The light from the sun was hurting my eyes. I could feel the hot floor burning my skin as I woke up still wearing the dress I had last night. Somehow, I realized it wasn't a dream as I first thought when I felt the hard roof under my body.

My stomach growled and that was my first sign that I had to wake up soon. I stretched out, yawning. I slowly opened my eyes, to face the view of the neighborhood. People were in their garden already taking care of the grass in case a snow storm come during the next month.

At first, I felt confused and scared, but, I remembered what happened last night. Instinctively, I looked around for Maxwell with the hope of finding him, but he wasn't. I carefully stood up trying my best to get rid of the wrinkles on my dress and the anxiety that was forming inside of me.

"I can't believe it!" I whispered to myself. "He actually left me here alone." I did my best not to lose my mind and freak the hell out. I breathed deeply a few times before searching for my phone in my pocket to call Mila to pick me up.  It took me a quick look to know it was dead.

I had to walk home or find a phone to call her. It was a good plan B. I still couldn't believe she left me here last night. I took my purse and heels making my way towards the white ladder. I threw them to the ground while I climbed down with grace.

I walked through the backyard to the small alley to get to the main street to see if I could find a phone to make the call. I wasn't feeling very confident since I was still wearing this dress. I looked at the cars passing by when I saw a black Kia Optima approaching. I knew who it belonged toss I felt confused at the driver.

"Where are you going?" Maxwell asked, raising his left eyebrow and sounding a bit upset.

"To find a phone," I said, confused but still relieved he was here in front of me.

"You know... I know you think low of me and I haven't been a saint lately. I'm not going to lie about that, but I am a gentleman," He said with a pissed off look "I will never leave any girl here alone and less if that girl is you".

"I..." I couldn't find the right words. "I thought you left and I wanted to get home".

I felt bad for misjudging him. I have to admit that I had to give him more credit, but somehow, I still managed to put that wall between us. The only excuse for me to stay away from him is to believe he wasn't a good guy.

"Let's make this clear, Jess." He said, opening the passenger door giving me space to get in "I'm not an asshole. My mom did a good job teaching me how to treat a woman."

"I..." I got to say because I was speechless. I almost hated him for leaving me alone on that roof because that was exactly what I was expecting him to do.

"An apology sounds good right now," He said with his eyes on the street and his hands on the steering wheel.

"I'm sorry," I said, ashamed of being so rude to someone who hours ago, helped me when I needed it.

"I went to look for my car to pick you up. I have a basketball practice today and I know Mila lives close to school." He said looking at me now with his light brown eyes.

"I'm sorry..." I said, looking at my hands still not proud of myself for the way I think about him "And you don't have to take me there. I'm actually hungry, you can drop me off at Starbucks and I will get something to eat". I asked him.

I didn't want Mila to see me with him. She was going to make a big deal out of it and even when she was my best friend, I knew her mouth was faster than her brain. She could tell the entire school without even noticing.

"No", He said.

"No?" I asked a bit mad looking at him, surprised at his answer.

"You're not going to West Roxbury Starbucks dressed like that. You were using that dress last night" He said, stopping the car at a stop sign. "Do you know what will that mean?", He asked, looking at me with half a smile, a perfect one.

"The walk of shame" I answered. He was right and the least I needed at that moment was people talking about me.

People will think I've spent the night having sex with some random stranger. If that happens, it could ruin my reputation.

"It's fine. I guess there won't be too many people, at least not from school. It's a Saturday morning and it's too early" I said checking up my makeup in the passenger mirror.

Damn! I actually looked horrible. My eyeliner was around my eyes, making look like a homeless raccoon and my hair looked like a birds nest.

"I am trying to be nice, Jess", He said, looking outside the window. "You're not one of those girls and I don't want people to think that of you." He spoke while waiting for the car in front of us to move.

"What people think about me doesn't concern you anymore'" I said harsh.  "Leave me there and go to your Saturday practice".

