Chapter 35: Striking

By the time I get home, I'm ready for bed. I've never worked a full day in my life, and let me tell you, it absolutely sucks. I hate it. Fortunately, Tim agreed to spare my friends -- they live to see another office day.

I kneel down to pat Slobber, surprised to find him on Grey's side. "Hey, buddy," I greet him, sitting down on the floor. I cross my legs and he doesn't hesitate to jump onto my lap. I hug him to my chest. "I missed you."

I feel awful whenever we have to leave him alone in the house. It doesn't happen often because I usually drop him off at his puppy day-care but still, there are times where he is alone. He needs a friend or a sibling or a girlfriend or whatever. I think we're ready for another furkid, at least.

"Slobber!" I hear Grey's voice from around the corner.

Slobber perks up and cocks his head to the side. His tail starts wagging even faster. He makes a move to run but I pull him back, wanting him to myself.

"Did Uncle Grey fetch you from our side? Has he been keeping you company? Is that why you love him so much?" I ask my baby, remembering that Grey looked after him for a while when both Jay and I were gone.

Grey rounds the corner and stops in front of me. His face falls when he spots me. "Oh, you're home."

I nod and release Slobber when he tries to wiggle out of my grip. "I am," I confirm, "and I'm hungry. Did you make me any food?"

Slobber sprints over to Grey and jumps up on his legs, begging to be picked up. Grey relents and scoops the furball up into his arms.

"No," he answers bluntly. "That was a one-time thing, Lawson. This is why I don't do favors for people; they start to expect it. I just got home. I'm not always going to be making you food. I'm not your housewife."

I pull myself up and pout at him. "But I'm starving."

"You're always starving," he reminds me but leads me over to the kitchen anyway. He puts Slobs down to check his fridge and cupboards. He throws me a packet of Ramen noodles. "Take it or leave it."

I love Ramen noodles, and I get the feeling that Grey somehow knows that.

"I'll take it!" I exclaim, satisfied. "Thank you. I love you. You're America's real sweetheart."

He sighs, annoyed. "I don't know why I didn't just let you starve."

I open the packet and start eating the noodles raw – my favorite way to eat it. "Me neither. You must really adore me."

He watches me, bewildered. "That's disgusting. Why raw?"

"Because it's good," I answer and break a piece off for him. "Taste?"

He shakes his head. "No," he refuses. He's about to leave when he finds himself lingering. He meets my curious gaze. "While I have you here, have you maybe...have you asked your uncle—"

"I called him the day we spoke," I cut him off, aware of what he wants to know. "He's been working on a plan to bust Leila out without anyone getting hurt," I reassure him. "Why? Is she okay?"

"She calls me when she can. She's fine but I just worry. I feel like we're running out of time. Eventually, something's going to give," he tells me, attempting to mask his concern but I see through him.

I reach out and cover his right hand with both of my hands. "I'll call him again and ask for an update," I promise him.

He searches my eyes before breaking his gaze. "Thanks." He pulls his hand from me. When things get awkward, he clears his throat. "By the way, you look gross today."

I chuckle, taking zero offense. "Well, you look handsome today," I offer him a compliment instead; I think he needs it.

A faint shade of pink dusts over his face -- he wasn't expecting that. "You're not funny."

"I'm not trying to be," I reply simply.

Max is cute, Xave is a charmer, Ben and Dyl sport pretty, Troy is unfortunately perfect-looking, Mase and Ry are endearing, Laiken is supermodel hot, Zac is the very definition of 'tall, dark, and handsome,' Greg is rugged, Dean is all muscles, Landon is a country-boy calm versus street-racer rage type of sexy, and Jay is just...striking in every way. They're all a pretty decent-looking bunch. I'm not blind, I just don't care to acknowledge it because I only have eyes for the striking one.

Grey's different, though. He's not a standout looker like the others. He's not someone you immediately notice for their looks. And he's not a smooth-talker either. In fact, he struggles to curb his ridiculous attitude. The thing about Grey, though, is how unapologetic he is about being himself. His hidden and mammoth-sized heart is the essence of the ferrot and once you get exposed to this one-in-a-million heart, you're doomed. You don't stand a damn chance! After you see that side to him, he becomes very attractive in his own unique way. He becomes the standout. In fact, he tops the standout.

When I snap out of it, I find myself standing alone. I shrug to myself and cross over the bridge to my side. 

My phone starts ringing before I can open the door. "Legend Lawson speaking," I answer the call. "How can you help me?"

"You can help me by getting dressed. We're going out tonight," he tells me how it is, leaving no room for argument. "Or, if you really want my help, I can help you get dressed when I get home," he drops his tone an octave, flirting with me.

That's the last time I answer the phone like that.

"Are you asking me on a date, Taylor?" I flirt right back.

