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Before you read, my story Love at Last Sight is in the Watty Awards under Most Popular and Most Popular Teen Fiction! If you haven't already, you should totally support me and vote for it! Go under the community tab at the top and then under Watty Awards! Thanks a bunch! LALS is 5% behind so we need to catch up before the 30th! You don't need to be logged in, I don't think. And I'm not sure if you can vote from the app, but if you opened safari on your phone you can do it that way!

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I didn't run into Elliot for the rest of the day. He'd decided to skip piano lab, which left an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It hadn't once occurred to me that Elliot might actually have feelings for me. But Paul said it'd been obvious to him... so it should have been obvious to me. Shouldn't it have? Yes, it should have, so I wouldn't have teased him about not having a date on Valentine's Day.

Frustrated, I slammed my hands down on the piano. "Ugh!"

"What did that piano do to you?"

I twisted my head around to see Paul peeping his head into the practice room. "Paul," I sighed.

He raised an eyebrow. "I hope that wasn't the piece for Nationals."

"No, and stop talking about that," I responded, turning back to the piano. "I have enough to worry about right now."

"You're not thinking about what I said yesterday still, are you? It's okay, Allie," Paul told me, frowning slightly.

I shook my head. "No, I'm thinking about Elliot."

Paul hummed in response, putting a hand on my shoulder. "He's your friend, so it will be okay."

"I don't understand though," I said, staring at the stainless white keys of the piano where my hands lay. "It came out of nowhere..."

"It's almost Valentine's Day. And you said you were teasing him, right? Did you mention me?"

"Yes, but..."

Paul patted my shoulder sympathetically. "Maybe you should apologize. He was probably hurt by the teasing."

"Well obviously," I responded with a sigh. "Am I the only one who didn't notice he had feelings for me?"

Paul smiled. "I don't think you even realized you had feelings for him."

My gaze snapped to his. "I don't anymore!"

"That's good then," he responded, moving his hand to my head to ruffle my hair. "So you should just go apologize to him."

"I do a lot of apologizing, don't I?"

"The best of us do."

"Do you think he's still around?" I asked.

Paul nodded. "Before class I saw him studying in the court yard. Maybe you should bring him a hot chocolate. It's cold out there."

Nodding, I slid off the piano bench and gave Paul a grateful smile. "Thanks."

"Anytime Allie Cat."

I swung by the cafeteria to purchase a hot chocolate for Elliot (extra whipped cream) before heading out into the snow-covered courtyard. I shivered immediately, feeling the icy air hit my skin like a slap to the face. It was freezing! Why in the world would Elliot want to study out here?

True to Paul's words, Elliot was sitting in his usual corner, which was at least out of the wind. He was huddled up, only wearing a North Face over his sweatshirt. Even from where I was I could see his cheeks were red and his lips blue. Frowning, I made my way over to him, feet crunching in the snow. Elliot's head snapped up and he scowled, snapping his head back down.

I grimaced. Great.

"Hey," I said as soon as I was close enough. "What are you doing out here?"

"Studying."

"Isn't it a bit too cold out for that?"

"No."

I resisted the urge to sigh. "Elliot, your lips are blue."

"Whatever."

"Elliot." I said again, crouching down to his level. "Here, I brought you some hot chocolate. It's got extra whipped cream."

Elliot glanced up at me, narrowing his eyes. "I don't even like whipped cream."

I blinked at him. "What? How can you not!"

"Go inside, and leave me alone."

Annoyed now, I plopped myself down right on top of the book he'd been studying. "No."

"Allie."

"No," I repeated firmly, staring him straight in the eye. "We need to talk."

"About what?" he snapped angrily.

I held my ground. "About earlier."

"There is nothing to talk about."

"Yes, there is. I need to apologize—"

He snorted. "Yeah, apologize."

"Elliot, come on," I said, feeling my heart sink a little bit. "I feel really bad. We shouldn't have teased you... if I'd known..."

"If you'd known?" he echoed. "What? You wouldn't be dating Paul? You'd be happy to date me? Save it. It's fine. I don't care."

I clenched my jaw. "Obviously you care, since you're acting like a dick over it. I'm trying to apologize Elliot!"

"Apology accepted," he said, crossing his arms.

"Don't accept it unless you mean it." I pushed the hot chocolate at him. "And drink some of this before your lips fall off. We won't be able to talk if that happens."

Elliot looked like he was about to protest, but instead grabbed the beverage from my hand and took a small sip, grimacing slightly. "Whipped cream is still gross."

"Why didn't you say anything?" I asked, now scooting off his book so I wouldn't ruin the binding.

He gave me a flat look. "Are we really going to talk about this?"

"Yes," I said with a nod. "I don't want you to hate me because I'm an inconsiderate jerk face."

Rolling his eyes, he placed the hot chocolate by his side. "You're not. I probably overreacted."

"No, I'd be the same if the person I liked was making fun of me for it..."

"That's not..." Elliot trailed off, turning his head away. "It doesn't even matter. You have Paul anyway."

I frowned. "It does matter. You're my best friend, Elliot. What does it matter if I have Paul if I don't have you?"

"You'll be fine."

"No I won't," I responded immediately.

Elliot's eyes widened a little, but he quickly schooled his features. "Whatever. You weren't even supposed to know."

"You weren't ever going to tell me?" I asked quietly.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I knew you didn't feel the same way." The admittance was just as quiet as my question. Elliot set his jaw, staring a hole into his anatomy book.

My hand went to Elliot's shoulder on its own accord. "Elliot..."

"Like I said, it doesn't matter," he responded quickly, shrugging my hand off. "I'm used to it. No one likes people like me."

"Like you?"

He smiled wryly. "Delinquent. Asshole. Your choice."

