"So what are you two planning on watching?" My mom asks from the couch. I look up from the book I'm reading and purse my lips in thought.

"I'm not sure, I'm just aware it's an action film." I shrug and she nods. Since it's Friday and I don't have to work today, I decided that it would be a good day to go to the movies with Chris. He automatically agreed to my suggestion and told me he would pick me up at six, leaving me with enough time to do homework and still get ready. Now I'm simply waiting for him to arrive.

"How is school?" My mom asks me and I chew on my lip in thought. My mom isn't aware of the whole Elite and Rebel situation nor what I've done and get up to. I can't really be honest with her regarding that.

"It's okay. I just can't wait for the year to be over." I mumble and my mom chuckles, her laugh music to my ears.

"Don't wish it away too soon, Sophie. You never get your school career back."

I sigh, not mentioning how I maybe don't want it back. "I know. It's just tiring. I want to experience something different." I answer and she smiles softly.

"You will soon sweetie."

I smile back and am about to answer when the doorbell goes off. I stand up from the couch and make my way to the door, opening it to see Chris with his hands in his pockets, waiting for me. When he looks up at me, he smiles.

"Hey Soph." He greets and I grin.

"Hello," I say back.

"Where's your mom?" He asks and I look over my shoulder to see her right behind me. Chris smiles politely at her and my mom returns it gingerly.

"Hello Miss Cooper. How are you?" He asks and my mom chuckles.

"I'm good and you Chris?"

"I'm good." He responds before turning to look at me. "Are you ready to go?" He asks and I nod, hitching my handbag further up my shoulder. I peck my mom on the cheek in goodbye.

"Bye, enjoy yourself!" She tells us and I laugh as I follow Chris to his car. Once I'm seated inside, he starts the car and we make our way to the mall in a comfortable silence. Once we pull up outside and we climb out, Chris grabs my hand and leads me inside. A lot of kids from school are walking around but I manage to ignore them as we walk to the cinemas. Once we're by the ticket booth, Chris slaps a ten dollar bill on the counter top.

"Two tickets for movie number three please." He says and the lady behind the desk gives us our tickets and his change.

"Thank you for paying for me." I say and he smiles at me as he leads us to get popcorn and slushy.

"No problem. What do you want?" He asks regarding the snacks.

"A small popcorn, Sour Worms and a blueberry slushy please." I grin and he lets out a chuckle.

"You and blueberries..." he shakes his head and I give him a sheepish smile. Once we're done getting all of our snacks, we head to the movie room and take a seat in the row we booked our tickets in.  The room is dark and slowly the screen lights up, letting us know it's about to start. Chris smiles at me, his teeth shining, and I return the gesture before staring at the now illuminated screen.

****

"That movie was even more amazing than I anticipated." Chris gushes and I laugh at his reaction, patting his arm as we leave the movie house.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

He grins down at me before draping an arm over my shoulder.
"It was even more enjoyable since it was you that came with me."

I let out a loud laugh, shaking my head. "You're such a flirt Johnson."

He laughs with me before we stop walking and stand off to the side. "Do you want something to eat?" He asks and I nod my head vigorously with a sheepish smile. He chuckles but grabs my hand nonetheless and pulls me to the food court.

"C'mon."

The food court is busy with bustling people and the chatter is insanely loud. We walk to a steakhouse, a waiter seating us inside the restaurant that's dimly lit with soft music playing in the background. The smell of steak wafts around the room and my stomach grumbles in hunger.

We take a corner booth and once we're comfortably seated on opposite sides of it, the waiter hands us a menu. I take it with a polite "thank you" and he nods, walking away so we can decide what to get. I scan the items and purse my lips in thought.

"What are you having?" Chris asks, startling me from staring at the menu. I shrug.

"I think I'm going to go with the pepper corn steak. You?" I ask. He closes his menu.

"Burger." He responds cheekily and I roll my eyes playfully.

"Of course it's a burger. Let me guess... medium rare?" I ask and he winks.

"You know me so well."

I chuckle at him as our waiter returns with a customer-pleasing smile. "Can I take your order?" He says, flipping out his notebook.

"Yes. Can we please have one medium rare steak burger, pepper corn steak with a glass of sparkling water-" Chris looks at me expectantly.

"-and a glass of still water. Please." I add and the waiter nods his head as he scribbles down our requests.

"So, how are things with Megan?" I ask Chris once the waiter is gone. Chris shrugs, playing with his car keys on the table.

"It's over and I'm relieved. Megan wasn't the girl for me." He responds plainly and I nod although a frown is etched onto my face.

"Is she mad at you?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No, we're both happy it's over. We're happy just being friends." He leans back in his seat, seemingly unbothered.

"Does it not hurt?" He shakes his head. "Not even a little bit?" I ask incredulously and he sighs.

"There were no sparks Sophie." He counters, his blue orbs completely honest. My mouth falls agape at how casual he talks about his breakup. Where's the usual heartbreak ones supposed to feel after such an event?

"Then why date?" I inquire further and he laughs.

"Because we wanted there to be sparks."

I nod understandingly at him. "Oh alright."

He leans forward with his arms on the table before licking his chapped lips and staring at me sympathetically.

"What?" I ask, looking between both his eyes.

"I'm sorry about how Courtney and them lashed out at you at Tyler's party." He says and I avert my gaze, a small smile making itself present on my face. Why didn't he defend me if it bothered him that much? That's the thing with the Elite; we're always sorry but we never do anything about it. We speak meaningless words and pretend they mean so much. I'm tired of it.

I look back up at him and breath in deeply. "Don't be sorry. It's fine." I say and I try to avoid the suspicion brewing in my stomach. For all I know, Courtney could have asked him to say this to see if I'd flip out about her.

Too bad I know her tricks too well already.

"But I am, you didn't deserve to be scolded like a child." He says and I frown, my lips pursing.

"Aren't you scared Courtney finds out you're undermining her?" I ask with a raised eyebrow. For all he knew, I could tell Courtney this and I'm sure that she wouldn't be pleased. Chris looks between my eyes.

"Are you going to tell her?" He asks and I feel the air growing slightly heavy. I push a smile onto my face.

"No."

He grins back. "Good."

Luckily the waiter brings our drinks, interrupting our conversation and making us change the subject.

However, a heavy weight is placed on my heart as I think about how a friendship should not be like this; where we walk on eggshells around each other because we're actually scared what we'll do.

We're all liars. Lying, lying, lying.

Being an Elite is tough, huh? Thank you all for the undeniable support! I love guys!

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