Kayla Wilson

I leaned against the door after entering the house. My heart was still thumping hard against my chest. I closed my eyes and again relived the moment Zach kissed my cheek. It would be a lie if I said that I didn't want him to kiss me at that moment.

I knew he hesitated because of what I told him tonight. About my ex-boyfriend Jake, and how he ran away.

I took my heels off and started to walk upstairs when I heard someone calling out my name.

"Where are you coming from all dressed up?" Ashlin said as she made her way towards me.

"I don't think it concerns you," I snapped at her.

"I think it does, since you left the twins alone here." She fired back.

"They weren't alone. Ella was with them. Anyway, they are gonna turn 11 soon. I think they can handle being with a babysitter." I commented.

"A babysitter doesn't count, they need you here." Ashlin said.

"I'm here for them all the time. More than you at least." I said.

Ashlin opened and closed her mouth a couple of times trying to think of a comeback. I gave her a long hard look before heading upstairs into the twins' room.

They both lay on their bunk beds sleeping peacefully. Tina was lying on the lower bunk bed and I sat next to her. I slowly pushed back her hair which was on her face and leaned to give her a goodnight kiss. Repeating the same with Tulio, I stepped out of their room, closing the door behind me.

I went inside my room and changed into my comfy pajamas and brushed my teeth. After I was done with it I took my phone from my bag and collapsed on my bed. Setting the alarm on my phone for tomorrow, I went off to sleep.

***

After I woke up, I got ready and went downstairs to make breakfast for the twins as usual. I was surprised when I saw Ashlin in the kitchen trying to make breakfast. The kitchen was a mess, pancake batter all over the counter and the ingredients all over the place.

"What the hell happened here?" I called out loudly.

She looked up from the stove and frowned at me. "I'm making breakfast for the twins, if you haven't noticed."

"I've noticed the mess you made in your failed attempt to make breakfast," I replied sarcastically

"Just shut up. It's not like I do this every day." She mumbled.

"Then why are you doing it today?" I questioned.

"What you said last night had me thinking. And I hate to admit this but you were right about me not being there for them. So I wanted to change it. And do something nice for them." She answered, not meeting my gaze.

Before I could reply, I heard the twins stomping down the stairs. Their loud voices echoed from the stairs.

"What is going on?" Tulio asked behind me.

"Oh man. Who broke into the house?" Tina gasped as she saw the kitchen.

"Guys, just calm down, no one broke into the house," I said, glancing at them. "It's just Ashlin trying to make breakfast for you guys."

"Why would she do that? She doesn't know how to cook," Tina said boldly.

"Now, that's not something you say for someone who is making an effort," I said softly.

"But it's the truth," Tulio stated.

"Truth or not, the point is she is trying to do something for you guys, so you should appreciate it," I told them as I entered the kitchen.

Ashlin stared at me gratefully but it vanished quickly. I sighed loudly before cleaning up the place and putting everything in order.

After wiping my hands with a towel, I glanced back at Ashlin. She was silently watching me work. The twins were seated in the dining table waiting for the food.

"Why don't you guys help us with breakfast today? What do you think?" I suggested. The twins nodded and smiled at us.

I turned to look at Ashlin and she gave a curt nod in approval. I smiled faintly, glad that she was willing to let me help her in doing something. I gave instructions to Ashlin and the twins started helping her out.

After 30 minutes, the table was laden with food and we all settled down to have breakfast together. Ashlin was making small talk with the twins and I listened to their conversation as we ate. I was pleasantly surprised about the things that had been happening in my life, first with dad and now with Ashlin. It's a difficult thing to change your personality but even if she didn't want to admit it, it seemed like she was changing into a better person than before.

When we finished eating, I took the dishes and started to wash them. Ashlin stopped next to me and started drying off the plates.

"Thanks for today," she whispered.

"It's no big deal," I said, giving her a small smile. She returned the smile and we fell into a comfortable silence as we did our chores.

