Avyanna POV:
We can't make it to the park soon enough. The awkwardness is clawing at my throat forcing me speechless. Each minute that passes seems like one too many. Every step we take seems slower than the last.

The sound of kids playing reaches my ears and I break out into a grin. I love kids. They are so cute and full of joy. Naive. Unaware of what's happening around them. I wish I could go back to that time. A time when I knew nothing. Now I know things I wish I didn't.

Grey's voice breaks me out of my trance, " wanna go on the grass." I nod my head. We walk over there and sit on the grass, I wish I had brought a blanket.

"What do you wanna start with," I ask. I'm not sure how this project is going to work, maybe he has some ideas. "Wherever you want to." He reclines on the grass and lays with his hands behind his head. His eyes are closed and his chest rises and falls with each breath:.

I can't help but stare. He is beautiful. The type of beauty that men wish they had. His eyelashes are so long that they create a shadow over his face. He looks so relaxed. This might have been the most peaceful I've seen him.

To anyone walking by it probably looks like I'm gawking at him, but I don't care. He is too perfect not to. If we were in a different world, I would want to be with him. But we aren't. This isn't some fantasy. It's the real world.

After a couple of minutes, I lay down beside him and close my eyes. I wish I could stay in this moment forever. The sun shining on my face, Grey's hoodie keeping me warm, the breeze brushing my legs, and the distant sound of kids playing. I couldn't ask for a better moment.

I hear shuffling beside me and feel his gaze burning into my cheek. "Tell me about yourself." What? Using my hand to hold my head, I turn to face him. I raise an eyebrow, why would he ask that? "Well if I am going to be working with you I need to know something." Oh. That makes sense. I lay back down and close my eyes. "Ok," I respond. "21 questions?" There's no reason to say no so I nod my head.

"What is your favorite color?"

"Anything pastel. Which is better summer, winter, spring, or fall?"

"Fall. Favorite hobby?"

"Photography-" Grey laughs at my answer. "-favorite sport."

"Easy, football. How many siblings?"

"Just one. My twin brother. Where do you want to travel?"

"Anywhere that you are." I choke on my spit after his response. He did not just say that. Looking to my side I see him smirking at me. Blush is already spreading across my cheek, and I turn back and close my eyes.

"Aw, Bella. Why are you blushing? Favorite quote?"

"The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much! It's by" Grey cuts me off, "Jane Austen." Before I could even ask how he knew that he said, "My mom she is a big fan."

"Oh. What's your dream job?"

"NFL player. Do you have any pets?"

"No but I want a husky they are so cute," I gush. "Favorite football player or team?"

"The greatest team of all time the Bears." I could hear his love for football just by the way he talked about it and the spark in his eye. He asks, "Favorite move?"

"The fault in our stars." The movie was so sad, I cried for weeks. "Are you close with your parents?"

"My mom more than my dad," he states grimly. "Sweet or savory breakfast."

"Sweet. I need a lot of sugar to get through the day. Morning or night?"

"Night. What were you supposed to be named?"

"I can't tell you it's so embarrassing." I cringe at the name. "Oh come on tell me," he jokes playfully pushing my side. I shake my head, "I can't. Looking up at him and into his eyes makes me want to tell him everything. My past, present, and future. Whatever he wanted to know I would tell him. "Harold." He bursts out laughing. Not the small kind of laugh that takes a couple of seconds but a full-blown laugh. My blush appears once again in the last ten minutes. He rolls over in the grass clutching his stomach. "It wasn't that funny."

I sit there and watch him laugh. There is nothing else for me to do besides that. After a couple of minutes, he gets up and wipes the tears out of his eyes. "How-w-w." He can't even say a sentence without laughing. I roll my eyes. "My parents thought they were having twin boys. Do you have any tattoos?"

Sobering up, Grey answers, "One. On the side of my arm. Favorite singer?"

"Lana del Rey is the best. I love her. When is your birthday?"

"May 21. Zodiac sign?"

"Scorpio." Most people would be surprised to find out I am a Scorpio. I don't think I act like my sign at all. "Last question. Who do you look up to the most?"

"My brother." I pull myself up, ready to ask Grey about his brother but I refrain. He looks like he doesn't want to talk about it.

"Ready to get started on this project, partner?" he looks up at me and a slight smile appears on his face. "Yeah."

