Parker's POV

The next day, Val and I are laying in our beds, chilling. We've decided that after today, we will finally go out into the lab and do what we were meant to and just have a normal day for once. But after all the kidnappings and flashbacks that have been happening for the past few days, Val just wants a day to chill. And I will happily chill with her.

"Do you think we're ever gonna do any scientific stuff?" Val asks out of nowhere.

"Well, I've already done some stuff the day you were sleeping, but I sure hope so. I didn't expect this much drama to go down in a few days. I thought this place had good security," I reply.

We both continue to stare up at the white ceiling for a while. I glance over at Val who's slightly smiling at nothing.

"What's up?" I ask her. 

"Oh nothing. I'm just laughing at how we might have just gotten my assaulter arrested and my kidnapper and ex is now physically not allowed to come near me, but yet we haven't faced the worst challenge of them all," Val finishes off ominously.

"Who?" 

"Crystal."

We both burst out laughing and sit up at the same time, hunching over for breath. It's so nice to just have a good moment between us ever since everything started. 

I stop laughing and look over and admire how cute Val is when she's laughing. Her laugh is so adorable, I could listen to it on repeat over and over again. I continue to stare at her face when I notice a tear. 

Her laughing slowly turns into crying and she scoots over and hugs my waist, "Sorry I'm crying all of a sudden but everything just hit me all at once. Thank you, Parker. You've saved my life."

Before I can say anything she continues, "We never got the chance to talk about what we are now. Now that you and I know...well, you know."

"Exactly how we feel?" I ask. "Let's talk about that soon. But let's just enjoy this moment while we can."

We continue to hug for only a mere second because-

"Heyyyy whatcha guys doin?" an annoying voice owned by Crystal speaks from the door.

"Having a moment. Can you go now?" I reply, angry.

"But Parker, I was just wondering when we were gonna go on that date you promised?" Crystal asks in a flirtatious tone.

"Huh? A date?" Val whispers.

"I don't know what she's talking about," I whisper back. "What date?"

"Oh, you know, to thank me for giving you the wonderful idea to call the police."

"I never said just you and I should go on a date. I said the four of us should go out together. And that was also back when I thought you were over your feelings for me," I reply, rolling my eyes.

Crystal drops the flirty act and suddenly looks super annoyed, "For goodness sake, what has she got that I don't? Sure, she's just as smart as me, but I'm way hotter! How could you not want a hotter version of her more than her? Not to mention, just look at all the trouble she's gotten you into these past few days!" 

The room goes pin-drop silent as I hear a small whimper from next to me, "She's right, you know? I do get you into trouble."

How could she say that. I was just annoyed before but now I'm raging mad!

"Everything surrounding the kidnapping was not her fault. She just dated someone. How could she have known he was a complete psychopath? Not to mention, I was gonna planning on finding her kidnapper either way, whether or not he revealed himself to me. And also, our number one problem has always been you! Why do you have to annoy us day in and day out? Can't we just have some peace for once?!"

"Because I love you!" Crystal yells.

I pause in my rant as the room goes even silenter than pin-drop silent, nobody knowing what to say.

"Excuse me?" I ask.

"You're the first boy I've ever had real feelings for for no reason and I don't know what to do with myself or how to compose myself. Sure, on the plane it was all mindless flirting, but after watching you take care of Val and seeing just how compassionate you are, I've realized just how strong my feelings are," Crystal replies with her face low and blushing.

I look back at Val, confused, asking with my face what I should do. She just urges me to go on and say something.

"Listen, I'm sorry Crystal, but I think you're going to have to ignore your feelings until you meet someone else because I love Val. Your feelings are simply not reciprocated and you need to deal with that rejection on your own."

Her eyes well up with tears as she starts to back out the room, "Yeah, ok. Sorry to have bothered you."

After she's fully out the door, I feel a smack on the back of my head, presumably from Val.

"You idiot! Why'd you have to be so harsh? Go apologize to her," Val yells.

"But she's so annoying. How else was I supposed to do it?"

"I don't know but not like that. You and I might hate her but she still has feelings and- yes I know, this is gonna be quite surprising- a heart. You just shattered whatever remains of it! Now go out there and apologize to her!"

I shamefully start to leave the room but I feel a hand on my wrist.

"But just make sure you don't apologize in a way that leads her on. Tell her you don't like her, but be nice about it."

I knock on her door and a sniffling Crystal slowly cracks it open.

"What's up?" she stutters out kind of sinus-y.

"Can we talk?"

I walk inside but stay standing at her door while she sits down on her bed. I look around the perfectly clean room excluding the makeup tossed about in different places of the room.

"Listen. I'm sorry for bursting out before. I really am. But I just don't like you in that way. My heart is occupied," I try my best to apologize while still making it clear I don't like her.

"I understand, now. I just need some time. I'm sorry for pestering you guys that much. It must've been annoying," she sniffles while giggling a little.

"It kinda was," I scratch the back of my head while laughing along with her.

"Anyways, you can go back to hanging out with Val. I don't want to keep her waiting," Crystal smiles.

"Thanks."

Crystal's POV

So much has happened tonight, I can't believe it. I got my heart broken for the very first time. Usually I break hearts. This is not a nice change.

But I'm more surprised that they fell for the whole act. I really must be good at acting. I didn't even know I could cry on command!

But soon, Parker's guilt will eat him out alive and he'll finally realize that I am the one for him, not that stupid Val. How could he even possibly prefer her over me?

But it doesn't matter. In the end, I'll win. I always win.