- Everybody Wants You; Johnny Orlando -
- Hard to Believe; Wallows -
- boy x; Tate McRae -

Aurora Holland

"Rory!" Bailey exclaimed as she threw her arms around me, not seeming to care about the bags of snacks I'd been holding.

I let out a laugh as I did my best in an attempt to hug her back, failing miserably. She let go and grabbed the bags that I held in my left hand, using her free one to pull me into the house.

I hadn't been in the Jackson residence for a while. Of course, I'd assumed when Bailey was talking about the get-together that it'd be here, but you can never be sure about the Letterman girl.

Of course, if it were up to Bailey we'd have had this event much sooner. But it was hard due to conflicting schedules, the last few fancy events of the year with my dad's job, and others in the group packing and getting ready to go out of town.

This was it. This was the last time I'd be with this particular group for a long time, if ever again. Part of me was glad because I didn't want to have to deal with specific people, but at the same time, I couldn't help but feel a little sad due to liking some of the people I met through the others.

I followed Bailey straight to the kitchen, helping her unpack the bags of snacks I'd brought with me. I listened as she talked, random topics coming out of her mouth as if it were never-ending. I didn't mind, I never did when Bailey spoke.

"You wanna come stay the night tonight?" Bailey then asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, I can't," I mumbled.

"Why not?" She pouted. "You know, it already sucks Cameron's getting to go on this huge trip with you guys! I'm going to miss you."

I pouted, feeling bad. "I know, I'm sorry. The way our parents did it was each of us get to invite one person. Something about if we bring a certain amount of people they get a discount?" I made the statement sound like a question, shrugging after. "I don't know. The whole sudden-money-big-business thing doesn't make sense to me. Either way, I'll miss you too."

"So why can't you stay?" She asked again, putting the last of the bags away.

"I told Miles I'd hang out with him one last time before I go. I have a lot of packing and getting ready to do as well, my parents want me home tonight. My mom's like- super set on all of us being home the next few days to prepare for the trip."

"How long is it again?" Another voice asked from behind me. I turned to see Cameron walking into the kitchen, a small smile on his face. "I've yet to start packing."

"Two months," I answered.

Cameron reached around me and grabbed one of the Capri-Suns I brought. "Cool," He smiled.

I nodded as my cheeks flushed, looking away. Bailey looked between us with a small smile, and it was then I realized she still thought something was going on between us.

"Well you'll have to both bring me something back," Bailey said anyway, thankfully not commenting on our closeness.

"Hello, my lovelies!" The sound of Elijah's voice was heard at the door.

I turned around and glanced over, seeing him walk further into the house. Miles walked in behind him, eyes immediately landing on me. He made a beeline straight to where we stood at the counter, my smile growing bigger the closer he got.

"Who's all going to this thing, by the way?" Cameron asked, bringing my attention back to him.

I turned and leaned my back against the counter, facing him completely. "I don't know everyone who's coming, mostly who I and a few others invited," I answered truthfully, "I'm bringing Katherine, Logan's obviously bringing you-" I pointed at him, flicking him in the chest.

Cameron gave me a look that made it seem as if he were offended, although I knew he wasn't. He flicked me on the nose, earning a gasp from me.

"You guys are gross," Bailey commented with an eye roll, "I'm going to go find Layla."

I smiled as she weaved her way through the group of people lingering around the house, looking for our friend. I then looked at Miles who copied my position. "What took you so long?"

"Lijah decided to go get ice cream even though Layla brought some." Miles shrugged, "Miss anything?"

"Unless you count Griffin and I pushing the trampoline close to the pool for later." Cameron winked at the boy, "We're going to have a contest on who can jump the highest later. Wanna join?"

"That sounds very dangerous," I commented.

"Dangerous is my middle name," Cameron retorted.

"Isn't it actually Isaiah?" Miles asked.

Cameron glanced between Miles and me, a confused look on his face.

"I'm kidding, dude," Miles added after a moment of silence. "I know you were messing."

"Right," Cameron chuckled, his cheeks turning pink. "My bad."

Cameron finished the Capri-Sun in his hand, tossing it in the garbage can nearby. I looked around at our friends who were chatting with each other, just like they usually did when we hung out.

