"W-what?" Maddie says, with a look of pure shock on her face.

I feel as though my lungs are going to collapse. Marina. He likes Marina. I stare at the table. Blood is in my ears and most noise has fuzzed out. Marina. My mind is in overdrive. Of course he likes Marina. What guy, that's not in a relationship, doesn't like Marina.

Jack and Maddie look at each other. Jack only looks confused but Maddie looks a cross between horrified, disgusted and furious.

Finn's cheeks tint pink and he looks down at his coffee cup. He shrugs, "Yeah. She'd never go out with me anyway, she's too popular."

I clear my throat, everyone looks towards me. "She likes you. Trust me."

"Really? How do you know?" Finn asks, intrigued and excited.

Maddie looks back at me, shaking her head slightly, remembering what happened at the start of the week. I ignore her.

"She told me." I put on a big fake smile. I've gotten good at these. Finn smiles back. Good,I think, he can't see through me. Maddie, on the other hand, is a different story. She looks so disappointed in me that I almost feel guilty.

"I didn't know you guys were friends," says Finn.

"We're not friends... exactly..." I mutter. I don't look at her, but I know Maddie is trying to refrain from rolling her eyes.

"So… should I ask her out or should I wait a little bit?" he asks Jack.

Jack, still a little confused by his answer just stares at him. Maddie has to nudge his knee to get him to stop staring. "Uh- uh… I don't know, dude."

"She'll say yes, either way," I tell him.

"Rye, I'm so so sorry."

"For what?" I laugh.

Maddie and I are sitting on my roof, looking over the Math homework from the week. We got back from the Café and came straight up here.

"If we had known that was his answer, Jack and I would never have pestered him to find out who he liked. I was so sure it was you! The hell were you thinking saying that stuff to him though?!"

I smile and shrug. "I don't know. I just thought that I want him to be happy, even if it is with the most manipulative evil soul sucking cow in the school. It's no big deal. It just means I don't have to waste my time on developing some stupid crush on a guy that was never going to like me back anyway."

She looks at me sadly. "You really like him, don't you?"

I shrug again. I've never really thought about it. Of course, I've always had feelings for Finn, but those were just feelings for a lost friend. I guess the hand holding and closer friendship had triggered something in me. But how did everyone else see it and not me?

"That obvious, huh?" She laughs, as if it was the most obvious thing. "I don't know. I guess… he's everything I thought he would be? It's uh… hard to explain. In reality we've known each other properly for a week but the history makes it feel as though he never left."

"I get it," she says, sighing. "I was SO SURE THOUGH! I mean, the way he looked at you was not just a friend way, and you guys were always holding hands and stuff. I just don't see how he can like that bimbo!"

I shrug a third time. "At least this means I can get over him."

"Get over who?"

I freeze. My eyes widen and Maddie covers her mouth. Turning, I see Finn, just climbing out onto his roof, with a lazy grin.

"Finn! Haha… how much of that conversation did you hear?" I ask awkwardly.

"Just the last bit. Get over who, Riley?"

"That's eavesdropping and it's very rude." When he looks at me with a 'are you serious' face I just wave him off. "Oh! It's no one. Not important."

He frowns. "No, come on, that's not fair. I told you who I like," He complains. He pouts like a child and all my brain is thinking is about how cute he looks. No, I scold myself, don't think that.

"Honestly, Finn, it's no one, it really doesn't matter," I tell him, hoping he'll drop it. He folds his arms, now looking a little annoyed. His muscles flex under his t-shirt and- SHUT UP!

"Rye, tell me who you were talking about. This isn't fair."

I start to panic, thinking of excuses when Maddie bursts out, "LEO! IT'S LEO! SHE LIKES LEO!"

I whip around and look at her, completely shocked and confused.

"What?!" I whisper harshly.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know what to do!" she whispers back.

"Um how about… not say anything?!"

"Who's Leo?" Finn asks.

Shit, I forgot he was still here. I open my mouth to talk but Maddie beats me too it again. "It's this guy. This guy that- that works in her Dad's bakery. He's tall with dark hair and kinda broody and is kinda popular. He goes to our school."

"WOULD YOU SHUT UP?!" I whisper again. She looks at me guiltily and pulls a face.

"Oh, yeah, I think I know him," says Finn. "Why do you want to get over him, Riley?"

I swallow thickly and decide to just twist my story slightly.

"See, we've known each other for a long time and I don't think he sees me as anything more than a friend. Plus he likes someone else anyway." Putting on another fake smile, I shrug as if it's no big deal.

"Well, he must be insane for liking someone else."

"Yeah," I mutter. "He must be."

After Finn bids us goodbye and climbs back into his room and turn to Maddie.

She chuckles nervously. "You know, if looks could kill I'd probably be dead right now," she points out. I glare at her. "I'm sorry! You were panicking and I panicked too!" I sigh and drop my head to my lap before muffling a scream. Maddie rubs my back sympathetically.

"Next time you're with Jack I'm going to humiliate the hell out of you."

"Rye! No! Please don't!" she begs, sheer terror on her face.

I smirk. "Watch your back, Hawthorne."

We try and complete the rest of the homework but I can't concentrate. I think I'm going to be sick. All my mind is thinking is great, now I have to pretend I like someone that I don't like to stop the person I actually like from finding out that I like them. Being a teenage girl just got complicated.

Bonsoir mon amis:)

((I'm not even taking french any more okay))

I hope this can suffice. I know the chapter is short and is kind of a filler but it does link with the rest of the story. BUT I have two exams coming up in the next two weeks for updates may not be for a while as I shall be hidden behind stacks of revision (aka crying on tumblr about how badly I'm going to fail my gcses)

Review, I LOVE YOU ALL