"Sometimes people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them."

~ John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

Emily pranced around my room in a dainty lavender dress, her silky black hair dangling from her high pony, and her long neck on display. My best friend was nothing short of an angel, a beacon of pure elegance and perfection.

"Do I look like a giraffe?" She observed her reflection, tilting her head.

"If by giraffe you mean beautiful as fuck then yes," I reassured her.

She giggled, "Yes, that is exactly what I meant."

"Good 'cause Dan's gonna be thirstin' over you." I beamed, sliding into my ivory-colored maxi skirt.

Emily gaped at me, doe-eyed.

"What?" I panicked, "Em, I swear to God if there's a cockro--"

"You just said Dan and thirstin' in the same sentence," she voiced dramatically.

I heaved a sigh of relief, thanking my lucky stars that there were no cockroaches.

"You're such a drama queen," I teased.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Mom's been asking about Nana. How's she doing?" she queried.

"She's being nursed back to health by Mom and Aunt Cherry. Imagine those two under the same roof again, it's anarchy." I snorted. "Dad's been calling her Captain Nana because of the bandaged eye." I circled the mascara wand around my eye socket to explain. "Should be opening soon though," I said while making the mascara-applying face.

"When are Uncle Harold and Aunt Allie coming back?"

"Mom wants to stay for a while, that is until Nana and Aunt Cherry drive her nuts. Dad's probably coming back in a few days."

"Speaking of driving things, Tobias drove you all the way to Milwaukee, huh?" The green in her eyes lit up, a smirk playing on her lips as she grabbed a strand from her ponytail to curl it.

"Stop," I sang, a light blush surfacing my cheeks. "I mean, I didn't expect him to and, to be honest, he was being different. He even came back to drop my phone because I left it in his car..."

A silly smile was plastered across my face as I reminisced the moment we had in the hospital corridor.

"He's not the only one who's acting different." Emily teased but her playfulness slowly dissipated, "On a serious note, though, what's going on?"

I stopped smearing Vaseline across my lips, turning around to face her.

"I don't know," I whispered. "We're not exactly friends. I mean, not that I'd ever want to be anything more than just friends with him."

"You sure? 'Cause the look on your face says otherwise."

I shrugged, "Even if I did want more it'd be too complicated. And after high school I just--"

"You can't just forget the whole Kiara thing."

Emily's words struck a valid point, yet somewhere along the way, in between his intoxicated revelation and Milwaukee, my heart had already granted him mercy.

I sighed, my shoulders slumping and my voice low, "He opened up to me."

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

Breathe.

"My mother was murdered nearly five years ago."

"I don't want to discourage you so I'll say what you always say to me. Follow your heart," she conveyed before hugging me from behind and pulling us towards the door, "Come on, Dan's here."

I grabbed Tobias' leather jacket, which I had forgotten to return, and we left.

"Follow your heart."

My mind immediately suggested that it was a terrible idea but that was what it always did; intervened in the matters of the heart.

----

A body of water engulfed by foliage under the ink-blue sky, rippled reflections of string lights glistening like fireflies. An exquisitely crafted arc created a makeshift doorway, covered in flickering lights and wreaths; it was heart-stirring.

Countless strings of overhead lights formed a canopy of stars, recycled glass jars and bottles hung from branches of trees. The shoreline was scattered with wooden picnic tables and benches. It was as if the darkness of the night had come alive.

"If this is his proposal, I can't imagine what their wedding will be like." I whistled.

The amount of effort Andy had fueled into making Melaine's birthday a special day for her was remarkable.

"Melon's gonna pass out." Emily snorted.

When Andy rushed over, breathless and frantic, he informed us of his departure and left as quick as he came. He was leaving to collect Melaine from her dad's and bring her here.

After setting a few leftover decorations, Emily and I leaned against a picnic table, fascinated by the starry sky. I held Tobias' jacket over one arm, his masculine scent distracting me. When I felt someone approach me from behind, I flipped one-eighty to see who it was, hoping it was him. Much to my dismay, it was Eric and a blonde-haired girl.

"Ariel. Emily. This is Natalya. Babe, this is Ariel and that's Emily." Eric introduced us.

I gawked at the long-legged model, suddenly feeling insecure.

