We were aimlessly walking around the campus, talking about random things, when Ash's phone started buzzing for what must have been the fifth time since we left the football field. And like every time before, she looked at the caller ID, frowned, and ignored the call.

Not able to take it any longer, I asked, "Who's bothering you?"

"It's Ian, " she answered after a long beat of silence.

"What the hell does he want?" I asked, remembering how he left her saying that he wanted to focus on his career, when he passed out of our high school. Then later got himself a girlfriend, not even a month after he got into college.

I never really liked the guy, he gave me some bad vibes, but I never voiced them out, seeing that Ash liked him and decided to trust her judgment. But he proved me right and broke her heart.

"He wants to meet me, says he wants to talk. About us."

"Oh hell no! I hope you told him that there is no 'us' Ashley. Tell me you did, " I said.

"What's happening right now? I thought we liked Ian, " Neil asked, confused.

That's when I remembered that both Avi and Neil knew nothing about what happened after Ian left AVM high. Ash told it to me at the beach house and we never got a chance to tell the boys about it, because it didn't seem important. I thought he was a closed chapter. But apparently not.

I quickly got them up to date with the situation and by the time I was finished talking, both Avi and Neil were wearing identical scowls on their faces.

"What a dick, " Avi said.

"I agree with Veronica, you are not going anywhere near him, " Neil said with a tone of finality and I nodded.

"Well..." Ash started with a sheepish expression on her face and I glared at her.

"You agreed to meet him, didn't you?" I asked and when she didn't answer me I shook my head in disbelief. "What does his little girlfriend think about it?"

"He said they were on a break, " she mumbled.

"You've got to be kidding me. He is treating you like a second option, can't you see that? " I asked her.

"Will you calm down, please?" she said and stopped walking to look at me. "Look I have no intention of letting him back in my life. I promise. I just want to listen to what he has to say, and give him my piece of mind. It'll be my closure, and I'll be able to finally move on from all of this."

"What if he says some cheesy, corny lines and tries to...I don't know...woo you?" I frowned. "Do you still like him?"

She gave me a small smile and shook her head. "No, I don't like him, anymore. And don't worry, there is nothing he can do to change my mind."

"Okay. Where are you meeting him?"

"I don't know. I just told him I will see him, haven't told him when and where. "

"Is that why he is blowing up your phone?" Neil asked.

"I guess. Maybe he thinks I changed my mind."

"Hey, you can call him to the party tonight. That way, we can all be there, if you need us, " Avi said.

"Wait. What party?" I asked him.

"Courtney's birthday party? Did you forget?"

"It's today? Damn!" I sighed.

"Yeah. She said that when she was coming over to invite you, at the parking lot yesterday, you rushed out like you wanted to avoid her, " Ashley said. "But I told her it wasn't the case, and that you had some personal problem you needed to attend."

"Oh, but it was the case. I was trying to avoid her." I shrugged. "Well, kind of."

"I couldn't say that to her!" She frowned and I smiled.

"So...are you in?" Neil asked, looking at me. "Sam can't make it, she has some family thing. So it'll be just the four of us."

"Oh my God, Sam's not coming?" I groaned. "Who's going to watch you then?"

"I'm not a dog." He scowled.

"She's right. One hour into the party and you will already be drunk. Then one of us will have to spend the rest of the night trailing after you, " Avi said.

"You guys make me sound like a drunkard. I don't drink that much!"

"You don't. You just go a little crazy when you have some alcohol in your system." Ash smiled.

"Okay. Tonight, no drinking. I promise. Just the four of us having a good time, " Neil said, then looked at me and extended his hand. "What'd you say?"

"Deal." I smiled and we shook on it. We were standing near the cafeteria now, which was completely crowded because of the day off.

Avi and Neil went in to get themselves a cup of coffee to go, while Ash and I waited for them outside the cafeteria.

"Let's sit, it's gonna take them some time. The place is stuffed, " Ash said pointing to one of the little stone benches near us.

I nodded, and as soon as we sat down on a bench, Ash turned her whole body towards me, and asked, "So what's going on between you and Tyler?"

I couldn't help the grimace that took over my face at that question. I seriously thought I was off the hook, and they wouldn't ask me any questions.

"What do you want to know?" I mumbled.

