"C'mon, Philip! It'll be great!" Dom grinned at me.

"I dunno, dude. A lock-in doesn't sound fun." I shrugged.

"What do you mean 'doesn't sound fun'?" He groaned. "You're like... an old man in a teenager's body all the time. We get to be away from home, with limited chaperoning, in a building with free wifi and a bunch of televisions. Everyone was told they could bring their gaming console if they wanted, and board games. And food is gonna be provided! Why wouldn't you want to go?"

"Because I don't like 90 percent of the class? You should know this by now." I rolled my eyes.

"You're no fun. It'll mostly be band kids and theatre nerds. You'll fit right in."

"No. I'm not going."

We sat down at our usual table with our food. I dug in immediately as Dom continued to try and convince me to go to the Thanksgiving lock-in that had been organized for the juniors and seniors. There was a soccer tournament that weekend, which was why Dom had been saying that only the theatre and band kids would be there.

"Philip!" I looked up.

"Oh- hey Theo!"

She plopped down next to me with her lunch, grinning.

"What's got you so smiley?" I asked curiously.

"Have you seen the posters? There's a lock-in!"

Dom snorted. "Philip isn't going. Because he's a killjoy."

"What?" Theodosia turned to look at me, her eyes huge. "Why aren't you going?"

I shrugged. "I just feel like there's gonna be a lot of people there that I don't like."

"That's not a reason not to go!" Theodosia complained, crossing her arms.

"Sure it is. What am I gonna do there?"

"You can hang out with Dominic and I! Right, Dom?"

"Yeah! I can bring that stupid board game you like." Dom offered.

"And I'll bring snacks for just us." Theodosia giggled. "I can bake cookies!"

"Thanks guys. But I'm not going." I crossed my arms.

"But you have to! I've never been to a lock-in before, I need friends to experience it with for the first time!" She insisted.

"You'll have Dom." I pointed out.

"Everyone knows two friends are better than one." Dom shot back. "Just come with, Phil."

"No."

"Aw come on, Pip. Pleeeeeease?" Theodosia shot me a sad-puppy expression.

That one was killer. The nickname stirred up butterflies in my stomach and that look.... I really was a goner.

".... Oh alright, fine." I sighed, giving in. Theodosia clapped like an excited child and gave me a tight hug. Dom wiggled his eyebrows at me and I stuck my tongue out in return as I hugged her back. "Anything for you."

"Aww, you're sweet." She giggled and pulled away. "Are you ready for our presentation in music?"

"I still don't think presentation is the right word." I complained. "It's more like a performance that...."

~~~

"So you're actually gonna go to the lock-in, just for the girl you like?" Dom teased as we walked to his house after school.

"Shut up, dude." I shoved him lightly. He laughed and pulled my ponytail, grinning. "You're the worst."

"I know. Seriously though, you're the stubbornest person I've ever met and Theodosia can spin you in a complete 180 with almost no effort. It's very amusing."

I buried my hands deeper in my pockets and kept walking, ignoring him.

"Plus, you blushed really bad when she called you Pip." Dom added in a teasing manner.

"I couldn't help it!" I groaned. "Just leave me alone!"

"Why don't you just talk to her?" Dominic asked. "Tell her how you feel?"

"Are you crazy? No!"

"Why not?"

"Because she won't listen to me! She won't want to hear it." I shrugged.

Dom grabbed my shoulder. I tried to push his hand off but he just tightened his grip. "Philip."

I sighed and stopped walking, turning to face him, mocking his serious tone. "What."

"Give me one actually good reason you won't tell Theodosia how you feel." Dominic crossed his arms.

"Because.... because- I don't know, dude!" I threw my hands up in the air. "What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if she tells me to stop talking to her. What if- what if she laughs at me! In almost every scenario I end up humiliated and rejected and probably shunned. At least if we're only friends I can keep her in my life."

Dom shook his head. "You've got issues, dude. You write poetry about this girl, draw her constantly, but you can barely muster up more than a 'hey' in a conversation with her! What happened to Philip the Poet?"

"He swallowed butterflies and got sick from their nectar." I retorted, starting towards his house again. "And tripped on invisible stools."

"You're without a doubt the weirdest person I've ever met." Dom threw his arm around my shoulders. "C'mon, Dad probably made cobbler."