My entire life, it’s always been hard. I mean, I would’ve expected it to when you keep the biggest secret in the world from everyone else. Okay, not the biggest secret in the world-but you get what I mean. My parents aren’t cool with anything new, no new rules, no new presidents, and especially no new dating tricks. Mainly-this means coming out would ruin all that I’ve lived for. I get straight A’s and I’m quarterback at our school, but none of that would even matter if people found out about who I really am.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVF2KTHKNI7 維尼
Other than the large parts of me I’m keeping, my life seems to be pretty good. I’m considered popular at school, my siblings aren’t always annoying, and I have a girlfriend: Haven Bronx. Haven is one of the most popular girls in school as well, so it made sense for the two of us to be together. Being captain of the cheerleading team, she has a pretty busy schedule, so I don’t always have to see her. But when I do-it’s hard to really be myself around her. Around anyone. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ak821mjjh 維尼
I really do like Haven. She’s a sweet girl, and she cares about other people’s feelings. But, I don’t like her in that way. And it wouldn’t even be too bad if we broke up at school, but her entire family loves me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgKpOKKnon 維尼
So that’s where the problem comes in. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxrglj0lzG 維尼
I would always sit at the dinner table and try to keep my mind off of other things while Haven’s parents continued talking about sports, or cheer, or their older daughter (who’s in Yale, in case anyone really cared). It was just that, I never seemed to keep my mind on anything that was going on at dinner there, and I was the only one to blame. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNK3Be0KXQ 維尼
“How have you been Ezra?” Mr. Bronx asked me as I calmly sat down next to Haven. Her family was always fancy, so being skittish wouldn’t look good for me. Once I sat down, Haven smiled to me. And I smiled back without showing any teeth.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEQcRtefkF 維尼
“I’ve been great.” I said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnveTvNjZE 維尼
Lie, but everyone else was going with it. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjqYLqT9Uo 維尼
“I heard there was a game on Saturday, are you ready for that?” Mrs. Bronx asked me. In all honesty, I was excited for the game and all-but I’d much rather be somewhere else on that day instead of whatever I always felt trapped. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8r17L3d5K 維尼
But, like always, I smiled and nodded. “I’m ready for it,” I said. “Coach says we’re probably gonna be amazing out there.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡceP5nDimaK 維尼
“And I get to watch all of it front and center,” Haven said, smiling to me before looking at her parents. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsXv80Kxay 維尼
Mr. and Mrs. Bronx smiled at their daughter before looking back at their food. It was seafood, which was one of the main reasons why I was trying to continue talking instead of eating something from the sea. “Haven,” Mrs. Bronx said. “Did you mention to tell Ezra about your sister?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLj8yIiSAQ 維尼
I don’t know why, but my instant thought was that Mrs. Bronx was pregnant. I mean, she was only about 39 or something. I’m sure having a kid wouldn’t be that hard. But then, my mind clicked and told me this was about Angelica. Angelica is Haven’s older half sister, and she’s pretty smart for her age. I’ve only met her a few times, but her family talks about her enough for me to know basically everything I need to. The weirdest thing is, even though Haven and Angelica have different dads, they both really do look the same. Like Haven, Angelica has dark brown hair and hazel eyes, which usually change color depending on the light. And usually they both always know what to say for certain situations, but can also annoy the living ⟴ out of you sometimes. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv3BwpAcNz 維尼
“Oh my gosh,” Haven exclaimed. “I’m so excited to see her!” she grabbed my hand from under the table as I did my best to keep from showing any reaction. “How long is she staying in town?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzYDxqtzLd 維尼
Mrs. Bronx was about to begin eating again, but then set down her fork and looked Haven. “A few days I think, a week at the most. She’s really busy at college, sweetheart.” Haven nodded, but then everyone at the table grew silent as I looked back down at the seafood. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TXp1cVP1u 維尼
I seriously do hate everything about the thought of eating something from the ocean, but I also hated people not liking me-so I began slowly eating the shrimp. At first, I felt my body trying to bring it back up, but I swallowed it before anything else could happen. I took a long drink of the water Mr. Bronx had given me and then sighed, not even sure if I could finish the food that was set in front of me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYQ9p2V6g4 維尼
Once dinner was over, I wasn’t judged for not eating all of the shrimp. But, I still felt a large guilt inside of me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCSqBCmxy5 維尼
Haven’s parents went upstairs, allowing me and her to have some alone time. I hated when people said “I’ll give you two some alone time.” It was like they just expected for two people to begin making out. And I never would do something like that while her parents were upstairs, anyways. I wouldn’t even do something like that with a girl in the first place. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbLH6GmPmR 維尼
“So…” Haven said, sitting down next to me and grabbing the TV remote. “You nervous about the game?” before I could even answer her, Haven kept on talking. “We have a great cheer that is bomb.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxJhPfCDb8 維尼
I laughed. “Yes, I’m ready. How long have y’all been working on the cheer?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrasnzdvtp 維尼
“A couple weeks. I think you’re going to love it, babe.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy0CnLvMKe 維尼
Though I hated it when she called me that, I nodded. One of the best ways to get Haven to be quiet would be talking about cheer. All of the girls on the team were really passionate about their work and loved to brag about it. Sometimes, when I was forced to hang out with Haven’s friends, the topic of football and cheer would be the main two things. Which, I was kind of okay with-because at least I was getting attention. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pVQFKCfTq 維尼
Haven was leaning on me, texting someone on her phone when she suddenly laughed. I looked down at her and said; “What is it?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU6rfIpzYk
Instead of simply answering, she handed me her phone. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00ntGqzCN6 維尼
Angelica:8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWtYEeEd4U 維尼
Hey sis, you excited about me coming back tomorrow? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74KOrXeHQV 維尼
Haven: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5h4Pl971e 維尼
Obvi! I can’t wait to see you!! 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8nLCemyNo 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDupgGYTim 維尼
Me too! How’s high school treating you? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEXwXX9uwK 維尼
Haven:8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡYee0xfVXfJ 維尼
Amazing, actually! I’m still captain of the cheerleading team and I’m still dating Ez. On top of that, all my friends and grades are amazing. Things couldn’t be better! 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hdEYS6ud9 維尼
Wbu? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZUOlcWQ5v 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZQwBNmPo0 維尼
(That’s great!) And I’m pretty good too. I’m just pretty happy I’m keeping up in class.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9H9KywUTx 維尼
How’s Ezra? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡPryI9uMmox 維尼
Haven: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJI2m1L4MQ 維尼
Great! Cuter than ever...and stronger, which is good for the football team.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3QgfVxNll 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjQfgyRTQX 維尼
Awesome! Good thing he’s still cute, right? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWKuh3RYNr 維尼
Haven: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVnb7yBdCf 維尼
Oh my gosh, lol! I would’ve still dated him if he wasn’t tho. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGbYIh2Lpj 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNew8Sx5V1 維尼
Yeah, right. I gotta go soon...is there anything else you need to tell me before I start my homework? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGbpmUob6f 維尼
Haven: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2XoNKRVhL 維尼
Just one last thing. You excited about the football game? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡHouvMSkQ68 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UpTyiUoPw 維尼
