Elli's eyes are wide just like a deer in headlights and everything around her has seemed to still. Did Collyn really ask her on a date? She had no idea Collyn even saw her like that, they're friends. They've always been friends. It's who they are and they've cuddled a few times while watching a film or spending a night together but nothing more. And it hasn't happened since her thing with Parker started.

As far as Elli knows, he's never even flirted with her. But, Elli never knows when anyone is flirting with her, nonetheless, she's seen Collyn around other girls he's liked and she could swear up and down she wasn't one of them. Not until this exact moment with her mouth completely dry and her mind running a mile a minute, questioning how she's supposed to answer.

"Y-you...w-wh...what?" Elli stammers, trying to wrap her mind around how she could have been so oblivious. "I mean, it's not that-- it's just...I, uh--"

"It's okay." Collyn blushes, trying to hide the hurt and disappointment in his voice. "You don't have to. I've just liked you for a bit and figured the worst you could say is no, figured it'd best to just ask." Collyn sucks in a breath and forces a smile to his face, trying to show Elli that it's okay if she doesn't want to. "It's okay."

Elli shakes her head frantically. "No, no, it's not that I don't want to, it's just...I, ya know, just didn't know you liked me and I just, wow."

Collyn lets out a dry chuckle as he scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah, 've liked you for a bit but I thought you and Parker had somethin' going on." Collyn admits, his eyes going to the stage where Parker was sat on a stool playing his guitar and starting to sing the first song of his set. "Said you didn't so..." Collyn looks back to Elli.

"Yeah, no we don't." Elli huffs through a small smile, trying to ignore the pinking of her own cheeks.

Of course, she lies because that's the deal with Parker. They lie to anyone who asks and that's just how it is but this feels different. She's lied to Collyn before, plenty of times even because he's asked about random hickies and he's had his suspicion but it's been a while since he's asked her. And maybe this is why. Maybe he hasn't asked her because if she says yes, it'll hurt. It'll hurt hearing that her and Parker are the two with something going on and his feelings aren't being reciprocated. But, nonetheless, Elli finds herself blushing because It's Collyn. And he's a sweetheart and good friend and the idea of a date with him doesn't sound bad, not even a little bit.

The corners of Collyn's mouth can't help but pull into a sheepish smile as he looks at her. "Cool," He says, biting his lip. "So, do you want to? We could see a movie, maybe?" His brows raise slightly, hope in his eyes and more confidence in his voice.

Elli looks to the stage and Parker is looking at them, singing the cover of the song and strumming his guitar. The red and white jacket compliments his skin and the low lights hit him in just the right way making him look effortlessly beautiful. His eyes are on Elli and she has to turn back to Collyn because if she doesn't, she'll fall. The waves singing Parker's name over and over in the most beautiful and exquisite melody will pull her in and she'll fall harder for him than anyone she's ever met and she can't. So, she looks away.

"Uh," Elli licks her lips, the roaring of her heart drowning out everyone and everything in the room besides her and Collyn. "Yeah, actually. We can go on a date." She smiles up at Collyn, his eyes widen just as hers did only moments ago.

"W-really?" Collyn asks and it's like he'd be holding his breath just waiting for the no he was positive he was going to get.

"Yeah," Elli giggles. "Why not?"

Collyn never expected her to say yes. He only asked because he just wanted it off of his chest. He didn't want to have to look back in ten years and wonder what if or what could have been. But, he never thought she would agree because he's been sure that Elli likes Parker. And if she likes Parker, she wouldn't go with him. He's absolutely ecstatic and fireworks are going off in his stomach and through his veins but he's shocked.

"I didn't think you liked me." Collyn admits, his brows furrowing, his expression switching to hope again, hoping she isn't just being nice.

"Uh," Elli shrugs a shoulder and a gentle and kind smile is on her lips. "I never thought about it, ya know?" Elli pulls her bottom lip between her teeth with the confession. "But, we're friends and we've been friends, never know unless we try, right?"

