"He did what?"

"He kissed my cheek."

"You're kidding."

"Nope."

Samantha leaned back in her seat with a huff. "Wow he sure moves fast."

"Oh come on, you guys weren't even really dating for real."

"So? He could at least pretend to be hung up over it."

"You guys 'broke up' weeks ago!"

"Still…"

"Do you like him for real?"

"No! …maybe."

"Oh my god!"

"You can't tell anyone!"

"Who would I tell?"

"Well do you like him?"

"Kind of… yeah."

The two friends looked at each other in distress. They couldn't like the same guy! Samantha pursed her lips in thought as Jae tapped her fingers on the tabletop. What were they going to do? Then Samantha suddenly leaned forward.

"You can have him."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I said, you can have him. I have already dated him, and let me tell you, I'm looking for something else in my men."

Jae scoffed at that. "You literally just said you liked him!"

"Yeah, whatever. I'm interested in seeing other cute guys. I'm single and ready to mingle, my friend."

"You little liar."

"Why are you arguing with me?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you, Samantha."

"You won't! I just want you to be happy, and for Seth to be happy, and if you're happy together, then that is doubly fine with me."

"I'm not going to date Seth."

"What? Why?"

"We're fifteen. I don't want to date anyone right now. I need to focus on school."

"Ew, school. Boring."

"I'm not doing great, Samantha, and I need to do better. I need to focus on school."

"Ugh, fine, whatever, but I'm not dating him again."

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

"I don't."

"Okay."

"Really."

"I believe you."

"I'm being serious here!"

"Well then stop trying to convince yourself!"

Samantha frowned, knowing Jae was right. She did want to date Seth again. But she knew Jae liked Seth, and she was pretty sure Seth liked Jae. Where did she fit into the equation?


"Jamie and Sarina are totally about to break up," Quil whispered to Jae when he came up to her after she exited the grocery store.

"Dude, what the hell? What are you doing here? How did you know I'd be here?"

"Details, details. What's important now is that Sarina and Jamie are going to split."

"Why is that important?"

"Because then Embry and Jamie can get together."

"I thought Embry was still not over the whole abandoning thing."

"Psh, you can't fight true love, Jae."

"How is that true love if Embry can't bring himself to trust Jamie?"

"You just wouldn't understand."

"I'm starting to think you don't understand either."

He shrugged and took some of the bags from her arms, relieving her of a lot of bothersome weight she was sure she couldn't carry all by herself. Despite his tendency to gossip too much, she was grateful when he seemed to pop up out of nowhere to help her with heavy groceries.

"You still sleeping over at the Clearwater residence?"

"Yep. Jaehwa and Minah come back later this week."

"Oh, that's fun! You and Leah have any pillow fights yet?"

"Dude!"

"You and Seth?"

"That's it!"

"Hey! Watch the ankles! I need those! Ow, wait, I need those more!"


Jae pursed her lips at Paul who, for some odd reason, decided to hang out with her at Seth's house. He was reclined on the couch watching some show as he stuffed his face with the bag of Doritos she bought with her own hard earned money, and it was all because Minah wasn't there to keep him company. They were coming back that day, so she didn't understand why he was so depressed. Shouldn't he be excited? For some odd reason he actually enjoyed being Minah's babysitter. It honestly astounded Jae, but who was she to judge? It meant she didn't have to do it.

"When does their flight get in again?" he asked for what seemed like the thousandth time that hour.

"Oh my god, Paul, if you're that desperate, you go pick them up!"

"Wait, really?"

"Ugh!"

She slammed a pillow over her face and screamed into it as she fell back on the couch, kicking her feet in the air in frustration. She let out a shriek when she suddenly felt someone tickling them.

"Seth! Stop it!"

"How'd you know it was me?" he asked with a pout.

"You're the only one who tickles my feet because you're the only one with a serious death wish."

"Hm, yeah, that's why."

"Did you need anything?"

"Yeah, actually."

He leapt over the back of the couch and tugged her on top of him as he settled into the cushions. She, not being very amused, just gave him a stern look.

"Really? Can I not lay down in peace?"

"Hm… nope."

"You guys are disgusting," Paul muttered before bringing another Dorito to his mouth. "Hey, you guys want some Cheetos?"

"Those are mine you cannot just offer them to people!" Jae shouted with an accusatory pointing of her finger.

"You are one of those people!"

"It's the principle of the matter!"

"Yeah, pass 'em over," Seth said, shrugging when he saw the look Jae was giving him. "What? I don't have any Cheeto principles."

"Unbelievable."

"So, when is their plane getting in?"

"Unbelievable!"


Minah tugged at her mother's sleeve excitedly when she saw Paul towering over the crowds of people at the entrance to the airport. Jaehwa bent down to pick up her daughter, smiling brightly at the young man who came to pick them up. He'd been a huge help when it came to Minah, the house, and even now with transportation. Jae had texted earlier saying Paul would be picking them up since she had work that day and wouldn't be able to drive up to Seattle on time.

"So where is Jaeyeon now?" Jaehwa asked as they started loading all the bags into the car. "Has she been staying at the house all alone?"

"Actually, no. She's been staying with Sue, and I believe she's at Emily's right now."

"Can we go to Emily's?" Minah asked her mom hopefully.

"Well of course! We have our surprise for Jaeyeon after all!"