All good things must come to an end.

For however long our little bubble lasted, I would give anything just to stay in it forever. Like a caterpillar who never leaves its cocoon. But the end only brought me back to the harsh reality of our very different lives. Maybe we could've stayed in that space a little longer together but Harry's phone rang and the look of regret he cast in my direction after looking at the caller ID was enough to let me know that it was an important call. It was enough to remind me that whatever happened in this house...in this room...will all be over the minute we leave.

And maybe, just maybe, there will be some semblance of it during the rest of the tour where we go back to hiding behind closed doors and disguises, but at the end of it all, when he takes that last bow at the last show, what purpose do I really serve being in his life and he in mine anymore?

How do we know that this...attraction between us is real and not some concoction of feeling like we have to because we spend so much time together mixed with fantasy?

After he left the gym, I didn't feel like sticking around either. My creative juices weren't flowing anymore. Any routine ideas that I once had already dissipated.

So I found my way back to my room, surprisingly without getting lost this time, stripped off my dance clothes, and hopped in the shower. After I got dressed, I checked my phone to see that it was already after lunch and as if on que, my stomach growled at me.

I was hungry. I wonder what we're doing for lunch today.

Leaving the threshold of my room, I made it just to the top of the staircase, only hear music coming from downstairs. A very familiar song was playing. Fuelled by my curiosity, I descended the long-winded stairs and walked towards the sound. The volume grew louder and louder as I approached the living room so I made a beeline to it, only to stop in my tracks at what I saw.

You know when you were younger, you and your cousins or siblings, would dress up and put on shows for your families? Those really embarrassing ones that were caught on camera that make your older self want to secretly steal all evidence of footage and burn it to ash? Yeah, I feel like I just walked into one of those.

How do I-

I can't even begin to comprehend the scene before my eyes at the moment.

Maybe it was Mari in a considerably tiny tutu. The one she wore for her 3rd birthday.

Maybe it was Harry wearing a bedazzled pillowcase, no doubt from Mari's bedazzler gun, around his waist like a skirt.

Maybe it was the recognizable Hannah Montana "Nobody's Perfect" video of a live performance playing on the flat-screen TV that they're both standing in front of.

Or maybe what takes the cake is watching them have their eyes glued to Miley Cyrus as she performed the iconic song while they try to copy her every move.

They were so into it that neither of them saw me standing behind them at the entrance of the living room with the most confused yet amused expression I've ever held in my life. And what did I do? Leave my phone back upstairs in the bedroom. Now I had no way of documenting this comedic scene.

The video stops playing suddenly so Harry must have paused it as he held a remote in his hand.

"So is it like a one-two step? Or is it a one and two step?" Harry asks Mari with both hands on his hips.

"It goes shake, shake, shake," She demonstrates the shaking hips move from the "Nobody's Perfect" video just like Miley Cyrus, "then one-and-two, and one-and-two" She slowly shows him the footwork to the routine and I swear I felt my jaw hit the floor when Harry follows her every move. Down to the hip-shaking!

"Okay! I think I got it," He says to her confidently and she squeals, jumping up and down, "Me too!"

I clear my throat abruptly to make my presence known.

They both spin around at lightning speed to face me though not at all fazed. In fact, they seemed quite excited to see me.

"There you are!" Harry cheers, "What do you think?" He gestures to his makeshift skirt and twirls, "It's freshly bedazzled."

"Uh huhhh," I was too stunned to speak.

Mari rounds the couch and appears in front of me then starts pulling my arm in the direction of the couch, "Come onnn...you're gonna miss the show!"

"I didn't even know there was going to be one, " I say amused plopping down on the couch facing them.

"It's a one-time-only show and you're our guest of honor, " She says smiling at me. I could see how happy she was and I couldn't help but smile as well. I was so worried about her hating me this morning that I just couldn't hide how relieved I am that she wants me to be part of her little impromptu show. Harry flashes me a knowing smile, his way of saying I told you so and I playfully roll my eyes at him.

He reaches into his pocket and hands me his phone, "Would you mind recording?" He doesn't wait for a response and just leaves the phone in my possession while he and Mari work out their positioning. I watch them, still stunned at how seriously they're taking this.

"And make sure you get my good side!" He says, "This could very well be the start of my next career move."

My eyes drag from his face to his questionable attire to the paused image of Miley Cyrus mid-hip-shake. "Oh trust me, I think you'd shock the world with the amount of success you'd have with this next career move..." In comedy perhaps...

