"Are you still going to avoid me?" Evan asks on Wednesday as we walk to the Calculus after having a chemistry lab class.

I have been keeping minimal conversation with him ever since Monday but my resolve is breaking now. I hate not messing around with him and I hate ignoring him but he had no right to say shit to Chris. But, that isn't the only reason why I haven't been talking to him properly. That is one of the reasons, but the major reason is because I'm trying to figure out shit in my life.

"An, this is getting ridiculous now." He lets out an exasperated breath and I mentally agree with him because he's absolutely right.

"No idea what you're talking about." I mumble as we reach the class.

Chris is sitting at the back of the class, a couple of girls talking to him which only makes me roll my eyes as I approach the seat in front of him. Without saying anything, I slam my textbook on the table, which catches those girls' attention and Chris gives me an apologetic shrug but the man is smirking, which means he's not sorry at all.

"You love girls fawning over you, don't you?" I hiss and he laughs lightly.

"Which guy doesn't?"

"Jordan." I answer and he deadpans at my respond.

"Clever."

"She still wouldn't talk to me." Evan whines, taking the seat on my right.

Chris looks between the two of us. I have no idea how they both get along, but I am pretty sure basketball practice mends up for everything that happens outside court, for which I'm grateful. I would hate if they were to break out into a brawl each time they talked.

"Well, you were a dick." Chris shrugs, and Evan looks at the two of us.

"Okay, I am sorry for being a dick, An. Now, how can I make it up to you?" He asks desperately, making me curse myself for being a little more than cruel to him.

I turn to him, looking him in the eyes for the first time in two days, "Promise you wouldn't pull shit between the two of us."

I'm aware of the fact that Chris can hear us, but it's better this way, he needs just as much reassurance regarding this as do I. Evan looks taken aback but immediately recovers as he offers me his pinky finger so I hold out mine.

"Promise."

Mr. Mathews come into the class so Evan and I untangle our fingers but I don't miss the way he looks at me, almost looking hurt but I shrug it off because that's all I can do. At this point, I am sure if someone to put a gun at my head and ask me choose between Evan and Chris – I would happily ask the person to pull the trigger.

When the class gets over, three of us walk to the cafeteria and Chris takes his hand in mine as we cross the hallway, earning looks from a few people but I don't know why still everyone reacts that way. We've been dating over a month now even though it feels like so much more time has passed between us.

Evan sits down in his usual seat and I sit down next to him as Chris automatically plops down next to me. Jordan comes frowning at us, "You stole my seat."

"Feel free to take mine." Chris shrugs, picking fries from his plate and then scowling, "We're not supposed to be eating this shit. Didn't Coach tell us that yesterday?"

"And look, you're still chewing." Luke remarks and earns a playful glare from Chris.

Breanna steals Jordan's tray and sits in front of me, "Their food is ours now. Football season is coming up so this one's cutting his diet too." She grins, pecking her boyfriend's cheek, cueing Evan and I barfing.

"Seriously, you two? Chris and you suck faces all the time, and just because you're single doesn't mean that I'm forgetting your PDA habits." Jordan tells off the two of us and we both put up our middle fingers in the air for him.

"You don't get to say shit because you would exactly be same if Sawyer was here." Chris taunts and Jordan turns red, making me choke as I almost fall over my chair laughing because him blushing has to be the funniest thing I've ever encountered.

He narrows his eyes at the two of us, "Coach just didn't cut our diet, he said no sex, which includes–"

"We know what sex includes Jordan, thank you very much. Your gory details with my best friend's brother is all I need to know about it." I shut him up, and he glares at me but I just return a cheeky smile in return.

"My fucking ears are bleeding now, stop talking about my brother." Evan groans before looking at Jordan, "Who by the way, is coming tomorrow."

"Really? How loaded is Paul? Is he secretly bankrupting all his clients?" I whine like a child, "Why does Sawyer get to travel all the time? Ask him to buy us tickets to Las Vegas or something."

Evan barks out a laugh, "For you to miss the flight?"

