"One, two," I clapped and the girls switched position, "Three, four," another switch," Five, six," they prepared for the lift, "Seven, eight," and up our flyers go.

Once their feet was back down on the ground and I nodded in approval before bending down to grab my water bottle, "Alright, that's enough for today."

Vivian, who decided to sit this practice out as she was still nursing her foot, stood up from the foldable chair she was occupying, "Finally!"

Rolling my eyes, I bent down so I could start shifting the mats to the side as the rest went to the locker rooms. Finishing up, I released my blonde hair from the constraints of the messy bun I placed it into before I stretched my arms over my head, trying to relieve my aching limbs.

It had been exactly three days since Gray apparently disappeared. We've decided to just let life move on like usual and when the day he comes back finally arrives, then we'll all start celebrating. As Bryan mentioned, it was better for everyone if we would all wait.

But my growing concern over his potential football scholarship and his records with the principal was unsettling.

If there was one thing that he wanted more than anything in the world, it was that scholarship. He wanted to impress those scouts, he was so desperate that he even listened to the principal's warnings – someone who enjoys riling up for the sake of it. He fucked up many things in his life, but the moment he mentions his dream, it made up for all the lack of seriousness he had previously shown.

Moving into the locker room, most of the girls were already saying goodbye. Wiping down the sweat from my body, I ran a comb through my hair and spritzed a bit of perfume before I decided that I was good to go.

"So where are you going?" Vivian huffed as she waited for the girl who she requested a ride home from.

She was being a baby once again and threw a fit when I told her that I couldn't drive her home today. After complaining multiple times that she couldn't possibly sit behind the wheel in her current condition, I finally gave in and offered her a ride to school. This basically implanted some ridiculous idea that I volunteered to be her personal chauffeur while that ankle of hers was still recovering.

I did promise to help her until she could walk straight again, but I'm nobody's servant. Besides, I really did have something else to do, "That's a little secret."

She pouted but when our teammate nodded at her, she pushed herself up from the bench and said goodbye before limping right after her.

I threw the girls who were still in the locker room a farewell before hurriedly leaving with my bag swinging over my shoulder. I raced to my car and when I practically slammed the car door, I bit my lip as I pulled out into the streets after a quick glance at the digital clock.

Although he did say that he was going to wait for me, practice stalled a little longer than I originally planned.

Pulling up towards the familiar building, I managed to snag a spot and maneuvered my car between two other vehicles. It was approaching dinner time so the lot started to fill up and I found myself luck that I managed to grab a space. From my rearview mirror, I saw his car parked at the opposite side of the area.

When I stepped out, I felt a slight shiver crawl through my skin and I cursed myself for not changing back into my leggings. I didn't bother with getting rid of my gym clothes for the outfit I wore earlier that day so I was standing in nothing but this thin shirt and cotton shorts – the ensemble did little to protect me from the winter weather that was threatening to come into town.

I locked the car and walked up to the glass door, pushing it open to hear the small tinkle of the bell above it. Scanning the room, I saw his lone figure sitting in one of the booths – the same booth where his sister and I had a very disconnected conversation.

"Sorry I made you wait," I apologized as I plopped down on the cushion at the other side of the table.

He was busy with his homework that my arrival was a shock to him. He jolted up as his pen dropped down on the paper he was writing on, his eyes then softening when he saw me, "Don't worry, I was the one who invited you anyway."

"Why did you ask me?" I questioned as he started to tidy up his things, "I mean, not that I'm against it or anything, but why?"

He glanced at me for a quick second before returning to what he was doing, "Because that feisty cheerleader seemed to be slumping more than she is, what's the word, strutting."

"Even you noticed?" I shot him a rhetorical question and he shrugged.

"Usually, you lead a brigade, now even though your team seems to be annoying in your standards, all you do is sit there and stare blankly at thin air."

My head fell onto the table and I held back a scream of frustration. Everything was piling up inside and I wanted nothing more but to go on a freaking adventure to search for him. With each passing day, I was starting to lose it.

And if this wasn't enough, my mom and Will are finally showing signs of their dwindling marriage. I'm sure that it would affect me greatly and if you think that being a child in the middle of a divorce once is already bad, imagine going through it twice.

Unfortunately, I'm not one of those kids who seems to be okay even though their parent marries again and again. Watching my mother go through another wedding with a man I have a particular distaste with was enough to make me sick.

Everything and I mean everything that has been on a delicate balance for the past years suddenly got tipped off. It started with Gray, then with mom and Will, then Bryan was acting nicely, and now I'm completely out of it.

And this is just two weeks before my birthday.