Yup. Aren’t they playing against Oakwood? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYmTaIZP6u 維尼
Haven:8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8C1GMN9qK 維尼
Yeah, they are. But Ezra’s got this one in the bad. He always does-8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlk9lVdSyH 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZeUPD0Ho7 維尼
Right! 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1d5o4nqY5 維尼
Well, I’ve got two more things to say. One, I miss you like crazy (Mom and Dad too). And two, hope Ezra’s as cute as you say he is…8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9niC3e3Cg 維尼
Haven: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpygdne6ys 維尼
I’m not sharing him, Angelica.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9qLECxotB 維尼
Angelica: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsiVVQyJjo 維尼
Lol, never said you had to, Hav. Everyone knows men like the smarter girls. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dRoyPuxZI 維尼
I don’t know why, but I had this weird feeling that all I was to Haven was just something she could put on display. And it really did bother me on the inside, but there was nothing I could fix about any of it. If Haven realized I was bothered by crap like that, she’d find some way to ruin my life. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxfcYYiGMo 維尼
Instead of saying what I wanted to, I faked a laugh. “That’s sweet,” I said to her, praying she wouldn’t take any of it the wrong way. I was lucky enough for her to smile and then squeeze my arm tightly. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28DCuYZVzb 維尼
“She’s my sister, and I love her. But she better not come near you with any flirty approach.” she said, raising her eyebrows to me. I smiled. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡplWhdW4pua 維尼
“Don’t worry,” I assured her. “Angelica and I will never have a relationship other than friends.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq3bXbSSRE 維尼
Haven smirked. “I know,” she said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZsAIzIHy8 維尼
I chuckled and then looked down at my phone. Three messages from Dad. Now that was a cue to come home. “Hey, Haven?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡxamYZos889 維尼
“Yeah?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6Q95FJZos 維尼
“As much as I’d love to stay-” Lie. “I need to get home.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡuymkS2talE 維尼
Haven made a disappointed noise, then sat back on the expensive couch they owned. “That sucks,” she said, sighing. “But...you know, parents rules.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡcapCpGeD8E 維尼
Not knowing what else I could say to that, I nodded. “Yeah.” I was standing up when Haven took my wrist and in some way forced me turn back around and look at her. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPEMvpABIa 維尼
“Love you,” she said, smiling. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNZoV2JAr4 維尼
My insides told me to just say it. Reveal you don’t really love her, and that you never will. At least not like that. But instead, I smiled back and then said; “Love you too.” Dreading the words as they came out of my mouth. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxn5jUzN7r 維尼
I release myself from her grip and made it to the doorway. As I was about to leave, I tuned to wave goodbye to her before I closed the door behind me, breathing in the fresh air as I walked outside. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHaSagIKtR 維尼
⟴⬉⥦⥦⥦⬈⟴8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO2TRQLDax 維尼
When I got home, I was expecting either Mom or Dad to be waiting for me in the kitchen or living room. But instead, it was only my dad. He smirked at me when I walked in. My dad and I hardly really shared any genetics. I mean, other than the tall-⟴ gene I have from my grandfather, him and I hardly share anything that’s the same. Other than the brown hair and eyelashes, we’re not really the same. Yet, somehow, I became his golden son. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjwqNcpbIM 維尼
“Ezra Gatley, where have you been?” he asked me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡz80blejXnt 維尼
I looked at him. “At my girlfriend’s house,” I said, smiling. “I didn’t tell you?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQrIyErnyB
My dad shook his head, his eyebrows raised. The only reason there was no fear inside of me was because I knew he was just joking around. I had to ask him if I could take Eric’s car to go to Haven’s house anyways. He knew where I was, Dad was just giving me a hard time for no reason. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdZMz5KOGt 維尼
“Well, I’m surprised to see you after...what? Three messages from me?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0BKFdCTKZ 維尼
This was the part when I looked down at my phone and pretended to act shocked. “Oh gosh,” I said, shrugging. “Guess I forgot to look at those.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ps9xCpoIR 維尼
Dad raised one of his eyebrows, still keeping a straight face. “To your room, young man,” he said, pointing to where the staircase was. I smiled to him before gripping my phone in my hands and walking upstairs to my room, not looking behind me to see if he was laughing or not. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vnZDTpcm3 維尼
Once I walked in, my brothers were sitting on my bed, looking through the photo album I kept in my room. Typical, I thought to myself. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjpZcv4ZnM 維尼
I have two brothers, one who is older than me and the other whose younger than I am. Eric is my older brother, and Emmanuel is younger than me by six years. Like brothers are, we always tease each other about something, but we also support each other through the weirdest things. Though, I guess that’s kind of normal. I have another sibling, who’s a year older than me. And that’s Evelyn. She’s one of the only people that know my secret, and I want to keep it that way. It’ll basically be like that until I get accepted into college, anyways. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91ib4zd7Zp 維尼
“What are you doing?” I asked my brothers. Emmanuel popped his head up, some of his dirty-blonde hair falling into his face. Eric looked at me, closed the book, then stood up. Somehow, Eric is taller than me-but only by half an inch. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv3JLWkl8f 維尼
Hitting me on the arm, Eric laughed. “Where were you, man?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx3wjVoJ4D 維尼
I hit him in the exact same place where he hit me. And because I was stronger, he winced from the pain. “Why does it matter to you?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZQLXH9UA6 維尼
“Oh, come on, Ez Ace, where were you?” Emmanuel asked, putting the photo album on my desk. “You’re girlfriend’s house?” I knew he had been listening in on Eric’s conversations, because he completely over exaggerated those last two words. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8YnLg92Ky 維尼
I rolled my eyes. “Get out of my room.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCKRzuXUyM 維尼
“Yup,” Eric said, sounding proud of himself. “He was.” Emmanuel laughed, and then began making kissing noises as I glared at him. Eric smiled to Emmanuel before he looked at me, his eyes studying my face for some odd reason. I looked away from him as Emmanuel hugged me. Since he hadn’t hit puberty yet, he went right up to my waist.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpQcbayU6z 維尼
“Missed you,” he whispered, clutching onto me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYZSdNEcQU 維尼
I knew it was kinda mean, but I pushed him off of me. “You can’t hug after an insult,” I said, smiling to him. “That’s breaking the brother code.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmIwpoJSmM 維尼
“There’s a brother code?” Emmanuel asked, his eyes widening. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡznVMRBvKfL 維尼
Eric rolled his eyes, and then took Emmanuel by his arm. “Come on, E,” he said, looking down at him. “Ezra doesn’t wanna talk to us.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl87PeCmBM 維尼
I glared at him. “Bye,”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDonJEsgp3o
Leaving my room, Eric called: “Don’t forget, Ezra Ace, I’m older than you. Much older!” Rolling my eyes again, I closed the door behind me and fell onto my bed, looking up at the ceiling.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7JSvm9y1Y 維尼
There wasn’t exactly anything in my head, and for the first time ever I felt really relaxed. Nothing serious was on my mind, plus the only nerves I had were about football, and I wasn’t even worried about any of that happening. Just as he crossed my mind, there was a soft knock on my door.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm7kNv90RU 維尼
Sitting up quickly, I grabbed the door knob and opened it. Evelyn was standing there, her light brown hair now dark from a shower, and her dark blue eyes looking tired. But I was smart enough now not to say anything about it.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp50wfCEs9 維尼
“Hey big bro,” she said, halfly smiling. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyphwNSV98 維尼
