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"We say we're friends, but I'm catching you across the room
It makes no sense, 'cause we're fighting over what we do
And there's no way that I'll end up being with you
But friends don't look at friends that way

Friends don't look at friends that way"

That Way - Tate Mcrae

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Chapter Sixteen:

< James >

Falling for Everly Belle Calloway happened slowly, then all at once. We had been in each other's lives since birth, our relationship beginning with the innocent laughter and boundless imagination of childhood best friends. I teased her endlessly, and she chastised me for my many poor decisions. Yet, through every trial and triumph, we were each other's unwavering constant. Each passing year deepened our bond, transforming the familiar into something profoundly extraordinary.

Every choice, whether right or wrong, was made with the other in mind. We rarely heeded each other's advice, yet we always sought after the other's approval in some way or another. Our journey was marked by the conflicts that make every great love story unforgettable.

And just like every tale spun before our time, we journeyed the arduous path to become what we are today to one another. No girl who ever came before could hold a candle to Calloway. Bewildered, I wandered through love's labyrinth, wondering why no bonds ever held. I told myself that love wasn't for me, that I was merely searching for something that didn't exist. In a lot of ways you could say I hid behind the meaningless searching for a meaning.

Our families spoke of us as a legacy pair, bound by the weight of our surnames, but it was something neither of us thought much about. Yet, in the end, I discovered that what I sought had been before me all along—Everly, my steadfast companion, my confidante, the keeper of my heart before I realized I actually had one.

I remember the night it all crystallized for me—the night I stopped seeing Everly as just my best friend and began to see her as the love of my life. It was a moment of clarity, where every teasing word and every shared glance took on a new, deeper meaning. The realization was both terrifying and beautiful, marking the beginning of our love story that had been written in the stars long before we ever felt the pull of the invisible string.

FLASHBACK: 2 years ago

"Oh, sorry, I was searching for... wait... James?" Everly's voice, sharp and laced with panic, pierced the quietude as I stirred in bed beside one of the girls from the opposing private school at Alistair's party. Everly was never one for revelry, constrained by her father's rule of returning home by 9:30 p.m. Thus, it was a profound shock to see it was midnight.

"Evie... Gerald is going to send out a search party. What are you doing here?" I asked, the urgency of her presence sinking in. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. 

Everly's vibrant hazel eyes—an enchanting dance of brown and green—had lost their usual warmth, now shadowed with distress. In this state, I knew I was the last person she wanted to confide in.

"Eve... Everly... what's wrong?" I sprang upright, shirtless and hastily fumbling for my pants. She tossed them at me, a silent plea in her gesture.

"It's nothing. As usual I can see you're very busy. I'll handle it. You can go back to... her," Everly said, her voice trembling as she avoided my gaze. She turned to leave, but I stumbled over my own pants in a clumsy attempt to follow.

An hour later, I found her comforting my sister, who had clearly found herself in yet another mess. Lydia was sobbing uncontrollably in Everly's embrace.

"I've taken care of it, Lyds. Don't worry. Nothing will come of it now. You thought you could trust him. It's not your fault. I've been there; I know what a gutted feeling that is." Everly's words cut like a knife because they were referencing me... or I suppose referencing us. Wait...was there an us to reference?

"Go and enjoy the rest of the party with Cyril. Xander will no longer be your concern," Her words continued to be a riddle to me. Xander, my sister's ex, should have been a distant issue. I realized that Everly had come to tell me something crucial, and my presence with that girl had shattered whatever remained between us.

"Evie..." My voice shook as I reached out, catching her arm just as she tried to leave.

"James, please don't 'Evie' me right now. I really don't want to talk to you," she said, trying to brush past me. I gently touched her shoulder, but she shrugged me off again.

"Evie... just talk to me..." I pleaded, the nickname I'd crafted for her in childhood spilling from my lips. Normally, it would bring a hint of a smile to her face, a flicker of shared memories in a language only we understood. But today, her coldness cut me to the core. She turned to face me, her eyes dark and stormy.

"You think you're untouchable, don't you? James Beaufort, you believe you can act without consequence, hiding behind your name as if it will shield you from harm. You don't care who you hurt," Everly's words, raw and fierce, pierced the air, leaving me reeling under the weight of her accusation. And how painfully true it was. I had hid behind the Beaufort name since the age I was able to first comprehend the weight it held.

