Discovered

I tossed and turned, but I couldn't sleep. I checked the time on my digital alarm clock next to my bed. It was sitting on top of my small drawer I keep alongside with me. My phone was charging beside the clock.

12:01 am

I deeply sighed, it's barely midnight, I've only gotten about three hours of sleep. I extended my left arm, and noticed it was empty. Jake isn't there. I sat up and looked around. His side of the bed was all but touched, his drawers were untouched as well. I noticed that he never came to bed, or better yet, home. I walked outside the bedroom, into the hallway. Our graduation pictures were on either side of the walls. I stopped right in front of a frame. It was of all of us, I was in the middle, in between of Jake and Adri. Jake's friends were all on his side and behind him, while Sissy was behind Adri and I, she was the only one without a cap and gown. Then, beside us, was the principle and some of our favorite teachers, smiling. Everyone in the first line held a big long banner that covered everything below our stomach, saying in big white and silver colors, "Congratulations Class of 2012" We all had big genuine smiles, our eyes were so bright. It was a beautiful clear sunny day. Behind us were others of the graduation class, photo bombing. I stood there for a few more seconds until I walked out of the hallway. I looked around the living room, papers were scattered and shopping bags were sitting on the coffee table. I had forgotten to put away the new pieces of clothes Adri bought for me.
I shivered as I felt wind blow on my revealing flesh. I rubbed my arms and walked towards the open window to close it.

"God, I'm so stupid!" I hit my forehead in realization, I had forgotten that Jake told me he was spending the night with Niall. I grabbed the remote and turned on the television. I couldn't sleep anymore so I decided to kill time and watch tv.

-

"Lynn?" I heard someone shaking me and I jolted myself awake to find Adri's eyes peering into mine.

I rubbed my eyes. "What are yo-" I furrowed my eyebrows. "How long have you been standing there for?"

"Long enough to watch your latest episode of, 'Murmuring the names of those who can't be named!'" She placed both hands on her waist and bent over dying of laughter.

"I did not!" I grabbed the nearest pillow in the couch and chucked it at Adri, who found the whole scenario amusing.

"Hey," She lifted both her hands up in defense. "I'm just speaking the truth, don't get aggressive with me now." She smiled and took the seat next to me.

"Jake gone?" She asked, lifting the remote to change the channel from television. I nodded and she clapped her hands joyfully.

"Nothing is better then Big Bang theory reruns late at night, am I right."

I narrowed my eyes at the flat screen aimlessly, finding it odd how I haven't seen this episode. It was sorta a routine to watch late night reruns of my favorite t.v shows whenever Jake or Adri weren't home. And whenever I couldn't manage to get myself to sleep. We watched as Sheldon opened his laptop and and video called his girlfriend, Amy. Their so strange, I thought to myself, but it was a funny strange. We both laughed when Sheldon told Amy something, but the mood quickly subsided when she told Sheldon she wanted space from their relationship. I felt the spot next to me shift uncontrollably.

"Oh no, Sheldon," Adri spoke sympathetically for the characters. "Don't do it Amy! Sheldon loves you." She trailed off into a faint whisper. Sheldon sat in front of his now empty laptop and looked pained. After a pause, he picked up his Lord of the rings toy 'Gollum' and began to converse with it.

"Well Gollum," Sheldon spoke. "You're an expert on rings," he opened a drawer revealing a small casing box. "What do I do with this one?" He opened it and there in the mid center, was a wedding ring.

Adri and I both 'awed' in the moment and she clicked the television off.

"Screw relationships." I heard her say and I smiled at her remark. "Hollywood is the reason why I have love issues." She exhaled loudly, blowing strands of hair away from her face.

"That makes two of us." I uttered, putting my arm around her small shoulders.

"Be careful out there," she turned to me and searched my eyes with caution. "I mean it. There are a lot of Incompetence assholes out there who will screw you over. Especially in LA."

"And you're worried because?" I noted, feeling light hearted and fortunate to have someone like Adri care for me, even without reason.

"Because," she pointed out. "You're my best friend Lynn. If you get hurt, I hurt them." I let out a loud laugh and she hit my arm playfully.

