Alright, here we go! The conclusion to the Kitty and Owen subplot. Hope you all enjoy it! :)

P.S. I make a reference to a certain Canadian Coffee chain in this chapter, so if you get the reference… Kudos to you! Haha.

(Owen's POV)

Oh no…

OH no…

AHHHH! WHY DO THINGS LIKE THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!

I nearly blew it and also almost killed both me and Kitty by driving off the road and into a field for no other reason than me panicking and freaking out over Kitty finding out that I have a crush on her.

And… yeah, right now really isn't helping either since she said 'we need to talk'.

So… WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!

But, luckily my truck didn't get stuck in the snow and we were able to drive back on the road and get off at the next exit when we saw there was a Jim Mortons.

I was SO glad Kitty saw it when we pulled over since I don't think it'll be possible for me to talk to her about anything right now unless I have a hot chocolate and a box of muffins or donuts to relieve my stress…. Or just for whenever!

But, yeah, definitely helps when I'm stressed.

After I texted my dad that we stopped for food (and to stall for time), we ordered and got our stuff.

Then Kitty and I went back to sitting in the truck and I really couldn't tell if it was a good or bad thing that we went back to the truck. All we kept doing was sitting there and I just started eating away at the donuts and muffins that I ordered (deciding to just get both since I couldn't choose).

The radio was going for a little bit until Kitty finally said, "Owen, I just want to start by saying that I'm not mad at you."

"About me driving off the road?" I asked, hoping that's what she was talking about at this point and not 'something else'. She immediately responded though as she said, "No, not that. I mean, yeah, that kinda freaked me out too! But, I know you didn't mean to do that. It's okay."

I nodded and smiled, feeling totally relieved… or was 'relieved' until she started up again, "Actually, it's about… something else. Again, I'm not mad and we're still friends here, okay? But… I just want you to be honest with me since I really don't think you have been 'telling me' everything lately. So, I want to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me, okay?"

Crap…

Okay, just stay calm. Maybe it's about something else?!

But, just to make sure, I ate another donut as I started, "Oh, sure, Kitty! What is it?"

Then she closed her eyes and let out a sigh, making my stomach tense up for a second, before looking me right in the eye as she asked straight out, "Owen… how do you feel about me? Honestly."

I could tell how much emphasis she just put on 'feel' and that made my heart stop and made me feel like I was gonna hurl.

No, no, no, no…

But, I tried to keep it cool as I covered it up with a laugh and waved off, "Haha! C'mon, Kitty! You just said we're 'friends', right?"

Then I saw her not even smiling or laughing back or anything.

She was completely serious.

All she did was keep looking at me and I could feel my face getting redder and redder as I slowly looked away and bit my lip.

It was like I was just hoping she'd just drop it right now if I wasn't looking at her anymore. But, then I felt my stomach clench when I heard, "Owen?"

I still didn't move and just blindly grabbed another donut from the box next to me and immediately started almost stress-eating it on instinct.

Then Kitty eventually flat out said, almost making me choke on the donut if she asked it even a second later, "Owen, do you 'like me'? Like more than 'just a friend'?"

Oh crap… SHE KNOWS?!

(Kitty's POV)

Owen was pretty much trying to keep his back to me and I had no idea what was even going on anymore.

I don't get it? This is SO not 'Owen'.

Everything's usually always been really easy between us whenever we hung out, but now?… yeah, no idea what is even happening anymore.

Considering now we're sitting in a Jim Mortons parking lot in a random town up north of us that I've never been to and just existing in awkward silence… it just feels wrong.

Well, I guess not 'wrong', but just definitely not 'us', you know?

Like, that's part of the reason why I always liked hanging out with Owen after we figured out we both lived close by after the race! Both of us are just always down for a good time and definitely always down for a good night out doing anything from hitting up a club, karaoke bar, or even just tobogganing.

We just always have good and totally easy fun together!

So, the fact that Owen's being all awkward around me and doesn't even want to look at me right now?

Yeah, it's kinda both freaking me out and also really concerning for me right now.

He still wasn't looking at me, even though now it looked like he was trying to reach behind himself for another donut or muffin in the box just to not look at me right now. I could feel myself getting even more frustrated as he kept feeling around on the seat to grab another donut just to avoid looking at me.

