"Hey, Lilah," Cassandra smiled. "I was just about to text you to see when you were getting here."

"Well, surprise," Delilah chuckled, sitting down bedside her friend. "Listen, um...do you have a second? There's something on my mind, and...well, I'm not sure what to make of it."

"Lay it on me," Cassandra replies with a nod.

"Well, I was just in the phone with Dylan, and...he didn't seem exactly happy with that fact that William and I were paired up on the English project," Delilah sighed.

"Looks like someone's jealous," Cassandra said in a sing-song voice.

"Who's jealous?" Spencer asked as he sat down in between the two girls.

"Dylan," Cassandra chuckled.

"Dylan? Why is Dylan jealous? And who is he even jealous of?" Spencer frowned before taking a sip of his coffee.

Cassandra giggled. "William, Delilah's new crush."

"Ooh," Spencer teased. "Dylan's jealous."

"I do not have a crush on William!" Delilah frowned, rolling her eyes at her friends' childishness.

"We're only kidding, Lilah," Cassandra laughed. "Calm down."

"Sorry. I'm just trying to figure out what to make of this Dylan situation," Delilah sighed, putting a hand to her head.

Why did it seem to bother Dylan so much? So what if Delilah was working on a school project with another boy? So what?!

Okay, sure, William was good looking. Well, handsome...some might even say incredibly freaking hot. But what did that matter? Any girl could see that from a mile away. Plus, he was smart and sweet and-

"Lilah? Lilah?" Cassandra frowned. "Delilah Bennet!"

Delilah nearly jumped out of her seat. "I'm so sorry. What were you saying?"

"I suggested that maybe you wait and see. Don't jump to any conclusions just yet. Dylan may have just had a bad day and that was why he acted so strangely," Cassandra nodded. "What were you thinking about? You seemed to really be interested in it, whatever it was."

"It- it was nothing," Delilah replied as her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink.

"Were you thinking of Dylan shirtless again?" Cassandra teased, smirking at her friend.

"No...I was thinking about Willian," Delilah sighed. "And before you start making accusations, I don't like him. I just think he has a nice personality, that's all."

"Relax, Lilah," Spencer laughed. "We both know you have a thing for Dylan."

Delilah sighed, putting a hand to her head. "I need coffee in an IV."

"Amen, sister," Cassandra nodded, standing up. "I'll get right on that. Do you want to split a cookie?"

"I think we're going to need brownies for this one," Delilah nodded, giving another sigh.

—————

A few days later.

"Delilah! Delilah, wait up!" William called, running after his friend. "Boy, you walk fast."

"Hm?" Delilah frowned, pulling out one of her earbuds and pausing her music. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to see what time I was supposed to go over to your house to finish the project," William said breathlessly.

Delilah chuckled a bit. "Now is perfectly fine. My mother is going to be in her cousin's wedding, so she's dress shopping with the bride and the other bridesmaids, and my father has to work late."

"Alright," William nodded, finally being able to catch his breath. "That sounds good. Shall we go, then?"

Delilah nodded, a small smile on her face as he extended a hand to her. She took it in her own, doing her best to hide the blush forming on her cheeks as they walked to the bus and climbed in.

Within a few minutes, they arrived at Delilah's house and went inside, going immediately to the kitchen.

"Can I get you anything?" Delilah asked as she set her backpack on a chair at the island.

"Dr. Pepper, if you have it," William nodded.

"Of course we have Dr. Pepper," Delilah laughed, handing him a bottle. "Who doesn't?"

"Me," William sighed. "My mother hates soda or anything that fizzes, so we don't keep it in the house."

"Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known?" Delilah chuckled.

William smiled, sipping his soda. "And on that note, let's finish our project."

—————

"Bye, William," Delilah called after her friend, shutting the door as she looked at the time. "Crap, I'm late! Oh, shoot!" She quickly ran up to her room and flopped onto her bed, dialing Dylan's number.

He soon answered the video call. "Hey there, Delilah," he sighed. "I can only guess what kept you. Or should I say 'who kept you'?"

Delilah rolled her eyes. "Dylan, please. We've been over this a hundred times. William and I are just friends. I mean, sure, he's cute and all, but-"

"Cute?" Dylan frowned. "Cute?! You think he's cute?!"

Delilah's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Well, yes, but-" she stammered.

"No, Delilah. Just no. God, I can't believe you'd do this to me!" Dylan exclaimed. "You promised you'd wait for me!"

"I am waiting for you! And excuse me for finding someone else good looking. You're not the only fish in the sea, you know," Delilah shot back. "My god, you must think a lot of yourself."

"I'm- I'm- you know what? I can't talk to you when you're like this. And if that's really how you feel, maybe we shouldn't be dating!" Dylan yelled angrily.

"Fine. Maybe we shouldn't," Delilah scoffed. "Have fun finding someone else to put up with your insanity!"

"I don't know how I ever loved you." Dylan shook his head, ending the call abruptly.

"What?" Delilah frowned. "Did he just say he loves me?"