F A L L O N

"I adore you. I adore you boy, oh baby. You, know you're really different baby. You, you might be the main thing baby."

. . .

The next day, I'm in the kitchen making cookies. And on the phone with Reed.

We decided to meet up for a picnic, together with Jackson and Donia.

Reed is a very handsome guy. Always around girls back in school. He has a cheeky smile, blue eyes, and sandy blonde hair.

Our school's golden boy.

"So, did you enjoy the party?" I ask as I'm whisking the dough – and having a hard time doing so.

The batter is thick and hard, making it hard for me to go through all of it. My hand lands on my forehead as I realize we have a hand mixer.

Letting go of the whisk in my hands, I start going through the drawers in our kitchen.

"I certainly did, though I didn't enjoy it as much when you disappeared," he tells me, making me blush. A stupid grin comes on my face.

"Yeah, I was wasted and I don't think it would've been a good idea if I were to stay," I admit.

"I see. I know the feeling of drinking too much, it's a good thing you left. It was good seeing everyone again, been quite a while," he admits.

"I feel the same way. I felt like we were back in high school," I chuckle and retrieve the hand mixer, plugging it in and turning it on.

Finally, I can make the batter smooth. I throw some chocolate chip cookies in there and feel my mouth starting to water at how the cookies are going to look like when they come out of the oven.

"What are you doing?" he asks. "Making cookies. We're going to meet up this week, so I could bring them if you want," I suggest.

He makes an approving sound. "Sounds good," he agrees. "I'd love to taste your cookies."

My hand freezes above the bowl, and my blush worsens. I close my eyes and bite my lip to stop an embarrassed smile to come on my face.

He did not just say that.

Maybe I'm looking too much into it. Maybe he really wants to taste my cookies. Just the cookies.

"Uh... yeah, they're delicious," I murmur and scratch my head. He chuckles. "I believe that."

I glance up and see Nicholas walking through the doorway of the kitchen. "Hey, uh, I gotta go," I tell Reed quietly and take him off speaker, holding the phone to my head.

"Okay, talk to you later, beautiful."

And then we hang up. "Good morning," I greet Nicholas, who moves his eyes towards me.

"Good morning," he replies, the corner of his lips tugging upwards.

Turning around, I take a baking sheet and some oven mittens. Opening the oven that has been preheating, I take the tray out of it and place it on the counter.

"What are you making?" Nicholas asks. I turn around and see him looking at the batter. He takes a bottle of water from the fridge and turns back around, leaning against the kitchen island.

"Cookies," I grin and take some of the batter, rolling it into a ball before pressing it against the baking sheet.

"What's the occasion?" he then asks. I chuckle. "Can't someone just make cookies for the fun of it?"

"Sure," he states, "my little sister never did that, though. It was either for friends or a family occasion."

It's weird to hear him talk so casually about his sister, who is incredibly famous and a pop star.

"I guess you're right. I'm making them for a picnic with some friends," I explain. He hums, his eyes following the movements of my hands as I place the cookies on the baking sheet.

"Not if I eat them first," he says. I raise my eyebrows.

"Stealing from me, again?" I ask. He smirks.

"And what are you going to do about it?"

"I hope you have a good lawyer, you'll be hearing from me," I say with narrowed eyes.

"I have the best," he states confidentially.

Raising my eyebrows, I jut my chin out. "Who?"

"My sister."

"Well... I'll call the cops on you," I murmur, hearing him snort. "Right," he says, unconvinced. "And I'll guard the cookies with my life. I'll give you one, though," I tell him.

He smirks again. Stop doing that, please.

"I'll get more, one way or another."

And with that, he turns around and leaves the kitchen, leaving me with trembling hands as I continue to put the cookies on the baking sheet.

Get a grip on yourself, Fallon.

In the evening, I'm sitting in the living room with a cup of tea beside me, and a book on my lap.

The room is dark, with only the fireplace lit up. The warmth is tickling my face, and with the raindrops hitting the windows from outside and me snuggled up in a blanket, I'm completely at peace.

The front door opens, and dad walks past the doorway of the hallway, halting in his steps when he sees me.

"Look who we have here," he smiles and walks into the living room. "Good evening, dad," I smile and giggle when he leans down to cause some raindrops to fall on me.

"Leave me," I laugh and turn away. He presses a kiss on top of my head and leans back, walking into the hallway to take off his shoes and coat.

"How has your day been?" he asks, taking a seat beside me.

"It has been good, I made some cookies," I grin, "you can have some. Only a few, though. Made some for my friends as well."

I haven't seen Nicholas trying to sneak in and steal some of my food. Not yet. I don't know how and when to catch him.

"Gotta try them out, then. You could always make some brownies as well, I loved them last time," he suggests and wiggles his eyebrows.

