A few weeks had passed since Lexi and Sara had separated, with Sara now sitting with us less and less. At lunch times she always had some assignment to work on in the library. And in history she couldn't stand to sit with me because my sister was there, meaning I only ever really saw her in Bio and Chem these days.

One of the worst parts though was seeing that deep cavern of pain in their eyes whenever their gazes locked, followed quickly by the turn of heads.

I knew even three weeks on, they still loved each other.

But Lexi was hurting Sara at my behest.

And while at first it certainly eased the betrayal in me... The guilt was slowly starting to outweigh the sense of disloyalty from them.

Adding further to it, I had been okay with them separating because I thought I needed both of their friendships they had offered me previously. But honestly, they were worse friends now. And more often than not, I found myself turning to Ashton, Jackson, or Zac these days when I needed a laugh or advice.

Which meant I knew it was time to forgive and forget.

But how could I even help them piece together what had been broken? Can the past few weeks of separation just be erased for the both of them with an 'okay, that's enough. You can date again'?

"Maybe you can set something up for them," Ashton offered as we hung out at his place that weekend. We had two weeks left of the term before we'd be entering our final term of school. Meaning we had only eight weeks of high school remaining. A part of me was anxious at how quickly it had approached and the fact I still wasn't even quite sure what I wanted to do after school.

Moreover, a small part of me—while fleetingly present these days—wondered if Flynn would still have a chance of pursuing his dreams to go to university. Or even if he was still completing school work... or if he had just dropped out of school altogether.

I still hadn't seen him since the holidays.

"Set something up?" I repeated with a cocked eyebrow before leaning over to grab a handful of popcorn from the bowl in his lap.

"Yeah. Like something that invites them to actually talk to each other again in addition to telling both of them that you're sorry and want them to make up."

Pressing my lips together, I then said, "But what if they get mad at me for not telling them I was planning it?"

Ashton scoffed before chucking a piece of popcorn at me. "They would be hypocrites if they did that."

"This is true... But what could I even do? Sara refuses to come to my place and Lexi isn't invited at Sara's anymore..."

But Ashton was already breaking out in a cocky grin as the words were still leaving my mouth. As I trailed off, he then finally said, "The way we accomplish anything around here, Callie."

My eyes narrowed as he paused for dramatic effect. But he couldn't hold in the smile for too long.

Eventually, when I still wasn't able to guess, he said, "We throw a party and force them to kiss and make up at it."

With a roll of my eyes, I said, "And just how am I going to get them to both come to a party? One, I have no reason to go to one. Two, Sara is totally adverse to them."

"Tell them... you need them to be a wingwoman. But don't mention you've asked both of them."

Hating that his plan was starting to make sense in my head, I was finding any reason to back out. So I said, "Wingwoman for who?"

But he shook his head and heaved a sigh before draping his arm around my shoulder. "Obviously you're falling for me again."

I guffawed at his proclamation. Wanting to wipe that smug smile from his face, I yanked the bowl of popcorn from his hand. Before he could realise what I was doing, I lifted it above his head and turned it upside down.

Balls of buttery yellow and white cascaded over Ashton and his couch.

Just as I hoped, his face immediately fell and venom filled his gaze.

"Callie!" he exclaimed.

"Fifty-two popcorn pickup?" I squeaked, already backing away from him.

"You're going to pay for that!"

Reaching for my prosthetic, I tried to quickly slip it on so I could run away.

But alas, I was too slow.

Yanking my leg from my grip, he placed it away and lept at me, hands lunging straight for my sides as he tickled me.

"No!" I choked between laughs. "Stop!"

"Not until you apologise!"

"I-I-I'm sorry," I managed to get out between giggles, desperate for air.

"And agree to pick up all the popcorn," he said, still digging his fingers into my ribs.

"I-I... of course I will! Just stop!" Tears were coming out of my eyes now as I convulsed with every tickle.

"And agree to go on a date with me over the holidays." But as those words escaped his mouth, his hands froze.

As I took in deep breaths, relishing in the feeling of air in my lungs again, slowly his words turned over in my head.

