"SO YOU'RE gonna fuck Nick Buckley?" Jacob asked, "For what?"

Kalani propped her phone against her books as she prepared for another day in her already failing senior year.

She pulled her hair into two high ponytails and applied her Glossier high shine lipstick. She finally looked down at her phone with a smile.

"Because I can." She answered, "And I deserve to have a good time in high school while I can."

"I applaud you." He smiled, "I would've happily had sex with you if I knew that it would help you get over Ben."

"You hated kissing me."

"I never said that."

Kalani rolled her eyes, grabbing her phone and her backpack before making her way to her car, which was fixed, by the way.

"Look, I've hung out with Nick and Ethan when I wasn't busy with you—"

"Busy with me?" Kalani chuckled.

"Not in a bad way, bitch." He sighed, "Nick was probably the better guy out of the two. So, I'm saying, be safe, use condoms, and go with Nick. He's pretty chill."

Kalani softly smiled, "Thank you."

Kalani soon pulled into the schools parking lot and glanced down at her phone, picking it up, "I'm here. I'll talk to you later."

"Have fun, Lani. I love you."

She smiled, "Love you."

She hung up the phone, sighing. She desperately missed Jacob, but would never tell him to his face, she wasn't that desperate.

He was the one guy who didn't always put up with her bullshit and when he did it's because he pitied her.

Regardless, the school day when with ease until Kalani, Fabiola, and (sorta) Eleanor found Devi talking to Paxton.

"What's he doing here?" Fabiola asked Devi as she sat.

"I guess he's working here." She answered, "So, what's up with you guys?"

"You're gonna love this." Eleanor smiled, "We're watching to see if Ethan or Nick take off their hoodies, 'cause, you know, it's gonna cling and pull up their T-shirts."

"I'm actually just eating this apple." Fabiola smiled.

"And you?" Devi asked, smiling.

"Just going with the flow." Kalani smiled.

"Cool. I don't really need to see either of them shirtless, especially Ethan, so..."

"Are you feeling okay?" Kalani asked, "We've literally seen you leap a picnic table to see a bus with the Thunder From Down Under ad on it."

"Ooh, it's happening." Eleanor cheered, "And they're both doing it!"

The trio (minus Eleanor) all looked over. The duo (Ethan and Nick), in sync, pulled their hoodies off, almost in slow motion it seemed, and the trio could only watch as their T-shirts slid up over their toned abs... and just like that it was over.

"Wait, I'm sorry." Fabiola called, "Are we just going to forget that he vandalized Kalani's car?"

"He didn't know it was Kalani's. He thought it was a teacher's." Eleanor stated.

"Oh, you mean the underpaid heroes we get the privilege of learning from every day?"

"Fab, I am on the rebound. So if I wanna fantasize about being a degenerate's girlfriend, let me have it."

Kalani had now been in her own world... well, Jodie's world.

"That Nick guy is cute." Jodie smiled, "You should ask him out."

Kalani only raised her brows.

"Come on." Jodie spoke, "We're not in the 80s' anymore! The girl can ask the guy out now without everyone thinking she's a slut!"

"Oh shit, they're coming towards us." Eleanor panicked.

"Yo, 'sup?" Ethan called, "We're having a party at my place tonight or whatever. Y'all should pull up."

"Cool." Devi spoke nonchalantly, "Yeah. Yeah, that's great news because Eleanor here loves to party."

"Really?" Nick smiled.

"Absolutely." Eleanor answered, "I'm like a one-woman disco inferno."

Ethan and Nick gave each other a look before looking down over at Devi and Kalani.

"We don't know what that means, but all right, I'll see y'all tonight." Ethan smiled.

The two friends left the table, laughing, and nudging each other before looking back over at the duo of friends... Kalani and Devi... of course.

The bell soon rang and Kalani grabbed Devi's arm, pulling her away from Fabiola and Eleanor.