"This time, I can confidently say that I am," he replies, sure of himself. "I promised you more dates, and I haven't been living up to that."

It's true. Jay and I must be one of the most unusual couples on the face of the planet. We've been together for a while, and yet I can count the number of times we've been out on dates on one hand. We don't get much time together, as in just him and me.

"So, why now?" I ask, interested.

"Because I haven't been able to stop thinking about you all day. It's been really difficult trying to center myself. You're in my head the entire time," he confesses, taking me by surprise with his realness. "You're distracting even when you're not around."

I smile so wide that my mouth hurts. I'm relieved that despite spending the day with a beauty like Ava, I'm still the one who consumes his thoughts.

"Are you trying to seduce me, Taylor?" I tease, amused.

"I can if you want me to," he charms in an irresistible voice.

"Okay, I'll get ready, but I expect lots of romance," I joke. I know I'll get romance from him either way. I'm not dealing with high-school Jay anymore.

"And I expect a lot of making out," he demands in return.

"I think that can be arranged," I agree to the deal.

"And I mean high-school us making out," he clarifies -- in other words, passionate.

"Do you have to be in the bar for this conversation?" I hear Greg ask him. "You two are still as disgusting as when I left you both."

"Didn't they leave you?" Kyle points out – my guy!

"Well, I think they're cute," Ava chimes in to give her opinion.

"Mega cute," Kyle agrees.

"If you want to score with Aqueela tonight, please go and score somewhere else," Greg rudely requests. "I can't listen to this anymore."

"You don't have to. You're all choosing to stand here," Jay remarks, his new tone giving him away -- he's annoyed. There's some rustling from his side before the background noise fades into silence. "Sorry," my husband-thing apologizes to me. "I just had to get away from them."

"Boss Man always draws blood first," I reply in understanding. "Are you, though? Are you trying to score?" I prod. "If so, I need to be prepared."

"No, no pressure," he answers truthfully, "but we'll see where the night takes us. Whatever happens, happens. I won't be opposed to any scoring."

I laugh. "Alright, I'll see you in a bit."

"I love you," he tells me before ending the call.

I beam from ear-to-ear. He's lifted my mood. I suddenly feel energized and vivacious again. That boy is everything to me.

I open the door to enter my side, only to be met with flashing lights, loud music blasting through the speakers and bubbles everywhere.

What have I just walked into?

There are frozen yogurt cups littering every piece of my beautiful 'Aqueela Cove.' It looks a fro-yo massacre.

I hear a noise from behind the Lego wall. I walk around and find my worst nightmare – shirtless Laiken and Max passed out in the hot tub with plastic balls and fro-yo cups floating around them.

"Idiots!" I shout, waking them up.

Laiken bursts out of the water in fright while Max slips under the water and nearly drowns.

"Yo, Law, what gives?" Laiken asks, pulling a spluttering Max up from under the bubbles.

"I don't know what happened here, and I'm not sure if I even want to know what happened here," I reply, "but what I do know is that you morons better have this place clean before Jay gets home. You know how he is."

"I know that he's cool, calm and collected now," Max back-chats me, still coughing on water. "That's what I know."

I look to the hot, dumb one for answers.

Laik shrugs. "We both had bad days."

It can't be worse than a hostage situation at work...but whatever...

I sit down on the edge of the tub. "Shame. What happened?"

"I didn't feel like going back home," Max admits, looking guilty.

"And I stood outside that stupid bar for three hours," Laik answers next, his mood gloomy -- he's disappointed in himself.

"Aww, Lai," I ruffle his hair, "you struck out?"

In all my years of knowing Laiken Edwards, he has never struck out with any woman before. He always has confidence oozing through his pores. Maybe Ava is different...

He nods, owning it. "I'm officially a flirt failure."

"And that's why he's hanging with yours truly," Max clears it up for me.

"I'm glad you guys found solace in each other," I reply and glance around, feeling for them – they're both going through so much. "But honestly, how many frozen yogurts did you two doofuses have?"

Laiken pats his chiseled abs. "Too many," he groans. "I feel like I can't move."

"All of them!" Max answers me in dramatic fashion. "We had all of them, Aqueela."

They're like children; they need someone to set boundaries for them.

"You guys are dumb," I say the first thing that comes to mind.

"Not as dumb as someone sitting on the edge of a tub calling people in the tub dumb," Laiken replies and before I can react, he grabs my wrist and yanks me in.

I let out a squeal of surprise as I surface the dirty water. I angrily splash water Laiken's way. "Eew! I don't know what else you guys did in here! Some of it got in!" I spit out a mouthful of water, repulsed. "Even the water tastes like fro-yo!"

He and Max both crack up, unable to contain their laughter.

"Die!" I jump on Laiken and attempt to dunk him – I keep trying to push his head down but apparently, I'm not strong enough.

