"Somewhere?" she raises a brow. "Where is this somewhere?" I feel myself blushing because of the lack of details. "I don't exactly know." "You're going with Dylan somewhere tonight, but you don't know where." She says it slowly, and I can tell she's hardcore judging me. "Doesn't sound safe to me." "Dylan hasn't given me a reason not to trust him." I want to make it sound like it isn't a big deal, because it isn't. She presses her lips together, making her unapproving face. "He's coming over later to change my tire." My little Dodge Neon has been getting me where I need to be, and I don't need anything else happening to it. That'll be just one more thing on my aunt's plate. "This isn't some kind of rebound thing is it?" she asks. "Rebound? What do you mean?" "You shouldn't rebound from Jacob with Dylan. Not so soon." I have to clear the air. I made things clear to Jacob, and now I have to do the same thing with Casey. "There is nothing going on between me and Dylan, I promise." On that note, I know I have to tell her about Jacob. "I also have something else to tell you." She looks at me expectantly. "Jacob and I are friends now." The frown on her face deepens and I instantly regret telling her. "Jacob does not deserve any kind of second chances, Lace." "It's not a second chance. His parents are going through some stuff, and he needed someone to talk to. I already told him we're not getting back together." She rolls her eyes. "He was barely there for you when your parents passed. Does he really deserve your help during his parents' rough patch?" Deep down, as much as it hurt, I know she's right. Jacob can be selfish at times, and that was clear when he cheated on me after I lost my parents. One thing I pride myself on is being caring, and if caring for Jacob when he needs it most helps me to feel better about myself, then so be it. "I'm not doing it entirely for him. I think I need this. I need to see him move on without me so I can move on from him." "And being friends is going to do that for you?" "I guess we'll find out." She shakes her head in disapproval. "I like the idea of you hanging out with Dylan more than you being friends with Jacob." "Just know that I think I know what I'm doing." I laugh at myself after saying it. I don't know what's going to happen, but hopefully I'll learn something in the process. My stomach erupts with butterflies when lunch ends and I realize I'm excited to see Dylan. I calm myself down before more feelings build up. Dylan isn't in class when I sit down. Then as more people file in, he still isn't amongst them. Class starts and he doesn't show. I wonder if this is one of those necessary times to skip class. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I discreetly pull it out to see who it is. A number I don't have saved is on the screen with two text messages. Had a slight emergency and can't make it 2 class. I'll pick u up after school. It's Dylan btw I'm not going to fight him about picking me up. It will probably be easier for him and Casey. I wait until after class to text him back. Sounds good. As soon as I send it, I want to hit myself over how lame I sound. I put my phone back in my pocket and walk to journalism. Dylan doesn't text me back after my message and I find myself checking my phone almost every ten minutes. Will clearly notices. "Is the queen of England going to call you or something?" he asks me. I ignore him and text Casey to tell her she doesn't need to take me home. Once again, she tells me to be careful so I assure her I'll be fine. Another message from Dylan comes in. Meet me where I usually park. I don't have time to text him back. Class ends and I want to get my stuff together as quickly as possible. "Where's the fire?" Jacob asks me. He ends up walking out of class with me. "No fire. Just wanted today to end," I say. He stays quiet as he walks along next to me. When we step outside, he speaks up again. "Are you busy this weekend?" Oh no. "I'm not sure. Why?" "We have a game at one on Saturday. I was just wondering if you wanted to go, you know, just like old times..." He slows down once he sees the look on my face. He's overstepping one of the boundaries. "Jacob—" "Forget that last part. We're friends, right? Friends go to each other's events." He sound hopeful. "Um..." I trail off once I see Dylan waiting by his motorcycle. "We'll see." I start to walk away until Jacob stands in front of me. "Please, Lace. It'll mean a lot if you go. I don't care if I'm ignoring the boundaries, I just want to see you at my games again." Before I can speak, Dylan appears at my side. He stares at Jacob before looking at me. "You ready to go?" "Can I finish talking to her? Alone?" Jacob asks Dylan. I know that irritated expression on his face. "It doesn't look like she wants to talk to you," Dylan says, getting closer to him. The situation is only going to escalate if I don't try to mediate. "Dylan, it's fine, really." He helped me with Jacob at his party, but I feel like I can handle this on my own. I turn towards Jacob. "Tomorrow we'll talk about Saturday." He doesn't look satisfied. "Fine." He then pulls me in for a hug and it's tighter than I want it to be, but once I breathe in his familiar cologne I ease into it. For a split second, it is just like old times. Before I can get in too deep, I pull away.