Just as he is about to turn away, and go back to his room. He looks at me, smiling.

"I only crashed the buggy, so that I could spend more time with you."

-- ------ --

"Hey guys, let's all go to the pool!" Paris suggests, fixing on her pink sunglasses and taking off her towel - Revealing a hot pink bikini underneath with her name embroidered with gold stitching on her top.

"Uh. Okay?" Payton mutters, "we're already all in swimming gear though. I mean, everyone except for Noen."

We all shoot a glance at Noen who is wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans.

"I'm sad," he replies, then he wanders off to god knows where.

We walk out to the pool, looking at the trees and the little shrubs as we pass by. There turns out to be a huge spider on the rim of the pool fence and we have to beg Charli to scare it away with her renegade dance. Mychael accidently steps in a pool of mud too. How does that even happen?

"Oh my god..." Paris says, her eyes glinting with lots of excitement, "is that who I think it is?"

"Um. No, we don't know anyone here," Sarah sighs, "she's delusional."

Paris is staring over at this random dude with a phone saying 'stay with me, stay with me'. I can't remember anyone who would do that except for Tyler bu-

Wait. Is that TYLER?

He dyed his hair from it's natural brown to this weird platinum blonde. It doesn't suit him, not at all. In fact, he looks a lot worse. Everyone (not just us) are judging him very harshly. I don't blame them, what would you do if someone started pumping their phone and started yelling 'stay with me, stay with me'?

Paris runs over, immediately dropping her handbag and she launches herself on Tyler, snogging him wildly.

Mychael looks in shock, then his expression turns to a sign of hurt. Brooke gives him a reassuring pat on the back, but Mychael shakes her off.

"TYLER I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S YOU!" Paris squeals, hugging him so tightly I swear his face would turn blue in a matter of seconds. Strangely it doesn't.

"Tea," the guide says, looking at the couple in excitement. Then he fixes on a face of sadness and turns around to comfort Mychael. It is only then when I hear the guide whisper "you should've seen it coming."

Mychael does not seem impressed. And Paris throws her ring into the bushes. It was an expensive ring also.

"Paris!" Cash hisses, "how could you do this to Mychael?"

"Honestly I'm kinda happy," Maverick admits, "this means Meva can be a thing again."

Paris reluctantly gets off from Tyler and she looks at us. We all glare back at her, arms crossed but Paris doesn't get it.

"Look, I'm sorry. But what Tyler and I have is true love," Paris sniffs.

"Why didn't you just break up with Mychael if you didn't like him? Plus, why the hell did you say yes to getting married with him?" Zoe asks.

"I did," Paris admits, "I did like dating Mychael to get on Eva's nerves. I also really liked the clout I got from being his girlfriend. Did I ever truly like Mychael? No, I never did. I mean, his caps and beanies were kinda annoying-"

"That's not the point," Payton mutters, "listen. Paris, I get that you didn't like Mychael, and no one can force that on you. You shouldn't have dated him if you didn't truly like him, because you have to understand that you were using Mychael. It doesn't feel very nice to do that to someone."

I look around and everyone is shocked. Trinity looks admirably at Payton while Lauren grins wildly. All the boys look pleased (except for Jacob. He's doing jumping jacks. Don't ask). Danielle and her posse look surprised, Brooke looks a bit happy and Noen (who decided to turn up) doesn't look like he cares. Neither does lil huddy. Charli's learning a new tiktok dance.

Paris looks at Payton for a moment, then Mychael.

"Look Mych, I'm really sorry," Paris sighs, "I'm sure one day you'll find someone that'll love you as much as you love them. I'm really sorry about how I treated you, because the truth was, I was kinda jealous. I thought if I could be controlling and domineering, I'd have a life like yours. And when that didn't work out, I took all my anger out on you."

Mychael looks away from Paris.

"Eva, I also need to apologize to you," Paris calls out.

This had better be good, if it isn't, I'm throwing away her perfume collection when we get back home. All 76 bottles.

"I'm really sorry for treating you really badly as a sister. I always told you that you were adopted because I always thought that I could never be related to someone like you. Sure, you weren't as pretty, but you were likeable. I guess that's why I bullied you throughout our childhood. I'm sorry."

I just stare at her. I know it doesn't sound that deep, I mean it kinda does. But this is Paris we're talking about. I haven't heard her apologize once unless she'd fake it. Last time I heard her fake apologize was when she pushed me down onto the concrete when I was 11 and I broke my arm.

