Nine

"I need to get myself a girlfriend." Ash whines next to Reese, who hits him upside the head.

"You'll never get a girl if you cry about it. all the time." Reese states.

"Pshh, you'll never get one by abusing me either." Ash snides back.

Everyone was at my place to hang out. It was a normal tradition to meet up at one of our houses to hang out every Friday. This week was my turn, obviously.

"You two should just hook up, you bicker like a married couple all the time." Kylie rolls her eyes at the two boys on the ground.

"Oh my god, I would totally ship that!" Summer says from my lap, clapping at the idea.

"Your ship name could be Reeser!" Kylie says and summer and her go off about them as a couple while Reese and Ash look scared for their lives.

"Hell no." Reese says to the girls, while Ash shakes his head.

"What is wrong with you two?" Ash says moving away from Reese.

"Don't knock it till you try it." I laugh at them and Ryland joins in. Ash throws a pillow at me, which ends up landing on summer causing her to yelp.

"Hey!" She says throwing the pillow back at his face. Soon everyone is throwing things at one another, the ship was soon forgotten afterward.

---

Working with Natalie has improved my grades only by a slight amount these past few weeks. We had been meeting up as much as possible to go over my studies to get me ready for graduation which wasn't that far away. By the end of this month, I'm sure my grades will be significantly better.

Reese has been bantering me about Natalie always coming over. He's so convinced we're a thing, it's sickening.

I shut my locker before walking into the lunchroom. I had no idea how everyone else gets their way before me. I literally go to my locker then straight there, I guess I'm the only one who does.

"We're all going out after school today." Reese says once I sit down.

"I guess I don't have a say in the matter then?" I turn to face him.

"Nope."

"Where are we going then?" I sigh, giving in because I know I'll be forced to go either way.

"Just to the movies and out to the diner." He shrugs.

I have a weird feeling about this. We always plan days ahead so we can know everybody is available, not tell everyone the day of. Reese was up to something, and I'm not sure if I'll like it.

----

I pull up to the movie theater and turn my ignition off as I scan the entrance for any of the guys. I spot Ash leaning against the wall by the doors looking forward.

I head in his direction and copy his actions as we wait for the other two to arrive. I was a little taken aback when Reese said to all meet up here instead of at one of our houses. My stomach was bubbling in anticipation having a small idea of what was going on here.

Ryland's car pulls up with Kylie, and I wonder what's taking Reese so damn long.

"Hey!" Reese finally shows after five minutes of awkwardness. I smile in relief but it soon fades when I notice three girls following, two were in fact, Natalie and Rebecca. What the actual fuck? "Asher this is Brooke. Brooke, Asher." He pulls them together then whispers something to ash before eyeing me.

"Don't get mad, please. I thought this would be good for everyone, and I knew you were never going to do go out with a girl on your own." Reese says quietly to me. I scowl back at him for taking my love life into his own hands.

"I didn't ask for your help." I hiss back but force a smile when Natalie and Rebecca approach us.

"Hi." Natalie smiles at me and I return a real one this time. Working together as much as we have has brought us closer in a way, but I had no intentions to turn it into something more.

I say a quick hey back at her as we all file into the theater to pay for the tickets. I was beyond furious at Reese and, possibly the rest of the boys, for going behind my back to organize this quadruple date.

We all head into the showing room and find spots in the middle. I end up right next to Natalie, it seems it was all rehearsed so that we'd be forced together. I roll my eyes knowing they all conspired against me.

After the movie ends, I offer Natalie a ride to the diner since it was the least I could do since this was supposed to be a 'date'. I could see Reese smirking at me as she enters my car, so I smiled, and flip him off. The nerve of my best friend sometimes.

Asher and Brooke ended up going somewhere else together to do god knows what, I just hope it's not sex for the sake of them just meeting.

We all take our seats and of fucking course Reese forced me by Natalie even though I was going to sit next to her anyway. I don't understand him sometimes.

Everyone was going back and forth about common interests amongst ourselves and talking about the band. It was after seven now, and I honestly wanted nothing more than to go home right now.

Natalie excuses herself for the bathroom and Rebecca follows leaving just Ryland, Kylie, Reese, and me.

"Did all of you set this up?" I ask once the girls are out of view.

"What are you tal-" Reese starts but I cut him off.

"Give me a break, tell me the truth."

"We did for your own good." Ryland says not giving Reese a chance to say anything. I turn to look at him and my mood instantly goes sour.

"Of course you'd think that." I scoff.

"I'm not the only one in the group who thinks that." He shoots back. "Everyone agrees you need to put yourself out there again."

"I don't need to. I'm not hurting anyone by not dating yet." I growl, pissed off that they think they all know what's best for me.

"You're clearly hurting yourself, man!" He shouts, but not loud enough to grab others' attention. "You would be failing if not for Natalie! You barely even acknowledge us! Your friends. It's like you don't care about anything anymore."

His bringing up my faults in school and as a friend is my second breaking point. I cannot believe it was Ryland who broke me again.

"You don't deserve to tell me what's wrong with me when you're so caught up in your bullshit that you don't even notice Kylie going behind your back and talking with River!" The words flow out of my mouth before I can stop them. I bite my lip as Kylie's face pales confirming what I said to Ryland.

"What?!" He turns to Kylie, whose hands are starting to shake. This was not going to end well. I sigh as the girls start coming back to a now upset table. Reese is speechless as he watches the couple argue.

Having enough of everything, I get up after leaving some money and move to make a hasty exit. I didn't want all this fighting anymore, and I feel bad that I caused it this time. I probably ruined their relationship and I won't forgive myself for that.

"Bryson! Wait, what happened." Natalie runs up to me before I could leave.

"Nothing, I'm just going home." I sigh, stopping before the door. She was too kind to me and she deserved someone who could actually give back. That someone can't be me. I was scared to fall for anyone else. I push past her to get outside, leaving her confused as she watches me leave.

♡