"Everly, what is this about? Is it Marissa? She meant nothing," I laughed, astonished. Was this jealousy? It was a new emotion from her, but I didn't mind it at all. In fact, I welcomed the fierce jealousy that drove her to confront me about another girl. Everly Calloway was not one to wear her heart on her sleeve, so this admission had to mean something.

"Melissa, not Marissa," she snapped. "And you're right, James, she means nothing. Everyone means nothing to you. I just can't bear to watch it any longer." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

"Get off that high horse of yours Eve, will you? You are the most privileged princess in all of England—Little Miss Perfect, always at the top of her class, untouched and untouchable in her Calloway ivory tower. And why, pray tell, are you out right now? More like how did you get away with it? I mean I know your family keeps you micromanaged under a microscope!" I called after her, my words slurred from the alcohol I'd been consuming since morning.

"You think my privilege is a gift, Beaufort? It's a cage of my name's own making. For the boy who's been my closest friend since we were crawling, you're acting as if I am a stranger to you and that our hardships bear no similarities. My best friend? My confidant? Where is he? Have I lost you to this fantasy world you've built in your head? Do you believe this is the reality you should live in? The boy who had the privilege of gifting me my lifelong nickname is now a shell of the man you've become. I refuse to be around you any longer to watch you drink your life away." Everly's voice cracked as she made eye contact with me.

"Fine, go then. Daddy's waiting, we wouldn't want him to think you had a social life, would we? better leave before you turn into a pumpkin, good girl," I retorted, frustration bubbling over.

Everly rolled her eyes, mocking me.

"Look at me, I'm James Beaufort, throwing my life away on booze and girls. Not that it matters because my father will clean up whatever mess I make. I'm a Beaufort, after all! A god among men, incapable of error," she mocked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. I watched as her eyes grappled with dropping her anger. But she just couldn't do it.

"Beaufort, apologize to me when you're ready. But don't even consider speaking to me till then." Her disdain was palpable as she turned and walked down the steps to clean up the rest of my sister's mess for her.

"You'll be waiting forever then!" I yelled after her, my voice echoing over the stairwell. Everly's hand shot up, giving me the finger before she disappeared into the sea of party guests. Lydia rushed over, hitting me on the back.

"What is wrong with you? Everly came to this party for me. She snuck out to help me. You only think of yourself, James, and it will destroy you," Lydia snapped, arms crossed in disapproval.

"Why did you ask her to come? I've been here the whole time!" I shouted, frustration seeping into my voice.

"You have? Really? You could've fooled me. I called you twenty times, and you never answered. Kesh said you went off into one of the bedrooms with someone," Lydia's voice trembled with hurt.

I glanced down at my phone and sighed deeply. The missed calls from Lydia and the twenty-five from Everly weighed heavily on me, alongside a text from Evie:

From Evie:

Jamesie,

Answer your phone please. I swear if you make me come down to this party....

Xander is threatening to send inappropriate photos of Lydia to the entire school if we don't pay him off.  And clearly he's not that bright because he wants an all cash transaction. You know your specialty for getting Lydia out of a fix. 

I know you're going to be fuming, so I'll have to come and cushion the blow. But you have to admit Jamesie..Lyds does not to deserve this.

And So help me, Beaufort, you better not yell at her. Something like this could get her expelled from Maxton Hall and Mortimer would let them do it if he saw these photos.

James. Answer your phone will you? Or do you only answer to lude photos as well? If I have to send you a close up of the lace bra I'm wearing to get a response. You won't like where my foot ends up when I find you.

xEvie

"Oh my god, Lydia, I am so sorry," I said, enveloping my sister in a heartfelt embrace. "I owe you and Everly an apology."

"I don't care about you being a complete idiot, but Evie... you should do more than just apologize James. The words I heard you say to her. Could you not see how her heart broke when saw you with someone else?" Lydia questioned me. "James. You need to make this right," my sister's voice was laced with a concern that left me puzzled. Could she see something between Everly and I too?

"What do you mean? Are you saying she got upset because she caught me with a girl? She's seen me with other girls before, Lydia. It's nothing new," I attempted to tease, though my heart wasn't in it. Lydia, her expression stern and weary, was in no mood for my sardonic humor.

"James, at times you are beyond inconsiderate. I don't need to spell it out. Go talk to her. Now.." Lydia reprimanded me, turning away with tears glistening in her eyes, the same way Everly's had when she left the bedroom.

