In the Last Chapter: 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0W9Bpp22D
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4sDWTJRSN
What I did do, though, was check up on Evvie. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jE2oAL2dA
Me:
Hey. Just checking up on you.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yEStVIkg4
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnQBSiPwqI
Evvie:
I’m okay, Ezie. You don’t need to be so worried.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTXPX12fvU
Delcan:
Can we talk? 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLe1J1TFqH
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoJc2ZGCqb
Me:
I know. But we don’t have to talk about that, of course. There are other things, too.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5SkVZ21HS
Evvie:
Other things like..? 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCG1iTKOnRr
Oh, great. Leave me with something to find out. I spent around five minutes thinking of a topic before texting my best friend back. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01QKEU7UFv
Me:
The dance?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwTGWiiI7G
Evvie:
Oh, no. Gosh. That’s going to be so annoying! Ugh.
Hey, are you taking anyone specific?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YJvorjlBA
Me:
No.
I don’t even think he’s into that stuff in the first place.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynSKb8d3Uj
Evvie:
Yeah...but I wanna see him in a tux. You’re lying if you don’t wanna.
Oh! My mom said hi.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64ygk6IrbN
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29mGHaV4C3
Evvie:
No, it honestly isn’t. Haven’s not so bad when you get to know her.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqeuvKU5Py
Me:
I told you!763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiX7lCo7Hf
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcwOk75vBV
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUI6QBJkoS
Evvie:
Oh, great. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW90DaftRDo
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMLOTzhnzx
Me:
I guess I’ll find out later or something.
Are you gonna go dress shopping or something? 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFmhY9qDUS
Evvie:
Ha, with who?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqCwQiRIKf
Me:763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2Pn0zNrmJ
I think Evelyn is going with Callie. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you coming with them. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcX1Z3wHqz
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ25yGYnEm
It wasn’t like I could even relate to her. I went out of her contact and texted Delcan quickly, hoping he’d respond.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiiTS5MRIp
Me:
Yeah, of course. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzd6sGDyVg
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Y2i5mWXA
Me:
Yeah, that would be pretty crazy.
Have you finished your homework?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqFy3VoTF7
Evvie:763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz7s4QtOVU
Holy crap. You’re so annoying!
Of course, I haven’t! I’m guessing you have…763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLmtGzmXGb
Me:
Well...yeah.
But while I was doing my homework, my mom said something.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdU1GLw7eP
Evvie:
Spill it.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN8vaNQ5zt
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.”763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXAs79wXky
Evvie:
….
THAT’S SO SWEET OMFG.
EZ THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE DOESN’T CARE HOLY CRAP DID YOU TELL HER?!! 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI1hymsyRs
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fz2tPxHrn
Me:
No, I didn’t.
Instead, I used the “I’m not a virgin” card on her.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP8WwhduNO
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj8cWAD5oF
Me:
She knows because Dad made a huge announcement about it and then bought me a watch.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqE5FfsmZP
Evvie:
Lemme guess...Rolex.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fG0Aos8pU
Me:
Now guess the watch.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8KmIFL0AK
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMJb9wZNIO
Me:
Correct.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4tP21qhiq
Evvie:
Wow. That’s crazy.
Besides that, though...did she believe you?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUIL99Gu9u
Me:763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0l4zTrXT51
I couldn’t tell, really. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWNCDbAWMo
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlqEHqzvrQ
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKB91PZzZq
Me:
Okay.
Whatever you wanna talk about is fine, I guess. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY3MPrn4tZ
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbUHznidLV
Me:
It’s just weird, Eve. I don’t really know. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZv7oAjgPm
Evvie sent a heart emoji of the rainbow, then following with a laughing emoji. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aSKvzagGR
Evvie:
I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
Seriously. Tonight, I might not get too much sleep.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrxfvKkM0B
Delcan:
Could you please explain the homework to me? I know that I’m right, but the computer doesn’t say that. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bXnFmS4LF
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8axAvRkGEr
Me:
Well...I don’t know. Maybe they’re wrong, Delcan.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWkCGcJC8B
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW5D7UZ6pc
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkmc0ZdoYC
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bgFTlH2yS
Me:
Why should I help you?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao2gmb9DR7
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? 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8maJbGolul
Me:
You kissed me, just for memory.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWem33mHjw
Delcan:
I will screenshot this.
Come on. I need your help. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqW7o6gWI3
Me:
What do I get out of helping you get an A?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3U2fqXWie
Delcan:
I’m already taking guesses, but ask something, and I’ll see what I can do.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbbVsuil6e
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINPX3Dacj2
Delcan:
Thanks. I owe you.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwk5fOXN3L
Me:
Yeah, you do.
Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwkYZvVLMg
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKRqOZ8DbS
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdYVg2eUAT
Me:
We’re having a family dinner.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fFhJv4o3e
Delcan:
I have some tips on how to get out of them. I’m very good at it.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxMc7u5gXs
Me:
Do we have to make out?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaPNC0duhu
Delcan:
If you’re suggesting what I think you are, the answer is no. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfV3YJm3oH
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. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrAvhAdcr9
Me:
Stay out of relationships, Eve. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdceBkzB1Ws
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?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ROVFeQbgK
Evvie:
…
You’re complaining about making out with Delcan Heslop? Why, bro? 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6vx0thAke
Me:
I’m not complaining! I just want something more. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpz7JuwYvL3
Evvie:
Then ask him! He’s done it before, Ezra. Just know that a height difference means...ya know. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEvZgzYH6I
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E1QfgfslZ
Evvie:
Oh, okay.
What makes you think he doesn’t want a relationship, Ez?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5iK17szw9
Any guy would kill to be dating you.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZC6v3NeGR
Me:
No, sorry. I shouldn’t bring this stuff on you.
Do you still like edible cookie dough?763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMpXn4gfHK
Evvie:
Duh!! Ez, who doesn’t like cookie dough? Edible or not. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4kJ0ueIT3
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAqNbuGDiz
Evvie:
If that’s what you want, yeah. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFXR2jMmgw
She sent me a heart emoji just as Delcan responded to my message. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01HWENhVid
Evvie:
Let me see what days my mom is working.
Me:
Cool.
I gotta go.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwsAiLsgWI
Evvie:
Okay. Bye, Ez!
Good luck with your relationship. Love ya. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAd3klaGnN
Me:
Love you too.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCgjYJrm6x
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.763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fcd5yS95j
Delcan:
You’re right. Family time seems pretty important. We could talk some other time. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PSbefNRAK
Me:
Are you sure? I don’t mind staying up and talking afterward. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUwgXIuUoN
Delcan:
Nope. I’m gonna finish this homework.
See you tomorrow. 763Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo0b1Soc38
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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