Chapter 21

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Amy's POV

I woke up the next morning at our little cottage outside of New York City to music coming from my sister's room. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up. I stretched and yawned. I put on my slippers and headed to my sister's room. I knocked on her door and opened it.

"Carter, could you turn the music down please?" I asked.

"Well, good morning sleepyhead" she said, clicking the button to decrease the volume.

"Whatcha doing?" I asked, approaching her.

"I'm sketching some sceneries from around here I saw on the internet to take pictures of later" she answered, proudly patting her camera.

"Cool. I'm gonna have some breakfast if you want to join me" I said.

"Sure. I'll be there in a second. I think Jake is already there"

I walked down the creaking wooden stairs to our little kitchen. Jake, my older brother was making himself some scrambled eggs while the kettle boiled with coffee.

I took a croissant and poured myself some coffee that I mixed with oat milk.

"How was your afternoon shift at the hospital Doctor Harzler?" I mocked, sitting down next to him.

"It was nice. Nothing much happened except for when a girl form around your age came in practically dead. We could reanimate her but she is going to be weak for a few days. I'm pretty sure she will still be very pale today" he explained. My mind went straight to LIzzie. Was that what she didn't want to talk about? She almost died?! "She also had this other problem that I can't mention" he said.

"And what was the name of that girl or how did it happen?" I asked.

"Amy, you know my oath keeps me from sharing that information with anyone" he raised an eyebrow.

I sighed.

"She came in with a very hot friend of hers" he added.

"So you got a girlfriend?" I teased.

"I was at work, kiddo. I didn't have a lot of time to talk to her but I love her accent. I think she's French"

"Oh la lá! A French girlfriend then huh?" I faked a french accent to mock him.

"Leave me alone" he laughed "What are you up to today?" he added.

"There's a christmas party at the house of someone in my high school and me and my gang are going there. Maybe you should come too. You're still young and you need to socialize" I said "Maybe you'll find your French hot love" I laughed.

"Well, I guess I could show up" He said, playing around with the scrambled eggs.

"So you'll drive me in your car?" I gave him puppy eyes. He had a McLaren Elva, a very expensive and cool red car.

"Sure" he took a sip of coffee.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Your POV

The afternoon arrived pretty fast. I sent a message to Ava, wishing her good luck for her session before jumping in the shower to get ready for the party. I listened to Ava's songs in the shower. I was so happy. Ava was one of my best friends,  I had a date with Amy, I was going to a party with both of them...

I put on a short blue dress with short lace sleeves. I spinned around, checking myself in the mirror and the dress flowed freely around me.

I lightly curled my hair so it looked nice and silky. I put on light makeup for a natural look and I was ready. I took a little Prada purse and put my phone, keys and some money in it.

I hopped onto the motorcycle and started driving towards Marley's house. 

When I arrived, half of the gang was waiting for the rest and the party had already started. I stood with them to wait for the rest. Everyone, including James and Colette arrived but Jack was still missing and Lizzie already went inside.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Colette's POV

A very expensive red sports car parked in front of us, revealing a dark haired young girl in the passenger seat but what surprised me most was that Doctor Hartzler was driving it! Did he have a girlfriend? He gave her a kiss on her cheek and she got out of the car. She was wearing a short red and black dress that fit her perfectly and she wore sunglasses. She took them off.

"Hey guys" she said, walking towards us.

"Is that your boyfriend?" I blurted out, immediately regretting my words. She laughed, hard.

"No! He's my brother" she couldn't stop laughing and my cheeks turned red. He looked at me from the car and the corners of his lips turned upward in a smile.

"And you must be the hot french girl" she said, shaking my hand. I tilted my head in confusion "That's what my brother calls you" she sent a sly smile to her brother, who looked away in embarrassment.

"I forgot to introduce you" y/n said "this is Amy, our new classmate and newest member of the gang. Amy, this is Colette, Lizzie's boss/friend in her restaurant. And I guess that is her brother..."

"Jake" Amy completed the sentence with a smile "He is my brother Jake Hartzler"

"Well" she continued "I'm gonna go inside. Meet me by the pool if you want. You coming, Jake?" she asked her brother.

"I'll go later. I gotta park" he answered.

"Jack just texted me that he can't come. He's sick" Kate said.

"Then we're going inside too" she said, following Amy.

I stayed there, alone with Jake.

"The french hot girl?" I laughed.

"Just ignore my sister. She's a pain in the ass and such a teaser"

"So you are attracted to me" I stated.

"Can't deny what's true" he sighed "Care for a ride?" he said, patting the empty passenger seat.

I smiled and climbed into the car. He stepped on it and we drove away.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Amy's POV

I love making my brother feel uncomfortable. I guess it's the basic sibling instinct to make the other one feel bad or weird in public. I smiled as I walked to Marley's back yard. There was a table with cups and drinks next to the pool and some people were playing truth or dare, including Lizzie. I turned back to y/n.

"Should we join them?" I asked.

"Sure" she smiled.

