I might have only sat once on a bike but I've never travelled on it. I've had to hold on to Roman and try keep calm as we both travelled to where we needed to be.

I wasn't thrilled about my plans being interrupted, but I knew what I needed to do and the faster time went, the sooner I could return to Danny and we could enjoy our first night away.

I still couldn't believe that Roman showed up like that, as if he knew the perfect time to interrupt us. He is so demanding it annoys the heck out of me.

If this partnership were to even work, I had to put my foot down and not let him put me in a corner and leave me with no choice, like he did back at the Academy. The thing with Roman is that he's always been demanding, growing up. Thinking back now, I used to tolerate it but not anymore, we are grown now.

We finally arrive at our destination and before I can have a look, we are let through a gate and led to a small driveway up to the house. When we finally pull to a stop, I raise up my head and lean back, unwrapping my arms from his waist to have a look at the house. It's a cute double story cabin house that looks inviting just from the first glance.

The helmet is taken off me but I don't even glance his way as I get off the bike. With the helmet out of my way and with a better look at it, I'm surely reminded of my childhood dream house, it's exactly the same on the outside with a beautiful balcony that overlooks almost everything.

This has taken me back to a time where I used to dream a lot about when I got older, I never wanted something big but homey and inviting. Staring at this house now makes me feel weird and drawn back to that time.

"Reminds you of something right?" Roman says beside me.

I turn to face him, meaning to respond when I remember why we're here. I cough awkwardly, looking everywhere but at him." We should get this over and done with." I say, stepping away from him.

I let him take the lead.

"Tell me about the family before we meet them." I say, stopping on the porch steps to look at him.

" There's not much to tell apart from it's a family of three, with a 6 year old named Rosy, she's the sweetest girl you'll meet." I notice how his eyes light up at the mention of the little girl.

"How did you meet them?" The door suddenly opens, capturing our attention.

A tall beautiful lady in dark jeans, white striped shirt and ballet flats comes out, her eyes searching until they find both Roman and I.

"Oh you're here!" The lady chirps up with a bright smile as she comes out to meet us.

" Uh yes, I hope we aren't late or anything?" Roman says as he goes on to meet her halfway, gesturing for me to follow him.

Once we reach her, I get a much closer look at her features. She has such big captivating brown eyes, long lashes and small lips, with a little beauty spot on her right cheek. Her brown almost reddish hair matches her eyes. She is more on the white side and her figure looks great in her outfit, if she's the mother, I wonder what her daughter looks like?

"Not at all, you're just in time. I was just getting ready to go."

" Mrs Black, this is Hazel my-"

"Your partner, yes I remember you telling me that this was a partnership for a school assignment. Okay, well it's nice to meet you Hazel." She says, holding out her hand.

"Likewise Mrs Black." I say, shaking her hand.

"Uh is Rosy in?" Roman says, diverting Mrs Black's attention away from me as she was just staring.

And when I mean staring, I mean staring.

"Yes, yes, right this way." She tells us, letting go of my hand and leading us into the house. The sound of the TV is the first thing we hear.

I follow suit with taking off my shoes by the door .

The inside of the house is just as beautiful and warm, giving my surroundings a swift look around but just not enough to make it obvious, that I'm checking out the house. I appreciate how spacious it is.

"One thing to know about Rosy is that she's a bit shy and will take a bit of time to get used to you. Her schedule is on paper in the kitchen. But first, let me introduce you to her." Mrs Black says, leading us through the house, glancing at us every now and then.

Getting to the living room, my eyes immediately find a cute little girl with curly brown hair paying attention to the TV.

" Rosy!" The little girl turns away from the TV and looks at her mother, who stands before us.

"Come here sweetheart." Mrs Black says, gesturing for her to come over.

We watch as the little girl rises to her feet and comes over, only for her steps to faulter when she realizes that her mother is not alone. With her searching eyes, she notices Roman first, who steps forward.

Her eyes light up at seeing him.

" Roman!" She says in surprise, running towards him.

Roman gets down on his knees and opens his arms, just in time to receive her.

"Hello Lady bug." Roman says, kissing her temple.

"You came back!" She says excitedly.

"Hmm and I brought a friend with me." Roman makes room for her to notice me.

"Hi Rosy." I wave awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

The difference I notice, between Rosy and her mother is that she's more tanned then her mother who's on the pale side. One would mistake Rosy for being more Latin black.

I wonder if she's adopted.

Rosy passes a curious look my way before looking back at Roman." This is Hazel-"

" Your bestest best friend?" Rosy asks.

Instead of an answer, Roman glances at me." Yeah...." He trails off and I have to avert my eyes elsewhere, feeling more awkward now.

" Rosy-," I gasp when I suddenly feel arms wrap around my legs. Looking down, I see Rosy hugging me and looking up at me with a bright smile.

