In the Last Chapter: 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4x3N9OSAC
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg0Vy7pZa0
What I did do, though, was check up on Evvie. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NBGZxK5rW
Me:
Hey. Just checking up on you.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60zp2p9UQw
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEieqfIjQ5j
Evvie:
I’m okay, Ezie. You don’t need to be so worried.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvva1QMTBHn
Delcan:
Can we talk? 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH0AJuLK6q
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaKPDdSiSy
Me:
I know. But we don’t have to talk about that, of course. There are other things, too.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkKuwCtEh1
Evvie:
Other things like..? 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYj9R3lj7i
Oh, great. Leave me with something to find out. I spent around five minutes thinking of a topic before texting my best friend back. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF6gYX5FEo
Me:
The dance?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasven4V2UC
Evvie:
Oh, no. Gosh. That’s going to be so annoying! Ugh.
Hey, are you taking anyone specific?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2C3GVtMai
Me:
No.
I don’t even think he’s into that stuff in the first place.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyctXi7G4y
Evvie:
Yeah...but I wanna see him in a tux. You’re lying if you don’t wanna.
Oh! My mom said hi.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TR44LSovu
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3PLzu4j4q
Evvie:
No, it honestly isn’t. Haven’s not so bad when you get to know her.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G83ttoRRD
Me:
I told you!813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJTEF5JpWO
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIVKdvqLHL
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcW5K1ofpV
Evvie:
Oh, great. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZmqsNnpw5
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyNUAYZaWP
Me:
I guess I’ll find out later or something.
Are you gonna go dress shopping or something? 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu9XJBWJU6
Evvie:
Ha, with who?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPuUCDliuE
Me:813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hQeYLoA56
I think Evelyn is going with Callie. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you coming with them. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivKhV7aT9K
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23dKaSUW32
It wasn’t like I could even relate to her. I went out of her contact and texted Delcan quickly, hoping he’d respond.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMpityN3e8
Me:
Yeah, of course. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1bsDmnpg0
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErSmWFxXox
Me:
Yeah, that would be pretty crazy.
Have you finished your homework?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOS0uYWBOO
Evvie:813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxMzyd8VbI
Holy crap. You’re so annoying!
Of course, I haven’t! I’m guessing you have…813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXsG0Ni6bs
Me:
Well...yeah.
But while I was doing my homework, my mom said something.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpkVAV9y45
Evvie:
Spill it.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnew8To6NAM
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.”813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9Rz8zWUHT
Evvie:
….
THAT’S SO SWEET OMFG.
EZ THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE DOESN’T CARE HOLY CRAP DID YOU TELL HER?!! 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4pA53c5hg
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvvd5OPXDF
Me:
No, I didn’t.
Instead, I used the “I’m not a virgin” card on her.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yK9cVYbci
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISE1UPJJSw
Me:
She knows because Dad made a huge announcement about it and then bought me a watch.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq74Bj1Vkx3
Evvie:
Lemme guess...Rolex.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RGEbgoIdi
Me:
Now guess the watch.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhn3yRs80w
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQslCSZ1SC
Me:
Correct.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSwkzlWCKa
Evvie:
Wow. That’s crazy.
Besides that, though...did she believe you?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHxHcXzXbM
Me:813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiPHdaUQ3a
I couldn’t tell, really. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3cB3q7SHo
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUTp49MavE
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGfL2ClzjT
Me:
Okay.
Whatever you wanna talk about is fine, I guess. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mTcDsx8h3
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWlcdXFAQ5
Me:
It’s just weird, Eve. I don’t really know. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FrnBhpzC1
Evvie sent a heart emoji of the rainbow, then following with a laughing emoji. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95q9jJio9L
Evvie:
I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
Seriously. Tonight, I might not get too much sleep.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvjxsVTwCB
Delcan:
Could you please explain the homework to me? I know that I’m right, but the computer doesn’t say that. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcEpTax9rb
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiNnWlWa8n
Me:
Well...I don’t know. Maybe they’re wrong, Delcan.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYuxiyFPja
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpaow11NI8
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpX6VAfE67
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNstVewZxpY
Me:
Why should I help you?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0jKfuqLcI
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? 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AqEYQGLuK
Me:
You kissed me, just for memory.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigshk3GSyL
Delcan:
I will screenshot this.
Come on. I need your help. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbdOkNoC51
Me:
What do I get out of helping you get an A?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC8mScg7p9
Delcan:
I’m already taking guesses, but ask something, and I’ll see what I can do.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAuSovmV6s
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRfwtsFH5x
Delcan:
Thanks. I owe you.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rcAIScLDk
Me:
Yeah, you do.
Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqLLSDoHK0
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTsZZeVhC3
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3NCFu9k0X
Me:
We’re having a family dinner.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcbri2Ckln
Delcan:
I have some tips on how to get out of them. I’m very good at it.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTv8sM2Gyq
Me:
Do we have to make out?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchNBVe6OxB
Delcan:
If you’re suggesting what I think you are, the answer is no. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqqHvgRLfW
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. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZfJ0QqmRt
Me:
Stay out of relationships, Eve. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5PZKDY6YS
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?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXxS3fvgKh
Evvie:
…
You’re complaining about making out with Delcan Heslop? Why, bro? 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeNJKjqJKC
Me:
I’m not complaining! I just want something more. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qSNOFY1U4
Evvie:
Then ask him! He’s done it before, Ezra. Just know that a height difference means...ya know. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVR1dlvXvt
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMwcM7ZimI
Evvie:
Oh, okay.
What makes you think he doesn’t want a relationship, Ez?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPExYnbf6m
Any guy would kill to be dating you.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7myWlqKA7
Me:
No, sorry. I shouldn’t bring this stuff on you.
Do you still like edible cookie dough?813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWNW66YRTB
Evvie:
Duh!! Ez, who doesn’t like cookie dough? Edible or not. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vhb0eB6sE
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEjLcAd8YP
Evvie:
If that’s what you want, yeah. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDNMVH4Fok
She sent me a heart emoji just as Delcan responded to my message. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v3Or0bZ2Z
Evvie:
Let me see what days my mom is working.
Me:
Cool.
I gotta go.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ktQ6OYtu1
Evvie:
Okay. Bye, Ez!
Good luck with your relationship. Love ya. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNVevAVV1Q
Me:
Love you too.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxVgGauZyJ
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.813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaikHHOSXC
Delcan:
You’re right. Family time seems pretty important. We could talk some other time. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wyI4TbuWH
Me:
Are you sure? I don’t mind staying up and talking afterward. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKi4cG6Dp7
Delcan:
Nope. I’m gonna finish this homework.
See you tomorrow. 813Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWCElsgsGw
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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