The thought of the party that Hallie was organizing went back into my mind and I pounded my fist onto the table. Why is it that every time that I promised to them that I will bring Gray, he always end up drifting away – first was when he left me for Erin and now he totally disappeared.

I'm starting to think that my father's side of the family was jinxed.

That's when I felt it – the slight chop that Evan always does. Lifting up my head, he retreated his hand before showing me a soft smile, "You done yet?"

"I'm sorry," I murmured, sitting up straight once again, "It's just..."

"That's why I asked you to hang out," he told me, "You need to clear your head."

Lifting a hand, I felt the spot where he hit before I felt the corners of my mouth twitching to lift. Evan signaled for a waiter and I just ordered the first pasta dish that my eyes laid on before he said his meal. The waiter nodded as he went back to place our order.

"So what's new with Clara Harper?" he asked, trying to spark a casual conversation.

"Nothing much, my boyfriend went away to who knows where," I replied sarcastically, "A week before we have to go to my dad's for my birthday."

Evan's eyes widened at this as he questioned, "Your birthday's this week?!"

Shaking my head, I answered, "No, it's on the next but Hallie's throwing me a party this weekend."

He nodded in understanding before he paused, a face of realization overcame his features, "Why do I feel like this happened before? You pulling out Martyn from your family affairs just before you go."

Look at that, the smartass noticed.

"Want me to go with you?" he offered, making me stop to think about it.

If I bring Evan along, it would raise more suspicion for my dear family that he and I were dating. Even if I tell them that we weren't, they'll still assume that I was just playing with myself or we're in that zone where we weren't actually together but we were more than friends. I'm afraid that they'll be too close minded that they'll simply wave me off it I told them that I already got a boyfriend that was clearly not a Matthews.

But even with that though, they weren't my main concern – it was Gray. No matter where he is, I wouldn't want him to think of anything just because I took Evan to meet my family once again. Knowing me, I'll be a green-eye monster if the tables were turned and I'll be on a freaking rampage due to jealousy.

In respect to this relationship and my loyalty to him, I rejected, "That's really thoughtful but I can't."

He examined me for a moment before he concluded what was the problem and he let out a soft hum of understanding, "I get it."

Besides, on the actual date of my birthday, I'm throwing my own birthday and that's when I'm inviting him and all of the other people who somehow managed to wriggle themselves into my life. Coincidentally, it coincided with the championships for the cheer competition so it might double as a victory celebration.

Guess what's on the Friday before that? If you answered Gray's state championship as well then you get a prize!

He has been under the radar for a lot of college scouts so if he misses that game then it's going to go downhill from there.

You know what? I don't care about the birthday anymore, I just want him back.

"He'll be there," Evan stated and although his tone was confident, I could see the doubt underlying in his features, "I hope."

"You and I both," I muttered just as our waiter arrived with our food. We reverted back to silence while he set them on our table, telling us to have a good meal before walking out.

"Oh yeah, can I ask you a favor?" he spoke while I grabbed onto my fork, ready to dive into this plate of pasta. Pausing, I nodded as I gestured for him to go on and he took a deep breath before saying, "Can you drive that girl, Vivian – I think, away from me? She's starting scare me."

I dropped the utensil onto the plate before I covered my mouth, trying to at least keep my cackles muffled. I didn't try to hide my amusement as I threw my head back in laughter, lightly slapping down on the table.

This is gold right here.

There was Vivian, thinking that her usual tactics of outward flirting could get Evan and he's here, asking me to pull her away. I'm sorry if it's wrong but I find this situation hilarious, maybe this would give her a reality check.

He wasn't even one of her usual target of the stream less jocks and popular boys, he was simply someone she fancied after seeing him close up for the first time. If she thought that he would be flattered because she's giving him the time of day then she's wrong.

Because damn girl, I know I'm better than you and I don't think that I deserve him. That's saying something.

"You can count on me," I wheezed out and when I looked up at him, he had the biggest grin on his face and I paused to question him, "What?"

"You finally smiled."

And this is the moment when I've truly accepted that I have been greatly blessed to have this guy as one of my closest friends.

And it's been what? A couple of months.

Somehow, his small request was all we needed to lighten up the mood and we ended up talking about anything that would pop up. Soon enough, we finished up our food and paid the bill. This ensued a small banter since he insisted on paying for mine but with a stubborn look, I gave him the money. Walking out, he offered me his jacket but I refused, choosing to run towards my car instead.

After we said goodbyes, I drove to my house with a lighter mood than before. I didn't doubt for a single second that my mother was home, it was later than the usual time that I went home so she was definitely back from work by now.

