Hey y'all! Thanks for reading and encouraging me to keep writing!! Right now I'm eating pizza so I don't have much time to talk, so here's a chapter for you to read while you go on with your daily lives :)

Also!! Picture above is Colton Briggs - Elizabeth's crush ;)

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I woke up at 6:00 to go home and get ready for school. The bed was empty except for my tired body. I assumed Ben went to the bathroom since he always seemed to do that right before I woke up.  I tossed and turned for a bit before deciding to get up and leave the blue wallpapered room.  I was standing by the window, ready to climb out right when Ben opened the bathroom door and came out with an exhausted expression. His eyes were the same color blue they always were.

         "Ill pick you up on the regular" He said while picking a random shirt from his closet. I nodded and scurried down the ladder towards my own house. The air was crisp and fresh as my feet marked the morning dew. I felt refreshed and new - probably because I was just at Ben's house. Once I was inside I shut the window and changed into jeans and a red sweatshirt. I put my curly hair into a ponytail that didn't look half as bad as I thought it would. I did my makeup speedy quick and I decided I looked semi-decent today. I smiled and grabbed my book bag before heading down the stairs. My mom was waiting in the kitchen reading a newspaper.

"Where were you this morning? I woke up to check on you at 5 and you weren't there?" She asked like I was a criminal and she was the interrogator. She took a slow sip of her coffee and gave me the look.

"I went for a run. Coach said I have to get quicker" I lied while grabbing a bagel from the counter. Mom stared at me for a long time as I spread peanut butter over my bagel - for a while she seemed unconvinced. But here's the thing, My parents are strict. And kids with strict parents are usually always good liars.

I knew Mom didn't care about Ben and I hanging out, but I think she would throw a fit if she knew I was up after hours. Ben's parents were almost the exact opposite as mine. They didn't care where Ben went or what he did, and sometimes that made me so mad.

My mom and I were really close in some ways, but In other ways we weren't. We went shopping together and went to the movies, but I felt as if I couldn't tell her everything about myself. I felt as if I couldn't tell her who I really was and that is most definitely not healthy.

"Okay, I was just worried you snuck out to see Ben again" My mom said. I was almost shocked and I started to think she already knew the truth, but I decided to go along with my original plan.

"No. He was too tired after football so he went to bed early" I said. Mom nodded and gave a pleased look, I knew I had fooled her. I didn't enjoy lying, but sometimes I had too. All teenagers did it, and I never told big lies that would affect my family - I just told small ones to protect my ass.

"Okay. Well I hope you have a good day at school. Make sure you practice hard for your game tomorrow" Mom commented. I'm let out a smile and left the house happily, except going to school wasn't much better either.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

I went to my locker as soon as I got to the school. Jenna was standing with me eagerly with her heavy book bag on her shoulders. Glancing over my shoulder I noticed Colton talking with his golden boy friends. I sighed and turned around to grab my chemistry book. Jenna was tapping me on the shoulder fast like something important was about to happen.

And boy, when I turned around....

"Hey Elizabeth" The familiar voice exclaimed. Colton Briggs.

OMAJAHACANAKIANAAAKA

"Uh.. hey" I said trying my hardest to be normal, but inside I was mentally freaking out. Let's be honest, I didn't even have time to mentally prepare myself for this so I had no idea how to react. I glanced over at Jenna hoping she would help, but she vanished down the hallway long ago.

He put his hand on the locker behind me.

F r e a k i n g o u t

"I was thinking about coming to your game tomorrow" Colton said in a tone that made me shiver. Colton's brown hair looked smooth and silky and his eyes were brown. But even when brown eyes were the most common, something about his was unique and different. It was mesmerizing and I almost forgot how to answer.

"Yeah, that would be cool" I said even when my reply was pretty dry. My comment didn't seem to stunt Colton's mojo at all, because his eyes zoned in on my lips like I was a magnet or something. I'm not sure exactly what was happening, but I was pretty sure he could hear my loud heartbeat like it was large bombs going off.

"Well, I'll see you around Elizabeth" He said like he was talking butter- simply because he was so smooth when he spoke. It was like he was a soothing lullaby because every note he spoke was music to the choir.

And then he walked away from me, leaving me by the locker alone - even when we were going to the next class together. Just the thought of him coming to my game made my stomach start to cramp and my nerves start to sky-rocket. And all along I kept reminding myself the simple statement Ben always repeated; "Colton is the biggest fucking player in this school."

          Yeah, like Ben has room to talk.  

The rest of the day went by mildly fast and before I knew it I was in the gym practicing for the game tomorrow.  It was like any other volleyball game just a tiny bit different - and you probably know why.  Colton said he might be there, and every time I reminded myself of the possibility- I started to mildly panic. 

         See, Colton wasn't all bad. He had good qualities and half the stuff Ben said about him weren't true. They just had a past that Ben refused to talk about, and I never really talked to Colton so I could never ask him.

