Luckily we convinced Alex to let Jake take me to the movie, and we'd meet him there.

At first when I told him Jake was going, he immediately complained. Then I threw in the fact that Bella was going with him, as his 'date', and he just nodded and smiled.

I couldn't get the word 'date' out for some reason.

So here I am, sitting between Jake and Alex at the movies, watching the new Avatar movie. I didn't give a crap what we watched, because I didn't even want to go. I tried begging Jake to let me just not go. But he said that I had to, that he would feel more comfortable that I went. I don't know why the bloody hell he would feel more comfortable about me going to a movie with another guy after we about ignored each other for half of the day over another guy shoving his hands down my pants.

Yeah, Jake was just about as confusing as a prescription bottle.

Alex's hand was open and up, on the arm rest, just waiting for mine to slip right into his.

I stole a glance in Jake's direction.

And Bella was already holding his hand. Every finger threaded through each of his. My stomach lurched, in the bad way. Stupid hot spicy nachos. I abruptly stood up, feeling the nacho threatening to come up quickly. "What are you doing Laurel," Alex asked. I didn't even turn around, I was just trying to shuffle past Jake and Bella. "Bathroom."

"I'll go with," Bella announced.

Oh great.

When we got out of the theater, she whipped her hands on her jeans. "What's wrong, you don't look so good," she said pulling out her phone. I just trotted to the bathroom at a quicker pace. "I think I'm going to be sick. Stupid nachos."

"I'll just wait for you out here then!"

And I retched in the toilet, like hard core I'm wasted at the frat party kind of hard core.

It tasted horrible, but I didn't feel as sick any longer. I took large gulps from the sink to help get rid of the nasty taste. Mostly I hoped that Jake wouldn't laugh at me because it's something he'd do. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

I was about to walk out of the bathroom, and tell Bella I was ready to go; but across the hall from the bathroom door was her and Jake. I kind of stopped walking, I don't know why. They were talking... at least they were.

"You said that Laurel was sick," he asked cocking his head towards the bathroom, his hair slightly shaking with his head due to the shagginess of it. Bella nodded, putting her hands on his chest. "She's going to be a while..."

My foot moved, ready to break up the moment and show that I wasn't going to be a while.

But she kissed him.

Nothing too serious, just a small chaste kiss, and then she pulled away; but her arms were still around his neck.

And he pulled her waist to him, and kissed her back.

I fled from the bathroom, past the two making out and into the theater next to Alex. The moment I set down he turned to me, asking if I was alright. "Are you okay, did you really vomit like Jake said you did?" He placed a hand on mine. Not butterflies fluttered inside of me, and if anything I was more sick than I was when I saw Jake kissing Bella.

No one wants to see their friendship break in half over something as stupid as a kiss. This idiotic double date practically did it it's self, but no—that kiss just probably broke the horses back. Now Jake and Bella would be exclusive and crap, and there goes quality time with a brother.

I watched the two walk in behind Alex's head, hand in hand.

And I probably did one of the most stupidest things I had ever done. But I wasn't thinking, I was just trying to look busy, so I wouldn't have to look at them; and I kissed Alex.

He was all but eager to respond. Surprisingly I found it quite enjoyable. It was nice how he didn't shove his tongue down my throat like I thought he would, or try to touch my boob or something. He just left open mouth kisses on top of my own. Only then was when the butterflies started to flutter their wings in my stomach. A squeak emitted from my throat at the feeling. All thoughts erased from my mind, only letting my hands find purchase on his shoulders.

Sadly, he pulled away and smiled. That smile took my breath away. He didn't have perfect teeth, and they weren't super white or anything. Just the way he had a dimple on his left cheek, and how his eyes slightly crinkled at his efforts, made me smile in return. My toes curled, fingers itching to run through his hair.