Collyn's heart sinks a little with her words. It's not exactly what he wanted to hear which is weird for him. He expected her to say no and now that she's said she just hasn't thought about it, it hurts. He expected it and it still hurts, something he didn't think would happened because it was expected. But, just because something is expected, doesn't mean someone is prepared. And now he knows that going on this date, it might not end the way he wants it to and he has to prepare for that because if it doesn't, it's going to hurt.

He'll be hurt by his best friend and it's a terrible feeling. But, he pushes it away and decides to look on the bright side. It might end well. It really could and it'll be worth it. And he knows that either way, he'll still have her at the end of the date, whether that be something exclusive or just friends, he'll still have Elli and that's what's important.

"I get it." Collyn nods through a huff, forcing the corners of his mouth into a smile to hide the soft ache and fear. "Well, how's Friday?" The confidence comes back to Collyn's voice, leaning on hope.

"Okay." Another blush creeps onto Elli's face. "What movie were you thinking?"

"Well," Collyn scratches the back of his neck before he lets out a nervous laugh. "I really didn't think you'd say yes so I hadn't thought that far into it."

Elli laughs, her eyes moving to her feet before she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's some positive thinking, ya got there."

She looks back to him and for the first time, she sees the way he looks at her. Really, really looks at her. Eyes gentle and kind, offering safety and no temptation. There is no danger in his eyes, just safety nets and life preservers, prepared to be there for her when she feels like she's drowning in anything and everything. His eyes aren't tempting to do anything she might regret and they aren't tempting her to fall or take a risk. They're beautiful and safe, calm like the sea.

"Hey," Collyn's eyes widen, teasing her. "At least I asked."

"Yeah," Elli's smile widens, her cheeks starting to ache. "You're right."

"But, we can see whatever you want." Collyn offers.

"I'll check the schedule and see what's playing and let you know." Elli matches his expression, teasing grin pulling at her lips.

Collyn nods, a relieved chuckle hitting Elli's ears. "Okay," His cheeks are pink with the word. "Well, I'm gonna get a drink, want something?" Collyn raises his hand slightly, gesturing towards the front of the building where the bar is.

"A water is fine, thanks." Elli says, her eyes lingering on him and watching his movements more than normal.

Collyn nods, the smile that's aching his own cheeks not able to move even the slightest touch. He heads to the front, leaving Elli to turn to her attention back to the stage, where her eyes are supposed to be, where her eyes have always been before now. Parker is looking at her and Elli brings the camera to her face and starts taking pictures as she normally would.

Parker can't think much of it, not now in front of all these people, in the middle of his second song. It'll distract him and he'll mess up, he can't afford it but he's been watching her as much as he can and Parker isn't stupid. He could tell from his seat, from his view, what was happening and all he wants to do is go home.

Elli takes her pictures and pretends she doesn't notice the haunting look in Parker's eyes everytime he looks at her. It's easier to pretend like she doesn't notice rather than match his stare. It'll cause more tension than what's already building and will surely be ready to snap by the time they get home. And, if she addresses it, if she brings it up to Collyn who seems to be ignoring it just as much as her, it'll make it real and she'll be forced to ask why he's giving her that look. And she's not sure she wants to know why.

By the time Parker's set is done and he's set to leave after speaking to the person who's holding the event, Elli has taken more than enough pictures and she's itching to leave just as well as Parker. Elli and Collyn choose to wait outside, leaning against Parker's car as they wait for him and it's not long when he comes out.

His heart drops at the sight of them. Collyn's talking, hands in his pockets and Elli is laughing alongside whatever he had to say. It's a normal sight but tonight, it burns the inner depths of every fiber that makes Parker.

"Hey," Collyn pulls his attention from Elli as he spots Parker walking towards them. "Good show, mate."

"Yeah." Parker responds curtly, lips tight together as he unlocks his car.

"You alright, Parker?" Elli asks hesitantly, already knowing the answer.

Parker pauses with the sound of his name and it's never irritated him. Not coming from her but it does now. But, he has to brush it off because what? How can he be mad about something he doesn't know for sure? He didn't hear them, he doesn't know what they were talking about in the building or out of it. So, he can't be mad or irritated. There's no reason to be.