"I may be small, but they better pray to God they don't find out what i'm capable of." She added. I laughed at her consideration but deep down I knew she meant it. And she was capable of it. I remember in High school, most of my time revolved around drama. Not because I chose to get myself involved, but it was a small school. Small town. You could've sworn to yourself that you would never get involved with the bellowing spectacles of school and even that would've been a lie. It was difficult to avoid rumors, let alone becoming one. But I knew that Adri always had my back the last few years. She stood up for me when I couldn't bring myself to do it, and that was an honored compromise.

I sighed softly and leaned my head on Adri's shoulder. "I'm going to miss this. You. It all just happened too quickly."

She stayed quiet for a while and then spoke. "Tell me about it. Wasn't it just yesterday we were still in high school? I had- have so much to learn. I admit I did have a provocative mouth, but I don't regret my actions. I mean, it did get me to where I am today and that's a hell of an achievement considering I'm going to NCSU. Oh, and I also scored myself Johnny for an amazing two years."

She paused for a moment looking at me with regret. Ever since Johnny Tomlinson, my charming ex-neighbor and Adri's ex-boyfriend, "had shattered her heart and dragged it to hell only to have it incinerate and repeatedly stomped on when she feels nostalgic" was how Adri had described it to me the first few months after their breakup. It could've been safe to say that her choice of words were an exaggeration. Were immature. Were crazy. But that was beyond the truth. Because if you have ever been in love, you'd understand that it will make you do exaggerating things. It will make you do immature stuff. And it will make you crazy. But somewhere along the lines, Adri and I barely, but progressively began to move on. Barely. So instead of falling short from our progression, Adri decided to avoid the boys' names and simply used 'the ones who can't be named' phrase when we wanted to refer to them. Ironically, we'd say it more often then we should admit too, but it beat having to go through the mention of their names and what effect it came with.

We both stared at each other, feeling the same grieve but relieving effect the name had the power to give us. Adri quickly shook it off and showed no expression of affect on her face whatsoever.

"Point is, my life's been a hell of an adventure. With or without the guys. And I couldn't be any more proud of you to. You've had it the hardest Lynn, I'm not going to argue with that. I think about how you've dealt with depression, your father's disappearance, Katie Horan, High school drama, Jake and-" She smiled briefly. Harry, I thought to myself. "You're a warrior Lynn, if I had to combat through two attractive boys like them, I'd probably lose that battle, every time. But you're so strong, and I can't let you go out there alone thinking otherwise."

My eyes began to water when I raised my head at Adri, and looked at her. She was grinning really big and I can tell she was just as emotional as I was. Her eyes were a puffy red but she didn't care because that's how our friendship worked. Either of us could cry for hours and the other would know exactly what to make the situation light. But as much as it hurt knowing this would be one of our last times we'd do this together, I tried to keep everything on a positive note.

"But you're the toughest out there Aid. Don't you dare forget it." I said with an appreciative smile.

"Oh, I already know." She beamed at me. "But all this emo talk has me-"

"Hungry!" I winked as I rose from the couch and ran to the kitchen, opening all the cabinet doors and refrigerator, having no idea what we were going eat.

"Um, Adri.." I stopped, one hand on the stove and the other grasping the back of my neck.

"Yeah?"

"What are we going to make?"

She paused. "Oh, yeah. Hmm, well-" she put her finger on her top lip and began to pace back and forth.

"How about spaghetti!" She said almost instantly.

"We're out of pasta," I frowned. "And tomatoes."

"Okay, that's fine. We're fine! What about..." She stood there silent for a second until she looked up at me and made a click noise with her mouth as she pointed a finger at me. "Homemade pizza!"

I glared at her. "Aid?"

"Yeah?" She said almost excitedly.

"We... Don't have tomatoes!" I dismissed her reaction when I saw her face drop with disappointment and was forced to put the pans back.

"Oh, yeah... God! Curse you-" I raised my eyebrow waiting for her to finish, but she subsided her comment.

"Alright, since were completely out of food," She insisted quickly, shutting the cabinet and refrigerator doors dramatically, hiding the visible solids and liquids she claimed we didn't have. "This calls for a late run to the grocery market." She smiled confidently at my glaring stare.

"But we don't have money. We spent it all at in the mall the other day."

Adri's smile quickly dropped. "Shoot."

