In the Last Chapter: 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4aLLTGf69
In the middle of the night, I realized I still hadn't texted Callie back, nor did I feel the need to. We never really talked too much in the first place, anyway, so it made no sense for me to have a meaningless conversation with her. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WU2KtlFM0
What I did do, though, was check up on Evvie. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumcHd3QANZ
Me:
Hey. Just checking up on you.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvEoBPEnfQ
Shoot. I hope that didn’t sound too rude. All I wanted was to be a better friend than what I had been in the past. Maybe she won’t think of it as anything bad. I finished up the last bit of my homework when I got a message from both Evvie and Delcan at the same time. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJRjV3ALCT
Evvie:
I’m okay, Ezie. You don’t need to be so worried.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmZDKDGmQb
Delcan:
Can we talk? 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dthoXyAOL
Why do I have to be faced with a hard choice? Of course, I wanted to talk to Delcan. The entire day some part of my mind as begging to know what was wrong with him today. He seemed angry like there was something that had happened before school started. Whatever it was, I wanted to make sure he was okay. But at the same time, Evvie had just told me a huge secret, and she probably needed support from me. I also had a duty to fill - becoming a better friend for her.
Then again, Delcan…
Why does life have to be so hard?
I responded to Evvie first, hoping Delcan would be okay if I didn’t respond immediately. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjlAzoKdbh
Me:
I know. But we don’t have to talk about that, of course. There are other things, too.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡud1biauF9F
Evvie:
Other things like..? 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC1dBBlNE5
Oh, great. Leave me with something to find out. I spent around five minutes thinking of a topic before texting my best friend back. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhiEh3Bo5h
Me:
The dance?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeApTNCwrs0
Evvie:
Oh, no. Gosh. That’s going to be so annoying! Ugh.
Hey, are you taking anyone specific?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUMPZAFKEF
Me:
No.
I don’t even think he’s into that stuff in the first place.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNh3Mw0FDt
Evvie:
Yeah...but I wanna see him in a tux. You’re lying if you don’t wanna.
Oh! My mom said hi.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JD8H3QbXn
Me:
Tell her I said hi back.
Speaking of dancing, how are the dance squad and everything? I know Haven is the captain, but I’m sure it isn’t that bad.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz5Bz9XSaw
Evvie:
No, it honestly isn’t. Haven’s not so bad when you get to know her.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7Rowt7P3E
Me:
I told you!779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkZNIi4SdU
Evvie:
Lol, you did.
Speaking of extracurricular activities, how have Adam and Thomas been? I’ve hardly been able to see them that much anymore. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uaqLw4h49
Me:
I’d hate to admit that it’s kind of the same with me.
Adam has been pretty busy lately, and Thomas is acting pretty weird. He probably has a crush on someone.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhTuJD7IlC
Evvie:
Oh, great. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y0R206G2e
She sent an emoji that was rolling her eyes, which I actually understood. Thomas was probably one of the only guys I knew who ignored everyone else when he had a crush on someone. He acts pretty paranoid, and also always tries to enter that person in a conversation. I haven’t been paying attention at lunch well enough to know who it could possibly be, though I’m sure it wasn’t too big of a surprise.
But on the contrary, Thomas always had more crushes than he did dates.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3INm4J9y4I
Me:
I guess I’ll find out later or something.
Are you gonna go dress shopping or something? 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEu8MF0Cnu
Evvie:
Ha, with who?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jxpJ7OULk
Me:779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVjYceapxS
I think Evelyn is going with Callie. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you coming with them. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa79KzsbJi
Evvie:
I think I’ll pass. Dress shopping can be so many hours. And trust me, Ez. When it’s a group, it could be an entire day. Going by myself would just be better.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rhi3Rm3k8
It wasn’t like I could even relate to her. I went out of her contact and texted Delcan quickly, hoping he’d respond.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TxCLxyc7E
Me:
Yeah, of course. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qfO1XzvLW
He didn’t even read the message I sent him.
Great.
I went back into Evvie’s contact and began texting her again, sending a laughing emoji before changing the subject.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrPHLsES6K
Me:
Yeah, that would be pretty crazy.
Have you finished your homework?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ540VgFQ5aw
Evvie:779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlKzWhM46Q
Holy crap. You’re so annoying!
Of course, I haven’t! I’m guessing you have…779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdCyFoj7zC
Me:
Well...yeah.
But while I was doing my homework, my mom said something.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnwVzoJ89e
Evvie:
Spill it.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXec4TVDymq
Me:
She said, and I quote “If there’s anything you feel like you can’t say, I wouldn’t judge you. Nobody’s perfect, Ezra, and I don’t expect you to be either. Regardless, sweetheart, I’m still going to love you the same.”779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZGxc7YYkj
Evvie:
….
THAT’S SO SWEET OMFG.