I let her walk in as I closed the door behind me. “What is it?” I asked her. Instead of my voice coming out calmly like I wanted it to, it came out really demanding. Evelyn raised her eyebrows before she sat down next to me on the bed. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmKi19OgFu 維尼
“Where were you?” she asked. I shrugged, looking at the wall for a few moments before I looked back to her.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vTYUZOPQX 維尼
“Why do you need to know?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafiuCXciv6
Evelyn sighed, then smiled. “You must’ve been at your secret lover’s house then,” she said, raising her eyebrows. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1oP6t1S5N 維尼
I looked at her this time, wanting to hit her. “Say it louder,” I snapped. “I don’t think everyone in the entire house heard you.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGMZUdbJJg 維尼
Evelyn sucked in air, looking at me. “You worry way too much, Ez,” she said. “That’s probably why he has such an attitude all the time.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPKO9TPXAu 維尼
I felt rage bubble up inside of me, but I knew there’d be no point in fighting with her. “He is always like that,” I said, trying not to let his voice get into my head. “Even before I came into his life.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdEldSIgMF 維尼
Evelyn ignored me, and began looking at her hair. “What do you think you’d do if Mom and Dad found out, anyways?” she asked.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tbJyapEG1 維尼
Run away, I thought to myself, feeling shameful. Run away, and never look back. Forget the entire life I lived, because I’d never get it back. There were just so many ways they could find out, if it did happen I’d lose it. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGLPrW26Ox 維尼
“Tell them it was a joke,” I said. “Or just lie until they believed me.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHJe87XjPe 維尼
Evelyn had a sad smile on her face before she shook her head. “I wish our parents weren’t such homophobes. It would’ve been nice if they were just cool with your sexuality.” she said, looking at me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYQPmx7GTJ 維尼
I nodded, hating to know the truth. “Same here,” I muttered. “But some people aren’t about that stuff.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡApY7wXrNwe 維尼
“And it’s stupid as ⟴,” Evelyn said. I looked at her, knowing that it was my job to get onto her if she cussed, but the emotions didn’t form in me right now. She was right, it was stupid. Noticing my face, Evelyn put her head down. “Sorry. I know I shouldn’t cuss. It just makes me angry a lot of the time, and-”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡp86t31N7h5 維尼
I put my hand up, cutting her off. “It’s fine,” I said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpnkmtg1pa 維尼
Evelyn nodded, then sat back on one of my pillows. “How is he, anyways?” she asked, looking at me seriously this time.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtLlBVRAf8 維尼
I shrugged, not even knowing the answer to it. I had been trying my best to stay away from him lately, but it never works out like how I want it to. He’s openly gay, while I can’t even get one foot out of the closet. Sometimes, we argue about things like that. Or, about how I go to EastLand, and he goes to Oakwood. But I really do like being around him. It makes me feel good inside, and not like I’m being judged around him, and making sure I can see his smile at least once a day. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMvjDQhwuo 維尼
The warm feeling rose inside of me again, and I looked at Evelyn to try making it fade away. “Wanna call him?” I asked. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL1z4l68jr 維尼
Evelyn straightened her back then, nodding. “Yeah.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVct8HnUSF 維尼
Evelyn handed me my phone from my bedside table and handed it to me. I took the phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found his name. Delcan. Chills went down my spine when I read his name, but I pushed the feeling down and ignored it as I pressed FaceTime. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JC9IFN5ys 維尼
In a matter of seconds, Delcan answered his phone. I took a deep breath and waited until my phone connected. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9UvZt3UeJ 維尼
When it did, there was Delcan. His hair spiked up at the end, and his eyes squinting from the light outside. Still, I found him attractive. And I hated myself for it. He was wearing a grey shirt, and was sitting outside with his sister, Calliannah (but everyone calls her Callie). 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJLxyRyMPS 維尼
“Hey,” he said, making exact eye contact with me.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKUEU7OYME 維尼
“Hi,” I said. But instead of sounding as confident as I wanted to, my voice came out sounding weak, and I’m sure that if another word went out of my mouth, my voice would’ve cracked. Already, my palms began sweating. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe5gPDsXKg 維尼
Evelyn rolled her eyes and took my phone. “That’s sad,” she said, looking at me. Glaring at her, she turned back to the camera to look at Delcan, who was raising his eyebrows. “Hi, Delcan. What’s up?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNAbKMKwms
He shrugged. “Oh, nothing,” he said. I didn’t see his facial expression, instead I just got up and took some of the clothes off the floor and looked at Evelyn as she raised her eyebrows to me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjEBlWTBbh 維尼
“Okay,” Evelyn said, leaning back on my bed. I wanted to yell at her to get out or something, but she would’ve just shook her head and then would go back to talking to Delcan. “So I have a question for you.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tq1cOfJNq 維尼
This time, I stood up, looking at Evelyn. “Yeah?” Delcan said. What was she going to say? I panicked in my mind. Would she tell him something really embarrassing about me? Like how I still have a stuffed animal in my room? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx8K3W72iz 維尼
Okay, that sounded weird. But in my defense, it’s my grandfather’s from when he was a child, and it makes me feel closer to him when I see it. I watched my sister closely as she smiled and then opened her “brilliant” mouth.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXH2OLk5lG 維尼
“Are you coming to the football game?” Evelyn questioned.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4EUVS98QU 維尼
Relieved, I let all the air that was building up inside my legs out as I sat back down on my bed again just when Evelyn sat up. The second I sat down, Delcan moved his eyes (which were now brown. He was questioning me) and looked at me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsmnkRx8Sy 維尼
“If it makes you comfortable,” Delcan said, shrugging.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu2DcwQSKq 維尼
It took me a second to answer him. To be honest, I didn’t know if I had a problem with him going to the game or not. He was on the opposing team, number one. But I also never wanted to not allow him to go to something if he wants to. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxDTptRCvy 維尼
He could be a distraction, a voice in my mind said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05wNdpq6zW 維尼
But it’d be good to have him there. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwow9GzVW1Y 維尼
“Yeah,” I said, ignoring everything telling me to stop. “You can come. Will your family tag along?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4h9fK3dpH 維尼
Instead of answering me, he looked over at Callie. She looked at her brother, and then shrugged. “Who are we even cheering on?” she asked, sounding pretty annoyed. “Our school, or your boyfriend?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMgbDKq5yu
“Well, cheer for our school, and also cheer for Ezra secretly, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal if one of us lost, right?” Delcan asked. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvU7a8R07e 維尼
Callie rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Delcan.” she muttered, turning her phone back on again and probably going on social media. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡALc8CwAqkS 維尼
“I guess that she’s coming. And even if she doesn’t, I’m sure my mom can do her best to take us there,” Delcan said, looking away from his sister. I nodded, and looked over to my sister as she began leaning into me.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXBCVgZlzf 維尼
“You wouldn’t mind if I asked him to sit next to us, would you?” she taunted, whispering. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrZsJBEwrJ 維尼
It took everything inside of me not to hit her. “I would, actually. Please don’t.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtjAwy9WEe 維尼
Evelyn laughed, rolling her eyes. “Why don’t I have Delcan’s number?” she asked, turning her head back to the camera.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS7t4JntmP 維尼
