Are you the Worst?

2: The Label Matters

♡ T W O ♡

The Label Matters



The next evening, the call started the same way it always did with a soft “hey” and a warm smile. Ames was lounging on his bed in that familiar NYU hoodie, while Eve sat cross-legged on her desk chair, sketchpad in hand.

They had already talked about their day when Eve grinned suddenly.

“Let’s play truth or dare,” she said.

Ames raised a brow. “Are we twelve again?”

“No, but it’s fun. Come on, just say yes.”

He laughed. “Fine. You go first.”

Eve leaned in mischievously. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

“I dare you to do... a body wave.”

Ames groaned dramatically. “Eve. I’m 6'4". I don’t wave, I crash.”

“Do it anyway! Camera on. I wanna see.”

Ames stood up. He adjusted the camera to show his whole frame, tall and solid, broad shoulders filling out his hoodie. When he pulled it off, revealing a plain white tee underneath, Eve blinked. She hadn’t really noticed it before, not like this but Ames was built. Not just tall and lean, but strong. His arms were toned, chest defined, and when he shifted a bit, the soft stretch of fabric over his stomach revealed the shape of firm abs.

“You’ve been hiding that body all this time?” she teased, smirking.

He rolled his eyes, sheepish. “It’s not that deep.”

“You’ve got abs, Ames. That’s pretty deep.”

He scratched the back of his neck, slightly flushed. “I used to play judo when I was a kid. Like, seriously. I competed and everything. Guess the training stuck with me.”

Eve tilted her head, impressed. “That explains a lot. You carry yourself like you know how to throw people.”

“I do,” he said with a playful shrug. “Just don’t make me prove it.”

With mock concentration, he attempted the body wave. His hair, a mess of tight waves and loose curls, bounced as he moved. His pointy nose scrunched in focus, and his pink lips twisted in determination.

“Okay, here goes nothing.”

He did it. Poorly. And Eve clapped and laughed so hard she nearly fell out of her chair.

“Okay, okay, your turn,” he said, breathless from laughing too. “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” she replied confidently.

“Make your funniest face. I mean funniest. No holding back.”

She took a breath, then crossed her eyes, puffed her cheeks, twisted her lips sideways, and even raised her brows at different angles especially highlighting the difference in her eyes. Her left eye had a soft monolid, while her right had a deeper double lid. It made her unique, striking, but she’d always been self-conscious about it.

But now? She saw Ames laughing, and not in a mean way in a delighted, completely charmed kind of way.

“You’re so weird,” he said fondly. “But I love it.”

Later that night, the mood shifted again. They lay on their respective beds, the call still going, eyes heavy with comfort.

“You know,” Eve began, “drawing’s not my only thing. I used to dance too.”

“Wait, seriously?” Ames perked up. “How did I not know this?”

“You never asked.”

He chuckled. “That’s true. Will you show me sometime? Teach me how to wave properly?”

“Only if you promise not to laugh.”

“I promise to try not to laugh.”

They smiled at each other for a moment longer than necessary.

◇◇◇

Another day, another call.

This time, they sat quietly on video, doing their own things but still connected. The comfort between them was almost tangible even in silence, they felt close.

Then Ames glanced up.

“Wanna play something simple? Like... ask me anything?”

Eve nodded. “Alright. Hmm... what’s something you’ve never told anyone?”

Ames rubbed his chin. “I still sleep with the light on sometimes.”

Eve smiled softly. “That’s okay. Light’s good.”

He looked down for a second, then back up at her. “Your turn. What do you want to receive from me someday?”

She hesitated for a beat. Her eyes flicked to his hoodie. Then, with a small smile, she said, “That hoodie you always wear... the NYU one.”

Ames raised a brow, lips curling up slowly. “Really?”

“Yeah,” she said shyly. “It feels like you. Warm. Safe.”

He nodded, heart fluttering in his chest. “One day, I’ll bring it to you myself. You can wear it whenever you miss me.”

Eve’s voice softened. “So… I’ll be wearing it all the time, then?”

Their eyes locked, the air between them stretching in a quiet understanding neither of them had to say out loud.

“Maybe that’s the plan,” he whispered.

And for a while, they just stayed like that, two people in two rooms, connected by a glowing screen and something softer, deeper, that didn’t need explaining. Not yet.

But soon.

☆☆☆

The next time he called, Eve answered right away but blinked in surprise when she saw Ames in the bathroom, water droplets on his shoulders, his hair covered in white, foamy shampoo.

“Uh,” she laughed, “are you seriously calling me mid-shower?”

Ames grinned, pushing his wet curls straight up into a ridiculous cone on top of his head. “I missed your face,” he said with a goofy smile. “Plus, I thought you’d like my new look.”

Eve burst out laughing. “You look like a soggy unicorn.”

“Excuse you,” Ames said, pretending to be offended. “This is elite shampoo art. Not everyone can pull this off.”

He tilted his head dramatically, the soap-sculpted cone wobbling slightly. “So? Am I still charming?”

“You’re something,” she said, grinning. “Charming isn’t the word, but... something.”

