"oh, baby, take a look around. i'm the only one that hasn't walked out"

chase atlantic — "right here"

"No, Lucifer! Fuck off!" I say as soon as I leave the room we're in. My heart beats as fast as I've ever felt it, almost enabling me to hear the music becoming louder when I join the party again.

"Stop being so stubborn and let me take you to the hospital!" Lucifer follows me closely. I don't turn around to face him, instead, my eyes start to look for Ada.

She's talking to Colin and Paul a couple of steps away from me. Without hesitating, I make my way towards her with quick feet. I want to focus my head on not bumping into anyone and maybe end up on the floor, but my head can't truly focus on what's in front of me since the image of Teddy is stuck in my head.

He's gonna be alright. I say to myself.

Over...

And over again.

"Ada!" I yell to get her attention once I'm closer. It works, she immediately turns my way and her smile immediately fades from her face as soon as she sees my worried eyes.

"Lilith? What happened, are you alright?" She walks closer to me followed by two worried Colin and Paul.

"It's Teddy, he's in the hospital. He ate something that turns out he's allergic to and we didn't know. Do you have money? Cash? I have but I need more for the taxi." I ask quickly not wanting to take a breath in.

"What? Wait— is he ok?" Ada asks taking her wallet from her pocket and handing it to me.

"I don't know! Mom took him to the hospital. She didn't say anything else than what I told you, she's freaking out." I open her wallet and start to count the money as fast as I can. "Fuck—!" I yell. It's not enough. "Why does he have to be allergic to so many fucking things?!" My breathing starts to be more heavy on my chest, my head starts to get dizzy making me feel like I'm gonna faint. I close my eyes to prevent me getting worst.

Immediately, Teddy appears in my head.

He's gonna be alright.

"Hey, hey!" Ada tries to calm me down. "We're gonna find you a way to go!"

"I have money!" A drunkenly Paul says by Ada's side so I open my eyes again. Colin quickly nods.

"Wait, fuck! Me too!" Before any of them can reach their pockets, some warm hands grab my shoulders.

"Forget about the taxi!" Lucifer says. I turn to face him and notice that he now has a jacket on his left hand while the other holds his keys. He isn't staring at me, he has his eyes glued to the front door as he tries to move me away from the group to take me outside.

"Yeah!" Ada says, nodding. "Let him take you! It's gonna be quicker and you'll probably won't get the money for the taxi! It's far, Lilith!"

I shake my head. "No! I'm going alone, Lucifer!"

He locks eyes with me. "No, I'm taking you!"

"Here!" Paul and Colin yell at the same time, but it doesn't matter, Lucifer with his big strength manages to move my shoulders making my entire body follow him with quick steps.

"Call me when you know how's Teddy!" Ada's yelling is the last thing I hear from them since Lucifer is practically dragging me out of the house.

"Lucifer!" I try to complain, but he isn't letting me go.

"Shut up and go with me on the motorcycle!" His tone is firm as he's eyes are on the door. As soon as we both walk through it the wind hits my skin as a slight feeling of goosebumps surrounds me.

I don't even have the chance to look anything around me since Lucifer's motorcycle isn't that far from where we're standing. He lets go of my shoulders when I locate it in front of me, big and black under the shine of the moonlight, he sits down and quickly turns it on letting me hear the sound of the engine on my ears.

My phone vibrates again.

I look down to see a new message, making my heart drop to my stomach once again. It's my mom. I hesitate on reading it and stare at the black screen, the worst scenario just went through my mind and I don't think closing my eyes would prevent me from feeling worst than I already am.

He's gonna be alright.

"C'mon." I hear Lucifer say over the sound of the engine. I look at him. His eyes shine while staring at me, he doesn't hide the worry in his eyes just like that time at his apartment when Damian showed up. "Don't make me pick you up to sit you down, because I will." He nods without taking his eyes away from me. "You tell me where it is and I'll take you, Lilith." My heart speeds and I don't open my mouth even if I don't want him to come with me, my throat closes remembering my mom's message and the image of my brother laying down in a hospital bed...

He's gonna be alright.

I don't argue.

Lucifer's all I have.

I type the location on my phone and turn it around for him to see once the road shows on the screen. He immediately nods and grabs my phone placing it on a device for phones in his motorcycle. I sit down not wasting a second, and Lucifer soon checks if I'm comfortable behind him. I wrap my arms around his waist ready for him to start his way, and once he confirms that I'm secured, he turns to the front as the motorcycle leaves the house behind.

My body is getting colder as the ride becomes faster. My hands on his stomach look for warmth, and even if the wind is still hitting my skin, that somehow manages to calm the cold down at least a little bit. I try to close my eyes to shut my head off but when I do, Teddy comes back to my head. He's always been allergic to a bunch of things. Since he was a little kid he had lists about what made him blow up and what didn't. Always checking what he could eat or not, even I had to learn what to feed him when mom went into her depression season after her break ups. Even then, there's always something that he misses or even something new that appears. The image of him laying on the hospital bed shows up in front of my eyes and my throat immediately closes.

He's gonna be alright.

It feels like the ride is never going to end, longer than I've ever experienced it,  when I see some familiar trees passing by and the white walls of the familiar hospital where my mom used to take me when I was sick.

The sound of the motorcycle stops and I immediately step away from it to grab my phone from Lucifer's motorcycle. I walk towards the big and long stairs not wanting to waste any seconds, feeling my chest getting tighter the more I spend without answers, even then, I first turn to face Lucifer, expecting to see him ride away happy that he did what he wanted. But for my surprise, he's right behind me with his jacket in hand.

"What are you doing?" I ask stopping him by placing my hand on his chest.

"Coming with you, where else?" He tries to move aside but I move with him, preventing him to take another step.

"You're not coming with me." I quickly say, shaking my head.

"Ah, yes." He nods giving me a fake smile. "You and your tiny hand will stop me, sure!" I roll my eyes. "I'm not gonna let you go inside alone."

I nod, again. "Yes, yes you are." I push him back but my weak arm can't do much, he doesn't even take a step backwards. I turn around hoping he isn't following me, understanding that I don't want him inside, when as soon as my feet arrive by the door, I feel his presence by my side.

"Lucifer!" I yell without stoping.

"Don't argue!"

A chuckle leaves my mouth. "You're looking for that on the wrong person! Stay back!"

"No!"

"Fuck you, then!"

"Fuck you too!"

My hands push the door to immediately walk my way towards the front desk, where a lady with long black hair is sitting behind it.

"Excuse me," I say and the woman looks up at me "I'm looking for a boy with the name Tadeo Avery, I'm his sister, Lilith Avery."

She nods as her eyes go to the screen of the computer in front of her and her fingers move as fast as they can. "Yes, he's on room fifteen at the end of the hallway." She points to the side but I don't turn to it, since my tongue can't wait to let out the question that has been in my mind since mom called.

