In the Last Chapter: 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU8C0cQU5m
In the middle of the night, I realized I still hadn't texted Callie back, nor did I feel the need to. We never really talked too much in the first place, anyway, so it made no sense for me to have a meaningless conversation with her. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gT6iz4bD9
What I did do, though, was check up on Evvie. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5GU0rSlX2
Me:
Hey. Just checking up on you.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPE9fDOcXM
Shoot. I hope that didn’t sound too rude. All I wanted was to be a better friend than what I had been in the past. Maybe she won’t think of it as anything bad. I finished up the last bit of my homework when I got a message from both Evvie and Delcan at the same time. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTKCLv7Wvw
Evvie:
I’m okay, Ezie. You don’t need to be so worried.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V80Er1rjP
Delcan:
Can we talk? 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I9zOx5ipB
Why do I have to be faced with a hard choice? Of course, I wanted to talk to Delcan. The entire day some part of my mind as begging to know what was wrong with him today. He seemed angry like there was something that had happened before school started. Whatever it was, I wanted to make sure he was okay. But at the same time, Evvie had just told me a huge secret, and she probably needed support from me. I also had a duty to fill - becoming a better friend for her.
Then again, Delcan…
Why does life have to be so hard?
I responded to Evvie first, hoping Delcan would be okay if I didn’t respond immediately. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgcVhSIzDI
Me:
I know. But we don’t have to talk about that, of course. There are other things, too.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlOeVSquMB
Evvie:
Other things like..? 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFlZ0DzC1v
Oh, great. Leave me with something to find out. I spent around five minutes thinking of a topic before texting my best friend back. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8K1QAUHZe
Me:
The dance?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTcXczDO7Q
Evvie:
Oh, no. Gosh. That’s going to be so annoying! Ugh.
Hey, are you taking anyone specific?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshwJpIX7c4
Me:
No.
I don’t even think he’s into that stuff in the first place.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3nyzSbwb3
Evvie:
Yeah...but I wanna see him in a tux. You’re lying if you don’t wanna.
Oh! My mom said hi.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7n8zwVn3i
Me:
Tell her I said hi back.
Speaking of dancing, how are the dance squad and everything? I know Haven is the captain, but I’m sure it isn’t that bad.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAyTVm5zXE
Evvie:
No, it honestly isn’t. Haven’s not so bad when you get to know her.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZsJfTk6t1
Me:
I told you!686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoTTHuLrx9
Evvie:
Lol, you did.
Speaking of extracurricular activities, how have Adam and Thomas been? I’ve hardly been able to see them that much anymore. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWPlrgUCWf
Me:
I’d hate to admit that it’s kind of the same with me.
Adam has been pretty busy lately, and Thomas is acting pretty weird. He probably has a crush on someone.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOGiWIIW24
Evvie:
Oh, great. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulUpXm1wmp
She sent an emoji that was rolling her eyes, which I actually understood. Thomas was probably one of the only guys I knew who ignored everyone else when he had a crush on someone. He acts pretty paranoid, and also always tries to enter that person in a conversation. I haven’t been paying attention at lunch well enough to know who it could possibly be, though I’m sure it wasn’t too big of a surprise.
But on the contrary, Thomas always had more crushes than he did dates.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNl7Sr6PAf
Me:
I guess I’ll find out later or something.
Are you gonna go dress shopping or something? 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIRjbw3uvY
Evvie:
Ha, with who?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMNsCV7Mjb
Me:686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NLG2OtWR9
I think Evelyn is going with Callie. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you coming with them. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxzBNacwsl
Evvie:
I think I’ll pass. Dress shopping can be so many hours. And trust me, Ez. When it’s a group, it could be an entire day. Going by myself would just be better.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG5swCDACL
It wasn’t like I could even relate to her. I went out of her contact and texted Delcan quickly, hoping he’d respond.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0SrGuR8Qk
Me:
Yeah, of course. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qqS5Uips9
He didn’t even read the message I sent him.
Great.
I went back into Evvie’s contact and began texting her again, sending a laughing emoji before changing the subject.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZwQ4cymY9
Me:
Yeah, that would be pretty crazy.
Have you finished your homework?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD8KBhlrj1
Evvie:686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCCJe3gDcD
Holy crap. You’re so annoying!
Of course, I haven’t! I’m guessing you have…686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd67tsFteA5
Me:
Well...yeah.
But while I was doing my homework, my mom said something.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4KUZT5BWd
Evvie:
Spill it.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooTmmU4BaH
Me:
She said, and I quote “If there’s anything you feel like you can’t say, I wouldn’t judge you. Nobody’s perfect, Ezra, and I don’t expect you to be either. Regardless, sweetheart, I’m still going to love you the same.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSKg1TUaBP
Evvie:
….
THAT’S SO SWEET OMFG.
