Hey! It's me. Well, who else would it be? Okay, so anyways, I hope you've enjoyed the last few chapters. Just to let you know, beyond this point, things will get a little more "heated" if you know what I mean. But I really hope you enjoy! Also, if you have any suggestions, just comment down below. I'll answer!

It was the day after the Amelia and Alfred fiasco. The day after Alfred touched me, the day after he called me perfect. I didn't feel perfect.
It was Saturday. Morning. I had literally nothing to do, except for sit in bed, staring blankly at my TV. I was pondering whether or not that was a good plan, when my phone went off.it was Toni.
I picked it up, unlocking it, and looking at my messages.

Go to Pine Lake. NOW.

Jeez. This must've been urgent.
I got into my car quickly, driving to the popular party spot for kids in my school.
And there he was, in a white T-shirt and tan shorts. He looked so much better in normal clothes, if that was even possible to surpass his attractiveness.
I got out, running over to him. Was he okay?
He was sitting there, staring blankly at the water. His eyes were red. Was he... Crying?
"T-Toni?" I whispered. He turned his face, allowing me to see the other half. I gasped. Where his eye should've been was a large, purple, swollen black eye. "Oh my god-" I reached for his face, and sat down next to him. He looked so sad, as pathetic in a way, a thing I never would've imagined him being. Who did that to him? "What freaking happened to your eye?" He looked away. No answer.
I grabbed his shoulder. "Antonio. Seriously. What's wrong?" And then, he gave me the most depressing look is ever seen in my entire life, like he was so sad, it hurt.
He gulped, furrowing his eyebrows. "It's hard to answer that question when nothing's right."
There was seriously something wrong. He wasn't acting at all like the cheerful person I'd gotten to know over the last month or so. He wasn't that boy in Spanish, who calls off the teacher, who defends me. What happened to him? The boy standing before me was not him.
He stood up, walking away. Just walking away. Like I wasn't even there. What was wrong with him? I ran after him, but he just continued to walk. I called his name, but he ignored me. "Toni. Stop!" And then he suddenly, for some reason, he did as I asked, his back still towards me.
"I-I'm sorry Lydia. I'm just so confused right now, I thought maybe with you being here, you could help me, but I don't know anymore. I just don't know." He turned around. Where was that smile? Where was the way his gorgeous green eyes lit up whenever he saw me? "I-I have to go." And just like that, he ran off.
"T-Toni-" I didn't even bother to go after him. What was he confused about? He was acting really weird. And why did he have a black eye? So many questions that remained unanswered, burning in my mind. Something was up. Well, obviously.
What was I supposed to do?
"Lydia." I turned around. God. Of course he was here. Why was he everywhere? Literally, everywhere.
"Are you alright? What are you doing here? What's up with that kid, An-Anthony, or whatever his name is?" He took off his glasses, wiping them on his shirt. It was like he was stalking me or something.
"A-Alfred. Hey." I looked down, realizing that I was still in my pajamas, which consisted in super short-shorts and a loose, over-sized shirt. He was wearing... A swimsuit. Who swims in the fall? He had one of those swim shirts on, though. "What are you doing here?"
He laughed. "I asked you first, but it's a long story, anyways. We always seem to be at the same place, don't we?"
"Hah. Yeah, I guess." I looked down. This was awkward. This was one of the few times I saw him without Amelia.
"So," he asked, "Are you like, dating that dude?"
"Antonio? Um, no. I'm not." I wouldn't mind, though.
"Okay. Good." He said casually. Good? He realized he phrased that wrong. "No, I mean, not anything like that, he's gay."
"Oh, okay. Wait-" My heart stopped beating. Gay? As in, not liking girls like me? As in, liking the same gender?
He nodded. "Yeah. He was like, sleeping over that other guy's house, whatever his face is, Lovino, it's a weird name, I know, but like, he did something. And then, someone punched him in the face. Poor guy. I'm not even sure he slept with Lovino."
Slept with? Another guy? As in...
"O-oh." I sniffled, looking down. I couldn't believe it. That's what this was about. He never liked me. I was chasing after impossible dreams. He was gay. He did not love me, like me, in any way. Maybe as a friend, but nothing more, and it would never be that way.
