"My crush..?" Connie stammered.

"Yes," Sasha replied, hoping her intentions to figure out who her competition is weren't obvious "If you're lucky she'll probably start going out with you."

Connie's heart stopped.

I can't tell her it's her! It'll ruin our friendship!

Connie started to realize that Sasha wasn't JUST his best friend, but she is also a girl. He even took off his shirt in front of her and didn't think too hard about it.

His decisions would decide the fate of his relationship.

"Ok..." He sighed, "But I gotta pee first."

Connie practically ran to the washroom and shut the door.

What am I gonna do!?His heart was pounding against his chest.

Suddenly, he had an idea. Connie pulled his phone out of his pocket and search through his contacts until he picked a name, then sent a text.

Krista

You: I need help!

Krista: What's wrong?

You: No time to explain, I'm going to call you pretending to confess my love.

You: I just need you to act surprised and reject me.

Krista: Sure :)

You: Thx Kris!

Connie slipped his phone back into his pocket and flushed the toilet before leaving so Sasha wouldn't be suspicious. She was sitting on the couch eating from the second bag of potato chips.

You're the one I actually love.

"So, do I have to call her?" Connie asked, plopping down into the spot next to his friend.

"Yeah." Sasha smiled, though it seemed strangely fake.

Connie got out his phone and dialed Krista's number. The small blonde girl answered on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey Krista, are you busy?"


Sasha's heart ached as her best called his crush.

Why am I so upset? I TOLD him to do this.

But it wasn't because she was curious.

"Ymir slept over last night so you'll have to make it quick," Krista replied to Connie, "She's a light sleeper."

Sasha watched Connie take a deep breath, "I... I love you, Krista."

There was silence.

"Sorry but I have feelings for someone el-"

"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TRYING TO TOUCH MY KRISTA YOU BALD DUMB ASS!"

"Ymir woke up, I gotta go." Krista said before hanging up.

The was more silence.

"I'm... sorry I made you do that." Sasha gently touched Connie's arm.

"It's no big deal," Connie said, trying to reassure her. "It wasn't that big of a crush anyways."

"So... you don't like anyone?"

"I'm not sure."

Sasha suddenly felt better, "Anyways, it's your turn."

Connie sat on the sofa, "I dare you to not eat for 1 hour."

"Only an hour? Whatever."

He laughed, "Let's wait a couple minutes and see how you feel then."

Sadly, Connie was right. When the hour had finally passed, Sasha was starving and devoured what was left of the potato chips.

That's when Sasha's phone rang.

"Hello?" Sasha answered without checking the caller ID.

"Hey Braus."

It's Jean!

"Oh... hey about earlier."

"Don't sweat it," Sasha was surprised, and a little scared, to hear Jean sounding cheery "I'm calling for a different reason."

Sasha sighed with relief, "What's up?"

"Marco's older sis invited us to stay with her at this beach house down in Cali for the rest of the week and the week after. You and Baldie want in?"

Sasha looked at Connie who was looking back at her with a questioning look.

"I'll ask." Sasha moved the phone away from her face.

"Wanna go to Cali?"

Connie jumped up, "Hell yeah! Lemme go pack."

He dashed up the stairs, he must really be an idiot if he didn't even think too hard about it.

"Connie's game. I'll have to call my Mom first but she'll let me go."

"Sweet!"

Sasha suddenly remembered, "Oh, me and Baldie are having a dare contest so were gonna have to continue it in California."

"Sounds fun," Jean replied, "Just come to my house around 9 and we'll drive over."

"Kay!"

She hung up and let out a squeal of excitement.


Connie carried his and Sasha's bags onto Jean's front lawn. The morning sun gave the scenery a serene look.

"Hey Horse-face!" Sasha pounded on Jean's front door, "Open up."

Instead of Jean, a certain freckled boy opened the door.

"Hi guys," Marco smiled as he stepped outside, "Were going to have SO much fun."

Alike Connie, Jean had moved out of his parent's house when we graduated and shared a small house with Marco. Sasha lived with her Mom but she was away on business trips a lot so she had the house to herself most of the time.

"Jean, don't forget to bring a few cases of beer." Connie called into the house, "It's spring break after all."

Jean came out of the house multiple times to pack up his car with our bags (and the beer Connie mentioned).

When he was done, we all piled into the car with Jean driving and Connie next to him while Sasha and Marco sat in back.

"So what was it you said to Jean about being pregnant?"

They joked like that the whole car drive, though if Sasha hadn't demanded that they stop to buy food along the way they would have reached California by lunch.

Instead, they arrived at 2:50.

The beach was crowded with half naked teens and sun tanning adults as far as the eye could see. There were multiply beach houses as well but the one the group would be staying at was much more luxurious. Outside, a girl was laying in the sun.

"Trying to get more freckles?" Marco asked jokingly, though he's such a sweet guy that it barely sounds like a joke.

The girl smiled, then got up "Good to see you Bro."

Marco's sister hugged him and Sasha could see the similarity already. They both have black hair and dark eyes with a thousand freckles all over their faces.

She looked like if Marco were a girl.

She turned to us, "It's so nice to meet you all. I'm Zoe."

Zoe looked us over, then stopped at Jean.

"You must be the one who turned my little bro gay."

"I didn't-" Jean's face turned bright red.

"Don't look so embarrassed, I think it's cute Marco found love." Zoe giggled, her sundress swished in the light wind. "How about I make us something to eat and then you all can unpack."

"Yes please!" Sasha replied a little too intently, following Marco's sister into the beach house.

10 minutes later, everyone was given a plate of fish and mashed potatoes.

"This is so good!" Sasha praised Zoe.

"I'm glad you like it," Her smile was just like her brothers, "Because there's leftovers for whenever you feel hungry again. Marco told me about your stomach."

Sasha hugged her, "Are you a goddess?"

After lunch, the group decided to get changed and go swimming in the ocean.

"We'll be right there!" Jean called to Marco who was following after an energetic Connie.

Sasha pulled at her swimsuit, a white bikini, and looked up at Jean "Something wrong?"

"Are you in love with Connie?" Jean asked, his tone showed he wasn't joking.

"What?"

Jean stared at her, "You know what I mean."

Sasha thought for a second then sighed.

"I don't know. I just feel that it'd ruin our friendship if I told him how I feel." She watched Connie splashing water at Marco.

"I told Marco how I felt and look at us." He smiled, "I couldn't be more happy.

"You never really explained that." Sasha pointed out. "And what happened after I called you?"

He sighed, "Marco... he felt bad and said he had been waiting..."

Jean looked at his feet then back at Sasha.

"Marco proposed."

Sasha gasped, "No way!" Then she looked at Jean's hand and noticed a silver ring with a small diamond on his ring finger. "How long have you two been dating?"

"Around a year and a half now." Jean replied.

"You two started dating back in grade 12!? And how come we've only found out now!?"

Jean looked over at Marco, who was smiling as Connie joked around in the water "I didn't want Marco to be bullied any more than he was before."

I remember Marco mentioning back at his middle school some jerk bullied him but Marco never let it get to him so eventually he just stopped.

"That's sweet." Sasha trailed off.

"What was it you said earlier about a competition?" Jean changed the topic, "It sounds like fun."

"It's to see who's more hardcore."

Jean smirked, it was his smirk that made him look like a horse boy "What if I could give you and Connie a chance to start a relationship."