“Because you don’t need it,” both Delcan and I said at the same time. He glanced at me for a second, and the second I saw his beautiful green eyes, I knew that my blood was already rising to my cheeks. Delcan smiled, because he knew what effect he had on me. And gosh, it was strong. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbu3Kr9D1b 維尼
“I’m just saying, you’re adorable when you blush,” Delcan said, winking to me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb05ibnjcb 維尼
“Stop it,” I said laughing. But him and I both knew I wasn’t serious. I couldn’t help it, that made me feel good. It always does when Delcan flirts with me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wjuy5S8zC 維尼
Evelyn glanced between the two of us before she looked back at Delcan. “So are you sure you’ll make it to the game?” Evelyn questioned.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1MthPOi04 維尼
Delcan simply nodded. “Yup,” he said. “So...how’s that girlfriend of yours?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMWc9m4IRp 維尼
I told Delcan about Haven probably the night after we first kissed. It might not have been the best time to have said something about it, but I told him. Even though he’s never met her before, I have a pretty clear thought that he hates Haven. “Don’t be like that,” I said, shaking my head at him. “She’s good, though. I was just over at her house.”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g31DKfLkj
“Did you two kiss?” Evelyn asked, cutting in. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX2cYp0LPX 維尼
I shook my head. “No,” I said. But I did say that I loved her, which is much worse than kissing. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHPwFTs9U2 維尼
“Good,” Delcan said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1bY6LrRwp 維尼
Evelyn and I both smiled, but I looked at the window in my room instead of back to the camera. It was sometimes hard to be with two different people, especially because one of them has quite an attitude.733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemENUhMHTp
“Hang on,” Evelyn said, holding up her hand. “How did you two even meet if you went to different schools?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnxwIEIT4a 維尼
Delcan raised his eyebrows, looking at me. “Wanna answer that one?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7t0J7EaJN 維尼
I was about to, seriously, this time I was. But then, the thought came into my mind again. It was at a pep rally against Oakwood for our volleyball team tournament. Since it was at Oakwood anyways, we just decided it would be best to allow them there too. So, I was sitting next to Haven and her friends when I could’ve killed myself because of how boring it was. Haven had almost sprained her ankle during practice, she wasn’t able to play in the game. I finally got bored of what she was talking about and went to the bathroom, trying to chill out. I didn’t even use the bathroom, I was just done with being around Haven the entire day. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjD4btDFRR 維尼
Then, Delcan walked into the bathroom, cursing about something that happened. I was instantly awestruck by him. Delcan is one of those people who clearly look athletic, and you came basically tell from a glance that he has abs. It didn’t help that his eyes change color depending on his mood, one of the things that made me look at him even more. I was still trying to keep my eyes away when he introduced himself to me. I learned quickly that he was from Oakwood, and that he was athletic. We were talking for about three minutes before I just introduced myself as gay, which made him shocked and kind of cool at the same time because his response was: “Cool, I am too.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRCLoFNTay 維尼
I remembered when I tried to act like it was cool by nodding, but I had a feeling my cheeks were already beginning to grow red. He must’ve known I was the quarterback, because he asked me this next: “I’m guessing you aren’t out yet?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa0JGgElhy
“What makes you think that?” I asked him, my voice coming out like I wanted it to be a challenge. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nYjtWRbCp 維尼
Delcan smiled when I said that, and I remembered my feet feeling weird as I looked at him. He asked me if I’d ever wanted to hang out, and I just responded with a quick nod before I began trying to think of ways that I could ask for his number. Instead, being the person he is, he simply asked to call his younger sister from my phone, but actually put his number in it. Smooth, a lot smoother than I would’ve been. And...it went on from there. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡIup1Ne0HYH 維尼
“Hello…?” Evelyn said, snapping her fingers so I would go back to reality. “Earth to Ezra.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYfJy46ghy 維尼
I shook my head and closed my eyes for a few seconds, trying not to think of moments too hard. “Sorry, what were we talking about?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WC6BaStxo 維尼
“When you and I met. What, were you thinking about it or something?” Delcan asked, smiling to me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MEE7JHkXf 維尼
I shook my head, biting my lip so that I wouldn’t smile. “No,” I said. “I was about to have another great memory, but Miss Evelyn Taylore messed that up.” Evelyn raised her eyebrows when I said her middle name, but had no commentary. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTVphciJJJ 維尼
“Anyways,” Delcan said, looking at my sister. “My aunt just got to our house. I gotta go.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuALlhdQub 維尼
Though I wanted him to stay longer, I knew there’d be no working through Delcan’s parents. Both of them are really formal about dinners, especially when other people are invited to them. One time, I had to wear one of my dad’s ties because of how formal I needed to be presented at their house. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzhaOQ0IrB 維尼
“Dang it,” Evelyn said, pressing her nails on her hand. “I thought that I could at least get some answers from you. Ezra never talks about his love life.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVcEAWCpb8 維尼
“Lower your voice, Evelyn,” I muttered between my teeth. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tZ79Y46Sx 維尼
Evelyn looked at me before she rolled her eyes. I don’t care how much she finds out, Mom and Dad won’t be okay with any of it. Delcan, who clearly felt awkward, cleared his throat so that the two of us would look at him. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QvkK0Q6Zq 維尼
“Well, I have to go,” he said. Callie looked at him before she stood up and left, probably going back to get dressed. “Bye guys. And, I’ll let you know what it’s like to be on the winning team at a football game.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡl028QYViP0 維尼
I rolled my eyes to that. “Yeah right, Delcan. Bye,” I said, hanging up the phone. I could probably call him later, when everyone else in the house was asleep. You know what, it’d be better to text him than Dad suddenly hearing his voice in the middle of the night. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBxZM0IaMs 維尼
Making herself comfortable, Evelyn sprawled out on my bed. “So...anything you wanna talk about?” she asked, clearly wanting to hear more about Delcan. But I wasn’t giving out that information.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGDGBNDtZP 維尼
“Nope,” I said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwgLHHk7MO 維尼
Evelyn raised one of her eyebrows. “Why can’t I know anything?” she asked Her voice didn’t really seem annoyed, just like she wished I would share more about my life with her, which would never even happen. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9Mlh0AUIK 維尼
“Why would you even want to know, Evelyn?” I asked her. “I’ve told you enough as it is.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlyqVfmD7S 維尼
Evelyn nodded. “I know,” she said. “But I feel better when you’re open to me about things, and it makes me feel closer to my older brother who always hides who he is.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPuyCqCH6U 維尼
It wasn’t that I liked hiding who I was, it was just something I’ve grown into over the years. I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut about things when I didn’t need to talk, and for me never to even think about Delcan when I’m in public. Things have worked for most of my life, and I know how to hide things now. It’s just that-opening up to people about things is still really hard for me to do. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAmlBhsxlO 維尼
And things didn’t help that Dad always pressured me to be his perfect son, his perfect example for everyone else to follow. He told everyone in our neighborhood about me. Everyone. People knew who I was, and they knew the expectations that I was meant to follow. Keeping quiet about things just kind of came naturally after 6th grade, I guess. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTMzUFZtvM 維尼
“Evelyn,” I said. “You know I try, but some things aren’t always that easy to just say. Plus, whatever you do need to know, you’ll find out when I have to tell you. Not now.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwI0v8MmnC2 維尼