"Wait! I'll be right back. Don't move." I saw her jog to the left of Jake and I's bedroom and heard shuffling noises of materials here and there. After a few minutes, I saw her round the hallway with another big smile.

"Woah, why are you smiling like that?" I asked suspiciously.

"Lynn," she said almost nervously.

"Yes?" I waited for her to continue, trying to understand what was going on.

"Do you remember when we moved in here with Jake.."

"Yeah?"

"And he was always so concerned of you. Like if you had eaten anything, or if you had packed enough clothing from back home, or if you needed "lady products," She laughed at the memory.

"Yeah.." I trailed off trying to see where this was going.

"And remember when he'd miss classes just so he can take care of you?"

I tried to fight off a grin remembering how childish Jake acted the first few months we had moved in. He did every possible thing to make me feel at home and promised to make up the lost time when he got back home. He did.

"Yes, and I threatened to move out if he didn't begin to focus again." A small smile crept on my mouth.

"Right! So what did he do?" She grinned at me, seeing if I had catched on.

"The emergency card. Aid! You're a genius! How did I forget about that." I palmed my forehead and threw my hands in the air with relief.

"That boy is head over heels," Adri said, admiring the golden Master credit card.

I think we've all been. I told myself, shaking my head smiling, and grabbing a black pea coat and my keys.

-

As I drove down our sleep some neighborhood, Adri had still decided to turn the radio on.

"Hell yes! This is my jam!" I heard Adri squeal as she turned the volume up.

I exhaled softly and chuckled as I heard the intro to the song. I should've seen this one coming.

Closing time, open all the doors and let you out into the world

I kept a straight face while Adri began to sing along.

Closing time, time for you to go out to the places you will be from
Closing time, This room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters come

Adri grabbed my right elbow desperately and held an lose pen, imitating a microphone and singing along louder.

So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits...

I stopped at a red light and looked at her. Then she whispered the next lyric:

I hope you have found a friend.

And I smiled. No, I didn't find a friend. I found many friends. My whole life I thought it'd only be Adri, Sissy and I, but that was just an understatement. The last few years, I've gotten close to people I would've never seen myself associating with today. And I was thankful for every single one of them. Especially for Adri and Sissy. Although Sissy isn't around anymore due to her studies, we still talk often.

Closing time.

Adri smiled and wiggled her eyebrows at me.

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Screw it. I grabbed a broken straw from my cup holder and sang the next lyrics at the top of my lungs.

Yeah, I know who I want to take me home
I know who I want to take me homeI know who I want to take me homeI know who I want to take me home
Take me home

We both filled the car with laughter. We must've been laughing for an extent because when I rubbed my eyes and looked up at the traffic light, it turned yellow. Crap, I muttered. I must've been parked the whole green light. Luckily, there were no cars visible this late at night so before I knew it, the light turned green.

After a while driving, we arrived at Durham, pulled into an empty parking lot and saw the Harris Teeter's led lights burn bright into the dark night. I turned my phone on to check the time.

2:53 am

"Alright Adri, we're on a strict budget. So only get what we need."

"Ha! You're hilarious. Do you forget that Jake loves you?" She emphasized the word 'love' and flaunted the credit card in mockery.

"Aid, it's an Emergency card. We can't go around wasting the money all at once." I said doubtlessly, almost doubting my own statement. How much was in that card anyways?

"Hello! Empty, cold, starving, poor souls," She smiled. "Emergency."

I rolled my eyes and grinned at her while I pushed a metal cart towards the produce section. I took a look around, bagging some items and going up and down from aisle to aisle when i jolted at the sound of Adri's panic.

"Oh my god! Lynn!" I heard Adri's voice call out from three aisles down and I ran with the cart, arriving at the scene, worrisome filling my whole face.

"Boneless chicken breasts! Buy one, get one free per the pound. Great deal right?" She said filling her arms with bags of frozen chicken.

"Yes, amazing." I exhaled with relief. I thought she was in trouble a second ago.

"Gotta love Harris Teeter's."