"Thanks Laurel," he whispered, his hand slipping from behind my head. When did it get there? I blushed horribly probably. His hand that was holding my neck glided to my own hand, lacing the fingers together. Someone cleared their throat, and I looked up to find Bella pointing to the screen, just feet from us. We both glanced, finding that the movie ended and the credits were already rolling. I abruptly stood up, hand snatching from his own.

I was like a middle school girl all over again.

I hugged Alex goodbye and kissed his cheek, ready to run the last ten feet to Jake's truck where him and Bella were waiting for me. "I'll see you Monday Laurel," he kissed my cheek back.

"No way! You and Alex?"

Crystal almost sounded on the verge of tears. Of joy, or depression, I'll never know.

"Just a movie," I calmly said, pushing aside my uneaten apple during lunch Monday afternoon. Alex was in line with Drew getting food, and I was stuck with her and Stacey.

"Why aren't you outside talking to Jake too," Stacey asked, peering out the window at Jake and Bella, flirting at his truck. Yeah, he came over, skipping class, to see her. I shrugged, "If he wanted to talk to me, he'd come in and say hi."

All in all, Jake and I didn't talk after the movie, or the day after that, or Sunday. I was dying on the inside.

I was jerked out of my thoughts when Alex was blocking my line of vision; with fish. I smiled, grabbing it out of his hands and quickly devouring it. "Nice to see you to," he laughed, sitting next to me. I just nodded, eating more fish. I mean, it was nice seeing Alex. He called me Saturday and Sunday, making me almost forget about Jake and me not talking. Almost.

And I say almost because I couldn't take my eyes off that stupid picture of me and Jake camping just a week or so ago, and it being a constant reminder that we might change because of the people we were slowly getting involved with. When it comes down to it, we act differently in front of people we want to impress, and it's tiring, and one day we get so tired of it, we change and become it. That's why hanging out with him was so easy, because I didn't have to be anything I wasn't.

"So you two dating now," Drew smiled nodding to Alex. I was licking my fingers clean of fish juices at this question, unable to answer. Very becoming of a lady, I know. Alex looked towards me, a hopeful look in his eyes. "I don't really know. Want to go out again Friday," he asked, turning fully towards me. I shrugged, nodding in efforts to look less like an idiot with my fingers still in my mouth. He laughed, throwing an arm around my shoulders.

Just as everything started to feel normal, and I thought that life was going to be okay and the stress of loosing a best friend fled my system; Bella walked back through the door. Regretfully I stole a glance out the window. Jake was still here, starring inside through the window—at me.

"Jake wants to talk to you Laurel," she smiled.

Damn.

I got up, ruffling Alex's hair on the way out for extra measure to assure me that I'd be okay. He had other plans, because he grabbed my waist, pulling me down into a quick peck on the lips.

Not that I minded at all.

I jogged towards the door, ignoring the whoops and hollers of the lunch room. The smell of Autumn hit my nose with the chilly wind. I shivered, jogging over to Jake to quicken my pace.

I almost stopped jogging, so I could just walk up to him and think about what I was going to say. What I was going to ask and see what had changed. I didn't want him to say something bad, and I didn't want my worries to slip; but they were still there. We'd lasted almost ten years or something, we could last through something as stupid as this. Right?

I didn't stop jogging. I needed to face my fears of loosing a best friend, thee best friend, was on top of that list. Once I did this, I could do anything.

With a deep breath, I stopped in front of him, expecting the worst.

Offering a smile, I plopped myself on his tailgate. "What up Lieutenant Scabber?"

A look of seriousness was on his face, but it cracked the moment the words left my mouth. His smile was in place when he shook his head. That one smile that could tie, if not beat, Alex's one dimpled one any day. And just then, I knew we'd be okay. Boyfriend and girlfriend be damned, we'd still be friends.

So at the moment it's Friday night, and I'm at Alex's house on a date.

On his couch, making out.

So far, I've been highly enjoying myself.

Until my phone vibrated in my back pocket.

