Make My Way

Chapter Ten

Aria's POV

While the boys were fighting over pizza, I grabbed one piece of cheese and slipped away. I sat on the couch and pulled out my phone. Neil had responded. Hey. he said. He's mad he doesn't want to talk. He used a period at the end.

I sent him a quick message saying, You okay?

Physically or emotionally?

Both

Not so hot

Stella didn't want to hurt you.

Well she did

She thought if you were actually interested you would have asked her out or to homecoming already so when Luca asked her out, she couldn't say no. I read that one over a few times before sending it.

He took longer to respond than before. Well I didn't. Of course I wanted to, but I didn't. I was afraid.

Afraid of what?

Rejection.

I thought for a minute. She wants to cancel on him you know

Why?

Because she cant bear to hurt you

I can't see her hurt either. It makes me sick. But I don't want to hurt Luca either.

I'll take care of that

After a few minutes of waiting, I got one last message. Thank you.

I smiled at the little screen and switched people. Luca responded right away.

Hey. How's Stella?

How did I want to say this? Good. Do you have a crush on her?

Kind of. Who does she like?

Neil. But you're like her best guy friend

Oh

She couldn't say no

There was a longer wait this time. She wants to cancel on me, doesn't she?

Not cancel. Just not a boyfriend-girlfriend thing. Not a date. Just as friends. When I finally worked out the wording, I pressed send.

Okay. I thought I'd go for it, but I'm not hurt. I know Neil likes her but I didn't know it was a two way thing.

It's okay. You should talk to her tomorrow.

I will. Thanks for clearing things up.

Yep.

I sighed audibly. I sent one more snap to Neil. He understands.

I heard the front door close upstairs. I slipped my phone into my pocket and sat up straighter. Laine, Everly and Stella walked into the room. Stella looked extremely confused. "Okay, is anyone going to tell me what's going on and why Aria and I are even here?"

Adrian was the first tho speak up. He explained, "Blake asked Aria to homecoming and she said yes."

Stella turned and looked me in the eye. "And you didn't say anything over the phone?!"

"Well, I didn't want to have to explain all that and interrupt your meal," I said.

"Well I want details." I then took to explaining how Blake asked me and Adrian added in details. It was extremely annoying. Apparently, everyone in the room had known about the set up except for me and Stella. Xavier had come up with the idea on how to ask me. Laine and Everly had helped pick out the necklace and bear. Easton had talked to the coaches about it and staying late. Merrick didn't really do anything; he just suggested we get pizza when I came over. Adrian played the biggest part other than Blake. He made sure Blake didn't chicken out like he did all the way back in with grade.

I smiled and looked at Blake and he looked back at me. I turned back to the rest of the group. "So, what should we do?"

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Stella's POV

"Stella, truth or dare?" Adrian asked me. Crap. With him, neither one would be good.

"Um.... truth," I responded with a little bit of hesitation.

He thought for a moment before saying, "Out of the guys in this room, who do you think is the hottest?"

I looked around, trying to decide. Not Easton or Merrick for sure. "Xavier," I finally decided. Xavier looked around in surprise l, and then smiled widely as a few other guys punched him playfully.

Now it was my turn to ask someone. "Everly, truth or dare."

She pondered for a moment before she decided, "Dare."

I already had a good one planned out. "I dare you to decide which of the guys in the room you find most attractive personality wise and kiss them on the cheek. Them go sit on the guy you find most physically attractive's lap until someone else asks them a question."

I could see her face clench in regret. She thought for a good two minutes before walking to Merrick and kissing him on the cheek and sitting on top of Xavier. "Oooooo. Xaiver, you've got girls all over you today," Adrian commented.

"Literally!" Easton said.

Everyone laughed and Xavier wrapped his arms around Everly's waist, not in a romantic way or an awkward way but a friendly way. I smiled and waited for Everly to pick someone to ask next. "Merrick, truth or dare."

"Truth," he responded quickly, clearly not wanting to get into any trouble.

"Who do you have a crush on?"

His face fell. He mumbled something under his breath, not wanting us to hear. Everyone prodded a clear answer out of him. We told him to speak up. After a few more attempts of avoiding the question, we finally forced an answer out of him. "Fine. Vivian. I like Vivian okay." Small cheers rose up around the room and his face flushed a deep shade of red.

"Idiot," I said and he looked at me confused, "She likes you too!"

"What?" A look of disbelief crossed his face.

"You heard me, she likes you too," I said in a matter of fact voice.

A few of the guys nudged him and whispered a few things in his ear. He shook his head and moved on. "Xavier, truth or dare?"

Everly slid of his lap thankfully and sat next to him. "Ah.... Dare," he said.

"Lay on top of Easton until his next turn."

Xavier sighed and did as he was told. He awkwardly sprawled himself across Easton and struck a pose. We all laughed and he moved the game forward. "Adrian, truth or dare?"

"Truth," he answered firmly.

"How far have you gone?" A soft ooo-ing rose from the quiet in the room. We all knew the game had just switched from friendly to intimate.

"What do you think?" he asked Xavier with a dirty grin.

"3rd, maybe?" Adrian was not exactly a clean minded guy. Also, he had had several short-term girlfriends in the last few years, which was a bit suspicious.

He smiled and shook his head. "Barely 2nd." Xavier rose an eyebrow and gave Adrian a small smirk. Adrian shook the question off and turned to my best friend.

"Aria, truth or dare?"