It was the last day of school before winter break, which means semester exams. I couldn't wait for school to be over and next week go to Kansas to see my friends.

"Are you going to talk to Parker today?" Del asked as we walked to lunch.

I had planned on doing it after school.

"Yeah after school" I answered. All of a sudden, I fell very nervous and picked at my finger nails, a bad habit that I have yet to break.

"Don't be scared" she bumped my shoulder with hers, noticing my bad habit.

"I'll be fine" I assured her as we walked into the cafeteria. We sat in our normal spots with the boys, event though half of them were getting lunch.

"I hate exam days" Alex pouted as he sat down next to me.

I gave him a kiss on the cheek as a welcome.

"You're telling me I got detention" Parker sat down in his normal spot across from me.

"On the last day of school?" I couldn't help myself from answering in shock. We normally don't acknowledge each other at lunch, instead talking to everyone else.

"Stupid I know" He answered before looking down at his plate.

I was pulled into a different conversation. Looks like I'll have to wait for him to get out of detention.

***

I waited for Parker outside of detention, so we could talk. It didn't end for a little while, but I want this to be over with already. I sat on the ground so my feet wouldn't hurt

"Aspen?" I heard my name and turned my head to see Ashely standing above me. "What are you doing here?" She asked in a nicer tone than normal.

"I'm just waiting on Parker." I jabbed my thumb in the direction of detention.

"Aren't you two fighting or something?" She asked.

"I'm trying to fix that. Why are you here?" I switched the conversation to her.

"My car wouldn't start I'm waiting on my brother" She rolled her eyes and made a disgusted face. I assumed she doesn't like him that much.

I expected that to be the end of the brief conversation, but she surprised me when she took a seat on the floor next to me.

We sat in silence for a while, neither of us knowing what to say.

"I'm sorry" She blurted.

"for what?"

She had nothing to be sorry for, we don't talk enough for that to happen. Sure she's been rude but it wasn't anything terrible.

"For being a bitch. I know I was really rude to you when you first arrived. I wanted Ashton to myself and you are so beautiful I thought he'd choose you over me. Especially when you became partners. Turns out he chooses himself over everyone," she said with a sad smile before continuing. "He only wanted someone temporarily, every now and then to make out with and I was that girl for a long time. He was the only one that really knew about my problems at home and he didn't care, so I found someone who did. Ashton was pissed, but he apologized for being a dick. Now Ash is just my best friend."

"Who's this guy?" I teased her a little bit, happy to see her cheeks redden the slightest bit. It felt weird for me to tease and talk about boys with Ashley, out of all people. We hardly know each other.

"His name is James Hook, he's on the football team with Ashton and thank God he's on defense or Ahston would purposefully do something to hurt him." She laughed lightly and I followed suit.

"Sounds cute" I smiled at her.

Another wave of silence hit us as she searched for something to say. I waited patiently. I knew there was a lot on her mind.

"About my mom... I'm also sorry about the airport accident. I'm always on edge when she's around and also very vulnerable, if she would let me I would wear sweats and a hoodie to school when she's around." I gave her a confused look, unsure of what she was getting at. "She's a model and she's had a ton of plastic surgery and procedures done so she can keep that job. She always..." She trailed off.

I placed my hand on her knee for support. This had to be hard for her. Based on what I know about Ashley, she would never show up to school in sweats and a hoodie. She always looks fashionable and seems to be happy with it.

"She points out all my flaws and insecurities. I feel ashamed of myself and she makes me go on these crazy diets. She tries to change who I am and it makes me vulnerable and insecure. When she leaves to go to fashion shows and get more plastic surgeries, I finally start to feel like myself again."

"I'm sorry you have to go through that, just know that anything she says bad about you is wrong, you have an amazing figure and you certainly shouldn't have any insecurities, you are beautiful and perfect just the way you are."

"Not as good as you" She mumbled quietly, but I heard her.

"What?" I asked completely dumbfounded.

She broke eye contact and paid extra attention to her nail beds. "I mean you're naturally beautiful, you don't have to do anything to be pretty. I have to make sure everything is perfect before I leave the house, you probably hardly do anything and you walk out of the house looking perfect."

I look at her with an open mouth. "Ashley I'm far from perfect, there are so many things in my appearance that I could change, but I wouldn't." She tilted her head in slight confusion. "I mean they make you different and completely you. No one looks or is perfect so don't try to be, just be yourself."

She looked up with tears brimming her eyes. I freaked out for a second. Did I say something wrong?