Glancing up at him as I straightened on the couch, Ashton shyly retreated back to his side, suddenly more interested in pickup up some pieces of popcorn around him than meeting my gaze.

"Ash," I said softly, "I thought you said you weren't—"

"It's been five weeks since you two broke up," he muttered. "And..." He ran a hand through his hair before looking away. "I've tried to not fall for you again, Callie, but I just can't help it."

The surrounding sounds in the room became ever more evident as the silence began to drone on, me not sure what to say back, and his face becoming ever more crimson.

But Ashton was the one who broke it again.

Seemingly unable to withstand my silence, he said, "You don't have to say yes. But you do have to pick up this popcorn." And as if he were trying to drop the subject, he grabbed the bowl from the ground and placed it on the coffee table, dumping the few kernels he had collected into it.

We spent the next few minutes like that, searching for every yellow and white puffed ball and putting it away.

But as Ashton retreated into himself, my mind started to work overdrive.

Because I liked Ashton.

I liked his company.

I liked his friendship.

He was more than easy on the eyes—duh, he was on my kiss list because I had a crush on him in primary school.

And even these days, sometimes he stirred an ever so slight flutter in my chest.

But a small part of me—ever so dormant and ignored—still seemed to be stupidly clinging to the hope that the next day of school, I'd see a familiar face on the school grounds.

That his high-wattage smile would form as we locked eyes.

That I'd have my friend back in class and maybe things would turn back to how they were before everything fell apart.

But then a small voice in my head whispered, Flynn isn't coming back, Callie. And Ashton is here...

My heart replied ever so softly, But it doesn't feel the same.

No... but maybe one day it will. If you give him a chance.

We had finished picking up all the popcorn and Ashton's face was marred with morose at this point, having evidently decided my silence was complete rejection.

Hating that a part of what I was about to say would add to it, I knew I had to respond nevertheless. And so I said, "We can try to go on a date if that is what you want, Ash... but please don't expect me to just suddenly—"

But his shaking head and hopeful eyes cut me off. Hands grabbing mine, he turned to face me. "I don't expect anything from you, Cal. I just... Want you to give me another chance. To show you what being with me would be like... the me who really wants to impress you and not mess it up. And if you still don't like me then I'll force myself to get over you."

Pressing my lips together, I opened my mouth to voice my concerns.

But Ashton beat me to it. "And we will still be friends. No matter what."

Unable to not give in to his pleading stare, I gave his hands a gentle squeeze back before lacing my fingers between his. "But you have to help me plan this party to push my sister and Sara back together first."

Right corner of his mouth turning up, he said, "Would love nothing more."

That weekend, Ashton and I fleshed out all the party details. We would throw one at his house to celebrate the end of term and I'd asked the two to come along because I was feeling awkward around Ashton now after sudden growing feelings for him... supposedly.

To Sara, I'd say Lexi refuses to come to any party hosted by Ashton (which, who would doubt after their awkward run in so many months ago).

To Lex, I'd say I need my sister. She'd be the easier one to convince.

But as I headed off to my maths exam on Monday, mind racing at how I'd phrase it at lunch time to Lex and then later that same day to Sara in bio, I paused in my tracks when my eyes landed on a familiar face standing in line to head into the classroom.

His body stiffened as my eyes went over him, but he never looked up at me.

Instead, his eyes stayed on the ground.

His hands tightened around his pencil case.

And before I could utter even a word, Miss Fischer opened the door.

"Callie, quickly get in line," she grumbled. "You all have to start at the same time."

With a nod, I threw my backpack onto the portrack, pulled out my necessary writing equipment, then joined the end of the line. But as our teacher went over the conditions of the exam and the expectations of silence as we entered the room, her voice became background noise.

My eyes were locked on Flynn at the front of the line.

And, almost as if the world was against me, in the distance, a stilling figure caught my attention, yanking my gaze from the brown-haired boy for a moment.

By Luke's side on the way to his own maths exam, Ashton's face was crestfallen as his eyes flickered between me and Flynn.

But then his shoulders jostled slightly as he took a deep breath, shot me a small smile, and continued walking.