"What?" Chris asks, finally halting his devouring session of fries. He's adorable and he's mine, all mine which sends a sudden giddy feeling inside of my stomach as I register that thought.

"She cannot travel, she's scared of flights." Evan blurts.

"And Evan's middle name is Cypress." I blurt right back, making him gasp audibly loud.

"Holy shit. You didn't." Breanna laughs, looking at the two of us.

"What? We swore to never spill those two things to anyone apart from each other." I shrug, looking at Evan who still looks so much in shock with what I just said.

"He's your boyfriend." Evan defends himself, and I deadpan at him.

"And how many girlfriends of yours knew your middle name?" I arch an eyebrow, "Zero."

"I take offence in the statement that you just consider me anyone." Chris speaks up so I turn to kiss him briefly.

"Babe, I would've told you anyway. Chill. The middle name secret was getting too much to handle." I whisper, making him bark out a laugh which makes me smile. I turn to Evan, "Also, these three heard you too."

He sighs, "I can't believe you just told everyone my middle name after threatening to do it for so long now."

"Cypress? What does that mean, anyway?" Luke asks.

"Tried looking it up, didn't make any sense." Jordan confesses.

"You, buddy, are obsessed with the Smiths." Chris tells his best friend.

"Which brings me to my next question. Who's hotter, Evan or Sawyer?" Breanna asks, making Evan gasp.

"Do not answer that." He warns Jordan who just shrugs.

"There's no comparison. Sawyer, without blinking, without any fucking doubts." He answers anyway, making me laugh which dies as soon as Evan elbows me.

I give him a small smile, "You're hotter, don't worry. I never liked Sawyer." I tell him and he cocks his head to side, staring at me which makes me think that I just said something terribly wrong or sounded like a big flirt.

Fuck you, no mouth filter!

"Can we talk about Adrianna's fear of flights?" Chris says, expecting for Evan to complete the story.

Jordan gapes at him, "You called her from her first name."

"That's my name, Jordie." I tell him.

"Yeah, but he always calls you Claire."

"Okay.. good talk. Now back to the flight story." Chris turns to me.

But Jordan shakes his head, "Hold on, when was the first time you called her from her first name?"

Involuntarily, my cheeks heat up at the memory which causes everyone to stare at us with widened eyes but I bite my tongue from saying anything as Chris smirks at me, probably recalling the moments himself and I smack his shoulder and he laughs.

"What? You're making it seem like something it wasn't by turning that red, baby." He kisses my cheek before turning to our friends, "We were kissing, now get over it."

Jordan still doesn't look convinced but he lets it go anyway. I don't even dare to look at Evan because I'm not ready to see his expressions. But Chris looks at him, "Why is she afraid of flights?"

He clears his throat, "We were supposed to go to Cali with Sawyer for his admission finalisation –"

"You finish that story, and I tell everyone how you got your middle name."

"Not fucking fair. He asked for it!" Evan tries to be logic but I shake my head.

"We both have already said too much. Let's agree to zip our lips?" I say and he nods.

"Is it that bad? The middle name story?" Luke asks curiously.

"Honestly, I think it's romantic." I tell him the truth.

Evan fake gags, "Super embarrassing."

Cypress actually is a tree, I don't know the much details of which but I know how it came to being Evan's middle name. His parents were outdoors when they made love and he was conceived, but the funny part is, it happened right under the Cypress tree — which is why Miranda thought it was an amazing idea to give him that middle name.

He thinks it's embarrassing but I just think that it's super adorable that his parents gave his name the significance of their love.

As for my flight stories go, I am afraid of riding planes because it scares the shit out of me knowing how high in the air we would be, and only God knows what would happen if anything goes wrong. Also, I am not big on the dying thing, so this is a major concern.

When Sawyer got the admission and Evan proposed that we go with him, I was super excited until came the time of the flight. It's safe to say my father wasn't pleased to miss office to pick me up from airport because his daughter was shitless scared of flights. Evan had a good laugh about it though, because he didn't go either.

Since that day we're considered the most unreliable people by Sawyer.

