James and Lily faced each other. Her face was stony and her eyes were cold, not willing to apologize.

"I already said I was sorry," James started coldly, surprised at why his voice sounded like that. "What else do you want me to do?"

"Oh, right," she scoffed bitterly. "Like saying sorry fixes everything."

"Guys?" Marissa interrupted, her eyes wide. "Now isn't the time…"

"Don't come in between," snapped Lily harshly.

"Oh," laughed James. "Now you're turning on your own friends. Like your opinion matters, but hers doesn't? You can say what you want, but she has no right to say her opinion?"

"I never said…"

"Yes, you just did. You told her not to interrupt. I value opinions, and I value my friends. I happen to understand that people make mistakes."

"Hah." She snorted. "You value opinions? You value your friends? There are many times for jokes, James. Now isn't one of them."

He raised an eyebrow coolly. "What about you, huh? As far as I can see, your whole life has been a joke."

She blinked, slightly staggering backwards. "Yeah. Since the moment I met you. You were the one making a joke out of me."

His anger faltered for a moment, seeing the state he'd weakened her too. Another stab of guilt flashed through him. Before he could say anything else, before he let his guard down, he fixed his cold, piercing gaze on Lily.

"I said I was sorry. I know I was wrong. I don't know what else I could've done, and if you can't see that… I don't care."

He turned swiftly and marched away, out of the lobby and onto the lawn behind the apartment. A perfect place to play soccer. There was already a soccer ball there, so he kinda stole it and started dribbling it.

He felt horrible.

Who gave him that right to be so mean to her? How harsh had he just been on her? He was the one who'd fooled her. It wasn't some tiny school prank, either… it was huge.

And he was the one snapping at her?

Not five minutes had passed when she reached him again. There was no anger or annoyance in her eyes.

"James," she started. "I'm sorry. I know I… Well… I was just angry at you about the whole thing. I know you'd apologized, but…"

He started to laugh.

"W... What's so funny?" she asked softly, fear in her eyes, like he'd flip out on her again.

"I'm the one who fooled you, the one who pranked you, the one who ridiculed you in front of everyone, the one who was insanely harsh on you a few minutes ago… and you're apologizing?"

"It's my fault too-"

"Shh," he interrupted her. "Don't you dare finish that sentence."

"But you legit just said…"

He shook his head. "I was wrong. And how harsh I was a few moments ago… I'm really sorry. I don't know how to explain. I've been ruining everything. I know I should've told you the moment I met you that I was… who I was. A celebrity. But I didn't, and I truly am sorry about that. I'll never be able to make it up to you. Can we please, please, still be friends?" he whispered. "I've never wanted anything more."

She looked at him, and then she asked, "Why did you lie?"

He gulped. The question that had to be asked. The question he didn't know how to answer.

"At first," he admitted, "it was just a prank. I found entertainment in your obliviousness." The hurt in her eyes was enough to kill him. He wanted to reach out and to wrap her in a big hug. "But then… then, that day, you came to my place, and I actually liked you. I wanted you to like me for who I was, not go crazy about me because I was a celebrity. I needed to be reminded that I'm a normal person. Being with you just kind of lifted those worries from me."

"So you… you were planning to hide it from me forever?" she whispered.

"I had to tell you at some point. I was going to tell you, really. I just… it just…" He faltered. "I can't even make excuses at this point, Lily. But that day was really stressful for me. I'd been having a terrible day, and I… the…" He sighed. "I'm sorry."

She stared at him for a moment, and he thought that she wouldn't reply. Then she gave him a small smile and he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around his back, and her face was buried in his neck. He could smell her scent, her perfume, everything about her.

Then, they broke apart, leaving James slightly disappointed that it was over all too soon.

It's just a hug, you idiot.

"I take that as a 'we're-friends' gesture?" James asked, trying hard not to grin.

She laughed and swatted his arm. "You're still so annoying. I thought you would've changed."

"Ah, I never change."

She grinned. "But yeah, we are friends now." Then she paused. "So are you the world's best midfielder?"

He tilted his head to the side. "Have you been looking me up? And you say you have no interest in me?"

"I don't, you egotistical monkey."

"Nice insult," he murmured.

"You…"

He laughed, taking hold of her arms and lowering them back by her side. "I'm just joking with you. I am the world's best midfielder. At least, I like to think so."

"Well, aren't we confident."

"I have to be confident," he replied with a grin, stretching his arms up. "I am the coolest soccer player to walk this planet, anyway."

She rolled her eyes.

"Do you work out, by the way?"

"Sometimes?" she responded. "Not regularly, though."

He nodded. "Nice. I workout everyday."

"Shocker."

He laughed. "You think I get these muscles with good fortune? I work out, I train, I practice, and I keep a healthy diet…" He made a face. "I haven't had cookies in about five months."

"You had ice cream the other day," she noted.

"Yeah, that was one of the only times. Usually, when the soccer season comes up, I quit all my junk food. Then the season ends, and I feast up on food. Then the season starts over again."

