"Your point?" I ask in exasperation.

"Why don't you look at it as he sees you two going the distance? I'm not saying you're going to get married tomorrow, but who's to say that after college you don't end up together? Go through all those couple-y things together? If you ask me, I think it's romantic that he sees a future with you, not the future."

"Are you trying to be all sensible, become my friend, and get in good with me so you can be my maid of honor?" I deadpan. "Because I think Joey has that spot already taken."

"You really aren't good at being friends with girls, are you?" she teases. "But yes, I am trying to be a friend and I think you need to chill out. It was artwork, not a proposal."

"I have to ask, based on other experiences with my friends' girlfriends." I pause and check to see that I have her attention. "Let's just say that you and Joey break up-how long before you're gossiping about me like the others?"

She looks affronted for a moment, but softens and nods her head. "I get it. Based on the way you've been treated, I understand. I can't say how things will work for Joey and me, but I can tell you this: I'm not the type of girl to hate someone and talk bad about them just because. I think you're pretty cool and obviously you can handle yourself. I wish I had your confidence. Not to sound all stupid and cheesy, but I'd like it if we could be friends, no matter what happens between me and Joey."

"I'm not sure how good I'll be at it, but I'm willing to give it a try." I smile.

"Great." She clasps her hands and flashes a larger than necessary smile. "My first act as your friend is to get you to pick a d.a.m.n outfit for your party. When is it anyway?"

"Two weeks," I sulk. "I turn eighteen in two weeks and my friends want to torture me."

"Poor baby," she coos as she reaches over and hands me my cell. "I think you got a text."

I look at the screen when it lights up with Haden's name.

Haden: It's not what you think.

Me: I know. Sorry I freaked.

Haden: You know?

Me: It's crazy to see us like that.

Haden: It was something that came to me after we talked.

I read the texts to Bailey and after the last one, she looks at me with questioning eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"What did y'all talk about?"

"Lots of things, but there isn't one thing that stands out-it was a pretty overwhelming night."

"Don't you think you should ask him then?"

Me: What does it mean?

Haden: I guess it's a wish.

Me: Wish?

Haden: Yeah-that maybe we didn't meet too young.

My nose burns, my eyes fill with unshed tears, and Bailey is there to witness the whole d.a.m.n thing.

"You don't have to tell me-I already know it's something good. Those artsy types are so romantic."

I look at the screen again and smile before answering. "Yeah, he really is."

Chapter 12 ~ Finding the Exit.

The last two weeks have been an absolute h.e.l.l.

Word spread that Braxton was having a party, and my name was simply a footnote in the description. Not that I care-which is good, because no one else does either.

They wanted to have a costume party, since my birthday falls the day after Halloween, but I vetoed that idea. After that, the guys were having a hard time coming up with a theme, so Mrs. Jameson offered to help plan it and all the guys took her up on it. What was supposed to be a small gathering has turned into the social event of the semester and I'd like to crawl into a hole until it's over.

In fact, there were several people who commented a similar sentiment. I'd heard talk when the party was mentioned that no one would even notice if I wasn't there.

Newsflash: I'm counting on that!

Bailey has been on my case trying to get me to stick around and prove everyone wrong.

"I don't have anything to prove," I told her.

"Then do it for the guys," she argued. "The other people might not be there for you, but the guys are."

And that leads us to our current conversation about my birthday party, which is tonight. Bailey came home with me and is staying the night. We're supposed to head over to Braxton's house around eight, so that gives me three hours to get sick with something.

Is that a fever I feel coming on?

"Are you even listening to me?" Bailey whines as she waves her hand in my face.

"Nope." I grin. "I tuned you out when you said 'dress.'"

"You are hopeless, you know that?"

"Thanks."

"Are you seriously still planning to stick around for only a few minutes?"

"I told the guys weeks ago that I'd much rather just hang out with them-and you, of course. This party was their idea and I don't want a part in it."

"Don't be a jerk, you know they'd be mad if you skip out too soon."

"I make no promises other than this: I will show up. I will smile. I will leave. When all of this happens is yet to be determined."

"Fine," she huffs. "Let's get dressed. I told Joey I'd head over early to help with the setup."