"Is he alright?" My heart speeds. The wait of the woman typing and looking for an answer seems like it's taking forever. My throat starts to close up again.

Type faster, DAMN IT!

"Yes—" She says looking back at me making my heart and chest get filled with a giant wave of relief. "The doctors are now doing some more studies on him but he's going to be alright, Ms. Avery."

"Thank you." I say to her with the intention to turn around and head towards the hallway she pointed at, but her words stop me.

"Mrs. and Mr. Avery are there waiting for you, Ms. Avery." She smiles at me, innocently.

I think my head went into stupid mode, because I definitely heard that wrong.

There's no fucking way.

"Wait— Mrs. Avery?" I ask.

Please say no, please say no, please say no.

"Yes."

FUCK!

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ms. Avery."

"Like... definitely, 100% sure? You didn't had a stroke and read that incorrectly?"

She raises an eyebrow but then a little chuckle comes out of her mouth. "Mrs. Avery specifically told me to inform you that she's gonna be waiting for you."

Oh, yep. That's her.

"Fuck my life." I let out without even thinking. The woman stares at me confused at my choice of words, realising this, I just smile at her awkwardly. "Sorry."

I finally turn around after closing my eyes and letting a long sigh. What are they doing here? This can't be happening right now. It's all a nightmare and I'm gonna wake up... now!

I open my eyes to see Lucifer standing in front of me.

The nightmare definitely continues.

"What?" He asks noticing my annoyed eyes.

"What are you still doing here?"

He rolls his eyes. "Oh, shut up."

I don't want to give him any more of my attention, without giving him an answer, I just move to the side and walk to room fifteen. There's other things that I need to be worrying about right now than fighting with Lucifer.

"Shit." I let out a when I start counting the rooms by my side.

"What's the matter?" He keeps up with my fast walk. 

"My grandparents are here."

"And what about it?"

"Well— you know when you say you hate me because I'm stubborn?"

"And because you have a big fucking mouth, yeah."

I turn my head to face him with an open mouth, offended. "Unnecessary."

"But true." He adds.

He has a point.

A sudden brief of cold wind hits the skin on my chest leading my eyes down, uncomfortable with the sudden chills... "FUCK!" I suddenly stop.

"What?" Lucifer also stops and looks at me, confused.

"I can't let them see me like this!" I yell, frustrated. Lucifer's confused eyes looking for something wrong with me get my attention. I roll my eyes and push his shoulder to then point at my chest, to the obvious answer. "Boobies are out, Donovan!"

He looks down to the jacket on his hand and quickly hands it to me. "Have my jacket."

"Yeah," I nod, sarcastically "and open the door to the smell of cigarette!"

"Then find a knife and cut your boobs off, Avery!" He rolls his eyes. "Put it on!"

"Fuck." I give in and grab his jacket to wear it. When it's on I can't see my hands anymore, it's clearly giant on me and it hides my body until the beginning of my thighs making me look like I'm playing dress up with my mom's clothes. "Why couldn't I just chosen a simple top and some jeans?!" I say in a loud whisper once I start with my walk again, with Lucifer by my side. "No! I have to be dramatic and wear as little fabric as possible! I love it, but still, why am I like this?! My grandmother is gonna be so happy that she has something to criticise! I'm already seeing the huge cat smile on her lips right now."

"What is it with them?"

I read the number six on the door as we pass by.

"Well, my grandmother is the one that started the whole 'big mouth and being stubborn' on the Avery bloodline. She's the original bitch."

"Oh." I hear Lucifer say, softly.

I gently nod. "Yeah, exactly. Then my grandfather, he's not like her but doesn't hold back when he doesn't get his way." Number thirteen. "He's a money man, loaded! Isn't the worst but isn't the best either—" my voice gets shut off when I turn around the corner and immediately have to stop since my grandparents are, unfortunately, in front of me. "HEY!" I yell surprised, praying that they didn't hear what I just said about them.

My grandmother, Joyce, with her well cut short hair ending on her shoulders immediately stares at me looking me up and down. She has her typical formal skirt on while an expensive blazer is on her body. All grey while her shoes are black, probably even more expensive than her entire clothes. Her diamond wedding ring that's always shining on her finger with her perfectly cut and pastel pink nails are holding her Prada tiny bag. I look back at her eyes and notice her professionally done make up, with her light brown lipstick and some light pink blush.

Even at four AM in the morning she looks like that.

She always looks like those old ladies that I used to walk pass by the street as a kid and gave me a look of "you're in trouble, young lady!" even if I'm just standing there, staring at the air around me.

"Lilith?" She asks confused once she goes back to my eyes after staring at the outfit I'm wearing. But a surprise for me, she doesn't say anything right away.

"The one and only." I nod while smiling at her awkwardly, I don't even know what to say. I haven't seen her in almost a year and my ways of being able to communicate without getting into trouble with her seem to have taken a vacation to never came back. I look around hoping to see my mom, save myself and get away from the conversation, but she's nowhere to be seen. "Where's mom?" I ask with my eyes still going around.

"She's inside while the doctor runs the tests with Tadeo. We have to wait to get in." Joyce answers and I simply nod, giving her a little smile even though on the inside I'm practically dying and want the Earth to eat me and spit in Brazil or something. 

"Oh, it's nice to see you honey." Grandpa Philip appears from behind Joyce with a news paper on his hand. He's taller than me, a couple of heads. He's wearing a formal suit like he always does, with his perfect cut hair and his tiny grey glasses over his eyes. If you see him from a far he looks like a big and intimidating man, but once you get up close.... he's still a big and intimidating man. Less, but the truth is still there.

He gives me a smile as he take his reading glasses off his face. His smile makes him look more like a grandfather than a feared man. I once went to his work when I was a kid and the way that people treated him on his company made me think that the president just walked in, everyone treated him with so much respect and admiration that I could never get the faces of everyone out of my head. Specially grandpa's, looking at his pride and joy: his company. The most famous paper company in the city. 

I give him a tiny smile. "Hi grandpa."

"Is it me or you've grown a little bit?"

I shrug my shoulders. "Maybe you just got shorter."

He lets out a chuckle. "That could be it too, you know. With old age you just don't know what comes to you. At this point, I wouldn't be too surprised." The smile doesn't disappear from his face and I can't help but wonder when's the last time that he looked at me like that, with so much pride and love, like he's happy to see me. Or even that if he looked at me like that ever to begin with.

Something is clearly off with him.

"Why the necessity to wear such revealing clothing to a hospital, Lilith?" Joyce steals my attention from Philip. "Are you trying to give everyone a heart attack?"

Well, there's nothing off with her. That's for fucking sure.

