Underage

[12] I'll Think About It

And now he's asked me to be his girlfriend. His real, not fake, girlfriend.

The look in his eye when he's asked that question was genuine. And when I said I'd think about it, he looked as if I'd torn his heart out or kicked his puppy. He didn't talk to me the entire way home, and even Grace and Cooper didn't say anything. They were cuddled in the backseat and I was leant up against the passenger side door. No one even changed the music.

I flip through the pictures, this photo album seeming to be only one of me and Ethan. Of course, I would have picked this one out of the box.

If Ethan would have asked me to be his girlfriend sophomore or even junior year, I would have said yes without even taking a minute to think about it. But now, when we're only months away from separating, what's the point? Why would I let myself fall for him over the summer, if it won't ever go anywhere?

I shut the photo album and place it back in the box. Three sharp knocks sound on my front door. I take my time getting to my feet and making my way to my front door. I don't know if I can face Ethan right now. I take a deep breath and turn the knob but, before I can even open it he's slamming it towards me and stomping into the house.

"How could you?" he asks me. He's pacing back and forth in my living room. "That boy has liked you since we were in middle school. He's finally got his head out of his ass and you turn him down."

"I didn't turn him down Cooper."

"But you didn't say yes," Cooper says. "He finally grew some balls to ask you out and you say you'll think about it? That boy has never been anything but good for you."

"Good for me?" I give a dry laugh. "That boy broke me up with two other people,"

"—Unintentionally."

"They still broke up with me because of him. He got me suspended junior year for a prank he did. He's played with my feeling for four years now. That is not somebody who is good for me."

"You've been playing with his feelings, too. Don't think this is just a one-way street. We all know the game you two were—are—playing. It never ends, you just elevate the stakes. At first it was to see who could hold out for sex, then it was including other people in your lives, and now it's seeing who can fall in love with the other first. Then, maybe it'll be seeing who can pull off the best proposal, who knows? But the two of you are made for each other. Who cares where you'll be at the end of the summer—what do you think I'm doing with Grace? I'm taking a risk, which is what you need to learn to do."

"At least you and Grace are going to the same school in the fall."

"You don't know where Ethan's going. For all you know, he could be going to Wepner."

"Ethan is incredibly smart, he probably got into a bunch of colleges."

"He did," Cooper says.

"Then why would he choose Wepner out of all the good schools in Florida? He wants to get away from his parents. He'd be stupid not to take the chance."

Cooper gives me a sinister smile, like he knows something that I don't. "That boy is pretty stupid." Cooper walks around me and makes his way to my front door. "Ethan is waiting down in my car, I told him I wanted to talk to you first. I'm not going to keep him from coming up here, but I wanted to give you a heads up."

"Thank you."

He nods his head. "I'm leaving you two here, so you better figure it out. Put the boy out of his misery, even if the answer is no." 

[author's note]

Edited.

Who's respect for Cooper just flew through the roof?

He gets best friend points from this chapter.

What do you think?

Will she say yes?

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