Ryan's POV

"I think I have a teeny-tiny crush on Jason." Autumn declared. It is currently lunch break and our whole friend-group is sitting together in the cafeteria. Our whole group cheered (except for me) and everyone in the cafeteria turned their heads towards us.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "I just don't get the correct vibes from him, you know."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, I think he's one of those wanna-be cool straight guys who pretends to flirt with their male friends, but they're actually the ones who are homophobic. Like... you know the type." I said.

"Oh yeah, I know them. They act like the gayest of people, but when it comes to actual gay people, they're the first ones to hate on them." Ellie joined in. Exactly my point!

"Is that what we call internalized homophobia?" Daniel asked.

"No, that's different. You gotta be gay yourself to have that." Josh corrected him.

[A/N: Just to summarize the Autumn friend group, because even I get confused at times, and I'm the one writing it. There are 6 people in that group - Autumn (we all know her), Ryan (Autumn's best friend), Josh (the one with the one-night-stand story from chapter 10), Daniel (Josh's best friend), Paula (she once had that refence of having a cheeky neighbour, which idk if you remember) and Ellie (who even I don't have any refences on myself, lol).]

"People concentrate! We're talking about Jason." I said dragging all of their attention to me.

"But I think Jason is bisexual or something." Autumn said. "He dated this guy called Jamie a while back; or so I heard."

"So does that mean internalized homophobia applies for Jason?" Daniel asked. This stupid guy with his stupid unrelated questions! Can't he shut up for a while?

"But I heard Elijah and Kylan dated Jamie too." Paula contributed. Why is everyone diverting from the actual topic that it Jason is a jerk and Autumn shouldn't date him! And who the fuck is this Jamie, anyway?

"So almost everyone in that group has dated Jamie?" Ellie joined in again. "That is one weird friend group."

Yes! Finally someone getting it right. This is why I love Ellie. "Well, that's what I've been telling you all. Those guys are weird, especially that Jason dude!"

"Weird, how?" Autumn asked. "Explain."

"Well, for starters he wore an Armani jacket to school." I said reflecting back on that conversation from McDonald's. "Who wears an Armani jacket to school? He's such a showoff. Plus, they had this whole conversation in front of me, probably just to show off."

"Real Armani?" Daniel asked.

"Apparently." I replied.

"So, the dude is rich. What's wrong with that?" Josh questioned.

"It's not about being rich. It's just the bragging that ticks me off." I said.

"I don't think he was bragging though. You just read too much into everything." Autumn said.

"Oh, so you trust that guy more, who you've seen, what like twice? And you don't trust me, who's been your closest friend over the last ten years. Great!" I said sounding exasperated.

"It isn't about trust, Ryan. I'm just saying he's a shy person, who wouldn't brag to someone he just met." Autumn replied.

"Oh so you're saying you know him better than you know me?" I asked not even making sense to my own ears, but I was MAD! I don't even know why.

"Of course not! Goodness, Ryan where is all that even coming from?" Autumn said sounding extremely annoyed. Then she took a few breaths trying to calm herself down. This is usually a warning sign for me to stop. "I know him, not better than I know you. But I do know him better than you know him. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah it does..." I trailed off in a low voice.

"Well, so trust me when I say, whatever conversation you heard wasn't staged or done with the intention of bragging." She said sounding borderline angry, which was my cue to drop the subject. You see, Autumn never raises her voice when angry, but there's always a certain edge to her voice when she's angry; it's slow and cautious, while she puts extra stress on each word and her voice is deeper than usual. If there's a man in this world who's afraid of nothing, he should be afraid of Autumn Gibson. Because with me, who gets angry almost all the time, it's a different story. But anger is an emotion quite rare to Autumn. So it's usually scarier. And her getting angry on this meant, she's serious about this Jason guy.

Kylan's POV

I'm in trouble.

Like HUGE trouble.

So hear me out... I don't know what's happening to me, but eversince Jason stayed over, things have been different... at least with me.

After this morning, Mom drove us to school (after giving me an earful, of course) and we've been together for the whole day with the exception of having a few separate classes. We sat together almost the whole day, joked around and had fun. Despite having a terrible hangover, I've been having the best day ever. And that's how I know... that I'm fucked. I am royally fucked!

The weird butterflies in the stomach, the random rapid heartbeats when he smiles. This is not okay! I can't be feeling this way. We're friends. It's been way too long since I've had this good of a friendship with someone. I can't ruin it with all these... feelings. Plus are these even romantic feelings or just platonic ones? Maybe I've just grown to care for him... deeply.

