Chapter 3

I sigh as I look down at the blank page. I look at it a little longer and groan. "Are you okay?" I look over the person, forgetting they were there. Theo looked at me, concerned. I look away from him. 

"Yeah, I'm just having a hard time coming up with a good way to start this sketch," I spoke half-honestly. He sets his sketchbook down and turns to me. 

"I thought you tried to push your problems out of your head when you are in art class." I look at him. 

"I do, but sometimes it doesn't work." He gives me a small smile. 

"What is on your mind if I'm allowed to ask?" I let out a small giggle. 

"My whole life, I've always had a goal. I was going to be the best that I could be when it comes to art. I would go to school and hang out with my friends. The only rule I made for myself was no boys. But lately, there has been this guy that I haven't been able to get out of my head. I don't know if it's because I like him or if it's something else." He lets out a nervous laugh. 

"Can't you talk to your girlfriends about this?" I let out a nervous laugh as I looked down at my hands. 

"Yeah, I wish it were that easy. My friends are going to tell me that I should take the chance with him. But they won't know there was more to the story." He hums. I look at him. 

"I thought you were supposed to tell your friends everything?" I scuff. 

"This is something I can't tell them." He nods. 

"Well, I'm here to listen." 

"Yeah, I don't think this is something you can help with." He shrugs. 

"Well, at least let me try." I nod. 

"Okay," 

"What is the first thing you think about when it comes to him?" I smile to myself. 

"His smile." He chuckles as he picks up his sketchbook. 

"Well, it's easy to say that you like him." I snapped out of it and looked at him. 

"No, I can't do that. I'm not allowed to like him." He looks at me, confused. "Laura likes him," I lied. He sighs. 

"I guess you either tell her or suffer. Either way, we have a project we have to get done." I watch him as he continues in his sketchbook. I gulp and look down at mine. 

"Should we add quotes from staff members?" I ask, trying to divert the conversation. He nods. 

"That would be cool," I look back at him just in time for Maggie to come around the curtain. I look at her, confused. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked nervously. Theo looks at her and looks back down at his drawing. She looks at him, and hurt flashed through her eyes. She walks up to me as I watch her. 

"I needed your advice about boys?" I give her a small smile. 

"Mystery guy?" She nods as she sits next to me. I could tell Theo was listening because he tilted his head a bit. She sits as she turns to me. 

"It feels like every time he and I hang out, he is worried. Like, he doesn't want someone to know. I thought that after a week of us hanging out that he would have told his friends or a friend by now. I don't know why, but it feels like he doesn't want to make us a thing. He just wants a friend with benefits type of thing." I give her a confused look. 

"Maybe he just needs more time? He sounds like he is worried his friends won't accept you together." Theo snorts, causing our attention to turn to him. 

"The guy seems like he only wants one thing," he mumbles. I narrow my eyes at him as he looks up at us. He looks at me and her. "I'm sorry it's not my business," He looks back down. Maggie sits forward. 

"How do you know?" She asked. He looks back at her. He sets his pencil down. 

"Most guys tell their friends because they typically don't care what they think. I mean, it might be a bit different if they grew up together, but it would be the same concept. He seems stupid for trying to hide you. I mean you are a catch, and if he can't see that, then he is dumb." I look down as he talks. Being around him makes me forget that they used to date. I never considered that he may still have feelings for her, and I know she still has feelings for him. 

"Thank you," Maggie whispers. Theo chuckles. 

"You don't have to thank me for speaking the truth. If I were you, I would ask this guy if he is looking for a relationship. Because it's pointless to waste your time on him if he doesn't. I mean, other guys are lining up to date you." She blushes and smiles. I swallow harshly and stand up. She looks at me. 

"Where are you going?" I look at her and clear my throat. 

"I am going to go somewhere else while you talk." She nods, and I walk away before I can be stopped. I walk down the hall and get to an empty classroom. I lean on the wall and close my eyes. "He's your best friend's ex. You can't fall for him," I mumble to myself. I take a deep breath and open my eyes. I let out a sigh and sat down. 

I walk out of the empty classroom as class ends, only to run into someone. I look up at them. "I'm sorry," He says. I look at him and look away. 

"No, I'm sorry. I should have been looking where I was going," I mumbled. 