He stared at me for a few seconds and shook his head but didn't say a word. He kept driving for a few minutes until we arrived at Starbucks. The parking lot was full but he managed to park his car in a clear spot next to the entry.

"Thanks," I said not very sure of walking alone inside after people seeing I got out of his car. "I'll see you at school".

I saw him taking his seat belt off and turning off the car. I looked at him with furrowed eyebrows and a confused expression plastered on my face.

"What are you doing?" I asked louder than I thought letting panic fill my body.

"You're not going in there alone." he said, opening the door, but he turned around to look at me "Let's go!" He said annoyed without caring for my reaction.

"No way I am going in there beside you. People will think I spent the night with you." I was freaking out right now almost yelling at him because I can't control the volume of my voice when I did.

"Which is true" He stayed looking into my eyes.

"You know what I mean," I said, looking to the entry. "They will think I had sex with you".

"They will think that anyways if you walk inside looking like you do." He said, pointing at my dress and entire face.

"No way," I said, crossing my arms over my chest and looking through the passenger window.

We went quiet for a few minutes and then I turned around to face him.

"Take me to Mila's house" I whispered, defeated. "Please".

He looked at me and laughed bitterly "And you say you don't hate me"

"I don't!" I yelled annoyed at his constant intentions to be nice "Look to be near you won't be a good thing for me, that's it", I said moving my hands trying to make a point. "And I don't want people to think I'm with you in that way, because that's what they will think if we get in there together "

More silence filled the car, but this time it lasted a few minutes.  I spent them looking outside biting my lower lip knowing I was still being stupid about this topic.

"It's fine. I wanted to be nice that's all" He said sounding mad. "Though you should give it a try at being friends. You don't have to worry about what people might think. I don't like you that way," He said with a monotonous voice now, stopping in front of Mila's house.

I was speechless. What he said hurt deep inside. Why wouldn't he like me in a romantic way? He said he loved me years ago so what could have changed? Maybe the chemistry and connection I felt was one sided?  I spent too much time being quiet because he had to tap my shoulder to make me come back to reality.

"Hey! Are you ok?" He asked worried  as he gave me a reassuring smile. I took a quick glance at his smile and I knew he was trying hard to let the topic go.

"Yes, I'm still sleepy; after all, I slept on the top of a roof." I said, faking a yawn, to cover the stupid disappointment in my voice.

"All right." He said not very convinced while unlocking the car.

"Well... Thanks for everything Max." I said grabbing my purse and putting my heels on. "Have fun at your practice" I stepped out of the car, but a hand pulled me back in.

"What happened?" I asked looking at him, thinking there was something wrong with me.


"Nothing, give me your phone" I looked at him with curiosity while I handed him my phone. He touched the screen and dialed his number to later save it in my contacts. Now it will be harder to stay away from him.

Somehow I knew things were going to change.

"If you want to finish playing 20 questions, give me a call or text." He said smiling, a wide smile that could make you drool in front of everyone. 

I didn't say anything while I got off the car and made my way towards Mila's house. I didn't look back; it was time for me to put that anti-Max wall up again.

I couldn't even knock on the door when it suddenly opened. I felt two arms around me and a soft voice saying something while hugging me.

"Oh my God! I was so worried " Mila said, looking at me like she was making sure I was fine. "I texted you all night, I called you," She said fast. "My mom was also freaking out, but we didn't want to call your dad in case you were home already and then he would be mad at you. I was almost going to that hous-"

"Hey! Slow down...I can't understand what you're saying" I told her taking off my shoes again.

Her house was beautiful. It still had that old-fashioned furniture and everything was in its right place.

"Did you spend the night in the police station?" She asked with a horror expression on her face wide eyes and mouth in an "o" shape.

"No, Mila." I said "I spent the night on a roof. I was waiting for the police to leave the area but I fell asleep before that happened." I answered while turning the TV on.

"I'm such a bad friend," Mila said and sat down beside me, disappointed of her actions.

