My phone went off in class. 

My professor stopped talking and stared at me. Students swiveled in their seats to look up at me, where I was sitting in the back row. I flushed a quite brilliant red while my phone was going off. 

"Well?" he asked. "Aren't you going to answer it?"

I hastily dove for my bag, fumbling with my phone and almost dropping it as I accepted the call, which was from Finley.

"Hello?"I answered, painfully aware that everyone was still staring at me.

There was no answer. I frowned and pressed the phone closer to my ear. "Finley?"

I listened intently and heard... sniffling?

"Finley?" I asked again, slightly worried now.

My professor looked at me now, slightly concerned. 

"Finlwy?" I asked again.

I heard some shuffling, then the sound became much clearer. It sounded like someone was crying, and pretty bad, too.

I hung up and looked up at my professor. "I have to go," I said.

"Who was that?" he asked. "Why do you have to leave?"

"My boyfriend's sister," I said. "She was crying. I think she might have had an anxirty attack."

He frowned. "Well, then by all means, go." He turned to the rest of the class. "Because of Ms. Reed's dilemma, class dismissed!"

Destiny, the girl from before with long blonde hair and blue eyes, smiled at me. "Thanks for getting us out," she said.

I returned her smile. "No problem."

...

I made it to Finley's high school, as she should still be there and then I began searching the classrooms. I figures she would have been leaving, and I was right when I turend a corner by the main office and heard a faint sound. I followed it until it got louder and I found the classroom where she was.

"Aw, Finley," I whispered, seeing her curled up against the wall of the classroom, crying.

Her head p in a panic, but she relaxed when she saw it was me.

"W-What are you d-doing here?" she questioned, wiping her tears from her eyes rapidly.

I held up my phone. "Butt-dial," I explained. "I heard you crying on the phone, so I decided to come visit my rival high school," I quickly made up a lie.

"Y-You went to Belluse?" she asked in surprise. 

I smiled slyly. "Yeah, and I actually quite hate this school, so yeah... what's wrong, Fin?"

"D-Don't call me t-that," Finley stammered. "Only Eli g-gets to."

"Sorry," I whispered and sat down next to me and thought quickly. "How 'bout I call you Lee?"

"L-Lee?" she croaked.

"Yeah, like, instead of your full name, Finley, I use the back half of your name, hence, Lee," I explained.

"O-Okay," she said uncertainly.

"Okay, Lee, what's wrong?" I asked.

Finley started crying again. "E-E-Eli," she stuttered.

My eyes flashed in anger. "What did he do?"

Finley almost giggled at the sight of me standing up and balling my fists. I may be tiny, but I could be vicious when I wanted to.

"He kissed another g-girl," Finley said quietly. "And it s-sucks, you know. I thought h-he actually liked m-me."

I sat back down and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "He does like you, I can tell. He'd be silly not to."

I did mean it. Eli was totally head over heels for her. From what I've seen, he just stares at her like a puppy and when she talks to him, he always has this little smile on his face like no one else matters but her when she's talking.

Finley laughed a little at that. "Why's that? I m-mean, look at me, I'm a m-mess."

"Ah," I said, raising a finger. "But you are a very nice, pretty mess. And if I was a lesbian or even bisexual, I'd definitely go for you."

Finley looked like she wasn't sure whether or not to be gratified or concerned about that comment, and just said, "Thanks."

"No problem," I said cheerfully. 

"But it hurts, you know," she said, wiping her eyes, looking rather sad.

I nodded. "Let me tell you a story," Finley nodded and I continued. "In college, I have a hard time making friends or getting boyfriends. I was too rude or too shy. So when Luke wouldn't leave me alone, I was surprised. Boys like him don't like girls like me but I'm glad. I really love him," I confessed, looking at my hands.

I surprised myself with my words. I had just been going along with what I was saying, and they just popped out. I tested them against my mind, and discovered I liked them.

Yes, I do love Luke, with his handsome face and humor and intelligence and those beautiful eyes. 

Finley smiled. "That's great, he really loves you too, you know." At my disbelieving glance, she went on to explain further. "Like, he's the bad boy that's only weakness is the nerdy girl, like in romance books. It's cute."

I smiled wryly. "Luke isn't any more of a bad boy than your Eli is. Talk to him. Maybe it's different then what you saw."

With that, I patted her shoulder and left.

When I was leaving, I saw Eli waiting for her near the front doors. A scowl appeared on my face and I walked towards him.

Well, I had to go that way anyway, but that's not the point.

Eli looked like he recognized me, and confusion crossed his face as I rammed my shoulder into him on purpose and muttered, "Asshole."

I didn't wait around to see his reaction.

...

"I saw Finley today," I told Luke, who was lying on his back with his head in my lap. I was running my fingers through his hair.

Luke shifted. "Yeah?"

"She was crying."

"What?" Luke sat up and stared at me. "Why? Did she have an anxiety attack? Shit, I have to go call her."

"She's fine," I soothed him. "She butt-dialed me in the middle of class and I found her at school. Eli was kissing another girl."

Luke glowered. "I'm going to kill him, I swear to God-"

"I think it's fine," I interrupted. "Finley called me before you got here and told me she was okay." Suddenly, a thought occured to me. "Wait, wouldn't you have seen her? She got home and you weren't here yet."

"Um," Luke said. "I haven't been home. I've been at a friend's house."

"Oh," I said. "Well, she reminded me of you."

"Finley? How?" Luke asked.

"When she was crying, she looked just like you do. Vulnerable, extremely sad, you guys are not ugly criers, that's for sure," I said. "Plus, you guys are kind of insecure. Finley, with her anxiety and being around people, you around your mom and what you're doing with your life."

"I'm not sure if I should take that as a complement," Luke said.

In laughed and stood up, heading to my room to get my laptop. "Well, you should," I teased, looking over my shoulder.

He broke out into an adorable dimpled grin, and my heart thudded almost painfully in my chest.

"Holy mother of fuck," I said, pausing by my door.

"What?" Luke called after me. "Something wrong?"

"No," I called back. "Just stubbed my toe," I lied

I told Finley that I love Luke. And I do. But I'm not quite sure he loves me.

Fucking hell, love is complicated.

________________________________________________________________

Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

so for those that know, I play soccer and I switched schools and I have my first open gym today for soccer and I'm nervous af.

Plus, I have to take this stupid class with freshman that i need in order to graduate and its been THREE DAYS and I can't take it any more. What's your surname? Please tell me you guys know what a surname is because freshman didn't and I wanted to punch myself.

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Love ya!

-taylor