LINA

Avrey didn't believe me at all when I said that Collin just wasn't my type, that there was nothing there.

I may have fibbed; told her that I went home with him and came back after she was already asleep. The second half of it wasn't a total lie, though.

I had gotten back while she was asleep...just way later than I expected to be. And not because I was with Collin, but because I was with Hayden.

I couldn't believe I had asked him to stay, to lie next to me in bed. I wasn't even thinking, I just blurted out words that came to my mind.

I realized the gravity of my mistake when I woke up with Hayden too close for comfort on the bed, his head almost nestled on my chest, and my heart racing at the fact.

I had also realized I didn't have a bad fucking dream with him there.

But that's besides the point.

With Avrey on my case, it was nearly impossible to get out of anything with her this weekend—which is why we're going out for a pizza date before another party.

I wasn't thrilled about the idea of going, but I'd do it for her.

"Why do I feel like you're lying to me?" Avrey rips a piece of her pizza and plops it into her mouth.

"I'm not sure how many times I have to tell you," I scoff a laugh. "Maybe tell you in a different language?"

Avrey laughs. "No, no. Just...I dunno, Nana. I feel like there's much more to the story you're not telling me."

I lift a shoulder. "You guys and your nicknames, I swear."

"Come on," Avrey smiles. "Nana has been a tradition since we were kids."

I barely laugh; it wasn't the fact that Nana bothered me. It was the fact that I thought about Hayden and that stupid freaking sunshine nickname he gave me. I couldn't stand it.

And I also couldn't stand that I was giving him any more of my precious time.

He's not worth my thoughts.

"Enough about me," I grab another slice of pizza. "Your life is much more interesting."

She snorts. "Where?"

"Everywhere!" I motion to her whole body. "The whole life of Avrey is so exciting, tell me about what's been going on."

"In what span of time, you crazy woman. I always keep you up to date on my life."

At that, we both start to laugh.

"I dunno," I breathe in. "I feel like we've been too focused on me and not you."

"Guess what Lina," Avrey leans forward. "That's what friendship is: putting the other person first."

I roll my eyes, but appreciate her sentiment. She rips off another piece and chews on it, the lightness of the situation dancing in her eyes.

"I love your crazy ass." I grin.

"And I love yours." She smiles back.

We finish eating what's on our plates, so we get the rest of the pizza boxed up to take with us and finished our drinks. As we walk out towards her car, the cool late January air surrounds us. I pause at the passenger side door and look at her.

"What?" She furrows her brows together.

"I'm just not feeling in the party mood today. You can go and—"

"Then we'll just stay in and watch some movies." She shrugs. "I'm down for that."

"Avrey, you don't have to not go because of me."

"Lina. We're having a movie night. It'll be fun." She grins as she pulls open the door and gets in.

I climb in, shaking my head at her. This was why I loved Avrey. She was so damn selfless; over the years, if I've ever needed anything, didn't want to do something, needed just her, she wouldn't hesitate to give herself. She didn't question it, didn't get mad at me for it. She simply just did and did it with that beautiful smile on her face.

I would never be able to thank her enough for all that she's done for me.

Or Brooks.

I watch out of the window as she drives us back to my place. We get to the house, my skin crawling when I see Roy's car in the driveway. I grit my teeth and get out of the car, walking in front of Avrey to open the door.

Roy already has a beer bottle in hand as he pauses at the stairwell to watch us come in. He just keeps his eyes on us, to which I practically shield Avrey with my body, as we walk to the kitchen.

I see mom washing her hands.

"Hey," I smile weakly at her. "We have extra pizza, if you want some."

She turns and gives me a smile. "Thanks, hun. Roy and I just got back from dinner, though. What are you two gonna be up to tonight?"

I shrug. "Just hanging out and watching some movies. You?"

"Ah, you know I don't like to cramp your style." Mom uses as an excuse. "I'll just keep Roy upstairs and we'll be out of your hair."

"Okay then," I give a tight-lipped smile.

"Love you."

"Yeah, you, too." I barely mumble as she comes up and kisses my temple and then heads up the stairs.

I huff a breath, shaking all bad emotions trying to take hold of me and look at Avrey. She was texting, leaning against the wall, then looked up at me.

"Wanna get into some pjs?"

"Duh."