"What was that?" Kalani asked.

"What was what? I have no idea—"

"Don't bullshit me, David."

Devi sighed, "I had a sex dream about Ethan last night. He came over after I told him to fix your car and he called me hot."

"Holy shit!" Kalani smiled, "Why haven't you said anything?"

"It would kill Eleanor if she found out that I wanted to look his way." Devi explained, "But that does mean that you can't have Nick."

"What?"

"Oh, come on!" Devi smiled, "Don't bullshit me. He was total checking you out, Wang."

"Please... no, no."

"Don't tell me you didn't have a sex dream about him?"

"I didn't." Kalani laughed, "But he called me cute and I got fidgety."

"See! This works out for you!"

"Why does it work out for me and not for you?"

"Because Eleanor is clearly more into Ethan than Nick and if you're with Nick she wouldn't hate you until graduation."

Kalani smiled, "I think you're exaggerating, Devi. Yes, I think Nick's attractive... his name is even attractive."

"So, what's stopping you?"

The duo made their way into their classroom and Devi took her seat next to Kalani. While the Wang girl took her seat next to Ben.

"Hello, Ben." She smiled.

Nothing. He only looked her way.

"Ah," Kalani turned, facing Devi, "forgot to mention that Ben isn't allowed to talk to me anymore."

Devi leaned forward in her desk to look over at Ben.

"Fuck you, Gross."

Ben and Kalani hadn't spoken in over a week. Even when they were in the driest of patches, they still spoke to each other.

"Hi, everyone. I'm Miss Thompson, and I'll be talking over AP Lit for a little while, just until Dr. Keyes recovers from her hip and spine surgeries. Apparently, her bones shattered like glass on impact." Miss. Thompson smiled, "Anyways, sounds like you've been reading The Crucible. It's one of my faves. Did you know that although the play takes place in the 1600s, it was written as an allegory about McCarthyism? So, I'd like for you guys to pair up and discuss it's relevancy today."

Miss Thompson stepped away from the podium and pointed towards Kalani and Ben.

"Um, how about you two pair up?"

Kalani turned with a smile as she faced Ben. He only rolled his eyes and looked over at her.

"So, Kalani, why don't you tell me how you can relate to a story about falsely accusing someone and almost ruining their life?" Ben asked

"Woah, if I knew you'd have a stick up your ass, I would've played you like a puppet." Kalani scoffed, "I've apologized enough. It was mistake and, once again, I had every right to think it was her."

"That doesn't matter."

"Ben, can't just put this behind us?" She asked, "Margot didn't get in trouble, and my car is fixed. Let's move on, because I have."

"I'm sorry. This is just how it has to be for now."

"She has nothing to be threatened over. She does know we didn't have the greatest sex, right?"

Ben quickly shushed her, "Jesus." He turned, "Excuse me, Miss Thompson?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we get into bigger groups? I... I am just dying to engage with more of my peers."

"Oh, I love that. Yes, let's all pull our desk into a fun circle."

Ben stood to his feet and dragged his desk further away from Kalani.

She rolled her eyes.

Yeah, she was totally gonna fuck Nick.

LATER THAT night, Kalani had picked up Devi and Fabiola to go to the party at Ethan's.

Kalani stepped into the house wearing a hot pink corset top, with high waisted, ripped, black denim shorts.

"Hey, El." Devi called, "Sorry we're late. Kalani had to get gas and then some hobo tried selling her canned corn."

"Have you talked to Ethan and Nick yet?" Kalani asked.

"Uh, no, I haven't seen either of them."

"Oh. Then go out there and find them—"

Devi wasn't able to finish her sentence as Ethan and Nick came over. Ethan wrapped his arm over Devi's shoulder and Nick sliding his arm around Kalani's waist.

"Hey. Glad y'all made it." Ethan smiled.

"Mm-hmm. Yep, we are all here." Devi said awkwardly.

