By six fifty-eight on Friday evening, I was standing outside apartment 2A holding a homemade cheesecake and mentally preparing myself for a pleasant, Carter-free dinner.

I was secretly hoping that blonde girl would make him to entertained to appear.

Unfortunately, life had other plans.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the staircase just as I reached the door. I didn't even have to turn around.

I already knew.

Some instincts develop after years of exposure.

Like recognizing danger.

Or thunderstorms.

Or Nathan Carter.

Sure enough, he appeared a second later carrying a bottle of wine.

I immediately focused all my attention on the apartment door.

Maybe if I ignored him hard enough, he'd disappear. Worth trying.

"Parker."

Nothing.

"Wow."

Nothing.

"I haven't even done anything yet."

Still nothing. Nathan moved beside me. Close enough that I could see him from the corner of my eye.

"Are you giving me the silent treatment?"

I continued staring at the door.

"I think you are."

Nothing.

"You know, most people eventually move on from the Cheetos incident."

That got my attention. I slowly turned toward him.

"The Cheetos incident?"

Nathan nodded seriously.

"That's what historians are calling it."

"You broke into my apartment."

"I borrowed snacks."

"You stole them."

"I returned the empty bag."

I stared. Nathan smiled. I hated him.

"I hope Oliver and Daniel know they're inviting a criminal into their home."

"I hope they know they're inviting a drama queen."

Before I could respond, the door opened.

Oliver appeared.

His eyes immediately lit up.

"Hi, Oliver," Nathan said.

"Hi, Nathan."

Then Oliver looked at me.

"Evelyn."

"Hi."

His eyes bounced between us. Back and forth. Back and forth. Like he was watching a tennis match.

"You two walked here together?"

"No."

"Absolutely not."

Oliver grinned.

"Perfect."

I had a feeling he enjoyed chaos.

A lot. The apartment itself was surprisingly cozy. Warm lighting. Plants everywhere. A dining table already set. Soft music playing in the background. It immediately felt welcoming.

Daniel emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of appetizers.

"You made it."

"We brought offerings," Nathan said, holding up the wine.

"And I brought dessert."

Daniel's face immediately brightened.

"You baked?"

"Yes."

Nathan pointed at the cheesecake.

"She's annoyingly good at it."

I frowned.

"Was that a compliment?"

"Don't get used to it."

The dinner started pleasantly enough. The food was amazing and the conversation was easy. Oliver worked in publishing. Daniel was a graphic designer.

Both of them had somehow mastered the art of making people feel comfortable within minutes.

For the first half hour, everything went perfectly.

Then Oliver made a mistake.

A terrible mistake.

He asked a question.

"So," he said while pouring more wine, "how long have you two known each other?"

I froze.

Nathan smiled.

And immediately I knew something horrible was about to happen.

"Twelve years."

Daniel blinked.

"Twelve?"

"Closer to thirteen, actually."

I pointed my fork at him.

"Don't."

Nathan ignored me.

"We grew up together."

"Were you friends?" Daniel asked.

Nathan looked at me. I looked at Nathan. Then we both answered simultaneously.

"No."

Nathan had apparently decided that tonight was the perfect opportunity to destroy my reputation, while I though I could make friends in the building.

"She broke her arm trying to jump off a shed when she was thirteen."

My jaw dropped.

"I landed."

"You landed in a bush."

"I still landed."

"She cried for two hours."

"I had a broken arm."

Oliver was already laughing.

Daniel wasn't much better.

"Wait," Oliver said. "You jumped off a shed?"

"I was testing something."

Nathan nearly fell out of his chair.

"Gravity?"

"Shut up."

A few minutes later it got worse.

Much worse. Nathan took another sip of wine.

"She once got suspended."

The table went silent. I slowly lowered my fork.

Oliver looked delighted.

"You got suspended?"

"No."

"She absolutely did."

"I was defending Dalia."

Nathan nodded.

"By punching a guy."

"He deserved it."

The couple stared at me. Then at Nathan. Then back at me.

"You punched someone?" Daniel asked.

"He was bullying m friend."

Nathan leaned back in his chair.

"She broke his nose."

Oliver looked impressed.

"Okay. Slay girl."

"Thank you."

"No."

Nathan pointed at me.

"This is exactly the problem."

"What problem?"

"You hear 'you broke a guy's nose' and somehow think you're the hero."

"I was the hero."

Even Daniel laughed. At this point I was considering throwing my wine at Nathan.

"Everybody was afraid of her for a whole semester, the boys wouldn't even speak to her"

"I will kill you" I whispered softly and smiling so the other two wouldn't understand

"We are just having fun."

"I am not!"

"Then cheer up! We are all having fun."

I rolled my eyes hoping this night would end.