EZ THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE DOESN’T CARE HOLY CRAP DID YOU TELL HER?!! 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyNnpq4b1b
I read both of her texts like she was shouting, which she probably was right now, or at least she would be smiling or jumping up and down. Evvie never let something like what my mom had just told me to go down. To be honest, though, it made me feel good to know she thought that was good.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04FHVtBwxL
Me:
No, I didn’t.
Instead, I used the “I’m not a virgin” card on her.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLxSVEcZQU
Evvie sent three emojis with a heart that was cracked.
Evvie:
Aww. Well, you tell her when you wanna.
I still think that’s ADORABLE.
And that card? Really, dude? I’m sure she already knows.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV9HxJXccu
Me:
She knows because Dad made a huge announcement about it and then bought me a watch.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNR0ESNMXbk
Evvie:
Lemme guess...Rolex.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV6mlW1tOh
Me:
Now guess the watch.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZwq2Db9yK
Evvie:
Oh! The Oyster Perpetual?? I heard that the watch cost a lotta money.
I wasn’t ungrateful for the things my dad bought me, but I didn’t like the way he did it. For instance, there was this one time I got rewarded with a 2,000 dollar jacket after making a comment on a woman who was kissing an African American guy in public. I was really thankful, and fortunate that I was able to have such nice things - but it came at a price that made me feel like a horrible person. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCYeLqXV5Z
Me:
Correct.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eUxNyLqq7
Evvie:
Wow. That’s crazy.
Besides that, though...did she believe you?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99UVJGgUz7
Me:686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKKSIpNyXc
I couldn’t tell, really. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeGlwUbacD
While I was texting the second text, Delcan responded. It had been seven minutes I had sent the message, which was exactly how long it took me to text him back. Actually, I wasn’t too mad about it.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsMxyYyfNe
Delcan:
I’m not apologizing for what happened at school today, but I do wanna talk.
Plus, I’m bored.
He wasn’t going to explain whatever the issue was this morning, which I was actually okay with. That didn’t bother me too much, but I was confused about him being bored and wanting to talk to me.
Typically, bored for Delcan meant posting a shirtless picture online with him doing something wildly inappropriate for his age. The last time he was “bored,” he posted a picture of him wearing black jeans and white underwear, which were pulled down to the point where you could almost see some type of mark he had on him. I looked at it for 30 minutes straight before giving up and going to sleep, never bothering to ask what it was.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJsC5AKfK5
Me:
Okay.
Whatever you wanna talk about is fine, I guess. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl581xZfjDB
I sent the rest of the text to Evvie, deciding I really didn’t wanna stop texting to her and just focus on Delcan, who would probably ignore my message for a few minutes before he started talking again. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp1D0tqLIr
Me:
It’s just weird, Eve. I don’t really know. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8987u9g8d
Evvie sent a heart emoji of the rainbow, then following with a laughing emoji. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKyqCl8xKK
Evvie:
I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
Seriously. Tonight, I might not get too much sleep.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLck1Y5bkf
Delcan:
Could you please explain the homework to me? I know that I’m right, but the computer doesn’t say that. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1DAej7CCV
What does that even mean?
Delcan seemed to have a desire to be right, but if the online homework said that the answers were wrong, clearly, they were. I’m sure he was talking about the science class I had to take last year, which was highly consisting of online work that would take hours to finish - regardless of your knowledge.
I smiled while texting him back, feeling better that I was smarter. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD5gKHkWKz
Me:
Well...I don’t know. Maybe they’re wrong, Delcan.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES1aUzU1ep
Delcan:
No, they aren’t! I think the program is shutting down or something. It’s an old technology programing, anyways.
Me:
That’ll be a new excuse for Mr. Forkmart. He’ll believe you.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00Hdvy2zIE
Delcan:
I’m not lying! The programing is seriously 34 years old. Our parents probably used this ↹.
But...my dad kinda wants me to get good grades, so...help me.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs24hZa00mB
I wanted to ask how on Earth he knew how old the computer programing was, and also if that number was simply random or something - but it didn’t seem like a time to ask. On top of that, I was trying to decide if I was upset that he was asking for my help, or happy about it. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtaCMYqLOx
Me:
Why should I help you?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHl3uIYcSX
Delcan:
Oh, don’t be petty about things, Ezra. I make out with you whenever you want and the second I want something, you’ve gotta be upset? 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJPOle8A0w
Me:
You kissed me, just for memory.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4QF4J5fuB
Delcan:
I will screenshot this.
Come on. I need your help. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhWEbunVZF
Me:
What do I get out of helping you get an A?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUYz1Uhlk5
Delcan:
I’m already taking guesses, but ask something, and I’ll see what I can do.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGSb7cd8z6
See what he can do? What does that even mean?
I had already decided that I was going to help him. It would suck if he was unable to get into a college, though it was also confusing. Considering how odd he was acting - it was reminding me of Haven. She would always change her mood before I even had time to catch up with the glare she had given me 20 seconds ago.