"I saw it as an opportunity to give people heart problems and don't feel guilty because we're already in a hospital and they're gonna be taking care of in minutes." I smile at her jokingly but she doesn't laugh, instead, she looks at my outfit once again not so surprised at my comment. "I didn't chose the outfit to come here, grandma."

"And that smell of cigarette?" She asks disgusted looking back at me. "Did you bring the entire cigarette company with you?"

"Yes, they're looking for a doctor because their hearts stopped when they saw me in this outfit." I joke again.

"Is it so hard for you to take things seriously?" I'm about to open my mouth to reply but she immediately talks again, leading her eyes to the side. "Who is this man?" She crosses her arms around her chest and I feel Lucifer's presence by my side, making my head remember that he's still with me.

Damn— nothing passes by her!

"He's just— a classmate?" I furrow my eyebrows. What else am I suppose to say? He's the dude that I fight a lot but then at night we flirt too? And tonight I fucked him and I don't even know why? Sounds good to me!

"A classmate?" She asks.

Lucifer's hand reaches to Joyce but she hesitates on grabbing it. Thankfully for him, and not ending up on a awkward situation, Philip accepts his handshake with a happy smile. "Lucifer Donovan, Mrs. and Mr. Avery." He says causing Joyce to immediately let out a fake chuckle.

That can't be good.

"You have to be kidding me."

"I quite like that name." Philip says. Joyce doesn't wait to turn at him, extremely confused.

"You do?" She asks, but he quickly ignores her and proceeds to point at something on Lucifer's chest.

"Is that some boxing gloves on your necklace?"

I immediately furrow my eyebrows and turn my head to see the mysterious necklace. Tiny golden gloves hang on a chain from his neck, shining under the light standing out even more since he's wearing a black shirt. How come I've never seen it before?

I definitely have seen him without a shirt on and he wasn't wearing any necklaces. All those times it was either at a fight or training, though— maybe he doesn't like to train with jewellery on? But, even then, why does he hide it under his shirt all the time?

Lucifer looks down and lets out a tiny smile, before gently nodding. "Yes they are, sr." He immediately grabs it and puts it down his shirt, hiding it again.

"That's wonderful," Philip says, excited "I'm thinking about getting the same but with a golfing stick!"

"That's nice, sr."

"Oh, please, call me Philip! I'm old but I like to pretend I'm not." Grandpa laughs, giving me a quick look and an excited wink.

What the fuck is going on? Why is grandpa being so nice all of a sudden? He seems cheerful and willingly making conversation, not only with me but with the strange man that he just met. Maybe I'm being paranoid and giving too much importance to something little, still, I've never seen him like this before and it's definitely taking me off guard.

"Philip!" Joyce immediately calls him, confused.

Maybe I'm not the only one.

"What?" Philip looks at her, innocently shrugging his shoulders. "I am."

She ignores his comment and turns back to Lucifer, with her typical serious look on her face. "What's this boy doing with you?"

"He brought me here." I say trying to give my words as little importance as possible, I don't want her asking more questions or even thinking something bigger when there's nothing there.

"And why, may I ask," she continues "was he doing with you at 3 AM in the morning?"

Well, it can't get worst than this question! What am I suppose to say to that? The only answer that comes clean is party, even then, I know that she's gonna go on and on about me going out in a week night.

So, what's better? Telling her I was sleeping with him?! Definitely not!

"Uh—" That's all I could let out.

Nice, Lilith. Well done.

"Joyce, leave the kids alone." Philip defends me but that doesn't seem to be enough for her, she keeps staring up and down at Lucifer, fiercely.

Lucifer, you always have something to say but not now?

I think Joyce's eyes killed him on the inside.

"No, I want to know. Because for the way that you two are dressed it looks like you were in a gang from the streets."

I quickly shake my head seeing the opportunity to get away from the question. "Oh, no, this jacket would be a lot more cooler." I notice that Lucifer turns to face me, knowing that he's low-key offended but not really showing it. I lock eyes with him to shrug my shoulders innocently. "They have cool ass jackets!" He grows a little grin in his lips liking my comment. 

"Language, Lilith." Joyce quickly adds and I meet her eyes once again.

"I just said ass."

"Don't say it."

I roll my eyes. "Fine— they have cool as butt jackets!" I want to laugh but the annoyance on Joyce's eyes makes me eat it inside to then see how she slowly turns to Lucifer, ready to torture him again.

"So, your name's Lucifer?"

"Yes, Mrs. Avery."

"You're birth name or you changed it later on, because you wanted to?"

"Birth name."

"And what do you do?"

"I box."

"And you gain money?"

What's she doing?! Interviewing him for a loan?!

"Yes, it's a job."

"How much?"

I immediately open my eyes, wide. "Grandma!"

"You don't ask that, Joyce." Philip says by her side.

"Philip," she adds offended "I just want to know if this boy is enough for our granddaughter!"

ENOUGH?

"What?!" I close my eyes with strength and slap myself with the palm of my hand in the forehead. This is too much for me. "Alright, that's enough. You?" I point to Lucifer once I open my eyes again. "Follow me."

I grab his arm and pull him to the other side, far away from my grandparents. I can still see the door with the number fifteen in it, ready for any news.

I can't believe Joyce thought I'm with Lucifer!

In my worst fucking nightmare, that's for sure.

"This is a disaster." I say softly shaking my head once I know neither Joyce or Philip can hear my words. I don't think it would matter now, though, they're having their own interesting conversation.

And by interesting I mean Joyce lecturing Philip about something.

"I've been stared at by a lot of muscular, big and intimidating men that want to break my head in two—" Lucifer says so I turn to face him, he has his eyes glued to Joyce "but all of that, doesn't compare to your grandmother staring at me with her killing eyes."

I smack the side of his arm making him meet my eyes, confused. "This is why you shouldn't have come with me!"

"Look, I know what I just said but I can handle her."

"Lucifer, do you want to fight my grandmother?!"

He rolls his yes. "Yes, take her to the ring because I want to fight an old lady! What are you talking about?! Of course not!"

I grab his arm to move his body towards the exit door, hopefully he'll get the hint that I want him gone. "You need to leave, everything's already a mess."

He doesn't walk away, instead, he slightly shrugs his shoulders and despite me trying to move his body for him to start walking, he turns to face me like nothing just happened.

I seriously need to start gaining some strength.

"I thought it was fine." He says and I immediately shake my head, letting out a fake chuckle.

"Oh, Lucifer you know so little about my family. Go back to the party or your apartment. You've done enough." He's about to reply to my words opening his mouth slightly, but his eyes move away from mine to something behind me cutting his strange words off.

"Lilith!" I hear my mom calling my name. I don't hesitate, my head quickly turns back for me to meet her eyes.

"Mom?"

With her long and black curly hair, her shiny lipgloss she gives me a half smile and waits for me to walk towards her. Her black jacket with a million of pockets make a noise when she spreads her arms around me, holding me tight in a hug.

