"Spill." Is the first thing Allie says when we reach my house. I already knew she was referring to the Scott situation.

So I spill. I tell her about what happened when he broke up with me, about the almost rape in the hallway, about Astor basically saving me, and the whole awkwardness between Astor and Chris.

"Dang... Wait... Chris doesn't like Astor?" Is the first thing she asks.

"Nope. I have no idea why either." I shrug as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and head up to my room with Allie in tow.

"Hmm... to me it sounds like Chris is jealous of Astor." She throws her bag on the floor and plops on my bed.

"Why would he be jealous?" I sit down at my desk, pulling out my homework.

"Because he likes you and doesn't want Astor in the way."

"Yeah. But we are friends and I highly doubt he likes me." I turn to face her and see her smirk.

"That still doesn't mean he doesn't like you." She raises her eyebrows up and down. The way people do when they suggest things that are funny or weird.

"Now you're just being gross." I laugh.

"Nope I'm just being honest. Love youuuuu." She gets up and hugs me.

"Yeah yeah, now can we do homework? I'm kinda behind in geometry and I need your help." I spin back towards my desk and open my folder to talk out my geometry homework.

"Girl this is easy!"

"Girl, it might be for you but for me it's not. Remember, I'm stupid, I'm in the normal class and you're in the honors class." I give her a pointed look.

"Fine, I'll help you. But only if you help me with Biology, since you're such a science freak." She pokes me and bings the paper over to the bed and lays down.

"Hey I'm not a science freak!" I pout.

"Mhm. Sure." It goes on all night as we tease each other and help each other with homework.

~~~

Click

Click

Click

Click

I jolt awake and look at my clock, realizing it's only 2:36am

I hear the noise again coming from my window. I walk slowly toward the window and open it but feel something small hit my head.

"What the hell?!" I grab my head and see a small pebble fall on the floor.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" The figure below freaks.

"Astor?"

"The one and only."

"Why are you at my house at 2am?" I yawn.

"Just... Can I come in? I don't have anywhere else to go... Family fight..." He stands awkwardly.

"Sure." I tiptoe down stairs to unlock the door and let him in, trying to be quiet and not wake Clarissa.

"Thank you." He hugs be as I open the door.

"Yeah yeah. It's what friends are for." I pull away and let him in before closing and locking the door.

"Come on. My rooms up here." I whisper and walk up the stairs with Astor in tow.

"Nice house." He whispers but I chose to act like I didn't here him and walk into my room and plop on my bed.

"Ahh." I close my eyes and lay back. After a few minutes I feel the bed shift  beside me as Astor lays down.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Going to sleep."

"Ok. No. I don't let people sleep beside me. You can take the couch." I turn my back toward him.

"Nah. I like where I am now."

"Fine. Then I'll sleep on the couch." I get up and head over to the couch.

"No. It's your bed. Just come lay down." He pouts as I lay down on the couch.

"No. Just take the bed. I'll be fine." I try to suppress a shiver from the cold but it shows anyway.

"Fine." He's quiet for while and I think he has fallen asleep until I feel a pair of arms lift me up and lay be down on the bed and I feel him lay beside me. Throughout, I just act asleep even though my heart is racing.

I hear him sigh and then feel him pull the covers up to my chin. He gently shifts me into a comfortable position and I snuggle in closer, not realizing it's into Astor himself.

"Thank you so much. You have no idea how much it means that you let me stay." He stokes my hair, running his fingers through, making calm and soothing motions that put me to sleep a few minutes later

•••

What do you think? Good? Please let me know and if anyone has any ideas for covers then please email them to me (your ideas or if you made a cover).

My email is [email protected]

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•Marissa