For two minutes, I had to find the homework from last year and sent the screenshots to Delcan. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVRjx19XAW
Delcan:
Thanks. I owe you.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTpgj0sUQF
Me:
Yeah, you do.
Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3XiGKQ92J
Delcan:
Pretty much.
And in return...
My sister has some type of casting for I don’t know what. My parents (stupidly) went with her. I say you have another 2 hours if you’re interested.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6LHb1h1kF
I wanted to say yes and no at the same time.
On one side, I did like making out with Delcan. It was exciting, and it seriously got my blood pumping. But at the same time, I wasn’t sure if I was comfortable with just having a relationship that was only making out. If I ever told Adam or Thomas that, they’d probably slap me in the face.
I had a good..person I was dating. He looked much better than I did, and he was experienced enough to know how to make out with someone better than adults do. But, I didn’t want Delcan to think I wanted him for his body as others do. I did want to know him better since I was really getting confused about how desperate I have been feeling. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c4irbIE1n
Me:
We’re having a family dinner.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLVJTVuX49
Delcan:
I have some tips on how to get out of them. I’m very good at it.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNMXKJ4uUT
Me:
Do we have to make out?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33si9slUE9
Delcan:
If you’re suggesting what I think you are, the answer is no. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcyUVX7t07
I scrunch my nose up, feeling my cheeks get red. The good thing is, he isn’t able to see it. I laid down on my bed, watching my hands shake as I texted back. That isn’t what I meant, I texted. You know, talking really helps relationships. He read the message but didn’t respond. Sighing, I texted Evvie back. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBBXKklmLE
Me:
Stay out of relationships, Eve. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuCuF1qy00
Evvie:
Lol, I’m not thinking about dating for a LONG time.
Trouble in paradise?
Me:
I think there always is.
Do you think it’s bad that he just wants to make out?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKygsRcKQW
Evvie:
…
You’re complaining about making out with Delcan Heslop? Why, bro? 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIjUrFyF4b
Me:
I’m not complaining! I just want something more. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKGLNPPUV8
Evvie:
Then ask him! He’s done it before, Ezra. Just know that a height difference means...ya know. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPDgwI8lty
Me:
Evvie!
I meant just talking or something. Going out on a date.
(sorry for mentioning, but it needs to be relatable) I’m sure Rio took you out on dates a lot before things got more serious. We haven’t had a first date.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaBqHK9R97
Evvie:
Oh, okay.
What makes you think he doesn’t want a relationship, Ez?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3zZNPfGJy
Any guy would kill to be dating you.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fcGyCfXDA
Me:
No, sorry. I shouldn’t bring this stuff on you.
Do you still like edible cookie dough?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8dkwvUCEW
Evvie:
Duh!! Ez, who doesn’t like cookie dough? Edible or not. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7snDyHY40
Me:
I was thinking we could spend some time together. It’d be nice to forget about boys for a while and just go back to us in 7th grade.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8IZfhMiDI
Evvie:
If that’s what you want, yeah. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF1rHtJvm7
She sent me a heart emoji just as Delcan responded to my message. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1e7G398Hq
Evvie:
Let me see what days my mom is working.
Me:
Cool.
I gotta go.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMc5iMiJ6i
Evvie:
Okay. Bye, Ez!
Good luck with your relationship. Love ya. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrf6DR77ZV
Me:
Love you too.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡco4Uanoa8k
If I didn’t keep my relationship with Delcan, at least Evvie and I were still friends. It made me feel better that neither one of us were hiding too many secrets from each other anymore.
Now to deal with Delcan.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxGofknpBc
Delcan:
You’re right. Family time seems pretty important. We could talk some other time. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu1aKT7XYj
Me:
Are you sure? I don’t mind staying up and talking afterward. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyjTA4Xs6A
Delcan:
Nope. I’m gonna finish this homework.
See you tomorrow. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTl4JdO0vh
I didn’t respond, but I really wanted to tell him that I wouldn’t mind the two of us just talking with each other. But I knew that he probably wouldn’t listen - or care. I really hoped we weren’t fighting or something. With Haven, it was obvious to know when we're fighting (her friends would always glare at me in class before leaning into each other and talking about how horrible I was) before Haven finally told me she was angry. But with Delcan, there were hardly any hints. It was just there, and I had to try overcoming it.
Then again, I’m sure it’s not exactly great for the few hours I stay mad at him sometimes.
I stood up to put my phone on the charger, but then Delcan posted something online. He wasn’t exactly shirtless or showing his underwear lining, but there was a sense of teasing in the photo. He had taken the picture in the bathroom, his body turned so you could see how slim he was. The caption simply said “what to do…” with an emoji of a dead rose with it.
The picture isn’t what made my heart stop. Well, not exactly. It was the comment from Grayson Williams. What a beautiful burn you have, he commented, along with an emoji that was smirking and then one of those water ones. I straightened my back, feeling my breathing change.
When I looked back at the picture (which already had 2,030 views), I noticed the medium-sized burn he had on his left wrist.
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