Upset, Evelyn sighed. But I knew she understood. My parents had always been this way, even when they were married. “Okay,” she said, beginning to stand up from my bed, her light brown hair falling over her shoulders as she did. “Well, talk to me if you ever need to.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡscAZnK425N 維尼
I nodded, and then waited for her to leave my room before I laid back down on my bed. Sometimes, I really did wish people knew about who I really was. Most of the time, I hardly even know if I like it, or if I’m ashamed of it all. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYDfm5oVqE 維尼
Oddly, Delcan was in my mind again. It was his laugh, the one I always loved hearing. With almost everything, Delcan seemed so confident and proud at what he was doing, it was kind of hard not to smile when he talked about his life. I’d always found it weird that I was drawn to him the way I am, but hey, my heart wants what it wants. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡdolSFbXaIt 維尼
Just as my mind was about to shift away from Delcan and all the extra-credit homework I needed to do, my phone went off, having the ringtone that I’d set for my mom. I picked up my phone and looked at the message. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4yAuVPPrI 維尼
Mom: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvnZy42oA7 維尼
Come see me in my room. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPnhOP0bKz 維尼
Seeing the words just made me freak out. I didn’t know why, but it all just seemed like a lot. I never get in trouble, ever. So whatever this was about, I needed to think of something I could cover myself for. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsJr3stHKI 維尼
But there was nothing that popped into my head. My body already felt hopeless, so I just responded with okay, and then walked down the hallway to my parents room. Emmanuel was sitting outside the hallway, playing with some of the toys that Mom had let him keep. I sighed, because I knew how annoyed my dad would’ve been with all of this. Unlike Eric, Evelyn, and I, Emmanuel hasn’t even started on his sports career yet, and Dad gets even more pissed off by the day that he’s still playing with toys. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2axW8DwX0 維尼
Emmanuel must’ve heard me, because he looked up and smiled. “Hi, Ez.” I made my way over to him and began picking up some of the toys. Emmanuel’s eyes got wide as he snatched back one of the toys from my hand. “What are you doing?!”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hEF8qoNMN 維尼
“Picking these up,” I said. My voice sounded more tired than I’d wanted it to, but I could care less. “You can only play with these in your room, E. I told you that already.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW6g9rzkOY 維尼
Emmanuel watched me as I put most of what he was playing with in his room, pressing his lips together as I moved back and forth. When there was one toy left, a car, I handed it to him. “Here.”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRQBLGSUoO
“What do you want me to do with it?” Emmanuel asked, looking at the toy like it was something Eric had cooked.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzblUif7zh2 維尼
I shrugged. “Play with it,” I said. “Just make sure Dad doesn’t see you.” I was about to walk off and leave when Emmanuel rushed up behind me and wrapped me in another hug. This time, I let him do it. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CJRsbMkFZ 維尼
“Yes?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoaf5U3Nzt
“Why are you going in Mom and Dad’s room?” he asked, still holding onto me tightly. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMYw1ysckw 維尼
I turned back around and bended down to his height so that it’d be easier for him to make eye contact with me. “I don’t really know.”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ6Ab3eXDs
“Did you do something?” Emmanuel asked, raising his eyebrows. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KK4QfL9q7 維尼
Again, I shrugged. “Maybe,” I said. “But it doesn’t matter, okay? Go play in your room for a little bit.” Emmanuel nodded before he pulled me into a hug again, his hands clutching onto me tightly. I wished we could get some medicine or something to make sure he won’t be so clingy all the time, but Dad believed he would grow out of it or something. But all of us knew that he wouldn’t. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5m17VENLd 維尼
“Bye, Ez.” he said. I didn’t respond to him and waited for his arms to release around me. When they did, he ran into his room, shutting the door softly behind him. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxe3TkIPdF 維尼
Now that he was out of the way, I took a deep breath before I kept on walking down the hallway. It felt like I was in a horror movie while I was walking down that hallway, checking every corner like someone would step out and murder me at any given second. But our house had high security, and I knew something like that would never really happen. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdIFrL7O5K 維尼
Still, I felt my stomach do a backflip when I opened up the door to my parents room and walked in. Mom was sitting on her bed, flipping through something on the new iPad she’d boughten last week, and Dad was sitting on the other side of the bed, going through some of the fancy ties he owned. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMSOVgpmQz 維尼
“Hi, mom,” I said. “You needed me for something?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhWaHMDYFG
My mom looked up and smiled at me. Unlike her first three children, my mom has dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes. Though Eric and Evelyn have the same eye color as her, Emmanuel was the only one to receive her hair color. But all of us got the innocent look from her, which I’ll be honest, helps me a lot. “Hi baby,” she said. When she said ‘baby’ to me, that gave me the hint she didn’t know anything. Maybe I was in the clear. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57MahNOkBJ 維尼
“Hey,” I said. I gave her a friendly smile and then sat down next to her on her side of the bed. “What’s up?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAsS03KOm4 維尼
Mom set down her iPad as she looked at me. “I didn’t even mean to text you to come in here, but I guess this is better, anyways. I really just wanted to know if you’ve been practicing for the game or not.” she said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ132dKPI7xS 維尼
I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, because this meant I wasn’t actually in trouble for anything. But instead, I just smiled to her. “Of course I have, Mom,” I said. My mom wasn’t too hard to please compared to my dad, so I knew just talking to her kindly about things would get the conversation over with quickly. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FDs8sby33 維尼
My mom nodded. “That’s good,” she said. She rubbed her temple softly before she looked back at me. “Could I have a hug, sweetheart.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vzY5cQwt5 維尼
I nodded and then wrapped my arms around her. She must have a headache or something, because she seems tired and restless compared to how she usually is at this time period. When I let go of her, I began messing with my hands-but on one side of me so that Dad wouldn’t see it. “Are you feeling sick?” I asked her.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoq0RhLeKE 維尼
My mom shrugged. “A little bit,” she said. “But nothing I can’t get over in a few days, Ezra.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhxDonM97v 維尼
“Okay,” I said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91EG1Fm8eS 維尼
It would’ve been the time for me to leave at that moment, but I knew that leaving when I wasn’t supposed to was one of the main violations to my father. I stayed in place and waited for either my mom to say something, or for my dad to begin asking me about sports. Lucky for me, Mom cleared her throat before she calmly asked me; “Do you want me to make you a plate for dinner?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbZy27M1fh 維尼
“Yeah,” I said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoC4Ij1zdl 維尼
“Didn’t you eat at your girlfriend’s house?” Dad asked me, raising his eyebrows. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTycPu9h2Yq 維尼
I looked at him and made sure the words I said were perfectly planned out. “I did,” I said, dragging the word a little bit. “But...seafood isn’t one of my favorite things in the world, so I try my best not to eat as much of it.”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1RDKbduoB
“You wasted their food, Ezra?” Mom asked me, giving the same expression that Dad did when I lied about already eating. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GlO3tokKL 維尼
I shook my head. “No!” I said. “I did eat it, but I could use something that actually tastes good for a change.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5hnciJO0n 維尼
This time, both of them were silent, but I could feel my Dad’s glare on me. His eyes were staring at me cold and hard, I just knew it. But looking at him would make the glare even worse, so I kept my eyes on my mom, who was nodding slowly. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡamEROiBzIs 維尼
“Okay then, baby,” she said, patting my thigh. “I’ll make sure to cook a bit more.”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxdEKHXi5G
