A wink emoji? Was this flirting? Was Parker Thompson flirting with me? And if he was, do I flirt back? Do I back up my previous statement?

Me: I mean, it's the truth because you're so beautiful. Definitely not exaggerating if I say I could stare at you all day.

This time, I hit send myself with Jellybean not around to do it for me, fingers tied in knots as I waited for his reply. I didn't know what to do if he found my confession creepy. Oh wait, I had an idea. I'd blame the cat, just like those guys did in Tinder screenshots I saw pop up everywhere.

Again, it turned out I didn't even have to come up with an excuse.

Parks: that's so sweet omg. i bet you're wayyy more gorgeous than i imagine.

Parker imagined me. Scratch that---imagine. He used the present tense, which meant he still did, still does. I had to take a moment to breathe. But even after several deep breaths, I still couldn't stop the escalated rise and fall of my chest, the slithering feeling that had me let out an exaggerated sigh and drop my phone.

Nothing I could respond with would sound right, nothing would be as perfect as what Parker just said. It would be better to let the message sit untainted, without my response to tear everything to shreds.

I went back to writing, the sound of my fingers tapping the keys pushing me further towards the second word count goal, towards my reward. In every bulleted point, in every explanation and example I added, I saw him.

The brown strands of his hair were present under inheritable traits---so were the freckles, which were visible due to sun exposure. Even that thing he did with his tongue whenever he was deep in thought.

It took a series of flipping through textbooks, spacing out, finding myself, searching Google, and thinking about Parker, before I reached the halfway point of the entire essay.

Me: I hit 200 words

Parks sent a photo

This time, there was a wider smile, with both hands lifted in thumbs ups. I got to the third milestone in a couple of minutes. I received a huge grin on a delighted face, almost blending into the peach coloured bedsheets Parker laid on when he took the selfie.

Me: All done now.

Parks: way to go!

He didn't send a selfie with his reply, and I also couldn't ask him for one. I didn't want him to think of me as desperate. Instead, I sent him a photo of my own.

I angled the rear camera of my phone to the laptop's screen and captured the first half of my done project and sent it to him. It worked.

The notification of another photo from Parker came through, I was met with an image of him making a heart with both his hands, the ends of his palms pressed together.

Me: Thanks for the boost. Really appreciate it.

Parker: no problem.

Parker: will you be at Marie's party next weekend?

I grimaced when my eyes flitted over the text. I can't believe the party had managed to skip my mind---considering the fact that the group chat had been blowing up last night with talk of it.

Ironically, Marie actively participated in lifting the number of notifications from the group with all the excitement she had about turning eighteen. She even announced that everyone in the group chat was invited. Well, almost everyone.

There was still some amount of tension between Micky, Kevin and her, and a possibility that she'd take back her invitation if they didn't stop singling her out. Not that it would stop them from appearing at the venue if they knew where it was.

Me: I'll have to ask first. Hold on.

"Mama, there's a party next weekend and I'll be going. At the Johnson Place!"

She somehow managed to hear me. Must have been a miracle. Or the quiet that came with thoughtfully planning my doom.

"You're never leaving the house if you don't clean up the mess you made, Adrian Luis Gonzalez!" Her words were muffled, but I could still tell she intended them.

"So that's a yes on the party?" I asked.

"Don't test me!"

I had to hold back a laugh as I picked up my phone and texted Parker. I would deal with cleaning up once I made my answer clear.

Me: I'll be there.

Parks: great.
since its not a school thing I can see you right? because I really really really want to talk to you.

Me: Parker...

Parks: pleaseeeee. promise me you'll do that at least.

Me: Alright. I'll talk to you.

Parks: and you'll tell me its you, right Mystery? you'll say its you?

Parks: god, i sound so fucking desperate lol. but i wanna spend time with you.

Me: I don't think you'll be saying that once you know who I am.

In all honesty, I wouldn't wanna spend time with myself if something like the gym incident happened again. But Parker actually made me feel as if it was not a big deal.

Looking at it, he didn't rat my erection out to Mystery. Plus, he had been so calm about the whole thing when he asked if I was okay, voice and tone void of any form of mockery, almost as though it was the most normal thing he had encountered the entire day.

And like then, like now, Parker Thompson had my face heating up through meticulously arranged letters on a screen.

Parks: well i also don't think what you said is gonna change my mind. nothing can have me take back what i said. i mean it

I hoped he did.