Throughout the week Connor is extremely nice to me and anyone he talks to. I actually start talking to him again, at least about our history project.

Today at lunch my friends are already at the table when I get there, talking about something. When I sit down their conversation immediately stops and they look at me nervously.

"All right. What's going on?" I ask.

They all look at each other quickly and then Kayla sighs, "She's going to find out eventually. We invited Connor to study night tonight."

"You did what?" I demand, "Study night is at my house tonight! I don't want him coming to my house."

"Well you two have a project to work on and he's been pretty nice lately so we thought it would be nice to invite him," Kayla explains.

"No no no we did not invite him, you did Kayla. I still don't like him and I don't really want to spend extra time with him," Tony grumbles.

"I agree with Tony. I don't want him anywhere near us," Sabrina chimes in.

"Well I already invited him so I don't think it would be very nice if we uninvited him," Kayla says.

I take a deep breath and try to control my temper. We do have a project to work on and we are kind of behind.

"Fine. I guess he's coming but I just want you all to know that if something bad happens I'm blaming it on you, Kayla," I say.

She gives a smug smile, "I will take full responsibility for whatever happens tonight. As long as the two of you are working together, everything will be fine."

I scoff, "I sincerely doubt that."

She just shrugs her shoulders and picks up her tray to go and dump it.

I look around the table, confused, "Does anyone know what she's going on about?"

"It's Kayla, do we ever know what she's talking about?" Sabrina asks.

The rest of us just continue to eat our lunches and nobody else brings up the topic of Connor.

***

I try to ignore Connor in all of the classes that I have with him because I can only talk to him for so long and tonight was going to be hard enough.

I was doing great until I got to History and actually had to talk to him about our project.

"We should really try to get some work done this class period. We are kind of behind," I say.

"We aren't that far behind, plus we are going to be working on it tonight," Connor adds.

"Don't remind me," I grumble.

"I have to say I was really surprised that I was invited to your study night. From what I've gathered, your friend group is really tight and you don't let outsiders in," Connor explains.

"You're right, we don't let outsiders in. You are the first person who has ever been invited to a study night. I can't believe it's going to be you," I mutter.

"It's good to go outside of your comfort zone. You'll learn a lot about yourself," he says quietly.

I actually don't have anything witty to say back to him after that, so we just sit in silence.

When the bell finally rings we just look at each other for a moment and then pack up our things.

"You can come over whenever you're ready. We usually tend to stay until around eight," I say quickly.

"Do I need to bring anything?" He asks.

"Just your homework. Oh and cookies if you want to get on our good side," I respond.

He smiles and nods his head. I watch as he walks out of the room, with a smile still on my face.

Tony and Kayla join me and I quickly compose myself.

"Did you and Connor get a lot done?" Kayla asks.

"Um yeah we got some work done. We'll have to work for quite a bit tonight though," I say.

"Well I'm just glad that you two are at least talking. I'm so excited for tonight!" She cheers as she walks out the door.

I just nod my head and try not to question the motives of Kayla. I quickly send a text to Connor so that he knows my address and then I join my friends.

When we are all together we talk about the plan for tonight which isn't really that intensive. They all agree that they will get to my house fairly quickly after school.

I rush out of school and am a little upset to find that Greyson is not at the car yet. I get in and just blast some music to calm my nerves.

Connor is coming to my house tonight with a group of people who don't all necessarily like him. I almost feel bad for him.

After about five minutes, Greyson finally hops into the car and we are on our way home.

"Just so you know it's my turn for study night so I would appreciate if you weren't super obnoxious," I say.

"Me? Obnoxious? I can't believe you are even suggesting such a concept," He scoffs.

I roll my eyes and continue focusing on the road.

When we get home I run up to my room and throw my backpack on my bed and then run back down to the kitchen.

When I turn into the kitchen I run right into my dad and almost fall over.

"Woah. Where's the fire?" My dad asks while steadying me.

"Um I was just trying to get the house ready before my friends are over," I explain.

"Ah, it's your turn to host study night. Already? I swear you just did."

"I haven't had a study night in like a month dad."

"My bad. Me and your mom will just try to stay out of your way," he says walking out of the kitchen.

I look around the kitchen to make sure that we have some snacks otherwise my friends would not have a good time. Thankfully we do have some so I just start tidying up the kitchen.

Then I move to the living room and fold up all of the blankets that are splayed everywhere and I fix some of the pillows. After about fifteen minutes of running around the house like a crazy person, I try to relax in my room.

I pick up a book that I haven't really had much time to read recently and after reading for a while, my nerves start to calm down.

I start to get trapped in the world that is being described to me, when I hear my front door swing open and is quickly followed by a loud "Hello."

I run out of my room to the top of the stairs and see Tony and Allie standing at the bottom.

I run down the stairs, almost falling, and hug them both.

"Please tell me you were not freaking out over this study night," Tony sighs.

I look at him curiously, "Why would you say that? I never freak out."

"You always put way more pressure on yourself about these nights than you need to. This is literally the most chill thing we do as a group," Tony replies.

"I know, I just don't want to let any of you guys down," I say quietly.

"Nova, you are our best friend, nothing you do could ever let us down," Allie says softly.

Instead of saying anything to ruin the moment I just grab both of them and pull them into a hug.

"Hey now, don't leave me out the cuddles," Jasper says as he walks in the door.

He wraps his arms as best as he can around the three of us and we all start laughing. After a solid two minutes, the four of us release from the hug, clearing way for me to see Connor standing at the door.

"Connor. Come on in," I wave at him.

He awkwardly walks in the door with his bag on his shoulders and a box in his hands.