We sit together when we have classes together and time flies by. And when we don't have classes together, I find myself waiting to see him again. I guess that's how it is like to have a best friend. Right?

"Earth to Kylan?" Jay said waving a hand in front of my face. "Whachyu thinkin' bout?"

"What's with that weird accent?" I asked as we walked side by side. School is over and we're currently walking to the hill to pick up my car. I am certain Mom would kill me if I don't bring that in safe and sound. And Jason, being the good friend that he is, kindest soul, offered to walk with me. (He didn't really, I just pestered him into it and Jay being Jay couldn't say no.)

What? I just like hanging out with my friend. Is that a crime?

"I was just trying something new." He replied while he started skipping beside me. How cute!

I smiled at that. "What got you so happy?" I asked.

"I don't know, hanging out with you." He replied and I gulped at that. Hanging out with me? Hanging out with me makes him happy?

"Hanging out with me makes you happy?" I voiced it out without realising.

"Yeah, I guess." He replied. "You make me happy." He smiled at me. I stared at him in surprise of his words and his beautiful smile. I mean, if smiling was made for someone, then that's Jason Zeigler! My heart was going crazy fast, yet I couldn't stop staring at him. What the hell is happening to me? "What?" He questioned when I kept staring.

I suddenly looked away realising my creepy tendencies. "Nothing." I said as I inwardly relished how good his voice sounded.

I've always had a soft tone, kind of hight-pitched. I guess I never really went through that stage in puberty where for like some awkward few months your voice is all broken and hoarse before it changes into a deeper tone. But I've never been one to be insecure about it. Girls told me it added to the whole "chocolate boy" image of mine. They said it was attractive. But trust me, you don't know shit about attractive, until you've met Jason. Like even his deep voice, which I didn't notice until now, has a certain charm to it. The fact that he is still single baffles me!

"Oh Kyle. Wanted to ask you something." Jason spoke suddenly. "Wanna come over to my place tonight? Tomorrow is Saturday so it's fine. Mom said it's only fitting that I bring you home, since you let me stay at yours."

"Oh I don't think Mom would give me the permission." I cannot spend so much time with him until I figure out whatever this is that I'm feeling. I always use the 'Mom' excuse whenever I need to cancel plans.

"Oh I've already talked to your Mom. She gave me the permission for you to stay at my place tonight." Jason replied. Shit! When did he do that?

"Is that so?" I asked with a fake smile as I freaked out on the inside. I'm out of excuses!

~

"Oh I like this band!" Jason said as the song 'Olivia' by One Direction came up. Currently we were sitting in my car, driving to Jason's place to spend the night there. Yeah, I couldn't come up with any excuses to say no.

"You like One Direction?" I asked, making a mental note of it. I am going to be listening to a lot of One Direction for the next few days,

"That's the name?" He asked sounding excited. He's like a puppy, I swear!

"Yeah." I said as I quickly stole a glance of his excited face, and a smile formed on my face. "How do you not know One Direction?" I asked.

He just shrugged. "Well, now I do."

[A/N : I wrote this like a month ago, and reading it today after the news of Liam passing away is so heartbreaking. 1D is always on top of my Spotify most played every year, but I'm afraid, listening to 1D won't be the same anymore.]

We stayed silent for a while before I noticed Jason fidgeting with his fingers. He usually does that when he has something to say. "What's on your mind Jay?" I asked in the softest tone possible because he needs to feel comfortable if you want him to talk about something he's clearly nervous to say.

"Can I tell you something?" He asked in the cutest way possible. If I wasn't convinced that I am into him before, then I am now. I mean, who can resist this cute little ball of sunshine?

"M-hm" I replied trying my best to concentrate on the road while keeping my overwhelming feelings at bay. Maybe I should consider asking him out or something. What do you think? Being with him wouldn't be so bad, you know. Would he be totally opposed to the idea? I mean I could try my luck, right?

"I have some news." He declared.

"What news?" I asked intrigued.

He waited for a while giving rise to a sort of suspense. Then he blurted out, "I think I'm dating Autumn."

"WHAT?" I practically screamed as my car came to a halt.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Hi guys! I'm back after a long time. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Do let me know what you think about it. 

17 chapters is probably the longest I've written a book on wattpad. And if you've made it this far in the book, then thank you for reading. Please leave some - good or bad, on whatever you think about the story. I could really use some good feedback to decide where the story is headed now. 

As always, love you. (Also, a few more chapters are coming up too, just now. So enjoy.)

~ Millie.