"Oh, nice," she mused. "I don't know anything about soccer, to be honest. I mean, I know that there are goalies and that your aim is to kick the ball in the goal, but like…"

He snorted. "Soccer is a lot more than that."

"I could tell. Is your season now, or…"

"There are different tournaments that happen," he explained. "So, for instance, there can be world tours, or a series, or a world cup. So like, FIFA is happening next June, and… um, selection is… going on for that." Lie. Well, it was partially the truth. The list hadn't totally been finalized yet. "But like, earlier this year, I'd been on a tour to the United Kingdom. So, like, different tournaments happen at different times. But the normal season is from like, February to October." He looked at her. "You don't care about a thing I just said, do you."

"No," she argued. "Of course I do."

He laughed. "It's okay for you not to like soccer, you know."

"Coming from the soccer king himself."

He let out a laugh.

"I don't not like soccer. I just don't really understand it."

"Or care for it."

"Stop yanking this out of context!"

He laughed. "I don't care if you don't care, you know. You don't have to ask me about soccer things just 'cuz I play. Goodness knows I get asked enough."

"Okay, then." She smiled. "Um, can I ask you something?"

"Yep. Actually, wait, do you wanna go inside? We can't be out on the field all day. The media's going to click our pictures and cook up some random story."

Lily snorted. "Yeah, that'd be terrible."

He led her inside the building and into a little lounge. "Okay, so, what was your question?"

She settled down on the couch next to him, her legs inches away from his. "So, you probably have… a lot of money, right?"

"Mhm."

"Then why are you living in an apartment? Like, yes, it's big, but don't most celebs have a big mansion or something?"

He grinned. "I do have a mansion, actually."

"Really? Then why are you in here?"

"My mansion's getting some construction fixes and renovation thingies going on, so I'm temporarily living here. Once the mansion gets ready, I won't be here anymore."

She blinked. "Which means you'll move out?"

He looked over at her, grinning. "Why, you're gonna miss me?"

"Ugh! It's impossible talking to you!"

He laughed and poked her shoulder. "I know, I know. It's my strength."

"You're so annoying."

"You've said."

"Ergh! I've forgiven you, but I can easily un-forgive you, you know."

He snorted, holding out his arms. "Likely story. C'mere."

She rolled her eyes but obliged, sinking into his warm hug. He rubbed his arms along her back, inhaling her sweet scent again. Why did she make him feel like this? What was happening? Did he… Was it possible he…

"Ahem."

The two of them jerked apart. Lily scrambled over to the other side of the couch and James leaned away from her as they turned to see who it was. It was Charlie, James's friend.

"Hey, dude," greeted James. "You almost gave me a heart attack."

He stared at James blankly, then turned to Lily. "So you… and him…"

"No," denied Lily quickly. "I'm not with him."

"I thought you two were having a fight!"

"It got resolved, buddy," James replied, frowning at him. "What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"

Charlie's eyes widened as he turned to Lily. "You haven't told him? Are you sure you two aren't together?"

"Told me what?" James's eyes narrowed as he looked back and forth from Lily to Charlie. "What's going on?"

"For god's sake," muttered Lily. "The two of us just patched up literally a few minutes ago. That's not the first thing I would tell someone I'd just resolved a major fight with! And hugs, Charlie, are perfectly friendly."

James blinked at the word, and then it slowly sunk in. "Oh. You two are together?"

"Yeah, we are." Charlie looked at James. "We had our first date this morning, actually."

James's eyes widened, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach. He suddenly felt kind of sick. Charlie was with Lily. Lily was with Charlie. They had a date. The two of them were going out.

Why are you feeling this way? You don't like Lily. Charlie does. It's okay.

James scowled at his inner voice. Stupid thing.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. I had no clue."

Charlie smiled. "It's all cool."

James got off the couch and looked at Lily. "Sorry, Lily. I didn't know."

"You don't need to apologize," she told him, giving him a sideways smile. "You haven't done anything. Nobody's done anything, actually."

James tried to smile at her as she got up and stood by Charlie. He felt sick that Lily was dating Charlie, that the two of them were going out.

Though he had no clue why.

"Why'd you come here, though, Charlie?" Lily asked, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Oh, uh, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Sure," she replied. "Go ahead."

He looked over at James pointedly.

"Oh, okay, got it. See ya." James clapped Charlie on the back and left the room, managing to make it into his room before collapsing on his bed.

What the heck?

Dandy wasn't in there, which was surprising. He hadn't been there the other day, either, when James had come back from the soccer field. He needed to check in on him, make sure his buddy was okay.

Then his thoughts flew back to Charlie and Lily.

Why did he feel so angry about it? So mad? It was none of his business if Lily liked Charlie.

Why wasn't he happy for his friend?

He groaned, grabbing a pillow and burying his face in it. Why was everything so confusing? Why did nothing make sense? How come he didn't understand anything?

"James-ie boy?"