"Somehow once again all of this is my fault somehow. Well fuck me then." I muttered, just as Ellie appeared before me, her presence a stark reminder of the mess I'd made.

"It would be my pleasure," she responded with a laugh.

"Oh, I bet. And stop spreading rumors that we've slept together, Ellie. I'm best mates with your brother after all. Do you have any idea how that makes me look?" I said, rolling my eyes and attempting to walk away. She pulled me back.

"Come on, James. It's all in good fun. We're both single, after all. Why not make the rumors true tonight?" Ellie's smirk was infuriating. 

"Yeah, James, why not? You've fucked everyone else. What's one more for the Beaufort roster, right?" Everly's voice cut through, a cigarette dangling from her fingers, a red solo cup in the other. A pang of guilt struck me for leading her astray.

I was tainting her with my bad habits and careless ways, and deep down, I knew she was doing this to prove a point. The thought of explaining to my family, and especially to her father, how I let their princess get completely wasted weighed heavily on me. Yet, the idea of having to carry her home, of holding her in my arms, sent a shiver through me that I couldn't quite shake.

"Well, look who's here—out past curfew, Calloway. And drinking no less! I'm shocked," Ellie taunted, and Everly merely shook her head, clearly irritated. She took another sip of her drink she had been waving in front of my face since she walked over to us.

"Have you come here solely to kill the mood?" I snapped, though I should have been apologizing. "Eve, can you please stop drinking that? I'm sure it's straight vodka. The hangover you'll have... I know I'll have to clean that up." I shook my head, realizing not only had I embarrassed her in front of Ellie, but I had also wounded her deeply.

Everly was infuriating when she didn't listen to me, yet I couldn't help but love her stubbornness and strong will. She was always unwavering, whether the cause was grand or trivial, and that fierce determination was a part of her I adored beyond words.

"How kind of you to notice," Eve snapped, her voice laced with bitterness. "I can handle my alcohol just fine, James. I've managed to survive without you playing the hero, always just a little too late anyway." With a spiteful glint in her eyes, she downed the remaining contents of her cup. As she took that last sip, I saw her gaze linger inside the empty cup, then she looked up at me with a familiar, haunting stare—the same one she had before she fell off the horse when we were children. An impending doom feeling vibrated through my entire body.

I was confused by her actions, Everly rarely ever drank. She had a strict reputation to up keep and if her parents ever knew where she was...they would lose their minds. Usually she was a rule follower, never straying from orders. So why was tonight different? Had she finally had enough. And what was the look for?

"What?" I looked at her confused. She took a deep breath and shook it off.

"The only reason I'm still here is because I'm waiting for your sister. Unlike you I'm actually concerned about her well being. She asked me to take her home, she assumed you'd just left her. To my own misfortune, that wasn't true...for once." She scoffed, placing the cigarette between her lips and lighting it. I noticed her hand shaking, what was she keeping from me.

"I spoke to her. She assured me she was fine. Wait...why do I have to explain myself to you? What's going on with you right now Everly? Why did you come back over here? Unless you're looking for an invitation to join the roster? By all means. I knew you wanted an adventure with the hottest single guy at our school." I smirked at her.

Everly's eyes met mine, a mixture of confusion and hurt. Our banter, usually laced with sarcasm and playful jabs, had crossed an invisible line tonight.

"James..I..." I left Everly nearly speechless. It looked as if she was fighting herself not to tell me something.

In truth, it was I who had crossed it, and the way she looked at me now was as if I had shattered something precious. Yet, instead of conceding and pulling her aside to mend what was broken, I chose the path of folly. I pushed her further, knowing it would hurt, and watched as the spark of pain flickered in her eyes.

"Anyway, Ellie, right this way to a bedroom. Since that's all I seem to be good for, I might as well be useful. Princess Calloway has all her feathers ruffled anyway," I laughed, trying to mask my regret. 

"I thought you'd never ask," Ellie said, taking my hand. 

I saw Evie's face turn, I'd never seen her look that way before. As if she might be sick. She took off down the hall and I should've went after her. But I didn't. One of the biggest mistakes of my life. One after that moment I would never make again.

I was making out with Ellie in one of the guest bedrooms when a scream echoed through the air. My sister's voice pierced the night first, followed by Alistair's, and then, with terrifying urgency, both of them began to call my name.