As Ames rinsed his hair, Eve moved her camera, stood up on her bed, and said, “You think that’s talent? Watch this.”

She rolled across her mattress like a kid at a sleepover, landing with a dramatic thump and a giggle. “Ta-da! Acrobatics on a twin bed.”

He was still towel-drying his hair when he laughed—genuine and loud. “That’s impressive. I give it a ten. Style, effort, the landing. Its a 10 hahaha"

The week went on like that. Even from miles apart, their days felt full because they shared them.

Ames called from everywhere. Once from the basketball court, the sun behind him as he held his phone up, sweat still clinging to his forehead. The sound of sneakers squeaking on the gym floor echoed behind him.

“I’m helping out with a summer program,” he told her. “Just training these middle school kids who wanna get into basketball. They’re serious, Eve. Like, they work so hard, and they look up to me, which is kinda scary but also... nice.”

Eve smiled, her heart tugging at the sight of him so in his element. “That’s really cool, Ames. I love that you're doing that.”

He grinned. “Yeah. It makes me feel like I’m doing something that matters. Even if it’s small. And the kids are funny as hell.”

Eve nodded. “You’ve always had this thing about you… like, people trust you. It makes sense they’d look up to you.”

He looked down for a moment, touched by her words. “Thanks, Eve.”

Then it was her turn to share.

“I’ve been reviewing like crazy,” she said one night, her desk scattered with notes, highlighters, and half-full mugs of coffee. “There’s this scholarship for grad school. If I get it, I could study my master’s at NYU.”

Ames sat up straighter. “Wait, really? NYU?”

She nodded, eyes bright with both nerves and hope. “I mean, it’s just a maybe. But I want it. I’m also practicing with my team for this dance contest, so… fingers crossed.”

Ames leaned closer to the screen, serious for a moment. “You’ll get it. I know you will.”

“You think so?”

“I know so,” he said softly. “You’re kind of... unstoppable when you want something.”

Eve blushed, biting the inside of her cheek. “You’re saying that because you like me.”

He paused. Just for a second. Then smiled. “Maybe. Or maybe I just see you really clearly.”

That night, after talking about everything and nothing, there was a beat of silence. Not awkward. Just quiet. Comfortable.

Then Ames cleared his throat.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah?”

He hesitated, fiddling with the strings of his hoodie.

“What do you think of me?” he asked, almost too casual—like he was trying to sound like it didn’t matter, even though it clearly did. “Like... not just as a friend. I mean, do you ever think about... us?”

Eve’s heart skipped.

She looked at him with his sleepy eyes, the familiar NYU hoodie, the way he always waited a second longer after she spoke, like he never wanted to miss anything she said.

She gave a small smile.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I do.”

Ames let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. His shoulders relaxed, and a slow, quiet smile spread across his face.

“I’m glad,” he said.

And that was enough...for now. The feeling was out there, hanging gently in the air between them, soft and real and waiting.

♤♤♤

The mirror-lined walls of the dance studio glowed under the warm afternoon light. Music pulsed through the air and sharp beats, smooth transitions and the soft thuds of sneakers against the floor blended with the occasional bursts of laughter.

Eve stood near the front, breathing a little harder than usual, her hair tied in a messy bun, cheeks flushed. She had just nailed a difficult turn combination, and her teammates clapped as the music faded.

“Alright, five-minute water break!” their choreographer called out.

As everyone scattered, Joy walked over, water bottle in hand and a smirk on her lips. She leaned close, eyes scanning Eve’s face.

“You’ve been smiling this whole time,” Joy said, grinning. “Like, actually smiling. Where’s my usual stressed-out, perfectionist Eve?”

Eve laughed, her face turning even pinker. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, please,” Joy said, bumping her shoulder. “I’ve known you for a long time now. Something or someone is making you all glowy.”

Eve bit her lip, hesitating for a second, then gave in. “Okay, fine. There’s this guy…”

Joy’s eyes widened like a kid opening a gift. “Tell. Me. Everything.”

Eve smiled shyly. “We met online, actually. Ames. He’s from New Jersey.u He’s… really sweet. And funny. We’ve been video calling almost every day.”

Joy raised her eyebrows. “Wait, so is he, like, your boyfriend now?”

Eve shook her head quickly. “No, no. We’re just… friends. I mean, we talk a lot. And I like being around him even just on video. But we’re not labeling anything.”

Joy looked at her for a long moment, then smiled gently. “I’m just glad you’re happy. You’ve been so tense lately with school, the scholarship stuff, dance rehearsals... It’s really nice seeing you like this.”

Eve nodded, her heart warm. “He makes things feel lighter. Like, even when we don’t talk about anything deep, just hearing his voice or seeing him smile... it helps.”

Joy reached out and squeezed her hand. “Well, tell Ames thank you from me, for making my best friend laugh again.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Ames sat at the long wooden dinner table, poking at his rice with a fork. His little sister chatted nonstop about a school trip, his mom passed around a bowl of salad, and his dad sat at the head of the table, watching Ames between bites.

