“Why aren’t you going today?”, Lillian asked Ryan, tapping the end of her pen against her textbook.

                Ryan looked away from Zane who he was feeding some chicken baby food, “I just don’t feel like it.”.

                She was about to question him why but she knew it was just before she was trying to do something else other than homework. Sure, it made it curious why he didn’t go in, but she needed her homework done.

                Every now and then she would look just to see Ryan feeding and playing with Zane. She now felt bad for being such…well, a bitch to him. She just isn’t feeling well and it’s not like she like fighting with him, but she just wishes he could also understand she’s very stressed out right now.

                Zane finished eating, so Ryan took him into the living room to play. Lillian was in relief when she finished homework, it didn’t take very long as yesterday did. She backed all her work away and went into the living room. Ryan was laid out on the floor, Zane sitting next to him playing with toys all around him.

                She walked over and sat on the other side of him, laying her back against the couch. It was silence between them, other than Zane making noises. She hated how they didn’t have anything to talk about today, where always they’re talking about something.

                She slid her back down and laid next to Ryan, who had one arm behind his head as he watched TV, and ignored her. She breathed hard out of her nose and grabbed his free arm, throwing it around her shoulder, laying her head on his bicep as she watched TV with him. She stopped herself from smiling when his hand gently squeezed on her arm.

                Lillian didn’t pay no attention when Ryan phone went off, but when he checked his phone, Ryan made a slight jerk, causing her to turn her eyes to see a glimpse of something before he didn’t it away. She couldn’t tell what it was, but she knew it was a picture and looked like a girl.

                “What is that?”, she asked him.

                “Oh nothing.”, he chuckled, putting his phone down.

                Her eyebrows came together and she leaned herself up a little, “Ryan?”.

                “It’s nothing, Lillian. Stupid Max sending me dumb pictures.”, he said, putting his arm around her, trying to pull her back down, “Come on, it’s family time.”

                Zane put his hands on Ryan chest and tried to push himself up, but Lillian was to curious, “Okay, well, I wan to see—“

                “It’s just a dumb inappropriate picture, you know the ones you hate.”, he said.

                “But Ryan—“

                “Lillian.”, he said.

                “Ugh, why can’t you just show—“, she got cut off when he brought his head up and kissed her hard on the mouth. It only lasted a moment, “…me.”, she finished, but forgot what she was saying for a second before she remember. She glared at him, “I hate you.”.

                He chuckled, looking like he was going to say something, but Zane made a screeching noise, wanting their attention. Ryan helped Zane onto his stomach for him to sit and he went back to playing on his toy.

                She turned back to Ryan, “Your not slick, dude.”

                “Why don’t you just kiss me some more.” he said, raising an eyebrow like he suggested it.

                “Cause I don’t.”, she said, but they both knew she was lying. She liked kissing—no, loved kissing Ryan. Ryan grinned up at her and she brought her hand up to try and hide her smile before she burst out giggling. “Stop that.”.

                “Stop what?”, he shrugged innocently.

                “That! Looking cute and such.”, she said. “Cause you not.”, she jokingly said and Zane made some noise as if he was agreeing to her.

                Ryan pouted, “That hurt, Lil. Why don’t you kiss me and make my heart feel better.”, he said.

                “Cause I don’t wanna.”, she said.

                He starting tilting his head up, “Oh, come on! You know you wanna!”, he said, inching closer and closer to her. She giggled, putting her hand on his chest, but she didn’t really fight him when he kissed her on the cheek, real close to her mouth and he leaned further, planting one on her lips and she turned to his direction, kissing him back.

                Zane bounced on Ryan stomach, “Eh, eh!”, he cried.

                Ryan pulled back, “Ow, okay, I get it! I’ll stay away from her.”.

                Lillian put her hand behind Zane head and kissed his cheek a couple of time, “It’s okay, Zane. Daddy likes mommy kisses.”.

                “Don’t you mean mommy likes daddy kisses?”, Ryan asked and she shook her head before kissing him.

                ***

                {Ryan}

                When Ryan knew Lillian was asleep, he got up from the bed, grabbed his phone, and went into the bathroom. He sat down on the couch and clicked on Hanna message and quickly texted back.

                Don’t send another one again. I’m serious, Hanna.

                It wasn’t the most sluttest picture, it was just her in some short shorts and a halter top, but it was still very relieving. Ryan was lucky enough to turn the phone away in enough time before Lillian could see and change the whole subject around.

                He got a message back, Did you like it though?

                Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, No. I don’t see you that way, Hanna, your like my little sister and it makes me angry.

                Why didn’t you come in tonight? I was hoping to see you.

                Cause I didn’t want to get jumped on again. You not even the same girl I knew. Don’t talk to me tomorrow other than if it’s work.

                He didn’t answer her back when she message him back about how ignorant and mean he was being. He crawled back into bed and rubbed his eyes. He was feeling like the stressed one now.

                ***

                Lillian had Zane on her thigh as Tamara spoke, “I know what it’s like, Lil.”, she said as she made some hot tear for the both of them in her kitchen. “I was very stress with Julianna, I still am.”

                “You only had a few months of school left and you finished. I’m scared I’m going to fail and I still have senior year left.”, she said. “I know I can pass this year, but I don’t think I can go another year like this.”.

