"Then maybe it'll be you who runs into him at the supermarket because I don't have any plans of getting back together with him." She doesn't seem satisfied and I'm not sure what she wants me to tell her. That her and Jacob are soulmates and will find each other again in this life or another? I frown. "Lauren, he's just some dumb boy who needs to grow up and learn how to handle stressful situations. I wouldn't waste my time thinking about him right now," I say to her. It took me a while to take my own advice, but I've done it and so can she. "I guess you're right," she nods slowly. "Can I hang out with you and Casey for lunch today?" "Yeah, sure." Casey probably won't like it, but she'll have to get over it. And lunch with Casey and Lauren isn't bad. Interesting to say the least, but not bad. Casey still has a grudge against Lauren for stealing Jacob and it shows. She isn't interested in the conversation if Lauren brings up the topic and she makes snarky comments about her relationship with Jacob. Casey is walking with me to English after Lauren goes down another hallway. "I don't know how you did it." "Did what?" I ask. "Forgive her. I mean, think about what she did to you." "Yeah, but it's not like I still have feelings for him. Plus, she broke up with him. I guess we're just bonding over him now." She makes a face. "She'll probably leave me alone as soon as next week." Lauren will most likely grow bored and go back to whoever she usually hangs out with. We stop by the classroom door and her shoulders slump slightly. "I wish I could be like you. More forgiving." Dylan comes into view down the hall and my heartbeat speeds up. The plain black hoodie he's wearing hugs his chest and his jeans cling to his legs in all the right places. Simple, but so good on him. "Being forgiving has its downsides sometimes," I shrug, trying to ignore Dylan. I can't show Casey any hint of our relationship. He lightly brushes my shoulder as he passes me to go into class. She raises her eyebrows. "Cold shoulder much?" she asks, referring to him. "I guess that's what being with Kay does to you," I half believe my lie. "I should get going." "Wait, are we doing anything tonight?" I'm going to say yes until I remember Dylan's dinner proposal with his family. Is that still on? "Um, I'll let you know. I think James is coming over for dinner again." Lying to her is getting old. "Okay," she says, believing me. I take a deep breath before entering the classroom. Dylan is leaned back in his chair when I sit down and face him. "Did you just shoulder bump me back there?" I ask him, frowning. He smirks. "Why? What are you going to do about it?" "Assume Kay is rubbing off on you and you're actually starting to hate me now." His smirk disappears. "She isn't rubbing off on me." "And that's why you didn't text me last night?" "I was with her." "All night?" I'm not being fair, but he isn't either. "I got home at nine, my dad got home at nine-thirty, and we stayed up talking," he leans forward. "You want to know what time I had my third dream at?" I give him a flat look. "Not funny." "Nothing happened," he says. "We went to the movies, ate, then I went home." Dylan and I haven't even gone to the movies together. Their relationship isn't even real and she's getting more of the relationship than me. I should have expected it, but it wouldn't have hurt any less. "You're still coming over tonight, right?" he asks. I'm tempted to make a comment, but I hold back and nod instead. "What are you going to tell Kay?" "Me and you have a project to work on for class. She won't like it, but she can't stop me from doing homework." Meeting Dylan's dad has my heart racing a bit. Ethan and Derrick will be there so hopefully it won't be so bad. There's still the question about his mom. I wonder if that will be brought up at all. "Don't be nervous," he cracks a smile. "The Parker men aren't scary, you know. I mean, you've met my brothers." "Yeah, and the last time I saw Ethan he caught us kissing in your room," I smirk at the memory. "That's right," Dylan smirks also before shrugging. "Oh well." Mrs. Beattie starts class and I feel giddy for tonight. Hopefully it will turn out alright. I wonder what his dad is like. Did Dylan get his personality from his dad? Or does his dad have a personality like Derrick's? After class, Dylan catches my arm. "Be at my house at six." "I'll be there," I say, looking into his eyes. We stare at each other for a moment before a large grin spreads on his face. He shakes his head then walks away. I wonder if it's going to be a casual dinner, or a nicer one. I have the feeling it'll be casual, but that doesn't mean I can't look nicer than usual. When I get home, I immediately start rummaging through my closet to find something to wear. The simple blue long sleeve I have on won't cut it. Pulling out every nice sweater, I can't find anything that will work. Then I find my off-the-shoulder, mauve-taupe sweater and I hug it. I haven't worn it in a while and it's cold enough for the sweater part, but being inside will make the off-the-shoulder part work. I pair the sweater with some light wash jeans on my bed then pulled out some tan ankle boots. Once I have everything put together, I realize I might be overthinking it all. It's only four o'clock, so I focus on some homework. When my aunt gets home, I know I have to lie about where I'm going. Dragging her into this mess isn't a good idea. "I'm going to Casey's for dinner tonight," I tell her as she steps out of her heels in the living room. She throws the heels off to the side of the room and lies on the couch. "Oh, yeah?" I nod. "I won't be home late." "That's fine," she waves it off.