"James! Someone get my brother! James! Where is he!?" Lydia's cries echoed through the halls.

There I was, caught in a compromising position, half-naked with Alistair's sister. The night had been a series of mistakes, and it was about to spiral into chaos.

"What in the world could have happened?" I yelled, fumbling to pull on my shirt as I flung open the door. Ellie trailed behind me, and the disapproving looks from everyone at the party sent a shiver down my spine. The worst of stares came from Alistair.

"James please tell me you didn't." He stared me with disapproval.

"No...we didn't. We barely kissed. What the hell is happening down here?" I asked turning the attention away from myself.

"We can't find Everly, and your sister is in hysterics," Alistair's voice trembled, shifting from disappointment to a rising panic.

"What do you mean? She was supposed to take Lydia home. How can you not find her?" I demanded, my heart pounding in my chest.

"She told Lydia she wasn't feeling well, but then she lost her in the crowd. I heard rumors that someone may have been spiking drinks," Alistair sighed, the weight of the situation settling between us.

"And of course, this was the night Everly chose to spite me by drinking," I muttered, regret lacing every word.

"You take upstairs, I'll take downstairs. Maybe she just passed out in one of the guest bedrooms," Alistair offered, trying to infuse some hope into the chaos.

"Call me as soon as you find her," I urged, sprinting toward the staircase.

As I ascended the steps, the puzzle pieces began to fit together in my mind. The look she gave me after she finished that cup—it was a look of realization, a desperate understanding that something was wrong. And how had I responded? I dismissed her, demeaned her in front of Ellie, no less. The guilt was overwhelming.

I reached the top of the stairs and collided with a line of people waiting to get into the bathroom. Water was seeping out from under the door, pooling on the floor, and a cold dread washed over me.

"She's been in there for an hour," a girl behind me complained.

"Who?" I asked, panic sharpening my voice as I prepared to kick the door down.

"Calloway. We can't believe she's here," the girl replied casually, oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.

"Use the one downstairs...it's bigger," I barked, scattering the line as I focused solely on the door in front of me.

"Eve... Eve..." I called out, my voice trembling with fear. But there was no answer, only the sound of water spilling over the edge of the sink. I had no choice. With all the strength I could muster, I kicked the door in.

And there she was—Everly, face down on the cold tile floor, unconscious. The sink was overflowing, the water a silent witness to the tragedy unfolding. It took me mere seconds to understand what had happened, but the realization was like a dagger to my heart.

"Oh my Eve..." I collapsed beside her, pulling her limp body into my arms. Her hair clung to her face, wet and tangled, and I gently brushed it aside. "Come on, Eve... please... please don't do this," I whispered, my voice breaking as I tried to shake her awake. But she was unresponsive, her body heavy and lifeless against mine. A faint pulse reassured me that she was still there, but the fear that I had lost her clawed at my chest.

"Wake up, Eve, this isn't funny... Everly Belle, wake up. Please..." I pleaded, my voice rising with desperation. I glanced around the bathroom, taking in the chaos—the overflowing sink, the scattered items—imagining the terror she must have felt as she fought to stay conscious. She had tried to save herself, to fight off whatever had been slipped into her drink, but I hadn't been there for her. I had failed her in the worst way possible.

"Eve... Evie..." I called again, and this time her eyes fluttered open, just for a moment. They were filled with a fear I had never seen in her before, a vulnerability that shook me to my core. Everly Calloway, always strong, always in control, was now looking at me with a silent plea for help.

"Ja...mes," she whispered, barely able to form my name.

"It's okay, I've got you. You're okay," I murmured, holding her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She tried to keep her eyes open, but the weight of exhaustion was too much.

"We've got to get you home. I'll have Lydia ring Mimi and tell her you're sleeping over. She'll think she forgot and tell your mother now," I said, trying to comfort her with a plan, but her gaze remained locked on mine, unable to respond, just holding on to the one thing she could still trust—me.

"You're okay, Eve, despite the nonsense I spewed earlier. None of it was true. There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for you. You've always been my number one, and I know you know that deep down. You have to. I'm so sorry for what I said, for not being there when you needed me. You were right—I'm always just a little too late." I sighed, feeling the weight of my words as she reached for my hand, her grip weak and fleeting. I knew she'd likely slip back into unconsciousness before I could even get her to the car. But she was in my arms, so it didn't matter. She was safe because she was with me. 

With Eve curled up in my arms, I managed to stand. 