"Yeah," Parker sighs, opening the back door and resting his things inside. "Just tired." He answers, before shutting the door, refraining from slamming it shut.

Elli and Collyn glance to each other, getting the vibe that Parker is far from tired, at least, not in the sense of wanting sleep.

"Right, uh, I'll see you guys later." Collyn nods towards Parker who's already getting into the driver's seat. He doesn't so much as nod back before shutting the door and starting the car. Collyn squints an eye at Elli. "You're gonna talk to him, right?"

Elli nods. "Yeah, I got him, don't worry about it."

Collyn lets out a breath through his nose, air white. "Just, call me if..."

"If what?" Elli asks, brows furrowing.

Collyn shakes his head. "If you need anything, or him." Collyn says, eyes glancing to the ground and back to her.

"I will." Elli gives him a reassuring smile before moving to the passenger door. "Goodnight, Collyn."

"Goodnight." Collyn gives her a delicate smile before he starts to walk off and she gets into the car.

The car is still freezing as Elli closes the door. Parker already has music playing but he's switched it from earlier. Now it's only playing his favorite acoustics and ballads. It fits the somber mood of the car, sure, but that's what has Elli concerned. But, she stays quiet because the car is not the place to get into what's got him upset. Home is the place to bring it up, a place where they're on even ground and even playing fields. It's the two of them and neither will be able to just leave until it's sorted out, a rule they made. Fights and issues get sorted before they leave because anything can happen. So, she holds her tongue and listens to the infamously sad break-up song I've Given Up On You play through Parker's car radio.

The two of them arrive back at their apartment, no words spoken the entire drive or on the way up to their door. The tension has been building like an old rubber band threatening to snap. And now, Elli isn't even sure if she can ask properly what's wrong because Parker just looks annoyed and angry, ready to snap himself. But, as his friend, as his best friend and roommate, she needs to make sure he's okay. So, as they kick off their shoes at the front door, Elli sucks in a breath.

"What's wrong?" She asks, keeping her voice nonchalant as to not put any more pressure on him in case he's going to snap.

"'M fine, Elli." Parker mutters, making his way to his room but Elli follows on his heels.

"Yeah? You lying to me or yourself?" She asks as Parker enters his room.

He keeps his back to her as she leans on the doorframe. "Not allowed to be tired now?" Parker retorts, turning to face her once he's set his things down.

Elli matches his glare as he crosses his arms. "What's your issue?" She pushes off the doorframe and walks towards him. "You were fine in the bathroom and then....now what?" Elli's eyes scan over Parker's face, looking for anything to tell her what's got him in a mood.

Parker sucks in a breath and he can't blow up on her because he has no reason to. He pushes aside his annoyance and uncrosses his arms, resting his hands on her shoulders. "I'm tired, alright?" Parker says, eyes begging her to stop asking him and let him be. "I didn't...it felt weird playing that event and it's put me in a mood. Just wanna sleep."

Elli and Parker keep their eye contact and it's like time just freezes. There's tension and touches of pain leaking into the room but time still freezes as if it's magic and it doesn't even make any sense. But, that's just them. When it's them, and it's like this, time stops because nothing else matters besides the two of them. So, Elli pushes his hands from her shoulders and closes the small distance between them, wrapping her arms around him. Parker's arms wrap around her and she can feel him let out a heavy sigh of relief. His body relaxes under her touch as her head is pressed to his shoulder and her thumbs rub up and down the red jacket, just barely putting pressure on his back. But, the relaxed state doesn't last long.

Parker needs to know if Collyn went against his word. Of course, it's not that he actually promised or anything and Elli isn't property but he needs to know. He needs to know because if Collyn did, would it be wrong of him to continue the benefits with Elli behind his best friend's back? And, that question will eat at him until he knows, it'll eat because it's taking every muscle and every piece of strength for him not to lift her chin up and kiss her, allow things to go further just as he would do any other time. Parker has to ask.

