Accidentally Good & Bad

Chapter 22

DEDICATED TO chewtoy47 FOR HER BIRTHDAY, SUPPORT, AND SUPER SWEET COMMENTS. MUCH LOVE FOR YOU GIRL. XOXO, MIKAILAXRYAN

"Get up, hoe!" Someone screams and I get hit by a pillow. I open my eyes, glaring at the person, who I had assumed was Brooklyn, but it's Will.

"What the heck, William?" I shout. "Hoe?" My eyes widen. He knows.

Will plops onto the bed next to me and ruffles my already messy hair. "You aren't a true friend to me until I've called you a hoe. Welcome to the exclusive club, hoe."

"Thanks, whore," I glare at him. But when he grins and I grin back. Will has an infectious grin. Plus, he doesn't know about Archer and I kiss.

The kiss. 

I glance at the clock worriedly, and I see that it's 5 am. School doesn't start for nearly 3 hours!

"Why are you here, Will? It's five o'clock in the morning!"

"I was worried about you." He shrugs. "Archer said you weren't with him anymore and you weren't with Parker or me. You wouldn't answer our texts or calls, so I came here to see if you were here."

I lived at home for two days. Like, home. Where Brooklyn is! Well, she stayed at her boyfriend's house for the weekend while I was home. Which I definitely didn't mind. But today is Monday, which means school, which means facing Archer. Archer who kissed me! Archer who I kissed back!

"And, Hattan," Will begins slowly. "Why are you here?"

I chuckle nervously. "There's no place like home, right?"

"Right, which is exactly why you refused to stay here for  nearly a month," He drawls.

"Will, something happened," I whisper.

"What is it? Hattan, you know I'm here for you." His voice has dropped too.

"You can't tell anybody." 

"I promise, I won't."

"Archer and I kissed," I drop the bomb. Will is silent and he is staring straight ahead, mouth open and ready to catch flies. "Will, please say something!" I plead him, not being able to take the quiet.

"About damn time."

"What?" I splutter. 

Will chuckles. He actually chuckles! "Hattan, Archer's been in love with you ever since you stepped foot into the pizza place nearly a year ago. Well, more like since Parker's accident. You've just never been exposed to affection and love like this that you never noticed."

"B-but-"

"I'm not finished, Hattan." He interrupts but smiles at me, letting me know he's not mad. "Did you know that Parker used to like you too? Before the coma and the car accident?"

"Yeah," I say softly. "He told me when he woke up."

"Did you know that you used to like him too?"

"I realized that." I nodded. "But-" I began but shook my head. 

"It's different now, isn't it. You don't feel the same around him anymore, do you?"

"Exactly. That's exactly how it is!" 

"It's because you don't like him anymore. This is how it is to be friends, and only friends. It's how you and I feel about each other. You loved him differently, but now you love him like a brother. And that's how you'll always love him now." 

"That's not a bad thing, right?" I ask Will. 

"No, not at all. Hattan, haven't you noticed how Archer will touch you whenever he can?"

I think about all the times Archer has poked me, prodded me, leaned closer to me, or threw his arm around me, or hugged me. Yeah, I've noticed. But I never thought more about it. "Wait, you said he's loved me since I stepped foot into the pizza parlor nearly a year ago. Why is he only acting upon it now?"

"Because Parker loved you too, and you loved him! He couldn't do anything because you didn't love him back, and you loved someone else! And as soon as he realized that maybe your feelings for Parker weren't strong, he decided to pursue his own.

He knew he had his chance then. He started touching you at every opportunity he had, gave you his clothing when he could, and let you stay over when you needed a place to stay. But he couldn't ask you out because he was afraid that with Parker back, you'd fall in love with him again. He kissed you because he couldn't wait anymore, Manhattan. Because he loves you, and you love him too."

You love him too. 

I do, don't I? Every time he'd poke me, I'd poke him back. Every time he leaned closer to me, I'd lean too. Every time he'd put his arm around me, I'd wrap one around his waist. Every time he'd hug me, I'd hold onto him as if my life depended on it. How we'd fall asleep in the same bed on accident but I wouldn't move until I had to if we woke up in each other's arms. How I kissed him back. 

He loves me. Archer loves me.

And I love him too.