"Care if we join the game?" I said.

A girl with long dark hair and bangs turned to me. She could only be Marley.

"Of course" she said.

Everyone went further back to make room for us in the circle and we sat on the floor.

"Sam" she said "Truth or dare?"

"Truth" he chose.

"Do you like someone?" she asked.

"Yeah"

Everyone went "Ooooh"

It was Sam's turn to ask.

"Y/n, truth or dare?" he asked.

"Dare" she confidently said.

"I dare you to drink a shot of vodka as slowly as you can" he dared.

She stood up and her warmth left my side to return with a little cup and a bottle of vodka. She poured herself a shot and looked around at every person in the circle with a smile.

She raised the little cup and slowly tilted it, pouring the content into her mouth.

"One, two, three..." the people in the circle started counting.

She drank it in a total of sixteen seconds and everyone clapped.

Y/n had to ask now.

"Amy" my name slipped easily past her lips "truth or dare?"

I almost said dare, but after thinking about it, I chose truth.

"Why were you so nervous to ask me out?" she asked.

"Wait. You two are dating?" Kate asked.

"Well, not yet but kinda" I said.

"Back in LA" I started my story "there was this girl I really liked named Alex. We went to high school together and I spent a lot of time with her. We were good friends. I was too shy to ask her out and she never made a move. Then Jake finished his education and got a job here so me and my family moved here. Losing forever the chance of being with Alex" I frowned and there were little "Awwwe"s in the crowd.

I asked my question to Kate and the game went on. A part in the back of my mind thought of Alex. How is she doing now? She probably has a boyfriend now. I sighed and I catched Lizzie leaving with the corner of my eye. I thought about following her to ask her how she's doing but she has enough problems. I'll leave her alone.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Lizzie's POV

I got up and out of the truth and dare circle to get myself a drink. I'm so tired. I swallowed a pill Ms Callis gave me for my anemia and sat down on a chair, drinking whatever the drink in my hand was.

"Hi" a too familiar voice called.

"Hi Robbie" I think that I did enough ignoring him. Maybe we could be just friends.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Not really" I admitted.

"And what are you hiding under your sleeves?" he said, delicately taking my clothed arm in his hands. I winced at the gesture and pulled my arm away.

"Nothing" I looked away from the blue eyes that would make me say the truth.

"Lizzie. I know you better than I know my own mind" he said.

"Did you just quote Hamilton?" I laughed.

"Yeah" he laughed too "but seriously. Trust me like you once did and show me" his eyes softened when his blue orbs met my green eyes.

I quietly sighed before painfully rolling up my sleeve.

⚠️TW: Self harm

He stared at my scarred arm with a horrified expression and pale face. There were deep and superficial cuts on my arm. Some scars were still fresh and it was so painful. But I didn't mind.

"Ro-Robbie, I'm okay" I started.

"No! You're clearly not okay" his eyes started tearing up and I felt terrible "Lizzie, this is bad" he pointed at my fresh scars.

⚠️End of TW

"I know" I half-whispered.

"Lizzie" he sweetly said "I know you were starving yourself. You're starving, not sleeping and now, harming yourself? Please don't do this. I'll leave you alone if that's what you want but please, never ever ever do this again" he said, locking eyes with me.

"I-I'll think about it" I drove my gaze away but he delicately held my chin and made me look back at me.

"Why, Lizzie?"

I told him how I felt like such a bad person. Keeping him away and hurting him even more, what Mr Johnson did to his employees and almost to me, how I was unable to convince Colette to stay at my house for longer so she didn't have to work there and how I left her there, alone with Mr Johnson for a whole month and how I let myself feel bad and weak at the kitchen and passing out. I should have stayed strong and ignored the feeling of my knees trembling and the world spinning around. I could have stood tall, but I failed. I was a terrible person and I deserved that.

"Lizzie. That is just stupid. You are the best person that has ever existed and you did everything you could. You don't deserve anything like this" he said, holding my hands in his. I raised my glassy eyes at him and he caressed my cheek. I leaned into his warm hand and closed my eyes letting a tear escape my eye and slid down my face to fall to the floor. I felt a pair of soft lips on mine and I pulled away. This was wrong. He was in a relationship and I was literally her ex!

"Uhm-" I stuttered "N-no. This is wrong" I walked away, back to the truth or dare circle, leaving him behind.

It was Marley's turn to ask y/n.

"Y/n, truth or dare?" she asked.

"Dare" she chose.

"I dare you to kiss the best looking person in the room" she smiled.

"Ooooh cool" y/n replied, looking around the circle. Her eyes landed on Amy and she cupped her cheek

"Hi gorgeous" she said, getting incredibly close to her.

"Hey" Amy whispered.

Y/n leaned in and kissed her, making everyone whistle and clap. Her lips moved with agility against Amy's. Before things became too heated, they pulled away.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Ava's POV

We finished a successful session with a couple melodies and a lot of new lyrics. I took a cab home and put on a dress and makeup to then carefully comb my hair so it was perfect.

