"The friendzone sucks, Ivy."

"Stop complaining and help me," I say, balancing on the ladder with a roll of streamers in one hand and duct tape in the other.

Elliott sighs and sets the kitchen table. "I'm just saying. Like, I've never been friendzoned so officially before."

"Can you start filling the balloons?"

"I mean, it's weird, isn't it? I've like touched your boob before. How can we be friends when I've touched your boob?" he asks in such a serious tone that I can't help but laugh.

"Can you shut up already?" I step off the ladder to admire my decoration skills before picking up the balloons from the counter and handing them to Elliott.

He takes the balloons from me. "And you think being just friends is normal?"

"Yep," I say simply and turn to fix a clumped set of streamers.

We have been decorating the house for Jonas and Jett's joined graduation party for the past two hours. Elliott quickly lost his interest in filling balloons and instead focused on annoying me.

"Oh, Ivy, this looks professional!" Mrs. Kennedy exclaims as she steps into the kitchen with Bethany in her arms. "You surely have a decorating soul."

Elliott clears his throat. "Uh, mom, where is my recognition?"

"Honey, I think we all know that you haven't done a thing all day." She pats her son on the back before winking at me.

"I don't deserve this abuse," he mutters and takes Beth from his mom. "Say, 'Elliott deserves better', Bethany. Elliott deserves better," he repeats over and over in a baby voice while walking out of the kitchen.

Mrs. Kennedy smiles and shakes her head. "Truly, Ivy, thank you for setting up the party for me. I have been swamped with phone calls. The business is really taking off."

I nod. "I'm happy to help. Jett has not stopped talking about this party for weeks."

"Jett is a sweet boy. I am so grateful Jonas has someone that special in his life," she says kindly. "I always worried that he wouldn't be able to find a solid group of friends, and I think Jett makes the perfect best friend."

"Their weirdness compliments one another," I agree.

She laughs and grabs her car keys off the ledge. "I'm going to go pick up the twins from school. Don't worry about setting up anymore. You have already done too much."

"I'll try my best to control my decorating urge," I joke.

When she leaves, I go into the family room with Elliott, Bethany, and Ethan. Elliott is on the couch with Beth in his arms. Ethan is on the floor building a block tower. I sit next to Elliott and admire the cuteness of baby Bethany...and her big brother.

"Hey, guess what Ethan remembered."

I raise an eyebrow. "That he forgot to put on his pull-ups?"

"Reasonable guess," Elliott says, though it earns him a block to the face from Ethan. "Hey! Kiddo, watch out for the baby!" Elliott yells and lifts Bethany up with straightened arms.

"I memembered," Ethan starts with a stutter, "that it's your nannying anni...anniber...anniversorry." He struggles with the word anniversary.

I smile. "And you were the one who remembered that, E?" I poke his side to make him squirm. "That is very considerate of you, buddy." I glance at Elliott who is watching his messenger carefully.

Ethan looks at Elliott and nods. "We want to have a party!"

"You do?" I ask. "Well, I could never be opposed to a party hosted by you, Ethan."

"Awesome!" he cheers excitedly and gives his big brother a high-five.

"Bethany decided it would be best if it were a surprise party, so we won't be telling you when it'll happen. The suspense will probably eat you alive," Elliott says.

"A sadistic baby she is," I laugh and take her from Elliott.

"She must've learned it from you," he says. "I mean, you're putting me through the same thing with this whole friendship ordeal."

I shake my head. "Elliott, you agreed to it."

"Uh, yeah, because I was certain you'd cave the next morning." He sighs. "This is so stupid. You treat me like your boyfriend and I act like one--a perfect one, might I add-- but I'm not even allowed to kiss you."

"Ew, kissing," Ethan says and sticks out his tongue. "Gross!"

"Exactly, E." I point to the little kid. "He knows his stuff."

Elliott groans and throws his arms behind his head in a stretch. "Can we set a specific date on when this is over?"

"Liott, the whole point is to regain trust and rebuild our friendship. I don't want just a physical relationship with you."

"Ew, physical," Ethan says and sticks out his tongue. "I hate exercise!"

Elliott smiles. "Well, I already trust you, and you're already my best friend."

"Try telling that to Flynn."

"Flynn who? You want me to dump him? Because I would for you."

I laugh and place Bethany on the floor where she crawls into Ethan's block tower accidentally. I point to the collapsed building and say, "there. A perfect metaphor for our relationship."