But before I could turn around back to the produce, I saw two guys round the corner of the meat section, filling the empty store with laughter. I have never seen them before, I thought to myself as I took a better look at each boy. The boy in the left was tall, they both were, and wore a black pea coat just like mine. He also wore a blue beanie, with black and white stripes, a furry ball at the tip of the beanie, and a logo at the front that symbolized a blue/white character. He looked familiar. But I shook out the thought, going with my first instinct. I averted my eyes to the right and saw the other boy. He on the other hand, wore a black fitting blazer with a white, unbuttoned dress shirt under. He wore dark denim jeans, slightly ripped, and carried a Polaroid camera. They were both attractive but I had an idea that they weren't from here. As I continued to stare at them, I felt a small tug on my coat and realized that Adri had noticed the guys too.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." I heard her mutter between her breaths as she patted her hair smoothly down and fixated her bra to give her breasts a lift. I laughed slightly but immediately started choking when I heard one of them approach us.

"Lynn?"

I took a silent breath and looked up to see the first boy with the beanie in front of me, smiling. I narrowed my eyes slightly, trying to make out his familiar presence. Who are they? I told myself but was momentarily averted out of my thoughts by Adri, who nudged my arm to speak.

"That's me." I said cooley. Maybe I can play it off without embarrassing myself, I thought.

But before I got another word out, my face turned a shade of red. "You don't remember me, do you?" He said smoothly, keeping a grin and staring at me with light blue eyes.

"Well- I.. No. Sorry." I said giving him a small apologetic smile.

"Don't worry, I don't blame you. We never actually had the chance to converse in person. I was in your Health class junior year. I sat in the corner left, all the way in the back." I stared at him blankly.

He opened his mouth but then shook his head. "Next to Peached Paulette?"

"Ace?" I said instantly but uncertain.

His eyes lightened up and nodded. "That's me."

"Ace Leighton." I ran my fingers through my hair and shook my head in disbelief. "You," I pointed a finger at him. "You saved my ass on finals week. Remember? Derek had spilled antioxidant fiber liquid on me and you lent me your-"

"Sweatshirt." We both said in unison and laughed.

"Wow." I shook my head once more, in disbelief at the scenery before me.

He let out a laugh. "What?"

"This is crazy." I mentioned, feeling enlightened by his presence already.

"How so?"

"I don't know." I said feeling embarrassed. He observed me carefully and then spoke again.

"Isn't it funny how you can go to school with somebody for so long, and not even meet them till now?"

"Yeah, funny." I implied as he gave me a smile and turned his body to the other boy. Adri and him had began small talk only to be interrupted shortly by Ace.

"Lynn, this is Adam. Adam, Lynn." He said nonchalantly.

The boy's face beamed at me and I smiled at his expression. "Lynn! it's pretty cool to finally meet you." Adam said with a warm smile. I shook his hand and returned the smile.

Finally? I thought with curiosity. Had Ace mentioned me to Adam before? Did Adam go to Red Oak High too? Did they hear all the rumors about me?

"I see you met my friend," I addressed Adam about Adri. She shot me a cold glare, but quickly blushed when he spoke.

He smiled. "Definitely. She was just telling me a while ago how you two moved in with your boyfriend after traveling the world a year ago," I froze for a split second at his words. Your boyfriend. My boyfriend. Jake. It felt strange hearing those words coming out from someone else, declaring it like Jake held possession over me, like I belonged to him because of our relationship. I shivered at a loath sensation and snapped my attention back to Adam.

"Adri also said you guys are unfortunate victims of starvation tonight," he met my eyes shortly. "Which is why you two are here, right?"

"Right." I nodded. But swiftly snapped my head towards Ace's direction.

"Wait, I don't mean to pry into your business, but when you said you moved in with your boyfriend, would it by any chance be Jake?" I heard Ace say. I began to question how he knew Jake, and how he somehow assumed he'd be connected to me. He went to school with us. I frowned. He probably heard all the rumors.

"Yeah, that's him," I said. "Did you have any classes with him as well?"

"No. Except for lacrosse practice with him." I gave him a half smile knowing about Jake's athletic profile and status. All-star.

"Oh, well you must've known Niall then." I said rolling my eyes at the idea of high school Niall. Although Niall eased up to me at the end of junior year, it was difficult to forget the pessimistic side of people, the one that made you realize why you ignored them in the first place.

Ace chuckled slightly. "Don't remind me," He stared at me and continued. "I actually had a class with Horan last semester. Chemistry. I don't think it's his subject."

