I sit on the worn leather couch with Lawson beside me and Charlie facing me in the other one. I'm about to sit with Scott and not hate him for twenty minutes. Lawson squeezes my hand as Scott and Holden walk in. Scott sits down in the armchair beside Lawson.

"Hi Dion, thank you for meeting me without hitting me." I pat Lawson on the shoulder.

"I have these two for that. These are my best friends; Lawson and Charlie," They both wave with sinister grins. "So, are you going to be here long?" Scott smiles as Holden sits down, putting his arm around Charlie.

"I'm actually getting a job here...Which doesn't mean that you have to include me in your life," I look at Holden before reaching into my bag and taking out a ticket for the play. "What's that?" I offer it to him.

"A ticket to our play. Our mom can't make it and we have a spare ticket," He takes it with a strange smile on his face. "This doesn't mean we forgive you or think of you as our dad but we want you to be there so you know that we are damn good actors and we don't need you in our lives but we want you to at least be a birthday card every year." He looks at me with the same strange smile.

"I'm going to send Christmas cards as well," He puts the ticket in his pocket and folds his hands on his lap. "So, I think it's time I get to learn about the adults you've become...If that's okay." Holden at me before gesturing between him and Charlie.

"Well, Charlie and I are dating..." I zone out and look at Scott, realising something that makes me feel conflicted, our eyes are the same shade of blue...I have his eyes.

***

Almost twenty minutes later, Scott opens up his backpack and looks at us.

"I know you two are have a great mom now but...I think Allie would've liked you to have these," He hands Holden a photo album before handing me a jewellery box. "It never hurts to know where you came from." I open the box and Lawson picks up one of the necklaces.

"I can see where you got your style from. I can see you wearing this," I smile at the comedy tragedy masks. "Do you want to put it one?" I nod and lift my hair so he can hook it, his breath making my neck tingle. Scott smiles at me.

"She told me she'd give that to you one day if you got into acting the way she did...I'm sorry that I took the chance away from her." I look at Holden before asking something I always wanted to ask.

"Why did you do it?" Lawson and Charlie go up to the counter to get more hot cocoa while Scott sighs.

"That's what I've been asking myself for the last fourteen years," Holden moves over beside me, clutching the photo album and Scott pinches his nose. "I'm sure your parents told that we had been fighting those last few weeks...We weren't actually that much older than you two and we weren't ready for the responsibility. Those last few weeks, we had been fighting because I found out that you were allergic to celery. Everything I could make had been in contact with celery and...You two were just so patient about it, I have no idea where you got it from. That last day, we'd run out of money and we were just screaming at each other about bills while you were sitting watching some show...She said if I had just worn a condom, we wouldn't have been in this mess...The next thing I knew I was holding my old baseball bat and her head was caved in. You two probably don't remember what happened next-" I clear my throat, my eyes burning with tears.

"You hugged us, told us you loved us and walked out the front door," Holden holds my hand and Scott nods, looking so ashamed. "I hate to do this but we have to go now," Lawson and Charlie walk over with four hot cocoas to go. "We'll see you at the play?" He nods and we leave, me trying to hide how much that hurts. Lawson gives me my hot cocoa and puts his arm around my shoulders. "How'd you know I needed this?" He presses his cheek against my head.

"Because if this was the other way round, you'd do the same," He whispers and I smile. "So, who wants to go to my house? We can...Do anything but think about what Scott said." Holden nods, sipping his drink.

"That seems like a good idea...But I need to go home," As someone who has known Holden since before we were born, I don't think I've ever seen him like this before. "I feel like shooting some hoops." Charlie looks between us and takes his hand.

"I'll join you." He smiles at her and I give Lawson a quick glance, we're going to his house, just the two of us. He's already glancing at me and smiling.

"I don't mind going to Lawson's house." Holden shrugs, too wrapped up in

***

Five minutes later, we're in Lawson's car and I look out the window, enjoying the comfortable silence. Lawson seems nervous.

"Just warning you...My mom might be a little much," I frown at him and he shrugs. "My sisters have been telling her about us and she's been trying to be there more since the divorce. So, she going to call you too skinny and try to force feed you." I look down at my hourglass shape and shrug.

"I mean, I go running everyday to keep this shape so a little more food won't kill me," He gives me a smile that makes me blush. "So...The play's really soon." He nods, keeping his eyes on the road.

"A lot of hard work's going to pay off," He glances at me quickly. "And a date with a beautiful girl wouldn't be a horrible thing." I grin as he turns into his driveway and see the last person I expect to see.

"What's my uncle doing here?" A woman that has to be Lawson's mom hugs Uncle Freddy. "Did you know they were friends?" Lawson shakes his head as his mom waves at us and Uncle Freddy sees us in the car, waving as he gets into his car. "Do you have a bad feeling about this?" Lawson shrugs and we get out of the car.