***

"When are you going back to college?" I asked Ashlin after the dinner.

"I'm staying for a week, since the twins' birthday is coming up," she replied as she flopped on the couch.

The day went on with all of us watching movies and lazing around. Ashlin tries bossing me around but I flipped her off every time she did it. But she didn't act like she usually did when I talked back to her. She glared at me the most but didn't say anything horrible to me. We talked a bit normally, mostly about the twins as our main topic.

"Did you know that Ron and Blake are also coming this week?" she asked suddenly.

"No. I'm guessing they are also coming for the birthday huh?"

"Yeah, dad called all of us apparently. He said that he wants everyone to be here this time for their birthday. Speaking of dad, I haven't seen him since this morning."

"Well, I guess he went out with his new colleagues from work." I replied.

"Okay, don't you have school in the morning? Why are you still here instead of sleeping?" She asked.

"I'm not a kid, and I was just gonna go to my room anyway. You don't have to imply that you don't want me here. I totally get it," I answered before heading upstairs.

***

"How did the date go?" was the first thing Melissa asked when she saw me near my locker the next morning.

"It was really amazing." I had just started telling her all the details when someone hugged me from behind.

"Good morning," Zach whispered near my ear.

I turned around and gave a smile, greeting him back. Some people stopped walking and stared at us, but I ignored it and Zach didn't seem to mind it either.

"So are you guys officially a thing?" Liam asked as he came to stand next to Melissa.

"What thing, Liam?" I asked, stifling back a laugh.

"This thing that is going on with you guys," he said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"I think it's safe to ask if we are officially a couple right Kayla." Zach grinned as he looked at me.

"Then are you guys officially a couple?" Melissa said excitedly.

"Yeah, we are a couple now." I confirmed for them and Zach smiled broadly.

When Liam and Melissa left, talking in excited tones about our relationship, Zach took my hands and we went inside an empty classroom.

"Are you sure you are okay with everyone knowing that we are dating? I mean it's okay if Liam and Mel knew it," he asked a hint of worry in his voice.

"Zach, everyone is gonna find out about us sooner or later. So it doesn't really matter to me. We can do whatever we want. If they noticed it, then so be it. I'm not gonna give attention to what others think or say about me." I assured him.

"So I can tell anyone who asks me that you are my girlfriend?" he said smugly.

"Yes, if you really want to," I smiled at him.

"Of course I want to tell everyone." He chuckled, pulling me close to him.

"Then that's fine," I said, giving him a hug as the bell rang.

He gave me a kiss on the cheek before we both rushed to our classes.

***

After I was done with school, I rushed to the café for my shift with Zach. We worked together while hanging out. Jack happily congratulated us when we told him that we were dating. When the shift ended, Zach dropped me off.

I opened the front door tiredly and was surprised to hear a lot of voices. I was even more surprised when I saw Ron in the house.

"Kay-kay, look who is here," Tulio yelled as he rushed to my side.

Ron turned around and smiled at me. I stood there with a blank expression on my face.

"Kayla, how are you?" Ron asked as he engulfed me in a bear hug.

I pushed him back and smiled at the twins before heading upstairs to my room without bothering to reply to him.

When I was about to enter my room I heard footsteps behind me.

"Is that the way to treat your brother you haven't seen in a long time?" Ron asked.

"What brother are you talking about? The brother who abandoned me when I needed him the most? The brother who didn't give a shit about me?" I snapped at him as I blinked back the tears.

He looked at me with regret and tried to move closer to me. I could see the pain in his eyes but at that moment I didn't care.

"Stay away from me. It won't be that hard for you anyway, since you have always been away to begin with ever since mom died," I muttered to him and entered my room and locked the door behind me. My legs gave away as I sat on the floor, finally letting my tears flow down my cheeks.

***

A/N

Another update for you guys! Hope you guys like it. ^^

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I love you guys.. <3

-Ansh