"How is he?" I ask her without breaking the hug as her hand caresses my back.

"He's alright, he looks a little puffy right now but better."

"What happened?" I look into her eyes and feel a long breath come out of her mouth hitting my skin. She's still worried about Teddy, even if we've been here before, each time it's as scary as the first one. My heart beats a little bit faster like I can feel the fear she experienced an hour ago when she rushed into the hospital, and I hate it.

I don't like seeing her like this.

"We were going for a snack after movie night and just like always he ordered something that we know he can eat, but I guess they added something new and that's what caused the reaction. The doctors are trying to tell what it was."

"Can we go see him?" Joyce appears out of nowhere by my side, followed by Philip.

My mom nods. "Yes, but I think—" They don't listen to her, as soon as she says those words they quickly walk into the room "Lilith deserves to go first." My mom finishes her words rolling her eyes. "I guess never mind."

"It's fine," I give her a little smile "leaves me to relax from the killing stare of grandma."

She grabs my arm and gives it a little squeeze. "It's tiring."

"Yeah, if you don't mind me asking, mom— you know... what the fuck are they doing here? And why didn't you warn me?"

She furrows her eyebrows. "I did."

"No you didn't."

She nods. "I texted you."

Oh... so the last text was about that. Well, shit.

"When I was trying to call you I was freaking out so much that I accidentally typed mom's name instead of yours."

"Yes, because Lilith and Joyce are so similar."

She gently smacks the side of my arm. "Hey—" She says, but I know she's holding in a chuckle.

"I'm kidding!"

Finally, as she shakes her head a little laugh escapes her mouth and I smile knowing that at least I'm making her feel a little better. Her eyes suddenly turn to my side immediately furrowing her eyebrows, confused. "Who's that? Is he with you?"

Fuck.

Lucifer, would it be too much trouble for you to become invisible?

"I'm Lucifer Donovan, Ms. Avery." He says appearing by my side to shake my mom's hand. He sounds so respectful and well behaved... nothing like the Lucifer I know.

She lets out a smile as she gives me a quick look. I don't know if she's more confused or excited, her creepy smile doesn't let me figure out much.

She shakes her head once she goes back to Lucifer and accepts his hand. "Oh, don't call me that. Makes me sound old, Celia is better."

Lucifer nods. "Celia it is, then."

She goes back to me and crosses her arms on her chest, with her smile even bigger on her lips. I can't help but smile at her awkwardly. This isn't gonna end well. "And Lucifer is—?"

"A classmate." Lucifer replies before I can.

"Right." My mom slowly nods but she isn't convinced. She goes towards my jacket and tilts her head to the side, like her brain is having a train of thought and it's putting it all together.

She knows.

Oh, she fucking knows.

When my mother was a teenager she used to be like me, everything I've learned about sneaking out and going to parties, having a good time I inherited from her. Of course, I know half of those things she used to do because she doesn't want me following her footsteps. But I know she wasn't the calm 'let's say inside and study' type of kid. So, believing that we were at a party at 3 AM together and we're just classmates, even though that's half true, wouldn't cut it for her after seeing me with Lucifer's jacket.

It's definitely not gonna end well.

For my luck, before she can say anything or even open her mouth, her phone vibrates. She lets out a smile and quickly turns around to answer the call, leaving Lucifer and I behind.

That was a close one.

Lucifer has to go now.

"I'm gonna get you some coffee." Lucifer says softly against my ear. I turn my head to face him with my eyebrows furrowed, and before I can open my mouth, he gives me a grin slightly shaking his head. "I'm not gonna poison it."

"Now that you said it I believe it even more."

"Sugar?"

I grab his arms and pull him to the other side, indicating the door. "Go home, Lucifer."

He lets out a smile, ignoring my words. "I'll bring one for your mom too. Sugar for her?"

I shake my head. "Go home!"

He starts to walk so I let go of his arms. Finally! He's going away! "Sugar?" He asks a couple of steps away from me, still with a grin on his lips.

He doesn't give up!

"Go home!" I repeat, and again, he shrugs his shoulders as a response without stopping his walk.

"I can't hear you!" 

I roll my eyes. "Asshole." Turning around to face my mom again I notice that she's no longer talking on the phone, I walk closer to her. "Who was that?"

"It's Jackson." Jackson? Who's he? "He says he's close."

"Who's Jackson?"

"The guy that I'm seeing."

Ah.

There it is.

The moment I've been expecting since mom told she was going on dates with this guy. I hate it, and more, the fact that he's going to come here. I'm surprised, I have to be honest, even if we haven't had something like this in years no dates of mom ever came to see us. Or even cared enough to know more about us to begin with.

She seems excited, the way that she can't stop looking at her phone and smile. My stomach turns at the sight of it. And fears what's gonna come next, her not being able to get out of bed because of her broken heart. This guy is even getting her hopes up by being interested in Teddy... it has to be fake. No man has even been this nice.

He has to be doing this for something.

I just wish I could do anything and stop it, prevent it from happening. But my hands are tied and unless mom is the one that break things up, I can already see myself having to live at home because Teddy can't live by himself and help mom get better.

It happened so many times, that by just remembering it, my chest hurts.

"He's coming here?" I finally ask softly, getting her attention.

"Yeah."

"Are you making him come here?" I can't help but ask.

She tilts her head to the side, confused. "Yes, because I'm some sort of witch that can make men do whatever I want."

A chuckle leaves my mouth. "That's not a witch that's a woman who knows the true power of her gender."

"As soon as I called him he told me he was coming."

I suddenly stop, now it's even harder for me to process her words. "He truly wants to come here?"

"Yes."

"Why?" I ask, confused.

"Lilith, when a man cares about you he wants to make sure you're alright. It isn't that hard to understand, baby." She touches my arm and gives me a little smile, but I still don't believe it.

The sound of the door hits my ears. I turn to it to see the nurse walking inside the room, and soon, Joyce and Philip come out of it carrying a strange argument outside.

"I don't care!" Joyce yells, followed by Philip. "I'm buying him a car!"

"He's fourteen! What's it gonna be of the car until he turns 16?"

I turn to my mom to see that she's as confused as I am. "How did they end up talking about cars?" I ask, she just shrugs her shoulders.

"The wonders of their relationship."

"Philip, I'm buying him a car because who knows if we'll be here in two years. Who knows if we will have the money in two years! I'm not gonna waste time!"

Mom takes a step closer to them. "Don't you think it would be nice to talk about it with his mother?"

Both of them turn to her. Joyce looks at her startled, like what her daughter said was outrageous. "About what?"

"If I allow it!"

"That's nonsense. Why would you say no to a car?"

"Because I know me when I was younger, I know the trouble a fourteen year old can get in in a car."

"Alright," I step in "I'm gonna need to hear those stories." Philip laughs after my comment leading to Joyce quickly smacking the side of his arm.

