"How amazing it is that friendships can become so full that you can't imagine what your life was like before them."
— David Levithan

"Zip it Luke, I'm not going to a party. Never again." I said.

I was so glad that it's been cool between us. When first period was done, I found him waiting outside the classroom's door like he normally do for the past week. He escorts me in between classes which I found sweet and nice. I was relieved to find him there. It occurred to me that he was going to pretend that the intimacy did not happen. I, of course, glad to play pretend with him.

Luke found me at lunch time and kept on insisting to go with him at a party that will happen next Friday. They were going to throw Maxon a "Welcome Back!" party. I asked him that wasn't it too late to throw him a party, but then he said, Maxon likes parties. He wouldn't mind throwing one for him. Even though it doesn't make any sense to throw a party for him.

Luke was silent for one second until his eyes furrowed like he's onto something.

"Hmm... How about, I'll stop asking you to come with me if you surprise me with something," he challenged me. I didn't know if he expects me to surprise him like physically or in a mentally surprise him.

"Fine... when I was eight I almost got arrested," I said abruptly and he choked.

"You... Were what?" He tried to utter. His face was priceless!

Satisfied with his reaction, I continued, "you heard me. It was all because, I was putting fake snow stuff in plastic baggies and giving them out to all, what my mother would have called, friends. Those kids asked me more and more of those snow until one of the kid's parent found it and they thought it was cocaine so they called the police on us and," I stopped because an unexpected giggle came.

"Sorry, it's just funny that they literally thought that an eighth year old girl had created an underground drug distributing system." I giggled again and shook my head slightly. I can't believe I just told him that story.

"Did you spend the night in jail? I cannot believe that you, Miss Goodie-Good booknerd was almost sent to jail," he said, fascinated.
"Stop nibbling your lips, would you? You're killing me here."

I had no idea on what he meant there. Killing him? I wasn't even aware that I was nibbling. Esme told me once that I only nibble whenever I get nervous. I guess I was nervous in what he'll think of me now. He already knows that I'm weird, now I just made it worse. Oh Merlin, what does he think of me now? I looked down at my feet. After all the things he told me before first period, I still have low self-esteem.

When I wasn't speaking, he spoke, "you got me, I guess you're full of surprises."

It took me a minute to compose myself and be able to speak a word.
"You bet I do," I tried to smile confidently.

"Now about the party?"
All my nervousness was gone with that single question. What I'm most fascinated about Luke is that he's persistent, and determined. Wait, is there even a difference between persistent and determined?

Focus, Gwen.

I was about to reply but then the school bell rang. Good thing that we were walking towards my classroom and that his class is only next door.

"This is not the end of this discussion, Cohen!" Luke loudly said, walking backwards, heading his classroom's door.

Before going inside I shouted back to Luke, "oh yes it is!"

"So we've been thinking-" Ron suddenly popped out of nowhere.

"Holy flabbergoose! Don't do that!" I said, shocked.

Shocked by his sudden presence? Yes. Shocked that his been thinking? Hell yes.

"Holy flabbergoose? Is that even a thing? You should stop making up words, Mary. Anyway, Maxon and I have been thinking, we're doing the project tonight at your house," he said.

I frowned. He and Maxon have been thinking? I am a part of this group too but they're not acknowledging that. It's like they're just letting me know, not caring if I have a say on this. I wasn't aware that I was gritting my teeth.

Before I could even speak, he spoke first, "so yeah? Five at your place? Good? Good. See you tonight, Mary!" He ran outside the classroom. I sighed.

❄️📱❄️🎧❄️

Uncle Steph already left and I was washing the dishes. Mike and Fi were playing Minecraft with their iPads upstairs, in the guest room. Before Uncle Steph left, I asked him to put the crib their and Sammy too.

As I was washing the dishes, I was listening to music and singing along.