"You can just drop your bag off in the living room with everyone else. I have to run up to my room quick to grab my stuff. I'll be right back," I say quickly before running off.

When I get to my room I take a deep breath and then grab my notebooks and go back downstairs.

I smile when I see that Kayla and Sabrina arrived and are already getting comfortable in the living room.

Connor is standing all alone by one of the walls, seemingly nervous to join into the budding conversation. I take a seat on the couch and wave at him to come over by me.

He sighs with relief and then slowly walks over by me with the box still in his hands. Tony and Sabrina are already eyeing him carefully and I shoot them both a look to calm down.

When he sits down he is still very uncomfortable and not really making much eye contact.

"You can relax Connor, nobody here is going to hurt you. Right guys?" I ask carefully.

"We'll see," Tony grunts.

Allie elbows him in the shoulder and then smiles back at us nodding her head.

"Good. Then let's get started on our homework, and that goes for all of us, even you Jasper," I command.

Jasper sighs and opens up his gigantic textbook and starts writing carefully in his notebook. Tony and Kayla start working on their history projects as well and Sabrina and Allie work together on their Physics homework.

"Alright let's get started, we are so behind on this project and it's due next week," I say.

Connor sets the box in the table and takes his notebook out of his backpack, still not saying a word.

"What's in the box?" I ask.

Looking embarrassed he says, "I uh brought you guys cookies."

I smile and give a light laugh. I guess he took my words to heart.

"Did you say cookies?" Jasper says excitedly.

I open up the box that is filled with chocolate chip cookies and pass it around the group, immediately boosting everybody's spirits.

Jasper eats his in almost two seconds and has the biggest smile on his face.

"Man, that was one of the best cookies I've had in my life. Where'd you get them?" Jasper asks.

"My younger sister made them. She recently has taken up the hobby of baking, and I can't say that I'm too mad about it," Connor explains with a grin on his face.

"Make sure to give my compliments to the chef. She sure can make a good cookie," Jasper says wistfully.

"Oh just take another one, you're acting pathetic," Sabrina urges.

He jumps up and grabs another from the box, already happy about it.

"See? I told you that cookies would get you on our good side," I smile at Connor.

"Thanks for the tip," he replies.

For the next hour we all work on our homework for a while with many breaks in between. Connor and I actually get most of our project done, other than some minor details.

Around six none of us are working and we are all just talking and laughing at each other.

"Hold on- You're telling me that you shat yourself seconds before your race and you still went and jumped in the pool?" Jasper gasps through his laughter.

"Well what was I supposed to do? Tell them to pause the race? I wasn't going to explain why," Connor laughs.

All of us are in fits of laughter, even Sabrina has a small smile on her face.

"You guys are disgusting," Sabrina says shaking her head.

"We know Sabrina, we know," Jasper sighs.

"Alright I have a very important topic that we have yet to talk about," Kayla complains.

"What is that?" I ask.

"Next week is Spirit Week and we have not planned any of our groups outfits!" Kayla exclaims.

"That also means that Homecoming is next Saturday. I expect to see some good proposals this week," Sabrina adds.

"It's next week? I don't even have a dress yet,"I say.

"What do you mean you don't have your dress yet?" Kayla asks, clearly upset.

"I mean, I don't have my dress yet. I haven't had time to go get it," I explain.

"Then I'm sorry boys, but it seems that it's going to have to be just us girls on Saturday," Kayla says.

"Hey, maybe we want to go dress shopping," Jasper whines.

"Do you want to go dress shopping?" Sabrina asks.

"Not really," Jasper grumbles.

Kayla rolls her eyes and already starts making plans for Saturday. I don't usually care that much about dances, but I like the excuse to get dressed up.

We usually go as a group with maybe a couple extra guys because Kayla or Sabrina usually get asked by someone. I look over at Connor and can see that he looks a little uncomfortable with this change in conversation.

Jasper seems to also pick up on Connors shift in mood because he says, "You know Connor, you can come with our group if you would like to. Adam can come as well if he wants, he seems like a good guy."

Connor smiles at this invitation, "Thanks. I'll be sure to tell him."

We then make our way to the kitchen, the topic of spirit week and Homecoming still hot. We start to make sandwiches when my parents come downstairs and poke their heads into the kitchen.

"Hi Mrs. Parker. I hope that we haven't been too obnoxious," Tony waves.

"All of you can call me Bridget. And no, you haven't been obnoxious we were just checking up on you guys."

My parents look around the kitchen to make sure nothing is broken and I notice that their gazes land on Connor. Connor also seems to notice their attention on him because he moves towards them.

Extending his arm out he says, "Um hi. I'm Connor, it's nice to meet you both."

My dad shakes his hand and eyes him up and down, my mom just smiles at him.

"Nice to meet you Connor. We've heard a lot about you," my dad says strictly.

Connor shakes my moms hand and then my parents go back upstairs.

Connor just turns back to us, with a scared expression on his face.

"Relax. They just don't know you yet, when you come over again they will be much nicer," I explain.

"I'm coming over again?" Connor asks.

Jasper claps him on the back, "Hell yeah, you are. Congratulations, you are becoming a new member of our group."

"I wouldn't say that quite yet," Sabrina says, "You still have a lot to prove before you are a part of our group."

"I'm fine with that," Connor responds.

The rest of the night we tell stories and talk about the upcoming week. Kayla already has almost all of our outfits planned out, Connors included.

By the time everyone leaves, it is well into the night and I am exhausted. Thinking about the night and all of the things we talked about, I go to sleep smiling in the warmth of a new friendship.

***

Thank you all for reading!

I hope you all enjoyed it. Let me know your thoughts!

I love you all! ❤️