The good thing about a November birthday is that it's cool enough to wear my favorite jeans-though I did relent and buy a cute cream chiffon blouse to wear over a cami. There's also a long black coat that's been collecting dust in my closet for a year that I've been dying to wear.

Bailey brought over some dress selections from her house in case I change my mind, but I won't.

She's in the bathroom getting dressed and I drag on the skinny jeans and then pull my knee-high boots over them. The shirt sits perfect and looks good against my light skin, though I have no idea what to do with my hair.

Bailey emerges from the bathroom and her jaw almost hits the floor.

"What?" I drop my hands against my thighs. "Does it look that bad?"

"Not at all. d.a.m.n, Laila, I love that outfit."

"Oh, wait until you see the best part." I head to the closet and dig through it until I find the coat. It's fitted and light, but dresses up the entire ensemble.

"Okay, you have to let me borrow that sometime." She smiles and twirls around. "What do you think?"

She's wearing a sleeveless navy blue dress that hugs her like a second skin. Against her olive complexion and curvy body, it works.

"You look great, but you realize you're going to be cold, right?"

"I'll be fine," she argues. "How are you going to wear your hair?"

I shrug. "It's done."

I have never been one to do much with my brown hair. Ponytail or down, that's the extent of my styling skills, mainly because I don't have the patience to learn.

"Sit down and let me play with it," she pleads, waving me toward the bathroom.

Reluctantly, I follow and watch with fascination as she twists, twirls, and pins my hair for ten minutes before pulling out her wand. No, not the fairy G.o.dmother magical kind-the burn-your-hair-off or scar-you-for-life, incredibly hot kind.

"What, exactly, do you plan to do with that?"

"Shut up and sit still," she orders.

I stick my tongue out at her and sigh as she pulls random pieces of hair and wraps them around the rod. She grabs a mirror out and hands it to me so I can see the back.

"I love it," I say, looking at the intricate up-do she did to my hair. It's a messy clump of hair that she secured into a bun with a few strands left out. She finished the look off with a pretty antique-looking comb with tendrils framing my face.

"How did you learn to do this?" I ask, admiring her work.

"I get bored sometimes."

"When I get bored, I read," I laugh.

"What about your makeup?" She starts to open her bag of tricks again but I stop her.

"I let you get away with the hair-thank you, by the way-but no to the makeup. I like the way I do my makeup."

She pulls out a box that has a ribbon on it and hands it to me. "I like the way you do your makeup, too. I wanted to give you your birthday present before we leave."

"Okay, I'm a jerk," I sigh, reluctantly reaching for the small box. "Thanks."

"You have to open it first, you might not like it." She smiles, but I can tell she already knows I'll like it.

I pull the ribbon off and look inside to find a gold chain with four pieces dangling from it. Each piece has its own shape and imperfections, but it's gorgeous. She reaches for the box and pulls the necklace out to give me a better look, and when I look at the back I see letters on the back of each oddly shaped piece that dangles from it.

"There's one for each of the guys," she smiles. "I know how much they mean to you, so I thought you might like it."

I'm not a girly girl, I think to myself just before I grab her and give her a huge hug.

"This is amazing, I love it," I gush. "Can you put it on me?"

"You're going to wear it?"

"Yeah, of course. I needed something to dress up my outfit, and I think this is perfect."

"Laila, you look beautiful," Mrs. Jameson, Braxton's mom, says when she answers the door.

"Thank you," I blush. "And this is my friend Bailey, Joey's girlfriend."

"I've heard so much about you." Mrs. Jameson smiles.

"Can we help with anything?" Bailey asks.

"Let's go see what trouble the guys are getting into. You know, they weren't expecting you for another hour," Braxton's mom winks.

"Sorry, but this one was eager to get over here and micromanage," I incline my head toward Bailey and laugh.

We walk into the kitchen and the guys are standing around the island chatting but all conversation stops when they see us.

"You're early," Cole announces, as if I've done something wrong. "Why are you here already?"

"We came over to help," I say defensively.

"It's your birthday party, you don't help," Braxton laughs.

"Yeah, I agree, but Bailey's my ride and so, here I am."

"Good one, Bailey," Joey says with a wink.

Haden walks over and gives me a kiss and pulls me further into the kitchen. "Exactly as we planned," he laughs and I look around at everyone who's wearing the same grin he is.

"What are you talking about?" I ask in confusion.