"Stuck In The Friend-Zone Again and Again"

"Hanging On Your Every Word"

Who else died bc She's Kinda Hot video?

Paris's P.O.V.

I woke up to Luke's soft voice in my ear, trying to wake me; "Wake up Par-Bear. You have to get up, we're at the harbour," he cooed in my ear.
My eyes fluttered open, and I was face to face with Luke.
"She's awake," he announced with a grin.
I sat up, lifting my head from Luke's bare shoulder, and stretched, arching my back and rolling my neck.
"Hi," I said with a yawn.
"Hey," Michael laughed.
I looked at Ashton expectantly.
He rolled his eyes playfully. "Is it hi or hey!"
I clapped my hands a couple times quickly, like you do when you're excited.
"You did it!" I exclaimed excitedly, the majority of me fangirling over hearing him do it in person.
He rolled his eyes again, laughing. "You're so weird."
I stood up, accepting Luke's hand to help me stand. "You're just realizing that now?"
The boys all laughed, and we continued chatting nonchalantly until the board was out so that we could get back on land.

We strolled down the dock back to actual solid ground, talking about the day and just random things such as our favourite cuisines and baseball.

"Ugh there's that amazing Mexican restaurant," Calum observed, sounding longing.
"I like that Greek place," Michael commented.
"I don't know, that Chinese take out spot is pretty good," Ashton added.
"Paris, you'd love this incredible Italian place downtown," Luke said, turning his head to look at me.
I looked at him with a surprised smile. "How did you know Italian's my favourite?"
He smiled. "You mentioned it a while back."
"And you remembered?" I teased. "I've got you hanging on my every word."
(Greenlight af)
He rolled his eyes with a laugh. "Cleeeever."
I smiled. "I thought so."

"Why Italian?" Ashton inquired, interrupting mine and Luke's banter.
"Because-" I said, holding up one hand and starting to tick off fingers with the other. "-pizza, pasta, gelato, bread, cheese."
They all shrugged, not being able to deny that those were all awesome foods.
"See," I said. "Italian food rules."
"My neighbours are Italian and I go over there all the time and Sally makes like lasagna and stuff and it's so good," I added, not really sure why I was talking about my neighbours.
"You're that close to your neighbours?" Michael asked curiously.
"Oh yeah," I nodded. "I've been hanging out there since I was little. Our parents are friends. Or, they were, until my parents got so busy. I'm the daughter they never had; they had all sons."
I thought for a moment. "They told me that if Jake hurt me they'd shoot him," I said. "Should I take them up on that offer?"
"YES!" All four boys exclaimed immediately.
I laughed.

Talking about Jake was getting easier.

I wasn't over him certainly, not by a long shot, but I didn't cry at the thought of him and seeing things that reminded me of him just made me annoyed.

I still wasn't okay, but my heart was stitching back together, slowly mind you, but it was getting there.