"See? No good ever comes from drinking," I teased, feeling her feeble attempt to slap me in response. As I walked out of the bathroom, I joined the search party that had all but given up downstairs. 

"I can see you're all working hard to find Evie, but the search is over—I've got her," I said, shaking my head at their lack of concern.

"Oh my God, what happened to our girl?" Lydia exclaimed as she caught sight of her, nestled and fast asleep in my arms.

"Someone spiked her drink," I replied, my voice darkening with resolve. 

"And don't worry, I'll find out who did it." I continued toward the front door, Lydia following close behind, while Percy opened the car door for me.

"How was the party?" he asked, as if it were just another night."One to remember, Percy... that's for sure," I sighed, gazing down at Eve, now completely lost in sleep.

"You love her. I know you do," Lydia said softly, looking at me with a knowing gaze.

"Of course I do, Lyds... she's everything. My world stops and begins with her. Do you know how hard that is for me to admit? What if I screw it up? I'm an idiot... we're just kids. I'd never forgive myself if I broke her heart. Everly is a diamond—one you only get once. If I hurt her out of fear, she'll never let me get that close again. Lydia, you have to understand... without Everly in my life, I have nothing," I confessed, my voice trembling with the weight of my own vulnerability. Lydia looked at me in shock, as if she never believed I'd actually admit it.

"I am in shock that you were honest for once in your life, James. I'm not even sure how to respond. Should I feel proud of you, or just sorry?" Lydia's voice wavered between disbelief and frustration as she looked at me, her emotions a storm behind her eyes. "Are you truly incapable of giving your all to something? Don't you see how she looks at you? Couldn't you try, just this once, not to ruin everything? I see..." She paused, biting back the rest of her thoughts. "You can't, because every mess you make, Father fixes. But he wouldn't be able to fix this. James... grow up." With that, Lydia rolled her eyes and turned her attention solely to Everly, leaving me to wrestle with the weight of her words in silence.

As we pulled into the driveway, Everly began to stir, her fragile form leaning into me for support.

"We're home, Evie. Let's get you into an actual bed to sleep this off," I whispered softly, guiding her to sit up.

"James... I think I might be sick," she whimpered, just moments before she emptied her stomach all over my lap. Her voice, though weak, carried a raw, fragile strength. "I am... so... sorry..." she whispered, her embarrassment a tangible weight between us.

"Don't be," Percy and Lydia chimed in, their voices warm with reassurance as Percy handed me a towel.

"He deserved it," Lydia added with a small, understanding smile.

But as I looked at Everly, her tear-streaked face reflecting in the dim light, all I could think was that she was the only thing in my life worth saving.

"It's okay Evie girl, their right. I definitely deserved it." I reassured her, looking into her hazel eyes that had once again found their spark.

"What happened? I remember fighting with you and then everything is fuzzy." she asked, confusion etched on her face.

"I was a complete ass. We had a fight, Evie... I said so many hurtful things, and I think you just wanted to spite me. You grabbed a drink from the bar, and we clashed again when you saw me with Ellie. I need you to know, nothing happened between us. Not that it matters, but I was just drunk and being an ass. You wanted to prove you could have fun too, so you downed the cup." I paused, searching her eyes, wondering if she remembered that moment.

"I... was going to tell you," she began, her voice trembling. 

"I knew something was wrong—there was powder at the bottom of the cup. But I was so mad at you. I didn't want to confide in you, and... oh, I think... we need to get out of the car because I'm going to be sick again." Everly struggled to get out of my lap, but in her daze, she fell into the grass as soon as she got out of the car.

"Evie!" I yelled, panic gripping me.

"It's fine... I'm fine, it's passed," she murmured, not even realizing she was on the ground.

"We have to get you up to bed," I said, lifting her into my arms again. She didn't resist—she couldn't.

"James... you weren't late this time." Her words carried a deeper meaning than I think she realized.

"I'll never be late again, Evie," I whispered, kissing the top of her head as I carried her up the steps and into my house. The silence of the night enveloped us; luckily, everyone was asleep. I could already hear Mortimer's voice in my head: 'James, you're a terrible influence. Everly is completely out of your league, and time and again, you prove that not just to her parents, but your own.'

"Promise?" she whispered as I carried her up the staircase, Lydia following close behind into my room.

"Promise," I said, holding out my pinky.