"God, I think I'm going to have drill Sawyer to actually tell me what the fuck is that story." Jordan says.

Breanna grins mischievously so I know the next words out of her mouth are going to be pretty gross. "Quite literally, huh?" She winks at Jordan.

Evan ends up choking on the air at her words and I laugh, patting his back as I offer him water. He physically shudders, "And there goes the only thing I was going to enjoy eating today." He grumbles, pushing the muffin on his tray away but I shrug, picking it up.

"Thanks." I grin and he just shakes his head disapprovingly at both Breanna and I.

When the school ends, Chris finds me in the parking lot but before he can even open his mouth to speak, I know exactly what he's going to say.

"It's okay Jay, you've got practice. I'll catch a ride with Bri." I smile at him and he sighs, running a hand through his hair.

"Coach is going hard on the team for even being a second late to the practice. And considering I'm the captain, he would kill me if I don't show up on time." He explains and I nod.

"No worries. Call me in the evening?" I say and he kisses me quickly, leaving me craving for more.

"I'll come to see you and you'll tell me exactly why you are scared of flights." He smirks and I push him away playfully.

"Why? You got plans for us that requires us to take a flight?" I tease but when I see the look on his face I cover my mouth with my hand because that's how surprised I feel, "You're shitting me, aren't you?"

He shrugs, "I was thinking of spending a few days between Christmas and New Years in New York, helplessly hoping that you would agree to come with me."

It warms my heart to think that he's planning for the holidays which are a month away but he's also including me in his plans because he's sure that 'we' would be there to implement that.

"New York, where your father's company is set, meaning you want me to ruin your holidays?" I arch an eyebrow but he gives me a look.

"I'll talk to him, now don't be such a pessimist." He teases and I shake my head at him.

"Shoo off to your practice now." I push at his shoulder but he pulls me closer and wraps his arms around me. "You're sweating, Jay." I point out and he just nuzzles his face in my neck more.

"Going now." He mumbles but still doesn't let go. Then he slams a kiss on my forehead and waves before running back into the school.

I smile goofily to myself as I turn around and call up Breanna. She picks up in the second ring. "Another bitch to another bitch's service." She greets, making me laugh.

"You left the school yet?" I ask.

"Nope, right behind you girl, hop in." She says and just then a horn blows behind me, making me jump.

I flip my middle finger off which only makes her honk more as I get in, "You can be charged with spreading noise pollution, girl." I say and she turns up her radio.

"We are going to McDonald's!" She screams and I grin. This is one of the many reasons why she's my best friend.

___

Sawyer came back last night but something about the way Jordan greets me the next morning tells me that they had a fight.

"They had a fight." Chris confirms, as if reading my thoughts.

Can he read my thoughts?

"Yes." He responds, making my eyes widen. "You want to see me naked and want to do—"

"Stop right there." I smack his arm and he laughs, pulling me closer to himself as he adjusts my glasses on the bridge of my nose.

"You know that was the utter truth though." He smirks, making me roll my eyes.

"Blah. Now, why did my OTP fight?" I ask, pouting as I roam my eyes around Chris in his basketball jersey. He looks hot.

"Something about coming out." He says and I sigh, because I should've guessed that.

Sawyer's been wanting to make their relationship public for a while now but Jordan has had apprehensions due to basketball. He doesn't want his team members to look at him differently because of this. Especially because, 'They have nothing on Sawyer, the man's a legend.'

Yup, Jordan's whipped ass words. He still hasn't told him that he's in love with him which according to me is stupid because he's with the person whom he loves, so he shouldn't be hiding it.

"Looks like Jordan needs a Mommy lecture." I tell myself but Chris gives me a look so I put on an innocent face, "What? I wouldn't say anything."

He still doesn't believe me so I stand on my toes, pulling him to lean in as I capture my mouth with his, making me forget about the entire conversation because my whole focus shifts to the pleasure his mouth brings to mine.

