"Is it possible to have a mid-life crisis in my early twenties?" Evanee asked, staring down into the pool of water that reflected a cloudless sky.

"I guess so. Why do you think that?"

"It's just been really difficult again lately. You know about all the shit that's happened in the last few days. I want to change so many things. I want my own place again. I don't want to have to constantly worry about all these different things in my life," Evanee breathed out.

It was the day after the airport incident. Everyone had gone home in the early morning with emotionless goodbyes. Evan was staying with Tyler for the time being, knowing that his current friendship with Craig was dissolved almost completely.

Evanee didn't have a place to go. She didn't want to go back to the house with Craig and she didn't want to be around Evan in Tyler's house. Instead, she went out.

Fresh air would help calm her down and so would a little exercise. Not wanting to be alone at one of the nearby canyon parks, she invited Sydney. They both assured each other that the kiss was a one time thing. They continued on as friends, as if it had never happened.

Their hike had lasted three miles until they came across one of the more secluded spots in the forest, a small waterfall and pond.

"And you shouldn't have to. It's your life and you should be living it happily. I know that there's been some bullshit going down lately, but work for what you want. Get your own place. Find a new hobby. Go adventure while you're still young and get shit done. I'm proud of you, Evanee. Honestly, with everything you went through during high school and now, I want to tell you that you actually inspire me."

And it was true. Life wasn't easy for the both of them and they both dealt with the consequences and feelings different ways. Sydney was inspired by the amazing person next to her. She didn't want to be like her. She was inspired to become her own person with better goals and dreams because of her. That's what Evanee taught her; to want and to aspire is the greatest achievement.

Suddenly, Sydney was pushed into the water. The water wasn't too cold, but she came out shaking from the surprise.

"You're a sap," Evanee laughed, silently appreciating Sydney's presence.

"I guess so," Sydney smiled, grabbing Evanee's leg that dangled off the rock they were sitting on and pulling her into the water as well.

The cool feeling felt amazing on her exposed skin. Times like these made other moments bearable. It was a relief to still have times where she could be happy with friends.

She always told herself throughout high school that she would avoid drama. By this time in her life, she thought she'd have her own apartment with a steady job and the greatest friends who accompanied her on late night adventures. That wasn't the case, but that was the life she still wanted.

Not it was just time to decide if she could still have that here in LA or if she'd have to find somewhere else to be happy.

"What's on your mind?" Sydney asked, eyeing Evanee who was standing under the shade of a large rock. The water still went up to Evanee's shoulders as she stood.

"I've always had this goal in my life for when I was a young adult. It was simple and I still want that goal, even if it means moving."

Sydney smiled softly. "I support you in ever decision you make Evanee, as long as it makes you happy. Don't let anyone hold you back from something you want, even if that person gave you a lot to begin with."

The green eyed girl instantly knew who Sydney was talking about. He gave her experiences that she could have only dreamed of in high school. He gave her the comfort of feeling confident. He introduced her to the friends that loved her unconditionally. Would she leave that all behind again?

That kiss with Evan. She wanted to believe it didn't mean anything. She desperately wished she hated him. She wanted to for her sake and Sydney's, but she couldn't. He helped her. He brought joy to her life.

Was he the only one holding her back?

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"Craig, I'm sorry. I know I'm a stubborn person, but I still believe what I told you in the beginning. I know you never meant to say those things about Evanee. I angered you. I never meant to let things get out of hand."

"There's a lot that went wrong, but at least I didn't lose you as a friend. Come here," Craig said, giving Evan a hug.

Evan had gone to Craig's house with a humorous apology, holding a bouquet of flowers and chocolates.

"Craig Thompson. Why haven't you introduced me to your boyfriend? After all this time of hearing all that shouting, I only now know that it was you and your boyfriend," Ms.Hyslop shouted from her doorstep.

The two boys stared at her wide eyes and Craig's cheeks flushed. Everyone in the neighborhood could probably hear her.

"Ms.Hyslop, this is my friend Evan."

The old lady cheekily smiled, winking at Craig. "Well, make sure you and your friend don't make that much noise now that you've made up."

And with that, Craig's neighbor walked back into her house.

"Nice lady," Evan smiled, patting Craig's back.

"Who tends to appear at the worst of times."

The two of them walked into Craig's place. Craig had started to make a late lunch for the two of them, while Evan had helped clean up around the house.