***

Lawson stands beside me as his mom starts questioning me about my life.

"So, I heard you have a twin brother?" I nod and she crosses her long legs, sipping her water. "What's his name?" I smile, taking my phone out.

"Holden," I show her a picture of Holden holding Austen and Sawyer. "This is our little brother and sister Austen and Sawyer." She goes 'aww' and Lawson clears his throat.

"Mom, Dion's here to help me with my English homework," Mrs James nods and I follow Lawson upstairs. He hesitates outside a door. "I wasn't expecting guests." I give him a look, crossing my arms before lowering my voice.

"I wasn't expecting you when you stayed the night," He blushes the door and I walk into the room. It's the most Lawson room I can imagine. On the desk, there's a pen holder full of fountain pens, a picture of his family and a pile of books. I walk over to one of his four tall bookshelves and run a finger across the spines, all of them seem to be about famous directors. "Your room screams that it's yours," I turn to see him sit on his green and blue bed, looking at his picture. "What's wrong?" I ask as I sit beside him and rest my head on his shoulder. He puts his head against mine.

"I'm just wondering why the divorce hurts so much. I knew it was coming." I take picture and put it on his bedside table.

"Just because you knew it was coming doesn't make it less painful," I whisper, shrugging and take his hand. "I knew that the reason Scott killed Allie would hurt me but if anything...It hurts even more because it's kinda my fault or at least my allergy's fault," I let go of his hand and pick up his laptop, offering it to him. "Let's watch a scary movie so that neither of us think about the pain for a while." He unlocks his laptop and pulls up Netflix.

"Do you want to watch Insidious?" I nod and he sets the laptop on the middle of the bed before wiggling to the top. "Can you bring that blanket?" I pick up the blanket and scoot up beside him. He takes the blanket and wraps it around us. "Ready?" I nod and he presses play.

***

We stop watching after the alarm scene and I'm pressing my face into his neck. His arms wrap around me and kisses my head.

"At least you're not thinking about Scott," I pull out of the hug and give him a look. "And now you're thinking about him. Well, there's only one thing for it," He starts tickling me and I start to laugh, pretending to push him off. "See? You're definitely not thinking now," I fall onto my back and he keeps tickling until he realises he put himself between my legs and that I've stopped laughing. "Sorry." He says huskily and tries to get up but I stop him, my hand on the back of his neck.

"Kiss me." I whisper and he brushes his lips against mine before pulling away.

"Are you sure you want me to do this for the right reasons?" I nod, my other hand cupping his face.

"I want you to kiss me because I have feelings for you and might be changing my mind on the waiting." He kisses me deeply and bites my lip, making me moan. He buries one hand in my hair and puts his other hand on my hip. There's a knock at the door and we burst apart. I quickly fix my hair and sit up while Lawson goes to answer the door. His mom stands on the other side, holding a plate of cookies.

"I thought you might like cookies," She sets down the plate and smiles at us. "Can I just say, Dion, it was nice of you to share your lipgloss with Lawson. It looks lovely on him." She leaves, closing the door after her and we both burst out laughing, both wiping at our mouths.

"She's right, it does look nice," I wheeze before erupting into a fit of giggles and check my phone. "Bad news, I have to go home. Mind giving me a ride?" He kisses me quickly.

"No, I don't mind," He offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet. "I think you should take the cookies home," He opens the door and calls down the stairs. "Mom, Dion has to go home. Can she take the cookies with her?" I hear a muffled 'sure' and he grins at me. "We should get you home." I tug him back.

"Just a sec," I kiss him, burying my hands in his hair. He bunches my shirt in his hands and I pull away. "Let's go." He lets go and raises his finger.

"I need a minute," I do my best not to laugh as he stands there. "Okay, I need your help." I tap my chin.

"Imagine me kissing River," He makes a face. "All good?" He nods and I hook my pinkie with his. "Then let's go." He picks up the cookies and we go downstairs.

***

We park outside my house but I don't get out. He frowns until I lean over and kiss him softly. I pull away and smile.

"See you on Monday?" He nods and kisses me quickly. I get out of the car, holding the wrapped cookie plate carefully and walk up the the door to see Dad sitting on the steps with a raised eyebrow. "So, I guess you saw that?" He nods, standing up and takes the cookies from me.

"Does he make you happy, mija?" I nod, smiling and he kisses my forehead. "Then, don't mess it up. Happiness is far too hard to find these days, when you find it, you hold onto it as long as it makes you happy." I frown at him.

"Was that a quote?" He shrugs.

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but it's true no matter what." We go inside in time to see Charlie sneaking out the backdoor and Holden walking downstairs, combing his hair.

"Are those cookies?" I share a look with Dad and we silently agree not to mention Charlie.