"Philip!"

"I just remembered when you stole my car and couldn't even get out of the garage! Trying to be sneaky never worked for her."

I guess my mom isn't gonna be the one who tells me all of her crazy stories after all.

"You stole the car?" I turn to see her, surprised, but she doesn't even answer, instead, she smacks her forehead with the palm of her hand.

"Dad!"

"And you tell me I was a troublemaker!" I say to then let out a loud laugh joined by Philip. Joyce, all she does is roll her eyes turning to the side as she crosses her arms on her chest. She suddenly looks surprised when her eyes locate something, and quickly holds herself more straight than before.

"Celia?" A male voice asks before I can see what Joyce is looking at.

My mom quickly turns her head to the side and lets out a big smile, just like the one she had when she was talking on the phone.

I know exactly who that voice belongs to.

"Jackson." My mom says and I follow her with my eyes when she walks pass me to hug the strange man.

That's when I see him. He isn't that much taller than her. With very shiny blue eyes, a puffy face and a small beard, Jackson stands in front of me. I can only catch a little bit of his hair since a beanie is on his head, but with what I can see I can tell that it's short and dark brown, going perfectly with his beard. He's wearing some old light brown jacket with jeans, boots that remind me of the ones I used to wear when Joyce made me clean her garden with her.

"Who's that?" Joyce asks with a firm voice.

Mom immediately breaks the hug and turns to her parents, she tightly grabs his arm and walks him closer to them with a smile. She's getting ready to introduce him.

This never happened before, she had never felt so secure about someone to get her parents involved. I can't help but ask myself, why is she doing this? 

"Mom, dad, this is Jackson."

"Jackson," Philip shakes his hand with a charming smile "nice to meet you, kid."

Jackson nods confidently, but his hesitant hand tells me he's nervous about meeting them. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Avery, Ms. Avery." His voice is cheerful and not so deep, like one of those happy teachers I used to love back in high school.

"And who are you to my daughter?" Joyce's voice cuts the genuine moment between Jackson and Philip.

"Mom—" Celia is ready to say something, but I immediately cut her off.

"The gardener!"

"Lilith!"

"What?" I shrug my shoulders. "I'm trying to save you."

She shakes her head and lets out a chuckle. I don't understand why she would want to introduce them, she always said that no matter what guy she brought home they would always hate him. But there she is, with a proud and happy smile on her face ready to involve her parents with this new person on her life.

"This is my boyfriend." She says and Jackson nods, staring at her with a little smile.

Boyfriend.

She told me it's the guy she's 'seeing', not her boyfriend.

It's already serious.

My chest starts to feel heavy as my stomach turns, I cross my arms on my chest to feel a little bit of warmth since the cold of the hallway seem to affect me now a lot more than before, not even Lucifer's jacket can prevent it. My throat closes up and I swallow to ease the pain, soon enough, close my eyes for a second with strength to make it all disappear. 

But it doesn't work.

Jackson is still there with my mom.

"Boyfriend?" Joyce asks, confused, but Philip just lets out a chuckle and shakes Jackson's hand one more time.

"Wonderful! We need to set a date for dinner right away." He says and I expect my mom to answer no, or fly away from the conversion since she always tried to get away from having dinner with her parents, but instead, she just nods and hugs Jackson's arm excited.

I can already feel my heart starting to speed up at the strange situation. What's going on?

"There you go." Lucifer's voice gets my attention. I turn my head to see him but immediately go down when his hand reaches me a cup of coffee. I grab it, definitely needing something extremely hot going down my throat to prevent myself from going insane from all of this.

My eyes follow him going towards my mom to give her the other cup of coffee, which she cheerfully accepts. This moment is getting weirder and weirder every second. Lucifer being kind to me and my family, my mom being excited about having dinner with her parents and Jackson, Philip being nice and cheerful when the only time I've seen him like this in at his company.

My throat closes up again. I hate this. I take the cup to my mouth, ready to feel the liquid enter my body and calm myself down. This is definitely a dream, so many strange things are happening that if a huge banana came running to me because it wants to eat me, I wouldn't be surprised.

"Lucifer, you need to come to dinner too." Philip says with a smile once he notices he's back.

Excuse me.

What?

This can't get worst.

"What?" He replies, surprised.

"Say that again?" I ask, that's all my tongue can let out.

"Philip!" Joyce calls him. She doesn't seem to be as cheerful and excited as Philip is about the news and the whole dinner situation. I'm not the one who's getting weirded out by everything, apparently. "We need to go." Joyce says grabbing Philip's arm to start walking away from the group. "Call us when you have updates."

Mom nods. "Will do."

"And I call you to set a date!" Philip yells since Joyce is dragging him out.

"Alright!" Mom replies, with an even bigger smile.

She turns to me and for the last time I wish to see everything going back to normal, maybe she faked the excitement to not cause a scene in the middle of the hospital while Teddy is inside with the nurse, but no, as soon as she turns to me, she hugs Jackson's arm with even more strength as he leaves a kiss on her forehead.

My stomach immediately turns again. 

"What the fuck, mom?" I let out before I can even think my words.

"Oh," she stares at me with a smile to then make Jackson walk towards me "Jackson, this is Lilith."

"Yes," he quickly nods reaching me his hand for me shake "I've heard a lot about you. Nice to finally meet you." His smile is sweet and I find myself believing it for a second, but my years of experience with my mom's dates instantly take me back. I give him a little smile grabbing his hand, but let go as soon as I shake it once, not wanting to give in on anything.

"Are you gonna go in?" Mom asks me while pointing at the door.

I don't want Teddy seeing me like this, confused and almost to the point of walking away because all of this is too strange, I want to be my stronger self for him and I'm not there yet. So, I just slowly shake my head giving a step to the side.

"I'm gonna need a minute." I leave them behind without waiting for an answer.

I let my back rest on the wall and close my eyes, I don't even know what to think anymore. Of course a part of me wants to believe this is all for good and things can actually change, but it's not so stupid of me to not believe in it when I saw this happening multiple times to then see it breaking all apart in a matter of months. Ending up all in broke pieces that my hands have to pick up.

I open my eyes to meet those green eyes that I have been asking to leave for an hour now. My chest suddenly calms down a little bit, sending away that tight feeling and brining relief to my body, but I slowly shake my head looking away, expecting it to come back like it always does. No more strange feelings and thoughts for today, please.

"Go home, Lucifer." I say softly to then take the coffee towards my mouth.

"Yeah." He nods without giving me his attention, instead, he looks down to his coffee while shrugging his shoulders.

"I mean it."

He nods again, innocently. "I know."

"Then what are you still doing here?"

He lifts his cup and gives me a half smile. "Coffee."

I roll my eyes with a sigh sleeping through my mouth. I don't want to argue.