EZ THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE DOESN’T CARE HOLY CRAP DID YOU TELL HER?!! 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUuNWfOy5Z
I read both of her texts like she was shouting, which she probably was right now, or at least she would be smiling or jumping up and down. Evvie never let something like what my mom had just told me to go down. To be honest, though, it made me feel good to know she thought that was good.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2yBo181l6
Me:
No, I didn’t.
Instead, I used the “I’m not a virgin” card on her.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8ncrWiM8B
Evvie sent three emojis with a heart that was cracked.
Evvie:
Aww. Well, you tell her when you wanna.
I still think that’s ADORABLE.
And that card? Really, dude? I’m sure she already knows.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW25pMXN8q
Me:
She knows because Dad made a huge announcement about it and then bought me a watch.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9OJ8welan
Evvie:
Lemme guess...Rolex.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G7C8PSHiF
Me:
Now guess the watch.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRH3BB361U
Evvie:
Oh! The Oyster Perpetual?? I heard that the watch cost a lotta money.
I wasn’t ungrateful for the things my dad bought me, but I didn’t like the way he did it. For instance, there was this one time I got rewarded with a 2,000 dollar jacket after making a comment on a woman who was kissing an African American guy in public. I was really thankful, and fortunate that I was able to have such nice things - but it came at a price that made me feel like a horrible person. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2bIeHcSM0
Me:
Correct.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT7WgmPRUa
Evvie:
Wow. That’s crazy.
Besides that, though...did she believe you?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPv6fbYS2x
Me:779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBWbpNrvNJ
I couldn’t tell, really. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUbTeQIg7b
While I was texting the second text, Delcan responded. It had been seven minutes I had sent the message, which was exactly how long it took me to text him back. Actually, I wasn’t too mad about it.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXTaZPLqO2
Delcan:
I’m not apologizing for what happened at school today, but I do wanna talk.
Plus, I’m bored.
He wasn’t going to explain whatever the issue was this morning, which I was actually okay with. That didn’t bother me too much, but I was confused about him being bored and wanting to talk to me.
Typically, bored for Delcan meant posting a shirtless picture online with him doing something wildly inappropriate for his age. The last time he was “bored,” he posted a picture of him wearing black jeans and white underwear, which were pulled down to the point where you could almost see some type of mark he had on him. I looked at it for 30 minutes straight before giving up and going to sleep, never bothering to ask what it was.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YOVXKS10G
Me:
Okay.
Whatever you wanna talk about is fine, I guess. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFjRcVmZKg
I sent the rest of the text to Evvie, deciding I really didn’t wanna stop texting to her and just focus on Delcan, who would probably ignore my message for a few minutes before he started talking again. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTuBfQemGy
Me:
It’s just weird, Eve. I don’t really know. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2qYEJm9yX
Evvie sent a heart emoji of the rainbow, then following with a laughing emoji. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOwPUQRMdM
Evvie:
I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
Seriously. Tonight, I might not get too much sleep.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjD5nwH2Mn
Delcan:
Could you please explain the homework to me? I know that I’m right, but the computer doesn’t say that. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95tcRKtVh7
What does that even mean?
Delcan seemed to have a desire to be right, but if the online homework said that the answers were wrong, clearly, they were. I’m sure he was talking about the science class I had to take last year, which was highly consisting of online work that would take hours to finish - regardless of your knowledge.
I smiled while texting him back, feeling better that I was smarter. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb1bv789SE
Me:
Well...I don’t know. Maybe they’re wrong, Delcan.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpSsVjEegL
Delcan:
No, they aren’t! I think the program is shutting down or something. It’s an old technology programing, anyways.
Me:
That’ll be a new excuse for Mr. Forkmart. He’ll believe you.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4z8sN6Nllg
Delcan:
I’m not lying! The programing is seriously 34 years old. Our parents probably used this ↹.
But...my dad kinda wants me to get good grades, so...help me.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2UwMOH0oi
I wanted to ask how on Earth he knew how old the computer programing was, and also if that number was simply random or something - but it didn’t seem like a time to ask. On top of that, I was trying to decide if I was upset that he was asking for my help, or happy about it. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZpsEfpuzR
Me:
Why should I help you?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1arcavWApB
Delcan:
Oh, don’t be petty about things, Ezra. I make out with you whenever you want and the second I want something, you’ve gotta be upset? 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3RBZXBaz7
Me:
You kissed me, just for memory.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP150eVYfO3
Delcan:
I will screenshot this.
Come on. I need your help. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavzlf8Xfgx
Me:
What do I get out of helping you get an A?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeswkfsJXm
Delcan:
I’m already taking guesses, but ask something, and I’ll see what I can do.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRfavpMmnv
See what he can do? What does that even mean?
I had already decided that I was going to help him. It would suck if he was unable to get into a college, though it was also confusing. Considering how odd he was acting - it was reminding me of Haven. She would always change her mood before I even had time to catch up with the glare she had given me 20 seconds ago.
For two minutes, I had to find the homework from last year and sent the screenshots to Delcan. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvQOM47slO
Delcan:
Thanks. I owe you.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GkMcSEfJq
Me:
Yeah, you do.
Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv3Bep2vLp
Delcan:
Pretty much.
And in return...
My sister has some type of casting for I don’t know what. My parents (stupidly) went with her. I say you have another 2 hours if you’re interested.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEwupgDh5m
I wanted to say yes and no at the same time.
On one side, I did like making out with Delcan. It was exciting, and it seriously got my blood pumping. But at the same time, I wasn’t sure if I was comfortable with just having a relationship that was only making out. If I ever told Adam or Thomas that, they’d probably slap me in the face.
I had a good..person I was dating. He looked much better than I did, and he was experienced enough to know how to make out with someone better than adults do. But, I didn’t want Delcan to think I wanted him for his body as others do. I did want to know him better since I was really getting confused about how desperate I have been feeling. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkhlRDy7SK
Me:
We’re having a family dinner.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J5ep9H3gM
Delcan:
I have some tips on how to get out of them. I’m very good at it.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPZNZ1DjI2
Me:
Do we have to make out?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19sVzHZq5U
Delcan:
If you’re suggesting what I think you are, the answer is no. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrNKIoFqyp
I scrunch my nose up, feeling my cheeks get red. The good thing is, he isn’t able to see it. I laid down on my bed, watching my hands shake as I texted back. That isn’t what I meant, I texted. You know, talking really helps relationships. He read the message but didn’t respond. Sighing, I texted Evvie back. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhoKcGpYOE
Me:
Stay out of relationships, Eve. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJIJJchaEZ
Evvie:
Lol, I’m not thinking about dating for a LONG time.
Trouble in paradise?
Me:
I think there always is.
Do you think it’s bad that he just wants to make out?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrwoCmPf4J
Evvie:
…
You’re complaining about making out with Delcan Heslop? Why, bro? 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2RTxA2jkp
Me:
I’m not complaining! I just want something more. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bGDhUPfV9
Evvie:
Then ask him! He’s done it before, Ezra. Just know that a height difference means...ya know. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgI6TS9KkR
Me:
Evvie!
I meant just talking or something. Going out on a date.
(sorry for mentioning, but it needs to be relatable) I’m sure Rio took you out on dates a lot before things got more serious. We haven’t had a first date.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHveVcvcKD7
Evvie:
Oh, okay.
What makes you think he doesn’t want a relationship, Ez?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTmsg706Cg
Any guy would kill to be dating you.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE55mUUBMEN
Me:
No, sorry. I shouldn’t bring this stuff on you.
Do you still like edible cookie dough?779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h2fUWt7lK
Evvie:
Duh!! Ez, who doesn’t like cookie dough? Edible or not. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF7HL2TDCf
Me:
I was thinking we could spend some time together. It’d be nice to forget about boys for a while and just go back to us in 7th grade.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLGUe2SRCM
Evvie:
If that’s what you want, yeah. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVTHOPbQPD
She sent me a heart emoji just as Delcan responded to my message. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdCCZ3RTVA
Evvie:
Let me see what days my mom is working.
Me:
Cool.
I gotta go.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV1UC8adEb
Evvie:
Okay. Bye, Ez!
Good luck with your relationship. Love ya. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuepA1MJGgJ
Me:
Love you too.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdaEbbW8O8
If I didn’t keep my relationship with Delcan, at least Evvie and I were still friends. It made me feel better that neither one of us were hiding too many secrets from each other anymore.
Now to deal with Delcan.779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSfv6wirKd
Delcan:
You’re right. Family time seems pretty important. We could talk some other time. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxTr89Rv93
Me:
Are you sure? I don’t mind staying up and talking afterward. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuDG7Sfheh
Delcan:
Nope. I’m gonna finish this homework.
See you tomorrow. 779Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMPCf9GlhQ
I didn’t respond, but I really wanted to tell him that I wouldn’t mind the two of us just talking with each other. But I knew that he probably wouldn’t listen - or care. I really hoped we weren’t fighting or something. With Haven, it was obvious to know when we're fighting (her friends would always glare at me in class before leaning into each other and talking about how horrible I was) before Haven finally told me she was angry. But with Delcan, there were hardly any hints. It was just there, and I had to try overcoming it.
Then again, I’m sure it’s not exactly great for the few hours I stay mad at him sometimes.
I stood up to put my phone on the charger, but then Delcan posted something online. He wasn’t exactly shirtless or showing his underwear lining, but there was a sense of teasing in the photo. He had taken the picture in the bathroom, his body turned so you could see how slim he was. The caption simply said “what to do…” with an emoji of a dead rose with it.
The picture isn’t what made my heart stop. Well, not exactly. It was the comment from Grayson Williams. What a beautiful burn you have, he commented, along with an emoji that was smirking and then one of those water ones. I straightened my back, feeling my breathing change.
When I looked back at the picture (which already had 2,030 views), I noticed the medium-sized burn he had on his left wrist.
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