Thanks to officialmiso  for the fan made cover above 💖

Comment of Chapter Sixteen: phantomchan, yes you can have a character spirit animal ❤️

A lil note: there were so many song suggestions and I am TERRIBLE with decisions so I changed the format of the playlist. Now, the reader made playlist is the inline comments on the graphic, but because its been updated all the existing songs have disappeared. TLDR: if you want to suggest a song for TBS playlist, go back to the second part of the story and add it in!

Ah, guys, I love this chapter. And it's gonna answer more of your questions! ONE MORE THING: Want a double update? if this chapter makes 300 comments I'll release chapter 18 early 😉

[but please note, irrelevant/repetitive spam comments will get deleted]

Friday night turned to Saturday morning which turned into a day nestled between Felix's sheets. There was no class or phone calls to interrupt us this time—in fact, I was pretty sure both of our phones were still downstairs—instead our only focus was each other and the sound of rain pattering on the roof. My fingers traveled down Felix's jaw, my thumb softly tracing his lip before kissing him again.

"I'm glad you stayed last night," he murmured, a huskiness to his voice from sleep. Even though I was hungover, I still felt euphoric as I nestled into his chest again, a smile on my face.

"Me too."

"You don't think we're rushing things by doing this again?"

The tightness in my stomach that had started to build after Penelope's blackmail twisted. "I wish it were that simple."

"Who hurt you, Preston?" he joked, rolling over so I had to face him again. I screwed up my nose.

He knew half of the answer. My family. But he didn't know that I was trying to keep my distance so I didn't hurt him. Trying. It was so selfish that I was here, clinging to this tranquility so I didn't have to worry about all the other stuff tearing my heart apart.

"Who hurt you," I said back. But it was less of a joke, more of genuine curiosity. I wanted to hear more about what he'd told me the other night. Understand him better.

I felt his fingertips roll up my back, bringing goosebumps to my skin and making me shiver. He chuckled lightly.

"You really want to hear about that?"

I kissed his chest with featherlight gentleness, prompting him to continue.

"It was actually about a year ago. It was the first time—well, the only time—I've really felt... love? That's lame. I know—"

"No, it's not," I said quickly. As if it were even possible, Felix had just grown at least ten times hotter. I'd never met a guy competent in talking about his feelings, it was always blown off in some deeply ingrained masculine insecurity.

"Anyway, I got really busy in senior year. I was trying to get a photography portfolio together, and I was working for Penelope to help build hers. She was dating my best friend, and Jada and Poppy were her best friends, so we were all spending heaps of time together. Paisley—that was her name—she didn't like Penelope."

To be honest, from whatever my relationship was with Penelope, I didn't find her particularly likable either. I laced my fingers with Felix's, giving his hand a squeeze.

"Anyway, long story short, I was waiting for her to come out of the shower one night when her phone went off with all these texts. Turns out she had a guy from Penelope's modelling agency on the side."

"Shit," I said. I didn't know what else to say. The pain in his eyes was so raw.

"It's part of what made me so happy to move. And for Penelope to go off and be famous, or whatever. She just reminds me of everything that happened. What I did."

"It's not your fault," I said, frowning. "What she did isn't your fault at all."

"It's just, I felt like I really trusted her, you know? That even though it was a rough time, she still felt the same..." He shook his head, his eyes closed. "Anyway, it was a year ago now. I've moved on."

"I'm glad you can talk about it," I said. I was feeling a harsh swell in my chest, the kind I got when I knew I was falling deep. Why did Felix talking about his ex make me want him more?

"You know, it doesn't feel the same now. It's like a memory. I've barely thought about her this semester. Especially since..."

His voice trailed off, he didn't have to say it. He caught a ringlet of my hair and smoothed it from my face, kissing me again softly, his hands tight around my back as they pulled my body onto his.

"Drugs."

Penelope's pixelated figure moved so her clasped hand was beneath her chin in thought.

"You think Cole does that stuff?" I asked. I'd just recounted my version of Friday night to her. Though it wasn't much, the fact I had something was such a contrast to our last few conversations that I swear she was relieved.

"I mean..." she looked away. She had an iced tea to her right, and judging from the background it looked like she was somewhere much sunnier than here. "It's none of your business, but this could be typical of him. He's not very good at dealing with things, maybe..."

She trailed off. I thought again at how impressed I was at Felix's ability to talk to me. It made me so guilty, I wished I could be as honest with him. Maybe I could be. Would he understand?

The reality was, he wouldn't. I'd be just another girl betraying him because of Penelope Aldgate.

Besides, I was meant to be married. The thought had me turning cold.

"And the girl, tell me more about her," Penelope said, taking a sip from her straw.

"She had bright purple hair. And they laughed together. I know she was trying to be subtle, but they got pretty close for her to exchange the... you know."

"Huh," she said. "And then he disappeared."

"Yeah, he wasn't there when Jada was upset and we had to leave."

"What do you mean Jada was upset?"

I filled her in on the rest of the night, Jada crying on the pavement outside.

"Shit. I should have been there," Penelope said with a long sigh. "Okay. Forget Felix or whatever you're doing with him. I want you to follow Cole the whole day tomorrow."

"Um, how am I supposed to do that?"

"Follow him. From class. See where he goes, what he does after. Wear a hoodie or something, I don't know."

I picked at my nails beneath my desk. "Seriously?"