"You decide what you wanna do later?" Miles asked me.

I shrugged, "I don't know. You could just come over."

"Where's my invitation?" Cameron joked, grabbing another drink. "They seriously need to put more liquid in these."

I laughed, rolling my eyes at him. "You're going to be stuck with me and my family for two months, you really need an invitation?"

"I wouldn't mind it," He spoke with a shrug. "Hey, let's go see what the others are doing."

After watching some videos, poorly sung karaoke - mostly Elijah and Bailey - and a chubby bunny contest, we were all changed into our bathing suits and outside by the pool.

I watched from a distance as Carter hung near Elijah, focused on his best friend. He seemed... brighter than he had graduation day, but at the same time, he seemed different. Sad. Permanently sad. It was as if he had accepted the way things were, but it didn't make him any happier to have things the way they were.

"Rory!" Bailey shouted from the pool.

Tearing my eyes away from Carter, I looked at the shallow end where she sat in the cool water. "Come in!" She shouted after I didn't respond.

I shook my head, sitting further back in my chair. "No thank you," I told her.

She rolled her eyes, glancing at the others she was swimming with. Katherine was a part of this group, in a beautiful black bathing suit she'd bought when we went to the mall together one time.

"You're missing out!" Layla then shouted.

"I think I'm perfectly fine," I responded, smiling at them.

Bailey scoffed playfully, looking around. She then looked at where Griffin and Cameron were drowning each other, splashing Lila, Eliana, and Alexa in the process.

"Hey, Cam!" Bailey whisper-yelled, catching the blond boy's attention.

He stopped his splashing and looked at his sister, who waved him over.

I glanced over at Miles, who shrugged in return. "Maybe she let it go."

"Doubtful," I mumbled. "How late did you wanna stay?"

"I don't know, whenever I guess. I'm just coming to yours so it's not like it's a huge deal on when we leave. I've informed my parents and they're cool with it as long as I check in every once in a while."

I nodded, messing with the bathing suit cover I wore. It wasn't long before the sun was covered from my view, droplets of cool water hitting my legs.

Glancing up, I saw Cameron standing in front of me with a smug smirk.

"What are you doing?" I asked suspiciously, my brows pushing together.

"I would like you to come swim with me," He said as he held his hand out. I didn't say anything, causing him to speak up again. "Pretty please?"

I glanced around, seeing the girls watching us carefully. Bailey had a big smile on her face, and it was then I realized that her way of getting me in was to use Cameron.

Looking back at Cameron, I smiled at him. "No thank you."

He glanced back at Bailey, holding his hands out. "She said no!" He shouted.

I glanced over at the others to see their reactions, noticing that Carter and Elijah were now watching us. I quickly looked back at Miles, who just smiled at me in return.

Cameron sighed, causing my eyes to snap over to him again. "They really want you to swim." He said, looking between Miles and me. He had his hands on his hips, a disappointed look on his face as he shook his head. "Only one way to satisfy."

Before I could begin to ask him what he meant he reached down, scooping me up into his arms.

"Cameron don't you dare!" I exclaimed. I attempted to grab onto him but failed, due to his entire body being wet from the pool water.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He asked softly, holding onto me tightly despite how difficult I was making it.

"No. No, no, no, no, no!" I shouted as we got closer to the water.

He went toward the deep end where he had been before Bailey called him over, causing me to hold onto his neck tightly.

"Please," I begged, wiggling my legs back and forth.

"You realize the more you wiggle, the more of a chance I drop you into the water right?" He asked with a smile.

"Please, Cameron, don't," I begged. I couldn't help the smile as I saw his, making my pleas less serious.

"What do you say?" He asked, causing me to roll my eyes.

I continued to wiggle, "Cameron I literally just said please."

"Tell me I'm the best person ever," He then spoke.

"You're the best person ever okay?" I asked.

Bailey laughed a really loud laugh, and I looked back at her with a glare.

"Cameron if I go down you go down with me," I said as I looked back at the blond boy.

He glanced around with a smile before looking back at me. "I'm okay with that."

Without another warning he jumped in, taking the both of us into the water.