"Are you okay?" I look back at him to see him looking at me concerned. I give him a fake smile. 

"Yeah, I just thought that you two wanted to talk." He lets out a nervous laugh. 

"I'm sorry," I let out a dry laugh. 

"You're apologizing for what?" He swallows harshly. 

"For kissing you and then flirting with your friend a few weeks later. I'm not that guy anymore, and I don't want you to think I am." I give him a confused look. 

"Why would you care what I think? Maggie is your ex, and it's understandable for you to still want her back." He shakes his head. 

"But I don't." I hold my book to my chest. "I mean, yes, I still like her, and I still think she is beautiful, but I don't want her back. Maggie is a great person, but she is not for me. I care what you think because I don't want to lose your friendship over something like this." I look down. 

"I thought we agreed that the kiss never happened?" 

"Right, yeah, sorry," I look at him. 

"I should get going. But I'll see you tomorrow." He opens his mouth to say something, but I walk past him. I let out a breath of air. 

"When are you going to admit that you like him?" I hear. I turn to see Teresa walking next to me. I scuff and look forward. 

"I don't like him." She scuffs. 

"Oh, please, you've liked him since second grade." I roll my eyes as I look at her. 

"That was a long time ago. Besides, I think he may get back with Maggie, and I won't get in the way of that." She lets out a dry laugh. 

"Why won't you allow yourself to be happy? I mean, she had her chance to be with him, and it ended. I mean, as I see it, he's available and so are you." I shake my head. 

"This is why you don't have girlfriends." She shrugs. 

"I just don't care.  If I like someone, I'm going to tell them." I roll my eyes. 

"How is Chase doing anyway?" She smiles. 

"He is doing good. He likes college. He's still trying to transfer here, but it's taking him longer." 

"Are you going to be able to handle living with him and going to college with him? I feel like that would be too much." 

"It won't be. I can handle it. With him working with his father, I barely see him anyway." We get out to the parking lot, and Jasper walks up to us.

"What are we talking about?" Teresa looks at him. 

"Chase," He chuckles. 

"Oh, right, the lover boy is trying to come hang out with the cool kids." I giggle. 

"Yeah, I'm sure that's why he is transferring." Jasper smiles. 

"How is the art going with Theo?" I roll my eyes at him. 

"It's not going. Honestly, I feel like he still has feelings for Maggie. I mean, you should have heard the way they were talking." His smile drops for a moment. He clears his throat. 

"I mean, did he say he still has feelings for? Because that's not what he and I talked about." I give him a confused look. 

"Why are you acting weird?" He sighs. 

"Because Theo had a dark period last year, and I don't want him to go back to it. I think he and Maggie being together may just make that happen." I roll my eyes. 

"Theo is a big guy. I'm sure he can decide what's good for him." He nods and walks to his car. 

"You're probably right." I get to my car to see a light brown haired greek god leaning on my car. I smile at him. 

"Hello, stranger," He smiles. 

"Hello, gorgeous," His eyes land on Teresa. "Hello, beautiful," He said. She smiles. 

"Hello, Spencer," Spencer says, looking back at me. I turn to Teresa. 

"I'll see you tomorrow?" She nods. 

"It's nice seeing you again." She said to him. He nods. 

"You as well," I turn back at him as I take another step toward him. He wore dark grey joggers and a muscle shirt that complemented his abs perfectly. My eyes met his neon green ones, and his lip curled up in a smirk. "You just seem to keep getting cuter every time I see you." I roll my eyes at him. 

"And you grew up in all the right places." He chuckles. 

"Are you checking me out, flapjacks?" A shiver ran down my body when I heard his nickname for me. 

"It's hard not to," He chuckles again. 

"I came here hoping to take you out to dinner?" I smirk. 

"Wow, four years passed, and you are already asking me out?" He chuckles. 

"I wasn't, but I can make it a date if you would like?" I shake my head. 

"I was only kidding." He nods. 

"I know." I clear my throat. 

"Dinner sounds nice. I do, however, have to go home first." He nods. 

"I'll follow you there, and we can take my car?" I nod. He gets out of my car as I walk up to the driver's door. I get in my car and wait until he gets in his. I bite my lip while watching him. I let out a breath of air and start my car. I pull out onto the road and head home.