"Okay! We're ready!" Mari calls out, adjusting her tutu. Remind me to put that in the donation boxes when we get home. Poor thing is suffocating in that.

Harry's phone doesn't have a password so I easily open the camera app and switch the mode to video. I signal to them that I've begun to record and Harry hits play on the video again. The video starts from the beginning, showing a stage and curtains drawing back to reveal Miley Cyrus dressed as Hannah Montana. A snort comes out at Harry and Mari's dramatic poses, looking off into the distance for effect at the iconic opening line of the song.

"Everybody makes mistakes..."

Despite my obvious amusement, I was filled with nostalgia from my childhood and I couldn't help but feel like I was missing out. So before the dance break happened, I stopped recording and raised my hand for the music to stop.

"Wait, wait, wait," Harry stops the video again and narrows his eyes at me, placing his hands on his hips. I stand to my feet and join them on the 'dance floor' "You guys are not doing this without me"

Harry holds his hand up, "Now just hold it right there," His hand finds his hip again, "I think my partner and I need to discuss this further. We can't let an amateur on to our team all willy-nilly" I know that he's just messing with me because of the smile his lips are fighting to hide but I also know that he's keeping up an act for Mari. She's a kid. Kids love to be entertained and what better way to do that than initiating playful banter.

So I decide to play along. "Amateur? Who are you calling amateur, amateur? How do you think she learned that routine?"

He pretends to contemplate the idea before pulling Mari into a huddle, facing away from me. I watch them amused as their supposed secret conversation turns out to be just harsh whispering.

"What are we doing, Uncle Harry?"

"I don't know but just make it look like we're conversing."

"What should I do?"

"Just nod with me," I don't know what effect he was going for but all I see is two heads bopping in time with an unknown song, "Now make a serious face! She's looking!"

Serious face? They look constipated to me...

Separating from each other, Harry clasps his hands together and says, "Okay, you can join."

Harry helps me make a makeshift phone stand out of throw pillows so that it captures the three of us. We stepped back into position with Mari in the middle and Harry and me behind her on either side. He hits play on the video again and all sense of absurdity flies out the window. From the dramatic looking off into the distance to the seriousness in our faces as we sang the lyrics to the camera, even down to the overdone hip shakes.

Not to brag, but our synchronization with those was just...chef's kiss.

Probably about midway through the song, we sort of gave up on the routine and did our own thing. We jumped around, practically screaming the song to each other. What was supposed to be a rehearsed dance turned into a goofy dance-off. I finally lost it at the closing line of the song when Harry tried to do a split but ended up getting stuck on the way down. By this time, his bedazzled pillowcase skirt had fallen to the floor. His legs were spread widely apart and his face froze in an uncomfortable smile like someone who realized that they had just messed up but was trying to play it cool.

That was, however, until the music abruptly stopped at the end of the song and the sound of fabric tearing followed soon after.

Harry remained like a statue, mid-split.

"Is he okay?" Mari asked when she turned around and saw the debacle taking place.

"I don't even think he's breathing," I said, trying to suppress my laughter. I walked closer to him and waved a hand in front of his face, "Harry? Do you need a doctor?"

Seriously. His frozen face was kinda creepy. It looked like it came straight out of a horror movie.

Still grinning, his mouth barely moved as he said through his teeth, "I think I ripped my pants."

That much was obvious from the sound of the tearing fabric but I didn't want to say anything. Not because I didn't want to embarrass him but because I knew I wouldn't be able to recover if I said it out loud. Now that he did, I couldn't help but fall to the floor laughing. I clutched my stomach and wheezed when I saw the Batman boxers poking through the ripped part of the jeans.

He was still frozen in position while I failed to control my laughter, rolling on the floor.

Mari held a hand over her mouth to hide her amusement while she reached out for the pillowcase that had dropped to the floor and wrapped it around Harry's waist to cover his...batty undergarments. She wanted to laugh but she felt bad for him. On any other given situation, I would've done the same. I swear.

But this was Harry. The guy who has so much more embarrassing dirt on me. I think I'm allowed to enjoy this moment.

And it was all recorded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day

After I managed to help Harry out of his frozen position- when my laughing fit died down- and Harry changed into a pair of sweats, we spent the rest of the day watching movies with Mari (yes, Frozen was one of time). Don't get me wrong, it's a great movie if you're into that sort of thing. But it's been out for about a year now and I feel like I've seen it more than 365 times. It also didn't help how invested in it Harry was as well. I kid you not, he quoted the lines word for word. Then, of course, I couldn't not mention how they serenaded me with 'Let it Go' until I joined in.

