"Wait a minute, so you're in a boxing thing, Alex's boyfriend is your mortal enemy, you beat each other up on a regular basis, and this is the result of it?"

"Pretty much."

"Yup, that's it. My brain is broken."

Ezra smiled and hugged Megan to his chest. The four of us were still sitting around in Tyler's room, talking about everything that had happened. I was still completely confused, but one thing's for sure, Asher was a psychopath. Ugh, this is why I don't date people. A bunch of unnecessary drama. Thank god he got fired from the froyo place, otherwise I don't know how I'd work with him on a daily basis. I didn't tell my friends that of course.

"So, are you going to break up with Asher?" Megan asked me. I looked at her like she was obliviously crazy. "Duh I am. No way I'm staying with that freak. I just sent him a text saying peace out and blocked his ass."

She nodded in approval. "Good. He deserves it."

After a little while longer, we all went home to let Tyler rest. He seemed to be okay, so I guess the injury wasn't as grave as it seemed. Or maybe he used to it, I don't know. Either way I didn't like it.

The rest of the week passed by normally.

We went to school, attended the boring classes, did homework and hung out after. The basketball semi final was now closer than ever, and I was starting to get anxious. Everybody on the team was; we could feel it. The match was right around Christmas, before the school closed for the winter break. I looked forward to it though. After that would be the lake house trip, and then hopefully the final match in January. Should be fun.

Today was a Friday, which meant the girls and boys practice was combined. It went surprisingly well, as everyone seemed to be accustomed to it now. We really worked well as a team, anticipating each other's moves and making split second decisions. Both the coaches were training us harder than ever, but seemed pleased with the outcome.

"Good job guys! This was a great practice. Keep this up, and we'll make it to the finals easily. You guys can go collapse now."

We all thanked Coach Dixon and walked off to the locker rooms, sweating like crazy. I decided to take a shower at school today, since I couldn't bear to be this sweaty for any longer. Luckily, I had a change of clothes.

"Any new tricks you've got for us, captain?" Stacy asked me when I got out the shower. I scoffed and pulled on my shirt. "This is about it Stace. Don't worry, it's going to be awesome."

I finished changing and I was just about to leave the locker room, when I heard two of the junior girls whispering my name. I stopped and pretended to tie my shoe laces. I know it's rude to eavesdrop, but you try not to when you hear your team mates talk about you.

"- yeah, apparently Kayla's super jealous of her." One of them was saying. "She thinks she stole Shawn or something."

"Seriously? That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The two of them hate each other."

"Not anymore apparently. Haven't you seen them eating lunch together?"

"I guess they're friends now. Doesn't mean they're into each other."

"Really? I mean, you saw them dirty dancing at that party ages ago. Whatever it is, I hope Kayla doesn't do something stupid."

The two of them walked off, and I still stood there frozen. What on earth? Kayla was still on about that bullshit? Wow, don't tell me she wanted some revenge plan or something. Shawn cheated on her for god sake, I have no clue why she's still so into him. It was pathetic honestly. Also, why do people think Shawn and I are a thing? It's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

I walked out if the gym with the rest of the team, talking about practice, when Shawn called out my name in front of literally everyone.

"Hey Alex! Wait up!"

I stopped while everyone else walked ahead, turning around to face him. "What?"

"What do you mean what? We planned to work on the project remember?"

"Crap, I totally forgot. Fine let's go."

We walked towards the parking lot in silence, and I just fiddled with my phone so it wouldn't be so awkward. Once we drove off, Shawn turned on the aux and Steal My Girl by One Direction blared out.

I burst out laughing, as I watched him fumble to turn it off. "You listen to One Direction? I knew it!"

"Nuh uh. No, I don't."

"You totally do! Oh my god, I'm telling everyone."

"Come on!"

We spent the rest of the ride arguing and teasing, like we were normal friends again. It wasn't so bad. We reached his house and started working on the project in the same living room we normally did. I was writing with ease, but Shawn seemed to be stuck.

"Why aren't you writing?"

"I can't think of anything. I've already written about basketball and school and everything."

"Your friends maybe?"

"That's done too."

I thought for a moment and hesitated, not sure if I should mention it or not. In the end I decided to.

"How about... your mom?"

His reaction was almost instantaneous. He jumped out of his seat, books and pens clattering to the floor. "No." He muttered and then just left. He just walked out and went downstairs. Okay, what was with this dude?

I figured I'd give him some space, so I sat and worked on the project by myself for a while. However, when he didn't return ever after ten minutes, I was confused. Had I said something that wrong? I have no idea.

I put my books on the table and walked downstairs, unsure if I was allowed to. He wasn't in the other living room or the kitchen. Those were the only rooms I had really been in, so I didn't know the rest of this gigantic house.

