyebrow, gritting my teeth together as anger builds up so does the guilt and another strange kind of satisfaction at hearing Evan confess that he actually feels something for me.

I'm such a terrible person.

I jerk my hand away from his grasp and storm off without sparing him another glance. I thought that when I started dating Chris, things would ease out in my life, and they had been but suddenly Evan declares that he broke up with his girlfriend because of me and gives an indirect threat to my boyfriend who hasn't mentioned shit about it. Why the hell didn't he tell me?

Every single part of me wants to find Chris and confront him, because my thoughts have been putting me in misery ever since his father's party, which is an entirely different problem. I hold it together until the next few classes, calming myself down till the time bell for lunch break goes off.

When I stand at the cafeteria doors, I look inside for Chris but when there's no trace of him, I make my way out of the school hallways to the football ground. I spot the smoke before I spot him. Curling my fingers into a fist, I approach the bleachers and as soon as I march towards him, I snatch the cigarette from his hands and smash it under my sneakers.

His eyes widen in surprise at first but then turn into a glare when he notices it's no one other than me, aka his girlfriend.

"What the fuck, Claire?" He booms, but thankfully we're both alone out here.

"I really want to slap you right now, or I don't know punch you?" I cross my arms across my chest and glare at him.

He keeps sitting and I keep hovering over him as his eyes turn into slits, "Really? Go ahead." He throws his arms in the air.

"Jay!" I hiss, "I waited for you, I looked across the street and your car was gone!" I yell, trying to understand the root of this whole misunderstanding in the first place.

His jaw clenches, "Well, did you mind picking up your phone and giving me a call? No, you got ride with another guy." He stands up, now hovering over me because of his height. "Who, by the way, likes you. Ever planned on telling me that?"

I open my mouth to argue back but shut it close almost immediately when I realise that he's more hurt than pissed. A sigh escapes my leaves as I step closer to him, "I thought you left without me, and we hadn't talked in two days."

He frowns at my words, "Where's this coming from?"

"The fact that your father treated me like shit?" I blurt without even realising and clamp my mouth shut as soon as I do.

His mouth falls open at my words, "What?"

"Oh, please, he didn't like me and even Jordan noticed it so please tell me that you aren't that blind to miss it." I scoff, realising how we're skipping from one issue to another. "We have too much to talk about, Jay. How about we talk about one thing at one time?"

He sighs, taking a seat back on the bleachers as he nods, "Yeah, alright."

I sit down next to him a little hesitantly and he probably notices it because he eyes me warily. "Where were you this morning?"

"Dad's flight was late last night, so I couldn't wake up on time this morning after coming back home late. My car wasn't there because it was parked in the garage." He explains and I suddenly feel like the dumb idiot I am, an even stronger sense of guilt consuming me.

I rub a hand on my face as a breath leaves me, "I thought you left without me, and Evan offered a ride so I took it. I am sorry." I apologise, meaning it because I know what it feels like to be jealous, it isn't a pleasant feeling at all.

He eyes me, "He broke up with Rose because of you, didn't he?" I shrug in response which makes him glare at me, "Adrianna, you need to be honest with me right now."

"Like you were honest with me and told me that he fed you shit?" I snap back, "If you care for me, Jay, I can't imagine his words not getting to you and I'm sorry he said that stuff, he had no right and I'm pissed as hell at him. He can't just come between us like that, it isn't fair to either of us."

When a smile appears on his face, it surprises me but I feel shocked when his hand reaches out to take mine. Even though we're having an argument, or whatever it is, I don't miss the way I crave for even minute touch of his.

"Careful baby, your emotions are showing." He says, teasing me lightly and I smack his shoulder.

"Seriously?"

He laughs lightly, "I'm just relieved to hear you say the words I wanted to speak, so I've got nothing to be afraid of." He shrugs, making me frown, "He did get to me, I wanted to punch him when he told me that if I screw up, he could take you away like you are his to take. You aren't a property, and I'm not going to treat you like one. I was worried, of course, because I want to be with you, I love spending time with you and I absolutely love what we have together but you just managed to sound just as afraid of losing this relationship. So I don't think we've got anything to be worried about."

His words draw a small smile on my face because I realise the depth of his words but at the back of my mind, I still have voices whispering about my feelings for Evan which makes me feel incredibly guilty so I push it out. I lean forward and capture Chris's lips in mine, the taste of cigarette and smoke mixing together as I taste him. I pull away sooner than I would have liked and he groans.

"What?" He whines, trying to pull me closer but I shake my head.

"You smell of smoke." I point out, "Which brings me to another issue. You need to cut it out, I mean it. I know you don't just smoke occasionally, I'm familiar to the taste of it every time we kiss but I never pointed it out and I don't want to be like those whiny bitches who change you. But I don't want you to die of lung cancer, is that too much to ask for?"

He lets out a breathy laugh at my words as his arms come across my shoulders and he kisses my forehead, "It won't happen over night, but I can always try, right?"

I smile. "Yeah, I understand that part."

I didn't expect him to say that he would quit smoking just because I asked, of course not, but I do expect him to leave it at some point. Him agreeing to trying is a huge part of it, so I'm not going to push it.

"And just so we're on the same path, I want to be with you as well, I love spending time with you too and I absolutely love what we have together even though your father hates me."

I don't miss the way we both used the word 'love', but with the chaos of my mind, I'm choosing to ignore it for the time being. His smile falters when I complete the sentence and he scowls like a child at me.

"He doesn't hate you." He says and I sigh, kissing him one more time before I stand up from the bleachers as the bell rings.

"Gotta go to class. Let's go to a diner after school with everyone?" I suggest and he stands up, nodding as he takes his hand in mine.