"It's like everything is spinning..." Everly squeezed her eyes shut, trying to make the world stop swirling around her. In that moment, she was showing me a rare mixture of trust and vulnerability.

"How about we get you into something dry and comfortable, instead of what's soaked in water and covered in dirt?" I suggested softly. She nodded, and for the first time in her life, she didn't argue with me. And I hated it. I hated seeing her like this—so out of sorts, sick, and weak. It reminded me of the time she fell horseback riding and broke her ankle. I was the one who called for help, who held her hand in the ER. We were just children then, and seeing her in any kind of pain always shattered me.

By the time Lydia and I had gotten my clothes on her, we were all ready for bed. Lydia helped me tuck Eve in and then headed down the hall to her room. I set up a spot on the floor for me to sleep. I was just about to turn off the light when I heard Everly stir.

"James..." Her voice was soft, almost drifting away in sleep.

"Evie..." I whispered back, my heart aching with the sound of her name on my lips.

"Why are you on the floor? We've always slept together," she murmured, bringing up a point I couldn't easily dismiss. But after what I'd confessed to Lydia tonight—how could I lie beside the girl I was in love with, pretending it was purely platonic? The thought of her skin brushing against mine was enough to drive me mad.

"Good point... I just thought since you were out of it, you might starfish across the bed. I wanted to give you room," I lied, though even I didn't believe it.

"Well, I won't, and... I don't know, I feel weird. I kind of need you next to me," she said softly. That was all she needed to say. If Everly ever wanted or needed anything from me, it was done—no questions asked.

"Alright, but if you want me on the floor, just toss me off the bed," I teased, trying to lighten the moment.

"Don't give me that option," she laughed, the sound filling the room with warmth. As I climbed into bed next to her, pulling the covers over both of us, she whispered, "James..."

"Eve..." I replied, my voice low and tender as she nestled into my chest. I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close. We were best friends, and we did this all the time—because we weren't just best friends. But neither of us was ready to admit that, not yet.

 "I'm just going to say it because I know I won't remember any of this tomorrow," she sighed, her voice laced with a vulnerability that tugged at my heart.

"By all means, Evie girl," I replied, bracing myself for the scolding I thought was coming. Oddly, the thought of her anger brought me comfort—it meant she was slowly returning to herself.

"I worry that our friendship has become something more than just that. When I look at you, I feel something I can only describe as being set on fire. This isn't for you to tell me you feel the same—I have no reason to think you do, or even that you would. But while I'm out of my rational mind, I thought I would tell you. I was jealous tonight. Of Marissa... I mean Melissa... and Ellie, and all the girls who think they have a chance with you. I know you and I are something special, and ruining it with feelings seems like utter nonsense, especially at sixteen. You know my restraints are as tight as you've teased them to be. Tonight, however, I felt free. I wish we hadn't fought for most of it. But maybe it all had to happen just the way it did, or I would have never said any of this," she confessed, her voice trembling with raw emotion, as I stared at her in amazement and awe.

"If I've left you speechless, then perhaps I've done the job I expected. Goodnight, Jamesie... I will be mad at you tomorrow, so please be prepared." She laughed softly, but there was a hint of sadness in it, and then Everly fell almost instantly asleep on top of me, leaving me to grapple with the weight of her words while feeling her breath warm against my neck.

"Evie... I love you too. Always have, and I always will. I feel it—the fire that ignites every time our eyes meet. It's terrifying and beautiful. I don't want anyone else to look at you the way I do. But I don't deserve to either. I am a mess, Everly, and you deserve so much more than just my namesake. However... I can no longer bear the silence between us. We need to have this conversation," I whispered, waiting for her response.

"Evie?" I said again, but the only sound was her gentle breathing. She had fallen asleep. I smiled, realizing that now was not the time for such a conversation. She had spared me from ruining everything with my feelings by slipping into sleep before I could speak. Sixteen was too young to risk what we could have in the future if we waited. And wait, I would. I stayed up the entire night, watching over her as she slept, ensuring she kept breathing, vowing to myself that even if we couldn't be together now, I would remain in her life as much as possible. She would be mine without a label, until one of us finally had the courage to define what we truly were.

The next morning, it was as if the conversation had never happened. I found Everly across the breakfast table, yelling at me about my behavior the night before. All I could muster was a cheeky smile. I loved her as she loved me, and time would reveal that those feelings would only grow until we had no choice but to act upon them.