"Uh," Parker clears his throat. "You and Collyn..." Parker starts but he's not sure how to finish.

If he's wrong and Collyn didn't ask her out, he doesn't want to put the idea in Elli's head. And, he doesn't want to accidentally tell Elli about Collyn's feelings out of respect for Collyn. It's not Parker's place, so he hesitates.

"Oh..." Elli pulls away just enough to look at him. "Um, about Collyn, I....uh, I was gonna just...." Elli stammers, dodging the eyes she's endlessly fascinated by. "I was gonna tell you tomorrow since you said you're tired..."

"Tell me what?" Parker asks as his heart races like a stampede.

"Collyn asked me out." Elli says softly, the words not rushed but instead, slow as if she needed them to be slow, to make sure they were real.

Ow.

"And...uh, you said?" Parker asks, relying on selfish hope.

"Well," Elli looks away as she licks her lips. "Yeah, I said I would." She bites her top lip, chewing on the skin as she waits to see what Parker has to say about it.

Parker feels like he's just been hit in the gut by a sledgehammer. He figured so much but he really didn't expect the words to come from her lips, the ones he's used to kissing in private. It hurts. It burns and it stings but Parker can't let Elli see it because she'll ask why and she'll cancel and that's not what Parker wants. His heart might beat for her and he may have a tinge of denial, but he knows what that box in the black corner of his mind is and what it contains. But who is he to grab a flashlight and finally open it? When his best friends might be happy together?

"Oh." Parker says and everything feels awkward and sticky.

Shame floods Elli and for the life of her, she doesn't know why. They aren't together. It's not cheating that she decided to go on a date. Parker just brought it up the night before, her not going out with people and how she would never get her happy ending if she kept fooling around with him. He brought it up, he said it and Elli feels like she's cheating on him. And there's still the added guilt that Collyn doesn't know about either of them. She's ashamed of her secret and ashamed of herself.

"So, you like him?" Parker asks and he pulls away from her grasp only to head towards his drawers, rummaging for pajamas. He can't look at her right now, not with the gnawing and clawing of his stomach or the tearing of his heart or the golf ball-sized lump in his throat.

Elli watches him, her body seeming colder than usual with him not hugging her. "I don't know." She admits.

Parker grabs a pair of pants before turning to her with one brow raised as high as it'll go. "What'd ya mean you don't know?"

Elli hangs her head and thinks of the things she wants to say. The comparison between them. She thinks about how she could tell him that it feels right with him, not Collyn. Collyn doesn't make her heart sing that pretty melody that causes goosebumps over every part of her body.

"I mean I don't know." Elli states as she runs a hand through her hair. "I never thought about it before but he asked and..." She pauses, still not bringing herself to look Parker in the eye. "Why not just see how it goes?"

Parker has a whole list of reasons for why not but he keeps them locked away. "Yeah, okay." Parker says, turning away from her as his eyes gloss over. To him, Elli wouldn't give Collyn a chance if there really wasn't a part of her that liked him more than a friend. Elli is the kind of person not to lead people on and she wouldn't drag this out unless she really thought that her and Collyn could work. And it burns.

Elli continues to watch him gather his things, unsure of how to continue. "Um, so...we're gonna go see a movie on Friday."

"Cool." Parker says and he really does try his hardest to push the lump down and sound happy for his friends. "What're you gonna see?"

"Dunno yet." Elli shrugs. "I'm gonna check and see what's playing."

Parker turns back around, his clothing in hand and eyes glossy. "I'm gonna shower." He says, walking towards Elli and for the door.

"Okay." Elli says and her voice matches the mood.

"Uh," Parker turns in his doorway with one last question. Just one more question and then he can take his shower because this question, it's one he needs to rip off. Get it over with before he drowns himself in worry and thoughts. "W-where's that leave us?"