"Hi, Ethan, Nick." Eleanor smiled, "What a fête. I brought a bottle of vermouth. Where should I put it?"

"Probably next to the rest of the alcohol that's kind of in a pile behind you." Ethan answered.

"Cool."

"You know what?" Devi called, taking the bottle from Eleanor's hands, "I can take it. Yeah. Kinda wanna take a lap anyways, you know? Holla at my homies. Maybe take a pee. Who knows? See you in a bit."

Kalani pulled away from Nick's touch, "I'm thirsty. Might get a drink... or three. I'll
meet back up with y'all."

Kalani grabbed a solo cup and began pouring the Fanta into the cup. She couldn't drink like she planned because she was the designated driver for the night.

But, she looked up and saw Ben and Margot talking and laughing in a dimly lit corner of the room.

She grabbed her cup and headed upstairs into the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and placed her cup on the edge of the bathtub as she sat down.

"What happened down there?" Jodie asked, "You had him wrapped around your finger."

Kalani looked up, trying to conjure up some excuse, "I don't have an excuse."

"Kalani, you will never get over Ben this way. There's a guy who's attracted, who likes you, and you're in the bathroom, talking to me."

"That's makes me sound pathetic."

"Because you are... in case, because other times, you're blooming, babe."

"Thank you for clarifying."

"Look, I love you, Lani... I'm basically you, just Jodie Sweetin." She smiled, "I want you to talk to Nick. Because you deserve to just as happy, if not more, than Ben."

Soon, the bathroom door came flying open and Kalani looked over. Nick held knit brows as he made his way inside, locking the door behind him.

"We're you talking to someone in here?"

"No... no."

"Are you sure?" He chuckled.

Kalani sighed, grabbing her cup, "Promise you won't laugh?"

"I can't, but I'll try."

"Instead of my inner voice being my voice... ever since I was six, it has been Jodie Sweetin... and sometimes I can see her."

Nick nodded, taking another swing of his beer before taking a seat next to Kalani.

"Ben Savage."

Kalani looked over, "What?"

"Ben Savage. Cory for Boy Meets World. He's my inner voice. Ever since middle school and when my sister thought it'd be a great idea to put on Boy Meets World before we went to school."

Kalani smiled, holding her cup in her hands as she looked over at him, "That's a good one to have."

"So, is Jodie." He smiled, "You have a pretty smile."

Kalani's heart skipped a beat as Nick's words filled the small bathroom where they found solace from the bustling party outside.

"Kiss him!" Jodie smiled.

With a mixture of courage and curiosity, she reached out, her hand gently resting on his cheek. The touch sent a shiver down her spine, and she watched as his eyes closed momentarily, savoring the sensation.

Kalani closed the remaining distance between them. Their lips met in a tender kiss. Time seemed to stand still as they surrendered to the intoxicating chemistry between them, their bodies yearning for more.

Nick's hands slid down her back, pulling her closer, their bodies now pressed against each other. The touch sent a thrilling sensation through Kalani's entire being.

Kalani's hands found their way to Nick's chest, feeling the warmth and strength of his body beneath her fingertips. She sighed softly into the kiss, her heart pounding.

Their breaths mingled, hot and heavy, as their kisses became fervent and urgent. Each touch, each caress, conveyed an unspoken longing for more. Kalani lost herself in the sensations, allowing herself to be carried away by the intoxicating chemistry they shared.

And as they finally broke the embrace, their eyes met, sparkling with a mixture of satisfaction.

Nick smiled as did Kalani. He removed his hand from her back, taking his thumb and grazing her cheek.

"Such a pretty fucking smile."

Kalani soon felt her phone buzz in her back pocket. She reluctantly pulled away from Nick's touch to grab her phone.

Simultaneously, Jacob and Fabiola had both texted the girl, but she only clicked on Fabiola's name.

Lost both Devi and El, can you come and find me, please!

Kalani smiled, tapping away at the screen before looking back up at Nick.