Then the door rang and Evan had gone to open it.

"Evan? What are you doing here?"

"Craig and I were just hanging out," Evan replied, opening the door for the two girls to come in. "Craig, you have visitors."

"I actually live here," Evanee rolled her eyes. Not bothering to greet Craig, she pulled Sydney upstairs to her room. "I am so sorry. I didn't know he'd be here. I just have to get a few things and we can leave."

Sydney shook her head. "No. Let's stay. I don't want to run away from my problems.

"Are you sure? Because we can-"

Once again, Sydney refused, insisting that the two of them stay to have lunch with Craig and Evan. She hopped into the shower first and Evanee had set aside an extra pair of clothes for Sydney before going downstairs in a big tee shirt and baggy shorts.

"Sydney and I would like to stay for lunch."

Craig's eyes widened. "That's great. Yeah, I'll just-"

His words drifted off and he began rushing around to start cooking even more food.

"Evan, can I talk to Craig alone?"

The Canadian boy nodded and walked upstairs. Evanee stopped Craig from running all over the place and pulled him to the couch.

"What you said the other night, did you mean it?"

"It came out wrong, believe me. You aren't broken and I should have said you were suicidal. I just knew that you were hurting all this time here and I was really trying to help you. It's just that once Evan came around, I felt that he'd just take you away. It's not that you needed help, Evanee. You can take care of yourself just fine. I realize that now. It's that I needed you. You helped me just by being here and I lied to myself, thinking that it was the other way around and I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Craig."

And like that, Craig was an emotional wreck. Evanee hugged him tightly as he cried into her shoulder and she couldn't help but smile. He was sorry and he meant it.

"I was so scared of losing you."

Evanee thought back to her goal of having her own apartment. She clearly shook the thought out of her head. Things were a bit rough, but she was happy here.

The hike with Sydney cleared her mind and although she wanted something else, she realized that she didn't want to leave her friends behind. She'd reach her goal. It would just take time to fix a few problems.

After wiping his tears away, Craig got back to cooking in a much better mood. That left Evan and Sydney. It seemed that Sydney was alright with being here with Evan, but Evanee went upstairs to talk to him.

He was sitting in Craig's room, looking through a book. She knocked at the door, making him look at her.

"Hey," she said quietly. She hadn't really talked to him after the kiss. "Do you still consider Sydney a friend?"

"I do. I really do. I felt horrible about everything, but I knew that I couldn't be in a relationship with her when I felt something for someone else. It wasn't fair to her and I felt like completely shit when I saw how hurt she was. I just want things to be okay."

"She does too. She's willing to forgive you, so go apologize."

As if on cue, Sydney walked out of Evanee's room fully clothed in one of Evanee's tee shirts and sweatpants. The green eyed girl nodded to Evan and motioned for him to talk to her, while she went downstairs to help Craig with lunch.

--------------------

"This is really good," Sydney told Craig.

The four of them were seated around the table. Evan and Sydney had come downstairs with smiles on their faces and Evanee was glad to find out that everything was fine between them. Things were getting better really fast.

"Thanks," Craig smiled. "So, how's everything? I know that we all haven't been at the best of terms lately."

Evan smiled at the three of them. "I'm happy. I didn't deserve for all of you to accept my apologies, but you did and I'm happy to hang out with the people I care about, even after everything."

"Ditto," Craig replied.

The four of them continued on with their lunch with lighthearted and comedic small talk. That was until they were all done with their food and Sydney wanted to say something.

"Evanee and I were talking earlier today on our hike and I realize that I shouldn't be afraid to reach for my goal. Nothing is official yet, of course, but I decided that I'm going back to school."

"Sydney, that's amazing," Evanee breathed out. "But why so sudden?"

"If you're going to strive for your goals, so am I. I'm not really happy with my job right now and I want to take social psychology. I'm going to be involved with something I enjoy."

The three of her friends congratulated Sydney with wide smiles. This was change and Evanee was happy that she'd be changing her own life. She was going to be happy. She wanted to and she was going to stop telling herself that she was the root of her problems.

She'd work for her goal and she'd be happy.

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This chapter was sappy and weird, but here it is. This was mainly a filler chapter, but it did have a lot of apologies which this book definitely needed. Vote and comment

And as always I hope ye enjoyed(:)

P.S. Comment who you ship or if you think Evanee should stay single