By the time we reached their house, Theo was bouncing on the seat.

"This is so big." He whispered to me and I nodded with a smile.

And when Scarlett saw us come in, her face lit up.

"Finally, I get to see the heroes of Zack's stories!" She crouched down to hug them.

"What's your name?"

"Noel." He said with a huge smile.

"Aw, you're such a sweetheart. And you, little guy?"

"My name is Theo. I'm five years old and I'm big too,"

Oh, not this again. He's been referring to himself as a big boy since Noel said it.

"Well, okay then big boys, why don't you go and play with my little boy?" She chuckled.

"You have a little boy too?" Theo asked, beaming with excitement and she chuckled before calling Zack.

"Well, look who's here." Zack walked towards us, with a slight limp. And right as he opened his arms, those two went running.

Well, well, look at that. Turns out big boys can hug without being threatened or bribed.

"Hey, Evelyn." Zack smiled at me after their little bromance section.

"Hey, you good?" I asked eyeing his knee. Since he was wearing a full sleeve t-shirt, I couldn't get a look at the wound and bruises.

"Yeah, I'm fine." He said and Scarlett gave him a look.

"What happened to your lip?" Theo asked and both Sasha and Scarlett gave a disappointed sigh.

"Sasha did that." He mumbled and when she gasped and looked around to throw something, he chuckled. "I'm kidding. I tripped and fell."

Maybe wearing a full sleeve shirt was a well-thought idea.

"Let's go see your little boy," Theo tugged on Zack's pants and he looked at us confused.

Since Scarlett went to the kitchen, Sasha ruffled his hair, explaining she was speaking about Zack.

Theo gaped at Zack and frowned. "But he's big like me."

"True. So, what do you guys wanna do?" Zack wiggled his eyebrows at them and a second later, three of them disappeared into his room.

When I saw Scarlett in the kitchen, I offered her to help and just like last time, she refused. And as soon as she said it, Sasha dragged me to her room.

"Welcome to my cozy room," Sasha bowed dramatically

It was amazing. A huge bed covered with peach colour sheets, lilac curtains, framed photos, flowers...an aesthetic room at its best.

"We should facetime Sophie." She said and that's what we did.

We talked and laughed as Sophie rambled on about her new date until dinner was ready.

And when I told Scarlett I'd help her serve the dishes, she waved it off. "I'll let you help next time."

A minute later when the doorbell rang, I went to get the door since both of them were busy.

"Hello," A man in a suit frowned at me and then smiled.

Tall, brown hair, light brown eyes... definitely Zack's dad.

"Evelyn, right?" He asked with a captivating smile and I grinned.

While Sasha takes after her mother's features, Zack is a carbon copy of his dad.

"Yes, sir." I stepped aside with a smile, letting him in.

"Sir?" He placed a hand over his chest and sighed. "Don't hurt the old man."

The smile on my face only got wider as he spoke.

"Call me Alex."

No wonder where Zack got that charm from.

Just as he got in, Zack, Noel and a giggling Theo came downstairs.

"Nailed the meeting?" He asked and Alex winked.

"You bet I did."

"Dad, meet Noel and Theo." He introduced them with a smile and looked at Theo. "And don't forget Theo's five years old, right?"

Theo nodded.

Alex grinned at them and shook their hands. "Nice to meet you, boys. My boy here giving you trouble?"

Noel aimed a mischievous grin at Zack and took a relaxed minute before mumbling a no.

"I assume I'm on time for dinner since your mother isn't here, complaining." Alex said, moving into his room.

"Yes, Mr Alexander and I assume you'll shower fast and that we won't have to wait for you." Scarlett appeared out of nowhere with a bowl of mashed potatoes.

"Ah yes, there she is." He chuckled before entering his room and when Zack sat next to me, I looked at him.

"I assume they haven't bothered you," I smiled, pointing at Noel and Theo.

"Not at all. I assume my little sister hasn't bored you?" He asked me back, mimicking his dad.

"Never."

"Well, look at that. You two are making fun of us, aren't you?" Scarlett smirked, raising a perfect eyebrow and Sasha snickered.

"Not at all. I assume you aren't offended?" Zack copied her and Scarlett responded by throwing a spoon at him.

Oh, I love this family.

It was Theo's time to shine while we waited for Alex. He danced, sang and even did some moves that Zack taught him, which made Scarlett glare at her son.

"What did I miss?" Alex asked as he made his way to the dining table.

"Junior MJ's dance." Zack mumbled scooping Theo into his arms.

"So, dinner?" Alex asked patting his stomach. "Not that I'm hungry."

"Yeah, right." Sasha chuckled.

Theo and Noel ate almost everything except for broccoli.

"This is yummy." Theo squealed, stuffing more pasta into his mouth.

"That's sweet of you, unlike some people." She eyed Alex with a smile.

"Oh, darling. You make great pasta." He said and she rolled her eyes.

I just love Alex and Scarlett.

"It really is delicious." I said. It was hard not to compliment something this tasty.

"She's flattered." Sasha mumbled, nudging her.

"How's your mother?" Scarlett asked as we moved to dessert.

"She's good." I nodded with a tight smile.

"You should come here often, It's nice having you three here." She said, looking at the boys and I smiled again.

"It's nice to be here."

After a few more minutes of having fun and laughing at each other, it was time to leave. A part of me was happy to return home, to sleep. The other part wanted to stay here with them.

Zack drove us back and by the time we reached home, Theo was asleep.

"Want help?" He asked me, stepping out of the car when I took Theo in my arms.

"It's okay."

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

Just as he got back in the car, I subtly let him know that I knew there were three motorcycles and that they came from New York.

He drove off with the goofiest grin ever.

                         ▪️▪️▪️

"I think we're done. We'll try the equations the next day."

"I have a test, next week." Kate said, looking at me.

"We'll be ready for it." I nodded, assuring her.

Kate was okay with her studies. If it wasn't for the nerves, she would have scored better.

After reassuring her that she'll do perfectly fine in the test, I took a bus to college.

I was busy listening to Sophie's voicemail when my shoulder hit something hard, making me turn.

"Watch where you're going, you little bitc-"

He turned, eyebrows raising high as he saw me.

"Oh, It's you." Tyler muttered and I mumbled a sorry since it was my mistake.

"Use those beautiful eyes and watch where you're going, will you?" He mumbled before walking away.

Was that a compliment? I don't think so.

But him saying that was weird.

Fortunately, I didn't get to see him for the rest of the day. Tyler was changing, I was almost sure of that. The tauntings and smug remarks gradually decreased to smirks and winks.

"He might have come to his senses finally." That was what Sasha had to say as she dropped me off at the cafe.

But I think we jinxed it because later when Tyler stormed into the cafe, I knew he was going to give us hell.

And that, he did.

He wanted a latte and the latte Marissa made for him wasn't good. He pushed the pastry away saying it wasn't baked properly.

"What is he, a chef now?" Marissa scoffed as she came back. "Fucking prick."

I guess some people never change.

********

I thought I'd only write about the dinner in this chapter. But then I was like, why not include Tyler? 😜

Please feel free to inform me if the chapters are getting boring. I can finish this story fast.😊

Thank you, everyone, who's reading this, love you lots❤️

Who's the best character in this tiny story of mine? Your favourite?

Stay safe❤️✨
Thanks again😘