Entertained, he just takes me by the waist and pulls me onto his lap. "Look at us. We're having fun," he mocks, hugging me to his chest.

"Accommodate me, Edwards, or Max will pay the price!" I snap, forcing myself out of his grip.

Max shrugs at his friend and decides to guilt-trip him. "You do kind of owe after everything."

Laiken rolls his eyes but slowly sinks down into the water, allowing me to dunk him.

"Victory is yours!" Max cheers for me, being my hype-man.

Laik resurfaces a second later and glances over at me. "Happy?"

"No, I have a date tonight!" I fuss, moving wet locks of my hair out of my face.

"With who?" he stupidly asks.

"Oh, I don't know, with my husband, maybe," I retort sarcastically.

"Fiancé," Max corrects me like a smart ass.

"Doesn't matter," Laik replies, being suave with me. "You always look good. Even now."

"Psh. If only you could have said that to Ava," I tease.

He's mouth falls agape. "You...you did not just go there, Law!" he says before pushing my head under water, getting even.

I smack his arm and shove him away so that I can come up for a breath. "I'm sorry that you dweebs had lousy days but if you'd excuse me, I need to go and get ready."

I climb out of the hot tub and steal one of their shirts to dry myself.

"You owe me a new one, Princess," Lai sasses me, clearly learning from Max.

I deliberately dry myself more to wet his shirt more.

Lai shrugs, uncaring. "That's fine. I'm never gonna wash that shirt now." He points down at my chest, "I think you missed an area on your upper quadrant. Dry there more."

I roll my eyes and throw his shirt back at him.

Max sighs extremely loudly, seeking attention. "I'm gonna fail so hard!"

"You had all the time in the world to study today," I point out. I recall him saying that he's staying here to study in peace and quiet while we're all out.

He brushes me off. "Details, details."

I take it he didn't study then... 

He has and always will be a sub-human after my own heart.

"You won't fail, dude. I won't let you," Laik assures him. "We'll clean this place up and then I'll help you cram."

As much as I'm loving their new-found bromance, I don't stay to hear the rest of their conversation – I'm on a tight schedule.

After a thorough shower with lots of soap and shampoo, I decide that I'm going to give myself a glow-up. I don't know where Jay's taking me but I'm going all-out glam. I feel like dressing up.

I pick out a black dress, perfect date material, and shimmy it on before straightening my blond hair while keeping the natural bounce and slight wave. I apply some make-up, keeping it light but going all out on my eyes. I'm going for a bronzy, smoky-eyed look, and I think it's safe to say that I've achieved it. Finally, I paint my nails and put on some strappy heels.

I enter Aqueela's Cove again, hoping to spend some time with my idiots before Jay gets here. Fortunately, this time, the cove is tidy.

"You guys did a good job," I speak up at seeing both of them chilling on the indoor trampoline.

Laiken sits up at hearing my voice. When his gaze lands on me, his eyes just about bulge out of his skull as shock overtakes him. "Holy fu—"

"Don't swear," I shush him.

He rubs his eyes, still stunned. "Am I seeing right? Are you actually wearing heels?"

I nod excitedly, enjoying the slight height advantage – the world looks different from up here. "Do I look fine?" I ask them for their opinions.

"Yeah, you look fine," Lai emphasizes the word as his eyes rake up and down my body freely. "You look hot! If you're trying to get into Jay's pants, you're going about it the right way. Why don't you always dress like this?"

A lot of effort...

"Because then people will assume that she's a hooker," Max states, a harsh frown on his face.

I gasp at the insult, offended. "It's just a black dress, Max! It's not even revealing."

"I agree with Aqueela, it should be more revealing," Laiken chimes in.

I scowl at him. "That's not what I meant."

"Ignore Mills. You don't look like a prostitute; you look like my future wife," he reassures me in that twisted way of his. "You can bed me, anytime."

"Go and change immediately," Max orders, unimpressed.

There are two types of people in this room...

"What? Why?" I pout, baffled by his reaction. I put a lot of work into looking modest while looking somewhat pretty.

"Because, you dork, I can't see you in this way. It's messed up," he reveals the reason behind his craziness.

"Then stop seeing me in whatever way you're seeing me," I reply, irritated with him.

He shakes his head and closes his eyes. "I can't. Seriously. Go and put on sneakers or a beanie or a striped shirt or something, and wash that stuff off your face. I'm not even joking. Don't make me come over there."

"Stop closing your eyes, Max! I'm not naked!" I yell at him. He's making me feel cheap.

"That's the only way that you can top your current look," Lai hums, looking me over again before whistling in admiration. "You should just stay like this forever. Or naked, should you so choose. As a woman, it's your right. And as a feminist, I support you."

He can forever dream on.

It's time like these where I really miss my female friends. I don't appreciate them enough.