It never occurred to me how much we form our own little version of the Three Stooges. Until today.

Now we're playing Scrabble at the dining table with cups of hot cocoa. Actually, Mari and I are drinking hot cocoa, Harry is having coffee. Black.

More like bleh. Absolutely riveting.

Though despite my obvious distaste for the hot beverage-and my speculation that he's having it purely out of mischief to annoy me- I did warn him. "Harry, it's almost 7. If you drink that coffee now, you're not going to sleep for a while. Your sleep schedule is going to get messed up."

He replied, "Mia, I'm not a child anymore. I'm perfectly capable of balancing caffeine and sleep."

"Yeah but if you wake up at 5 to box then-"

"Not a child anymore"

"Okay. Don't say I didn't warn you"

I have already started to feel sorry for Mari and I for the crankiness that we'll have to endure tomorrow. Because when he doesn't get enough sleep, everyone in close range of him will have to pay.

Wait, no.

That's me...

Thinking about it now, I've never experienced what Harry is like with a lack of sleep. Growing up, he was always very particular about the number of hours of sleep he got. You think I like sleep? Try meeting 13 year old Harry.

Harry made the hot cocoa. He won't give me the recipe. So I've devised a secret plan to pry it out of him. Some way, somehow.

But that was a mission for another day. Right now, I was thinking of the different ways I could murder him in his sleep.

And then not do it.

I still need the hot cocoa recipe duh.

"Harold, this is the fifth round and you've already cheated more than your fingers could count!" My hand slammed against the wooden table.

"Objection! Hearsay! Speculation!" He leans forward with narrowed eyes.

"Are you just listing random court terms?"

"I want my lawyer!"

Somebody's been binge-watching Judge Judy recently.

Hmm. Maybe I should pick it back up too.

"Lawyer?!" I looked at him incredulously, "Harry, it's a fricking game of Scrabble."

"And I was wrongfully accused"

"Let's play a different game," Mari chimes in from beside him. It's safe to say her voice flew right over our heads. I look from her to Harry to the board game, more specifically to the word Harry spelled with the yellow coloured blocks of letters.

F E R G A L I C I O U S

I deadpanned, "Fergalicious is not a word. You can't claim points for a word that does not exist!"

"Says who? Look at me," He draws a line from the centre of his forehead, straight down the bridge of his nose to his chin with his index finger, "I am fergalicious," I sank down into my chair with rubbed my temples, "Therefore it is a word...in the dictionary of Fergie herself."

If I could bang my head against this table, I would. But it looks like a costs more than my rent and knowing my track record, I think it's best if I don't.

I don't even know how he managed to gather all of those letters to spell that.

Though I couldn't dismiss how much I adored this playful side of him. He usually puts on an act for Mari to make her laugh and while it may drive me crazy, I know he means well. Actually, maybe a little too well. We're both playing the game of suppressing our feelings for each other but I know on my end, I'm losing badly. Us being in this house together, being in such close proximity every day, is only making me fall for him even more.

Every day all the reasons why teenage girls go hysteric around him start to make more sense. He didn't need to be some sensational Rockstar for me to know how amazing he is, but there are certain things that he does, certain ways that he acts that just make the girls go crazy. Things that I've never noticed until now.

After three more rounds of scrabble and countless, baseless accusations being squabbled over, Mari began to fall asleep in her chair.

"Do you want me to carry her?" He asks, standing to his feet.

I shake my head at him and lift her tired body into my arms. The last thing I see before turning the corner to meet the staircase is the image of him packing away the Scrabble board and letters. By the time I got to her room, she was fully asleep so I didn't bother to wake her. Instead, I rest her down in the bed and pull the math-themed duvet over her small body, tucking her in just like I used to. I watch her sleep peacefully, remembering how this was once part of my daily routine...almost 6 months ago.

I couldn't escape the feeling of wanting it back. Wanting my life back to the way it was.

But then I look around the room, from the duvet to the solar system hanging from the ceiling and smile at the little gestures Harry made to welcome her to his house. He didn't have to and I could only imagine how much it cost him to get such custom made items that will only be appreciated for about a week and a half.

I wanted my life back but he needed to be in it too. I wanted to be selfish for once and have the best of both worlds. I swear, no pun intended...

But I couldn't. I didn't know how.

I took one last glance at her before closing the door gently behind me and found my way back in the dining area. Empty. I would say that I wasn't disappointed at not spending some time alone with him but then I'd be lying to myself. My eyes caught our discarded tea cups on the dining table so I took them in my hands and walked towards the kitchen to wash them.