"Yeah, why do you think he hasn't made a move on you? I mean, any straight guy would if they'd known you that long. Wait-" he blinked, furrowing his brow. "T-that, sorry. I didn't mean that."
His stupidity was funny. But, I didn't laugh. I needed to know. Did Toni have any real feelings for me? It sure seemed like it. Maybe he was acting like it. "So, you're saying he's gay, as in, not liking girls?" That was a stupid question.
He chuckled. "Yeah, what do you think it means? Happy?"
I cleared my throat. "Actually, it does..."
"Oh, right. Well, that's what I meant. He'd be into someone like me, not someone like you, for instance." He crossed his arms. "Why does it matter so much to you?"
I shook my head. "I-it doesn't." I looked down at my shoes, trying to shield my emotions at least for the moment. And believe me, it was hard.
"I think it does matter. Why?" He took a step closer, leaning his face in. I could hear his breathing. I continued to look at the ground. He sucked in a deep breath. "D-did he kiss you?"
I stepped away. "N-no. No! It's just, he was one of the first people I met here, and I would've thought he would tell me by now." Did he kiss me? What kind of question was that?!
He cleared his throat. "Okay, then."
It was quiet for a little bit. "You didn't tell me. Why are you swimming at like, 7 AM?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, um, it's complicated."
I relaxed my shoulders and my posture. "I have time."
For some reason, his light blue eyes were filled with something odd. It was like, a mix of fear and embarrassment. "Uhhhh..." He started to take steps back. "I've got to go." He sprinted away.
And being me, I ran after him. He was actually very fast, but I eventually caught up with him.
I guess he thought he lost me or something, because he looked back, and then saw me. His eyes widened in shock. "Jesus!" He screamed, and sped up.
So did I.
"How the hell are you so fast?" He called back to me.
"Why the hell are you running away?" That answer made him stop talking.
We were getting closer to the lake, but he continued to run full speed.
I slowed down. No way was I going to jump into a freezing cold lake when no one was around in my pajamas.
He ran right into the water. He stopped and turned around. "Chicken." And then he was staring at me, as his smile slowly sank. Not to a frown, but to a more serious face.
Was there a spider on me or something? "W-what?"
His mouth gaped wide open, and he continued to stare, standing up to his knees in water.
I was really confused.
He didn't answer. After a while of him just staring at me, he cleared his throat and looked down. "Y-your- Your s-shirt..." He pointed to my chest.
I looked down quickly. The shirt I was wearing had fallen off somehow, leaving my torso exposed besides for my bra. Good thing I remembered to put it on before I left.
I crossed my arms in front of my breasts. I looked back at him awkwardly. Was he... Blushing?
"Uh..." I smiled sheepishly. "Ah-sorry about that... It must've gotten caught in a branch or something.."
He coughed. "Y-yeah."
Awkward.
"Here." I looked up to see that he was taking off his shirt, and walking towards me. He pulled the stretchy swimming fabric over his muscular shoulders, his muscles contorting and moving underneath his skin. He came right up to me, and lifted my arms, putting the shirt on me. It was way too big.
He laughed. "You look good."
I laughed also. "T-thanks." I took a quick glance at his abs and his small waist before looking back at the dirt.
"Come on." He held his hand out to me. "Let's go swimming."
My whole body was shaking, not just because I was wearing a sopping wet shirt in 50 degree weather, but also because this was happening. Him, Alfred Jones, the most attractive guy in school had just offered me literally the shirt off his back. How could I refuse?
I nodded, and smiling, placing my much smaller hand in his.
The feeling of his rough skin sent tingles through my body, like an electric shock. And, I got that same feeling as I did when I was with Toni that day.
Toni.
I had forgotten completely about him.
Where was he right now?
Why did he have a black eye?
I pulled my hand away. "I-I have to go." I whispered, knowing I would probably regret this.
"Why? What's wrong? Did I-" he looked down at his pants suddenly. "Never mind."
I took a step away. "I-i just really have to go, this was fun, I guess, I'll talk to you later..." I started to run towards my car.
"Wait-" he called after me, following me. "I don't have your number!"
"I'll see you at the party!" That was the last thing I said before I turned my head away, and got into my car, on my mission to find Toni.