my favorite part • chris evans (bwwm)

• sixteen •

Tom observed as Phoenix and Zendaya sang the classic Madonna song, Like a Virgin on the stage of a quaint karaoke bar in Atlanta.

Although she was going through the motions, Tom could tell Phoenix was drained. He didn't want to keep her out too late but he also didn't want her to go home. He wanted her to spend as much time with his guest as possible.

Not too long ago, Tom had called Z up to ask for her input on the situation with Phoenix and Chris. Rather than just giving half assed advice and being done with it, she insisted on flying out to Atlanta to hang out with him and made room for it in her very busy schedule. As soon as Tom found out the day she was coming, he made Phoenix promise not to make any plans so they could both meet.

To his surprise, Phoenix and Zendaya were already acquainted. Apparently 'everybody in L.A. knows each other' and they had a mutual friend in Luka, whom Tom had met previously and wasn't overly fond of.

"So..." Darnell, Zendaya's assistant, plopped down next to Tom with a ginger ale in hand. He was sitting at a small table not too far away from the stage. "Did you ask her out?"

"Huh?" He tried to play dumb. "What are you talking about?"

"What was that man? You gotta speak up."

"I said what are you talking about?" Tom repeated, slightly louder that time.

"Say that one more time for me. It's loud in here." Darnell said with a straight face, although he heard him the first time.

"WHY WOULD I ASK HER OUT IF SHE'S ALREADY SEEING SOMEBODY ELSE?" Tom practically shouted at the same time the song had ended and his voice echoed through the small karaoke bar.

"I heard you that time."

"Of course you did." He sighed loudly and ran a hand through his hair. Glancing up at Phoenix and Zendaya, he was relieved to find she didn't hear his little outburst. At that point he was just hoping somebody wasn't secretly recording or taking pictures of him and Darnell. Everybody knows Zendaya doesn't go anywhere without Darnell and being seen with him would just add more fire to the dating rumors that had been surrounding the pair of friends for over a year. No matter how much they both denied them, the rumors still circulated.

"No but seriously, what are you going to do?"

Tom shrugged. "There's nothing I can do. I don't even know if I'd want to do anything."

"That's not what you told me and Z the other day."

"I was confused."

"And you're not anymore?" Darnell questioned.

Before Tom could respond, Phoenix and Zendaya were rejoining the table.

"I don't know why Luka didn't formally introduce us earlier." Zendaya commented, which lead Tom to believe they were having a conversation prior to being seated.

"Probably because I spend most of my time avoiding him." Phoenix replied, jokingly even thought a part of her was serious.

"See, I always thought you and Luka were... a thing." Darnell admitted. "Thats the vibe I got."

"Let me tell you something about Luuuukaaaa." She dragged out his name dramatically. "He is a little too boyish for me. A lot actually."

"He is very... boyish." Zendaya agreed.

"I feel like there's more to this story." Darnell said. "What's the real tea sis?"

"I love Luka and how creative and unapologetic he is. And there's no denying he is very attractive. BUT he exhibits a blatant disregard for other people's feelings." Phoenix explained. "I just don't understand how you can look someone in the eye and tell them how strong your feelings for them are and then I don't know fuck Kourtney Kardashian the next week."