NO MATTER HOW many times I tried, I just couldn't get the damn nose contour right. Even in art I manage to fuck up the facial make up aspect. I erase the portion of the drawing, redraw it, erase, redraw and so on. It was remarkable that the thin sheet hadn't ripped yet from all the friction. 

I had retreated to the near empty library during my Good Behaviours class. After winter break, literally no one attends that class anymore. The other day when I actually did go, it was me and four other people. Two of which were my gang friends surprisingly. 

"Hayden." 

I hear the sharp, quick whisper and I glance up, my eyes darting over the few people who were quietly sitting at their tables studying. I shake it off and go back to sketching in my sketch book. 

"Hayden." 

There it was again This time I drop my pencil and turn around to the rows of shelves behind me. I squint my eyes briefly before standing up and walking towards where the sound was coming from. Bad fucking idea, have you watched literally any horror movie. Any? I shut my snarky subconscious up and continuing walking down the row while running my fingers over the spines of the books as I move. 

I make my way all the way to the back of the library before I finally give up. I turn around to walk back to my seat when arms wrap around my waist and I pushed up against an aisle full of encyclopaedias. 

"Boo."  Chase grins down at me as I roll my eyes with a heavy sigh

"Aaah, I'm absolutely terrified." I retort sarcastically and reach up, snaking my arms around his shoulders. Chase chuckles deeply before swooping down for a kiss. I react instantly, like all the times before. I don't think I'll ever get over the spark that passes between our lips every time they touch. 

I arch my back up into him as I feel Chase's large hands slip from the curve of my waist, down my hips and begin to curl under the hem of my skirt. I break the kiss as his fingers brush the material of my underwear. He sighs and drops his hands instantly.

"We can't do this, Everett." I growl him with a small, delighted smile on my face. I'll never know why kissing Chase always makes me so unbearably happy. "Not here." 

"Why? There's no one around." Chase replies as a very sexy smirk stretches across his lips as he pulls me into him by my waist. 

I sigh and peck his lips quickly, "We're in public, there's always people around." 

"Fuck them." Chase goes in for another kiss but pauses with a small frown, "Wait—shit—not fuck—don't fuck them—fuck me—but not them." 

"Idiot." I giggle up at him, "But if we, if what ever this is between us, gets exposed we could be split up. And then you'd really miss me." 

"Baby, I miss you when you're not near me." Chase whispers softly to me as my heart flutters in my chest at the extremely cliche and cringe-worthy words. But they come from Chase's gorgeous lips so it's okay. 

I grin, "Very smooth, Everett." 

"Well, I've had time to practice before you came along, Jones." Chase one ups himself as we both laugh, our lips drawing closer and closer together like magnets. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement and instantly push Chase across the aisle. I turn around, pretending to be extremely interested in a old, worn Britannica book. I glance at the girl out of the corner of my eye, seeing her slowly walk down our aisle while hugging a book close to her chest. Chase was trying—and failing—to hold in a chuckle as the young girl's brown eyes glance up at him. 

"Hi." He says before the girl jumps in fright and high tails it out of the aisle. 

Once she was gone, I sigh in relief and turn around, my back sagging against the wooden shelves. 

"See what I mean?" I tell him while extending my hand out in the direction that girl had just run off in. I then sigh frustratedly and run my hands through my hair, "It's dangerous." 

Chase walks closer to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling my in to him. He places a kiss to my forehead, "I thought you liked dangerous." 

"You're not helping." I grumble as I frown up in imaginary angst at him. 

"I'm not suppose to be." Chase smirks before kissing me again. I melt into him instantly and my brain forgets about everything else. I arch myself into him, throwing myself into the endless void that is Chase Everett and not regretting a thing. 

♤♤♤♤

"Do you dream about Chase?" Noah questions with a large grin as he lies across the antique chaise. My gaze shifts from the canvas in front of me to him and I give him a dead look, "I use to dream about Penn all the time. One time she was in the costume of a Chucky Cheese mascot but it was still hot." 

"You have some fucking weird fetishes, O'Conner." I chuckle to myself before continuing to paint the enlarged lily flower. It was my mother's favourite flower and since it was her birthday in a couple days, I thought I would paint her something. But she won't be back from her honeymoon for another two months so she'll have to open it when she gets back. 

Noah then sits up suddenly, "Have you made it official yet?" 

"Mhmm." I nod while focusing on my paint strokes. Noah had come to keep me company this afternoon because everyone was busy with there own activities. 