He had a class with Niall last semester? I froze. That means he goes to the same school as Jake.

"Oh, you go to Duke?" I shifted my weight nervously, hoping for a small possibility that he was far from being connected to my past. Unfortunately, that wasn't even close in this reality.

"Yeah. That obvious?"

"It's not like your school spirited beanie gave it away or anything," Adam remarked sarcastically. "Dead give away."

"What about you?" I said glancing at Adam.

"Duke," He said calmly.

"No way, really?" Adri asked surprised. Ace and I shot Adam a worried look, hoping he hadn't been offended by Adri's comment. But by the means on his response, he seemed unaffected.

"Really. I just decide not to wear my education. I despise the idea of people acting that way," he said pointing at Adri, who had admiration written on her face. "It's derogatory."

We all looked at him expressionless. He held a finger on his lip motioning his thought process and then finally snapped two fingers sending minor chills through my body.

"Lynn." He pointed at me.

"Yeah?" I said cynically.

"When you saw Ace and I walking down the aisle. What were you thinking. I won't judge. Pure honesty." He said.

I blinked and he offered again. "I have a point. Please, I insist." He flashed me a smile revealing a perfect set of aligned teeth.

"Well- I, uh..." I blushed at the idea of my thoughts being divulged publicly. Just be honest, I thought. "I thought you were cute." I blurted out and then covered my mouth immediately when I saw him laugh. I shifted my eyes at Adri and Ace, both had a serious look on their face. Tough crowd.

"Alright, fair enough. You're cute too," he shot me a half smile. "But I don't want to know what you thought of my appearance. Tell me what your first impression was of.. Me."

"I thought you weren't from here." I said remembering how I distinctly didn't recognize either of them, so I assumed they were out of state residents. Maybe even out of the country, I thought considering the amount of Europeans that transfer due to the foreign exchange program the state held.

"And why was that?" He continued asking, seeming really interested in my thoughts.

"Because-" I said motioning my hands to scan his whole body. "The way you look." I felt conscious and slightly idiotic for repeating myself. How could I respond to that without being critical of one's appearance? I cleared my mind and exhaled shortly correcting myself. "You asked me what my judgement was on you, and I told you. You asked me why I thought that about you, and I told you why. I'm sorry, but I find it crucial these days, sadly, to conclude an opinion on someone based off of their personality, without actually knowing them. Sorry to break it to you, but it's 2015, and derogatory lies in the smallest aspects of human nature. Even for respect." I felt my chest rising unevenly and regretted my choice of words soon after. I realized they came out harsher than I expected, and I felt awful.

I altered my eyes around the aisle and saw each of the three reactions before me. I looked at Ace first. His eyes showed a comfort of animosity, yet I knew he didn't expect my words. I didn't either. I took a quick glance at Adri who was shaking her head in disapproval. Why? Knowing her, I'd believe she would encourage me to speak out my opinion, especially when startling impressions are included. The whole night since Ace and Adam began to talk to us, Adri looked at me with such discouragement, it grew impossible to ignore. She made me feel like I had just threatened to take their lives for an exchange of something. And then it dawned on me almost suddenly. Adri liked Adam. The same guy who I was almost afraid to look at, even with his charismatic personality. I inhaled sharply and shifted my eyes towards Adam, but he wasn't scolding at me. He wasn't upset. His face revealed amazement and astonishment. Incredulity even. My features softened and I took a breath.

"Wow," Adam said almost excited. "That was pretty formidable, really. You just proved that women do have the courage to speak their mind. Which can be very dreading when they want to ask a guy out for a change." He smiled, shooting Adri a glance from the corner of his eye.

"Like wise." Ace said, rubbing the back of his neck.

I opened my mouth to respond but I was briefly cut short by a sandwich clerk. He looked young, in his mid 20's and wore a tired expression. He had a dirty white apron on and had a faded baseball cap on that read, 'Harris Teeters Subs.' He held a mop on his hand and a bucket on the other.

"I'm sorry to disrupt y'all's conversations, but I gotta-" He smiled nervously, raising the equipment and motioning his eyes at the floor.

"We're sorry man. We'll get going and leave you to business." Ace patted the clerk on the back once and we all made our way to the checkout counter.