"I'm a girl," I remind Max, "in case, you've forgotten—"

"I have," he cheekily confirms.

"I felt like dressing up today," I continue, ignoring him. "I never have a reason to. This is a first for me."

"Well, you should have first consulted me about this because you look weird," Max says with a shrug, choosing to be unnecessarily mean to me. "You're so selfish. You should have asked me for my permission."

Laiken throws a plastic ball at his head. "Shut up! She looks great. Don't discourage this risky behavior."

I'm liking Lai more and more as the minutes go by. Get yourself an Edwards to constantly build you up.

"Bell always dresses up, and you married her," I refresh my other half's memory.

"Yeah, but that's Bell's thing. Your thing is casual and adorable. Not...not this!" he gestures to my whole look with distaste as if I'm somehow harming him.

"Are you saying that I look ugly?" I ask him outright.

"No," he answers quickly. "You...you just don't look like yourself," he adds, taking my temporary, new look very personally.

"Yes, she does. She's just glammed up. And let me tell you, it's doing things to my male anatomy," Lai remarks, trying to help but failing miserably.

"And on that note, I'm gonna go change," I huff, defeated. I've heard enough from both of them.

"Don't you dare!" Laiken raises his voice at me on impulse.

I raise an eyebrow at him, taken aback.

"There's nothing wrong with getting dressed up for the guy you're sweet on," he adds, saving himself.

Max scoffs. "Please. This child ain't sweet on nobody but herself."

He's acting like an over-protective brother. Is this our relationship now?

"I forgive you, Maxipad," I tell him, choosing to be the better person – it's not difficult. "You're just being a jerk because you're worried about me."

"No, I'm being myself because you're not being yourself," he refutes my words, being stubborn.

Lai, thankfully, interrupts our feud:

"Law, before I fully commit to Ava, are you sure that you and I—"

"Never gonna happen," I cut him off. We've only been over this like a billion times in New York.

Max chuckles at him, knowing better, and pats him on the back. "It's good to have dreams, bro."

"Ouch, Aqueela, ouch. I have feelings," Lai exclaims with a deep sigh.

"Do you?" I counter, unsure.

"Fair play." He gets up and saunters over to me. "One more thing."

I begin to shake my head, already aware of what he wants, but he reaches out with both hands to fix the top half of my dress anyway. He takes his sweet time as he does so. His hands linger around me, sweeping dangerously close to my chest area.

He breathes me in and sighs dreamily. "You even smell good. Really good."

When I glower at him in warning, he backs off.

"There we go. Perfect," he decides, pulling away from me as his golden-brown eyes bore into my own in a seductive haze.

I stare up at him blankly, close to hitting him but still stifling a giggle. "Thanks for the assist," I say sarcastically. I know that the dress needed no fixing or straightening out. It was already perfect – I checked before leaving the bedroom.

He smiles a dazzling smile, basking in my praise. "You're so welcome."

I shake my head at him and reach up to tap his bottom lip with my finger. "If it weren't for this smile, you'd get into a lot more trouble with people."

His smile only gets bigger as he leans forward and playfully tries to bite my finger. "I disagree; I think my smile is what gets me into trouble with the ladies."

Max lays back down on the trampoline, looking up at the ceiling in despair – he's dramatic, and I'm all for it. "Careful, Laiken," he warns, "or one might think that you're catching feelings."

Laiken smirks, keeping his gaze on me. "I can't lie, I am feeling some type of way. There are definitely some types of feelings being caught."

"Laiken," I drawl, "I love you; I love every piece of you, I really do, but you exhaust me."

He's physically draining. On the upside, he grows my patience.

He grins. "I'll take that as a complimen—"

"It isn't," I push him away and decide to call Grey – he'll give me a real answer.

"I just saw you. What could you possibly want? I have no more food for you," he grumbles, picking up on the first ring.

"Can you come over?" I plead. We both know that I won't take 'no' for an answer.

"Seriously?" he questions in disbelief. "Why can't you come here?"

"It's an emergency, and you're much too far away," I lie.

"I believe you," he retorts in sarcasm. When I don't reply, he starts to doubt himself. "Is it really?" he asks softly.

I don't have it in me to do this to him again. "No."

He mutters out a 'you're so lazy' before hanging up on me.

It's a few minutes later when he actually arrives.

He bangs open the door aggressively. "What do you—" he stops talking when he spots me.

 I strike a pose and do a little spin. "Honest opinion, Ferrot, how do I look?"

Dumbstruck and slightly flushed, his eyebrows raise and his lips part as he skims over my appearance in surprise. He sucks in a deep breath and opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

"See. You rendered him speechless. He hates your new look too. You better go change before Jay gets here," Max advises, still lying down.

"Or, and hear me out, it's because he literally has no words. She's blown him away with her beauty," Laiken offers, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

Knowing what he's getting at, I flip him off. I'm not going there...I'm just not.

