dix-sept

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." - Muhammad Ali

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Meet me at my room after class. Cake is being delivered there.

Rebekah closed the message and tilted her head back to look at the person who had sent it. Danny caught her eye, flashed a quick smile and gestured for her to stop looking at him.

You'll ruin the surprise, he mouthed. As if on cue, Sebastian nudged her gently and quirked an eyebrow, obviously amused by her interactions with his best friend. She quickly broke her gaze with Danny and smiled innocently. He shot her a wary smile in response and turned his attention back to Professor McIntyre.

Shaking her head, Rebekah pressed her fingers against her temples and tried to clear her thoughts. The past few weeks had been hectic. Between studying for midterms and coordinating with Danny to plan the twin's birthday surprise, she hadn't had much time for anything else.

Or anyone else, for that matter.

Despite her worst fears, Sebastian had taken her news about Robin extremely well. He didn't understand why she couldn't just tell her mum that she didn't want to be married to someone she barely knew, but he respected her decision anyway.

"I'll always support you, no matter what," Sebastian had promised. He'd paused then added, "Unless your decision is to marry some other guy. Then, no. I won't support that." His forehead furrowed. "Unless he makes you happier than I can, then..."

He'd been cut off by Rebekah clapping her hand over his mouth. "Stop overthinking. I like you and only you. End. Of. Story."

His eyes had lit up after she'd said that. She hadn't realised that her words could have such an effect on him, but the way he kissed her after that was enough to make her say it again.

Rebekah smiled at the memory and turned her head slightly to admire his profile as he followed Professor McIntyre's lecture intently.

When Rebekah had been younger, her mum had taught her that no matter what, she should only be with someone if they loved and respected her the way that she deserved to be. Their looks were never to be more important than their personalities.

Sensing her eyes on him, Sebastian turned and winked at her. Appalled at getting caught, Rebekah immediately averted her gaze and felt her face heat up as she stared at her scribbled notes. Laughing softly, Sebastian leaned closer. When he was a hair's breath from her face, he paused, his warm breath ticking the outer shell of her ear.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Beck," he murmured. "It's perfectly legitimate for a girl to check out her boyfriend. Besides, I like that you're checking me out." He finished his last sentence by dipping his head and taking her earlobe lightly between his lips. Rebekah jumped at the foreign sensation, then froze when his tongue swept over the delicate skin before releasing her.

The heat radiating from his body was enough to scorch her skin, but when Rebekah turned to glare at him, his dark blue ones met hers with a smoulder that made her heart beat violently against her rib cage.

He broke their gaze and returned back to staring at Professor McIntyre, speaking in a low tone. "But just remember that every time you do, it makes me want to take you back to your room and make l-" he stopped abruptly with a wry smile before continuing. "... kiss you until the only name you can remember is mine."

Rebekah listened to his words, feeling as if her body was set on fire. She had a strange idea that he had wanted to say something else other than kissing.

She shook her head.

The lack of sleep must be messing with her brain.

She forced herself to concentrate on Professor McIntyre's droning voice for the rest of the lecture, jotting down points that she thought might be important. After a horrendous first week in his class, he'd become somewhat normal, even a little nice... if that were possible.

After class, she followed Sebastian out of the classroom with Elise and Danny in tow.

"I'm just saying- anyone who thinks that Ben Affleck is a terrible Batman must be blind," Elise stated matter-of-factly as they entered the hall. She glanced at Sebastian. "No pun intended."

Sebastian shrugged. "I'm not blind anymore so your pun wouldn't have worked anyway."

Elise made a face. "Oh yeah. What a shame." She looked at Rebekah. "Well, I've had enough of studying. What do you say to a trip to Geronimo's for some sugar therapy?"

For a moment, Rebekah almost agreed before Danny narrowed his eyes at her. She chewed the inside of her cheeks and smiled apologetically.

"I can't," Rebekah sighed. "I've got a ton of studying to do."

"Studying can wait. Gelato can't."

Rebekah clicked her tongue. "Sorry, E." She tilted her head. "Don't you have a tutorial to get to?"

Elise groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Yes, but if I look at another PowerPoint or essay right now, I might spontaneously self-combust."

"Don't be so dramatic," Sebastian scoffed. "Just go to the damn tutorial and then we can all grab dinner after."

His sister scowled at him. "That's easy for you to say. You have soccer practice now."

"Yes, and I'm going to be late if I keep standing around waiting for you to make up your mind." Sebastian took out his phone to look at the time. He turned to Rebekah almost as a reflex and leaned in to kiss her. Taken aback by the sudden public display of affection, Rebekah turned her head so that his kiss ended up on her cheek.

He didn't seem too disturbed by this as he gave her arm a quick squeeze. "See you later, babe."

When he was out of earshot, Elise elbowed her in the ribs to get her attention. "Look over there." She pointed to a group of girls watching Sebastian and giggling when he threw a confused glance their way.

"Fucking disgusting," Elise muttered. "Where were these admirers when he was blind, huh? Nowhere to be fucking found."

Rebekah felt herself take a step away from Elise, completely taken aback by the intensity of her roommate's tone. Noticing her discomfort, Elise visibly relaxed her face.

"Sorry. I'm a little protective of my idiot brother."

Rebekah smiled. "No, don't apologise. I'm beginning to understand where you're coming from." She blushed as she spoke.

Danny, who had been silent thus far, chose this time to pipe up.

"He'd never admit it," he said, "but Seb doesn't let many see who he really is. He'd rather tough it out than admit that he's in pain. Like after the accident and-"

"Jane." Elise's face scrunched in disgust. Danny nodded, slowly massaging the back of his neck as if the mere mention of that name had given him an ache.

"Who's Jane?" Rebekah looked between Danny and Elise.

Elise's face darkened and she mumbled something under her breath before blowing out in a long exhale. "Remember when I told you that Seb went through a bad patch after his accident?"

When Rebekah nodded, Elise said, "Well, Jane was a big part of that."

Rebekah felt her lips part into a silent 'o'. Sebastian never talked about his past relationships and Rebekah had never asked. It just hadn't seemed important to dig up the past.

Elise sighed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to get so upset." She shoved her glasses onto her head and rubbed her face. "I don't feel like ice cream anymore. I'm going to my tutorial."

She turned on her heel and walked briskly away, leaving a bewildered Rebekah alone with Danny.

When Elise had rounded the corner, he smacked his lips and gestured for her to follow him. He walked quickly, his long legs covering far more ground than Rebekah's. She huffed as she hurried to keep up with him. She was, by no means, short but the strides that Danny were taking was making her have to half-jog, half-speed walk to keep up.

"I knew this would happen," he said, keeping his eyes fixed firmly ahead. "I fucking knew it."

A sense of dread filled Rebekah, making her stomach churn. "Please don't tell me that Seb's accident was because of this... this Jane."

Danny shook his head. "No, no." He clicked his tongue. "Don't worry about it, Rebekah. I'll tell you everything later. Right now, we need to focus on making sure this surprise party is as fucking awesome as it possibly can. Elise and Seb deserve it."

Rebekah kept her mouth shut after that, swallowing whatever questions she still had. If Danny said he was going to tell her, she just had to trust that he would.

*

Hello fellow Wattpadians!

Happy update and start to the weekend! I'm updating early because I'm so excited! MY EXAMS ARE OVER!

Now, there's nothing I can do but wait for my results (which in and of itself is pretty terrifying). But I don't want to think about that. I just want to celebrate with a new chapter :)

Have an amazing weekend, everyone!

Percy