EJ and I walked the halls aimlessly; I'd lost track of how long it'd been; as much as he didn't want to be alone, it seemed he didn't want to talk just as much, I had tried too, offering to help brainstorm ways he could speak to his dad about it all, but he'd turned it down...

Usually, I was the moody, semi-bitter one who didn't want to talk, and EJ was the talkative one; tonight, though, it seemed like we'd switched roles, and I wasn't doing as good of a job at being talkative and supportive as he was.

I'd debated leaving him to find the rest of our friends but brushed the idea off quickly. Despite how bored I am, I can't leave him; I'd feel way too guilty, "You're mom texted me, by the way," I broke the silence; she's tried messaging him first, but EJ hadn't pulled his cellphone out once while we were together, "I told her we were okay."

EJ nodded, keeping his gaze on the floor as we walked; we'd made it to the top floor at this point, where we most likely would not bump into any of our friends, "Thanks."

"Um, they're okay too," I informed him, though I could tell EJ was only partially paying attention, "apparently Bella put on a one-woman show and made your parents use flashlights as spotlights, I mean, maybe your dad's in a good mood, it'll be easier to tell him that way?" I add I wasn't great at being optimistic; I was usually the one who needed other people's optimism to cheer me up.

EJ shrugged, "Maybe." He didn't seem hopeful, though; I get not wanting to be alone, but why ask me to stay if he didn't want me to help? Was my presence really comforting to him? Or was this some sick form of revenge? He's miserable, so why not make me miserable too?

EJ paused, causing me to stop with him, right beside a college counselor sign-up sheet and another sheet with some cheesy slogan about the future. Meanwhile, EJ's "future" had just fallen and broken into a million pieces; well, at least that's what he thought, but I don't think it was his future... it was more the future everyone expected him to have.

The light of a flashlight shone in my peripheral vision, causing me to turn my head, "Caswell, Garcia, you're not cavorting with the other show people." Mr. Marazara walks over to us.

"Not really in a cavorting mood," EJ replies, shrugging his shoulders sadly.

"Is there something you wanna talk about?" Mr. Mazzara always gave pretty iffy advice, but maybe he could help?

"No." EJ shot down the offer quickly, turning away from the poster and walking away.

Mr. Mazzara glanced over at me, and I nodded towards the college posters, hoping he'd understand what was going on, "Do you know where the finest place in the world is to study robotics?" He asks; I follow behind him as he walks over to EJ.

"Stark Industries?" EJ replies sarcastically.

"Caltech," Mr. Mazzara brushes past the joke, "I applied four and a half times, never made the cut."

In unison, EJ and I ask, "a half?"

Mr. Mazzara shakes his head, "the point is, it was all I ever wanted, all my dad ever wanted for me too."

EJ sighs, glancing back at me, "I guess Aurora told you about Duke?" he asks, leaning against the stair's banister.

"No, but I might have heard something in the counselor's office," I cross my fingers, hoping that our teacher won't make this worse, "EJ, you are a top student from a successful family and a three-season varsity athlete. You check all the boxes."

"That's not enough?"

"A lot of people check a lot of boxes these days." He replies, sighing before adding, "I read your essay; it was strong, but it was a little surface. I'm not sure that Duke knew what your story was."

EJ nodded, "apparently, neither do I."

"Well, son, you are welcome to hang out in the AV club whenever you want," Mr. Mazzarra offered, before turning to look back at me, "you too, Garcia, telling stories is all we do there."

He stood up, and I sighed; EJ still seemed upset, "Hey, Mr. M," EJ called out, causing the teacher to pause, "do you still think about Caltech?"

Mr. Mazzarra takes a second to think it over, "not as much anymore," He waits for a few more seconds to see if EJ wants to say more before turning and walking away, leaving EJ and I alone once more.

I hesitantly walk over to EJ, "can I say something?" I ask; honestly, this could go terribly, but I really can't stand staying here with EJ like this; I miss our sarcastic banter. EJ glances over at me, nodding for me to speak, "I know, this is like none of my business; but I've noticed that your dad really wants you to go to Duke, and not in a supportive, I just want my kid to be happy kind of way; it's more of a crazy high expectations, you must go here cause it's family tradition kind of way..." I ramble, gesturing with my hands as I speak, "and it's just, well, whenever you talk about Duke, the first thing you always mention is that parents went there, and your grandparents... but EJ, is Duke really your dream? Or is it just your parents?"