Turning from a rage monster into a meek, little lamb, Grey scratches the back of his head, shifting his feet. "Uh..." he hesitates, contemplating on how to get out of this. "I don't know. Why are you asking me? Why do you care about what I think?"

"Because I just do," I reply in ease. And because he's always honest. He's not afraid to hurt my feelings.

He rocks back on the balls of his feet, his gaze piercing through me as he does another once-over, from head to toe and back up again.

"Less gross," he falters, uncertain of himself, "you look slightly less gross...I guess," he answers uncomfortably, stuffing his hands deep into the pockets of his hoodie.

Amused, Laiken arches an eyebrow at him. "That really the best you can do?"

"A lot less gross?" he tries instead, seeking to end this entire conversation.

"I'll take it!" I accept. From him, those words are huge. I can work with 'less gross'.

He tears his gaze from me and shakes himself out of it. "Can I go now?" he asks quietly, impatient, and eager to bolt.

I nod and before I can blink, he's already out of the room.

"He wants you," Laiken doesn't waste a second to say what he's been wanting to say. "Pretty sure that he's the one catching feelings."

Max snorts, pulling himself into an upright position. "Naw, dude. He and Aqueela have always been weird like that. They have a strange relationship. Their dynamics are always off."

"Dude, fine, if you think so," Laik replies, not buying it. He drops the subject and turns back to me. "So, tell us, is Jay finally getting lucky tonight?"

"Whoa, who's the girl?"

I turn to see Benley in the doorway, staring at me with a puzzled expression on his face.

"The girl, or new girl, as I should say, is Aqueela," Max answers in a sassy manner, introducing me to him.

"I was joking," Ben retorts. "Do I look like Troy? Obviously, it's Aqueela."

Troy would have a lot to say about this.... I'm glad he's not here.

I snap out of it and refocus on what's important:

"Ben! I missed you!" I shout and race to embrace him. It's been too long.

He holds me back so that he can look at me properly. "Jeez. You're looking like a strong nine. I'm nearly impressed."

I whack his shoulder. "You're always difficult to please."

"I'm messing with you. Look at you. You're a smoke-show," he flatters me.

I salute him. "Thanks, stud."

"You're still short, though," he laughs, poking fun at my height.

I frown, questions sprouting to mind. "Why are you even here? And where is AJ? And how do you know where I live?"

"Max dropped me a pin location. He said something about a hot tub party," Ben informs me, deliberately ignoring Max who is miming to him to shut up. "He said it's a guy's-only day."

I glance Max's way accusingly. "Explain yourself in less than five seconds."

Max narrows his eyes at Benley. "Thanks a lot, McAllister. You're very helpful. Did you not realize that I was trying to get you to stop talking?"

"No," Ben clarifies, "I realized, but Aqueels deserves to know the truth."

Max scoffs. "You are such a suck-up when it comes to Aqueela."

Ben shrugs, unfazed. "I don't know what to tell you, she's my home-girl. I'm a staunch supporter of her antics...sometimes."

"Ah," I smile in delight, "so, you're familiar with my work?"

Ben chuckles and pulls me in for another hug. "You know I am. I've unwillingly been a part of your work one too many times."

When Ben releases me, Laik steps forward and shakes his hand. "Good to see you again, drummer kid."

High-school memories...

Ben nods, a grin intact. "Yeah, you too. Where's the party at, though? As interesting as this room is, the vibe is dead."

Max yawns, bored. "Aqueela killed it when she decided to be a grown-ass woman."

I roll my eyes. "Do you still want me to go and change?"

"Yes," he answers sharply. "It's not too late to fix this and do the right thing."

Ben waves Max off. "You do you, Aqueela."

"Also," Max continues on with his pointless attacks -- he's chosen violence today, "can you not read, McAllister? I sent you that message hours ago. Party's over."

"I have a life, Max, and I was busy," Benley gives him cheek back – I love him for it.

"With what?" Max interrogates him.

"Sex," he answers effortlessly. "AJ wants a baby; she has me on a schedule."

"Been there," Max grins knowingly. "Not as fun as you'd think. Sometimes, I wouldn't feel up to or I'd be too exhausted but Bell would insist."

Laik shakes his head. "Haven't been there. No such thing as being too tired or not feeling up to it."

"I thought you don't want a baby yet?" I question Ben, pretending to not have heard a single word from Max or Laiken's mouths.

"I don't, but, you know...sex," Ben answers with a half-shrug as if that should clear it all up for me.

This time, Laik grins. "Been there."

"I sent the message like two hours ago. You still could have made it," Max tells Ben, annoyed by his absence.

Ben just laughs. "Trust me, no, no, I couldn't have."

Laik grins. "You go that long? Respect."

