Here. Have another. Thanks to amiva0402 and brightyeolie for commenting already.

Enjoooooooy

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I had come to the party with Callie at her request, but I totally wasn't buying her story that she was into Ashton and was nervous around him.

Maybe I would have if Flynn hadn't appeared at school again that same day she asked me to go to the party with her.

Her tone lacked conviction as she gushed about how she was falling for Ashton.

And it was more than obvious as she kept glancing around while she spoke to me that she was searching for someone who was not the boy she was talking about.

But Flynn rarely showed his face over the two weeks. Popping up only for exams, he seemed to disappear right after they had ended, meaning Callie had no time to talk to him or find out how he was... if she would even be able to bring herself to do it. I think a part of her was torn between missing him and wanting to make sure he was okay, tied with the pain that he had broken up with her and she no longer had a place in his life.

And it was for those reasons that I knew there was something else underpinning her inviting me to this party tonight... I just hadn't been able to figure it out over the past two weeks, as I was too worried about her mental state.

Though the racing questions in my head quickly became answered as we walked up to the house and a familiar face stood waiting by the door, expression quickly turning to displeasure as her gorgeous midnight eyes flickered between me and my sister.

"I thought you said she wouldn't come," Sara accused.

"She changed her mind at the last minute," Callie quickly blurted out before shooting me a 'please play along' look.

With a sigh, I said, "Sorry. Didn't realise you'd be here."

Sara 'humphed' and started to walk away from us back down the driveway.

But Callie wasn't having it.

"Sara, wait!" she called after her, walking as fast as she could behind her retreating figure.

I watched Sara from my place by the house as she whirled around, anger flying from her limbs, betrayal oozing from her eyes. "Why would you set this up?" Sara demanded from Callie.

"Because I have something I want to say to you both and you keep refusing to be near her."

"Duh. We aren't together anymore because of you."

Callie flinched away from Sara's accusation, arms crossing over her chest as she took the blow harder than Sara expected.

And when Callie didn't retort with some planned response about how it was my fault or Sara's fault, the black-haired girl's face softened.

"What are you trying here, Cal?" Sara barely made audible for me.

"I just... I regret what you both did because of me. I hate that you're apart and I can't stand it anymore. I want you two to... make up."

Sara heaved a sigh before wrapping her arms around her best friend, pulling her against her chest. "What's done is done, Cal. You and me are still friends, okay?"

"But you're both unhappy. You were happier together."

"Your sister chose you."

"And I'm unchoosing me for her."

Sara dropped her hold from Callie and moved back to look my sister in the face. "But you said—"

Callie shook her head. "I forgive you both. What you did was dicky but... I'm over it. I'm sure you wouldn't do something like this to me again. So if you two want to date again... I won't stop you. And I won't distance myself from you either. I totally, one hundred percent, approve."

Sara was quiet for an immeasurable amount of time, eyes searching Callie's face. But after a while had passed, she then glanced over my sister at me.

Yet rather than talking directly to Callie, eyes locked on me she said, "I don't know if we can repair what was broken anymore, Cal." She ripped her gaze from me to look back at my sister. "Lexi... is always going to choose you over me. And I don't know if I can live with that. With knowing she might up and ditch me just because you ask."

"I won't ever ask that of you. I didn't even ask it in the first—"

"I know... but still."

"At least talk to her."

"Cal—"

"No. You wouldn't let me behave like this. Look at her." Both girls glanced my way at that comment, and I quickly turned my attention to the ground. "She's still there. Waiting for us. Waiting for you... I think she'd willingly take you back. So it's all on you, Sara. If my sister really makes you happy... if you truly love her... give her another chance."

"Cal—"

"Talk to her at the very least."

Before Sara could retort any further, Callie pivoted on her foot and began walking back towards me. "Anyway, I have to go find Ash."

"Do you even like him?" Sara called out after her as Callie had already began to walk past me now.