"Mind keeping her company? I gotta arrange the booze," asked Eric.

Emily and I vigorously shook our heads; tongue-tied.

"Owe you one." He smiled gratefully before tongue-kissing Natalya and scurrying away.

"How long you two been dating?" I tried to make conversation, masking how small I felt.

"Who says we're dating?" she replied with a smirk, a faint Russian accent lingering in her speech.

"Oh." I awkwardly fiddled with my fingers.

"He's my flavor of the week. A temp fuck buddy," she elaborated, adjusting her choker.

"That's...interesting." Emily and I shared an appalling look as I spoke.

"And you're okay with that? All sex and no feelings?" Emily's question somehow sounded incredibly polite.

"Oh, it's an unending orgasm," she purred, her electric blue eyes tainted with sin. "There was this one kid at SAIC, huge stick, I taught him how to mastur--"

"Woah. Woah. Woah. Wait. You go to SAIC?" Emily changed the topic, clearly nauseated.

"Yeah--"

"No fucking way," I blurted out hastily, cutting her off. When Emily nudged me I immediately coughed, "I mean," I cleared my throat, "Oh, that's so cool."

Awkward.

"Andy messaged! They're almost here!" Dan whisper-shouted, signaling for us to join him.

Thank God.

We huddled near the arc, Natalya included. Eric directed Mark to turn off all the lights as we waited in silence until footsteps approached.

Suddenly, we heard Melaine deadpan from a distance, "Babe, please tell me we're not doing it in the middle of nowhere again."

Emily and I couldn't help but giggle into our hands.

"Depends on your definition of it." Andy snickered.

As if on cue, the arrangements blossomed to life, revealing both Andy and Melaine.

Everyone chanted, "Surprise!"

Her visage was a combination of shock and joy. Her beady eyes flooding with tears as she lunged at Andy, her dreadlocks flailing. She wore her staple maroon leather jacket with a pair of killer black boots. After they broke free, Emily and I swooped her into a group hug, singing off-tune happy birthday songs as we spun.

Amidst the celebration, I couldn't help but search for Tobias. There he was, in a far corner, a blunt pressed between his lips. He wore his usual attire but he looked unusually attractive and it made me weak in the knees.

"Follow your heart."

Once Melaine began greeting other guests, I strolled towards Tobias and settled beside him on the bench. As I nudged his shoulder with mine, sparks of electricity traveled through my body but I ignored them.

Breathe.

He didn't seem to acknowledge my attempt to get his attention as he continued inhaling drag after drag, surrounding us with smoke.

"Hey, stranger." I tried to engage him in a conversation.

After a few moments of silence, I heaved a sigh, realizing he wasn't in the mood. As I began walking away I heard his cold voice say, "It's nothin' personal."

With a disappointed smile, I replied, "I came to return this..." I placed his jacket beside him. "...and thank you, again, for driving me."

His captivating eyes finally met mine and I instantly felt the air leave my lungs. His eyes traveled the length of my body, from head to toe. When his eyes darkened, I blushed. He slowly licked his lips before releasing a sigh.

"Come here." He instructed, flicking away ash before inhaling another drag only to release rings of smoke from his mouth.

When I reclaimed my spot on the bench, he positioned the blunt away from me, trying to keep the smoke at bay. However, despite his best efforts, it blew in my direction.

I felt the wind pick up its pace as my skirt rippled against my legs. My black button-up top hugged my body as the clouds started growling. With the blunt between his lips, Tobias draped his jacket over my shoulders. A mixture of smoke and his woody scent overtook my senses.

He explained the gesture in a low voice, "You need it more than I do."

I smiled but felt upset seeing him dazed, "Why do you smoke up?"

"Calms me down," he answered casually.

"What would it take to make you quit?" It was a sincere question.

"My dead body," he responded dryly, "And I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

"Damn, if it's that good, I want a hit," I said sarcastically.

He gave me a disapproving look, "No."

I hadn't even meant it seriously but his curt rejection of the idea made me frown, "Why not?"

"Because I said so," was his half-assed reply.

"That's real mature." I scoffed, his attitude irritating my every nerve. "You're a hypocrite."

Without wasting a second, he flicked the blunt to the ground and crushed it under his heel.

