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𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗬

chapter ten:
friends don't !

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FRIENDS DON'T WAKE up in each other's arms feeling like they're on cloud nine. Friends don't get ready in the morning with permanent blushes on their faces because they remembered the piano playing and collarbone kisses that were shared the night before. Friends don't get butterflies every time the other one laughs or smiles in their direction. Friends don't almost spill their gut feelings to each other before one of them claims they need to go to their locker before school starts.

Maybe couples do, but friends don't. As for Athena Blake, she felt like her and Ricky Bowen weren't just friends anymore. That suspicion had begun ever since she heard the voicemail (which she still hadn't told him about) and especially after last night. Maybe it was one-sided, and maybe it was insane to think, but she didn't really believe that. If Ricky really meant what he said on that voicemail, there was a possibility he liked her back.

Everything was giving her a headache. She sighed and opened her locker to gather the books she needed for the day. Today was also sort of a big day. It was Homecoming, and although Athena didn't have a date, she knew that she would have fun with Violetta, Ricky, and Big Red. It would be just like the old days when the four of them would hang out without a care in the world.

"Artemis told me Ricky stayed over last night," the voice of Violetta suddenly said.

Athena turned to Violetta and rolled her eyes. "Of course she did. Artemis is such a blabbermouth."

"Did you two finally kiss?"

"Violetta," Athena scolded.

The girl raised her hands in surrender. "I was just asking."

"To answer your question, no, we didn't," Athena replied, shutting her locker and leaning against it. "He came over my house crying. I comforted him, gave him Wake Up and told him it was about him, we played some piano, watched a movie, and then he slept over. That's it."

Violetta raised an eyebrow. "I feel like you're hiding something."

Athena sighed. She opened her mouth to respond, but Big Red's voice sounded from down the hallway.

"Come on, dude," Big Red's began. "I'm just saying, this is your chance!"

Athena looked over to see him and Ricky walking down the hallway. Ricky was wearing a pair of pajamas, yet somehow he still managed to look completely good in them. Her cheeks dusted a light shade of red and she glanced down at the floor.

"The last thing I'm gonna do is ask . . ." Ricky trailed off, and Athena looked up to see him standing in front of her. "Athena."

She offered him a small smile. "Hey, Ricky. Nice fashion statement."

He scoffed and pushed her shoulder a little. "Shut up."

Athena laughed slightly. "What were you two talking about?"

Ricky turned back to Big Red. Big Red nodded his head, almost urging him on to do something. Athena shared a confused look with Violetta before looking to Ricky once more.

"Can I — um, can I ask you something?" Ricky asked nervously.

Athena nodded. "Of course. You can ask me anything."

He took a deep breath. "Will you go to Homecoming with me?"

"I thought we already were with Vi and Red," Athena answered.

Ricky squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "No, Attie, that's not what I meant. I meant . . . would you want to be my date to Homecoming?"

Athena blinked. "Oh." Her eyes then widened. "Oh."

"Yeah," Ricky responded. "It's okay if you don't want to, but I just assumed—"

"No!" Athena exclaimed a little too loudly, making Ricky stop talking. "No, Ricky, I would love that."

Ricky blinked in surprise. "You would?"

"I would." Athena hugged her books closer to her, a bright smile stretching across her face. "Ricky Bowen, I would be honored to be your date to Homecoming."

Ricky let out a breath of relief before the cutest smile adorned his features. Athena couldn't help the way her heart beat faster and how butterflies fluttered throughout her stomach. The two were staring at each other like the rest of the world had faded away. They were only snapped out of their trance by Violetta clearing her throat.

"Pick me up later, yeah?" Athena questioned.

He nodded. "Definitely. I'll text you what time."

They shared one more smile before Violetta took Athena's elbow in her hand and pulled her down the hallway. Both of them had stunned look on their faces.

"Did that really just happen?" Athena whispered.

"And you said nothing happened between you two," Violetta said.

Athena rolled her eyes and elbowed Violetta's side. "Be quiet."

And as she walked down the hallway, Athena felt as if she was on cloud nine.

--- ☆ • ♫ • ♪ • ♫ • ☆ ---

"AND . . . YOU'RE DONE," Artemis announced, letting the final curl fall among the rest on Athena's head.

Artemis had been ready for about an hour now and had assisted in getting Athena ready for Homecoming. She looked stunning in her silver dress. Artemis was going to the dance with some senior boy Athena didn't know, but he was currently being interrogated by their father, Adam, downstairs while their mother, Amanda, tried to stop him. Athena's older sister seemed so cool and collected, not nervous at all.

Athena couldn't say the same about herself. She sat in the chair in front of her mirror, nerves making her stomach churn and her heart race. Her dress was a beautiful purple color with some sparkles on the top part of the dress. No matter how pretty she felt in the dress at the moment, her overthinking managed to surpass that feeling.

