"-and then Keefe got the glitter and paint balls in place and I-"

God this girl would not. Stop. Talking. About Keefe. I had to keep laughing at her stories, acting like they were actually funny while she rambled on and on about Keefe and her other friends. I'm the boy she chose to date, yet she keeps talking about all of them. It's like they're trying to take her from me.

Sophie continued her story. I was laughing and smiling on the outside, while on the inside I was yelling and bashing Keefe's head into a wall by his hair, laughing as he screamed.

If only I could actually do that, but Sophie would never forgive me. I had to make sure she removed herself from their friend group first.

We were on our second date, a different restaurant, this one a pizzeria. She ordered hawaiian and I got taco. We play-fought over pineapple on pizza.

It got over too soon. I wanted to spend more time with her. Be with her constantly.

But I had to wait. Get her to trust and listen to me first. Then I could get her to stop hanging out with all her friends. If you're meant to be, you don't need anyone else.

We were about halfway through January, two months of dating. I figured it was about time to make her only mine. But I had to plan it perfectly in order to keep her mine and not screw everything up.

She came walking towards me in the hallway on our way to lunch, Keefe right next to her. They were in deep conversation, until she threw her head back and laughed.

All I could see was red and before I knew it, she was right next to me, slipping her hand into my clenched fist. My vision cleared and my breathing turned normal, seeing the beautiful, worried smile on her face.

"What's wrong?" She asked me, an abundance of adorable concern in her voice.

"Nothing, can I talk to you later though?" I could see Keefe glaring from a few feet away, watching closely. He probably thought he was protecting her. He better wait though, because he can't protect her from what's coming next.

"What'd you want to talk about?" My beautiful girlfriend asked from the passenger seat of my car. She had just finished texting Dex that I would be giving her a ride home. "Did something I did upset you?"

"No!" I said immediately, defensively, then rethought what I was going to say. "I mean, kind of." I looked into her eyes, hoping to see worry. If she thought it was something really bad, then what I would ask of her would seem smaller.

"What was it?" Her eyes widened a little. "Are you... breaking up with me?"

"No, or course not. I," I sighed before speaking again, hoping to sound as genuine as I am, "I love you." I tilted my head up slowly, meeting her gaze. She looked shocked, and of course she would be. This would also help her to listen to what I want.

"Oh." Was all she said in reply.

"Oh?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, it's just that it's pretty soon. We've only been dating for a few months. I don't think I'm ready to say the same yet. I mean, I might be soon. I think eventually I really could feel the same. I'm just used to taking it slower with relationships. My longest boyfriend was for a year, and we didn't say it until six months. So, of course I'm happy you feel this way, and I'm sorry I don't yet. I'm sorry it's too soon for me." I could tell she was worried when she rambled. Little did she know, it worked in favor for my plan.

"That's, I'll admit, a little disappointing, but it's okay. If you're not ready, you're not ready. I'm not going to pressure you into it." Supportive, patient boyfriend. Check.

"Okay, thank you." A warmness spread throughout me with her smile.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about something else. I've been trying to be okay with it, I really have, but...it's kinda hurting me, the amount of time you spend with Keefe and your other guy friends over me." I couldn't tell what she was thinking and it worried me. Her face was completely blank, void of emotion.

"Oh. You know we're just friends, right? I wouldn't cheat on you. I mean, one already has a boyfriend, one's my cousin, the rest aren't interested in me, and I'm not interested in any of them. I'm sorry you're getting hurt, but I like hanging out with my friends. And I like hanging out with you."

"I know, I know you would never cheat on me, or on anyone for that matter. It's not you. But, I can't help feeling jealous. Could you please at least hang out with them a little less when I'm around." I could see the anger in her eyes. I was almost dreading her response. If it wasn't what I wanted, I was going to have to threaten her. It always got so messy when I had to resort to that. Often I had to actually follow through on the threats, and that was never good for the people who disobeyed me. I really didn't want to have to messy up Sophie's pretty face.

"Fine. I'll stop hanging out with them as much when you're around." She grumbled. I hadn't realized until then that tears had been falling from my eyes. I was so grateful for my subconscious fake crying.

"Thank you." I told Sophie before starting the car and driving her home.

We were on a date for Valentine's Day the next time I brought it up.

"Hey Sophie." I started. She looked up from her meal.

"Yeah?"

"I wanted to talk to you about your friends again. I'm sorry, but it's really making me uncomfortable at this point. Some of them obviously like you, and it doesn't really make me happy, seeing a certain one of your friends looking at you with googly eyes all the time." I was worried I said it wrong when she looked at me with confusion.

"What do you mean? None of my friends like me like that. Pretty much all of them are gay, taken, or see me as a sibling. None of them are making 'googly eyes' at me."

"Keefe is. All he ever does is stare at you. I'm sorry, but I'm worried about his intentions."

"You shouldn't be. Keefe's not gonna do anything. He's basically like a second Dex."

"See that's another thing. I don't like how much you hang out with Dex. I hate to admit it, but it's making me jealous." I really knew I said something wrong then, with the look of anger in her eyes. I thought girls thought it was cute when a guy admitted to being jealous.

"He's my cousin! What is wrong with you? Of course I'm going to hang out with Dex, he's basically my brother, why are you getting jealous of him and me being siblings?"

"Because you're not siblings! You're not even actually related!" There was basically steam coming out of her ears. Directed at anyone else, it would be cute.

"That doesn't matter! I'm not related to Grady and Edaline, but they're still my parents in every way that matter! What's next, you want me to stop being near them?" I stood up, leaning against the table with both hands, hoping to intimidate her. It seemed to work with the way she immediately backed down.

"Listen, Sophie. Just stay away from Keefe. You don't want to know what I'll do if you don't."

Sorry these past two have been short. I've been really busy with school at the time I'm writing them, also there isn't much I can put in them to make them longer without dragging it out. Anyways, hope you enjoyed the surprise Noah chapter! I know how much you guys love him! Also the (sub)plot is rolling hehe! And another quick note, I'm older and more mature than when I first started writing this, so things may be a little more directed towards older audiences than the first however many chapters are. Please vote and comment if you enjoyed it, I love you all!!!

Avery, out ->

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