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I didn't get the part.

I didn't get Juliet's part.

I got Juliet's understudy.

Everleigh got Juliet's part.

Sebastian got Romeo's part.

Shoot me right now.

"I'm so sorry, but at least you got the understudy," Everleigh tries to encourage me.

"Yeah, no it's okay," I smile back.

"I'm excited for you, but on that note, we have something to tell you," I say as Sebastian approaches me. He's next to me and I look at him for approval. He bobs his head knowingly and his arms wrap around from behind to my waist pulling me closer to him. "Sebastian and I are seeing each other."

Stunned.

She is speechless.

Confused?

Mad?

A bit of everything?

"Oh, whoa, sorry. I did not see that coming," she breathes. "Um, congratulations? Ho-how long?"

"Almost like a month?" I look at Sebastian for confirmation and he agrees.

"Oh shit, why didn't you guys tell anyone?"

"We didn't know how everyone would take it and we wanted to tell you first," Sebastian explains.

"Oh, well I'm happy for you, but just surprised. I thought you guys despised each other," she laughs almost a little passively.

"Trust me we still do, just not as much anymore."

"True," Sebastian agrees and we laugh.

Once we sober up, I start, "I hope this doesn't affect our friendship negatively. Sebastian told me about you guys and if you ever need to clear the air about something feel free to talk it out with me I totally understand."

"No, no it's okay. I told Sebastian that day at your house, I just missed our friendship. I think I still like King somewhat, but I'll probably get over that too."

"You should. It probably didn't work out for a reason, right?"

"True. Have you guys told anyone else?"

"No, just our families," I share.

"Oh. Sebastian, your parents knew? Even at Jake's party?"

"Yeah, they did," Sebastian confirms.

"It makes sense now why you were bitching when you were so drunk. Seeing Reese with King was personal," Everleigh lets out a small laugh and gets lost in her thoughts a bit.

"I guess?" Sebastian answers a bit confused.

"Shit, my mom's here to pick me up. I should get going," Everleigh realizes.

"Yeah, congratulations again," I wave.

"Thanks and you guys too," she smiles back before heading out.

"How was that?" Sebastian asks.

"Not as bad as it was in my head."

"Then it was good," he replies.

"We should head out too, Landon's playing ball with his friends and said to meet him at the court once we're done," I explain. "He'll drop you off too."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, don't worry," I assure. We grab our bags and head out.

Sebastian grabs my hand and holds it as we walk. My eyebrows furrow with confusion.

"What are you doing?"

"Uh, holding your hand?" he sounds bewildered by my reaction.

"You know there are still people here, right?" I state the obvious.

"Yeah, so? Everleigh knows now so everyone else can too. I thought that was the plan."

"Oh shit, yeah. You're right. Fuck, this is weird," I laugh. "You haven't even asked me to be your girlfriend though... like officially at least."

"True, but you already called me your boyfriend and said that we were dating in front of your brothers, remember? When we caught you doing the WAP."

"Oh shit, I do, but that was a mistake!" I argue.

"Might be, but I didn't mind and I still don't. I'll ask you out officially, but we're already dating I don't care. You're mine," he shrugs.

"Wow, I am not a piece of property to be owned mister," I scold.

"Honestly, I don't know if I can date such a woke girl. Maybe this is a sign. I still have a chance to back out," he jokes.

"Now I definitely don't want you to be my boyfriend," my words full of sarcasm.

"Too bad you don't have a choice anymore," he says as he takes my hand and pulls me into him. Our lips mould together for a long, sweet and passionate kiss.

"Whoa! Don't look now Price, but your sister has been spotted kissing the high school's biggest playboy!" one of Landon's friends announces.

I push Sebastian away from me and we both look out to the court where Landon and his friends are all staring at us. Glistening with sweat, most of their clothes are wet as they breathe heavily to catch their breaths.

"Which one of you was that?" I question cracking my knuckles.

"Why, baby Price? Are you going to hit me?" Reis teases.

"You," I sneer looking Reis in the eyes. "You carry our name with disappointment."

He laughs.

"No, hard feelings. I'm just trying to warn Landon about the future, but judging by his reaction, he doesn't seem to be too fazed. I'm guessing you already knew?"

"Yeah, I did," Landon admits. The basketball rests between his right hip and forearm.

"Mm-hm," Reis responds. The rest of the boys all look at each other weirdly.

I look to Sebastian to see if we're both confused, but he seems to not want to meet eyes with me. Instead, I lock eyes with Landon. He seems just as confused as me and I'm grateful to not be the only one left out from this weird energy exchange.

Maybe it's a blood-related thing and that's why Landon and I are the only ones who don't understand?