I nodded, still waiting for my signal to go. When Dad gestured towards the doorway, I said goodbye to both of them and then walked out of the room, steadying my heartbeat. It was harder than ever to be in the same room with the two of them. Mom wanted all of her boys to stay “her babies”, while Dad though all of us should’ve grown by the time we were 9. Like always, there’s no winning with my parents. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPZU8FszC3 維尼
Evelyn was back in her room, doing her homework-so I actually had some space to myself for today. Sitting down on my bed, I had a few seconds to myself before my phone went off. I recognized the ring and smirked. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLBbZ7i9PV 維尼
If you asked me why I set Delcan’s ringtone to what it was, I probably still wouldn’t be able to tell you. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv2om5YkxR 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK4tZxvfKo 維尼
Hey, I just wanted to ask you if you were actually ok with me going to the game. I wouldn’t want to distract you.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU2uuVq3Za 維尼
Btw, your sister is adorable. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xAtBSmfxH 維尼
I shook my head, smiling. Everyone usually thinks my sister is this adorable teenager who knows nothing other than being a good daughter, but I’ve seen her other side. And believe me when I say this, it isn’t cute. Yeah, she smiles and hugs me in public all the time, but she’s only like that when people are watching. I still have a burn on my chest from a burn she gave me when the two of us were eight. All I did was joke around and steal one of her baby dolls, and she lashed out on me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYW2ELzlQz 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAbLntKnJy 維尼
I’m fine with you coming to the game, but you’re wrong about my sister. She’s a monster. I have all the scars to prove it. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOdhgNklQN 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAhVhdmrja 維尼
Show me then. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1gbjnOUU5 維尼
Just as I began pulling my shirt over my head, I thought about what would’ve happened if Mom or Dad walked in. How would I even explain that to them? Or worse, Emmanuel could come in here. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sbiK1cPla 維尼
I got off my bed quickly and shut the door, locking it behind me. You never know with siblings in the house. I took a picture of the burn on my chest and then took a picture of the bruise I got from just a few weeks ago. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU2gduS9bV 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVmGHbhF6V 維尼
Dang, I didn’t know she could hit. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡayYuyQEPL4 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4f0HWmiLE 維尼
Yup…8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPlxXo6m4x 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLcVRjrD9l 維尼
I always wondered if that burn was a birthmark or something…8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvvgW4rHoM 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWy9CSB9a17 維尼
I’m deleting that! 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEMajXJlQm 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI7NClARck 維尼
Okay, okay, I’ll stop. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSPLjEQ2WR 維尼
Anyways, after the game, can we talk about something?8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw1oumRzKD 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhGtue6m1j 維尼
Is it something bad?8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgGxOmsHY2 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwdNzLdixX 維尼
Depends...can you make it over to my house after football?8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCKCuHqfeq 維尼
I don’t care how desperate or sound this sounds, or whatever, I was willingly saying yes. There was no pauses while I texted him back. I would always ditch anything for Delcan, and I still didn’t know why. It was just something about him that always made me feel good about myself. And whatever I can get of that needs to be as much as possible. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3mt6cTQ4S 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHMZnfDpvT 維尼
Yeah. I’ll tell my parents I’m spending the night at my friends house or with Haven. They’ll believe me, promise. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnvbdLBqVw 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTPuecOStI 維尼
Do your parents even look through your phone? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yqeTpu1ZX 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7TF6tRZZ9 維尼
Not unless I’ve been acting really strange. Why?8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIP26Bn8ll 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uOhQSGnsN 維尼
Well if they do, I suggest that you delete half of this entire conversation, because they’ll know where you are. Is my address in your phone? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpgOOblwto 維尼
If Delcan’s address was in my phone, I should probably delete it by now. I know all of the easiest roads to get to his house, so having it on Google Maps would just be pointless now. I deleted it off my phone before I responded to him, lying anyways. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwOuwLTnpP 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPzO44MlgE 維尼
I can’t remember, Delcan. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC75OCYyCp 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZRs79BS2O 維尼
Of course you can’t. Buy you make up for it because of how cute you are. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeZSPFdnNy 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CJWUhjJVk 維尼
Have you been looking at my Instagram? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDjw6InboR 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡESUhX5goXW 維尼
I basically have Instagram for that reason, Ezra. And don’t be weirded out by it, it’s a couple thing. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3LI3cC7Ti 維尼
Trust me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtQtBayZOU 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tqvnKUlg0 維尼
Whatever. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33jbrY2Uzo 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7bbI2TkEQ 維尼
Don’t play hard to get when you’ve already been stolen. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0EmpSddaz 維尼
My parents told me to put up the phone and talk to my aunt. Gotta go. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNro4V8pXSO 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XRagzK55r 維尼
Oh, okay. See you later? 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxSHkCxUeZ 維尼
Delcan: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70H0J972rr 維尼
As always, Ez. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlKH9pn3lA 維尼
I knew that my cheeks were red, so I put my phone away. He’d sent that kissing face emoji, and I smiled before I sent one back, deleting the message right after that. About three minutes after I’d finally began watching Netflix, my phone went off for the third time. I growled like an animal and grabbed my phone, putting it next to me on my bed. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡsStHFQ56PT 維尼
All of the messages were from Haven, and every single one of them made me pretty annoyed by her at the moment. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8JnRUVAez 維尼
Haven Bronx: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡswI8LRZkzF 維尼
Hey! 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡbakxjbV02a 維尼
I know you’re busy, but I need to ask you something…8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡB24tlOLaR5 維尼
Do you remember your ex-girlfriend from 7th to 9th grade? If u do, talk to me tomorrow before the game starts. Love you! Oh, and Angelica said hi. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8Wgq3m3Nf 維尼
It may sound rude, but I could care less about Angelica and her “kindness”. Instead, I was more confused about her second message. First off, what could Haven possibly want to talk to me about now? And second, what was Evvie doing back in town so early. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h1s8FtW2s 維尼
Evvie and I haven’t talked since she left with her dad, but I’m pretty sure I still had her number. I scrolled through my contacts until I found my “ex-girlfriend”’s name. Evvie Hamill. Her number was still there and everything, and all I had to do was text her. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWW2ztTPSn 維尼
Me: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvTWZYBKLV 維尼
Hey, Evvie, it’s Ezra Gatley. I know we haven’t talked in a while but I just wanted to say hi. Well, that’s halfy true. Truth is, one of my friends told me that you were back in town (which is super cool, by the way), and I just wanted to ask you if the two of you talked about anything. The same amount of people still know, including someone else, but I won’t get into that. Anyways, if you wanna meet up somewhere, I’d be fine with that too. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxfq5IO1T9 維尼