"You are so impossible to love, Ivy."

"Thank you."

He crosses his arms over his chest and huffs like a little boy. "I'm so over this. I'm going to Flynn's house."

"Don't you want to celebrate Jonas' graduation?"

"With all of his little dweebie friends who have crushes on my girlfriend-to-be?" He cocks his head to the side. "Yeah, I think I'll pass."

"Come on, Liott. He'll want you there," I say. "You're his big brother. You know he likes to show you off to all of his friends."

"Actually, Ives, he likes to show you off." He stands up from the couch. "You shouldn't want to be here when you'll just get objectified by a bunch of fourteen-year-olds."

I smile. "It's a free confidence booster."

He rolls his eyes and picks Bethany up and bounces her in his arms. "Bethany, tell Nanny Ivy she's pretty. Apparently her boyfriend-to-be doesn't compliment her enough."

Bethany giggles and rubs her head against her big brother's shoulder. Elliott carries her into the kitchen, leaving me with Ethan and his blocks.

"I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, Ivy," Ethan says with a sweet smile.

I pout my lip. "Thank you, E. You're not too bad looking yourself, kiddo."

"I know." He continues building with his blocks.

"Hey! Look, Rosie, it's Ivy!" Crystal screams and runs over to give me a hug.

Rose walks in with her mom at the front door. She runs over and jumps on the couch to give me a hug right after her sister. "Hi, Ivy! Are you sleeping over?"

"Our friend Maddy is sleeping over!" Crystal says. "We could have a really fun night. But just us girls. Elliott would make things awkward!"

"Hey!" I hear Elliott whine from the kitchen.

"You want to?" Rose asks excitedly.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude. Plus, I promised this friend of mine I'd hang out with him after the party tonight."

"Is it Levi?" Rose asks, looking to Crystal just before the two burst out into a giggling fit.

"What's so funny about Levi?"

"He's a hottie!" Crystal says before laughing some more.

Rose falls back into the couch in laughter, unable to stop. Crystal is right there with her. I don't even know how they're breathing while laughing that hard.

"Whoa there, ladies. You're too young to think any boy is a hottie!" Elliott says, picking Rosie up from the couch and holding her upside down.

"All the girls in our grade have boyfriends, Elliott," Crystal says and flips her hair. "Except Rosie, that is."

"Oh? So, you're the one with the boyfriend?" he asks with a raised eyebrow, setting Rosie back down on the couch next to me.

Crystal shrugs. "Might be."

Elliott lunges to grab her. She screams and runs around the couch with Elliott at her heels. She isn't fast enough and is quickly flipped upside down like her twin had been.

"Put me down, you annoying butthead!" Skillfully, she manages to kick Elliott in the head.

He puts her down immediately. "Okay, that was rude."

Crystal sticks out her tongue and runs up the stairs to her room. Rose goes to follow her, but Elliott stops her first.

"Hey," he says and points a finger at her, "you've always been my favorite."

Rose laughs and rushes upstairs. "Hear that, Crystal?" she says to her sister. "I'm the favorite!"

"Well, I'm the one with the boyfriend. Who's the real winner?" We hear Crystal shoot back.

Ethan stands up with a block in his right hand, staring at Elliott angrily.

"What's up, Big Eth?"

"I thought I was the favorite!" he says and without hesitation pelts the blocks at his brother.

It becomes dangerous very quickly.

We're saved when Mrs. Kennedy comes in to tell us that the boys are almost home. She looks dorm Elliott and me as we hide behind the couch to Ethan with two blocks in his hands. "Ethan! What did I tell you about throwing blocks? Upstairs. Now."

"But mommy!" Ethan whines.

"But mommy!" Elliott mimics, standing back up from behind the couch to stick his tongue out at Ethan.

"Upstairs!" Mrs. Kennedy stands behind him and walks with him.

Ethan drops his head and stomps his way upstairs. "This is so stupid. You break one kid's nose and it's the end of the world if you ever touch another block!"

I smile. "Well, I should go pick up Nora from the gym. We'll probably get back to the party just in time for pizza."

"Nora goes to the gym?" Elliott asks.

"It makes her feel less guilty when she eats nine slices of pizza," I explain with a shrug. "You want to come with?"

"No. I think I have to go call Carter to make plans with her tonight because...you know... you'll be with Levi."

"I'm actually hanging out with Jake Acker, you jealous little boy," I say and grab my keys from the coffee table.