Or maybe, we don't have as much history as the rest of them do! Why do you always have to be a dumb bitch?

Hey! I got to the conclusion eventually, okay? Don't be rude to me. I deserve better and I'm going to be better bitch, bye.

I talk down to my negative thoughts before I come back to reality. I'm met with awkward silence against.

"Everleigh knows too. She's okay with it," I blurt as I catch on to why everyone is being so awkward.

"Oh, actually?" Travis says and the rest of them follow with a smile loosening up. The change in energy is relieving.

Sebastian and I both bob our heads in response.

"Congrats then," they all say. They give Sebastian a pat on the back and fist bump me.

"Keep this one in line," Elliot whispers in my ear.

"Hey, don't whisper shit in my sister's ear," Landon complains.

"Hahaha, nothing personal bro," Elliot puts up his hands in defence.

"Yeah, are you jealous Elliot and I have a secret?" I tease him.

"I don't know about your brother, but I am. I didn't think Elliot was a part of the competition," Sebastian jokes.

"There's a competition?" I raise my eyebrow.

"No, because I already won," Sebastian smiles looking at me and pecking me on the lips.

"Okay, guys I think this is my cue to leave," Landon says to his friends. They all shake hands before Landon heads to the car with us right behind him. "Well, that was kind of weird. I didn't expect Reis to be that bothered by you guys being together."

"Yeah, I didn't either. Especially when Everleigh wasn't that upset over it. That's why it totally slipped my mind that Reis would be upset too."

"Yeah," Sebastian agrees. "Reis will understand. Everleigh and I have a past and he has the right to be mad because our break up was kind of messy."

"How dramatic? Like my dramatic or you're dramatic?" I question curiously as I get in the passenger side.

"Like your dramatic," Sebastian admits as he sits on the back seat and closes the door.

"Well that can never be good," Landon comments. "Mind sharing some details?"

"Yeah, um where do I even start?" Sebastian lets out a small laugh. He scratches the back of his head as he looks out the window. I stare at him through the side-view mirror as he speaks.

"We dated in grade six up to the end of grade seven. Ev broke up with me and started dating King almost a month and a half later. I was upset at how she moved on so quickly and accused her of cheating, but that only caused her to hate me more. We didn't talk for a while until the end of middle school when King and her started having issues. Everleigh came to my house really late one night crying and she ended up spending the night. Nothing happened. She slept in the guest bedroom and I slept in my own room. She was so exhausted that night and so emotional she couldn't string together any words so we didn't even talk. King had Everleigh's location and in the morning, he showed up at my door. He thought that Everleigh and I slept together or something. We got into a fight and my dad had to break us apart. King broke up with her on the spot and left after threatening to kill me if he ever saw me on his side of town. Everleigh somehow blamed me for everything too and we ended up not talking up until recently again."

"Oh damn," Landon responds.

I stare at the road as we pass by the busy streets losing myself in my thoughts.

What if he still loves her?

What if Ev still loves Seb? Because why else would she show up at his house when King and her were having problems?

My phone in my pocket vibrates and I take it out to see who it is.

"Who is it?" Landon questions.

"It's King," I reply.

"What is he saying?" Sebastian questions curiously from the back.

"He's asking when he can take me on that day out he promised to me at the party," I answer. I stare at the screen and the unsaved number not knowing what to say.

"Are you gonna go?" Sebastian asks.

"Uhh...- I told him I would. If I say no now, it'll be disrespectful and weird. Don't you think so?" I look back at Sebastian to meet his eyes for confirmation.

He seems a little shocked maybe even taken aback by my response, but he covers it up by shaking his head and letting out a small smile.

"Yeah, go ahead. Maybe you can help him see I'm not such a bad guy," he shrugs.

"Yeah," Landon adds. "You can give him their side of the story and maybe fix things. Be their saviour."

"Well, who's gonna save me if I save everyone else?" I frown.

"Don't worry, I've got you," Sebastian says putting his hand on my shoulder. I smile at the comfort and sincerity. For once, the words hit me with warmth, but my past trauma doesn't let me dwell in the feeling completely.

Being vulnerable and trusting is still new to me.

"Did you guys get your parts for the play?" Landon queries.

"Yeah, Sebastian got the part for Romeo and I got Juliet's understudy."

"Understudy? Who's playing Juliet then?" Landon seems a bit concerned.

"Guess," I prompt.

"No. Don't tell me. Is it Ev?" he questions. I bob my head to tell him he guessed right. "No way! That's fucked up."

"Right, it is," Sebastian frowns. "Reese did so much better and I'm not even saying it's because I didn't even watch Ev perform, but I just know Reese is more talented."

