All Chapters of what we shouldn't be: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO DAN’S POV I was beginning to think Toria enjoyed bossing me around. “Sit.” “I’m already sitting.” “Good. Stay there.” I watched her disappear into the kitchen before shaking my head. Three days. I’d only been stuck at home for three days, yet somehow she’d already turned the entire house into her kingdom. Every time I reached for my crutches… “Where are you going?” Every time I stood up… “Sit back down.” Every time I even looked toward the front door… “You are not sneaking outside.” It was exhausting. … “Toria.” “What?” “I think you’re enjoying this.” She walked back into the living room carrying two mugs before handing one to me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “You absolutely do.” “I don’t.” “You smiled.” “I always smile.” “Not like that.” She rolled her eyes. “Drink your tea before it gets cold.” I took one sip. “ This is actually good.” She looked almost offended. “What did you expect?” “

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR DAN’S POV For a few long seconds Nobody said anything. “Ethan.” My voice came out calmer than I expected. He stared at me, his expression unreadable. “Dan.” “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered. I let out a dry laugh. “I was about to say the same thing.” The silence that followed was uncomfortable enough to make even Toria glance between us. Kenz frowned. “…You guys know each other?” Ethan looked away from me first. “We played against each other in high school.” I nodded once. “A few times.” “Oh.” Kenz blinked. “So that’s how you know each other.” “Yeah.” Nobody spoke after that. It wasn’t hostile. It wasn’t friendly either. Just… Awkward. Thankfully, we didn’t have to sit in it for long. “OI!” Jason’s voice practically shook the house. “WHERE’S THE BIRTHDAY GIRL?” Half the room turned toward him. He marched into the living room carrying a stack of red plastic cups beneath one arm. “We’re starting Beer Pong!” A chorus of cheer

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVEETHAN'S POVI watched Dan from across the backyard. Not constantly. Just enough to keep track of him. The party had gone back to normal after Truth or Dare. Music came through the speakers while people moved between the pool, the barbecue, and the area someone had cleared for dancing. Laughter mixed with the bass every few seconds the way it always did at these college parties.Nobody else seemed to notice anything. Why would they? To everyone else Dan turning down the dare just looked like a guy who did not want an awkward kiss. To me it felt different.My eyes stayed on him as he adjusted the crutch under his arm and sat back down in one of the patio chairs. A girl in a burgundy dress walked over a minute later and handed him a bottle of water before she sat next to him. She smiled. He smiled back. Small. Comfortable. Easy. Interesting.I took another sip from my drink without looking away. Kenz walked past them a few seconds later and said something that made the

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHTTORIA'S POVI stood there stuck in place right by the bottom of the stairs with my shoes still in my hands and no idea what to do with myself. Kenz had frozen near the kitchen island like someone had hit pause on him. Fiona kept staring straight at me with this look that made my stomach twist. Dan had his eyes fixed on the floor and would not look up. The whole room had gone quiet in a way that made every little sound feel twice as loud as it should have. My fingers dug into the shoes without me meaning to. I needed to say something, anything at all, but my brain had checked out completely and left me standing there looking like an idiot.Fiona finally spoke up."Toria?"I lifted my head."Hm?"She frowned at me."Why are you carrying your shoes?"I blinked and tried to come up with something that did not sound completely stupid."Because I'm holding them."Great. That was the best I could manage. Fiona's eyebrows went up a bit."Right."Nobody said another word af

CHAPTER SIXTYKENZ'S POVAt least, that was what I kept telling myself.I tied another trash bag shut and carried it toward the front door before dropping it beside the others. The house was finally starting to look like a house again instead of the scene of a disaster.Well, almost.The music had been turned off nearly an hour ago, most of the decorations had been taken down, and sunlight was pouring through the windows. A few people were still hanging around, searching for phones, jackets, chargers, and whatever else they had managed to lose during the night.Jason was currently searching for all of them."Has anybody seen my charger?""No," Fiona answered."My wallet?""No.""My shoe?""No.""My will to live?"This time, Fiona didn't even bother looking up from the kitchen counter she was cleaning."Check the backyard."Jason placed a hand against his chest."You know, sometimes I wonder why we're friends.""Because nobody else would tolerate you.""That was cold.""You'll recover.