Afflicted

"Just watch your back," Reese called. Jason chuckled and I flipped them off over my shoulder.

I made it to the ice cream truck just as the other girls had collected their orders and quickly got myself a cone too.

"I thought you didn't want anything?" Lacey asked as she fell in next to me at the back of the group.

"I didn't really. Ryan was just being a bit..." I glanced at Demi's back to make sure she wasn't listening. "Pushy. He wanted to come over tonight while my mom and dad weren't home."

"Ohhh, and I'm guessing you turned him dow

n?"

"I told him you were already coming over. And even if you hadn't been I'm not ready for him to come for a sleepover - I'm still not even sure I'm that into him."

"Well if you need me to be that annoying friend who keeps getting in the way of your relationship then who am I to argue?" Lacey laughed. "Besides, we've got some serious spying to do."

"You're making me feel like a stalker now!"

"Who are you stalking?" Demi asked suddenly, turning towards us. I hadn't realised that we'd closed the distance between us and she could overhear our conversation.

I glanced at Lacey, unsure of what to tell her and Lacey took the lead.

"I'm just going over to Kaitlyn's tonight and I'm hoping to get to know her neighbour a bit better," she said. "Kaitlyn keeps calling me a stalker."

"I don't remember you having any neighbours worth stalking," Demi said, her eyes lighting up with interest.

"Well he moved away years ago but he's back visiting his mom for a while," I explained.

As we made it back to the lake shore I noticed that there were even more ducks lining up to glare at us. The boys had finished their game and were sitting in the sun by the huge weeping willow.

Demi made a bee line for Reese and sat beside him, flashing her brightest smile. I watched as my brother stared at her, a little unsure of how to respond. Even though we all hung out together a lot, Demi tended to reserve her attention for her closest friends. When she did single someone else out there tended to be a motive involved.

"So," she said dramatically, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Kaitlyn says you've got a hot neighbour visiting?"

Reese glanced at me with a slight frown before he realised who she was talking about.

"Oh yeah Mom mentioned that Linc was back visiting his mom. His dad died a few weeks ago."

"Do you think he's a good match for Lacey then?"

"Lacey?" Reese looked over at the two of us with a slight frown. His eyes landed on my best friend and I could have sworn she blushed. "I didn't know she knew him. Kaitlyn's the one who's always been obsessed with him." He shot me a smile and I wanted to punch him.

"Really?" Demi asked, looking at me in surprise.

"No not really," I said, having to force myself not to yell at Reese. "We all used to play together as kids. He moved away six years ago and that was the last I'd seen or heard from him until last night."

"Ah so it was just puppy love Ryan, no need for you to worry about your girlfriend's eyes wandering then." Demi smiled at Ryan sweetly while I cursed internally.

I'd never agreed to be Ryan's girlfriend, we were just seeing each other. If I didn't call her out on her mistake then it was as good as committing to him in front of everyone. But if I did then I'd have to risk Demi's rage coupled with humiliating Ryan in front of the group.

The seconds seemed to tick on endlessly as the awkward silence stretched. I was running out of time to respond and my eyes darted to Lacey as I silently asked for her help.

"We aren't actually boyfriend/girlfriend," I blurted, a little too late for it to come off naturally. I glanced at Ryan and noticed his jaw tighten uncomfortably as he avoided my eye. His friends were all looking at him in a way that made me feel like he'd told them a different story. I felt bad for making him look like a fool in front of everyone, especially as I really did like him. I just wasn't sure if I wanted to commit to being his girlfriend. "Yet," I added to soften the blow.

Ryan's face lit up as he finally looked at me and I gave him a smile.

"That's easily fixed then," he said as he got to his feet.

I felt like a rock had dropped to the pit of my stomach as he moved towards me with a huge grin on his face.