"No, you're not. You had to get out of there; at least they didn't catch any of us drinking or whatever." I said trying to make her feel better, but in reality, I wanted to yell at her for leaving me.

"I'm sorry", She said placing her head on my shoulder and holding my hand.

"I know, Mila," I said smiling at her, thinking how easy it was to forgive her.

"I'm hungry" We both said at the same time. We couldn't help but laugh at this random connection we had.

Mila has been my best friend since 9th grade. We met during a cheerleader tryout, but let's just say our interests were different back then. She was at a party, that same year, and my first boyfriend was making out with one of my friends. No one dared to call me or say anything to me about it, but her.

We called the police to interrupt the party and went together to get pizza to make me feel better. After that day we became best friends.

"I know what to cook to make it up to you!" Mila told me jumping off the couch and making her way to the kitchen.

"You have my heart in your hands,," I told her laughing, walking behind her. "I will go upstairs and take a shower"

"Yes, you should." She said looking at me now "You look like you slept on a dirty roof." She said raising her eyebrow.

"Stop it", I told her knowing where this was going "I'm not going to talk about it".

"Not now, but you will." She said smirking "I saw who brought you home".

I stormed out of the kitchen avoiding her questions. I went up to Mila's room and grabbed my navy blue striped skirt and a simple white shirt.

After my shower, I looked for my phone to call dad but couldn't find it. 'Maybe I left it in my purse or in the living room.' I thought to myself.

I was walking downstairs when I heard my ringtone and ran to the living room almost tripping on my way. I took the call so fast I couldn't see the caller.

"Hello?" I said while walking towards the kitchen but no one replied.

Silence. "Hello?" I said again.

I could hear voices far away until they came closer to the phone.

"Don't worry" A guy said but I couldn't recognize his voice.

"I know. I want you to know that I'm not interested in her as more than a friend", The other guy said and I could recognize his voice. Maxwell.

"I know. She is not your type" That other guy said whom I knew it was Eric.
"Not at all. I mean she's beautiful, but I only see her as a good friend or at least that's what I want right now" Maxwell spoke now.

My heart was beating fast making me feel a knot in my stomach. Mila was looking at me in silence with a worried expression. I told her to stay quiet by putting my finger over my mouth.

"I gave her my number in case she wants to call," He said and a weird noise came through the phone. "I hope she doesn't bombard my phone with texts or calls." He said laughing.

"You're talking about Jessica Bradford." The other guy, Eric, said. "She won't even remember she has your number"

I had a reputation of being cold center-minded girl because I have avoided to fall in love the last couple of years. I rejected every guy that tried to date me and avoided to have real close male friends.


"I know, but you know how girls are. You act nice towards them and they think you like them. I don't want her to think we are something that we're not." He said and another strange noise made me jump from my seat "I need a friend... I'm so tired of girls all over me."

I couldn't stay here any longer listening to him put me in the friendzone. Mila was still looking at me with a questioning look. I was almost ending the call when I hear his friend talk again.

"Yeah, I know what you mean as if someone can get tired of that, Max." His friend said, sarcastically "but let me warn you, you might end up falling for someone like Jessica."

Maxwell snorted and then laughed. "There's nothing Jessica Bradford can do that could make mchange my feelings for her. I don't see her that way, bro." He said and other noise came through the phone.

I ended the call before he could notice I was on the phone. I let the new information sink in my brain. I tried not to let myself fall into a pity hole because he put me in the friend zone. Mila was still looking at me when an idea came to my mind.

"Mila, do you still have that blog about relationships in the school newspaper?" I asked trying to push my emotions away and take the decision I have been so scared to take.

"Yes, and we still need someone to take the job," She said confused, waiting for me to explain further.

"We need a plan," I said, grabbing my laptop and sitting on the counter. My lips curled up into a devilish smirk as I felt that usual determination when I was going after one of my dreams.

"For what?" She asked still more confused while sitting beside me.

"To make Maxwell Johansen fall in love with me."