I was in the middle of washing the second tea cup when I felt a presence appear at the side of me. Not that I didn't know who it was but the mere fact that my body shivered when he appeared without him even touching me makes me rethink coming back down here.

Me + Harry alone = dangerous...wild and passionate but still dangerous.

He wasn't doing anything. Just looking at me. And it made me nervous. "Thanks for today. It was fun"

He hops up on the counter beside the sink. "This is what the past few days have been like. I should be thanking you for finally gracing us with your presence. Felt like maybe you got swallowed by a textbook."

Maybe it did and it finally spit me back out. I'm glad that it did.

"I haven't laughed like that in a while"

"Or smiled either" He adds.

"What? I smile!" I feigned offense, switching off the pipe.

"Forgive me if this goes against our little agreement," He says cautiously, eyeing me as I dry my hands on a kitchen cloth. Agreement? Is that what we're calling it now? "but your eyes haven't lit up when you smile in a while"

His words were affecting me. I didn't need to know that he watches me so closely and notices little things like that. I didn't know how to act, how to respond to that. Because if I said what I really felt and did what I really wanted to do, then...jeez I don't even know what would happen.

"Well still thank you. It's nice to just let go and not worry about so many things sometimes" I said truthfully and meant it while also trying to change the subject.

I think he caught on to how uncomfortable his comment made me and how I tried to change the subject. "Well then I expect payment for my services"

I turned to face me fully now, sitting on the counter, smirking down at me. I couldn't help but smile. "What do you want?"

"Smile more. It's crazy contagious" As if it were that easy. I don't think he realizes that he's seen me smile more in this lifetime than any other person in my life. It's like he intentionally works for them...double time too. Even him just saying smile more is making me smile and he grins knowing that he has the ability to do that to me. Am I that transparent?

Does anyone else remember the last time he said almost the exact thing to me months ago? When the boys stayed over at the house for an entire week? Seems like so long ago.

Good times...

Then I remembered what I was supposed to tell him all day.

"Oh, before I forget. You got the day off tomorrow"

"A day off? With your daughter? I don't think such things exists"

I let out a little chuckle, knowing how true it was. "No I mean it. I'm taking her with me tomorrow"

"You're going somewhere?" He jumps off the counter to stand in front of me with a confused face, "Where? When?"

"I'm not sure yet, " I shrugged, taking a few baby steps backwards. He was getting a bit to close and I started to feel intimidated by his stature, "I guess we'll figure it out on the way"

"We?" His face grows serious and his eyebrows furrow at me.

"I promised Aaron we'd spend the day with him tomorrow" I watched his face slowly, almost animatedly, morphed into an expression of fury. It's no secret that he and Aaron didn't have the best of first impressions and I'm really hoping that maybe the second time would be better.

"And you tell me this now?!"

Oh who am I kidding? They hate each other. At least with Harry, I know that he'll try to get along with him for my sake. It's just who he is, he'll try to get along with anybody. Aaron on the other hand...

Once his mind is set, nobody can change it.

"I forgot, okay! It slipped my mind, " What if I..."You can come, you know. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you tagged along-"

"Actually I've got somewhere I need to be tomorrow," He quickly says, turning his face away from me and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Are you being serious?" I asked skeptically.

"Why wouldn't I be?

"Then where are you going tomorrow?"

He mutters, still not looking at me, "Somewhere..."

I sighed, "You can admit that you don't like him, you know. It's cool. You don't have to like everybody, you're human."

Trust me, I've learned that the hard way...

He finally looks at me again, this time with a sheepish, guilty face that says you caught me and I smile again at how adorable he looks.

Dammit! I smiled again!

He puts an arm around my shoulders and steers me out of the kitchen, flipping off the light switch on our way out, "Okay, Yoda. Maybe try taking your own advice sometimes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We went upstairs together and wished each other goodnight. I heard his bedroom door across the hall close at the same time as mine. I got under the comfortable duvet, like every night since I've been here, and found my favourite spot. I happy sigh left my lips as sleep started to kick in.

What a perfect day!

Almost too perfect. I couldn't help but think that this was the calm before the storm.

I started to relive the entirety of today in my mind as I slowly drifted off to sleep. And just as I was about to slip away into dreamland, a small knock sounded at the door. My eyes flew open but I didn't move. I refused to leave the spot I worked so hard to find. Do you know how hard it is to find that one spot ?

"Miaaaa," Harry's voice whined, "I can't sleeeeep!"

Balance caffeine and sleep, my ass!

Pray for me...