"Ooo, tea!" Noah claps his hands and I can't help but laugh at him, "Hey, you know what this means right? We can finally go on double dates!" 

I scoff, "Finally?" 

"Fuck yes finally." Noah nods eagerly, "I've been planning this Penn and I got together. But then you and Chase were too damn stubborn to come to terms with the fact that you liked each other, Vera had Sam but homeboy lives in Seattle and Levi had Levi. So yes I've been planning this for a long time." 

"Please don't tell me you made a scrapbook." I question as I glance at him. Noah's silence is the only answer I needed. "Of course you did, you adorable idiot."

"Aww, you called me adorable. Thank you, Hay." Noah swings his legs off the edge of the chaise and I roll my eyes. Of course that's the only thing he got out of it. "I just don't know how Levi's going to react." 

I drop my paintbrush and frown, "What do you mean." 

"Huh?" Noah's eyes glance up at me before slapping a hand over his mouth, "Oh shit, did I just say that out loud?" 

"What do you mean, Noah? What does Levi have to do with this?" I pressure him as I stand from my stool and slowly make my way over to him. Noah scratches his neck nervously before picking up his bag and throwing it over his shoulder. 

"Hey, do you think they're serving food in the dining hall yet? Might as well go have a look." Noah distracts himself as he stands and it ready to gap it out the door. 

"Sit down, O'Conner." I point at the chaise with purpose as Noah slowly sinks down like a cute puppy. I take a seat next to him, "What about Levi?" 

"Okay—so here's the thing—um I kinda—Levi might've—I didn't...." Noah trails off as he struggles to think of ways to tell me whatever he was tossing over in his mind. He then glances up at me slowly, his big blue eyes locking with mine, "Levi may possibly perhaps....have a crush on you." 

It takes me exactly twelve seconds to process what Noah had just uttered, "Me?" 

"Jesus christ, are those things painted on?" Noah questions as he pointed at me ears, "Yes you, Hayden." 

"Well—I—what about—but—" I then sigh and slap my forehead with my hand, "Shit, I'm a terrible friend." 

"You're not a terrible friend, Hayden. Hey, even I was fucking shook when Levi told me." Noah says as he wraps a supportive arm around my shoulder, "You're one of the most accepting and kindest people Levi has met. You're literally on the very few people who treat him like he is normal." 

I glance at him, "He is normal." 

"You know what I mean." Noah explains as I rest my head against his shoulder. "When it comes to Levi, knowing what he's feeling or even thinking is as hard as figuring out the meaning of life. You wouldn't even be able to tell if he was standing right in front of you." 

"How did he tell you? Was he upset when he told you? Angry?" I question as I stare out the windows across the room at the setting sun. 

"He said it in his usual monotonous way. I'm pretty sure it went along the lines of 'hey, i like hayden romantically'  and it was also half way through a game of Battlegrounds so I was more focused on my kill count than his actual words." Noah explains to me as he rubs my arm affectionately, "Also he smiles way more around you than anyone else." 

"Maybe it's because I'm just really funny?" I bargain weakly as I hold up both my hands in question. 

Noah laughs as he shakes his head, "Maybe." 

"Fuck, I gotta go talk to him." I say as I stand up and walk back to where my bag sat on the ground. I quickly pack away my sketch book, water bottle and phone. Noah walks over to me as I pull my coat onto my arms, "Do you know where could be?" 

"Try the back of the gymnasium." Noah advises as I yank my bag over my shoulders and fix my frazzled hair. 

"Thanks." I say as I wrap my arms around his waist because he was just so damn tall. He hugs me back softly as I mumble into his shoulder,  "Bye Noah." 

"See ya." He waves with an adorable grin as I stand back. I then quickly run out of the art room and head for the gymnasium. 

And sure enough, Noah was right. Levi sat in the middle of the over grown grass, his arms wrapped around his knees that were pulled up to his chest. He must've heard me because he glances over his shoulder with a dark frown before it softens into a smile. 

"Hey." I squeak as I slowly make my way over to him. 

"How did you know I was here?" He questions as I drop my bag and take a seat down next to him. The dampness of the grass tickles against my bare legs as I fold them underneath me. 

"Noah told me." I shrug as I wrap my arms around myself from the chill. "He also told me about what you said." 

Levi snorts, "I say a lot of things to Noah, Hayden. You're going to have to be a little more specific." 

"Of course." I chuckle lightly, "He told me me about your feelings...for me." 