I sigh, feeling for myself. "I hate that I'm now a part of this conversation."

Ben sees me struggling and changes topics. "By the way, I passed Grey on the way here. He didn't even seem to notice me. It's like he passed right through me. What's up with him?" he asks, seeking an explanation.

Laik immediately jumps aboard the ship, not wasting the opportunity to mouth off like an idiot. "Oh, you know, it might have a little something to do with him being completely in love with his best friend's fiancée and not being able to do anything about it."

"Let's circle back to the bedroom talk," I say in desperation. "I actually prefer it to this."

I take my phone out and start a girl's-only chat-group. I'm done with these morons. I start adding my amazing, female friends when I receive a text from my significant other:

'Leaving soon. Xx' ~ My Person

"Are we talking about the same Grey?" Ben asks, bewildered by the news. "Are you referring to Grey Ferrot?"

Laik nods. "Yeah, that's the one."

"I find it hard to believe that Aqueela could get not only one but two guys to fall for her," Max has to have his say. "Doesn't make any rational or logical sense."

"You think?" Ben ponders over Lai's statement, not seeing it. "Doesn't he hate her?"

"He hates how much he wants her. I'd even bet money that I don't have on it," Lai replies, super confident of what he's saying. "He treats her differently to everyone else."

"Yeah," I agree, "it's called verbal abuse."

Ben shrugs. "Standard Grey though, right?"

Laik shakes his head. "I don't know him as well as the rest of you do, but I don't think so."

Ben considers it for a moment. "Maybe a little bit of a crush but who of us here haven't been there already? Aqueela's one pretty lady."

Max snorts. "Lady?" He then retorts like a brat, "Also, I don't see it."

All this sass, and just because I dressed up?!

"Can we call a truce, Maxy?" I beg, tired of his childishness...somewhat.

"Can you go and change, Aqueelie?" he asks, in turn. When I don't answer, he lifts his hand in frustration. "Exactly."

"I don't like this side of you," I tell him. Fatherhood has really rubbed off on him.

"Need I remind you all, I've actually kissed Aqueela," he adds while casually strolling over to us, "and let me tell you guys, nothing special."

As I lift my hand to hit him, he pushes Benley in front of him. I'm about to drop my hand but decide to hit Benley anyway.

Ben frowns and rubs his arm. "I hate being the nice one."

"I too have kissed her," Laiken reveals, much to my horror, "and let me tell you, special."

I have to rack my brain to even remember. It was sometime in New York. Laiken was upset over something and just planted one on me when I attempted to comfort him. I recall not feeling anything – he dipped his toes in, but the water definitely didn't heat up, at least, not for me. I remember just thinking of Jay and how much I missed him.

"That doesn't count," I argue. "You took me by surprise, and I wasn't very happy with you."

He shrugs. "I stand by it. A kiss is a kiss, Law."

I feel a smack against my arm. I look up at Benley to see what his problem is. "What the hell, Aqueela? Am I the only one here who hasn't kissed you?"

Laik chuckles at him. "Psh. What a loser."

Max pats Ben's shoulder. "Don't worry, you're not missing out on anything." He cups a hand to his mouth and whispers loudly in Ben's direction while subtly pointing at me, "Bad kisser."

Anticipating my actions, he shoves Ben in front of him a second time before I can slap what's left of his brains out.

"Point being," Laiken emphasizes loudly, getting us back on track, "he either loves her or is very attracted to her and wants to tap that," he motions to me, "and honestly, who could blame him? Given the chance, I'd hit that."

Max scoffs before deriding me. "Meh. Not really my type. I'd like to hit that in a different way."

"That's it! Let's go!" I leap forward to attack him, but Benley voluntarily puts himself in between us. I try to punch Max, but Ben grabs my wrists and holds them in the air above us. "Stop protecting him or you're next!" I threaten him.

"I'm always next," he reminds me of my numerous threats against him throughout the years. "I'm not scared anymore."

"Anyway," Laik breaks the three of us up, restraining me, "as the expert in the field of attraction and what not, my theory is that Grey wants some Aqueela loving."

I'm getting real frustrated with Sherlock Holmes over here and his fellow, dumbass detectives.

"You're not an expert in love, though!" I protest, shoving him away. "I've listened to podcasts that have lasted longer than your relationships."

"Joke's on you, I've never been in a relationship," Lai contends.

Ben stares at him before gently breaking it to him, "I don't think you're the winner here; I think the joke is on you."

"Whatever, hopefully my boy Jay will be the real winner tonight," Laik responds with wit – there's a first time for everything, I suppose.

"Who cares? Why are we stuck on that?" Max asks him. It takes a second before it clicks in his stupid brain. He turns to me with an over-the-top gasp.

I despise Laiken. I really, really do.