My arms flailed as I struggled to find my way to the surface, coughing as soon as I was able to breathe air.

Cameron came up shortly after, keeping himself afloat as he shook his hair around.

"You're a jerk," I commented, swimming over to the ledge. I grabbed onto it as I wiped my face of extra water, watching as he followed me.

"You already said I'm the best person ever though," He commented.

I began to respond but didn't, as movement from behind Cameron caught my attention. I watched as Carter grabbed his belongings and went inside, slamming the screen door shut behind him.

Frowning, I felt the urge to go after him. Even though we haven't talked, it didn't mean I wanted to see him upset.

I began to lift myself up over the edge of the pool, but Bailey's voice prevented me from going.

"Now that you're here, what's the point in getting out?"

++

"Thanks for waiting," I told Miles as I ran the towel through my hair. "I really needed a shower after all of that chlorine."

"It's okay," Miles spoke politely. "Are we going to talk about earlier?"

"What about it?" I asked as I put the towel in the dirty laundry.

"Cameron, Carter, do I need to specify?" He asked as he sat at my desk chair.

"I don't know what you mean," I mumbled, beginning to pack.

"I saw the way you began to go after Carter, Ror, you don't have to act like you weren't going to," Miles spoke matter-of-factly.

"I just- he seemed upset, okay?" I asked, beginning to find clothes I wanted to take with me.

"Yeah, he was very upset with how close you and Cameron are," Miles said.

"You think so?" I asked as I stopped what I was doing. I turned to look at him, and the look on his face was enough to answer my question.

"I don't see why," I mumbled.

"Look, he's just jealous, alright? He knew what he had and by his speech, he knows he messed up, but I think it's just hard for him to accept you're close with other people now. Even if it's just platonic." Miles explained, "Let's change the subject, okay? I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, it's okay," I assured, going back to what I was doing before.

"We're going to stay in contact while you're gone right?" He then asked, changing the subject anyway.

"Yeah for sure." I nodded as I pulled items from my closet. "Phone calls when possible."

"You'll have to bring me something," Miles said with a smile.

"Bailey told Cameron and me the same thing," I couldn't help but chuckle. "But of course I will."

"Great minds think alike," Miles said.

"Yeah. Hopefully we hear from colleges soon." I told him.

"Yeah. Do you have someone to check the mail while you're gone?" Miles asked.

"Yep. Some neighbors my mom became friends with are going to watch the house while we're gone and gather any mail we get. She's giving them an extra key so they can drop it off on the kitchen table or something." I explained, "Either way, it should be taken care of and she's going to text my mom like what kind of mail comes in so hopefully it's something with college."

"True, I'm sure it'll be fine." He smiled at me, one that assured me enough to drop the subject.

We began to talk about other things, ranging from what I'd be doing on our trip to what he'd be doing over the summer. We talked about when the best time to talk would be, and he talked about me sending as many nature photos to him as possible.

Our conversation was interrupted at some point by the doorbell ringing, and I dropped the shirt I held in my hands. "That's probably Katherine. She's already packed and planned on coming over tonight."

"Wasn't she hanging out with Elijah though?" Miles asked, his nose scrunching up slightly.

"Maybe he helped her pack, I don't know." I shrugged as I grabbed my phone. Checking it, I frowned as I didn't have any messages. "She hasn't messaged me."

"Elijah? Helping?" Miles asked, standing as I walked over to the door.

"Who knows?" I commented as I made my way down the stairs, Miles following on my trail.

We got to the bottom and I sent him one last glance before throwing open the door. However, Katherine wasn't on the other side the way I assumed.

My eyes stayed glued to the boy standing in front of me, the familiar innocent look I used to see every day.

"Asher?!"

++

And this is the last chapter! Thank you all who read Hard Boy, this is officially the longest book I've ever written and I'm so proud of myself for finishing it! I've decided to wait on the sequel, hopefully until I can get one or two of my other books finished first! Then I'll be able to put more focus on this series :) I'll post a part when the sequel is officially posted, however, so those who read this can be aware :) If you don't want to keep this in your library then please do follow me so you can see updates!

Anyways, this is the end of Hard Boy. See you guys at the sequel <3