"Uh... you could at least try to be happy for me." She rolled her eyes, annoyed.

"I am." I lied, forcing a smile as I nodded. I don't know whether I was convincing her or myself more. "Congratulations, you've been wanting him for ages now." I tried smiling and being happy for her but the smile just couldn't quite reach my eyes as I had wanted it to.

"And I finally got him!" She exclaimed excitedly. "Shelby White is back in business, baby. Wait till everyone at school finds out." 

"When did this happen?" I asked, wondering when they had such a long enough conversation to decide that they should date when Miles only found out her name two hours ago. 

Couldn't be yesterday because Miles was showing interest in me. Or maybe it was what I thought was interest, but it clearly wasn't. Maybe I was just being delusional.

Why would he be interested in me?

I have nothing to offer anyway.

"Just now. A couple of minutes ago."

Makes sense.

The rest of the car ride was silent until we got to Shelby's house because I just didn't feel like talking much. I quickly parked my car in her driveway as I usually do when I visit.

When Miles pulled up in front of her house, she ran over to him, hugging him goodbye and giving him a kiss on the cheek. He briefly met my eyes over her shoulder but I quickly averted my gaze.

"I'll catch you inside." She said, walking into her house.

"Yeah, be back right now. I wanna take a walk." I called after her and heard an 'okay' in response.

I quickly wave goodbye at Miles and start walking down the street. It's not long before his BMW pulls up right next to me on the street.

"Where are you going?" He asked with concern etched on his face.

"Just taking a walk."

"No. It's late, you can't walk alone. Come in, I'll take you for a drive." He suggested.

"No, I'm good." I remained stubborn and he chuckled.

Truth is, I was still shocked at what Shelby told me not so long ago. And I'm pretty sure if she knew I got into her boyfriend's car for a drive while she was waiting for me in her house, she'd freak. 

"We could go for ice-cream?" He offered. 

Okay. I couldn't say no to the greatest creation in the world. I ran and sat in the passenger seat next to him within record time.

He just froze and looked at me in amusement. I looked at him in confusion.

"Come on, we need to hurry up if we wanna get ice-cream!" I said. "I know an ice-cream shop a couple of blocks away and they are closing soon. If we hurry up, we can make it on time!"

Not saying anything in response, he just let out a breathy chuckle in response. As he brought the car to life, I switched on the radio to pass time.

I find myself humming to a familiar song. I was humming because I didn't know the words in the verse and it would only end up embarrassing me if I tried singing along to the words I didn't even know.

Suddenly the chorus comes and I start shouting out the words in confidence. I like doing that a lot, maybe it's because of the hype of the song.

"Nice hair by the way." He compliments and I instantly turn red in embarrassment, thinking he's teasing me and actually meant the opposite.

"I mean it." He adds, and when I turn to  look at him, I see the sincerity in his gaze and that he was actually being honest.

Only then did I smile, "Thanks."

Normally, I straighten my hair on weekends, and it gets frizzy as the weekdays go by. I hadn't learnt to fully embrace it yet, but I was making some steady progress.

Miles is the first person to compliment me this much. He compliments me on the things I feel most insecure about, and that's why it affects me a lot more than it probably should.

However, I have to learn to not overthink. It doesn't mean anything. He's just being nice.

Shelby is the one he likes, not me.

"When are we going over to your house?" He suddenly asks, the tone of his voice with a low and seductive edge.

My eyes immediately shot open at what he seemed to be insinuating and all the heat in my body rushed up to my cheeks.

You know, usually when guys ask to come over, the idea girls get is that they're trying to make a move on them – and possibly end up in their bed without clothes for quite some time, as they get down and dirty, before leaving.

Miles and I?

I probably wouldn't mind—

Oh my gosh, what the fuck is wrong with me?!

His relationship with Shelby coming to mind once again, I finally manage to open my mouth. "Um, I'd rather we don't."

He frowns, looking a bit disappointed. "Why?"

"Are you kidding me?" I raise my eyebrows, willing to play medical doctor for a while. "Have you heard about the sexual infection outbreak? It's easier to get AIDS these days! I mean, don't get me wrong Miles, I'd love to— you know, with you. But, surely you don't want to get infected right?"

He looks at me.
I mean, really looks at me...

Before his facial features break out of their stance and he bursts out laughing, to my dismay. I cover my face with my hands, beyond embarrassed.

Was that not what he actually meant?

And did I just admit that I'd love to do the deed with him? Today is not my day... I embarrassed myself in front of a hot guy!! 

"Tyler,  I wasn't talking about sex." He laughed. "Gosh, is everything about sex with you?" He said aloud and my eyes widened.

I covered my face and lowered myself on the seat in absolute horror at his joke, "Miles!" I whined, still not removing my hands from my face, and he laughed.

"No, but seriously." He said, the hint of playfulness gone from his face and his tone. "I'm not that type of guy." The intensity and tenderness in his eyes, as his gaze remained on me was too overwhelming that I had to look away.

Soon, we got to the ice-cream shop and I excitedly jumped out of the car when I saw it was still open, recollecting myself when I realised that Miles was going to see me acting all crazy.

He asked me what I wanted before turning to the lady behind the counter. "Hi. May I please get two chocolate chip cookie ice-creams?"

The lady begins making them and we wait patiently before she finally serves us our cups of ice-cream.

"Uh... I'm sorry but we're closing now, something important came up and there's no one else but me to lock up right now." She looked at us apologetically.

"It's okay." Miles shrugs, taking our ice-cream filled cups and leading me to the car. We settled for the back seat since both of us wouldn't be driving for a while. The sun was starting to set, the clouds moving slowly and the sky somehow turning into a light purplish colour. It was such a pretty thing to witness. I scooped up some ice-cream and closed my eyes in pleasure as it reached my tongue.

"Have I mentioned that you look beautiful today?" His thick voice breaks the silence between us.

Tyler, don't blush!

I silently shook my head, muttering a small thank you before deciding to change the topic to something else.

Something he's forgotten to tell me.

"So... you and Shelby, huh?"

His face drops, "She told you already?"

I just nod.

I almost laugh when he raises his arms defensively, "I didn't initiate any of it."

"Then who did?" I pretend to be confused, pretend to not know that Shelby is probably the most adamant and persistent person in the whole world.

This should seriously be classified as harassment. I'm not just saying that because I'm jealous—

Wait... I'm jealous?

It's even worse when you admit it to yourself, mentally. It's like your mind continuously taunts you about it.

And now that I know and finally admitted it, I don't know what to do or how to act about it. Do I tell him about how I feel?

Do I pretend to be happy about it or pretend that I don't really care?

I'm not one to successfully hide my emotions.

"You're a bad liar."

I've heard these words my entire life.

I didn't want to be in this situation. Why did my heart have to be so weak and make me fall for him all over again? Why did Shelby have to go for him?

Damn it.

And he said yes.

Bloody why?!