Eventually, I just got a grip and decided to just go for it (at least just to get his attention to acknowledge my existence) as I grabbed his hand a little, "Owen, just tell me. Do you have a crush on me? Yes… or no?"

Wow, I really felt like I was being almost as bluntly straightforward as Emma right now.

But, I was frustrated. All I'm asking for is an honest answer and he's not even giving me that!

Eventually, after watching his whole body tense up after I grabbed his hand, he slowly turned around a little (although still not looking right at me) as he said a long drawn out and unsure, "Uhhhhhh…. Nooooo…"

I think he could tell I wasn't buying it as I quirked up an eye when he finally looked at me for the first time in what felt like a thousand years at this point.

Then he bit his lip and looked up and rubbed the back of his neck nervously before elaborating, "Eh… Maybe?"

Okay, getting warmer.

Finally, I took my hand off of his and crossed my arms as I kept giving him a look before pressing, really feeling like I was channeling my sister at this point, "Owen?"

It was dead silent except for the car radio for almost a full minute until finally Owen slumped down and let out a sigh before finally fully coming clean to me like I wish he would've just done with me awhile ago at this point, "Uh… yeah. I like you."

FINALLY!

I was about to get into it a bit more until I noticed something.

Owen, who I'm used to being an endless ball of happy and positive energy like me (if not more than me), actually looked like some kind of weird mix of sad, stressed, and unsure that I am really not used to seeing from him.

Eventually, my natural concerned friend instinct came on as I relaxed a little and put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "Hey, Owen, are you okay?"

Then he slowly looked up at me almost hesitantly as he asked, "So… you aren't… mad or creeped out… or anything?"

I couldn't even hide how confused I was as my expression completely contorted in total confusion as I let out completely on involuntary reflex, "Huh?"

I mean, 'mad', 'creeped out'? Why would he think I'd feel like that?

He let out a sigh and rub the back of his neck and shrugged before admitting, "Um, yeah… that was the whole reason why I didn't want to tell you. I thought that if you knew that I felt like that you wouldn't want to hang out or anything with me anymore."

I felt like my face was almost twisting in on itself in confusion even more than I thought it physically could at this point after hearing whatever he just said to me just now.

It was almost like I wasn't even thinking before talking anymore as I responded 100% involuntarily yet also honestly, "Owen, why would you even think I would be like that?" Owen just kept biting his lip and still wasn't saying anything.

So, I just kept going as I started, "Seriously, Owen. I mean it. Like I said, we're still friends and I wouldn't be mad or anything about something like that. But, I guess I'm just... confused? I didn't even know about how you really felt until Emma told me about it."

Okay, maybe I'm stretching the truth a little on that, but I am NOT telling Owen about Izzy pretty much dragging me out to the woods after she thought Owen and I were a thing or something.

Especially since he already looks freaked out enough right now.

But, then Owen immediately almost flipped on a dime as he looked right at me finally and put his hands up before almost backtracking, "No! It's true! I really didn't feel like that about you until just recently. Wait, I mean, not because I didn't think you were cute or anything before that! Cuz you're really cute! I mean!..."

I could tell he was getting too overwhelmed and just saying things at this point, so I put my hands on his shoulders and said, "Owen, just slow down, okay? But, wait, you said you didn't until just 'recently'? How 'recent' are we talking here? I mean, did I like do anything to make you think that?…"

Right then he cut me off as he started, "No! It's all on me for thinking like that! You didn't do anything! Or you know not on purpose or anything… WAIT! No! I-I mean!..."

This time I cut him off when I picked up on what he said as I questioned, "Wait, what do you mean 'on purpose'?"

Seriously, I was SO confused right now.

On purpose? What's that supposed to mean?

Like I did 'do something' unintentionally or something? I couldn't think of anything I did differently or anything. But, then I started getting even more suspicious when Owen's face started going red and he started biting his lip and looking away from me.

Wait…

"Owen?... What's going on?" I prodded, definitely knowing there was still something he wasn't telling me for some reason.

He still wasn't saying anything or looking at me still.

Well, until he said, looking liked he was close to chewing off his bottom lip, "Okay, but… promise you won't be mad?"

Mad? What the?... Why would he think that I'd be mad?!

My entire face went back to contorting in confusion again after hearing that as I straight up responded almost immediately, getting even more frustrated than I already was, "Owen, the only way I'd be mad is if you don't tell me anything. Now what's going on?"