"Who the heck-" James whirled around. It was Dandy, holding a big strawberry pineapple shortcake. "Hi, Dandy."

"Why do you look like you're about to murder me?"

"You literally just called me James-ie boy."

He snorted, sinking down on the bed and holding out the cake. "Want some?"

James eyed it carefully.

"Oh come on, you're not on a diet, are you?"

James glowered at him. "Way to remind me."

"Hey! I didn't mean it that way!"

James picked out a little piece of the cake and chewed on it. "Wow. That's good."

"Isn't it? It's from the new bakery on the corner. The one that opened up last week."

"That's where you were just now?"

"Mhm."

"Where have you been?"

"The bakery. I just said so."

James rolled his eyes. "No, like, recently. You haven't been around recently."

"I haven't? Oh, right. I dunno. I wanted to give you some space. You know, the soccer team, and Lily blowing up on you and all of that," he explained. "So I've just been out."

"Sampling bakeries."

Dandy grinned. "Yep, that. So wha-"

He was interrupted by a knock on the door. Dandy quickly put the plate of cake down and licked frosting off his finger before going to open the door.

It was Marilyn Hawkins. She was an actress and model, and she was one of James's close friends. She had blonde hair that she'd let loose, and her eyes were a startling shade of light blue. She was wearing a sleeveless pink dress.

"Hey!" greeted James, standing up in a swift motion.

She smiled at him. "Hey to you too."

"What brings you here?" he asked, smiling at her.

"I haven't seen you in a long time," she replied, "and I was on my way back from set, and I passed your new apartment, and I just wanted to visit."

"I'm glad you did," he told her. The two of them had been friends for practically as long as he could remember, and they had a pretty close bond. "It's been ages."

"I know, right?" She laughed, turning to Dandy. "Oh, hey, Dandy."

"Hiya!"

"Did you hear Justin's latest single?" she asked him conversationally. She knew all about his obsession with songs.

"I did! It was awesome!"

James rolled his eyes. "Do you know what you just sparked, Marilyn? Now Dandy's gonna go all psycho…"

They all laughed, and Dandy picked up the plate of cake and handed it out to her. "Care for cake? Hey, that rhymed!"

"It did not," James retorted.

Just then, the door opened wide (James shot a dirty look at Dandy for not having locked it).

"Hey James? Sorry abo-"

It was Lily. She faltered after noticing that there were other people in the room. Her cheeks turned red and her gaze dropped on Marilyn, something changing in her expression.

"Oh, sorry. Is now a bad time?"

"No, of course not." James looked over at Marilyn. "Would you excuse me for a few moments?"

"Of course!"

James waved and left the room, turning to Lily. "Yeah? You were saying?"

Lily looked over at the door, and then back at him, the unreadable expression on her face.

"Are you okay?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

"I…" She glanced back at the door, then back again. "Never mind. I'm sorry for kicking you out."

"You didn't kick me out," he reminded her. "Charlie did."

"Same thing. I'm sorry you got kicked out. He's gone now. I told him to leave." She smiled at him hesitantly, but something was different in her expression. He wondered what was wrong.

"It's fine," he assured her, the nauseous feeling unfolding in his gut again. "So… the two of you are together?"

"I don't know," she said slowly. "We went on our first date this morning."

"First," James noted. "So there are more coming?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I don't really… think so."

"Do you want more?"

She shrugged again. "Nobody really asks me that. Marlene and Marissa are telling me to go for it, but they don't ask me what I want. Nobody asks me that." She picked at her sleeve, and James could sense that he'd made her uncomfortable.

"Look, I'm sorry."

She smiled up at him. "Nobody needs to be sorry. We're all cool. I think the two of us were more an experiment. I don't think I want to pursue anything with him."

"Oh. Okay," he replied.

She looked back at his door, and he looked over too, wondering why she kept looking there. Had something crazy been painted on his door?

"Are you having a party in there?"

He snorted. "Nah. She just popped over unexpectedly."

"Who's she?"

"Oh, right. Marilyn Hawkins. You don't know her?"

She blinked. "I've heard her name before. In a movie. And a magazine cover… oh, right. She's that model-actress dude."

"Yep, that's her."

"She's your… friend?"

"Yep."

"Wow. Lucky you." She tugged at the back of her ponytail. "Okay, then. I'll leave you all to it. Sorry for interrupting."

"You weren't interrupting anything," James assured her. "You sure you don't want to come in?"

She shook her head. "I'm cool. I'll see you around, then?"

"Yep, definitely." It had been a tense day, with arguments and jealousy and conflicts, but it had all been resolved. And James was glad about that. He'd gotten Lily back, which was truly the best thing that had happened to him in a long time.

"Bye," Lily told him, smiling, and she walked away, her dark red ponytail bouncing with every step.

awzies!

things are happening, flames are igniting, jealousy is burning, and...

yeah.

hope you guys enjoyed! leave your thoughts in the reviews. you people are the best! 3