Dear diary,

This day was… I don't even know what to say. I've spent the whole day talking to Jake, and it felt so natural! Like we've been friends for years, not just a couple of hours. I've found out that he loves 80's music just as much as me, and he plays guitar. And not just that. He also isn't from London. His family moved there 3 years ago, so he knows how hard it is to start a new school. We exchanged numbers and he told me where he lives, so I can come over. Of course, I don't know where it is, but that's not important. We had lunch together as well, and after school, he offered to walk me home. I feel like we're already really close, and it kind of scared me, but on the other hand, I'm really glad that I found someone who understands me.

When I came home that day, I went straight to my room and closed the door. After throwing my bag down on the floor, I jumped in my bed and wrapped myself into the sheets. I don't really have an explanation for this behavior, it simply happened, and in that exact moment, it just felt natural.

A few moments later my dad showed up in my room, but when he saw the way I was laying, he just closed his eyes, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and then he walked away. That's the last thing I remember before I fell asleep.

* * * * *

Someone shook me.

I opened my eyes and saw my mother sitting on the floor by my bed. "I know you're probably tired, but I made you dinner, and you still have to do your homework." She said quietly as if she was afraid of my reaction.

"Yeah, just give me 5 more minutes…" She chuckled lightly and rested her hand on my head.

"How was your day?" She asked, still keeping her voice low.

Every time she woke me up and I asked her to give me few more minutes, she stayed by my side and asked me a bunch of questions to keep me up and prevent me from falling asleep again.

"It was better than I expected," I answered and felt a little smile curling my lips.

"Did you find some friends?"

I blushed a little because I remembered Jake. "Yeah, I did. I thought it's gonna be harder though."

"What did you think? That you'll have to bribe them?" She laughed.

"No, I just… I just thought I'd take more time. But it just happens so spontaneously. I'm walking down the hall, and then BANG, and someone approaches me and starts talking to me," I explained.

"Honey, I don't really know where is all this naivety of yours coming from. What else did you expect? That nobody's gonna talk to you at school, but then they will suddenly ask you out out of nowhere? You really thought that no-one's gonna approach you? I mean, look at you. That's not every day they have a chance to meet someone like you. "

I simply kept staring at her.

"Don't worry, one day you'll understand how this world really works." my mum reassured me, and then she stood up and walked away from my room. Her last sentence got me thinking…

Will I really understand this world someday?

* * * * *

Mac&cheese.

I could smell it even on my floor. I've been craving it for some time now, and it felt like my mom could read my mind.

"Mom, I love you," I said, wiping away the droll that tried to escape my mouth.

"Well, you better do. I carried you in my womb for 9 months and in my heart since I knew about you."

I smiled at her because I wanted to respond something sarcastic, but nothing came to my mind. I sat down and started digging in my plate.

"Mom, how did you and dad meet?" I blurted out of nowhere. I don't even know why I asked it, it just somehow happened.

My mom looked at me from under her long dark lashed. "Is there any particular reason why you want to know that?" She asked sheepishly and I immediately knew that she was thinking that I have a crush on someone.

"Not really, just asking, because you actually never told me about it. I just knew that you met during studies." 

She stopped eating and looked at something in distance, just like they do it in movies when they are talking about the past.

She smiled lightly and then she looked back at me." That's correct. We met during the studies. Your dad was so handsome back then. His hair reached his broad shoulders, but he cut it shorter later, he was tall and very muscular because during summers he used to help his dad with work on houses, and he had the most beautiful smile.

All the girls were into him, so you can tell he was very popular. Unlike me, he wasn't afraid of socializing.

He loved parties, and parties loved him. He had that bad boy facade, but every time I saw him, I know that there much more hiding in him.

One evening, I think it was on Friday, there was a huge party happening at some frat house. I was so happy because that meant that everyone would be there, and I'd have the library all for myself. But your dad had other plans.

He just showed at the party for like 20 minutes, and then he planned on going to the library, totally unnoticed. He was acting like he didn't care about school, and he just came here to experience some new, but deep down he was that nerdy boy who was afraid of being alone, so he decided to play 2 roles at once.

I was sitting by one of the tables, when he appeared out of nowhere, scared the hell out of me, and then he asked if he could join me.

At first, I wanted to say no, because I knew his reputation, but there was something in the way he looked at me that made me agree. We studied till late at night, and when we were done he offered to escort me to my dorm. On our way there we talked for a while, and we got to know each other a bit better.

After that, we studied together every Friday evening.

Once, it was before our finals, I told him that I won't be able to make it because I was stressing too much and I was afraid that he would be distracting me. He sounded disappointed but agreed not to meet that day.

I remember that for some reason I felt sorry for him. Back then, I didn't know why, but now I know. It was because I was already falling for him.

I was sitting on my bed, ready to rip my hair off because of how much I was stressing when I heard a knock on the door. Guess who was that? " She looked at me, smile with a smile plastered in her face.

" Dad. " I responded without having to think about it.

