Chapter Twelve

"Cynthia! I'm going out!" I bellowed as I made my way  to the door.

Since she was the only one at home, I simply wanted to let her know that I was leaving.

It was a thing we do.

Before I reached the front door, I watched as she poked her head from the hallway that led to the kitchen with a glint in her eyes. "Is it that Fabian guy again?" she asked as she wriggled her eyebrows.

"No. I'm actually going to hang out with Colton. And stay out of my life." I threw her a glare, but she only smirked wider at me as she rushed towards the front door.

I threw it open, and I saw that Colton was already waiting in my driveway.

"Hey Colton!"

"Hi Cynthia!" he returned cheerfully as my sister greeted him.

"You're being replaced, but I still love you." She winked devilishly as I threw a punch to her arm.

I could see that Colton's eyes were frowning, despite the fact that he was still beaming at Cynthia's joke.

I pushed my fifteen year old sister through the door, hoping she'd stay inside as I quickly made my way towards Colton's car. He met me halfway and grabbed me in a hug, and I actually almost purred like a damn cat when I felt the familiar warmth of his hug.

However, something was a bit different with this hug. The way he gripped my waist and buried his nose in my neck was almost...primal.

"I missed you, Par," he mumbled as he pulled away a bit.

I sighed in content, realizing that a meet up was simply far overdue. "I missed you too. Shall we go?"

"Yes, of course." He held the door open for me as I hopped in, feeling safe in the comfort of a car, instead of being teased about riding a certain dark haired boy's bike.

Still, the very thought of Fabian had my heart fluttering, but I quickly composed myself as Colton joined me on the driver's side.

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, but I could see that he had something to say. He was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, a habit of his when he was nervous or had something bottled up.

"So, how's Anastasia?" I asked, knowing it was the perfect indicator to begin the conversation I knew he wanted to start.

I didn't miss the few times he glanced at my neck, no doubt remembering the mark he saw on the video call that was neatly hidden under my scarf today.

"Uh- she's fine. She wanted to hang out with us soon. She hasn't seen you since...that night." He said 'that night' with a huge drop in his tone, as if he was in deep thought about the night we went roller skating, when I expressed my love for him after falsely hurting myself, and having him dismiss my declaration like it was nothing.

I was about to ask what was the matter, but he spoke again.

"I remember when I came looking for you, and you were in the locker rooms..." he trailed.

"Yes...?" I urged.

"That guy that I saw...It was him, wasn't it?"

I gulped as I fiddled with my hands. "Yes, it was."

There was no use hiding it. It's not like Colton was my boyfriend or anything. Besides, I actually see Fabian as a part of my life now. So sooner or later, Colton and I would've had to have this talk.

"I thought you said you didn't know him."

"I didn't," I said, being as stern as possible to show him that I was no liar.

"So how did you guys become...acquainted?"

I rolled my eyes at his choice of words. "I um...I went back to the rink looking for...something, and I ran into him. After that, we kinda just hit it off."

"Do you like him?" he blurted out, momentarily taking his eyes from the road to look at me. Even though he didn't see it, I shrugged.

"I-I believe so." I could feel the blush climbing up my cheek that I tried to contain, but failed miserably. One glance in the mirror, and I saw how red I was.

Colton's red, however, was definitely not blushing. "Do you even know him well enough? I don't want you to get hurt, Paris."

'You hurt me first,' I wanted to say, but held my tongue. Colton didn't feel the same way about me, and I accept that now. I don't hold him accountable for not reciprocating my feelings. Feelings can't be forced, after all.

"Can we not talk about this? Just trust me, okay? This is supposed to be our day, remember?" I hoped I could get through to home like this. I didn't understand why everyone was so against me seeing Fabian.

So what if he doesn't go to our school? So what if they don't know him? Nobody has even seen or met  him before.

"I'm just looking out for you, Par. You know I love you right?"

"I know. I love you too." I was happy that the conversation was over, but I didn't miss how conflicted he looked after I told him that I loved him too.

Didn't he just say it? It was only natural that I said it back.

Despite his weirdness, I tried to fill the atmosphere with our usual random and witty conversation, all the way to the park.

I was both surprised and delighted when I saw the picnic he packed. I wasn't hungry, but the sight of all the food alone made me feel like I was starving.

He laid a blanket under an oak tree and set the picnic beautifully. If I didn't know better, I'd think this was a date.

"Chocolate covered doughnuts!" I squealed in excitement when he pulled a box of doughnuts from the basket. A bright smile took over his lips as he handed them to me.

"I think our doughnut day is far overdue. Lukas hasn't seen us at the diner in a while." His words made guilt rise in me again.

I dropped my gaze to the ground as I fiddled with them. "I'm sorry Col. And for the record, I'm not replacing you," I mumbled, but I felt his fingers on my chin, and then my gaze was lifted back to his.

"Don't feel bad. I neglected you first when I started hanging out with Anastasia so often. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine." He handed me a coke, which I gladly accepted with a smile. "Besides, what are the odds that we both happen to find other people that we find ourselves being attracted to, when in the end, it's always going to be you and me."