Ricky had asked her to Homecoming. She was his date. Did this count as their first official date? What if she screwed everything up? How would she know if Ricky was enjoying himself? What even were they? Was this really the best idea?

No, scratch that. Of course it was the best idea. Ricky wouldn't have asked her to be his date if he didn't like her . . . right?

"Hey," Artemis spoke, snapping Athena out of her thoughts as she ran a brush through her curls. "You're gonna be fine, 'Thena. This is Ricky Bowen we're talking about. The same boy who's been in love with you since middle school."

"Love is a strong word, Artie," Athena argued.

"You're right, it is. But I don't doubt even for a second that's what he's felt for you all this time."

Athena let out a deep breath. "I'm nervous, Artemis."

"And it's okay to be," Artemis reassured her. "This is the first time you and Ricky are really going somewhere as more than friends."

"I just don't want to mess anything up. I promised him yesterday that he would always have me no matter what, but what if this breaks us? That's the last thing I want."

Artemis sighed and put her hands on Athena's shoulders, both of them looking into the mirror at their reflection. "Athena, Ricky wouldn't have asked you if he knew things wouldn't work out between you two. If he was confident enough to ask you to be his date, he's confident enough to try and make a relationship work. You two are meant to be."

"How do you know?" Athena asked quietly.

"Because I've seen the way you two look at each other when the other isn't looking. Friends don't look at friends that way."

Athena nodded while exhaling. "Yeah, you're right."

"Of course I am." The doorbell than rang, making Artemis glance over to Athena's closed bedroom door. "That's Ricky. Are you ready?"

"Ready as I can be," Athena responded, standing up from her chair.

Artemis squeezed her shoulder for a moment. "I'll be in the gym the entire time and Violetta and Red will be there as well. Not to mention all your theater friends."

Athena gave her sister a gracious smile before opening her bedroom door. Her and Artemis descended down the stairs with their arms linked. Once they reached the bottom, her mother gasped and rushed over to them.

"Oh, my beautiful girls," Amanda gushed. "You both look so grown up."

"We promised no crying tonight, mom," Artemis complained, noticing their mother's eyes fill up with tears.

"Right, right, sorry." Amanda quickly wiped her eyes. "I just can't help it."

Athena peered over her mother's shoulder. She saw Ricky standing there, looking very handsome in his suit. He was holding a bouquet of purple dahlias and was very deep in conversation with her father. Taking yet another deep breath, she smoothed down the skirt of her dress and walked over to them.

"You're not threatening him, are you?" Athena questioned to her father.

Adam scoffed. "Me? Threatening? Never."

She raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Maybe tell that to Artemis' date. He looks just about ready to sprint out of here."

"Nobody's going anywhere without pictures!" Amanda interjected, holding her phone up. "Come on, gather around."

Her father joined her mother's side. Athena looked back to Ricky, who was staring at her with wide eyes. She offered him a small, yet nervous smile.

Ricky seemed to snap out of his trance and cleared his throat. "You look absolutely stunning, Athena." He held out the flowers to her. "These are for you. I know they're your favorite."

She laughed slightly, her cheeks heating up as she took the flowers from him. "Thank you. And you look very handsome."

"Athena, Ricky, come on!" Amanda called, waving them over.

After Athena had set her bouquet of flowers down on the counter, her and Ricky joined Artemis and her date. Her mother then proceeded to take more photos than what was probably necessary. It was only ten minutes later that Artemis spoke up to stop her.

"Mom, we're going to be late if you keep taking pictures," Artemis commented.

"All right, all right," Amanda responded, sinking into the comforting side of her husband. "Go on."

Artemis and her date immediately left. Athena let out a laugh at the sight of her father glaring at them on their way out. She shared an amused look with Ricky.

"Unlike him, I trust you," Adam told Ricky. "You two have fun, okay? Don't stay out too late."

Ricky saluted her parents. "I'll have her back home by midnight. Promise." He glanced over his shoulder and held his hand out to Athena. "You ready to go?"

Athena slipped her hand into his. "Let's go."

She grabbed her purse and her jacket before the two of them walked outside. Ricky led her over to his driveway, and Athena was met with the sight of Mike's orange buggy car. She raised her eyebrows and looked to him.

Ricky shrugged. "My dad let me drive it today." He opened the passenger side door. "For you."

"Thank you," Athena responded, settling down in the seat.

Ricky closed the door and rushed to the other side of the car. He settled down in the driver's seat and turned the car on with the key. With a smirk, he held out the aux cord to Athena. Athena smiled back and plugged the cord into her phone while Ricky backed out of the driveway.

And with the soothing voice of Shawn Mendes filling the car, the two were off to Homecoming, a night that the two of them were definitely going to remember for the rest of their lives.

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another filler chapter bc I wanted to split homecoming into two separate parts :)))))

anyways joshua bassett in his lie lie lie music video can run me over please and thank you