He kept biting his lip and glanced up toward the ceiling of the inside of the truck cabin before starting, sounding very drawn out and hesitant, "Uh….. remember that night a couple months back when you blacked out at that club and I took you back to my parents to cover for you?"

Wait… what?

I could feel my head going in a million different directions about where this could even be going.

"Yeah… why?" I started feeling totally confused… and now kinda concerned at this point since I remember nothing from that night past dancing and partying with Owen and then everything blacked out after I took a shot of watermelon vodka before waking up on Owen's parents' couch the next morning.

He still wasn't looking at me as he drooled on, "And… remember how when you asked me if you did anything weird or embarrassing and… I said you didn't do anything?"

Okay, now I'm scarred.

I kept pressing as I kept getting more and more freaked out about where this could possibly be going, "Yes?…"

Seriously… WHAT'S GOING ON?!

Right then Owen started tapping his pointer fingers together on his hands as he finally finished, sounding even more unsure, nervous, and hesitant, "Well… that wasn't really true… technically. Maybe?"

My eyes went wide as my head started going to very weird places as my stomach dropped and I asked, knowing how mortified I probably sounded about whatever I did when I was blackout drunk that Owen really seems like he doesn't want to tell me, "Owen? What did I do?"

He kept on looking like he was still hesitating to tell me until he sighed and said, "Uh…. Okay, so, ya know how I said all you did was try to jump into a fountain at a park?"

Seriously, where is this even going?

Fortunately, Owen just kept going as he continued, "Well… before that you were also trying to take your clothes off before you tried to jump in the fountain and… then I tried to stop you by bringing your shirt back down and then you kinda ended up putting your arm around my neck and uh… kissing me?"

At that moment (even though it took a second), my stomach felt like it dropped out of my butt as I processed that.

My eyes felt like they were going to fall out of my head and I covered my mouth almost reflexively as my jaw just dropped as I kept taking in the fact that Owen just told me that I kissed him while I was drunk.

But, then I realized what I was doing right now probably wasn't the 'best reaction' since Owen was now looking at me in horror, probably thinking I was mad at him right now after he told me that. But, he was wrong about that… totally wrong!

I immediately put my hands up and said, "Wait! Owen! It's okay! I'm not mad at you for that! I'm just mad that you didn't tell me this before now?! And why didn't you tell me I did that to you?! Seriously Owen, I am SO sorry!"

I meant that!

Seriously, that whole night I got WAY out of control, pushed my limits, and partied too hard only to kiss Owen while he was trying to keep me from doing anything stupid?!

I feel embarrassed and just… gross for doing that to him when I was drunk.

I'm a HORRIBLE friend!

But, then I was surprised to see Owen's expression shift over to being totally concerned as he put his hands up and reassured, "NO! Kitty! It's fine! I didn't want to tell you because I was scared and didn't want to make you feel bad! And I… I didn't mind. I mean, it kinda came outta nowhere and then you puked after you kissed me. But seriously, that was it! It's okay!"

Wait…and I PUKED after I kissed him too?!

I felt like I was losing my mind and feeling a complete hot mess about getting that drunk where Owen was pretty much 'drunk person babysitting me' that night when I pushed my limits too hard… until Owen started up again, "But, don't worry about it, Kitty! Actually, it was kinda… nice. Ya know, the 'kiss' I mean. I know you don't remember it, but you were the first person that kissed me in a really long time and… it was nice."

He gave me a slight smile and even though I was a little relieved that all it seemed like I did was kiss him and didn't try to do anything else beyond that… I couldn't help but go back to what I really needed to talk about.