"That's not true!" I told him, gripping his shoulder again and leaning down to catch his gaze. "Elliot, you're one of the nicest people I know— don't laugh, it's true— and you're incredibly smart, and don't try to say you're not handsome because you are, Elliot. You have lots of great qualities. Oh, and don't say people don't like you. I've seen girls trying to get your attention, and you know, even at one point I guess I liked you too so..." I trailed off, feeling a little embarrassed. "But some are just hidden under your, um, hard exterior," I ended a little lamely.

Elliot gazed at me curiously for the next moment, apparently not flattered by my praise, but not as annoyed as before. "You really are an idiot," he said after a moment.

A wave of relief crashed over me. My Elliot was back.

I blinked.

My Elliot? What was that supposed to mean?

I forced the thought away. "You know that's the reason you love me," I teased, smiling brightly at him.

He rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't say I love you."

I grinned at him. "Oh really?" It was surprisingly easy to fall into our regular banter. Reassuring too, because I was afraid this would put a dent in our friendship.

"Hey, did you really like me?" he asked suddenly.

Thrown off guard by his question, it took me a few moments to respond. "Um, yeah, I guess I did for awhile."

He squinted at me, as if unsure whether to believe me or not. "Like the way you liked Tucker?"

"Ah, no, I think that was just infatuation... Why?"

Elliot smiled to himself. "No reason."

"What's that smile for then?"

"Nothing," he answered, gathering up his study material. "Let's go inside. It's cold out here."

I scrambled to my feet and pursed my lips. "Don't be cryptic. Tell me why you asked that."

"Is it too late to go to class?" Elliot questioned, ignoring me completely.

"Elliot!"

"Have you chosen a piece for the Nationals?"

I scrunched up my face. "You're annoying."

He grinned at me, a blinding, happy grin. "That's good."

A little bit shocked, I froze, the smile burned into my memory even though it lasted three seconds. When Elliot noticed me staring, he immediately twisted his face into a scowl without any menace. "What?"

"I didn't know you could make expressions like that," I stated honestly.

"Like what?"

"Happy?"

He gave me a flat look and I realized how my words sounded. Laughing, I shook my head. "No, I mean like, carefree and happy... you know what? Never mind."

Elliot stared at me for a few more seconds before shrugging and turning around. "I say we find Aspen and punch her in her face."

"Let's not," I responded with a grimace. I'd have to make a mental note to talk to her about teasing Elliot. I didn't want a repeat of this.

"Then I'll help you choose a song for Nationals."

I groaned. "Why is everyone so incessant with that?"

"If you don't want to do it, then don't."

"No, I do," I told him, rubbing my forehead. "Don't I have time?"

Elliot shrugged. "Sure, but it'll go by fast."

"I probably won't win anyway."

Without warning, Elliot slapped my back roughly. "Shut up."

"Ow!"

"You'll be fine. You've been fine so far, right?"

Rubbing my back, I gave him a sour look. "Yeah, but now I'm against the best of the best. It's a lot of pressure."

He rolled his eyes. "Welcome to the world of competition."

"Everything is a competition in this world," I muttered.

Elliot opened the door to the music building, slipping in and not holding the door open for me. I smiled a little. It was good to see things hadn't changed.

Paul was sitting in the main classroom when we entered. He glanced up at us, breaking out into a smile. "Elliot, you've decided to show up for the last fifteen minutes of class?"

"Only so you wouldn't mark me absent."

"I didn't anyway," Paul told him.

"Good," he grunted.

Paul raised an eyebrow and made eye contact with me. I gave him a what-can-you-do look and a one-shouldered shrug.

"Elliot, what are you doing tomorrow?" Paul asked, changing topics.

I sent him a warning look. That was the absolute wrong question!

Elliot seemed to agree because he became tense. "Why do you want to know?"

"It's Valentine's Day! Everyone should have fun on Valentine's Day!" Paul enthused.

"Not really."

"So you don't have plans?"

I wanted to smack myself in the face. Wasn't Paul just saying I shouldn't tease Elliot? What was he doing?

Instead of gracing Paul with an answer, Elliot turned to walk out of the room. I quickly grabbed his shoulder. "Wait. Paul obviously has a reason for asking..." Turning back to Paul I gave him a hard look.

Paul grinned sheepishly. "Well, I figured he could just come out with us."

"What?" Elliot and I said simultaneously.

"It could be fun!"

"No," Elliot stated.

I stared at Paul, a little confused. He didn't want to go out on a date by ourselves?

"Okay, so we can pick you up at your house around four, probably," Paul went on, oblivious to Elliot's refusal. "Don't dress like a slob."

Elliot rolled his eyes before turning his back. "See you tomorrow Allie."

"Bye?" I responded, eyebrows furrowed. As soon as Elliot left, I gave Paul a questioning look. "You want to go out with Elliot?"

"I don't like the thought of anyone alone on Valentine's Day," Paul said by explanation. He paused. "Oh, you don't mind do you?"

I hesitated. I didn't want to leave Elliot alone either, but I was looking forward to a date alone with Paul. And I could already tell it was going to be awkward...

But then Paul was pulling his puppy dog face and I couldn't resist. Shoulders slumping I nodded. "Okay, fine."

"Good!" Paul said brightly. "But we can wear matching outfits to let everyone know we're the couple."

I grinned at that. "Paul, no one likes being the third wheel. We'll play it cool."

"Matching shirts..."

"Maybe."

satisfied, Paul went back to grading the papers on his desk. I sat down in one of the empty chairs and glanced at the clock, waiting for the day to end. If Paul, Elliot, and I were all going out tomorrow I was going to get as much sleep as I could today because I already could tell it was going to be a long day.

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I know it's been awhile. I've been really busy, so I apologize! But I hope you didn't forget about me );