Evangeline Lawrence has a secret. A big secret. One involving her birthday, the player, August Griffin, who's (almost) like a brother to her, and a kiss the night before he ran away. No one else knows about it, aside from August, of course, and Evan...
As I pull into the concrete driveway, I see something that I wasn't expecting. Nathan's car. Which August drove.
How on Earth did he get here before I did?
Oh crap, I stopped at the hotel my parents and I are staying at to get new cloths and take a shower. And he isn't following me if he's in the lead. Damn it! I guess he took what I said to literally. I meant 'don't let me see you again for the next couple of days,' not 'don't follow me. Instead, let me follow you!'
I push open the screen door and step inside, ready to do some hardcore yelling. Instead, I find my parents, Nathan, August, and a very nervous looking Ben sitting in the kitchen.
"Angie, why don't you sit down. Ben has someone he'd like to introduce to us." My father stands up and gives me his chair.
"Okay," Ben takes a deep breath. "I can do this " he mutters.
"I, um, wanted you guys to meet, um, someone special."
August grins at Ben and elbows Nathan. It seems like they've fallen right back into place and Ben has joined them.
"Who is it, Ben?" my mother asks.
"Umm, it's my, well, we've been dating for about a month so, um, this is my boyfriend, Mark. Mark, you can come out now."
"I've been saying that to you for along time," says a very familiar voice. The owner of it steps through the back door and my blood freezes. How small is this world?
Pov. Nathan
Wait. What? Boyfriend? He said he's straight. I guess he was lying.
I mean, I'm cool with it and all but...wow.
I turn to see how August is reacting. He may not have know Ben for as long as I have but the two are pretty close for people who've known each other only a couple days. However, he's not looking at Ben. Or Mark.
He's looking at my sister. My sister who has moved behind my parents and who is trying to make herself as small as possible.
Mark, that name sounds too familiar...
Pov. August
"Well, it's...nice to see you again, Mark." I don't miss the slight anger in Mom's voice. Her mom. My mom? Wait, anger?
What is going on here? Mom, her mom, whatever. She's the most excepting person I know. She can't be mad at Ben for being gay, can she?
And what did she mean, "again"? She's never met Mark. Unless...
Pov. Ben
I wait, gauging their reactions.
Nathan looks a bit shocked, but I've seen him like that before. He should get over it pretty quick. August looks...nothing. He's looking at Angie and he's perplexed, it's not hard to tell. Nathan already gave me a rundown of their history so I can see why he might be looking at her, but I still don't get it. He's my friend and I just came out to him. Shouldn't he be looking at me?
Nathan's parents are...pissed? His mother's jaw is locked tight and his father looks like he's going to kill someone. But not me. Mark.
"Well, it's...nice to see you again, Mark." Again? What?
I look for the last person who's reaction I didn't see yet and I find fear. So, so, so much fear.
Based on their reactions, I don't think they care that I'm gay. I just think they care about who I'm dating. And they care a lot.
Pov. Evangeline
I don't want to be rude to Ben and undermine his big announcement so I swallow the lump in my throat and say, "So...does this mean you're gay, or are you bi?"
"Um, I guess I never really thought that through. Bi, maybe?"
I grin a bit and reply, "Think you better know it yourself before you tell me."
"You might be right there."
At that moment, my heart breaks for Ben. He's so sweet and I, if I could, I would just let him be happy. But I have to get him away from this guy and I obviously can't say, "This guy's really bad news. Get your ass away from him!"
I really don't want to be anywhere near Mark, but now that he's here, I'm thinking he'll stay for dinner. And dinner could be in two hours or in five. I don't know.
All I know is I can't have Mark here.
Pov. August
"Angie. Is that you?" The man, Mark, I guess, is smirking down at Ann. From looking at him, I'd say he's about 6 feet tall, 19 or 20 years old, and a complete jackass. His black hair is gelled up in a wave and his pale skin looks sickly in this lighting. He could be Bram Stoker's inspiration for Dracula. In fact, I bet he was.
"Small world, huh," Ann responds, sinking farther back behind her parents. There is no way she thinks this is a coincidence. I don't, and I don't even know this man.
Wait. Small world. The party Ann almost told me about. The man she accidentally mentioned. M-
Pov. Evangeline
I can practically here the click when August puts two and two together. If only I hadn't screwed up this much.At least he doesn't know everything. Then again, there's only one person in this world who does, and that's the guy I hate the most. The guy who, at this very moment, is stepping closer to me.
I step back and my parents guard me.
"Ben? Can you help me get something outside?" I ask without lifting my eyes of my ex.
"I'll come with you," Mark says.
"No, no, no, you stay. You, um, haven't met everyone yet!" I stutter. "Ben, come on."
"Wait, I-" I grab Ben's arm and haul him outside.
"What the fu-"
"Ben, you have to listen to me." I interrupt. "This is important. Promise me you won't say a word of this to Mark"
"Angie..."
"Just don't, okay? Please?" I hesitate for a moment then add, "And don't tell August either."
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