"Oh no! Butt vibrations," I giggled pushing Alex away slightly. His chest vibrated in a laugh under my hand, sending chills up my spine. None the less, I pulled out my phone. Message from Jacboob. "Jacboob," Alex laughed harder, pulling me to sit on his lap. I rested my head against his shoulder, trying to dissolve in the heat of his warm chest against my back.

My phone vibrated again.

2 Messages from Jacboob.

Damn.

From: Jacboob

To: Propel

Wat time u comin over?

Oh yeah, I forgot I was supposed to go over to Jake's after my date tonight. I checked the numbers at the top right corner of my phone screen. 10:23. I sighed, clicking over to the next message.

From: Jacboob

To: Propel

fish. house. mine. B her or im lockin the door n u out.

Fish? Making out with Alex?

Fish.

"You're going to his house after here," Alex asked, slightly sounding hurt.

"Yeah, you know. To do girly stuff. Like how I'm going to gush and tell him every detail about how we made out and then he'll paint my nails and we'll eat ice cream watching a sappy comedy romance."

I had to laugh, because that's what he actually do; and it totally makes Jake sound gay. But he promised me last night he'd paint my nails.

I wrote a quick message back.

From: Propel

To: Jacboob

Wait for me damnit! Alex is driving me over.

"Please," I whispered pressing a kiss to his lips. Alex laughed, tickling my sides. "I guess."

We hopped in his Dodge, and we were off. It wasn't a long drive, but I still put my hand in his, and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Laurel, we're here," Alex whispered pulling the car to a stop. I sighed, the long annoyed 'I don't wanna move' sigh that always escaped my mouth sarcastically when I was about to hang out with Jake. Alex laughed, pulling me into a hug. And just like that, it was like we were on his couch again.

"Are you spending the night here," he whispered into my exposed shoulder. Did he honestly think that I was going to cheat on him, and there was something going on between me and Jake? This wasn't the first time he had brought this up anyway. This was probably the fifth; today.

"No," I sighed, pushing away finally and starting to unbuckle my seat-belt, "Terry is picking me up after work at three-thirty. So don't worry, I'll try not to let Jake and me share the same bed naked." Yeah, I was so being an annoyed sarcastic bitch right now. Alex grabbed my chin, making me face him again. I thought he'd be pissed, but he was far from it.

His eyes were watery and just plain sad. I cleared my throat, putting my hand on his, "Really Alex, don't worry. Jake and I, were only friends. Just best friends, okay? The only times I ever spent the night, Billy made Jake sleep outside in the tent and I get his room, okay?"

A small smile graced his lips, and I knew I did the right thing. Maybe hopefully that is. "Okay. It's nice to be reminded though," he murmured before kissing me.

And my damn phone vibrated again. I groaned, flipping it open.

From: Jacboob

To: Propel

quit makin out n get ur ass in her fer fish. 20 sec b4 I loc the door

I laughed, kissing Alex again, "Got to go, or I'm locked out."

My hand was already pushing open the car door, and I was flying to the house one, banging on the door before I threw it open. "Where's my damn fish woman," I yelled, running to the kitchen. Jake was at the window, on the floor, trying to scramble and get up.

"What a peeping Tom," I laughed turning on the spot to find the fish. There on the stove, in the frying pan and sizzling freely, was my fish. Before I could grasp the fish, and shove it in my mouth, Jake was hugging me. "I swear, if I have to watch you two make out one more time," he growled almost, "I'm going to throw up."

I laughed, swatting his hands away from the fish out in front of us.

"Then don't watch!"

"Terry's not here to watch and clean the shot gun, I gotta."

I turned to look at him, and he couldn't hold the seriousness in his face. We both broke out laughing, only to stop when the fish fry started to sizzle on the stove. Diving for a fork, I speared one and blew air on it to cool it off.

Jake just grabbed it, and then howled in pain. Tossing it up in the air and catching it again. I laughed, "You idiot!"

Only after he ate the fish did he look at his blistered hands and moan about the pain.

"I can't paint your nails now! What a tragedy!"