Jenna and I started to pepper like we usually do to warm-up. And after that we did basic passing and hitting drills like normal. All in all, it was a good practice and when 5:30 came around I headed outside in my spandex and sweaty t-shirt. Luckily Ben was already waiting by the car for me - football must've gotten off early.

Ben was literally drenched in sweat. I heard the coach has been working their tails off ever sense the season has started. All I know is, Ben looked completely exhausted and drained.

"How was practice?" I asked, even when I could already guess his reply.

"Awful, but at least it ended early" Ben said with a small shrug as he climbed in. I opened the passenger side and threw myself in the car effectively. Ben's hair was ruffled and wet, but somehow he still managed to pull it off with a effortless smile.

There was a rumor that Ben's smile could drive a girl crazy; I believed that to be true. After all, I've seen it first hand during multiple occasions.

"Your legs look like a punching bag" Ben stated while looking at my bruised legs with horror. I laughed and glanced at the black and blue surface of my knees.

"Well your legs look like the Black Forest" I said while glancing at his hairy legs. Okay, truthfully they weren't that hairy.

"Oh come on" Ben said with a eye roll. "Anyway, I'm going to Dairy Queen. Want anything?" He asked while pulling out of the school parking lot.

      "Heck yes." I said excitedly while shooting my clenched fist in the air. Ben laughed and started driving faster in his mustang- by now he was probably speeding because I felt my body being slammed back against the seat. Ben had a bad habit for speeding -along with many other things might I mention. However, I figured I might as well enjoy the ride because I want my last moments to be spent smiling.

       "Don't forget about my Macaroni and cheese tonight either. If you forget, you better watch your back while you sleep" Ben warned, pointing a finger in my direction. I giggled and slapped his arm - kind of hard if I might add.

"Ow! Jeez, you don't have to go all ninja on me" He exclaimed loudly while scooted as far away as the seat would allow. I started to laugh even more until my insides felt like mush and my eyes started to water. It was true - I always laughed the most when I was with him.

"Oh shush, I didn't even hit you that hard" I said defensively while crossing my arms around my chest. Ben looked at me softly, his eyes were so delicate and warm. A small dimple appeared on his left cheek when he smiled widely, his grin could pull you in like a fishing rod.

      "Yeah yeah yeah, but what do you want from Dairy Queen?" He asked. I opened my mouth to speak but he must've felt the need to answer for me.

     "Wait I know, a triple berry smoothie?" Ben chuckled. I nodded with a small laugh bursting from my lips.

As we pulled into the parking lot my heart literally stopped because the black jeep wrangler was parked by the door. It was Colton Briggs that owned that expensive car with the (maybe) leather seats. I didn't stalk him - no way! I just, viewed him from a far distance and learned small details about him. I swear to god I'm not creepy, Im just good at being aware of my surroundings.

We strolled into the building naturally like nothing was going on - well, Ben did. I on the other hand probably looked like a off balance seal.

"Oh hey Libby" Colton called out nicely. It wasn't even mean or flirtatious, it was just a friendly way to start a conversation. Ben didn't seemed pleased because he traveled to the counter right away to order our items.

"Hello" I said with a smile. Colton's chin was sharp while his eyebrows were a thin brown. I couldn't help but stare for a while and I'm not sure if the drool was from the thought of ice cream or the thought of Colton. (I didn't actually drool)

"What brings you to Dairy Queen? In spandex if I might add" Colton said sharply. Ben gave a glance back that showed pure annoyance and disgust for the boy I had a crush on. Oh jolly, happy me.

"Oh, you know. Volleyball practice just ended so Ben drove me to Dairy Queen" I said carelessly. Colton didn't smile, but he didn't frown. He just gave a content look into my eyes and glanced at Ben's back.

"Ahh, very cool. I didn't know you hung out with players. I didn't think that was your type?" Colton questioned. I was almost shocked at how rude that seemed to be, but I just tried to ignore it and focus on the Colton I liked. Besides, Everyone at our school knew by now that Ben and I were best friends and nothing more.

"Well I guess that's why she's not into you, isn't it?" Ben questioned nonchalantly like he didn't have a care in the world. Colton seemed to have gotten upset because his before promising smile was now an obvious frown and a evil grin.

"I would watch you back Benedict" Colton stated harshly while using his full first name as a joke. I frowned - no matter how much I liked Colton, I hated to see my best friend so fired up.

"I beat you in a fight once, and hell if I don't beat your ass again if I have too" Ben said in the same harsh tone. He handed me my triple berry smoothie and started for the door to leave. Colton waved at me, but I didn't have the heart to wave back.

I was mad

Furious

Why does Ben always ruin my chances with Colton?! Always?

I knew Ben hated Colton and Colton hated Ben, but I just wish Ben would understand that I - his best friend - likes his worst enemy. Maybe he should try supporting me for who I like? That would be a start - but sadly, I don't think that will ever happen.