I snort and shake my head. "Yeah, I'll probably do that one of these days," I chuckle.

"You better. I let you live free in my house," he retorts. I raise my eyebrows. "Your house?"

"Well, and your mothers, of course. And is that my blanket?" he asks and tugs on the blanket that's wrapped around me.

I look up at him, unimpressed. "And that's my mug you're drinking tea from as well," he says and shakes his head.

"You're trying to steal everything now, Lopez?"

I shake my head and put my book down, laughing and playfully punching my dad. "You're so annoying, dad," I grin. He only smiles and looks ahead of him, while casually flipping me off.

"Where's your mother?" he asks. "In bed already," I answer. "She got home, made some dinner, and then went to work on the garden. Left you some of your favorite dessert as well."

"Gotta thank her for that, then. But first, eat it of course," he smiles and gets up from the couch, walking to the kitchen.

My mom and dad have always been happy in love, ever since I can remember. They had their fights, but that's something normal. They always make it up to one another.

And they tolerate a lot of shit, and it requires a lot of fucking patience to maintain a marriage in which both have a career and a job that consumes time.

And yet, they find each other at the end of every day, go to sleep together and make time for one another.

They're high school sweethearts. Mom was new, just having moved to the U.S., and quickly got a hold of the language.

I never had to know what it felt like to translate all the documents your parents need to read or sign like she did. She got pretty good at it, though her accent is still there.

It's charming and draws in a lot of people. She sometimes starts rattling in Spanish or replies in Spanish whenever a customer is talking to her.

It's pretty cute and funny to witness. The customers usually just smile and tell her they understand what she meant.

And her accent and boldness are something that drew dad in. He became enchanted by her beauty and fieriness.

They both went to the same university and graduated, living in an apartment for a long while to get both on their feet with their jobs.

I've always wanted a love like theirs. Comfortable, steady, and without judgment. To have a husband who loves his children as much as my dad loves me.

I hear some cutlery hitting a plate in the kitchen, and figure that my dad is eating. A smile comes on my face, and I decide to put my focus back on my book.

After some time, dad pops his head back in and wishes me goodnight. And then I'm alone again.

I was going to watch a show tonight, but I wanted to put my mind to some use instead of mindlessly watching something. Reading always helps me with that.

Though, after some time, I take my phone and put my book aside, going on social media for a quick second.

But as I do so, I see a quick ad for Ella Robertson's new music that has come out, or Elena. Biting my lip, I go to look up her account and see it pop up immediately.

Clicking on it, several pictures pop up. Of her, or someone of the band. Or her fans, standing in the crowd, all the lights turned on as they sing along.

I see the resemblance between her and Nicholas. I scroll down on her page but don't see anything family-related.

It's mainly just her on stage or doing something else. Or of some animals, friends, or nature. Not a single picture of Nicholas or their sister.

Feeling like a stalker, I go to the people she follows and see that her sister is one of them. No account pops up for Nicholas.

He doesn't seem the type to busy himself with social media, anyway.

I wonder what he was like a few years back. Has he always been this serious? Or has he just matured because of his job?

Was he a good student or someone who'd party and be around girls all the time?

I doubt we'd be friends as teenagers, though. He intimidates me now, and I wonder what it'd be like to have met him all those years ago.

A door closes in the hallway, making me snap my head up. And then a giggle is heard.

"Come on," Stella whispers, and then I hear a kissing sound. And then they pass the doorway of the living room, not even noticing me there.

Stella is leaning up and pressing her lips against Nicholas' jawline, smiling and giggling as they continue to walk down the hallway and go up the stairs.

I don't know why it feels like a stab to the heart to watch them together. Guess he won't be stealing my cookies from me. He has something better to do.

Yet, it bothers the fuck out of me. Even though I have no right to be bothered by it.

Yeah, I'll just go ahead and fuck Reed.

And forget about the unavailable man that's currently living in my house.

. . .

I literally don't know what to say. Reading all the 'I love you's' at the end of the last chapter, was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

I'm so sorry I didn't put anything. I'm sick and didn't have the energy to rant (though I did have the energy to write an entire chapter, explain that to me)

But don't think that I don't love you. I do. And now I feel so bad that I didn't put anything.

I'm feeling better now. I went shopping today and had some good ass food.

I was getting on the train to go to a city here in Belgium, and as I arrived in the city and took a seat in the waiting room, I received a message from someone I haven't seen in six years, but I've talked to him for the first time in a very long time, a few months ago.

The message said "You don't recognize me anymore? I just saw a familiar dark-haired girl getting off the train."

Lol, that made me so uncomfortable because I hate it when people are able to see me, while I can't see them.

Moving on... hope you enjoyed this chapter.

I LOVE YOU <33