Then let him stay.

No.

"Go home."

"Are you seriously gonna argue with me when your mom is in the room?" He says and then leans closer to my face, with a smirk. "Are you gonna show her your dirty mouth?"

A fake chuckle leaves my mouth. "I got it from her, she wouldn't be surprised."

He bites his lower lip giving a quick look to my lips, when a laugh comes from my mom it makes him turn his head towards her and Jackson, who just broke a hug they were having.

"He seems nice." Lucifer says softly while going back to me.

I quickly shake my head. "No."  My eyes are glued to them. 

"No? He makes your mom happy, that's for sure. Why no?" I don't want to give him an answer, my eyes move away from them to the door with the number fifteen in it. Maybe if I walk away from all of this and just talk to Teddy I'm gonna be alright, he always manages to make me laugh no matter what.

I see the nurse coming out of his room and then telling something to my mom, she nods gratefully. 

"I'm gonna see Teddy." I say turning to see Lucifer, who's already looking my way. "Go."

He nods. "I'll go." His soft voice hits my ears. I don't trust him, not even a little bit, moving his shoulders to the other side of the hallway I push him towards the door, and this time, he starts walking just like I asked. As soon as I let go, he turns around to face me, but all I give him is a annoyed smile and a wave. "Bye bye." He lets out a grin while winking at me, he's so annoying. Rolling my eyes, I wave even quicker for him to get the hint, and luckily for me, he finally turns around leaving the room behind.

Realising what my body is doing, I immediately make the sudden strange smile disappear from my face.

Oh, no.

Ignoring what I just did, my body turn around to the door and walk towards it, soon, my mom touches my arm. "Are you gonna go in?" She asks and I simply nod, not giving my attention to Jackson by her side.

She lets out a smile heading her eyes to see Jackson and grab his arm. With decisive steps, the both of them walk inside the room, leaving me with astonish eyes at what I just saw.

My heart drops to my stomach.

What now? Visit Teddy all of us together?

Like what? A fucking family?

No. That's not what we are, not with him. He's just a new guy she's dating and now I have to see my brother with him in the room? Why does he have to be here? Why can't he just go and leave my mom alone? What does he want?!

My chest starts to feel tighter as my heart speeds, my throat closes up again and I hate that I can't stop it. I close my eyes but that doesn't help. Without hesitating, I turn around and leave the door to take some fresh air ready to calm myself down before everything inside of me becomes a bigger mess that it already is.

As soon as I push the front door of the hospital the air hits my nose, my chest feels better but my heart doesn't seem to want to stop its speed. Seeing the white long stairs in front of me, I walk towards them to sit down land leave my coffee by my side, covering my face with my hands while my elbows rest on my knees.

A fun night out turned into a whole nightmare.

One of my biggest wishes in the world is for my mom to be happy, she deserves it and if I could make it happen I would. I want to believe that Jackson can be it for her, but as soon as I do, my head makes me remember all those times she came home crying directly going to her bed as she left the the broken pieces of her heart on the floor.

There's no escape, love always ends up the same way. It's stupid and it will always break your heart. Yes, there's a lot of people who find their love and live happily ever after, but those people are either fake or they have some type of luck that I know my mom doesn't possess. Love is stupid, and as long as it stays away from my mom, I know we're gonna be just fine—

The sound of someone sitting down next to my hit my ears. Opening my eyes, I turn my head to the side. Lucifer's looking down to his coffee with a little smile on his lips, ready for me to throw words at him because he knows he shouldn't be here.

"Lucifer?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows. "What are you still doing here? I thought you left."

He slightly shrugs his shoulders locking eyes with me. "I said that to shut you up."

I roll my eyes as I look away. "You're very nice." I say sarcastically before hearing a chuckle from him.

"Thank you."

I let out a long sigh when my heart starts to calm down, going back to the normal speed. I close my eyes hoping to feel everything fade away.

"What's wrong?" Lucifer's voice manages to do it for me before I can even try. 

I quickly look at his eyes. "Why do you care? There was definitely something on the alcohol at that party. Only drugs can make you act this way."

A chuckle leaves his mouth. "I know what it feels like to be a big sibling and worry. I'm a big brother of three sisters."

Wow.

I have only one little brother and he's already a pain in the ass.

"Three?"

He nods. "I never get bored."

"I'm sure of that."

"And I also," He suddenly stops hesitating on his next words. I lift an eyebrow waiting for him to finish, but he just looks away and tilts his head to the side giving in to the silence for a couple of seconds "wanted to make sure you were alright."

'Lilith, when a man cares about you he wants to make sure you're alright. It isn't that hard to understand, baby.' My mom's words come back to my head as soon as he finishes with his sentence. I want to erase it but I think about it again, and this time, making the words 'when he cares about you' even more louder inside my head.

When he cares about you?

Lucifer doesn't care about me, why would he?

"Because you know what it's like, right?" I ask with all my thoughts a mess inside my head.

His eyes meet mine while his mouth doesn't open. Slowly, his stare travels down to my lips. A pair of butterflies run wild in my stomach, and I hate them as soon as they appear. Making myself annoyed since he isn't talking, a long breath escapes me.  Lucifer still stays there, silently, his fingers wrap together as his eyes go down to my neck for second, until he goes back to my eyes to nod slowly. "Yeah." He adds, softly. All of that makes me doubt my own question, even if he already answered. "Hey, about tonight—"

"What about tonight?" I cut him off shaking my head and looking away. "We fucked, that's it. We move on and we never see each other again. That's how it works with me."

"With you?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Good to know."

"And yes, I'm on birth control but I'm gonna take the morning after pill. You don't have to worry about running away."

Not hearing a response to my joke, I turn my head to lock eyes with Lucifer and find his green eyes already looking my way. He gives me a smile as he shakes his head, slowly. "I wasn't thinking about that." He says, softly. Turning away from my eyes I hear a laugh coming out of his mouth. "It's definitely gonna be a demon baby." I furrow my eyebrows without giving him an answer, what does he mean by that? "Lucifer and Lilith?" He asks, jokingly. 

I nod. "Yeah— with the genes of my grandmother, my mom and me it's definitely gonna be."

"Your grandmother is one scary woman."

A find myself laughing at the firm voice of Joyce and her eagle eye. "She literally saw everything wrong with me today, not a single thing passes by her!"

We both laugh and for the first time since I came into the hospital, my chest isn't worried, my stomach doesn't turn and the butterflies are nowhere to be seen. It's like I'm back to normal and I can finally let myself relax under the slight light of the day peeking through. I close my eyes and let out a long breath out when I hear a noise coming from Lucifer, I turn to see his eyes.

