In the Last Chapter: 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xNrOxtV61
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1v051dlav
What I did do, though, was check up on Evvie. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf2Y85v24O
Me:
Hey. Just checking up on you.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EnAn37szf
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEXTQSMxM0
Evvie:
I’m okay, Ezie. You don’t need to be so worried.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO4Ousoggq
Delcan:
Can we talk? 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hXeU1CcHI
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWzHowbirJ
Me:
I know. But we don’t have to talk about that, of course. There are other things, too.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJHCB1Llk4
Evvie:
Other things like..? 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4QYurECUF
Oh, great. Leave me with something to find out. I spent around five minutes thinking of a topic before texting my best friend back. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tas4infsz
Me:
The dance?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuKZHNFSnO
Evvie:
Oh, no. Gosh. That’s going to be so annoying! Ugh.
Hey, are you taking anyone specific?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6oC7TOBbd
Me:
No.
I don’t even think he’s into that stuff in the first place.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXNtCpz7pC
Evvie:
Yeah...but I wanna see him in a tux. You’re lying if you don’t wanna.
Oh! My mom said hi.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOdlFdBHL8
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzEGdYJcXu
Evvie:
No, it honestly isn’t. Haven’s not so bad when you get to know her.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroezhl0yNV
Me:
I told you!856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQS5Zno3Sr
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu6OGfbP3B
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13neMt5EQl
Evvie:
Oh, great. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6rpKbhxWq
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqzq9GHwUV
Me:
I guess I’ll find out later or something.
Are you gonna go dress shopping or something? 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOKo1WYzC2
Evvie:
Ha, with who?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMNKSOoI33
Me:856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsQf8yhCnB
I think Evelyn is going with Callie. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you coming with them. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L7zC5HIl4
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueextSfNQ1
It wasn’t like I could even relate to her. I went out of her contact and texted Delcan quickly, hoping he’d respond.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTZLWeUIIy
Me:
Yeah, of course. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBypSS0lwWM
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP5VoMpUlh
Me:
Yeah, that would be pretty crazy.
Have you finished your homework?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEL8wzLRA8
Evvie:856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFaePwQtTN
Holy crap. You’re so annoying!
Of course, I haven’t! I’m guessing you have…856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYkLw93Dfu
Me:
Well...yeah.
But while I was doing my homework, my mom said something.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgifdzcVDZt
Evvie:
Spill it.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpsx2EIFsp
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.”856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TPzNBMuZM
Evvie:
….
THAT’S SO SWEET OMFG.
EZ THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE DOESN’T CARE HOLY CRAP DID YOU TELL HER?!! 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDiIdh5p3f
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtQJYxD3fl
Me:
No, I didn’t.
Instead, I used the “I’m not a virgin” card on her.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZOGjIfO8h
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMyD5uOdCD
Me:
She knows because Dad made a huge announcement about it and then bought me a watch.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0Ht76gYTV
Evvie:
Lemme guess...Rolex.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGK58kAJVa
Me:
Now guess the watch.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjfzE1s8kx
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMY49rhfPuP
Me:
Correct.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CjlkhDsj6
Evvie:
Wow. That’s crazy.
Besides that, though...did she believe you?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2je5eHQPGO
Me:856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SMUPNEHSB
I couldn’t tell, really. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtHlt2X0Mm
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DEKnVfUYW
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOiAQ8Jofy
Me:
Okay.
Whatever you wanna talk about is fine, I guess. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqm3J18UHW
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq66Q5GdIB
Me:
It’s just weird, Eve. I don’t really know. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbUDGwFmsG
Evvie sent a heart emoji of the rainbow, then following with a laughing emoji. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBrzI8UWi5
Evvie:
I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
Seriously. Tonight, I might not get too much sleep.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIubTOigW14
Delcan:
Could you please explain the homework to me? I know that I’m right, but the computer doesn’t say that. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8ajtVOLrW
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH9PHYGS1j
Me:
Well...I don’t know. Maybe they’re wrong, Delcan.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmiMmBVBbh
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq9wzp0nqQ
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz2Bk1w4Da
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVeGdhCxgz
Me:
Why should I help you?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDfNxxYZOP
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? 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfptp89igWg
Me:
You kissed me, just for memory.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgTE7oGmw4
Delcan:
I will screenshot this.
Come on. I need your help. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ1HnEIbuJ
Me:
What do I get out of helping you get an A?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFg9Iy48VY
Delcan:
I’m already taking guesses, but ask something, and I’ll see what I can do.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDks1PFHLNj
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cTlKLRw8l
Delcan:
Thanks. I owe you.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuUGxYi7C7
Me:
Yeah, you do.
Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgTy54Alom
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAZrqqWeM1
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3BXovD7nJ
Me:
We’re having a family dinner.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8d4RqnqYmI
Delcan:
I have some tips on how to get out of them. I’m very good at it.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeAEuuLgA4
Me:
Do we have to make out?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxevNOVZiHt
Delcan:
If you’re suggesting what I think you are, the answer is no. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhY54W8cHP
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. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMdL4gDL11
Me:
Stay out of relationships, Eve. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjJow9tG1A
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?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCBudBmYdE
Evvie:
…
You’re complaining about making out with Delcan Heslop? Why, bro? 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20SAx2H8lG
Me:
I’m not complaining! I just want something more. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f00z2TaYF
Evvie:
Then ask him! He’s done it before, Ezra. Just know that a height difference means...ya know. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1lvmkyV2c
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFG8T6yt4R
Evvie:
Oh, okay.
What makes you think he doesn’t want a relationship, Ez?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9kFi9y444
Any guy would kill to be dating you.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yYs0mKtcA
Me:
No, sorry. I shouldn’t bring this stuff on you.
Do you still like edible cookie dough?856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2SF2pvTxY
Evvie:
Duh!! Ez, who doesn’t like cookie dough? Edible or not. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwN0CQskAl
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcj93oeOvr
Evvie:
If that’s what you want, yeah. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVyUAQyFI9
She sent me a heart emoji just as Delcan responded to my message. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymqx8axTRZ
Evvie:
Let me see what days my mom is working.
Me:
Cool.
I gotta go.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImcfoWNOYr
Evvie:
Okay. Bye, Ez!
Good luck with your relationship. Love ya. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhC9fyXKmM
Me:
Love you too.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkamxYz25x
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.856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5ZyyMl5ER
Delcan:
You’re right. Family time seems pretty important. We could talk some other time. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AP41IikMe
Me:
Are you sure? I don’t mind staying up and talking afterward. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aaVyAh2Zw
Delcan:
Nope. I’m gonna finish this homework.
See you tomorrow. 856Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVGe5cYmfp
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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