Missed you, Eve. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSgMlMurS4 維尼
Alright, the message might’ve been a little long, but it was enough information for her to roll with. Plus, I think it was enough considering we haven’t talked in two years. A few seconds later, she replied. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRBzGKAdEL 維尼
Evvie Hamill: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNpGmqA2qJ 維尼
Hi, Ezra! And yup, I’m back in town. Trust me, nobody knows about your secret right now other than who you told. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT2PS2TtE8 維尼
But who is the other person??8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2Bfxnjup9 維尼
Me:8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR9ab8TbBe 維尼
I don’t want to text about this…8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29C3AJ9pWo 維尼
Call?733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOOXFFQAT4
733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRwBOUMveJ
8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvMXNg7HTX 維尼
Evvie Hamill: 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JGEN9rV8j 維尼
Yeah, sure. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYaMC3ERWf 維尼
When my phone fully showed the contact picture I’d given her, I had completely forgotten about it. It was Evvie and I in her backyard. I was holding her on my back while she had her arms wrapped around my neck. Both of us were laughing, and I think that the two of us were swimming or something-because I was in my swim trunks and she was in a bikini. Evvie’s dark brown hair was in a high ponytail, and her eyes were filled with excitement. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ874fUnZYCE 維尼
I had a feeling her dad knew we were never actually dating. He probably just went with it because that’s what made sense, and he wasn’t bothered by the two of us being such close friends. I actually realized now how much I missed the two of us being friends, because the two of us were always there for each other. But after the falling out of her parents, we tried our best to stay in contact, but Haven hates that I was talking to my “ex” and so the two of us basically drifted away. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡeakGRfFFMC 維尼
Quickly, I picked up the phone. “Hey.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcopxkBsNM 維尼
“Ezra, hi!” Evvie exclaimed. I missed that excitement in her voice. “How have you been?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgjg07EqqY 維尼
I shrugged, unlocking my door so that Mom or Dad wouldn’t be suspicious about me having my door locked. “Good,” I said. “You?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGC1dh31sI6
“I’m great,” Evvie said, still sounding pretty happy. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIbZSqudWV 維尼
There was silence on the phone. Honestly, though, what do you say to your ex-best friend that you haven’t even talked to since the first day of last summer. I had no clue what to even say, which I guess would be my excuse when Evvie suddenly asked; “Who was the other person you told?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d8hAEiQAg 維尼
“Told what?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl6mRkJxnD 維尼
Evvie laughed. “Don’t be like that,” she said. “In the text you sent, your exact words-and I quote-were ‘The same amount of people still know, including someone else.’ Who?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpnAUhKLpa 維尼
Crap. I should really check what I’ve texted before I decide to send it. “Right,” I said, already knowing how awkward my voice probably sounded. “No one.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A0w5B0RmK 維尼
“No one?” Evvie laughed. “Are you sure?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgyzFjmE6P 維尼
I nodded. “Yup.”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDS8ZRtXnb6
Evvie was silent for a few seconds before she sighed. “Can I at least get a gender…?” she begged. I wondered why, but it felt like she was smiling or something.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8RHBK5ns3 維尼
“Then it’ll give away the person,” I whined, sounding just like Emmanuel did when he was forced to eat something nasty.733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwPT6TErNm
Evvie laughed. “A guy then, right?” When I didn’t answer her, she laughed again. “It’s about time you found someone, Ezra Gatley.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQI9l5H3U4 維尼
I rolled my eyes, but already knew that I was blushing like crazy. “How do you even know it’s a guy I’m dating? It could be Travis, or Adam...or-”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd0xcKbi07 維尼
“Ezra,” Evvie interrupted. “By the way your voice sounds, I have a feeling it’s someone you have a crush on if not dating them. One of the two, tell me about him.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHqnu5jgLr 維尼
I shook my head, already feeling wrong. “I’m not having girl talk with you, Eve.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGE9P4HHFn 維尼
“Already sounds like it, Ez.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3KvXZYz9m 維尼
The saddest thing was, she’s right. I was hardly even acting like a teenage boy at the moment, anyways. Not l really was a normal one, anyways. “Yeah, okay,” I muttered. “His-” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCL0UJhIpp 維尼
“It’s okay, Ez,” Evvie said, her voice sounding supportive. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd505ABt3q 維尼
No, I wanted to. It felt better when I got things off my chest, especially with people that I seriously trust. “His name is Delcan.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nEgEarLXH 維尼
“Oh, sounds like someone who’s hot.” Evvie responded. I raised my eyebrows and she must’ve caught herself. “Sorry, that was probably way too much. Last name?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKfVefStx3
“Delcan Heslop.” I said. Yeah, you don’t have to tell me, it’s a weird last name. I have no idea why it’s that last name, especially because he’s Cuban, but oh well, I’m going with it. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcY5EAVKcE 維尼
Evvie was hesitant for a second before she said; “Delcan Helsop?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡih9cA1R0N9 維尼
I nodded, not understanding why she as acting so weird about all of this. “Yeah,” I said. “What is it?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABHXXrqAS8
“Nothing,” Evvie responded. “How about something else? How has school-”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7kciC8qXV 維尼
“Where are you right now?” I asked her.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgCF5jomhM 維尼
Evvie was silent before she cleared her throat. “At my mom’s house,” Evvie said. “Why?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa2ZIPsPph 維尼
I stood up and pulled my shirt back over my head, putting the phone on speaker so it wouldn’t be so hard. “I wanted to see you,” I said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡn67t7n3vtE 維尼
“Oh,” Evvie said. It was hard to tell if her voice was shocked or not, but she then laughed. “Sure.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQTFQ713V4 維尼
I was putting on my shoes when I began messing my hair up a little bit. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll be there in a few seconds.” Knowing exactly where Evvie’s house was, so I wasn’t worried at all about trying to find her mom’s house. Okay, that sounded creepy. But I didn’t mean it in that way. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡefuaFbx8Ao 維尼
“Got it,” Evvie sighed. “Bye, Ezra.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NdHFYQIlU 維尼
“Peace.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQu0lpsMN9 維尼
She hung up the phone so I wouldn’t have to and let me fix my shirt before I left my room. I knew that the keys to my parent’s cars were in their room, so I just went to Eric’s room so I could take his keys. Turns out, he was making out with a girl. Don’t know when, or how she got there, but she was making out with my brother. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKZM6JLjC1 維尼
I cleared my throat and waited for the both of them to look up at me. The second I saw her blonde hair, I realized it was Janice Hart. She was in my fifth period class, and was also a year younger than Eric was. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq1GQhHofe 維尼
Eric raised his eyebrows. “What do you want?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gPP79hQDw
“A ride,” I said, making sure to keep my eyes off of Janice, who I’m pretty sure had a hickey on her neck. “I won’t tell Mom and Dad that you and Janice are making out. Deal?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAeKARxnIj 維尼
Eric laughed without any humor in his voice. “⟴ no. Get out.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnR1ieQovK 維尼
I nodded. “Okay, fine. Can I take your car then?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2z6tLVxiF 維尼
“Why are you even asking me, dude?” Eric asked, sitting up. Janice moved away from him, but she was looking at me now. “Just be home by ten, okay?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ow4xqeQe1