" Roman didn't lie when he said you're pretty." My cheeks warm up at that.

I don't dare look his way, I crouch down to her level with my own smile.

"Well I think you're the pretty one. I like your hair very much." I say.

She smiles sadly at me, her eyes dropping to her feet." Children at school don't like it, they say it's too big and ugly."

I frown, hearing this.

"Well you know what I think?" She peers up at me from under her lashes.

"What?"

" I think they are jealous, it's natural and beautiful."

" Really?!" She perks up.

"Mhm hmm." I nod.

She surprises me when she launches forward, wrapping her arms around my neck.

" I want to be pretty just like you." She says in my ear.

Looking at Rosy's mother, I notice how emotional she looks watching us and Roman's no different, with his expressive eyes. Though he coughs awkwardly, he drops his eyes to his feet.

"Um Rosy? - why don't you get back to watching TV, while I talk to Roman and Hazel." Mrs Black speaks up.

Rosy leans back to look at her mother.

" Can they stay for a bit, after you talk?"

"They'll stay until you fall asleep."

"Well I'm not sleeping, I don't want Roman to leave again." I frown in confusion at this..

What does she mean by -

"Why don't we watch a movie lady bug?" Roman says, gesturing for her to follow him.

"Okay!" With that, she dashes off to her previous place, chatting away Roman's ear as he takes a seat on the floor.

" Hazel, right this way." I nod, following after Mrs Black.

With a last glance at both Roman and Rosy, I'm left with an inkling feeling that maybe Roman isn't telling me everything.

But who am I to question ?

I don't want to pry.

                          ******

Laughter bubbles out of my lips as I watch Rosy try outrun Roman, after their mini food fight. It's late in the day and early night, we've been looking after her for a few hours now and all thoughts of ruined plans, has ran out of mind.

I've been enjoying her company and wouldn't mind looking after her again in the future.

" Hazel help me!" Before I can react, she quickly takes refuge behind my legs, peeking at Roman who now stands before us.

" Rosy, that's the worst place you could hide." Roman says in amusement.

" Atleast I'm safe from you!" Rosy responds, peeking from me and sticking her tongue out at him.

Roman dramatically gasps, staggering back with wide eyes.

" Rosy, that hurt!" He drops to his knees and hangs his head low.

I can't believe he's playing the victim game on her. I hope she doesn't fall for it.

As if she hears my thoughts, Rosy steps away from behind me, a thoughtful look crosses onto her face.

" Did I hurt his feelings?" Rosy asks me.

I can't believe I'm about to do this.

Looking down at her, I nod. "I think he needs a hug to make him feel better." I suggest.

I give another encouraging nod, gesturing for her to go to him, which she does, taking slow and hesitant steps towards him. Just as she is about to reach Roman, his head picks up where he wears a smirk on his face, to show that he's been joking.

" I've got you now." Roman says with a playful villain voice, causing Rosy's steps to faulter and her to stand still.

Before she can react, he launches at her and attacks her with tickles.

Her laughter is so contagious that I end up laughing too.

" I'm s-sorry, haha Haha...Ro-" I quickly intervene before she runs out of breath.

I rush behind him, covering his eyes, just to block his view.

"Run Rosy, Run!" Rosy doesn't waste time in wiggling out of his hold and running out to hide.

I laugh out loud, stepping back from him. I yelp in surprise when he spins around and tackles me to the ground. My eyes take in Roman, who's hovering over me, with both arms on either side of my head.

We don't say anything as we stare at each other, our ragged breaths being the only sounds apart from the TV.

"Last I remember, I wasn't part of the game." I say.

"Well you're in it now."

"You just can't leave me out of anything, can you?"

"No, impossible." He shakes his head.

I open my mouth to respond, when something is poured down on top of our heads. I have to close my eyes in order to not get it in my eyes.

The giggle we hear right after tells us who's responsible.

" Rosy!" Roman groans, just when we hear a click right after.

Oh no....

"Please tell me she didn't just -"

"Unfortunately she did." I sigh.

I feel Roman move off of me and then hear Rosy's yelp of surprise and whine, when Roman grabs ahold of her.

" No, now I'm messy!"

"Yeah, well that's what you get for making us dirty, now come on, go get cleaned up." The patter of her small feet tells me that she's gone.

Something soft wipes at my eyes, relieving me when I can open them. The first thing I see is Roman looking down at me.

I hold in my laugh as I notice his white powdered face. I sigh in relief , knowing that it's only flour. We might have been lucky but not the floor, which is wet for some unknown reason.

Wait, is that chocolate?

"Come on." He holds out his hand.

I'm soon helped to my feet, awkwardly letting go of his hand and stepping back, right after.

I notice a face wipe in his hand.