I went into a coughing fit after choking on my coke when those words left his mouth. What was that supposed to mean?"

"What do you mean?" I voiced my thoughts, since my heart was going sixty miles per hour.

He shrugged. "I just think that maybe we were too hasty in-"

"Don't finish that sentence Col." I quickly cut him off. "Let's just hang out okay? Since the minute I saw you, we've been talking about Fabian and Anastasia and I just think that-"

"Yes, of course. You're right." He quickly added, looking anywhere but me.

Was I crazy? Only a month ago, I would've killed to hear Colton say he CONSIDERED having me as his. And maybe I still do, but I didn't even know what to think anymore.

My heart had always and maybe still cried for Colton. But slowly, Fabian was invading my every thought and desire.

What are you doing to me, Fabian Smith?

***

The day went surprisingly well after our awkward phase died away.

We eventually bounced back in our regular conversation, and the day turned out pretty well. After repacking all the empty food containers in Colton's basket, we laid together and chatted about squirrels and acorns, along with a few summer plans. I had to admit, I really did miss this.

"Are you ready to go?" Colton asked as he propped himself on his elbows.

I searched for my phone in my purse, seeing that it was already five thirty. I found it hard to believe that we spent five hours sitting, eating and chatting away. Then again, we're Colton and Paris. We used to spend all night on calls, hours on end watching movies or playing video games, so this shouldn't have been a shocker for me.

"Sure. I think we can leave. But can we go get ice cream?" I stretched my limbs as I rose from my former laying down position, and I was met with a goofy smile on Colton's face.

"You just ate a basket of food and you still want ice-cream?"

"Shut up." I playfully hit his arm. "Will you or will you not grant me ice-cream?"

"Oh I will," he chuckled. "As you please."

We both chuckled lightly as we got ourselves ready to leave, just as my phone rang. My stomach erupted in butterflies when I saw the name flashing across my screen.

"Who's Charmer?" Colton asked from behind me, having seen my phone. I blushed furiously at the odd name I've chosen for Fabian. It was only fair, since I was called 'Skates' in his phone.

"It's Fabian," I simply said as I clicked the answer button. Colton's movements slowed as he placed the blanket in his basket, but I knew he was listening in.

"Hello?"

"Hey, are you busy?"

I bit my lip as my eyes flickered to Colton. Suddenly , I no longer had an appetite for ice cream. I simply wanted to know why Fabian needed to know if I was busy.

"Er, kinda. Why?" I knew I couldn't just ditch Colton. That would make him believe I was replacing him even more. Besides, our 'day' wasn't over just yet. I had to be fair.

"Nothing. I was just hanging around town and I thought of you. So you're still out with your boyfriend then?"

"He's not my-"

"Yes, she is."

To say I was stunned was an understatement, when I felt the phone being elevated from my hands, and the sound of Colton's declaration had my mouth hanging low.

I didn't even know he was hearing the conversation. He was that close behind me?

Earlier today, I texted Fabian and told him that I was speeding the day with Colton. But Fabian, for some reason, always teased me and called Colon my boyfriend. It was an inside joke and wasn't to be taken seriously of course. But Colton jumped right on the crazy train.

"Colton, give that back to me," I whisper shouted as I reached for the phone. However, he only moved further away from me.

"And she'll be busy tomorrow too, and the day after that." He continued to rant, and my anger was boiling to the brim.

"Fabian, hang up!" I shouted since I couldn't reach my phone. I hoped he heard me, since I was feeling utterly outraged and embarrassed.

How dare he dictate the rest of my weekend. Out of what? Jealousy?

To my delight, however, he held the phone away from his ear, and I realized that Fabian had granted my resume wish.

"What the hell Colton?" I shouted as I grabbed my phone. "What was that?"

He seemed stunned, Like he was coming out of a daze. "I-I..."

"You nothing! Why would you do that? Why are you so against me hanging out with him? I already told you that I can trust him. And for your information, I can hang out with whoever I want to , whenever I want." I couldn't remember a time when I was so angry at him.

Shouldn't I have felt happy that he was behaving so primal?

No. Weeks ago when I was all his, he didn't want me.

"Please take me home."

"Paris-"

"I said take me home Colton," I cut him off, not wanting to hear anything else.

"I'm sorry-"

"I'll go take the train then." I spun on my heels and literally ran from the park, avoiding his calls to me.

I needed to think. Could Colton really be...falling for me? Or was he only jealous of the time I was spending with Fabian?

Of course he was! He said it himself, and besides, he has Anastasia. I needed to get myself together, and communicate the message sternly to my heart that Colton will not love me like that. I wasn't even sure if I wanted him to anymore. Because what he did, the way he wanted to undermine Fabian in his likeness pissed me off.

It was official then. I certainly yearned for Fabian more than I yearned for Colton. I knew Fabian was attracted to me, but did he like me enough to actually date me?

I had no clue what I wanted to do from this point forward in regards to Colton and Fabian, but there was only one way to find out.

I reached for my phone for the umpteenth time, and dialed the number of the only person I needed to see.

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