My stomach suddenly turns again, nervous from his attention on me. His shining eyes are staring at me while a little smile is on his lips. Not knowing what to do I cross my arms together with my elbows still resting on my knees. His eyes won't stop staring and I find myself not hating it, instead, more confused on why he's staring at me like that. And, worse, what's it doing to my stomach, the butterflies are back rioting inside of me, my heart speeds just like times before as the air around me feels further away from my body. It's not the kidn that I was feeling before with Joyce, Philip or my mom and Jackson. It's, somehow, different. "What?" I can't help but ask. 

Instead of giving me an answer right away, Lucifer slowly shakes his head first. "It's about to be morning and we're not fighting." 

"Pick a subject, then." He looks at me, confused. "To fight." He stays quiet, and to be honest, I don't have anything either. "Nothing?" He shakes his head and I pretend to panic by looking around quickly. I hear a chuckle coming from his mouth. Then, I see the cup of coffee by my side so I grab it to wave it around his face. "You didn't put enough sugar on my coffee! What's that about, Donovan?!"

He laughs but then shakes his head, annoyed. Giving in to the fake fight. "You don't need more sugar in your system, Avery!"

I open my mouth, pretending to be offended. "And who are you to tell me what do I need?!"

"A classmate, according to you!"

"Well," I shrug my shoulders "aren't you?!"

"Yes!"

"Then I didn't lie!" I yell, but can't help and let out a laugh, followed by him. I leave the cup by my side again to cross my arms around my chest. "It's not the same."

"No, it isn't."

"Don't worry— we'll find something."

"Let me buy it for you." He quickly says. 

I turn to him, confused. "What?"

"The pill."

I shake my head. "I don't need your money, Donovan."

"I'm gonna do it anyway, Avery. It's my... you know."

I chuckle leaves my mouth. "You can say it, we're not fifteen anymore. We clearly proved that two hours ago."

I unintentionally go to his hand and the sudden image of it grabbing my neck to pull me closer and kiss me comes back to my head, making my chest feel heavy by it. It's so sudden that I have to take a breath in for me to not let out a smile that's fighting to come out.

That was definitely something. And I can't seem to get it off my head.

Go away.

No.

Fuck off!

But I liked it!

I— now is not the time!

"What now?" Lucifer cuts my thought short.

"What about now?"

"Never see each other again? We keep fighting? Because I have to be honest, I have fun annoying you."

"Yeah, I know." I nod, rolling my eyes. "You're still here, so, clearly."

He laughs. "We still have to see each other at work and at class, what about that?"

"There's a word that I love: ignore."

"Don't act like you can ignore me, Avery."

I immediately lift my hand and place it in front of his face. "Talk to the hand."

He doesn't hesitate on grabbing it to move it close to his face. "I'm gonna buy you the pill!"

I let go of his hand to stare at his eyes instead. "No you're not!"

"See! You can't ignore me." He gives me a smirk. 

He's an idiot.

"You suck."

"Right back at you."

I give him a thumbs up. "Great comeback, Donovan."

He grabs my hand and I feel his soft skin touching mine, the familiar wave of electricity hits the back of my neck. "I learn it from the best." I quickly let it go. "What about... friends?"

A fake chuckle leaves my mouth. "Hell, no."

"Fine," He says, annoyed "then— enemies?" I furrow my eyebrows. The hell is he talking about? "You think I suck, remember?"

"Yeah, but, enemies? Where are we? In a super hero movie? Let me know so I can go after Bucky Barnes," I stop but I quickly add "or Natasha Romanoff, whoever is closest."

"So, what?" Lucifer says while letting out a chuckle. "Two people that fucked and now they're gonna ignore each other?"

"Yep." I quickly nod. "Welcome to the college experience. But if you want to fight, I'll welcome with my hand ready to slap you. I won't argue that. No, wait— I will argue."

He stares at me with his green eyes shining under the little light of the day, now more intense. "Glad to hear that." He smiles at me and I can't help but do the same, it's like my body is controlling itself without hearing my brain. His eyes go to my lips staring at them as a million of thoughts are going through his mind, they don't last long there since they go down to my neck, to then meet my eyes once again. I can't understand what's he doing or even what's he thinking at this point, he keeps doing this with his eyes and I wonder if he's thinking about last night. I've been worried about Teddy or the weird situation that my mind hasn't think about it since it happened. Not about us or what it meant, more about how he made me feel. I have to be honest, no one has eve fucked me like that. Or even made me feel like he did afterwards.

A question that I used to have on my mind before all of this, what makes Lucifer so special that he makes me feel like this?

Does it have to do with him... or me?

And what I feel about him?

No— that can't be it. I feel nothing, he's just another guy. That I completely hate. Nothing more.

Lucifer looks down and I follow his hand when it goes to his back pocket to grab his phone. "I have to go train." He says after looking at the time.

I roll my eyes. "Finally you're leaving! Fuck off!"

He doesn't respond to my comment, instead, he gets up from the stairs as he leaves the phone back on his pocket. I still don't understand why is he being this kind to me, the entire day he didn't even replied to my comments or insult me in any way.

And I didn't even said thank you once... am I actually considering that?

"Do you have a way to go back?" He asks. "Let me know and I'll pick you up if you need a ride."

It's getting even more strange.

"Why do you keep being nice to me?" My mouth lets out before I can even think.

He furrows his eyebrows confused on my words, but then a smile escapes his lips. "Am I supposed to be mean to you while your brother is in the hospital?"

"You're making me want to say thank you. And I don't like being nice to you."

A chuckle leaves his mouth as he places his hands inside his pockets. He doesn't say anything back, instead, he leans closer to my face to end right on the edge of my nose, to the point where I can feel his breathing against my skin bringing the memory of him kissing my lips hours ago.

The butterflies are back in my stomach. Can you all take a vacation? Leave me alone? Please?

I don't move away as a grin appears on his lips, I don't understand what's he trying to do since no words come out of his mouth. I don't say anything waiting impatiently for his action, he stares at my eyes for a couple of more seconds, suddenly, for my total and complete surprise, he turns to the side to leave a gentle kiss on my cheek. "You're welcome." He says in a whisper against my ear. A slight set of chills surround my skin, but I let out a long breath out not wanting to see him how it's affecting me.

Lucifer doesn't meet my eyes again since he immediately turns around, leaving me with nothing but total confusion on what's going on inside of me.

I quickly get up from the stairs ready to leave whatever  that was behind and to finally see Teddy. Walking inside the building my eyes immediately locate how Jackson is standing in a corner while talking on the phone. ! walk with speed towards Teddy's room knowing that he's only with mom. Once I turn around the corner and see the number fifteen on the door, I push it to meet Teddy's eyes. He lets out a big smile but my attention go towards his hospital bed, I try to ignore the tight feeling on my heart to walk towards him. Mom steals my attention when she walks closer to me.

"Lilith! There you are." She grabs my arm to pull me towards Teddy.

"Stupid!" Teddy yells, greeting me.