"We can get started by jotting down notes of the perfect moment or do you already have one in mind?" He shakes his head. I grab my notes and pens. "I'll write them down if you don't mind." once again he shakes his head. "Ready," I ask.

He pulls himself up and looks into my eyes. "As ready as I will ever be, Bella."

-

Finally. Grey and I have been working for who knows how long . Surprisingly we managed to create some pretty good ideas. Occasionally there would be a couple of jokes that would lighten the serious atmosphere. This is probably one of the funniest partner projects I have had. Grey is smart, funny, and easy to talk which makes this project so much easier. If anything we breezed through this assignment.

I'm quite sad that it is over. "We're finished." Grey lets out a chuckle. "Finished."

I start to pack up my things and Grey lays back down. "I guess I should get going now." Getting up to leave, Grey grabs my arm. "Wait."

Grey's mouth opens and then closes. "I'll see you later, Bella." he gets up and leaves. "See you later," I mutter.

Pulling out my phone I see I have some missed texts and phone calls. This is a big shocker for me, it's not like I get a lot of texts as it is. Clicking on the messages I see that they are from Adonis. He is probably worried and wondering where I am.

Twin Bro- Where are you?

Twin Bro- Avyanna answer your phone!

Twin Bro- Avyanna!

Twin Bro- Please answer.

Twin Bro- Did it happen again?

Shivering at the last text. He must be freaking out right now. After the incident, me being alone causes some uneasiness in my family. Hurriedly I call his phone. It rings a few times before he answers.

Adonis: Avy. Avy are you there?

Me: Yes. It's me. I'm here. I'm okay.

There is a breath of relief on the other side of the phone. One can only imagine what he was thinking happened to me.

Adonis: Thank God. You had me so worried. I came home to see that you were not here and thought you were with Clara. I had called her and she didn't know where you were. She said something about a tutor session but that was it.

My heart breaks hearing what he went through. I didn't want to cause him this much pain.

Me: I'm sorry. I should have told you.

Adonis: You don't have to apologize, just don't do that again. Where are you I'll come pick you up.

Me: I'm at the park, by the school.

Adonis: ok I'll be there in 10 minutes.

Me: bye

I hang up and move to the entrance of the park. Not even a minute later I get another text, I must be popular today. My heart rate increases and my breaths quicken when I see it's an unknown phone number. Please don't be him. Please.

Unknown Number: Hey Avyanna it's Lucas.

Oh, it's Lucas. I start to breathe more smoothly now. Who knows what would have happened if it was him? Changing his username I text him back.

Me: Hey Lucas how do you have my number?

Lucas: I asked around.

Me: I don't know if I should be more worried about the fact that people are giving out my phone number or that you have it.

Lucas: probably the former. Anyways what are you doing?

Should I tell him? I know it's a pretty basic question but it somehow seems personal.

Me: eating dinner.

Deciding to lie has left me feeling a little bit guilty. Lucas can be a genuine person with good intentions but so was he. I'm just not comfortable enough.

Lucas: cool. Are you free tomorrow?

Me: what time tomorrow?

I'm not busy tomorrow. Not in the slightest. Just a little reluctant to go somewhere with him alone at night. Some may say, 'You went with Grey.' In my defense, it was in broad daylight surrounded by multiple people. With Lucas, I don't know what to expect.

Lucas: lunch.

Lunch can't be too bad and I promised him I would go. I must fulfill my promise.

Me: that sounds good.

Lucas: great. I'll see you tomorrow.

Me: See you tomorrow.

I can't say that I'm not excited for tomorrow. Just not enthusiastic. It has been a long time since I last did anything with people besides Clara and my family that didn't involve school. Who knows how it will turn out?

Looking around I see that the once-blue sky has turned dark except for a few stars. Many people have left the park, but there are still those who are walking around. The town is so peaceful and beautiful at night. I would come out here more often if I weren't so afraid of who lurks in the dark. Just at the thought the hairs on the back of my neck raise and goosebumps appear on my arms. Hopefully, adonis gets here soon. Moving my arms up and down I realize I still have a greys hoodie on. Oh no. He's probably looking for it. How could I forget? I'll give it to him tomorrow.

A car light appears and stops in front of me. The window rolls down and Adonis appears. "Get in sis." Hurrying over to the passenger seat I get in.

I reach over and turn on the heater. "Hey, big bro." He chuckles and starts driving. "Did I miss dinner?"

