I couldn't believe that Lexi had the audacity to call me stubborn. The hypocrite. She was unrelenting. She would not let my conversation with her parents go. My differing of the subject every chance I got only increased her mistrust.

      Already running out of excuses in the short drive to school, I opted for raising the radio's volume. Drowning out our voices, Lexi shot me a well-deserved fevered look. I was sweating; this was not how I wanted to treat her. I always wanted to hear her talk, but it was my only way out. Lexi seemed to understand that it pained me to drown out her voice. Despite an initial taken-aback, indignant expression, a sparkle of amusement flashed behind her dark pools. I relaxed a bit. Relieved by the idea that she was laughing at my suffering. She could laugh all she wanted if it kept questions out of her mouth.

      Eagerly abandoning Lexi at her locker, I made a dash for Angela's locker.

      "Help me!" I pleaded, startling the blonde.

      Turning from my frantic expression to Lexi's bewildered one down the hall, Angela chuckled. "This is going to be good." She smirked in anticipation.

      "She's wearing me down," I moaned. "I'm trying to do something nice... Potentially life changing, actually. But she's going to ruin the surprise!"

      "Is this like the date? Another secret?"

      "I'll tell you all about it. I'll actually need more of your help. But first, please just distract her."

      "Distract her?"

      "Do whatever needs to be done to get her to stop thinking," I requested. "If she keeps this up, I'll spoil everything by the second bell."

      "She's really got you wrapped around her finger," Angela laughed.

      I watched her exasperatingly. I was in distress. Was she going to help or just laugh at me? "Are you going to help or not?"

      "Of course, I will." She smiled. "But I'm going to have fun with it."

      She certainly had fun with it. Ange spent most of the morning sending Lexi on wild goose chases and brought up absurd, irrelevant topics at every given opportunity. By lunch Lexi was exhausted, regarding her best friend with a mild loss of hope.

      "Are you okay?" Lexi finally asked her.

      "I'm great," Ange replied, blue eyes sparkling mischievously.

      I knew the moment Ange was struck with an idea and covered my mouth with my fist to hide an anticipatory chuckle.

      "Actually," Ange began again. Tone dramatically saddening, her friends leaned forward attentively. Everyone's brows but mine, furrowed in concern. I was still trying to supress a grin. "Jeffrey dumped me."

      Blinking in confusion, the three girls watched her with a mixture of worry and puzzlement.

      "I'm lost," Kianna finally admitted, staring blankly at the blonde.

      "Who's Jeffrey?" Lexi asked, nose crinkled in thought.

      "I thought you were talking to a guy named Aaron?" Julia remarked.

      "I am..." Ange said slowly, as if only then realizing that the Aaron approach would have been more logical.

      "So, you don't like him anymore?" Kianna inquired.

      "He's alright." Ange shrugged honestly.

      "But you're upset about this break-up with... Jeffrey?" Lexi confirmed.

      "Very." Ange nodded gravely.

      Launching into an elaborate made-up story about a boy named Jeffrey whose eye color kept changing, Angela left no room for thought. Unleashing excessive, specific, and confusing details, keeping up with her make belief required such energy that I was convinced Lexi had completely forgotten about my morning conversation with her parents. But that small, likely chance that she'd come to remember, kept me on guard. I wouldn't let her ruin this.

      That day being her only day off until the weekend, Lexi and I had made plans to hang out (I always jumped at any opportunity to spend time with her). Today was the first time I sought to escape her.

      "I'm very much not opposed to hanging out with my friend," Ange said. "But it's going to be a challenge to convince Lexi to back out of the plans you guys committed to last week."

      "Give her a good reason to," I begged.

      "Like what?"

      I paused to think. "Maybe you need more support on the Jeffrey situation?"

      "I think I've already shed all the fake tears in my power."

     "There's got to be something," I persisted, racking my brain for a suitable excuse.

     "Why can't you cancel? Family emergency or something."

      "I'm a terrible liar, and then she'll think she did something wrong."

      "Why would she think she did something wrong?"

      "It's Lexi," I deadpanned. "She thinks everything is her fault."

      Briefly considering my words, Ange nodded. "I'll think of something."

      I heaved a sigh of relief only to immediately tense. "You better think of something fast," I urged. Lexi was making her way towards us.

      "Whatever you're planning better be real good," Angela mumbled, preparing to greet Lexi with a smile.

      "I'm hoping so," I muttered nervously. If this wasn't my task, I was afraid I might be out of ideas. This had to be it.

      I would embark in my plans with full confidence... but when I took a second to really think things through, I was well aware that so much could go wrong. I was awful with directions for starters. There was no way to guarantee that Lexi would cooperate. And I could very well go through all this trouble, only to receive a firm no and have a door slammed in my face. I could drive Lexi halfway across the country, only to embarrass her. I could crush her dreams, fail my task, and leave her to deal with the repercussions by announcing my inevitable death. No pressure.

      "What?!" Lexi's panicked voice brought me back to reality. Her brown brows furrowed at Angela; I swallowed a groan. I could just imagine the story the girl had concocted. Maybe I should have asked for Kianna's help.

      "You didn't know?" Ange played dumb. "She mentioned it on Tuesday."

      Lexi spluttered cluelessly, mind spinning to remember whatever Angela was referring to.

      "You can even ask Jaxson," Ange said, nudging me in the side. Eyes growing, I shot her an urgent gaze. I hadn't heard a word she said. I was too busy catastrophizing.

      "The physic quiz," she prompted. "It's tomorrow afternoon, right?"

      I resisted the urge to shoot her a disappointed look. When I had requested that she distract Lexi, I had in no way meant for her to stress her out. Still... We were stuck with the lie, now.

      I nodded eagerly.

      "But you never mentioned it," Lexi insisted.

      I shrugged. "I thought you knew."

      Shaking her head, Lexi rubbed her temples. "I don't know how I could—"

      "You've been distracted lately," Ange offered.

      Narrowing her eyes at her friend, a light blush covered Lexi's cheeks. She wouldn't meet my eyes until she was struck with realization. Brown eyes widened as she seemed to remember our plans.

      "It's fine," I assured with a soft chuckle. "We can reschedule."

      "Are you sure?" She looked conflicted. As if wanting to remain true to her word, but desperate for extra time to study.

      "Of course."

      "You could still come over if you want," she offered. "We could study together."

      I shook my head. "I know you study better alone."

      "But you don't," she countered. "You like—"

      "Actually," Ange interrupted, once again coming to my rescue. "I was going to ask if you wanted to come over to my place. I'm not doing great in that class, and I thought maybe you could help. It might help with the Jeffrey situation too..."

      "Oh, of course," Lexi said, confusion returned at the mention of Jeffrey. "You really don't mind?" Her gaze flickered my way again with worry.

      "Of course, not." I smiled. Kissing her temple, I headed for the exit. "I'll text you tonight."

      Before she could change her mind, I dashed away. I practically ran to my car, with a twinge of guilt that Lexi would spend her night studying for a quiz that didn't exist. Nonetheless, I went home, eager to finalize my plans. I would make sure this went right.