"We still need to talk." He says and I shrug it off. The only thing we need to talk about is his father disapproving of me, which he would never agree to on my word.

The rest of the classes go as I actually manage to take notes and gather some knowledge in school. I drop a text in our group message to meet in the parking lot. As I put my books in the lockers, Evan comes next to me but I ignore him as we both walk to the parking together.

Jordan looks between Evan and I and then between Chris and I. I give him a questioning look, feeling a little discouraged with how he saw me this morning.

"Can I talk to you, alone?" I ask him and he looks a little wary but nods.

We earn frowns from both the guys before we walk a little away from their ear shot. He looks at me, "What?" He asks.

"Why are you mad at me?" I ask, genuinely concerned because he's my favourite person and I don't want to piss him off, whatever the reason.

"I don't know what those two dumbasses are thinking, but you need to choose sooner or later." He says immediately, surprising me.

"What?" I ask, my voice barely a whisper as his harsh tone strikes me.

"Adrianna, they both like you and you clearly like them both. Sure, you're with Chris right now but things would be different now that Evan's single. So, make up your mind and let one of them down." He says before turning around and walking away, not giving me a chance to response.

I gulp, shaking my head as I try to get rid of my thoughts and his words which only hurts me more. I'm glad that when I walk back, Breanna and Luke are already there but I notice the awkward tension in the air.

"Chris and I were thinking of grabbing lunch at the diner. Do you guys want to join in?" I ask, my voice coming out a lot stronger than I actually feel, avoiding Jordan's gaze completely.

"Sure, I'm starving." Luke announces and I smile at his cheerful tone.

"You two are with me." Evan motions towards Breanna and him as he walks towards his car and I look at Chris.

When I get in the passenger seat of his car, he turns to me, "You alright?"

I nod, "Yup."

Jordan starts up a basket ball conversation as soon as Chris starts driving, talking about the game they have next week with Little Elm. It's a really strong team and by the way the two of them are talking, I know they would be working hard this week at practice.

"How did you get today off from practice?" I ask Chris, avoiding talking to Jordan as we get out of the car before he parks.

"Coach just let us go." My boyfriend shrugs in response, taking his hand in mine as we enter the diner.

I order hot dog for myself while the rest of them place their orders and I turn to Chris, "Since you didn't believe me earlier, ask anyone here how your father feels about me." I start, hating the fact that I'm practically ambushing him with this topic.

He gapes, looking around, "How would they know? The only person present were Stacey and Jordan."

"Speaking of which." Evan mutters as the bell chimes behind us and the woman enters herself.

I curse under my breath and look at Chris who turns to Jordan, "Seriously?"

"What? Just because your girlfriend doesn't like her doesn't mean that I wouldn't spend time with my sister especially when she's leaving today." Jordan snaps at him as Stacey approaches us.

Almost everyone looks surprised at Jordan's tone but I clear my throat but Stacey sucks away all the attention to herself as she takes a seat across Chris and smiles at everyone.

"Hey guys."

She might be a nice person. But I don't like her, and I cannot help it.

Everyone immediately breaks into a conversation, forgetting about Jordan's words. I shrug as I focus on my food and devour the hot dog and my strawberry smoothie. Chris's hand comes to land on my thigh, rubbing small circles and I almost choke on the drink because of how strong of a desire comes with his single touch.

I flush red and eye him, earning a smirk from him which makes me want to punch him in the face but kiss the hell out of him at the same time. Stacey must notice something because she speaks up, picking on her salad.

"Did Jacob leave last night?" She asks him, and I don't even want to know how she knows the details of everything that involves Chris.

"He did." Chris answers, his hand still on my thigh.

She turns to me, "Well, is he happy with your relationship?" She asks, making me suck in a shaky breath because I should've seen this coming. She cannot keep herself out of my business, or more particularly, from Chris's.

"How is that your concern, again?" Evan speaks up, looking a little pissed because he knows how much it bothered me even though I didn't let him stay with me for long.

"It's not, and it's not yours either. I'm just asking a question as a friend." She shrugs innocently.

"Well.." Chris trails off and I sigh, rubbing my temples.

"He doesn't approve of me. Big deal, let's all move the fuck on!" I snap, the topic getting the best of me. But then I take a deep breath to calm myself down. I can't let Stacey get through me, this is exactly what she wants – for me to burst open. But I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

"No one said that." Chris defends me, his hand taking mine under the table and I lick my lips before biting on my tongue because I really don't want to fight with him.

"He didn't need to." Breanna speaks up, surprising me, "We saw it, Chris, we weren't standing too far away. Your father doesn't like her, and I understand that isn't acceptable to you but being in denial about it isn't helping you either."

"But how can anyone not like her?" He looks at me and I smile, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

"I fucking know, right? I'm pretty amazing." I grin, trying to lighten up the situation.

"She has a problem. Her mood changes like this." Luke announces, snapping his fingers together and I roll my eyes.

A message chimes in someone's phone but when I see Chris frowning and staring at my phone, I realise that the text came to me. He turns to me, "Why is Cassandra texting you to ask if you're alright?"

This immediately catches almost everyone's attention but Luke and Stacey look confused, "Who's she?" The bitch asks.

"You exchanged numbers with her?" Breanna frowns at me.

"What the hell, An?" That's Evan.

"What?" I suddenly feel so ambushed.

"It's her mom, babe." Breanna whispers to Luke and gives me an apologetic look for telling him but I wave it off, because I don't care if he knows. Luke's someone I weirdly trust.

I look at Stacey and she's wearing a smirk on her face as she opens her mouth to speak