It was quiet as I was trying to figure out how to 'say it' right now until Owen said, "Kitty, I do like you… a lot. You're the first person I felt anything like this about since Izzy when we were together… and even after we broke up. Honestly, up until recently I kinda figured out that I never really fully got over Izzy until you kissed me. So, seriously, thanks for that. And hey, I totally get it if you don't like me like that and just want to stay friends. You're so cool and cute and fun and I just really don't want anything to ruin us being able to hang out since that's really all I want. I just didn't want you to hate me or be creeped out by me or never want to hang out with me ever again or…"

I cut him off by putting a hand on his shoulder and started, "Owen, just listen, okay? I'm not mad at you at all. You're a really great guy. I mean that! We always have a total blast whenever we hang out and no matter what we'll always be friends. But, I need to be honest here too. I… don't feel the same way as you. But, not because of you. It's more just that I don't really know how I should feel right now. Let's just say I kinda got a 'reality check' from my sister recently and I've been trying to figure myself out. I've always been the one setting people up and thinking I had things figured out when it comes to love and dating. But… I really don't… at all. I realized I mostly went for looks with most guys I dated before and things never really ended exactly great if I'm really being honest here. And aside from wanting to be a professional freelance photographer, I seriously have zero idea about what I really want right now, especially when it comes to dating. So, I just think I really need to stay single and focus on myself right now and what I actually want, ya know? But, I still want us to be friends, if that's okay?"

Slowly I glanced down and saw one last donut still sitting in the box.

Eventually, I smiled and split the donut in half before taking one half and holding the other out to him as I offered, just making sure everything was cool between us after letting him down a little with how I was feeling, "Friends?"

Slowly he smiled back at me and took the other half of the donut as he said, sounding genuinely honest, "Always friends."

After that we both tapped our halves of the donut together in a toast before laughing as we ate them.

Seriously, I really mean that this has nothing to do with Owen.

Like I said, I'm not even sure how I even feel about wanting to be in a relationship or even date anyone period right now when I realized I really don't even know what I actually want.

But, that doesn't still mean that I don't want us to be friends or anything.

After finishing off each half of the donut, he looked back at me and definitely seemed more like the usual 'Owen' I know as he said, "Hey! Want a refill on your coffee? I was gonna get another box of donuts for the rest of the trip up to the lake. I'm buying! French vanilla with cream and sugar?"

I smirked at him remembering my usual at the coffee shop before saying, "Thanks Owen, but I'm still pretty good on my cup right now."

Owen just smiled and gave me a thumbs-up before saying, "No problem! Be right back!"

He got out of the truck and went back in and I just sat back in total relief, smiling as I took a sip of coffee at finally having all that cleared up.

And more than anything… I'm just glad we can still be friends.

And scene! Okay, I know this isn't a play, but you know what I mean. Lol. The Kitty and Owen subplot is finally concluded and I hope you all enjoyed the unique angle I decided to take with it and how I wanted to do this angle for a reason. If there's one thing that's not done enough in media (especially media aimed at kids and teens) is that there isn't enough content revolving around politely letting someone down easy if they are either uninterested romantically or just not ready/don't want a relationship. That was honestly why (and maybe an unpopular opinion of mine) I was probably one of the few people disappointed that Carrie and Devin and Ryan and Stephanie ended up getting together/reuniting respectfully. I just personally don't like these pairings since Stephanie is just straight up abusive (especially verbally) toward Ryan since practically the start of the race for no real reason other than her over-competitive lack of patience and Devin was pretty self-centered and dismissive most of the time (Devin's character kinda annoyed me personally as you can probably tell) toward Carrie and her thoughts/feelings for most of the race with few exceptions. Idk, but I was actually kind of hoping that Ryan and Carrie were going to end up together in the end after they started interacting and forming a friendship during the cliff-diving challenge in Mexico, which led to both Devin and Stephanie getting respectively jealous. Maybe it's just me with my weird headcanons again, but I just thought it would have been better and more interesting for both Ryan and Carrie to move on from their toxic/frustrating situations and spend more time with people who were healthier for them. After all, Stephanie is a VERY toxic person as a whole and brings out a bad side of Ryan (who is normally a nice and helpful guy by nature), and Carrie to me deserves a nice guy who would actually TRY to listen to what she had to say no matter what and treat her better since she's a total sweetheart with the patience of a freaking saint when it came to Devin. Sorry not sorry for saying that! Lol. Either way, that's just what I wish would've happened in the show just to show a situation of moving on to something healthier. But, anyway, there's my kinda crack ship of the day there for you! Haha. XD So, I decided to show a similar angle in this chapter when it comes to Owen and Kitty talking things out, coming clean with where they both are and ultimately staying good friends. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and get ready to jump back in with Nemma next chapter! As always, thank you so much for reading, and constructive feedback is always very much appreciated. :)

Have a great weekend and stay classy!

Dexter1995