"Everything. He left the school yesterday to find you, and I think he did see you yesterday because you both missed the first period today, and we found you guys standing in the middle of the freaking football field together. Pretty close to each other, I might add, " she finished with a grin.

I left out a deep sigh and closed my eyes, massaging my temples. There was no running away from it now, better to just spit it out.

So I did. I told her almost everything, about how he came to find me, and I took him to the lake. The rain, the kiss and how I asked him to stay over. She was all giddy with happiness until I got to the part where I turned him down for the homecoming dance.

By the time I finished, she was looking at me in total confusion. "But...but why?"

"What do you mean?"

"It was going so well. You had your first kiss, and even by the very little explanation you gave me, it still sounded pretty damn dreamy. He really likes you and I know you like him too. Then why did you say no?"

A very good question. A question, I didn't have a solid answer to.

"Ahm. You know I don't date. And I always go alone for these dances, " I muttered.

"Bullshit. That's not it. Tyler doesn't date too, everyone knows that! He said that to you himself, but he was ready to make an exception for you. That speaks volumes regarding how he feels for you."

"Alright, FINE! I'm scared okay. I want to go with him, but I'm fucking scared to, " I said and buried my face in my hands.

"What are you scared about?" she asked softly. "Talk to me, V."

I didn't want to talk about this. I wanted to storm out of here, and avoid this entire discussion. But yesterday was proof of why exactly I needed to stop doing that.

"He...he makes me feel weird things, " I mumbled into my hands. "Stuff I don't want to feel. I don't like that he has such an effect on me."

I sat up straight and looked off into the distance. "After everything that happened last year, I felt that I would be grossed out by the idea of having another guy touch me and I always have a hard time trusting people. But with him...everything is so damn easy. Kissing him felt like the most natural thing to do..."

"But isn't that a good thing?" she asked when I trailed off.

"No. It's not. I don't want to give someone so much power over my emotions. And every time he gets close to me, I feel every bit of common sense leave my body. I feel like a fool, smiling at his every compliment and finding it hard to even think rationally. It's pathetic and I hate feeling so vulnerable..." I sighed and looked at her, unable to explain myself anymore. "Have I sufficiently humiliated myself now? Can I stop?"

She smiled and shook her head at me. "It's not humiliating. Acknowledging your feelings doesn't make you any weaker. It makes you more human."

"Whatever. I just don't like this."

"You promised you would try. Not all guys are jerks. He won't let you down, you gotta give him a chance," she said after a few seconds.

"I don't know..." I said and looked down at my feet.

"It's okay. Take your time, but just promise me you will think about it."

"Think about what?" Neil said walking over to us, with Sam by his side.

Behind him, I saw Avi walking over to us, along with Jace, Ryan, and Tyler.

"Nothing." I quickly stood up.

"Hey!" Ryan greeted us and I smiled at him, giving him a small nod.

When I snuck a small glance at Tyler, I found him already looking at me. He gave me a small smile and I felt a strong pang of guilt hit my chest.

"Hey guys," Courtney said, as she and a few girls whose names I didn't remember came over and joined us.

After a few minutes of pointless conversation, Courtney turned towards me and Ashley and asked, "Do you guys have your homecoming dresses picked out yet?"

"No. Not yet, I have a few boutiques in my mind though. We were both planning to go check it out tomorrow." Ashley smiled and linked her hands with mine.

"We were?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yes. And then we are going shoe shopping too, " Ash added with a sweet smile, making me groan.

Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

"I forgot what a fashion maniac you were." Sam giggled, looking at Ashley.

"Yeah well, I think she is just a maniac," I said and she slapped my arm, while the others chuckled around us.

"I'm going to get my dress tomorrow too actually, " Courtney said and then looked at Tyler. "I'll tell you what color it is once I get it tomorrow. You can match your tie accordingly."

What?

I involuntarily took a step back when Tyler's head snapped towards me. I looked away, trying to avoid his gaze and Ashley's grip tightened on my arm.

What did I expect? Of course, they would be going together now.
But I couldn't seem to stop the sinking feeling of disappointment wash over me.

When I looked up to find her smiling at him, waiting for him to answer. I felt a strong burn of jealousy growing inside me. 

Another new feeling I got familiar with, because of Tyler Crosby. And I was hating every single bit of it.

***

A/n - Dramaaaa here I come!! 😁👀