"Jake Acker?" he questions. "Why the heck do you have plans with Jake Acker?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Because we're friends," I argue.

"The last time you saw him he was engaged to Carter!" Elliott cries. "Like...he's insane!"

"No," I pause, "she's insane. He just fell in love with her." I shrug. "Sounds familiar."

He stands up and follows me to my car. "Okay, I was not in love with Carter."

"You told me you were," I remind. "You don't have to pretend like you weren't completely lost before I came into your life."

He laughs shortly before frowning. "I seriously never loved her. I mean, yeah, I cared about her but that's just because I'm not the heartless jerk she was."

I pat his shoulder and open my car door. "I know, buddy."

"Ivy," he starts and holds his hands on the partially opened driver's window, "while you're at the gym, try to make some friends that are girls, will you?"

I roll my eyes and close the window before backing out of the driveway. After picking Nora up at the gym, we have to stop back at my house for her to take a shower.

"Are you seriously doing that thing with Jake Acker tonight?" Nora asks, walking into my room with her hair dripping.

"Yeah. What's the big deal?"

"What's the big deal?" she repeats and grabs me by the shoulders to start shaking me. "Ivy! You're driving me nuts!"

"Nora, I need the closure," I say and swat her hands off my shoulders. "I'm a mature woman. I can handle the drama."

"Well, you at least told Elliott about it, right?"

I shrug. "I mean, I told him I was hanging out with Jake Acker. He doesn't need to know the whole story."

Nora frowns and places a hand on her hip. "You have to tell him, Ivy. He needs to know. And quite honestly, I think he should be there."

I sigh and stand up from my bed, making my way past Nora. She follows behind me. I know she is dying to continue the argument, but I'm not up for it. She's definitely right. But doing the right thing isn't the same as doing what's best for me. I hook Elm on a leash to walk him over to the Kennedy's. The twins wanted me to bring him to the party.

We get back to the Kennedy's at the prime of the party: dinnertime. The party is popping with a packed kitchen and dining room. It's more teenagers than I've ever seen at any malls on a Friday night. I recognize the music playing as Elliott's 'F*** School' Spotify playlist. Jett and Jonas are sitting in the dining room. Jett is telling the elaborate story of my relationship with Atticus.

"Congrats, boys!" I say, placing one hand over Jett's mouth and the other on Jonas' shoulder.

"Hey, Ivy. Do you mind moving your hand? Ivory gets really jealous," Jonas says and pushes me away.

"She doesn't look jealous," Jett says, pointing to a brunette in the corner of the room talking to another kid. "She isn't even looking at you."

"Okay, Jett, we get it," Jonas mutters. "Anyway, Ives, did you hear the news? I'm taken by a beautiful honey."

I smile. "I did hear. I only felt slightly betrayed."

"You'll just have to find love elsewhere, nugget. This heartbreaker found the one." Jonas drops his jaw and points to Jett. "Speaking of finding the one," he pauses, "Jett has an anonymous admirer."

"What?" I gasp and look at my little brother in shock.

"It's nothing really. Someone just wrote a little message in my yearbook and didn't sign their name," Jett explains.

Jonas cackles. "A little message? Tell her what it said, J."

Jett blushes and shoves an entire slice of pizza in his mouth. He mumbles with a mouthful, "if jusfgh sarf dag my hefk."

"How do you spell that?" I jokingly ask. "Come on, tell me." I hit Jonas' arm. "Tell me what it said."

Jonas looks at his buddy with raised eyebrows. Jett drops his head on the table and covers his ears. I place my hands on his back and push down slightly.

"I'll go get his yearbook for you to see for yourself," Jonas decides and leaves the table.

I follow Jonas out of the dining room, but I get stopped in the kitchen by Elliott. "Hey you," I greet as he lets go of my hand.

"Hey," he says, smiling goofily. "How many teenage boys have hit on you so far?"

"Oddly enough, none. But to be fair, I just got here. The night is still young."

He forms his mouth in an 'o' shape. "I've already gotten three phone numbers shoved in my back pocket." He nudges his head to the side. "Pink tails over there tried to get handsy while I passed out the pizza."

I laugh. "I'll keep my eye on her."

Jonas runs up to me with the yearbook in his hands. "Look at this," he says, pointing down to a few scribbled words on the page.

I squint my eyes to try and make out what it says. "I have a weakness for you. I want you in the worst way. I want you to..." I can't figure out the next words right away. "I want you to kiss every inch of my naked body." Well, damn.