Callie paused in her step, head craning and eyes flickering over to me before over to her friend. "I think I could."

Sara heaved a sigh. "Then go on."

With that, Callie disappeared from our sight, the door closing with a gentle thud behind me.

The cicadas were in full spirits in the nearby foliage.

The house echoed with a gentle doof from the music.

But the distance and silence between me and Sara was growing increasingly loud by the second.

Unable to withstand it any longer, I said, "So..."

"Did you set her up to this?" Sara demanded.

But I quickly shook my head. "I had no idea she invited you... or that you'd even come if she did. I'm honestly surprised to see you. I knew the Ashton thing wasn't quite right but..."

She was quiet again, as if mulling over my words.

And as time ticked on further, eventually the streetlights ticked on as the sky washed and even darker purple.

Then Sara took one step closer to me.

Then another.

And finally we weren't far apart, her shoulders relaxed, and she uncrossed her arms.

"So," she said this time.

"So..." I said back again.

Sara nodded, her obsidian eyes looking anywhere but me.

Her fringe had grown out longer than I last saw it, leaving the ends of her hair to poke into her eyes.

She was sporting a pair of denim jeans and a large jumper—evidently in no spirit to impress anyone at this party.

Nonetheless, I couldn't help but say, "You like nice tonight."

Really, Lexi? Really?

Nice?

That's the best you've got?

After Callie set all this up...

"Thanks," she mumbled, still avoiding eye contact as she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I don't know how people dress for these things."

"But you only helped Callie a thousand times."

She gave a small shrug. "Callie had people to impress."

My heart flipped in delight to know that no one here was of her interests. Though Sara had never been into anyone our age before, so I don't know why this did surprise me. Though nothing could quell my delight right now.

"You..." Her midnight eyes trailed over the length of me before glancing up through her thick lashes to meet my gaze. "You also look nice."

With a slight shrug, I mumbled, "Thought I'd play the part."

"Someone here you're trying to impress?"

You. Right now. "No."

"Good..." She averted her eyes again and began to fidget with the sleeve of her jumper.

"Good?" I questioned, heart thudding in my chest.

"I mean... it's like... whatever."

"Whatever," I repeated. But, unable to stop myself, I took a slight step closer to her.

Sara's body went rigid. Her eyes stopped shifting, instead fixating on my neck. "I mean, you can impress whomever you want. And like whomever you want. And—"

"I'm still in love with you," I quickly said, heart now pounding in my throat as I feared how she'd respond to those three words again. But it was now or never, while the 'iron was hot' as the saying goes... Callie set up this conversation.

While we hadn't talked about it, a part of me was still waiting, hoping, for the day Callie said she forgave us.

For the moment I could beg for Sara back.

Because, despite all the time that had passed, it was still her that I wanted.

"I..." Sara looked down to the ground, not finding her words for a moment. "You hurt me, Lex," she said, voice wavering.

While the light was dim, I didn't miss the droplet that had cascaded down her cheek and had begun to cling to her chin.

Hand reaching out, I gently cupped her face in mine, tilting her head until our gazes met.

Her watery onyx stare met mine, bottom lip pouting in pain.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, taking another step closer before placing my other hand on her face. "I'll never do it again."

"But what if your sister is mad about something else? Asks you to break up with me—"

"I will never do that again. She only gets one of these. And now she knows about us and approves of us... why would it ever come up again?"

"But what if—"

"I know I hurt you, Sar. And I'm so, so, sorry. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if I have to. But give me another chance. I can't see a reason to ever run from you, so you really don't need to fear it. Forgive me this once and let's start again. Please."

"I don't know, Lex... I can't handle another—"

In my last attempts to convince her though, I did what all the heroes in the movies did and silenced her with my mouth.

Her lips tasted of salty tears.

Her body was still quivering partially from the crying and partially from the cold.

And she was rigid in my hold at first.

But eventually she seemed to soften.

Eventually her arms wrapped around my neck.

And finally...

Finally she kissed me back.