Three months later-After graduation (10 years ago)

"All I am saying is the two of you spend more time together than the two of us do anymore" Becca whined.

"Yeah, but that's because you are always with Nick. Sorry, but I don't want to sit around while the two of you have y'alls tongues down each other throats."

"I know, you're right. Here they come now." Becca has a big smile on her face.

"Hey, baby!" Becca jumps in Nick's arms.

"Hey, Liv." Nick smiles at me before kissing Becca.

"Hey" JP walks over to me

"Hey"

"Congrats. You are no longer a high school student" He laughs.

"I know. Thank God, it's finally over. Will you hold this while I take this gown off, please.?"

JP grabs the stuff out of my hands while I unzip my gown to reveal the dress I had worn underneath. I decided to wear a white dress that hugged my hips and show my ass off. It's against the dress code, but hey I've already gotten my diploma. They can't do anything about it now. I was upset that my parents couldn't be here because of work, but they did surprise me the night before with a brand new vehicle. They said they had been saving up for it. I was so thankful but I wish they would have spent the money on something for themselves. I had been saving up to get myself something eventually. They said at least I have money put up for other things I needed.

"Damn girl. You look good." JP smiled at me looking me over head to toe.

I smiled back at him getting ready to reply when Becca and Nick walk over.

"So, are we going to do something or what?" Becca asks.

"Did you have something in mind?"

"I actually can't. Sorry, I have a date with this girl I have been talking to on a dating app." JP speaks up.

My heart dropped. I know we didn't have plans but I thought he would at least hang out with me tonight. I didn't dare let that disappointment show though.

"First date since you've stopped sleeping around, right?" Nick asked

"Yeah, man. We have been talking for about 2 weeks. She asked me last night if I would want to finally meet up and go out to eat."

"That's awesome dude. I hope it goes well."

JP had been talking to a girl for 2 weeks and I didn't even know. No wonder he had been a little distant from me. I'm not sure why, but I get that feeling that I'm about to lose him. He had become my best friend over the last couple of months, besides from Becca of course. I really thought I would be able to get JP to fall for me, but I guess I was wrong. In the end that's all, I was worth, a friendship.

"Liv, hello? Do you want to go?"

"Sorry, go where? I kind of spaced out there for a minute"

"Do you want to go out to eat with me and Nick?"

"No, I'm good. I think I'm going to go home and spend the night with my parents. They will be home tonight. Thanks for the invite though. I hope y'all have a good night. And JP I hope your date goes well, this is what we have been working towards." I reach out and grab my stuff from JP. I notice that the 3 of them are all looking at me but don't say anything.

"I'll talk to y'all later. I'm going to head home." I reach over and hug Becca.

"Bye," Nick and Becca said.

"I'll walk you to your car," JP says. Great, I just wanted to be left alone.

The walk to my 2011 Toyota Camry was quiet. JP didn't say anything to me and I didn't say anything to him.

"What's wrong Liv?" JP pushes my car door back closed and leans up against the door so I can't get in.

I back up away from him and shake my head, "Nothing. I'm just ready to go home."

"Did I do something wrong? I know when something is bothering you."

"You know JP, not everything is about you. Everyone has plans tonight, I don't. So I'm going home to spend the rest of the night with my parents."

"Why didn't you just go with Becca and Nick?"

I give him that, "Are you serious look". "Becca and Nick were going on a date. I was not about to be a third wheel. Just please move and let me get into my car and leave. I really do hope that your date goes well tonight. Be a gentleman like we have talked about. I know you got it in you."

I could tell JP didn't want to move from the way he hesitated but he finally did.

"Text me tomorrow and let me know how your date went. Maybe the two of you will hit it off and she will be your one."

Before I get into the car JP throws his arms around me and pulls me into him. I hug him back of course. He leans down and kisses the top of my head. "Thank you for getting me this far, Liv. You have been a really good friend to me. And again congrats."

JP steps back and I smile at him before turning away to get into my car. He watches me as I drive away.

***

At 11:23 P.M. my phone begins ringing, waking me up from my sleep. I reach over grabbing my phone to see JP was calling me.

"Hello" I answer my voice sounding rough from just waking up

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."

"It's fine. Everything ok?"

"Yes... No... I don't know. I'm outside your house. Can I come in or either you come out please?"

"Let me throw a hoodie on and I'll be right out." I hang the phone up and go over to my closet to get a hoodie. I already had shorts and a tank top on. I knew it would be warm out but I was cold at the moment.

Walking out the front door I see JP sitting on the tailgate of his truck. He looks like he is fighting a battle on the inside.

"What's wrong? How did your date go?"

"Not too great. I couldn't focus on the girl because I was too worried about another one."

"There's another one?"

"Yeah, there has always been another. I just couldn't come out and tell her."

What in the world is he talking about? I just don't understand what's going on right now. I didn't even know he had been talking to another girl.

"Well, who is she? Are you going to tell her?"

JP hops down off the tailgate and walks over to me, I tense up. Oh no. No, no, no. Please don't do it.

He walks right up to me grabs my face in his hands and lowers his head until his lips are touching mine. It takes me a second to get my body to react but, then I kiss back. My arms make their way around his neck as he walks me backward to a tree so that I'm leaning against it. Finally, he pulls away from me.

"JP. What was that?"

"I am crazy about you. Since the first night I saw you at the party, I knew I had to get to know you. When I used to make those other girls think that you were my girlfriend, I pretending those moments were real. It felt great to know I mattered to someone and not just someone to sleep with. You are beautiful and full of life. I'm not sure exactly when but with all of the time we were spending together I fell for you. I tried not to. That's why I agreed to go on that date tonight with that girl. I thought maybe if I went, I'd get you out of my head. But it only made it worse. The entire time I sat there with her, I was secretly wishing it was you instead. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen. I... "

"JP... stop. I understand. Somewhere along the way, I started falling for you too. I just don't know if you and I are a good idea."

"Why do you say that?" he frowns

"You and I are two totally different people. You are far more experienced than I am on multiple levels. I just don't know if we would work."

"Come on Olivia. Just because we are different doesn't mean we won't work. And just because I'm more experienced than you, that does not mean a thing at all. I've changed over these last couple of months for you. I waited to react on this until I knew for sure how I felt about you and I made sure I could control myself around other girls, as you liked to say."

"Ugh. You drive me crazy. You make me question everything." I pull away from him to go hop up on his tailgate to sit.

He follows me standing in front of me. He hesitates but then walks forward pushing my legs apart so that he's standing in between my legs.

Putting each of his hands on both of my sides he leans in. "Stop overthinking everything. Stop questioning everything. You have feelings for me just like I do for you. Just let go. Give me the chance to be everything you need in a guy"

Looking into his eyes I try to see if he's just pulling me along. But as I sit here and stare into his eyes, I can't read him. What do I do? Do I give this a chance or do I listen to what Becca told me from day one?