“Ames,” his dad said after a few minutes, “how’s training going?”

Ames looked up. “It’s good. The kids are improving a lot. We’re working on footwork and basic defense this week.”

His dad nodded slowly. “That’s great, but I mean your training. For the summer tournament. You’ve got to focus.”

Ames shifted a little in his seat. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been running drills early in the morning.”

His dad narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’ve also been glued to your phone every night. What’s going on?”

Ames paused, not answering right away.

“It’s just... a friend,” he said finally, keeping it vague.

His dad didn’t push, but his tone sharpened just a bit. “You can have friends, but don’t lose track of what matters. This tournament could lead to bigger opportunities. You’ve got a shot to stand out this summer, both in basketball and academically. Don’t let distractions hold you back.”

Ames nodded, trying not to let his face fall. He understood. His dad had always pushed him to be his best and he appreciated that. But right now, all he could think about was the way Eve had laughed at his shampoo hair, or the way her voice softened when she talked about her dreams.

Later that night, after dinner was over and the house had quieted down, Ames slipped out onto the porch with his phone. The night was warm, stars blinking above, crickets humming in the distance.

He sent a quick text:

Ames: Hey, you still up?

A minute later, his screen lit up.

Eve: Always. Especially for you.

He smiled. Just like that, the weight of the evening lifted a little. Maybe things were complicated. Maybe he had expectations to meet and miles between them.

But for now, just hearing from her was enough.

♡♡♡

A month had passed since that dance studio afternoon. Since then, Eve and Ames had grown closer and really close. Every morning, they exchanged good luck messages. At night, they talked for hours, sometimes until one of them dozed off mid-sentence. They knew each other's routines now, when Eve had practice, when Ames was at the gym, what snacks they liked, what songs made them think of each other.

It was a Sunday morning, August 11, just past 11 a.m.

Eve was sitting cross-legged on her bed, brushing out her hair while her phone rested on speaker nearby. Ames’s voice filled the room, warm and calm.

“You always sound extra happy on Sundays,” he said with a chuckle.

“That’s ‘cause I get to talk to you while getting ready,” Eve said, smiling as she pulled her hoodie over her head. “Also, dance practice today isn’t too long.”

“Lucky me,” Ames replied. “Hey, what time’s practice again?”

“Noon. I’ve got, like, twenty minutes before I need to leave.”

There was a small pause. Eve could hear rustling on the other end of the line, like Ames was shifting in his seat.

Then, suddenly....

“I love you,” he blurted out.

The words hit the air, sharp and clear.

Before Eve could say anything, the call ended.

She stared at her phone, completely still. Her heart thudded hard in her chest, her breath caught somewhere between surprise and wonder.

Then a message popped up:

Ames: Sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that.

Ames: Actually… I did. I just didn’t mean to hang up after.

Ames: Eve… will you be my girlfriend?

Eve’s hands trembled a little. She sat on the edge of her bed, rereading his messages again and again. A hundred thoughts ran through her mind, but above them all was one clear truth:

She felt the same way.

Eve: You surprised me.

Eve: But… yes. I’d love to.

She smiled, cheeks warm and heart full. And just like that, something between them shifted and something new, something real.

From then on, they weren’t just talking. They were together.

They still talked about everything..

Their lives, their dreams, and the little “what ifs.”

“What if I could fly to see you tomorrow?”

“What if we had the same favorite coffee shop?”

“What if we met in person for the first time and just… held hands all day?”

Sometimes they imagined walking together holding hands, other times they pictured watching a movie together, curled up under the same blanket. No matter how far apart they were, their words made the distance feel smaller.

A few days later, on a quiet weekday afternoon, Eve was folding her laundry. Her laptop was propped open on her desk, and Ames’s face filled the screen. He was lying on his bed, head resting on a pillow, hair slightly messy.

“I gotta sleep early tonight,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Big tournament tomorrow.”

Eve nodded. “Right. You’re gonna do amazing. I’ll be watching the live stream, screaming from here.”

Ames laughed softly. “You better be.”

Just then, there was a loud knock on his door. Ames glanced at the screen quickly and then muted his mic.

Eve could see his dad enter the room. The sound was off, but she could read the tension on Ames’s face. His dad was saying something sternly. Ames looked down and nodded, replying quietly.

After a moment, his dad left, closing the door behind him. Ames unmuted the mic.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice low. “He gets on my case about sleep and stuff. I told him I was talking to a school friend.”

Eve gave him a small smile. “It’s okay. You should rest. Big day tomorrow.”

He nodded but didn’t end the call yet. Instead, he scooted closer to the screen. His face filled her laptop.

“I wish you were here,” he whispered.

“Me too,” Eve said, her voice soft.

Then he reached his hand toward the camera, fingers outstretched.

Eve did the same. Their palms pressed against the screen amd miles apart but still somehow together.

“I miss you,” he said.

“I miss you, too.”

And for a few quiet seconds, the world faded away.

Just them and the gentle hum of a laptop

and the feeling that maybe, just maybe

They weren’t so far apart after all.

◇ END OF CHAPTER 2 ◇