"Shit, Ivy, not in front of my mom!" Elliott whispers seriously, turning back with an opened pizza box in one hand and a new slice in the other.

"Who would write this?" I ask Jonas, ignoring his older brother. "Is he being bullied or something?"

"No, I-I think that person is being serious. I don't know. It's kind of...romantic, isn't it? Look, they left a phone number!"

Elliott widens his eyes when he realizes someone wrote this in Jett's yearbook and it wasn't just me talking to him. He isn't always the brightest. "Whoa! Jett, man!"

Jett emerges from the kitchen with his head down. He quickly walks past us and snatches the yearbook out of Elliott's hands. We all follow him as he goes outside to cross the street to our house.

"Hey, where are you going?" I ask, taking his arm.

"To burn this," he says like it's obvious.

"Jett, you don't have to be embarrassed by it. Some person wants you!" Elliott says positively.

"You have to call them," Jonas adds. "You need to call them like right now. We'll know if it's someone at the party when their phone goes off."

Jett shakes his head. "No. I don't think that's a good idea."

"Aren't you curious to find out who it is?" I ask.

He shrugs and looks down at his yearbook. "It's kind of weird, isn't it?"

"Yes. It is. But whoever it is might have some insecurities, and I think it's still important for you to reach out to them," Jonas says.

I pat him on the back. "I agree, Jett. I think you could help them."

We go back inside where the party hasn't stopped without us. Jett decides to make the phone call upstairs. Jonas leaves to hang out with Ivory in the basement. Elliott and I are left on lookout for any phone calls.

"So, what are you doing with Jake tonight?"

I shrug. "Just hanging out at his house."

He nods and lifts himself up to sit on the counter. "Okay. Well, as your definitely not jealous at all boyfriend-to-be, I want to remind you that I love you and if you were ever to leave me for another man I would much rather it be someone like Levi, you know?"

I shake my head and hold back a laugh. "You are so mean to Jake Acker. But you really don't have to worry. I think he invited some other people too."

"Oh. I see. And I didn't get an invite." He swings his legs back and forth. "I'm not hurt by that at all. It's whatever."

"Hey, Ives, we heading out?" Flynn asks, nudging my arm.

Elliott raises his eyebrows. "Oh. Flynn's invited too!"

"Elliott didn't get invited?" Flynn asks me. "Well, this is awkward."

"No, no. I'm perfectly fine. I assume Nora didn't get invited either?" He looks for confirmation from my sister.

Nora shrugs. "I have plans with the girls tonight. I couldn't make it to the party."

Elliott jumps off the counter. "Okay. He invited her. But not me? What is this? It's not like I care but..."

I stop listening to Elliott's ranting to go put on my shoes. As I'm tying the laces of my shoes, I hear a vibration nearby. So, naturally, I begin digging through the pile of shoes next to me until I find the iPhone tucked away in a pair of converse. I recognize Jett's number on the screen.

"Uh, hey, is-is that my phone?"

I drop the iPhone immediately, snapping my head to the side to see a young boy standing in front of me. "Sorry. It was buzzing. I think someone tried to call you." I stand up, unsure of what to do in this moment. This is the admirer.

He pushes back his brown hairs that have fallen in his eyes. "Yeah. It was probably my mom. I have to tell her when to pick me up." He lifts the phone from the floor and flips it in his hands. "You're Jett's sister, right?"

"Uh... Yeah. That's me. Ivy."

"Hey. I'm Noel." He smiles softly. "Jett and I are in film club together."

"Oh, fun! It's nice to meet you, Noel." I wish I could keep calm, but it is very difficult to do as I stand in front of the yearbook signer. I can't help but search him up and down. He's wearing a simple white t-shirt and khaki shorts. He doesn't have any socks on, which could be perceived as a red flag. I won't think about it too much yet.

"Yeah, you too. Jett talks about you all the time," he says. "Your room made a wicked filming area for our class project though."

"Wicked," I repeat in the most awkward way possible.

He smiles. "Yeah. I should call my mom now. See you around, Ivy." He walks outside to make his phone call. A part of me wonders if he had been calling Jett back, but I can't hear him through the door.

Flynn and Elliott come to the front door, Elliott still going off about not being invited. Flynn pats his friend on the back. "Maybe it has to do with the fact that you're really rude and sarcastic around him. Or maybe that