"Poop head!" I hug him tightly, or at least what the bed allows me.

"I thought you weren't going to come, I was about to call you and insult you in every language I know."

I break the hug while lifting an eyebrow to lock eyes with him. "So, english?" He rolls his eyes and playfully pushes me back. "I wouldn't miss the opportunity to take a picture of you like this to bribe you later." I quickly take my phone and take a picture. "No way."

"Lilith—" mom calls me.

"What!? It's my duty as a big sister." Resting my waist on the bed I turn to Teddy, who looks at me with a puffy eye. "How are you?"

"Better."

I lean closer to his face before he can say anything else. "Scare me like that again and I'll kick your ass." Making a mess of his hair, he tries to take my hand away from his head, but doesn't even manages to move me to the side.

"You suck!" He complains while brushing his hair with his fingers.

"Oh, who are you trying to look cute? The cute nurse?" He rolls his eyes when mom touches the side of my arm, my attention goes to her.

"Grandpa called, they got home safe."

I nod, uninterested. "Good to know."

"He apologised, Lilith."

Maybe that's where the whole being 'nice' was about.

"That's why he was being too nice."

Mom nods. "He misses you, a lot."

"What about grandma?"

"She didn't talk, but I know she does too."

I roll my eyes. Yeah, sure. "Weird way of showing it." Suddenly the image of Jackson and mom excited moments ago appear in my head. Her giant smile and her excited hug with Jackson, I need to know what was that about. "Are you actually going to have dinner with them and Jackson?" I ask but she gently shrug her shoulders with a little smile.

"I don't know, maybe."

"Where is he now?"

"Calling his work to tell them that he's gonna stay here with me. You should go back to school, I don't want you to miss any classes." That sounds like a good idea because spending the entire day with Jackson and giving in to this spiralling of a mess doesn't sound very appealing for me. "Where's Lucifer?" Mom cuts my thought. Before I can answer, Teddy quickly turns to face me.

"Satan is here?!"

Mom lets out a chuckle. "Lilith's friend."

His eyes go even more wide. "You're friends with the devil?!"

Oh, he's definitely still under some drugs or something. "Yes, so you better be careful what you call me or I'm gonna sell your soul to him in exchange of a million dollars."

"Lucifer brought your sister here, Teddy."

"What?" He suddenly squints his eyes, like a thought just made sense in his head. "Wait— he's the guy you've been dating, that's why you where getting defensive! Aha! So it is true! I'm so smart."

I immediately roll my eyes pushing his head to the side. "No, you're not because he's not the guy I'm seeing, he's nothing. He's just a classmate that happened to be with me when mom called."

"With you, huh?" Mom said and I see the little smile on her lips.

Oh, she knows.

I need to get out of this situation.

"Doing what?" Teddy asks crossing his arms around his chest. He has a cheeky smile on his lips while an eyebrow is lifted. Mom looks at him, confused. "What? I'm fourteen, not ten!"

"We were at a party!" I try to clean the situation. "I can't even believe that I have to say this because my own family has a super dirty mind!"

"You wearing his jacket doesn't help." Mom looks down.

Oh shit— I forgot that I'm still wearing it. I look down to see the black leather jacket on my body. I tilt my head to the side, awkwardly. Now what?

"How do you know it's his jacket?" Yes, good one Lilith.

"It's so big on you!"

"Maybe I like big things on me." I cross my arms around my chest defensively, but as soon as Teddy lets out a laugh thinking a double meaning of my phrase I smack the side of his head with the empty end of the sleeve.

"Teddy!"

"I know that you're lucky your friend was there with you when I called, otherwise you wouldn't be here right now."

"He's not my friend." I immediately correct her.

"Right," she turns to Teddy to wink at him "boyfriend."

"No! In my worst nightmare!"

"Lilith, the proof is right in front of your face!"

"Proof of what?!"

"Someone who's only your classmate doesn't bring you here at 4 am in the morning!"

"Maybe he's a really really really nice person."

"Or maybe he has a really really really big crush on you."

"There's no way. That's really really really stupid."

"Are we playing something and I didn't get the memo?" Teddy cuts our conversation, confused.

"Shut up," I grab the bottle of juice from his nightstand to wave it on his face "drink your juice."

I can't even believe that my mom would think something like this. I'm telling the truth! Partly, but it isn't a lie either! And boyfriend?! No way, no, ever. Not even in a million years. Just simply no.

The door opens. "Excuse me, is Lilith Avery here?" The lady from the front desk appears causing me to furrow my eyebrows. What did I do now?

"Yes, that's me."

"I have something for you." She lifts a white envelope. "From Lucifer Donovan."

"What?" I quickly walk towards her. 

"Oh, a love letter!" Teddy yells, excited. I don't turn to look at him, I know that I'm gonna hate it if I do. Instead, I stay with the woman staring behind me with a sweet yet confused smile.

"Lilith and Lucifer sitting in a tree—" Mom starts to sing while I just hate it the more it happens. 

"They both suck, I know." I grab the envelop feeling a square tiny box inside of it. "Thank you so much."

She leans even closer me. "He also told me that you should open this alone." She whispers. Her words strange me even more, seriously, what the hell is it?

"Right, got it. Thank you."

"No problem." She leaves the room and I quickly follow her, ignoring the complains of my mom and Teddy for not letting them see what it is.

As soon as I'm outside I move the piece of paper to open the envelope and see what's the deal of the box. When I do, I notice that on the other side of it there's a note;

"Maybe you can take a picture of this so it's with the photo you took of me, Avery. I know you still have it."

See you later, classmate that I'm never going to see again.

And no, I didn't poison the pill."

Oh, no he didn't.

I immediately grab the box from inside the envelope to see a white box with red letters: AFTER PILL.

I can't even believe it, Lucifer's as stubborn as I am.

Even if I'm mad at him for doing what I told him not to do, I immediately think of something else... what picture?

I grab my phone to open the camera roll and go up to see old pictures. The only things I see are images that I took of resumes, the board, homework or Ada's notes. Typical camera roll of me in the semester.

Oh, shit.

My thumb suddenly stops.

I see it.

The picture that I took when he drove me to the fight two weeks ago.

I stare at it to see him looking at me confused with no shirt on, his skin shining under the light of the room and his tattoos getting my attention right away. Like a fast truck, the memory of tonight, me on top of the pool table comes to my head. That body making me feel things that I've never felt before, better than anyone I've ever came across. That exact same body, the one that my eyes are looking at right now.

I can't stop staring at it, more and more memories of hours ago come to my head.

His hand around my throat, the way he kissed me, his words...

"I want everyone hearing how good the guy that you hate makes you feel."

Oh, shit. I'm smiling.

No.

I immediately slap my mouth to swipe the smile away.

I didn't smile.

Did you see something?

Because I definitely didn't.

...