I took another cab and it pulled up at the party. I got out, smiled and started looking for them inside. I didn't see everyone so I decided to look outside. I was approaching the glass doors that led outside when I heard a muffled voice. 

I opened the door and I heard Marley asking y/n if she wanted to tell the truth or do a dare and she chose dare. Her back was facing me and she was next to Amy. I started walking towards the circle as Marley said her dare. I was almost there, when y/n's eyes locked with Amy's. I froze at the intensity of her stare. I had never been stared at that way before and I desperately wanted that. But Amy was getting it. Not me.

Y/n leaned in and kissed Amy. A kiss that I craved. Amy was getting everything I could ever want and I was just standing there, staring as they finally pulled away. Y/n noticed me and smiled. Of course. She thought of me as just a friend and she just kissed the dark haired beauty.  I should be happy for her but I couldn't bring myself to do that. 

I smiled as I could before I turned and went back inside. I took a shot of tequila and really thought about it. Y/n was happy with Amy and we weren't even in a relationship, for starters. I couldn't possibly be mad at her for kissing the person she loved. I need to be happy for her.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Colette's POV

Jake and I just drove around the big city at first silent, enjoying the city noises and the soft sound of the car. 

I closed my eyes and felt the wind caress my face. He turned on the radio on a low volume that made the whole experience more enjoyable. "Yellow" by Coldplay almost blended with the sounds of the city.

I opened my eyes and saw him looking at the road and sometimes stealing glances at me. I was well aware of the mutual attraction but I didn't know what to do now. He stopped the car at the shore of Upper Bay, in front of the water. There was absolutely no one around. You could see both the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

"Whoa" I had no words for the view. The sky was dark and full of stars so the Empire State Building was full of lights.

"You like the view huh?" Jake asked. I nodded.

"Since we moved here, I've come here every night to distract myself from the stress of the everyday life since I found this place. It's my special place to just be myself and do whatever I wanna do" He said.

We moved to the back seats to be more comfortable and just stared at the stars. I was thinking about what move I should make but my dominance was shaded by his. Even though I wasn't touching him, I could feel the heat coming off his body and I desperately needed to do something. But what? I closed my eyes in frustration, laying my head on the back of the seat.

I felt a warm hand on my cheek and I half opened my eyes to see his, filled with lust. He slid his hand to my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. 

⚠️TW: Light Smut

Our lips danced like there was no tomorrow and our tongues ended up swirling together in a hot makeout.

He pushed me down onto the back seat and started kissing down my neck.

He stopped for a second to ask for consent.

"Do you want this? I can stop if you want"

"Yeah, I want this" I said before slamming my lips onto his and starting to unzip his pants.

⚠️End of TW

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Kate's POV

Y/n kissed Amy and Ava saw it. I think she is as far as she can be from winning the bet right now. I facepalmed myself. I decided to talk to her. Y/n had a hand around Amy's waist while she talked to some people.

"Y/n, can I talk to you for a moment?" I said.

"Sure. I'll be right back" she planted a kiss on Amy's forehead and followed me away from the crowd.

"What's up?" she asked.

"You do remember the bet right?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh. Um..." she clearly forgot.

"Look, if she kisses you tonight, I'll give you two more months" I said.

"Okay, thank you" She said. I knew that losing the bet would hurt her pride. I just nodded and she walked away.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Your POV

I completely forgot about the bet. I never lose a bet! I can't start doing that now! I looked around for Ava. As I really thought about my feelings while looking for Ava, I was so confused. Was it possible for me to have the same feelings about two people at the same time? I guess it is because I'm experiencing it.

I saw Ava alone with a drink on a couch. I sat next to her.

"Are you okay?" I asked, glancing through the room. I saw Kate looking at us. Gosh, she's really waiting for that kiss.

Ava looked at me with a smile I immediately discovered was fake.

"I'm fine" she said, forcing the corners of her lips further upwards.

"Aw, Ava..." I hugged her and she melted into the hug. Sobbing softly.

"You can tell me anything" I assured her.

"It's just that the choice is really hard. If I tell you this? You'll feel so much pressure and you'll feel bad. You have gone through enough. But if I don't tell you, I'll feel bad for the rest of my life. At first I immediately chose not to tell you because you deserve to be happy. You deserve someone you love and you love back"

I was a bit confused now.

"Where are you getting now?" I asked.

"But now, keeping this from you is hurting me way more than I thought it would..." she finished.

"What are you talking about?" I asked "Tell me, it's okay, really"

"Okay" she sighed "I'll tell you. It all started when I first met you at the stairs of the high school...

_______________________________

Hiii!!! I'm CLIFFHANGER :)

Is Ava going to confess her feelings now that y/n has a girlfriend??? What??

I hope you liked this chapter :)

Don't hate Amy please, we need some drama in the story and she's just another character. I really like her :')

Votes are appreciated but comments are the bestttt!!

Stay happy and healthy!

Love youuu <3