That's the question Elli knew Parker would be asking. And she's been dreading it. She doesn't want to answer because the morally right thing to do is call it off until after the date, after she sees how things go with Collyn but it's her and Parker and she never wants it to stop with him. That should be her key sign but she pushes it off as that Parker is just fun and comfortable and he's good at what he does. So, she doesn't want to stop with Parker but she's going on a date with Collyn. Collyn doesn't know about Parker and Elli knows the only reason they're having this discussion is because it's Collyn. If it were some random guy she met at a bar or on Tinder, there would be no discussion. They'd continue their antics until things were exclusive but this is their best friend. Is it fair to keep him in the dark where there's that bit of potential?

"I don't know."

"Because it's Collyn, right?" Parker asks.

Elli nods softly. "Yeah."

"Got it." Parker says and swallows the lump that's getting too much for him to handle. He turns and starts to head to the bathroom.

"Parker." Elli calls after him, still standing in his room. She closes her eyes and takes a shaky breath before she starts moving. Parker's got a distantly haunted look in his glass-like eyes and she knows he's hurt. She can't just let him walk away. "Parker." She says, reaching the bathroom just before Parker closes the door.

"Showering, I'll see you in the mornin'." Parker mutters, not looking at her as he shuts the door and locks it before Elli could get another word in.

Elli lets out a breath and hangs her head. She really wasn't sure exactly how Parker would take it but she didn't expect this. They're friends who happen to sleep together and make out sometimes. They're friends who live together and cuddle with each other but they're friends and that's it. They go on dates with other people and it has never once been an issue. Elli thought at most, Parker would just be surprised because it's Collyn. That's it but she knows he's upset and her surface level thoughts only think it's because of their benefits. Other dates, they usually are just one date but Collyn and her have history. A history of being friends, sure, but history nonetheless so they actually have a chance of going on more than one date and becoming something. If that happens, Parker and Elli's arrangement comes to an end.

It's terrible of her to think that's what's got Parker upset but she can't help it. What else is she supposed to think? But, that said, she does know Parker well enough and she knows that he'll take a long shower, music in the background, go to bed, and the morning will come around like nothing ever happened. Sure, they'll still have to discuss what they'll be doing, if anything, before Friday but Parker will be fine. It's their friendship. The other's happiness always comes first.

So, that leaves Elli to head to her room and get ready for some much-needed sleep and Parker to be up alone, taking a long and warm shower. The water beats over his head and down his back as his forearm is pressed against the tile of the shower wall. His head hangs and he can't tell if the water falling from his face is more tears or more shower water. They blend together in a blur as his body shakes, trying to keep himself together without fully breaking down, without making a sound loud enough for Elli to hear.

Everything just hurts and Parker hates every part of it. It shouldn't hurt, not like this but it does. It aches and stings and he can't breathe as he tries to gasp for air. It's like barbed wire is trying to strangle every last breath from his body and it just kills him. He encouraged Elli to go out and be happy and date but, he didn't think it'd affect him, not like this. Not bringing him to tears in the shower. But it is and he's just telling himself it hurts like this because it's Collyn and Collyn knows how deep his feelings were for her. Collyn said he wouldn't ask her and he did. Parker doesn't own Elli but there is something in him that feels he had the right, earned the respect from his best friend, to be told first. But he wasn't. Instead, he's just lied to.

And what makes it all worse, he just feels like a dirty little secret to Elli. Collyn doesn't know about them and he should. It's Collyn, he wouldn't have cared in the first place but Parker agreed because he never expected it to go on this long. He agreed because why not? Maybe Elli's right and it'd have caused more problems but standing in the shower with the taste of salt running across his lips, he doesn't think so anymore.

Hickies still litter his skin and it's all a secret, some girl from the bar or some girl he had a one date with, some one-night stand. It's all the same bogus lies. The hickies are marks screaming Elli's name but only behind these walls and Parker just feels like some secret and it stings in the worst way.

However, Parker has to take deep breaths and swallow the ever-growing lump in his chest and be happy because he cannot and will not get in the way of his two best friends being happy. It might kill him but their happiness, the friendship between the three of them comes first. Always has, always will, even when it's hard.

And this, it's going to be hard as hell.