“Got it, Dad.” I said, grabbing the car keys he had on his dresser. I closed the door behind me just before I could hear what Janice was trying to say to me. Going down the stairs quickly, I found where Eric’s car was in the garage. Once I’d gotten in, I turned on the car and began driving over to Evvie’s house. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJFtuqe6SX 維尼
⟴⬉⥦⥦⥦⬈⟴8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH6WZNhcfk 維尼
When I pulled into the Hamill driveway, I got out of the car and went up the front steps. The second I rang the doorbell, Evvie’s mom was at the door. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpPwVUaC53 維尼
Ms. Hamill acted like she seemed to forget all about me. One of her dark brown eyebrows were raised as she put her hand on her hip. “Hello?”733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cpSga5PoB
“Ezra Gatley,” I said, smiling to her. “I’m here to see Evvie if that’s alright.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJttgGuUwX 維尼
She slowly nodded, eyeing me up and down. I sighed and wiped my sweating hands on my jeans, feeling the cold stare Ms. Hamill was giving me. “Okay..alright,” she said, as if she was deciding or not that it would be a good idea to say yes or no. “EVVIE!” she yelled. I had to turn away from her because of how much it hurt my ears, but she really didn’t seem to care. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5PmNLkxNN 維尼
A few seconds later, Evvie came downstairs. Her hair color was the same as it was in 9th grade-dark brown and wavy-but it was longer. He smiled to me and it was clear she had lost some weight. She was wearing skinny jeans and a black tank top with a multicolor shaw. Dang, she’d changed a lot. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FzPnmZuY2 維尼
“Ezra!” she cried, now wrapping me in a hug. I returned the hug and breathed in her scent, which was like a weirdly enjoyable smell of cinnamon and vanilla. I really did miss the two of us being best friends. When she pulled away from the hug, she smiled again. “How do you even continue growing?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4Gv7rbE0z 維尼
I smiled. “Don’t know,” I said. Last year, I was 5’11, and I guess the summer just bumped up my height a lot. “How is Alaska?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq6MYCuI59 維尼
She shrugged, rolling her eyes. “It’s Alaska. But...I missed my best friend and ‘ex-boyfriend.’” she said, winking to me. I laughed, even though there was this really weird feeling that Ms. Hamill was still eyeing me. Evvie looked back at her mom before she grabbed my hand and took me up the stairs, closing the door behind her. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡqutcI6bERE 維尼
Nothing about Evvie’s room had changed. She still had sky blue walls, and pictures of her family members. There was even still pictures of her dad around her room, which I guess is one of the reasons why her mom might never come in here. There were also some pictures from the school danes we used to have in junior high, plus a few pretty weird ones that most of us must’ve taken just for the heck of it. Even some pictures of Mexico and the flag. Yeah, Evvie loves her photography. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMUNisbRDy 維尼
Evvie fell on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. “I’m so happy that my mom kept my room.” she said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBpS5y121p 維尼
I laughed and sat down on her bed next to her, remembering all the times we used to just lay on this bed and talk. Mainly, it was all about my issues. But sometimes, there’d be something else that Evvie would be going through. The last time we were in this room together is when she was moving, and she’d asked if I wanted to keep in contact. Of course, I said yes. But we all know how that ended out. She looked over to me and I smiled to her.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSgwFSnKOM 維尼
“So...about Delcan Heslop,” she said, raising her eyebrows. I already could feel myself blushing. “Does he go to school with you?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡckS8aFAci1 維尼
I shook my head. “He actually goes to Oakwood.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0n4MBLc9j 維尼
733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6W45VheTa
Evvie sat up and looked at me. “Hang on...you’re dating someone from our opposing school? Oh my gosh, Ezra!” she said, covering her mouth like I’d said something evil. One thing you’d have to know about teenagers and high schools, there will usually be two of them, and most of the time, those two high schools are always in competition. EastLand against Oakwood, hat’s always as it has been. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡygitUSQgL4 維尼
“What?” I asked. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡithzoznS7v 維尼
Evvie raised her eyebrows. “This has to be a prank, right? You’re still on the football team I’m guessing, so is Delcan?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0gaqnJxK3 維尼
733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeKU2AESeW
I shook my head. “He’s a boxer,” I said. “And I promise, we already talked about all of that. He hates the guys on the Oakwood football team, anyways.” And I’m not blaming Delcan for it at all. The football guys at Oakwood really aren't the best, and I’m not saying that from how they play, I actually mean their personalities too. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡXapQtPtvWk 維尼
“Whatever. Have you two kissed?” Evvie asked, sounding eager. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24Na2Nu4pd 維尼
I raised my eyebrows. “You're fangirling,” I said. “Please stop.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S9Z2J0MqR 維尼
“Sorry,” she said, shaking her head. “But I was just asking you a simple question. And I will make sure my tone isn’t like that, okay?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡef1gbXJBNb 維尼
This is also one of the reasons why I don’t want to come out. Girls are just weird around a guy-guy couple. I feel like the person I’m dating for sure wouldn’t mind opening his mouth and saying something about it, too. “Yes, we’ve kissed before,” I said. It would’ve been rude to not answer her question, anyways. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoIfaKWRum 維尼
“Is he good at kissing?” she asked me. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxLFJq4w7L 維尼
I rolled my eyes, feeling really uncomfortable. “Enough, okay? Why are you suddenly so interested in who I’m dating?” I didn’t mean for my voice to sound so cold, but it came out that way. And on top of that, I couldn’t even call Delcan my boyfriend. It just felt weird. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iaXgmPLc7 維尼
She paused for a second, her face expressionless. “I just wanted to know about him. And in case you wanted to know, I’m not seeing anyone. And if I was, I’m positive you would’ve done the same thing.” she said. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpaW0Ga5hO 維尼
I sighed, because she really did have a point. “So are you coming to the game tomorrow?” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkoTuf6fzB 維尼
Evvie shrugged. “I didn’t even know there was one,” she said. “But...is Delcan coming to the game?” she asked, teasing me by hitting my arm. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUM5uxmMNa 維尼
I rolled my eyes and laughed, hitting her back. “He is,” I said. “But he’s going for his school, not ours.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEEfOI987q 維尼
Evvie pouted her lips. “What a waste,” she said. I looked at her again before she laughed. “Kidding, kidding.”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrGgQG700E 維尼
733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUR3Su4Ons
I smiled to her before I checked the time. It was almost dinner, I’d be fine for another thirty minutes. “Do you know him from something?” I asked her. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡziQnnnTgII 維尼
“Why?” Evvie asked curiously. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLPWNWft3I 維尼
“Because,” I said. “You sounded like you knew him on the phone or something.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvUyarjV3o 維尼
Evvie blinked before she nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said. How does she even know him? “Well, I don’t know him, but I do know his sister. Is her name Calliannah?”8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡngFZv0grlE 維尼
733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwnrcRVolv
Delcan told me that if I even called Callie by her actual name, he wouldn’t stop Callie from kicking me in the nuts. Which, I only accepted because I needed to respect the rules their family had, including Callie’s. Because getting Callie to like me meant more of an impact for Delcan’s relationship with me. Okay, I need to stop. Focus on real life, Ezra. Focus on real life.8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zjwldHP2t 維尼
“Yeah,” I said, not even trying to go into mentioning that she doesn’t like being called that. 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡ551amEFIRC 維尼
Evvie bit her lip. “Yup, I know him,” she said. “I’ve seen him in the police station jail before.” 8964 copyright protection729ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMPkA0v2Cw 維尼
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