I have a lot of injuries from Paris. 3 to be exact. 1, when she pushed me over on the ice. 2, when she pushed me onto the concrete and 3, when she threw a football at me very hard and it broke my hand. This happened 1 month before Tiktok camp. Lucky it healed right before camp started.

Jacob takes this weird chance to get down on one knee and turn to Danielle. We all protest and ask him to not do it now, it's too complicated but Jacob ignores us.

"GET THE CAMERAS AND LIGHTING!" Danielle demands, a fully stocked film crew come into the pool area and they all set up. Tyler steals one of the professional cameras and decides to film another POV about how this girl spilt lasagna on his head and he started hitting on her.

"Danielle! I love you so much! And now that you're legally allowed to marry since you turned 18- wait no! 20! Yeah! Your mum has these weird laws around the house saying you can't get married until you're 20! Anyways, will you marry me Dani my baby?" Jacob gets down on one knee and presents a square shaped ring.

It's rose gold with a huge pink diamond sapphire in the middle. To be honest, it's not my style. It's too shiny for me, but as long as Danielle's happy. Right?

"Yes!" Danielle accepts, taking the ring and sliding it on her finger. She admires it for a second before kissing it, then cuddling it.

"AND CUT!" Sarah finishes, ending the recording. Then waddling over to Danielle to see if the footage was okay. Danielle looks at it, then gives Sarah a hug. Sarah's face starts turning blue and Danielle finally lets go, and then she gets out her notebook. She's writing a new song I guess... Maybe her vows. With Danielle, you can never be too sure.

"Is that my ring?" This old lady laying on her towel says, squinting her eyes at Danielle's wedding ring, "it is!"

"I stole it from her," Jacob whispers to Payton who is standing behind him. Payton facepalms his face and goes over to the old lady to calm her down. She hyperventilates because apparently that ring was her wedding ring from her late husband that she met when they were really young. I really hope Jacob or Danielle will return it, because it seems like a really special gift - but Danielle and Jacob don't care at all.

Mychael takes this as a chance to run away while Jacob and Danielle are celebrating.

"I'm gonna go check on Mychael," I reply to Paris. "Thanks for the apology Paris. But I just need time to forgive you."

I trail off and follow the muddy footsteps on the ground. I guess stepping on a muddy puddle is kinda helpful when you decide to run away from your friends and they can't find you. It's helpful for the friends, not Mychael necessarily though.

I find Mychael sitting on a bench, burying his face in his hands.

"Hey," I softly say, sitting next to him, "are you alright?"

"There were so many signs..." He whispered, "so many. The way she acted towards Tyler-"

"It's not your fault," I quickly say, "it's Paris' fault. She shouldn't have cheated on you, and it was wrong."

"It's just..." Mychael says, lifting up his hands, "that apology. It sounded really deep and authentic."

"She's a good actor," I say, "I don't know whether her apology was true. But if you find out it wasn't, it'd be because she's really good at acting."

"It hurts..." Mychael quietly says, "I feel so... dead."

"I know it does," I agree, "you'll get over it soon. It'll be okay... Besides, you can do much better than Paris."

He takes a deep breath. "You're a great friend Eva."

My heart sank. I just got friend zoned.

Good job Eva, good job. I applaud myself.

I manage a weak smile and pat him on the back before leaving. I walk towards this ledge in the pathway and sit down on it, no one is here.

God, I'm so stupid. Of course Mychael didn't like me, he thought of me as a friend. Our romance fizzled out, and... What's the point anyways. I'm gonna beat myself up about this all the time.

I can't stop the goddamn tears that come to my face. First they come down slowly, then they get quicker and quicker. I finally stop vomiting and I just sit down on the curb, holding my knees in my arms.

"Eva!" Trinity calls out, running towards me, "what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Just. Don't tell anyone. Promise?"

She nods her head slowly and shows me a reassuring smile. She sits down on the ledge with me and places an arm around my shoulders.

"I like Mychael, and he just friend zoned me."

"I like Payton," she blurts out. I stare at her.

"P-payton? As in Payton Moormeier?"

She playfully rolls her eyes. "Duh, who else?"

"Well," I say, putting my arm around her shoulder. "I wish you guys to have a great life together, and if you ever get married, I am definitely gonna be your maid of honour."

"You can count on it," Trinity grins.