EJ's eyes are wide by the time I'm finishing my rambling. I don't think I've said that much to him since moving into the Caswells; but honestly, after sitting at countless family dinners where Cash goes on and on about Duke, I was genuinely curious, "you don't have to answer if it's too personal," I add, shaking my head, "that was a lot I'm sorry." And now I was apologizing, who am I?

EJ, for the first time tonight, cracks a smile, a real genuine one, "Did you just apologize to me?" He asks, laughing slightly, "Where is Aurora Garcia, and what have you done to her."

I roll my eyes, lightly slapping his arm "this is why I'm not usually nice to you," I point out; though even if I won't admit it out loud to him, I was glad he was cracking jokes again, "Now, you gonna answer my question?"

EJ sighed; he'd been trying to avoid it, "For as long as I can remember, my dad has talked to be about Duke, it's his dream for me, to go there like him and my grandfather, and at first, it wasn't my dream... but I got used to the idea." He shrugs his shoulders sadly before adding, "I guess I don't know what my dream is."

"You still have time to figure that out," I offer, moving to lean against the banister beside him, "maybe not getting into Duke was a good thing? You can finally figure out what you want, not what anyone else wants for you."

EJ nods, "wow, first the hug, then the apology, and now some pretty solid advice... Careful, Garcia, or might think you care about me." I smack his arm again, this time shooting him a glare, "I'm kidding," He holds his hands up in surrender, "seriously, thank you though... for everything tonight, I'm sure you would have rather stayed with everyone else."

I don't know if I would have, though; being with EJ felt comfortable, even if he had been pretty miserable, "Gina and Carlos kept clashing on ideas, and they probably would have come to me to me to pick a favorite...." I shrug nonchalantly, "should we get back now? I'm sure they're all worried about where we are."

EJ nodded, standing up straight; I follow behind, my mind racing through everything that just happened; did I care about EJ Caswell? No, of course not; I'm just a good person, and he's one of my best friend's cousins; I was just doing all these things cause it was the nice thing to do; it didn't have to mean anything.

Within minutes, the two of us entered the bomb shelter, causing all of our friends' heads to turn to look in our direction, "EJ, you're alive," Ashlyn yelled as Carlos held a flashlight up.

I walked in behind him, causing Carlos to furrow his brows, "And Aurora's with you?" His statement came out as more of a question.

I walked past EJ, who stopped to talk to his cousin, falling into the seat beside Big Red, "were you and EJ together?" He asked as I grabbed myself a slice of Pizza; I was too hungry to even bother asking how we got this.

"Yup," I take a bite of Pizza, as he furrows his brows, waiting for me to elaborate, "it was a weird night; I'll explain later."

A loud Moo rang through the room before he could ask more questions, causing us all to look at Seb, "Everyone! That was an alert from my Farmer's Alman app. It says that the roads are clear, and the sheep are in heat." Everyone furrowed their brows at the sheet part, "I should have read that last part in my head."

Like magic, the lights flashed on; causing all of us to let out relieved sighs, "Miss Jenn just dropped Nini off at the bus terminal," Ricky announced to all of us before turning and holding his hand out to Big Red, "Big Red, can I borrow your car?" He threw the keys to him, "thanks, later."

"Hey Aurora, do you wanna spend the night?" Ashlyn asked, walking up to us; I want to say yes; I know Bella's okay and probably fast asleep by now, but I think EJ might need my help with one more thing..., and I've been nice to him for the majority of tonight, might as well keep it up for a few more hours.

"I'd love to, but there's something I need to do," I frown at her; Ashlyn nods understandingly, "I'll see you guys," I wave to both girls and Big Red, walking back over to EJ, "you ready to go home?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

Sorry for such a late update... I was watching never have I ever season 2 all day!
I also wrote this pretty quickly, so I hope it's okay!
Comment your thoughts, I love hearing from y'all❤️