"Unless you want the whole world to know about your marital status, then you have to do it. Cute husband by the way, I found him on Facebook."

I tried to disguise my horror. The last thing I wanted was Penelope digging into my past by going through him. Nic.

"Fine," I said.

I got to campus long before class started on Monday. Felix had offered to pick me up, but I'd declined under the pretense that I was running errands on my way in. I waited on the edge of the building, wearing a black raincoat. I felt horrible.

I could see over the parking lot from my position, and I waited patiently for the Datsun to pull up. I saw Felix's car first, and made sure to stay out of view as he turned to lock it before walking to the lecture hall. I could have sworn there was a skip to his step. It brought a smile to my face.

Moments later, the Kensington car pulled up. Poppy was the first to get out, slamming the door behind her.

"You need to get your shit together, Cole," she said, loud enough for me to hear her from yards away.

"Get off my back. You don't know anything," he shot back. But she was already storming away.

So, the twins were arguing. They always were. Nothing new.

Once they were ahead of me, I followed them. When they met up with Felix outside the café, I swept my hood off of my head and joined them.

"Hey!" I said, as if it were a surprise. I usually met them in class, but I'd always figured they met somewhere beforehand. How else could they make their grand entrance?

Felix grinned, pulling me close to him so he could kiss me on the forehead. "Morning."

I didn't miss Poppy's stifled smile in our direction as she pretended to pull out her phone. Cole didn't seem to care, pulling out his too.

"Where's Jada?" I asked. I'd been worried about her all weekend.

"I don't know if she's coming to class today," Poppy said. She looked to Cole, then back to me. "I think she's avoiding Arjun."

"Oh, okay," I said. "Did he... do something to her?"

"She's okay," Felix said, putting an arm around my shoulder. "Coffee?"

I nodded. "So this is what makes you late?"

Felix shrugged. "It keeps our cool reputation.

After class we headed to Beanz. I was planning to skip my afternoon elective classes so I could watch Cole, but Felix was proving a hard temptation to overcome.

"We could skip and go see a movie," he murmured. "Or go find an underground bar with expensive cocktails. Somewhere where we can hear the rain on the roof—or somewhere that plays live jazz."

"Wow, an upgrade from your record player," I noted. Then I sighed. Would Penelope really reveal my secret? How far would she go to keep me in check?

It didn't matter. It wasn't like I was in a position to risk it.

"I gotta cram for this test I have," I lied. "Maybe tomorrow night?"

"Sounds a lot less fun, but okay," he said, nudging me with his knee.

"What are you guys doing this afternoon?" I asked, aiming my questions at the twins.

"Ella and I are driving to her parent's house tonight after swimming practice," Poppy said, flipping a page in her text book.

"I thought you said you were checking on Jada?" Cole said.

"She wants space, Cole. Besides, me and Ella made these plans ages ago. Can't bail on her parents."

Cole narrowed his eyes.

The fries we ordered arrived at the table, and conversation was temporarily derailed.

It was hard to keep track of Cole for the rest of the afternoon. I tried to linger nearby his classes, waiting for him to be en route to his next location, but I kept getting distracted. I was trying to catch up on work on my laptop, applying for some internships for the summer, but my thoughts kept following a dangerous cycle. Felix. Penelope. My secrets. Felix again.

Cole finally headed to the parking lot after three. Poppy must have gotten a ride with Ella, because it was just him when he got in and started the car. Here was where it got tricky.

I jogged up the road to the taxi rank next to the library, jumping into the first one I could see, thankful Penelope had cashed me up enough that this ride wouldn't break me. I had a feeling it would be costly.

"Follow that car."

The taxi driver snorted with laughter, but she obeyed.

"And make sure they don't realize we're following them. Keep a distance."

It was almost as if the driver had done this before. She waited for Cole to turn a corner, and then gave enough time that we could follow without him seeing us in the rear-view mirror, but also without losing him.

His house was also in Candard Heights, but the side that had more houses than apartments. When his car finally pulled into a residence, the driver pulled to the curb.

"This good?"

I nodded, paying her the fare and a decent tip. Now was going to be the most dangerous part. I didn't know what would happen if Cole caught me now.

There was a bus shelter down the road, and I went over to it to sit. It was still raining, but the wind was angling it away from where I'd set up in my spot. I took out my laptop and went back to writing intern applications, keeping my chin tucked in my scarf and ignoring the chill biting my fingertips. This would be a perfect example of a 'time I showed dedication at work'.

An hour passed and it was starting to get dark. I didn't know exactly what I was waiting for. Maybe for Cole to leave, or to see him make out with a girl in his window. Either would have made this less boring.

An answer became clear when bright headlights appeared down the street. A car pulled up outside of Cole's house. Perfect. Even if it was just Poppy, I could at least say I tried.

A figure stepped out. They were wearing a beanie and scarf, like me, and a jacket so large I couldn't recognize their figure. She wore heeled boots, though.

I squinted through the rain as the car door shut and the car took off. Maybe it was Poppy. She lived there with Cole, after all.

The gates opened and Cole was there, a tall figure with hands in pockets. I prayed he wouldn't notice me staring from across the street, but he was too busy talking to the girl to notice, anyway. They both hesitated for a second, and my heart stopped. Was this it? Was Penelope's paranoia correct?

My questions were answered when he leaned forward and kissed her.