She grins as we hurriedly rush up the stairs and into my room. Avrey pulls open her bag and grabs some clothes. I walk into my closet and rummage around for a pair of silk shorts and a white shirt. Avrey was wearing a pair of yoga pants and a purple long sleeved shirt.

Coming out of my room, we conveniently run into Brooks at the top of the stairs. A stupid smile breaks out on his face as he looks at us.

"Is that your party 'fits for the night?"

I roll my eyes. "No, moron. Av and I decided to be cool and not party."

"Oh?"

"Mhm," I nod. "Gonna watch scary movies and everything."

As if on cue, thunder rolled, vibrating the house. We all looked around, as if that'd do something for the thunder. Then looked at each other.

"Movie night, huh?" Brooks raised a brow.

"Yep."

"Well, shit. It's been a hot minute since we've done together, Nana. I'll join you guys."

"Brooks, don't—"

"Don't even think about doing your little 'oh, go have fun, blah blah blah' rant. I'm already staying, okay?" He grins. "Lemme just text Hayden. I think he was on his way to pick me up. So he can just chill with us."

Brooks starts walking down the stairs texting, Avrey following him. But the mention of Hayden causes a rush of nervousness to flow through me. I didn't owe him an explanation as to why I left, but I still felt a little guilty.

I shake my head and quickly rush down the stairs to catch up with Brooks and Avrey, who is already claiming her spot on the corner of the couch, leaning against the arm rest. I went to take the recliner, but Brooks almost sensed it.

"No way, baby sister." He says without even looking at me. "Seniority claiming that spot."

"You literally suck," I whine.

Now there's gonna be that awkward position on the couch—me between Hayden and Avrey, or Hayden in between us. And I didn't want to be next to him at all. And of course, here we are.

I grumpily head towards the kitchen, grabbing the popcorn from the cabinet and peeling open a pack, throwing it in the microwave and putting it to cook. Moments pass and I hear knocking at the front door. I still, already knowing it's Hayden. And I try hard not to focus on the deep vibration of his voice that I can hear from here.

Once the first bowl of popcorn is done, I pour it into a bowl and walk back into the living room.

"—came outta nowhere," Hayden chuckles.

I completely avoid looking at him. I can see the rain that sprinkled his clothes out of my peripheral vision, but I wasn't giving in. I handed the bowl to Brooks with force, giving a sassy smile.

"You're such a baby when you wanna be, Lina!"

I lift the finger as I walk back to the kitchen. I make more popcorn for Avrey and I, tapping my fingers on the counter as I wait. Once it finished, I poured it into another bowl and took a deep breath.

Hayden was already sitting on the opposite end of Avrey on the couch, leaving me in the middle. I cross my legs under me as I sit, putting the bowl next to Avrey and I.

"So what movie are we watching?" Brooks asks.

Lightning strikes, flashing outside. Thunder follows suit, making me oddly happy, despite Hayden sitting a few feet away from me.

"We still haven't seen the Lodge, and I've been dying to see that one."

"I thought you said scary," Av accuses.

"It's labeled a psychological thriller." I correct.

"Not scary." She retorts.

I roll my eyes. "Fine, what do you guys wanna see?"

"The new Conjuring is out." Brooks grins.

"Oh you fucking would," I narrow my eyes at him.

Horror, I'm fine with. Demon possession? Hell no. I know what's real out there and I don't mess with that shit.

"What's the matter? Princess can't handle it?" Hayden asks.

I turn towards him, glaring at him. "Did I say that?"

"Insinuating, basically."

I cross my arms, Hayden's eyes dropping quickly to my chest, then back up to my eyes—which I roll and shake my head.

"You know what? Fine," I shrug. "Go ahead."

"Really?" Brooks asks.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Alright." He grins. "That's what I like to hear."

Brooks turns on the tv, turning off the lights around us. I shift a bit, trying to get comfortable as Brooks scrolls through movies until he finds what he's looking for and clicks on it.

I look at Avrey, but she's got a huge smile on her face, like she's enjoying it.

Traitor.

This is fine. I can do this. It's just a movie. A fucking demon possession movie in the middle of a random storm, sitting in complete awkwardness with Hayden beside me.

Yeah, yeah, this is perfect. What could possibly go wrong?

A/N

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