" I should get us- ," he doesn't get to finish his sentence when his foot suddenly slips and he lands with his behind on the floor.

I gasp behind my hand, my eyes wide after having to watch him fall.

"Am I still alive?" He groans out, making me to burst out in laughter.

"Ha ha, very funny, now help me up will you?!"

"So demanding, sheesh." I go on to help him, holding out my hand like he did before.

I yelp when I'm pulled down to the floor once again, this time I land on him with an ' oof' coming from him.

"Serves you right." I murmur, rolling over to my back, laying next to him.

We glance at each other after a few seconds and with no reason at all, I find myself smiling at him. In return he smiles too.

The moment alone is captured on camera, when we hear a click once again.

" Rosy!" He groans, facepalming himself.

"But you said I can also take pictures."

" I know what I said, but you don't have to do this every minute."

I notice Rosy's shoulders slump from above us.

"How much is he paying you Rosy?" I ask, causing Roman's head to snap to my direction.

Before she can answer, we hear the front door open.

" I'm home!" Mrs Black announces, appearing at the doorway.

"Mommy!!" With that sound, Rosy rushes off to hug her mother, while we are left on the floor in all this chocolate mess.

So we are basically covered in both flour and their disastrous attempt at chocolate pudding.

"Hey guys, uh do I even want to know?" She says, coming over to stand above our heads like Rosy did before.

" Let's just say, things got a little messy." Roman says, sitting up right and I follow suit. "But we'll clean everything up." He promises.

"How about we get you guys cleaned up first?" She suggests, balancing Rosy onto her hip.

"Yes please, and we can get ready to go, seeing as it's getting late now." I say.

"No, don't go yet!" Rosy jumps in, shaking her head in protest.

" Rosy." Roman starts but is interrupted by my phone ringing.

Going over to grab it from the coffee table, I bite at my bottom lip nervously when I see missed calls from Danny.

This reminds me of our weekend plans and how long he'd had to wait.

" Hazel, please don't go yet." I'm given reason to look away from my phone as my eyes meet Rosy's pleading ones.

" I promise that I won't play with food and mess up your clothes again, just don't go." She has now gotten out of her mother's hold and made it all the way to me.

Oh gosh, what do I do in this situation?

I'm suppose to be calling Danny to come fetch me by now, but with those puppy dog eyes staring up at me.

I don't know what to do.

                            ******

" I'm sorry about all of this." Mrs Black says in a low voice, above a very sleepy Rosy's head.

"It's okay, I don't mind." I tell her, looking down at Rosy, who's seated on my lap and holding onto me as she tries getting comfortable.

Rosy has not let go of me ever since I agreed to stay a little longer.

" I still feel bad, I know how Rosy can get pretty attached to someone if she likes them. Roman was the first and now you, and I'm pretty sure you have plans."

"No she doesn't." Roman cuts me off from saying anything when he enters the kitchen.

I throw a glare at him, not understanding where he fits into my business.

"Let me go put Rosy to bed." I say, rising to my feet with Rosy, making sure that she's safely held in my arms.

"Um her room - ,"

" I'll show you." Roman says, already leading the way.

I nod, following behind.

"You seem to know them better then a person who met them once." I say as we head up the stairs.

"Who said I met them only once?" He throws over his shoulder.

" You mean you know them?"

"Right this way." He opens the second door down the hallway, and I'm surprised to discover that there's not much of girly decorations, to prove that this is a little girl's room.

Entering into the room, I go on to place Rosy under the covers. Meaning to lean back, her little hand clutches onto the shirt I'm wearing, which happens to belong to her mother.

Because of my wet shirt, she gave it to me to change into.

I slide in beside her and play with her hair, trying to lull her to deep sleep.

" Did Roman leave?" She questions sleepily.

"No sweetheart, I'm right here." Roman replies, taking a seat on the other side of the bed.

"Good." He chuckles at that and I smile down at her.

I watch as she tries to fight off sleep, looking so cute.

"She's the cutest, how could anyone dare tease her." I let slip as I watch her.

Glancing at him, I notice him so concentrated on her, his eyes protective.

"You're quite fond of her aren't you?" He looks at me.

"How could anyone not?"

"True."

"She made you stay, now that's an achievement."

"Yeah but I still need to leave." I try get out of bed but then she shifts closer to me, now wrapping an arm around me.

When I pass a look at Roman, he raises his brows in a ' I told you so ' type of look.

I roll my eyes, laying back in position, this time closing my eyes.

"You'd better wake me up in 5 minutes." I mumble.

No answer.

I pry one eye open.

" Roman." I warn.

"Fine, fine, whatever."

Oh he'd better....

******************************

Don't know how to feel about this whole chapter.

But it's done.

Well you guys tell me what you think.

Thank you for reading.