"Max," I groan, "please don't make a thing out of this. It's not—"

"How are you still a virgin?! Have you seen the man that you're with?" he probes. "Why are you torturing him? He looks like gold and has a heart of gold. He's probably made of gold too. What is wrong with you?!"

"For some reason, she's keeping him on tenterhooks," Laik answers him.

"Hooks...hooker...Aqueela..." Max trails off. "Fill in the blanks."

I send him a look. If he calls me a hooker one more time, I'm going to take one of his limbs.

"What?" he asks innocently. "I'm just putting it all together."

"Sex isn't a big deal, Law," Laik reassures me.

"It is to me," I openly disagree with him.

"Sex is normal in any relationship and talking about it should be normalized too," Benley chimes in to save the day. "It's not a big deal that you and Jay are taking your time. People make it a bigger deal than it is. It's only a small part of a relationship, unless, of course, it's going wrong...then maybe it's a big deal."

"You're not surprised about this?" Max turns his interrogation onto Benley. "They always look so loved up."

"Standard, Aqueela, in my opinion," Ben answers with a shrug. "It's not really that shocking. I can see her being conservative. But if I didn't know her and just saw her from across the room or something, I wouldn't think that she's a virgin. And that's actually a compliment, Aqueela, before you attack me, because, like I said, you're a stunner of a girl."

I start to zone out when they dive deeper into the topic. I'm not really interested in hearing how they lost their virginity, what they prefer in bed, what I should and shouldn't do and blah blah blah. I've gotten good at blocking out people who irritate me and today, all three of them are getting on my nerves.

I decide to wrap this convo up before I choose to step in front of a bus and end it all. "Alright!" I clap my hands, stopping the dirty talk. "Well, thanks, for coaching me...in sex, my sex coaches. It's been...interesting, to say the least." This is by far the most awkward conversation to have with your so-called male friends. "I'm sure that I've learnt all that I need to know on the topic."

"Just like anything else, if you want to be good at it, you need to practice," Laiken informs me. "People," he pauses, "myself, can help you practice."

I ignore him for the hundredth time – my go-to when dealing with Laiken. "To conclude, and rapidly at that, you've all given me so much to think about, so thank you—"

"Jay will be thanking us too," Laik chirps.

I keep ignoring him. "Thank you," I look over at Ben, "for your brutal honesty on your first-time fears, and thank you," I glance back at Laiken, "for your explicit details on your favorite sexual conquests, and finally, thank you," I flip Max the middle finger, "for ignoring all of my texts to intervene and change the subject when you've been on your phone this entire time."

Max flips me the middle finger back. "Listen, someone had to give you the birds and the bees talk. I'm glad I didn't have to contribute much, other than my favorite positions."

"Anyway," I continue, addressing them all, "I will not be taking any of your advice and, after this, I want to make it clear to all of you that I do in no way feel closer to any of you. In fact, I can barely stand to look at any of you in the eyes without my mind going straight to everything divulged today. I will never look at any of you in the same way."

"In other words, we've corrupted you?" Lai questions excitedly.

I'm about to answer him when I hear voices from behind the door. "Shut up, shut up, shut up! Jay's here!"

I'll die if he finds out what they've been discussing and what I've been actively trying to ignore for the last thirty-five minutes.

Benley gulps, ill at ease. "She's right. Jay can't know about this."

He really can't. He's touchy with our personal life. If he finds out, he might actually channel high-school Jay and lose his temper on one of them -- hopefully, it's Max.

Before I can dwell anymore on it, the door swings open, and I find myself holding my breath in anticipation.

And then...Landon steps into the room.

Talk about an anticlimax...

We all simultaneously deflate at seeing him and then instantaneously start complaining:

"Aww, come on! Why him?!"

"He's the worst!"

"Get him out!"

"Kill him with fire and return him to the pits of hell!"

Landon arches an eyebrow at us and then flips us all off with both of his middle fingers. "Screw you, guys."

We all yell at him, again, in response:

"Get out!"

"Leave, dude!"

"You're messing everything up!"

"Take his eyes...and his nose!"

Unfazed, he cups a hand to his ear and gestures for us to keep going. "Louder! Keep the compliments coming!"

Who needs enemies when you have us for friends?

The four of us nudge each other and go silent when Jay unexpectedly enters the room a second after him. He's talking on his phone with eyes cast downward. He briefly looks up to greet the guys. He then places a quick kiss against my lips before heading upstairs to the bedroom. It's evident that he's in his own world tonight.

Laiken's the first to break the silence. "What just happened?"

"I hate him," I sigh, disappointed.

I take my words right back when Jay, as if only registering his surroundings now, slowly walks backwards down the stairs with his phone still propped up against his ear. His turns his head back in our direction. When his gaze lands on me, he ends his phone call. 

"There we go. That's more like it," Laik chuckles, satisfied.

