Written in the Stars *EDITING*

Bonus Chapter

Evan the Fifth Wheel

Evan sighed as he stood next to Nathan. Nathan, who was currently holding hands with Mia, was smiling at his girlfriend as she talked to her best friend. Evan, Nathan, Mia, Hazel, and Violet had all agreed to go mini-golfing together, thinking it might be a fun bonding activity. Mia had suggested it, claiming she could beat all of them after going golfing with her Dad a few times. Hazel, who was holding hands with Violet, laughed at Mia's taunting words. "Is it fulfilling?" Evan pondered out loud.

"What?" Hazel asked. Everyone stopped their conversation as they waited for Evan's clarification.

"Is being in a committed monogamous relationship fulfilling?"

"Yes," Nathan stated without hesitation. Mia leaned up to kiss his cheek after hearing that.

Violet nodded at him. "I know I can turn to Hazel when I'm feeling sad and want to vent or even when I want someone to praise my accomplishments. But you don't need to be dating someone to be happy. You do know that right?"

"Yeah," Evan sighed, running a hand through his short hair. "It just seems like so much work. Checking in to make sure they're ok. Plus you have to do all that romantic shit, like holding open the door."

"I'm sure when you find the right girl, it won't feel like a chore. Instead, you'll want to text her or pull out her chair at a restaurant because she makes you happy and you love seeing her smile. One day you will find someone that you believe is the most beautiful girl in the world," Mia assured him.

Nathan snorted at her words. "Evan being romantic? I can't wait for that day. I feel like the only people of the opposite gender he's ever been a gentleman to are his mother and Ash."

"Well they are the two most important girls in my life," Evan defended.

"Are you just upset that you're third-wheeling?" Mia quizzed. Turning to Nathan, she said, "We're breaking up. Just for the rest of the day. Evan, if you want, I can be your fake fiance again."

"What the hell?" Nathan exclaimed. "If we break up for the rest of the day I'm not giving you the sour candy in my car," he pouted.

Mia gasped, "You're going to blackmail me?"

"Excuse me if I love my girlfriend and don't want her to break up with me."

"Guys it's fine," Evan dismissed. "I'm just being reflective. I think it comes with maturity. You'll start to be the same when you turn my age."

"You're only a year older than us," Hazel pointed out.

Evan took in her words as he swung his club at the ball. "That is true. Eh, I'm fine. I've been the ninth wheel before, you know. My parents, Ben and his wife, Chris and his girlfriend, and Dylan and his girl were unintentionally flaunting their relationships during Thanksgiving so I snuck away to Nathan's house and hung out with him. It was quite an experience. And that's a strike! Guess who's going to beat all of you couples in mini-golf. That's right, me!"

"Should we tell him it's not called a strike and that he's actually in second to last place?" Mia whispered to Nathan.

"Let him have his moment," Nathan declared. "He needs it."

Prank Wars

"Are you ready? Over." Mia whispered into the walkie-talkie from her crouching position.

"Yes. Are you?" Hazel asked.

"Then stay in position because it's going down in a minute." Mia took out her phone and texted Nathan "Can you and Evan come outside? I'm crying and really need a hug" with a sad-faced emoji. Setting her phone down on the grass, Mia waited. As predicted, Nathan and Evan came barging out of the house a minute later. "Now!" Mia shouted.