"Awe, thanks," I blush. "But whatever. It is what it is."

"Yeah, but still. It's like the universe be working against you two," Landon laughs.

No one responds and the rest of the ride is quiet as we listen to the trap music Landon plays in his car.

"We're here," Landon announces.

"Tell your parents we said hi," I tell Seb.

"Okay, bye. Thanks for the ride, bro."

"No problem," they fist bump and I kiss Seb before he exits the car.

We watch him enter his house before Landon starts driving towards the exit.

My phone starts buzzing in my lap and I recognize the number as King's.

"Hello," I pick up.

"Hey, what are you up to?" he questions. There's traffic in the background and he sounds like he's walking somewhere.

"Nothing, my brother and I are just driving home," I answer. "What are you up to?"

"Going to practice," he replies.

"Practice for what?"

"That's a secret."

"Oh, so it's like that, huh? We're keeping secrets from each other?" I let out a small laugh.

"Well, Miss. Price I don't know about you, but I usually don't spill my guts to strangers."

"Now we're strangers too? Damn. I thought we were friends, but I guess not Mr. Baxston."

"You know my full name?" he questions a little surprised.

I laugh.

"What's so surprising about that?"

"Nothing, I just didn't think I was that relevant in your life," he breathes out.

"Give some credit, King. I don't know what kind of rich and snobby bitch you take me to be, but if you continue to believe I'm like that, you're going to be shocked a lot more often."

"A lot more often, huh? Does that mean I get to take you out this Saturday?"

"This Saturday? Mmm," I think, teasingly. "I'll have to check my schedule and see if I can fit you in somehow, but-"

"See, I knew that it'd be too good to be true," he cuts me off.

"Oh my God, I was joking!" I laugh and he laughs with me.

"I know, I know. I just like teasing you," he admits.

"Well, I don't take teasing well," I scold.

"Don't worry, I'm not that evil either," he says in a much lower voice insinuating a completely different meaning to his words.

Damn.

I can hear my heartbeat increasing, but I gulp and ignore it.

"So Saturday, what time?" I ask.

"Eleven. We'll start with brunch and I have the whole day planned out, but it's a surprise," he shares.

"Attire: casual, comfy, fancy...?"

"Casual and comfy works," he answers.

"Okay, sounds good."

"Sounds good to me too. I'll pick you up."

"Okay, anything else?"

"Yeah... stop blushing so much, Reese."

My mouth gapes.

How can he see me?

Actually, am I even blushing?

I immediately pull down the mirror and look at my rosy cheeks.

Fuck.

"I am not!" I defend. He just lets out a throaty laugh in response.

"I don't like liars, but I'm here. I'll see you Saturday. Bye Reese."

"But I'm not blushing! You cannot accuse me of such a thing," I lie.

He just lets out another laugh at my childish behaviour.

"Okay, I believe you."

"Promise?" I try to confirm.

"Pinky promise," he responds making me smile.

"Okay, good. You have fun."

"You have fun too."

"I will."

"Don't miss me too much."

"Won't have to tell me twice," I answer and he laughs.

"Bye."

"Bye," I say cutting the call.

"So who are you dating?" Landon questions.

I gasp and smack his arm.

"Hey! No abusive behaviour especially when I'm driving!" he yells.

"Technically Sebastian didn't ask me to be his girlfriend, but we are together. King and I are just friends."

"Mm-hm. We'll see."

"What does that mean?" I roll my eyes.

"I know your type."

"Yeah? Well, what's my type?"

"Bad boys. A little broken and a little dangerous, just the perfect mix," he shares.

"Ha. Ha. You're so funny," I deadpan.

"Whatever. Don't believe me."

"I don't need your permission to not believe you."

"I'm just saying."

"You say too much. Shut up."

"Wow. Rude much."

I don't respond. Instead, I zone out staring at the cars pass by as Landon drives us home.

A small smile stretches out on my lips as I feel the heat in my body rise and I bite my bottom lip.

A/N:

SURPRISE UPDATE! I had time to write today and it feels so good omgggg!

Followed the 2020 US election like it was my religion and I'm really happy with the results. Was losing hope in humanity for a bit before that, but the results have restored some of my hope and faith! Feeling relieved and happy for all the POC, Women and members of the LGBTQ+ community!❤️

Back to the book...

Who's ready to see Reese and King spend some quality time together all ALONE?

Who do you think will be her forever lover.
Sebastian, King or will it be someone else? Maybe someone from her past😏

Remember the book hasn't even started yet... there's a lot more to come: more laughs, drama, pranks, pain, heartbreak, relationships, and MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!