In the Last Chapter: 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtt5rt4L5e
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5UyCin9Ph
What I did do, though, was check up on Evvie. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbyNsLpULm
Me:
Hey. Just checking up on you.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHazTLa4MkJ
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4KHCMLNR0
Evvie:
I’m okay, Ezie. You don’t need to be so worried.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQavUraoWw6
Delcan:
Can we talk? 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuBxQH7sbU
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Om38EUPSZ
Me:
I know. But we don’t have to talk about that, of course. There are other things, too.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6M6us4c6C
Evvie:
Other things like..? 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzMnW3uFQu
Oh, great. Leave me with something to find out. I spent around five minutes thinking of a topic before texting my best friend back. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZe8mkYJb6K
Me:
The dance?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmwtPFbMgn
Evvie:
Oh, no. Gosh. That’s going to be so annoying! Ugh.
Hey, are you taking anyone specific?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RRKUd9wQh
Me:
No.
I don’t even think he’s into that stuff in the first place.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EXkXgr4Fn
Evvie:
Yeah...but I wanna see him in a tux. You’re lying if you don’t wanna.
Oh! My mom said hi.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADvI0nSQxf
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaK0nW5gAN
Evvie:
No, it honestly isn’t. Haven’s not so bad when you get to know her.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigrSneGCtk
Me:
I told you!767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i8krIBSdk
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNXMPrww1E
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv6F7HByfq
Evvie:
Oh, great. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr2UMSRj2w
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTGTVWteAj
Me:
I guess I’ll find out later or something.
Are you gonna go dress shopping or something? 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V7YA8WvQN
Evvie:
Ha, with who?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRJLELQ0Uw
Me:767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN31pTUFiS
I think Evelyn is going with Callie. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind you coming with them. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDdEhhgBoK
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32iWSHJFmD
It wasn’t like I could even relate to her. I went out of her contact and texted Delcan quickly, hoping he’d respond.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXDc0lTz0n
Me:
Yeah, of course. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLNpHG3amB
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6YLDEfLpq
Me:
Yeah, that would be pretty crazy.
Have you finished your homework?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2Q7wZlgMS
Evvie:767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUF0z9ynXR
Holy crap. You’re so annoying!
Of course, I haven’t! I’m guessing you have…767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb437iH4BA
Me:
Well...yeah.
But while I was doing my homework, my mom said something.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xC4t8eAg1
Evvie:
Spill it.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CENiuwWrA
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.”767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfYy2woB7M
Evvie:
….
THAT’S SO SWEET OMFG.
EZ THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE DOESN’T CARE HOLY CRAP DID YOU TELL HER?!! 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar8jevASiW
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNiI5gHH7v
Me:
No, I didn’t.
Instead, I used the “I’m not a virgin” card on her.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxGZlB0T9O
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOywoaokKc
Me:
She knows because Dad made a huge announcement about it and then bought me a watch.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn2czdUP1O
Evvie:
Lemme guess...Rolex.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXylDRWbXHQ
Me:
Now guess the watch.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMgAVhZECF
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgKcsT2lRF
Me:
Correct.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTQtaJiA8i
Evvie:
Wow. That’s crazy.
Besides that, though...did she believe you?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVYtYCYyl5
Me:767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwbeyZx4GH
I couldn’t tell, really. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MDN5WoSXO
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiwK8RdogD
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLUgzPiNE4
Me:
Okay.
Whatever you wanna talk about is fine, I guess. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS6oraQOKs
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanAQRsITnv
Me:
It’s just weird, Eve. I don’t really know. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc3812ZjTt
Evvie sent a heart emoji of the rainbow, then following with a laughing emoji. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5GbNuLZFG
Evvie:
I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
Seriously. Tonight, I might not get too much sleep.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsE0Zp5c4mD
Delcan:
Could you please explain the homework to me? I know that I’m right, but the computer doesn’t say that. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8IZc8gKlr
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBu11y0ehW
Me:
Well...I don’t know. Maybe they’re wrong, Delcan.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVbINtzTRN
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJXfiGHw4X
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT7REgQvbF
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTPZQD7Y2q
Me:
Why should I help you?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6swtsBckz
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? 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xUQkMWQDG
Me:
You kissed me, just for memory.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEbz4jPGBW
Delcan:
I will screenshot this.
Come on. I need your help. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOokbuydqF
Me:
What do I get out of helping you get an A?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2fHpDF1dJ
Delcan:
I’m already taking guesses, but ask something, and I’ll see what I can do.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25BNbyC7dw
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrZOEq2SNX
Delcan:
Thanks. I owe you.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5oSbcADZg
Me:
Yeah, you do.
Is that seriously what you wanted to talk about? 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeb0e3tACT
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut9nMA0H1y
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfAuDPiz2P
Me:
We’re having a family dinner.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kg6mSdNVX
Delcan:
I have some tips on how to get out of them. I’m very good at it.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDidZQqUylU
Me:
Do we have to make out?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xK0czSXlQ
Delcan:
If you’re suggesting what I think you are, the answer is no. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz9UzwTSaB
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. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MXbqiHxOM
Me:
Stay out of relationships, Eve. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrjP05rCFa
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?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Jmp4AKZ7
Evvie:
…
You’re complaining about making out with Delcan Heslop? Why, bro? 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vmMCCAFFL
Me:
I’m not complaining! I just want something more. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOfk98FxaQ
Evvie:
Then ask him! He’s done it before, Ezra. Just know that a height difference means...ya know. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B6xpla25q
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO81yjHetHx
Evvie:
Oh, okay.
What makes you think he doesn’t want a relationship, Ez?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIebVGRWuuN
Any guy would kill to be dating you.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HzXigW88D
Me:
No, sorry. I shouldn’t bring this stuff on you.
Do you still like edible cookie dough?767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDuUVa9jv9
Evvie:
Duh!! Ez, who doesn’t like cookie dough? Edible or not. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaVUp9draM
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmHbngdR8m
Evvie:
If that’s what you want, yeah. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95ZLwx0Dd7
She sent me a heart emoji just as Delcan responded to my message. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqL3EWoMuy
Evvie:
Let me see what days my mom is working.
Me:
Cool.
I gotta go.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlOAy6Ys2J
Evvie:
Okay. Bye, Ez!
Good luck with your relationship. Love ya. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZli1BaWMA
Me:
Love you too.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnBfQy2T5M
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.767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RCtwnWjFW
Delcan:
You’re right. Family time seems pretty important. We could talk some other time. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTVEvzOtUh
Me:
Are you sure? I don’t mind staying up and talking afterward. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMotOPH1U79
Delcan:
Nope. I’m gonna finish this homework.
See you tomorrow. 767Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvfZo8WPe4
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.
ns3.145.200.8da2