Before I can even breathe, he's standing in front of me. He takes my hand into his, interlocking our fingers. He leans down and brushes his lips softly against mine, long enough that I can feel his warmth start to envelop me. The butterflies flap their wings and I inhale sharply when he pulls back.

He rests his forehead against mine and smiles brightly. "Hey you," he greets me this time.

"Hey yourself," I greet back with a smile imprinted on my lips. "So," I whisper, biting my bottom lip in suspense, "what do you think?"

"I think," he kisses me again in a gentle but demanding way before twirling me around once, "that you're out of my league."

My heart begins to beat a little faster.

"But," he continues, keeping his cool, "I'm not too awestruck by this new look, and reason being, is because I've always known that you're beautiful, from the day that I first met you. It doesn't come as a surprise to me. You will always be the most beautiful person on the planet to me, inside and out. Whether you're wearing this or you're wearing a beanie and a striped shirt, you always leave me mesmerized, and I mean that."

"Okay," I swallow, beyond thrilled by his reaction, "but now give me all those cheesy comments that you always shoot my way whenever I ask you how I look."

Knowing exactly what I'm talking about, he grins and steps back from me to fulfill my request. "God really took his time making you. You look like a vision of grace. The moon and sun look down on you and are envious of how much you shine. The stars would need to physically align to create somebody as captivating as you."

I can't help but laugh aloud. He handles me well.

"When I grow up, I want to be as smooth and as cool as Jay," Laik jokes.

I nod happily at Jay, pleased. "Did you know that fairy-tales started because of this face?" I point at myself.

Jay chuckles. "That I can believe."

"Were you the witch in them?" Max presses me for a reaction. "Because that I can believe."

"I don't get it. Am I missing something?" Landon questions, not following. "Why the fuss? She looks exactly the same as she always does."

Max frowns up at him, challenging him, not happy with his comment. "Seriously? Get out," he commands.

Landon, predictably, takes his stand. "You get out."

"Are you blind?!" Max snaps at him. "She looks nothing like her normal self!"

"He's going through something," I apologize to Lan on Max's behalf. "He knows not what he's doing."

"Just this once, Lawson, I'm going to look the other way and let this go because I don't feel like snapping your tiny friend in half," Landon replies, cracking his knuckles as he sets his gaze on Max. "Plus, this is a new shirt; I don't want blood splatters decorating it."

Max, realizing his grave slip-up, nods gratefully, relieved. "I appreciate that, Sir. Thank you. Thank you for sparing me. Please keep looking the other way."

"What were you guys talking about before we got here?" Landon asks us, showing Max mercy. "It went quiet when we stepped into the room. It was a little creepy until you all started harassing me like cavemen."

Anxious at being put on the spot, Ben crumbles under the pressure. "S-sex," he stutters out like a loser.

I slap my forehead. Lan always manages to intimidate and unravel him.

Landon furrows his eyebrows and pulls a face. He looks over at Jay with a shake of his head, gesturing back to Ben. "He's always been the weird one, hey?"

"I'm not usually this weird," Ben tries to recover from his lameness. "I'm actually cool. I swear."

"Is that what your mom tells you when she tucks you in at night?" Lan asks, pitying him.

As any good friend would do, Max and Laiken burst out laughing at his expense.

Jay takes the gap to look over at me again. "As much as I appreciate the effort, and I really, really do, are you expecting me to fly you out to Monte Carlo or something?" he teases.

I shrug, liking the idea. "It couldn't hurt."

"It could hurt my bank account, though," he laughs, the sound bringing new life into me. "But for a one-of-a-kind human like you, I'll add it to the list."

*~**~*

Hey, guys :)

Sorry for the looong wait. Some questions below for anyone who feels like giving me their perspective. No pressure. I'll be impressed if anyone can answer all the questions xD

1. Thoughts on Grey and Slobber's relationship? 

2. Do you agree with Aqueela's classifications of her male friends? 

3. Thoughts on how Aqueela views Grey? 

4. Why do you think Jay suddenly wants a date? 

5. What do you want to see happen on the date? 

6. Where should Jay take Aqueela for the date? 

7. Will Jay score? 

8. Why does Max not want to go home? 

9. Surprised that Lai struck out with Ava? 

10. Thoughts on Max and Laiken's friendship?

 11. Thoughts on Max's reaction to Aqueela dressing up? 

12. Thoughts on Laiken's reaction to Aqueela dressing up? 

13. Thoughts on Grey's reaction? 

14. Thoughts on Ben's reaction? 

15. Would you say that Benley is the nice one? Why/why not? 

16. Were you also disappointed when Landon stepped in? 

17. Thoughts on Jay's reaction?

18. Thoughts on Lan's reaction to Aqueela's look? 

19. Favourite part of this chapter? Why?

20. Favourite line of this chapter? 

Take care!

~ CJ