"Shawn?" I called out, and started to walk around to see where he was. During that time, I walked past a gym, a movie theatre, and a bunch of closed doors. Jeez, there must be like twenty different rooms in this house.

I finally reached another room whose door was open, and there seemed to be some slight music playing. I walked in and saw Shawn standing there with his back to me, and he seemed to be... painting?

There were art easels all over the room with tons of different canvases, each with a different picture. There were frames all over the walls, with paint and shading pencils everywhere in the room. There were a bunch of different sketch books all around, some open and some closed. Light was streaming through the curtains, leaving a gleam over the finished wood. It was like something out of a movie. It was the most pleasantly messy room I had ever been in.

"Shawn?"

He finally turned around, startled. "Sorry. I didn't see you there."

"You're an artist?"

He smiled at me. "I know. Shocker huh?"

It was a shocker all right. I still couldn't take it in. I walked over to one canvas which appeared to show a picture of a beautiful meadow. Another showed what looked like the New York skyline. The sketchbooks had different drawings of people and plants and much more. Even something that seemed to be anime cartoons? Wow.

"My mother did most of the paintings on the wall." Shawn announced, and I was brought back to reality. "I always come to this room when I want to feel some sort of connection with her. She loved art. I haven't always understood it, but I seem to be good at it. Probably got the skills from her."

"Woah. Shawn, this is amazing. You should really pursue this."

"Nah. I'm not that good. I mostly like to sketch. Besides, basketball is my number one passion."

I didn't say anything after that, still marvelled by the drawings. It's like every damn day Shawn comes up with a new surprise that no one saw coming. Just when you think he's going to zig, you get a big fat zag. I felt warm for some reason, like a big wave of affection for him. Woah, okay no.

He cleared his throat suddenly. "Sorry I left like that. We should uh... probably get back to the project." He roughly nodded and walked out.

And the old Shawn was back. Never mind.

I followed him upstairs and we started working on the project again. This time he was actually doing something, so I just did my work in silence. I think he was sketching? Technically we were supposed to be doing this together but oh well.

After another half an hour, I got sick of writing so I decided to stop for today. Shawn agreed and stood up while I packed my stuff in silence. It wasn't exactly awkward, but it was still weird.

"Um, are you okay? You seem different today. You're usually talking about chopping my head off, but now you're silent." Shawn asked suddenly.

"Huh? No, I'm fine. I just broke up with my boyfriend recently, I guess that's it."

He looked at me in surprise. "Woah, you have a boyfriend?"

I groaned. "Had a boyfriend. Why does everyone find that so hard to believe? It's just plain insulting."

"No! No, I didn't mean it like that. I just didn't peg you for that kind of girl that goes out on dates and stuff."

"Well, I'm not. It was a big mistake anyway. We weren't even together for two weeks, so it's fine."

"Oh, um... okay."

I turned around and left before it got even more weird. Shawn didn't say anything either, and just let me walk out of the room. Just as I was about to leave, he called out to me again.

"Wait!"

I turned back again. "What?"

"Um... I just thought I'd uh... say that I'm here for you, if you need me...you know."

"Thanks, but I'm fine. I've got to go; I'll see you later."

Then I turned around and left as fast as I could. Jeez, this was turning out to be a weird day. Everybody is so different these days, it's crazy.

When I reached home, I found that neither of my parents were there. I walked into the kitchen to grab a snack, and of course, my day just had to get weirder.

"Are you freaking kidding me Nick? Did you seriously not hear me come in?"

He detached himself from his girlfriend's lips and looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry sis. I didn't see you there."

"Clearly. Seriously dude, be more careful."

I walked over to the fridge and took out a donut, turning around and looking at the girl next to Nick. She was the same one I had caught in his bedroom a while back. She really was beautiful. Around fifteen, sixteen years old with luxurious blonde hair that reached till the small of her back, tied in a side braid. She had golden brown eyes, and fair but tanned skin, like a surfer. Sharp and bold features. She looked oddly familiar.

"Hi!" She said cheerily, holding out her hand. "I'm Emma Jennings, pleased to meet you."

I'm sorry, did she just say Jennings?

I recovered quickly and smiled back, shaking her outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you too. As I'm sure you've guessed, I'm Nick's sister. Did you say your last name is Jennings?"

"Yes, why?"

"Is your brother... Asher Jennings?"

"Oh my god, yes. Do you know him?"

"In a way."

Nick cleared his throat and interlaced his fingers with Emma's. "As much as I love you two getting along, Emma and I have to get going. See you later sis."

I waved as they walked out and closed the door behind them. This seriously cannot be happening. Of all the girls in the world, why would my brother choose to date Asher's sister? This was a nightmare brought to reality.

How was I going to get out of this one?