"Thank you" She smiled as a single tear escaped her eye. It was my turn to tilt my head in confusion. "I really needed to hear that from somebody who isn't my dad. He always cheers me up when mom eats me out and he secretly brings me food. It's different coming from someone who isn't bias"

"You're welcome Ashley, I'm here anytime you need to talk to someone. I know it's not easy ."

"Also I'm sorry about my brother, I know he tried to hit on you at the first game you came to. He's kind of the black sheep of the family and a huge perv. My dad has kicked him out several times. He's not even allowed to be at the games anymore."

"It's okay, I can handle myself" I assured her with a smile.

Her phone buzzed and she picked it up. "It's my brother he's here" she stood up and collected her things. "You don't know how much this meant to me Aspen, I don't know how to thank you enough." She smiled at me and walked away.

I looked at the time and realized Parker should be out any minute.

The door opened and a few students trickled out. Parker was one of the last ones. He saw me and started to walk faster.

"Parker" I called after him, but like every time now he ignored me.

I jogged to catch up to him.

I decided that to just start talking would be my best option. "Why have you been ignoring me? You've hardly talked to me since Alex and I started dating. You don't answer my texts, and you ignore me whenever I try to talk to you." I grabbed his arm to stop him in the middle of the hallway.

"I just don't want to talk to you" He answered before walking away.

"What the hell happened to you?" I yelled as we reached outside of the building. "We used to be friends, you used to actually like me, what happened? I hate to admit it but I miss you!"

"Can't you go bother someone else? Perhaps your boyfriend?"

I stopped in my tracks.

Is he jealous of Alex?

"This is what this is all about?" I questioned. "You're jealous that I spend more time with Alex. We can still be friends, Parker. I can gain one relationship and still keep up with another. You can't just drop me when I don't spend as much time with you"

He stopped and marched back to me. He looked determined. He wasn't the Parker I loved or the one I hated.

"That's just is Aspen I don't want to be just friends with you!" he yelled in my face.

"Parker what are you saying?" I whispered due to our close proximity and my confusion.

His blue eyes stared straight into mine. He crashed his lips into mine with a sense of urgency. As our lips collided I felt fireworks explode in my stomach.

I threw my arms around his neck. We backed up against the wall of the school. His arms traveled down from my waist to my thighs. He gently rubbed up and down sending a shiver of pleasure throughout my body.

I knew it was wrong to kiss Parker. He's Alex's brother. He's my boyfriend's brother for God's sake.It was so wrong but it felt so right and in that moment it's all I wanted.

He tapped by ass and squeezed my thighs. Our kiss broke for a slight second when he whispered jump. My back was against the wall and I was in his arms. My body against his was the perfect it to the perfect puzzle. I pulled him closer and he deepened the kiss. I tugged his hair ever so softly which had caused him to moan.

We released each other's lips, leaving both of us breathless. He worked his way down to my neck, sending pleasure to every place his lips touched.

He dominantly sucked on my neck, causing me to moan in delight. I let him work him magic even though I knew it would result in a hickey.

"Parker" I whispered. He hummed as he worked his magic on another part of my neck. "This is wrong." He stopped and looked up at me, internally I begged him to keep going, but we can't. His lips were swollen and I wanted to kiss them.

"I know, I know and I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. I shouldn't have kissed you I'm sorry" he looked down. I was still in his arms as I pulled chin up to face me. I planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"I know you're sorry and so am I, but it's okay. I promise." I gave him an assuring smile.

He let me down, though I was still against the wall. We kiss again but this time it was soft and slow. We couldn't help ourselves.

"In case you still haven't figured it out, I really like you and I couldn't be around you and act happy while, you're with my brother and happy with him. So I cut you out and I started being a dick. I hated every minute of it, but I couldn't do that to you or Alex, until now"

"We can't tell anybody about this, and I mean anybody. It wasn't right" 

"I know I know" He rocked back on his heels and ran a hand through his hair. 

"I'm sorry, Parker. It's just..." 

"Complicated" he finished for me. 

"Exactly" I stood there awkwardly for a second. I remembered that I don't have a ride back since Del gave me a ride this morning. "Can you take me home?" I asked. 

"Of course" He smiled his easygoing smile and I followed him to his car. 

The ride was silent and awkward. Neither of us knew what to say. 

We pulled up to my house but I didn't make a move. We both just started at each other for a bit. 

"I'm sorry Parker" I kissed his cheek and quickly rushed inside, without looking back at him.