"Yeah, you owe me I covered for you. What were you doing anyways?" Adonis always covers for me and I for him. If one goes down we both go down.

"I was studying with someone." Adonis raises an eyebrow at me. I can understand why. Usually, I do the project all by myself. Not that that's any better it's just routine.

"It's not like that if that's what you're thinking," I follow up. "I know, I know. I just worry for you sometimes." I look down, knowing what he is talking about. It was all my fault.

"Hey, keep your head up. How about we go to the diner?" Nodding my head excitedly, he lets out a laugh.

Whenever Adonis and I wanted to get away from home we would go to the diner. No one else knew about it, it was our thing. We haven't been in a long time.

The rest of the car ride is silent. It isn't far away. We are so close that we are already there. Adonis and I get out at the same time and we head to the door. He opens it and does a mock bow. "After you avy." Giggling I walk past him. "Thanks, big bro."

We pull up to the diner. It is very old, and not many people come. Some windows show the inside of the restaurant and red booths throughout the dinner. On the top of the building, there is a sign that says The Diner with dimming lights. The whole place gives 80s vibes. It's one of the many reasons I love coming here.

Walking into the diner we see Martha. She had been working here before Adonis and I were alive. When she notices us a smile comes across her face. She is the same height as me, with black hair that has grey streaks in it, a couple of wrinkles on her face, and she has the bluest eyes I've ever seen. In the light, they almost look clear. Unlike other elderly women, she isn't very frail. If anything she is in the best shape of her life.

"Hey twins, I haven't seen y'all in quite some time." Before I can speak Adonis answers. "Yeah, you haven't." I have always known her to be a cheery lady. She always had a smile on her face. It was the most comforting one. "The usual?"

"Yeah." "Yea," Adonis and I saw in unison. Looking at each other we both shove one another's arm. "Hey stop copying me." "Hey stop copying me." We saw in unison again. I let out a sigh of exasperation. Adonis does as well. Martha laughs. "Well be in the back," I say.

Going to the back we sit at our usual booth. Every time we come here we sit in the same place. I know it might not be interesting but it brings a sense of normalcy to me. Adonis knows it, that's why he never suggests moving.

"So who were you studying with?" this halts my movements. I thought he had forgotten about this.

"Uh-h-h nobody," I stutter out. Lying to Adonis has never happened before. He can see right through me and know when I'm telling the truth. Most of the time I just dance around the truth.

"It's not a nobody if you went to the park with them." He got me. There is nowhere else to turn now. "Is it a he?" Looking downwards I nod my head. I can't look at him. "Who?"

We sit in silence. "Avy. I just want to know how you spent your time. How can I protect you if I don't know?" He has a point. Now I feel guilty for not telling him. Great.

"His name is Grey. I met him today." Finally looking up at him I see his brows furrowing in confusion. "Grey? I don't know a Grey." he doesn't know Grey. Considering how popular my brother is I would have expected him to know already. "He is new. He just got here today."

Adonis lets you breathe in realization. "Oh. Do you like him?" I choke. Like full-blown choking.  How can he ask that? Adonis doesn't move from his seat. He just stares at me with a blank face. Now I'm coughing. It is as if smoke has surrounded me. I can't even speak right. "You're just going to watch." Adonis raises a brow. "You didn't answer my question."

That's what's bothering him. I'm coughing so much that I can't even be mad at him for asking the question. "No. I don't like him. We were just studying." That wasn't a lie. I don't know if I can like someone. That feeling had been ripped from me a long time ago. Adonis doesn't look convinced but he doesn't say anymore.

"How was practice?" I didn't like the silence, it was awkward. "Wasn't a practice. Coach just told us that there will be tryouts next week and that alumni have a better chance of being on the team." Football at our school is very competitive. Only the top of the top can play. Almost every year we win a championship. I always attend every game to support Adonis, even I can't help but feel happy about the school's spirit.

"Do you know when the first game is?" There will be nothing stopping me from attending. "It's in a couple of weeks." That's not too long. We eat our food in silence and pay the bill. The silence drowns us as we get in the car. Awkward.

-

All the lights are off in the house. Silently we say goodbye and go to our rooms.

When my eyes close my phone rings. I'll check it later.

Today was eventful.

Authors note: hiiiiiii.
Thank you so so so much for reading my book. Tomorrow is my birthday so I thought I would post. I hope you enjoys

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