Parking my car, I retrieved my belongings before getting out, once again cursing the cold for the quick bite of the temperature on my skin as I made my way to the front door. Unlocking it, I went inside before looking around for any sign of any of the adults.

"Clara?" mom called out just as I closed the door with a slight thud, "Can you come here for a moment?"

Okay, let's run things in our head for now. Usually, she would ignore my arrival unless she wants to scold me or to say that we have guests.

When the latter happens, it was a common practice for her to greet me by the door instead of making me go inside the living room so this was definitely suspicious. From her voice, it wasn't urgent or anything but there was firm tone behind it.

It couldn't be the window Gray broke, I already paid for the replacement. It wasn't because I was home late, because she was well aware that I had cheer practice. No guests as well since she always gave me a warning here by the foyer before I can strut in.

Inhaling sharply, I trudged towards the room she was in. Her hands were fidgeting together as she tried to collect her thoughts.

Now this was familiar.

Her eyes worried and her body restless. A small run on her mascara and a smudge on her eyeliner, something she was always precise in avoiding. I only saw her once like this in my entire life and the news that broke right after changed my life for good.

"You're going to get a divorce?" I guessed from the hints that was her body language.

Her anxious expression fell and it was replaced by a sad one. She slowly nodded her head, probably thanking the universe that she didn't have to blurt out the words to me for the second time.

If the time comes that she's going to tell me that she's going to get married again and thinking it would work because 'third's time the charm,' I'm going to be literally so done with the world.

Now I don't know how to feel about this. Okay sure, Will is an insufferable prick of a step-father, but he did adore my mother for some time. He wouldn't go and marry her right after she had separated from my father if he didn't, he would have just left her.

But then again, he had an affair.

Though, my mother also loved him.

But he's still a piece of shit.

And if he's gone, we would have to move again.

Then again, just a few months left and I'm leaving for college.

Add this and then my problem to Gray, plus my birthday, I could only conclude one solution to this.

"I'm ordering pizza," I said as I raised my hands up in surrender before I headed to the kitchen, "Do we have any beer?"

"Clara!" mom scolded as she followed me, "This is a serious thing."

Yeah, ordering pizza right after I ate dinner? It really is a serious problem but I need to feel better.

"Don't worry, I'm ordering the veggie pizza," I told her as I examined the fridge, "I know how to watch my figure for the competition."

"Clara!" she protested once again.

Boy, no wonder she chose that name for me, she just loves saying it.

Grabbing a can of beer, I turned to her before asking, "You want some?"

She slapped her forehead and I took it as a yes before I reached out and grabbed another can, handing the one I was already holding to her.

Slumping her shoulders, she dragged her feet back to the living room as she grumbled under her breath, "I give up."

Noticing this, I released a sigh of defeat as I watched her retreating figure with her frame more haggardly than I have ever seen her in a while. Alright, time to stop dilly-dallying.

Closing the fridge door, I walked towards her to find her body slumped on the couch, downing the alcoholic drink that I gave her. I haven't seen her drink some other thing aside from wine or champagne for a long time so this was quite a sight.

Sitting down next to her, I lifted the tab before drinking my own beer. From the corner of my eye she started to wipe the stray tears escaping her system. With a sigh – something that I've apparently found myself doing often lately – I considered my options. I'm not really good with deep discussions like these and from my track record of failed attempts of consoling, I already knew that this was going to go nowhere if I tried the 'nice and comforting daughter' route. And besides, I'm not really in my right state of mind.

You know what? She and I both need to escape to get our heads cleared up.

"Mom?" I asked, turning to her, "Are you doing anything this weekend?"

This could be the best or worst decision of my entire life but hey, that's what I'm good at anyways.

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Are you still reading or you'r just checking to see if I've decided to put up the Evan chapters earlier than planned? Are you even considering to give this ending a chance? Are you like those people Clara hates because they give up halfway due to a small inconvenience or because something didn't go their way?

"Update me when it's Evan's turn."; "I'm going to go back and unvote on all of the chapters I voted for."; "Could you speed up with the updates so Gray could be done."

Encouraging, really. I never ever expect sugarcoating or a perfect comment section filled with praises because that's just stupid. I know what I signed up for, I know people will have different opinions, but can you think for just a second that some human being actually like how this story was going and so she wrote it this way? She was so happy to share it and then people just turned their backs in the middle of the book. I've written five other books on Wattpad with one of them actually published and on bookstores' shelves and literally, this is the worst feeling. 

Dedicated to @bubiska for the cover.

Well, that's all. Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow. I shall see you all next chapter.