                Tamara handed Lillian her cup of tea and she took a sip, “You can look into cyber school, that way you can still watch Zane all day and day school, you’ll have the whole day to do it. My cousins does cyber school and she always does her school work at night, so this way every time Zane’s napping, you can do you homework, she says the most she’s ever done school was only three hours.”.

                “Really?”, Lillian asked and Tamara nodded, taking a sip of her own drink. She looked down at Zane, who was playing with toy, and thought how much of good thing that would be. She always changed her mind about being homeschooled since she felt like she probably wouldn’t get a feel education, but she should at least try it and this way, she can be with Zane more and she wont worry about being late or missing school.

                ***

                After a long week, Lillian finally got had a good day on Friday. She had passed her bio and French test. She was happy about that cause she didn’t about to worry about either of them the whole week now and she only had to homework to do.

                It all had to be ruined though when school was over and Duncan was leaning against he locker. She crossed he arms over her chest as she made her closer to him. She cleared her throat when she was in front of him, “I need my locker for a second.”.

                “Will you talk to me?”, he asked.

                “I have nothing to say.”, she said.

                “Well, good, cause I want to talk, you just have to listen.”, he said and she wanted to roll her eyes but she stopped herself from doing so. “How’s Zane?”, he asked.

                Her eyebrows came together, grow confused, but answered, “He’s fine.”.

                “Oh, that’s good.”, he said. He hesitated for a moment, looked away for a second, then tuned back to look at me, “You don’t have to avoid me for what I did, I know I was stupid—“

                She brought her hand up to her forehead, “Duncan, I—“

                “No, let me finish.”, he said and she was about to say ‘no’, but he continued. “I miss hanging out with you, don’t let me being stupid ruin our friendship. You can say you don’t mess hanging out with me.”.

                “I can’t hang out, Duncan.”, she said. “I have Zane.”

                “You know what I mean, I miss studying together.”, he said. “Why should we stop being friends because of one mistake kiss.”.

                “Because,”, she said. “Because…it was wrong and I don’t think I can look at you the same, Duncan.”, she admitted. “You might be able to forget it but I can’t. Even, Ryan isn’t your best fan right now and you know how it would look if I did become your friend again?”.

                He was quiet for a moment before he got up from the locker, “Okay.”, he said, walking around her and her eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as she turned and watched him back down the hallways confused.

                She was a little surprise at how quick he agreed, but she let it go since maybe Duncan realized they can’t be friends anymore. She turned back to her locker and got her stuff ready to leave. She threw on her jacket and left.

                When she made it outside, she made her way towards Ryan car and she stopped for a moment when she saw Ryan and Duncan talking to each other. Ryan chuckled, but he didn’t look like happy, but like he was kidding.

                They kept talking back and forth with each other and Lillian was so curious to know what they were talking about. Ryan grinned dropped and he glared at Duncan, grabbing a hand full of Duncan flannel shirt angrily, that’s when Lillian ran over to them.

                “Hey.”, she said loudly, grabbing their attention. She looked at Ryan’s fist before looking at the both of them, “What’s going on?”

                Ryan forced a smile and let go of Duncan, “Nothing, Lil, ready to go ho—“

                “I asked him if he could get over what I did so we could study together so you could pass the 11th grade with good credits, but he said no.”, Duncan said and Ryan glared at him. “Apparently he doesn’t care.”.

                “Dude, shut up!”, Duncan said, his voice hard. “Lillian doing perfectly fine without you help, right Lil?”, he asked, looking at her and her mouth opened a little, not sure what she should say since he just put her on the spot. She wanted to say yes to make him happy, but the truth was she’s barely manage to do all her work alone without help right now.

                “See, she needs my help.” Duncan said and she looked at him, still not sure what to say.

                “Shut up!”, Ryan hissed.

                “I’m just being honest, why don’t you get over it. I did something stupid, let act like grown here.”, he said.

                “Oh, so Lillian stupid?”, Ryan asked.

                “What?”, Duncan asked. “No, of course not—stop twisting my words!”, he said. “You know what I meant, Ryan, so—“

                Lillian brought her hand up to the side of her forehead and rubbed it, “You both quiet it.”, she said and they looked at her as if they forgot she was there. She sighed, “Ryan, please understand what Duncan is doing is trying to help me. Don’t you care about my education?”.

                “Well, of course, but—“

                “Then lets get over what happened last week.”, she said. “Duncan was drunk, we all do stupid things when we’re drunk.”,

                “But Lillian, he lik—“

                Duncan cleared his throat real hard and she looked at him confused, “Sorry, I had something in my throat.”, he said. “Look Ryan, I promise to never do it again. I know you have a family and I would never try to break up a family, I’m not that kind of person.”.

                Ryan breathed hard out his nose, “Huh? I said that—“

                “Ryan, please,”, Duncan said. “No more fighting, for Lillian. Lets all get along, be friends with each other. I heard you’re a pretty cool dude, lets all go out tonight or something. When’s the last time you took Lillian out for a date? I’ll play with Zane, he’s a real cool kid.”.

                “Oh, Duncan, that’s okay—“

                “No, he’s right.”, Ryan said and she looked at him surprised. “I don’t have to work tonight, there’s this Italian restaurant on Main street called Antonio’s. We all be there by seven, sounds good?”.

                Lillian had this bad feeling in her gut.