"Oh." Levi says as it turns quiet. I could hear the birds chirping away in the surrounding trees, the wind rustling through the dark leaves and thunder echoing in the distance. Then, "Cool. Do you want to go have dinner now? I think they're serving Nachos tonight." 

"Wait, wait, wait. Rewind. Did you just say cool?" I question as Levi nods casually, "Well, um, are you okay?" 

"About you and Chase?" Levi questions and now it was my turn to nod, still extremely confused by his nonchalance. Levi shrugs and looks back out at the forest, "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" 

I can't help but laugh, "I'm sorry, did you not hear the part where I said Noah told me that you have feelings for me? Did that not...did that happen in my head?" 

"No, I heard it." He nods as my shoulders slump, "I'm okay with you and Chase being in a relationship. I think we both know that if we were in a relationship, I wouldn't be able to make you as happy as he does in the physical and emotional sense. I mean I would like to—fuck, I would love to. But I can't and I know that. And I'm okay with that." 

"You're a beautiful weirdo, Levi." I rest my head on his shoulder and sigh, "You know you're my best friend right? I'd do literally anything for you."

"I know Hayden." Levi sighs as he wraps an arm around me, "I know." 

♤♤♤♤

I sigh heavily as I walk out of the elevator. I had just come back from the dining hall and Vera had called me the second I stepped out the door, carrying our conversation that we had over Nachos. I pull my keys out of the pocket of my coat as I near my door. 

"I'm not looking at fucking wedding dresses, V." I grumble through the phone as I struggle to unlock the door with my crappy key. I've sent several, angry worded emails to the Sergeant or whoever the hell is in charge of this place and i have yet to see any locksmiths on the school grounds. 

Vera whines, "But why?" 

"Because we're not getting married." I explain like it was the most obvious answer; because it was. My key finally twists and I push open the door, "I'm eighteen and haven't graduated yet. It's going to be a hell of a long time until I'm walking down an aisle." 

Chase was lying on his bed, his charcoal laptop placed on his lap, and he glances at me in confusion. The only light source in the room was his lamp, creating a warm and cozy feeling. The heater was working for once and the curtains were closed. I kick the door shut, point to my phone and mouth 'Vera'. He nods in understanding. 

"Fine. Don't walk."  Vera huffs as I walk over to my desk and remove my bag before manoeuvring myself out of my coat while keeping my phone against my ear. "I can see it now! You in your beautiful white gown—maybe Vera Wang—sky diving from a plane onto a beautiful bed of rose petals." 

"Please don't tell me you ate a whole plate of someone's pot brownies?" I sigh as I rub my temple, kicking off my converse. 

"I only had one and it was for free." Vera tells me as I laugh at her, "But I'm serious! How fucking cool would that be?" 

"Very cool, V. So cool that you should probably save it for your own wedding." I smile as I stand in the middle of my dorm with my hand on my hips. 

"Oh my god, you're so right. Okay, forget I said anything." Vera rambles quickly into my ear as I glance at Chase to see him watching me with a fond smile. My grin grows bigger across my face and I glance down at my polka dot socks. I hear voices on the other end of line before Vera comes back to me, "Oh shit, Olivia's stuck in the bathroom again. I gotta go, Hay. Love you." 

Again?

"Love you too." I laugh before hanging up and placing my phone on my desk. I then walk over to where Chase was busy typing away on his phone. "Ah, so this is where you've been." 

Chase nods as he sits up more against the back of his bed, "My fucking history teacher has been up my ass about finishing my essay." 

"Chase Everett doing his homework? This is new." I smirk as I crawl onto his bed and situate myself between Chase's body and the wall. I lie down, resting my head against Chase's chest as his arm wraps around my waist. 

"Your nerdy ways are rubbing off on me, Jones." Chase chuckles as he places a kiss to my forehead. I smile into his chest as I press myself up against his side. 

I sigh, "I'm probably going to fall asleep. Wake me up in an hour." 

"Okay." Chase mumbles before I begin reading the first few lines of his essay. And of course that bored the fuck out of me so slowly, my eyes fluttered close and I slipped over the edge into oblivion. 

sooooo i know it's a day late but at least it's not two weeks late right? 

*silence*

okay okay, tough crowd. 

ahahaha, just kidding. i was trying so hard to get this up but i actually fell asleep while writing this. but anyway, here's another update. 

i know some of you were shipping levi and hayden and i'm sorry but that ship has been burned to the ground. some people guessed that levi was in love with chase which was a pretty good guess, but it was actually hayden. 

i mean, who couldn't love hayden? 

apart from lea tho.