"Um, as much as I enjoyed that, my friend is alone and I have to go find her."

Nick nodded, standing to his feet. He held his hand out for to Kalani to grab and once she did so, he help her to her feet.

"No worries." He smiled, "I should probably go and entertain the crowd."

They shared one more smile as Nick unlocked the bathroom door and allowed Kalani to walk out first. Which led to Fabiola quickly grabbing her arm and dragging her away from the door.

Kalani looked back, seeing Nick standing by the door, throwing his hand up as a sign of goodbye.

She finally turned her attention back into Fabiola who pointed out Devi and Eleanor standing in front of them.

"Are you guys fighting? Or am I misunderstanding you, and you're about to sing a cappella?" Fabiola asked.

"Do not invoke my second favorite art form in this charade." Eleanor said, "We're obviously fighting. I just caught Devi kissing Ethan."

"What? But you were just kissing Ethan by the fridge." Fabiola said.

"Holy shit, really?" Kalani questioned.

"Eleanor, I'm so sorry." Devi apologized, "I only did it because I thought there was a real connection."

"Oh, this sucks." Fabiola pouted, "We have never let a guy come between us before. And I get that it helps that Om not attracted to any guys, but come on, we can't let dumb Ethan ruin your friendship. Why doesn't everybody promise to stay away from him? And once again, I do realize it's easiest for me."

"I... I can do that. He's dead to me." Devi said, "I've already forgotten how good of a kisser he is."

Eleanor sighed, "Yeah, I guess I can avoid him too."

"That wonderful, ladies." Kalani smiled, "Now, let's all hug and get on with the party."

"You seem chirpy." Fabiola smiled, "Is your lipstick smudge?"

"Is it?" She asked, covering her mouth.

"Don't tell me you've been making out with Ethan to?" Eleanor asked.

"No, no! Trust me." Kalani sighed, pulling her phone out of her pocket and pulling out her Rare Beauty matte lipstick.

"Then who?" Devi smiled.

"No one."

As sign they could sense his presence, the group of friends turned to see Nick coming down the stairs and smiling over towards the group.

"No fucking way!" Devi smiled, "You kissed Nick?"

"Yes... in ways."

"In ways?" Eleanor questioned, "Did you make out with him, Lani?"

Kalani only smiled and Eleanor and Devi brought the girl into a hug.

This party was totally worth coming to.

AT SCHOOL Kalani made her way towards class, but stopped when she found Ben and Margot talking in the back of the class.

She overheard Margot saying that she didn't mind if Kalani and Ben spoke to each other and that it was originally his idea to not talk to the girl.

This entire time, for the past two weeks, Kalani believed that Margot wanted nothing to do with Kalani, which was true, but not to this extent.

She sighed, it was only a matter of time that she found out, right? Besides, she had a guy that was willing to treat her like a goddamn dime.

So, that afternoon, Kalani made her way towards her car and saw Nick standing next to it.

"What are you doing?" She asked, smiling.

"Checking out my work." He answered, "Glad it's all gone."

"Thanks to you. How can I repay you?" She asked.

Nick made her way towards her, "We could hang out. Ethan's with Devi and I would rather spend my time with you."

Kalani smiled, "It's a date."

"A date?"

"It doesn't have to be a date, but... I think I would like it more if it was."

Without uttering a word, Nick leaned in, his lips hovering just inches from hers. Until he finally placed his lips upon hers.

It was a gentle and lingering kiss. His lips caressed hers with a delicate urgency and Kalani's fingers instinctively found their way into Nick's hair, pulling him closer, deepening the connection of their kiss.

God... this was good.

— lucy has something to say !!

double update for you all (i love my ghost readers on this story like genuinely this is for y'all)

the way ethan is on his tiptoes kissing devi is funny

anyway i'm naming dropping high end brands because kalani is rich and i don't want people to forget it 😝

bye :))))