"Baby don't you see," I used the dishwashing soap's bottle as a microphone. "I'm not on drugs, I'm not drugs, I'm just in love," I swayed my hips along the rhythm. "You're high enough for me!" Then suddenly my phone went bizarre, vibrating loudly, the flashlight is on and off and because I was wearing my earphones, the ringtone drummed in my eardrums. I removed my earphones and wiped my hands on my pants. I looked at my phone and saw Luke texted me. Darn it Luke, why do you always mess my phone and change your ringtone. When did he even get my phone from me to do this? I read his text and I frowned.

Totally Hot Luke: Well I'm grounded...

Hoarding Gwen: WTF did you do this time?

I sent another text quickly.

Hoarding Gwen: *that's what the fudge 😛

Totally Hot Luke: My mom asked me to do the laundry and threw a sock at me...

Totally Hot Luke: I ran away screaming 'master has presented dobby with clothes! Dobby is free!'

Hoarding Gwen: LOL! I have taught you well my little house elf 😂👍🏻

I chuckled softly. The dishes were forgotten.

Totally Hot Luke: Say yes

Hoarding Gwen: Yes to what exactly?

Totally Hot Luke: JUST SAY YES!

Totally Hot Luke: SAY YEA!

Totally Hot Luke: SAY YES!

Luke sent me non-stop texts of me to say yes.

Hoarding Gwen: Fine! Yes.

Totally Hot Luke: So you'll go to the party with me, finally.

Hoarding Gwen: Have you forgotten our deal?

When I felt my phone vibrate again, I felt so tingly but then it died down when it was only Esme.

The Queen Seelie of Court: Have you read The Winner's Curse? Arin is such a hottie! E xxxxxxxxx

But still I smiled when I read her text. She has a habit of putting kisses and hugs.

Hoarding Gwen: Yes, I have. Hey! If I haven't, hottie Arin's name is a spoiler!!!

The Queen Seelie of Court: Oops? It slipped.  Brings you love, E xoxo

Totally Hot Luke: You almost sent to prison at 8 will always be tattooed in my brain.

Totally Hot Luke: You didn't surprise me at all.

Hoarding Gwen: What are you saying?

Totally Hot Luke: I'm saying that........

Totally Hot Luke: You shocked me.

Hoarding Gwen: ?

Totally Hot Luke: That's all you did :p

Hoarding Gwen: I don't see the difference

Totally Hot Luke: Poor you then.

I was about to call Luke but then our doorbell rung. Wait, my house has a door bell? I didn't know about that
I ran quickly to get the door, confused why someone is at my door. Charlotte's not here, so it's not possible that it's one of her friends. Possibly my parents. Have they forgotten something?

When I opened the door and saw that ginger hair, I palmed my face. I have forgotten that Ron told me that we'll be doing the project tonight.

"Where's Maxon?"

A/N: Hello-hello! So what did you think of this chapter? Are you shocked that Gwen was almost sent to jail? Do you guys miss Maxon? I'd love to read your thoughts so comment below!

Thank you for reading this chapter and supporting this book, you guys are one of the reasons I'm still writing.  😊

By the way guys,I published a new story called, I Saw It First!, I hope you check it out; book description:

""Believe it or not, we're all raindrops. As we drop off the cloud, the wind will carry us to our right place. The wind might not catch you at all and you fall  down on the road and flow to the suer, but remember that you will once again be part of the rain and be a raindrop and as you fall, do not be afraid because the wind will catch you."
—Mr. Tames, Genevieve's dad

Genevieve Tames is living the worse life ever. Not only that her boyfriend for five years broke up with her in a text, that she's in debt of student loans, that her parents treat her adopted sister like their blood child than her, that she will lose her job at the end of the month, AND that she lost all her money in one night at Las Vegas, a handsome stranger "stole" the cassette tape she will buy as the perfect present for her mother. Little did she know that her dad's raindrop metaphor will have a huge impact to  her life and that the stranger is only the beginning of Fate's plan, or also known as, the Wind's plan."

This chapter is not edited so excuse any grammatical or punctuation errors. I hope you enjoyed reading this, see you at the next update!!

❤️M