His tongue swipes on my bottom lip, sending a shudder through me at the intensity of his tongue barbell against my lip before he tugs on it with his mouth, erupting a moan from me as he pulls me closer to himself and I tug at the roots of his hair as his tongue meets mine but he pulls away too soon.

"Thought might find you two here." I hear Jordan and immediately curse as I try to catch my breath, still reeling from the kiss.

"Such a bad child." I mutter, causing Chris to snicker as he kisses my neck before turning the both of us around so we can come face to face with the man of the hour.

Jordan has his arms crossed over his chest as he stares at us, "What did I say about no sex?"

"I am on my period." I announce and Jordan gives me a look while Chris just continues to smirk as he stares between the two of us.

"And? Isn't that supposed to provide lubrication?" He asks, making me actually taste vomit in my mouth with those words.

"Thank god you're gay." I say.

I've got nothing against period sex, but it's just not for me. But when I realise what I just said, I look into Jordan's eyes and he immediately looks a lot more sullen than he did when he came here.

Taking a step towards him, I keep my hands on his shoulders, "Okay buddy, you listen to me now. I have no idea whether you just choose to ignore it or don't want to accept it, but the way your guy looks at you, that's pretty much what every fucking person wants and you both have that because you look at him the exact same way. With love.

"It isn't my place, Jordan but I've known that guy since I was four years old and he would never force you to come out unless you are ready for it. So whatever fight you had, it isn't because of that. Long distance is hard and sometimes all you need is a little reassurance but it doesn't have to be you declaring to the world that you're gay because it's none of their fucking business but you can tell Sawyer how you feel. You have no fucking idea how lucky you are to have chance to be with some you love. Don't ruin it by overthinking. Pour your heart out and even if he doesn't say it back, at least you told him the truth, right?"

A stretched silence falls over after I finish speaking and I immediately start to regret that maybe I overstepped the line but then Jordan wraps his arms around me.

"Assholes! Coach is looking for you both." Evan's voice booms over, making me jump away from Jordan. My best friend probably senses something because he frowns, "Is everything alright? And if this is about your fight with Sawyer, he's being a dumbass. Just give him time."

Jordan nods, before turning to Chris, "Come on, we've got a game to win."

"Go ahead, I'm right behind you." He responds.

But in return gets disapproving looks from two people so I sigh, moving close to him, "It's alright, go! I'll wait for you after the match outside lockers."

He smiles, leaning down to kiss me briefly before walking away and just then I shout out, "Good luck, guys!"

I receive Jordan's signature salute, Evan's wink and Chris's smirk before they turn around again to walk away. Jocks!

Grabbing my sling wallet from where it's sitting on the bleachers, I pick it up before going back inside the school hallways and finding my way to the gym. Luke, Chase, Aiden and Breanna wave over when they spot me and I go up the stairs to sit by them.

"Hey." I smile at them and get a mutter of replies in return.

Focusing my attention back on the court, I see as the names of the players are announced and everyone comes one by one from both the teams. The buzzer goes off as the game starts and somewhere during the beginning of it, Sam takes the lead before I hear someone munching on popcorn way too loudly.

"Stop that." I hiss, still not looking at the person, my eyes focused on the game but then the stranger chuckles, snapping me out of my daze as I jerk my head in his direction. "Oh, no fucking way."

He gives me a smirk, throwing more popcorn in his mouth as he starts chewing on it loudly with open mouth which makes me grimace.

"How you doin' brown hair? Last time we talked, you were threatening me with your Daddy." William says, making me grit my teeth together.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

He fakes a pout, "And here I thought we didn't need a reason to meet." I throw a deadly glare at him so he chuckles, "Chill, I'm just here to see how my dearest opponents are doing."

"Well, go sit somewhere else." I scrunch my nose up in pure disgust as I take in his over use of cologne.

"But then that would destroy my whole ploy." He says, clearly amused by his thoughts and I try to look back at the game.

Our team scores and I notice Little Elm trying to get the ball from Jordan. But then I hear Chase's voice, "Is this guy bothering you, Adri?" He asks and I give him a small smile, not wanting to create a scene which would