"So much for shopping," I mumbled under my breathe, placing four bags of produce and countless amount of boneless chicken breasts on the operating counter.

The female cashier, who looked around her mid 40's, scanned each item in a rehearsed manner and looked at me through her blonde, thick bangs. "That'll be 23 dollars and 48 cents ma'am."

Adri handed me the Master card and I slowly slid it on the credit card terminal, typing in my pin and pursing my lips tightly.

"Would that be credit or debit?" The cashier asked me with anticipation and I nodded.

"Credit."

She clicked on multiple buttons on the keypad and then spoke with the same voice that made my anxiety grow.

"ID please." I looked at her with a blank face. "Sorry," she said pointing at a crinkled, laminated sign hanging from the computer monitor. "Store policy."

I took out my North Carolina state ID and shuddered at my picture. I still remember how the photographer had told me to smile on the count of three, needless to say that he also included zero, and the unexpected flash caught me off guard. I handed it to the lady and she glanced back and forth from the ID to the masters, nodding in approval seconds later. We waited for a couple more seconds, but what felt like hours until I heard her rip the receipt from the machine and handed it to me.

"You have a good night's, alright?" She dismissed me with a small smile. "You too." And with that, Adri and I were out the door.

"Holy crap! We had enough! I mean, I had an idea we would but God knows how much Jake put in that plastic thing." Adri said dumbfounded.

"Why don't we go find out." I said pointing at a glowing ATM. We carried out our stuff to the car first and drove the vehicle closer to the machine. We immediately ran out the car and inserted the card into the thin slot. After a few seconds, I took it out, imputed my PIN number and clicked Deposit Cash as I made Adri give me an additional 10 dollars to insert. After it took the bill, I clicked the Receipt option and scanned the machine with suspense.

"Now for the big reveal," Adri extended her arm slowly and retrieved the white paper.

"Oh boy."

"What?" My voice came out agitated, feeling tense all at once.

"Jake really loves you," She said stunned.

"How much?" I bit the inside of my mouth, hoping that he didn't feel the need to leave me a sufficient amount of money for his insecurity.

"Oh, enough, honey. I'd say if you weren't completely oblivious for your feelings towards Jake, you'd marry the boy on the spot." She spoke with awe, but somewhere beneath her ignorance, I knew she was right. What if there wasn't another boy? What if there wasn't a second option? What if there wasn't, a what if. My mind grew dazed by the fascination, but that wasn't the reality of it. Because there was another boy. And there was a second option. And my mind clouded my thoughts with endless What If's, so i knew the idea of marriage with Jake was just an abstract idea to my future. Even if I liked him now. I couldn't think of commitment right now.

"Aid," I spoke again, wanting to know how much money the card held.

"Fifteen thousand." Adri staggered each word with shock.

"What?" I repeated, feeling dirty and low at her words.

"Fifteen grand."

"Do you mean fifteen hundred," I took a seat on the cold sidewalk and took slow breaths. "I think it's a typo."

"Oops. You're right, typo." Adri pronounced. "I meant fifty one thousand."

"Holy shit," I breathed out, taken aback from the amount of money. "Are you serious? You're not serious. No, that's a mistake. You're lying." I inhaled and exhaled heavily, pointing an accusing finger at Adri.

"Yes, I'm lying! It's fifteen thousand," she uttered with amusement.

"That's not funny! Don't do that," I hit her shoulder. "It's still not funny. Fifteen thousand is a freaking lot. Not to mention, I am freaking out right now."

"It's kind of pretty if you look at it," Adri held the receipt to my face and I snatched the paper out of her hands.

$15,476.52

My throat got caught and I suddenly felt like vomiting. I ripped the paper up into pieces and stood up quickly, getting light headed.

"Jesus, Lynn. Why are you freaking out? Any girl would jump at the opportunity of a boy who's headfirst deeply caught up in a relationship, not to mention his way of showing his over protectiveness by giving you fifteen grand." She sighed. "I worry about you sometimes." She noted with vexation.

"I'm freaking out because this can pay for my college tuition," I spoke with astonishment.

Adri sat in silence with me, until she spoke again. "You're right. That is a little too much. I knew Jake was crazy for you, but I didn't think he was this crazy." I looked up at her almost immediately, recalling the same words Jake had spoke the morning of Graduation Day. I abruptly dismissed the memory and nodded my head.