At least he stopped.

"You do know that you've got no authority to dictate what I can and cannot do, right? If I want to smoke weed, I can." I rolled my eyes as the summer wind caused my hair to fly erratically.

"I'd like to see you try."

He shrugged.

He fucking shrugged.

I stormed off, ignoring his piercing gaze which stalked me. He was absolutely unbelievable, acting like he could control me like he had a right. It wasn't about the weed, it was his attitude and his arrogance. I wasn't blind, it outright blew his fuse whenever I attempted to smoke to prove a point.

It was suicide but I was going to poke the lion out of spite, and it was too late for my pride to back down now.

I spotted a group of Andy's friends who were smoking in a corner, I could tell it was weed from the pungent smell. After convincing them into giving me a rolled joint, I nodded thankfully and began searching for a lighter. Unfortunately, Emily interrupted my lighter-hunt.

"Where'd you run off to? Andy's going to propo--why is Tobias glaring you like you kicked him where the sun doesn't shine?" She narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously.

"What? Who? Tobias is here?" I pretended.

She raised a brow, clearly not believing my lie. I dropped the act and quickly explained the predicament I found myself in.

"I think you need to sit down." Emily tried to calm me down after listening to my rant.

"But he challenged me." I pouted.

"You're better than this, Ariel." She tried to comfort me. "B-t-dubs, when I said follow your heart, I didn't mean become a stoner in the process."

"You're right. I am better than this." I stood up with determination, leaving the blunt on the table beside us.

Seconds later, I reappeared in front of Tobias with a proposition, "I'll promise never to get high, smoke, or drink to prove a point if you promise not to use any kinds of drugs whenever I'm around. That includes cigarettes."

I exhaled shakily, hoping he would walk right into my trap. I stood in front of him while he still sat on the bench. He peered up at me and suddenly found his feet, coming face to face with me. My heart started pounding erratically as he was mere inches away from me.

I asked him weakly, "Deal?"

He stared deeply into my eyes, before lingering his eyes down the rest of my body. I gulped, waiting for his response. With dark golden eyes, he whispered as his breath fanned my face, "Fine."

Somehow, I managed to create some distance between us even though every bone in my body urged me to close the gap. I lifted my hand and brought it in front of our faces, "We have to seal the deal with a pinky promise. It's an unbreakable sacred bond Tobias, so you can't take it back once it's done." I informed him seriously.

"What are we, five?" He cocked his head to the side, rolling his bloodshot eyes.

"Pinky promise?" I urged him, sticking out my little finger.

He peered into my soul before lifting his arm, holding his little finger out like mine.

"Pinky promise," he replied, clasping his finger around mine.

Our moment was severed by Eric who exclaimed, "Come on! Andy's about to propose."

We immediately recoiled from each other's touch, following Eric towards the arc beneath which Andy stood with Melaine. As he bent down on one knee, the guests gasped and applauded. Melaine's face was laced with emotion as Andy pulled out the little black box which contained a diamond ring.

He cleared his throat, a loving smile resting on his face, "Baby, you know you're my world. My beautiful Melly, I love you more than words can describe. Melaine Gracie Stone, will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

At that moment, I couldn't help but steer my gaze towards Tobias. I just stared at him longingly before fluttering my eyes back towards Andy and Melaine.

"Oh my God, yes! Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, baby!"

Andy was brought to his feet by Melaine, who reached forward to engage him in a passionate kiss. The crowd instantly released a number of "awhs". I grinned from ear to ear at the heartening moment they were having, before peering at Tobias from the corner of my eye.

Maybe someday we could have--

Wait, what?

No. Just friends.

"You okay?" Emily nudged my shoulder, halting my chain of thought.

"Huh," I tucked my hair behind my ear, "I was just..." I trailed off still slightly dazed.

"...Daydreaming about Tobias?" She finished for me.

"Shut up!" I slapped my hand over her mouth. She gave me a smug look and I glared at her.

When I turned back towards where Tobias was standing, much to my dismay, he was gone. The emptiness that overcame me within seconds of him leaving made me realize something I was so desperately avoiding.

I didn't want to be just friends.

----

Cuddling or making-out?

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Love, Ari