" Of course, it was him. He was standing there, soaked from the rain, with a grin on his face and pizza in his hands. He told me that he just knew that I wasn't eating properly, so he had to make sure I ate at least something. I would feel bad if I just took the pizza, so I called him inside. He saw the mess in my room, helped me to clean up a little, then he helped me to study some more while we are eating the pizza and assured me that I'll pass the exams because I'm the smartest person he knows.

His words helped me more than all the studying I had done.

When it was time for him to leave, I pecked his cheek and thanked him once again. When he left, I felt something I've never felt before. Butterflies.

Wait, who am I kidding? Your father didn't give me butterflies.

He gave me pterodactyls.

He called me right after my finals. He told me he wanted to wait for me outside the building, but something came up. I'd lie if I said I wasn't disappointed, but then again, I thought that I'm probably nothing to him.

I started having these kinds of thoughts, that I'm just a distraction to him, that he's just making fun of me by making me think that he cares for me.

I wanted to prove to him that I'm not that naive kind of girl. I dressed up and went to some party. Would you believe it? Me and party? I didn't even know what you do at parties…

When I was leaving my dorm, your dad was about to pay me a visit. He was surprised by my plan, but he told me that I ain't going to a party alone. So he accomplished me. 

The whole night he was by my side, making sure that no-one else touched me, and making sure that I was having a good time. He didn't let me get drunk, and thanks God for that! A real boyfriend material… " She let out a small laugh. It was so cute, how I could feel the love just from the words.

" Later, when I no longer wanted to be a part of the party, he offered to walk me back to my dorm. He also borrowed me his jacket because it was a bit chilly. On top of that, he had one arm wrapped around my shoulder 'to make sure I didn't fall', and honestly, I couldn't care less.

I wasn't even drinking that much but I was really wasted, so I was more brave and daring than usual.

So when we reached my room, we said our goodbyes, and I closed the door behind him. But then I realized, that this is not how I want this night to end.

So I opened the door, I told your dad to come back, because I was afraid that without his support I'd actually fall, and when he stood in front of me, I grabbed his collar, stood on my tiptoes and I kissed him.

Not just peck. I really kissed him with everything I had. It didn't take him long to respond. And well, let's just say he didn't return to his dorm that night… "

I gasped." It was definitely not necessary to say that! "

My mom's cheeks turned crimson red." Wait, no! I didn't mean it like that! We laid in my bed, he held me in his arms the whole night, but we just talked. Just talked! And kissed a little more...but nothing else! "

Honestly, my mom was the cutest. Every time there was an intimate scene in a movie, she'd close her eyes. And let's just say that I was nothing like her.

" Okay, I get it, you just talked. Now continue, what happened next? "

" What else do you think? We became even closer and then he asked me to date him.

But the way he did that. It was during some sports competition, I don't really know what it was because I always only came to watch your dad. In the end, he left the field and after a few seconds he showed up again and held up a huge transparent with 'Stroni Mac 'a Nia, will you be my girlfriend?'.

I was so embarrassed. Isn't this something you do when you want to marry someone? But of course, I said yes. Since then we were inseparable.

We finished school, traveled together, then we decided to move in together, we got married, and here we are.

I remember when I got pregnant and I told your father, he started crying. He hugged me so tightly I was scared something would happen to you.

When we've been told that we're expecting a girl, he cried again. And guess what he did when you were born?

Yup, he cried again. He told me that he is really sorry, but I'm o longer the only girl he loves.

Come to think about it, you weren't really a beautiful baby. I don't know what he saw at you. Well, I guess that people fall in love in mysterious ways… " I gasped again.

I knew that she was just kidding with that whole  'ugly baby' thing, but I'm kind of like an aggressive rottweiler that bites back, and if she's trying to use sarcasm against me, she ain't winning.

" Yeah, but I had to get those bad looks from someone, and as you already mentioned, dad was a hottie back that, so it only leaves one person…" I said with a straight face and her smile dropped.

Oh yeah, take that mommy.

And that was the moment when my dad decided to enter this conversation.

" Awwww, my girls are fighting for my attention? I'm flattered. Just make sure to not break anything, okay? And if you need me, I'll be standing behind a camera and taking footage of your fight." He said and winked at us.

Then he sat down, took out his phone, and actually started recording us. And this is ladies and gentlemen, the family that I live in.

Remember how a few minutes ago my mother was telling me about that really sweet guy she fell in love with? I really wonder where did he go…

"Do you know what guys? I'd looooove to spend more time with you, but those homework won't do themselves soooo, lemme just leave you here," And just like that, I left them together.

* * * * *

I didn't do my homework. Not yet. Explanation? Tiktok… YouTube… Instagram… What else should I say about this? And just when I was about to put that dang phone down and actually start studying, I got a message. From Jake.

_________________________________________

A/N: That's it for this chapter 🤭 it took me almost 2 months to write (I guess I had some writing block) so I made it a little longer than usual to make it up to you 😊 Hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, make sure to hit the 🌟 bottom & comment
Stay safe 🖤