"I can't have this emergency card under my name knowing it has this much amount of money. I wouldn't be able to live properly knowing I could easily avoid hardships." I declared slowly but firmly.

"Better said, you could stop being ignorant and have the fairytale ending every girl longs for," Adri pointed out deliberately. "All you would have to do is stay here with Jake and I, and all your problems would vanish for good. Think about it Lynn. You like Jake, and he loves you. I love you. You can make it work, you have for the last two years and half."

"Aid, weren't you the one who kept calling me on a daily basis for the last few years, reminding me of my options and,"

"The ones who can't be named," She spoke instantly, finishing off the sentence. "Touché."

I threw the pieces of paper in a nearby trash can and made our way to our car only to find two figures before us.

"Wait up!" We both looked up only to find Ace and Adam jogging our way.

"What's up?" Adri spoke, as they both stood in front of us, hope gleaming in their eyes.

"Well," Ace began.

"We'd like to see if you two would like to join us on our.." They both looked at each other and smiled. "Scavenger hunt."

I looked at Adri cautiously wanting to let her know that this wasn't a good idea. I wouldn't say that we didn't know the two boys in front of us, but we also didn't know enough about them. Besides, we had just came here for groceries, not scavenger hunts.

"Are you kidding me? Sounds like a plan to-" Adri began but I quickly interrupted. "Everyone you must be playing with." I chucked nervously. "I'm sorry guys but Adri and I have to go back home." I mentally palmed myself sounding like a child who snuck out during curfew.

"Oh," Ace frowned. "That's cool. I didn't mean to scare you." He recovered, giving me an empathetic smile.

"It's fine." I glanced over at my car, envying the warmth it had consumed in a period of time. "It was nice catching up with you two," I nodded at both boys and looked at Adri. "But we gotta go now." I grabbed Adri's hand but she retreated it almost rapidly, shooting me a glare.

"I don't know what's the problem." Adri spoke and I exhaled from my nose loudly. What was she doing? I opened my mouth to protest once more but Adam jumped in.

"Ace is right. Maybe we could explain ourselves," he said fiddling with his Polaroid camera.

"What's that for?" I asked, ignoring his comment and pointing at the camera.

"The game." Ace cut in. "Earlier tonight,"

"Yesterday." Adri pointed out, and Adam let out a laugh. I rolled my eyes, that's Adri.

"Yesterday," Ace winked at Adri and continued. "Our fraternity from Duke had a small reunion. Nothing big, just a get together during the summer." I looked at the small white fog that formed every time he spoke. That was North Carolina for you. Showers in mid July was your normal expectations. "And one of our guys decided to do a scavenger hunt."

I turned my head at the noise of crumpling paper and saw Adam take a balled paper from his back pocket and unfold it.

"Can we take a picture with you two?" Adam randomly mentioned, and we stared at him strangely.

"Of course. I love pictures." Adri replied enthusiastically. Liar, I thought recalling all the times she shut down my tantrums to take pictures with her. She positioned herself next to Adam for the picture, but I knew clearly it was just an excuse to get close to him.

"I guess we're taking a picture." I heard Ace say and I walked over to the three, who were slightly crouched in front of the camera, smiling really big.

"C'mon Lynn!" I squeezed in between Adri and Ace and smiled. I waited for a moment until I heard Adam speak.

"Alright, in the count of three, everyone yell out the first letter of your name."

I frowned. "You don't include zero, do you?" I recalled at my memory and groaned.

"No," he laughed. "Who does that?" A smile crept on my face.

"Some people."

"Alright, on the count of three." Adam spoke loudly. "One, two, three!"

Everyone shouted, "A" and I was the only one who said "L." I narrowed my eyes at them three, who all began to laugh at me.

"Sorry Lynn, you should've seen that coming!" Adam bellowed out in a smile.

"Take a picture with more than one hot girl," Ace took out a pen and marked on the crumpled piece of paper. "Check." He smirked and placed the pen between his ear.

"Idiots." I heard Adri speak and a smile crept on my face.

"So," Adam declaimed at us. "Are you guys in?"

"Yes." Adri answered without hesitation and I hit myself low key on the leg.

"It's settled then!" Adam exclaimed and rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. "Can I see one of yours' phone?" He asked both Adri and I, and I didn't bother taking out mine knowing Adri was always a step ahead of me when it came to his favors.

"Alright. I'm typing in my number and I'll send you guys the address so you can get there."

"Sounds good." I said and walked over to my car.

"Prepare to have fun." I heard Ace call out and I shook my head while chuckling.

I got into my car and turned the heater on full blast. I brought both my hands together and puffed warm air into them. Crap. I slid my phone out to check the time.

4:22 am

To my surprise, I wasn't even the slightest tired. I looked over at Adri who happened to be humming, 'Closing time' and wearing the biggest smile on her face. Ding. I looked over once more and I saw her open up a message. Clicks. Pause. Ding.

"Oh my god! He did not." She thought out loud and giggled at her screen.

"Aid," I asked worried.

"Yeah," she answered shortly.

"Who are you texting?" I smiled but she simply ignored me.

"Aid." I repeated, this time feeling a slight irritated. It must've been the cold weather, I told myself.

"Oh yeah. Adam." She gave me a full smile and turned back at her screen. Children, I muttered to myself and backed out of the parking lot.

After I decided that Adri wouldn't be making conversation soon, I clicked the radio on and drowned myself to the song that was playing.

I find it hard to say "bye bye"
Even in the state of you and I
And how can I refuse?
Yeah you rid me of the blues
Ever since you came into my life

I whispered the next lyric to myself.

Cause you're my medicine.

I don't know who I was referring to, but I had an idea. Ever since the bar incident, with Harry, I couldn't help but realize that I've intentionally pushed the idea away so many times. I could go back to it so many times, recalling how amazing the first few weeks felt afterward. No, I shook my head. I had to stop thinking about Harry. I was with Jake now. I have been for the last few years now. And he's been nothing but amazing to me. I immediately felt disgusted at myself for thinking about another person for the last few years while I was with Jake. Your boyfriend, Adam had said. There's so many things wrong in my life, but I can't let my relationship be one of them, I thought. Although i'm moving to California, I promised I wouldn't think about what comes after summer and I would only focus on what we have now. Jake gave me his heart and stayed. And now I made it my priority to do the same for a while.

"Turn left here." Adri said and I did as she said so. I pulled into another empty parking lot, but I couldn't make out my surroundings.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" I asked, taking in the wilderness around us.

"Yeah, see." She showed me her phone screen and the address matched up the address on my gps.

"Alright." I said skeptical, getting out of the car and tugging my dress down to cover my shaky knees. I buttoned my coat up and slid my hands into my pockets trying to keep as much warmth as possible.

"Here, let me call Adam." Adri spoke calmly but her voice echoed into the countless of trees in front of us. After she exchanged a few words, she clicked her phone off and smiled.

"Okay, we're going to go through the trees."

"What?" I shot her a frightened look. That's how every person dies in a movie.

"We're safe." Adri assured me with enough confidence and gripped my arm to lead the way. We walked through a few trees, branches breaking beneath our feet and we chatted about everything like if we were back at the apartment. After a while of walking, Adri pulled me into a small hole and I automatically froze when I saw what was before me.

Flower petals were scattered on the floor, forming a straight path and my eyes slowly looked up to where the petals ended and there he was. I gasped as I felt my legs shake once more, and this time it wasn't due to the weather. Adam came up to me and extended his arm at me.

"Lynn." He nodded once and I took his hand. I took small paces down the path and took in my surroundings more carefully. I turned to my left and saw a group of boys our age, hum out a tune. I covered my mouth with my free hand when I heard them sing out the first chord.

When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off your feet

That's when I lost it. Before I could cover my face up, tears were repeatedly falling from my eyes and I was choking out loud. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. This was a dream. I closed my eyes and then I opened them.

And there he stood. He wore a black blazer and dress shirt like Adam but his had a loose navy blue tie around it. He wore black jeans and original converse. Adam hugged me and walked over to the right side of the forest, where more guys stood, and there at the top of the row was Niall. I wiped my tears away and faced the boy in front of me. His eyes watered with familiarity and he smiled while taking both of my hands.

"Lynn." He said softly.

I paused and then smiled. "Jake."

Notes