"Hi, D!"

I give her a hug and walk inside of her huge house. I mean, my parents have money, but we live in a middle-sized house. I wouldn't want it different, though.

"What are we doing?" I ask and she giggles. "I wanted to do some make-over, I have new make-up!" 

I sigh, but don't show her. She knows I'm not that girl, always wearing fancy dresses and make-up. But she is, and so I have to endure it. "Okay," I fake-smile. 

I'm good at fake-smiling. I need it a lot, at school. But, people who really know me see the different between a fake-smile and a real one. Delilah's just not paying attention now, so she doesn't see it. 

"C'mon! Let me show you how to use it! You could use some," she smiles and I shake my head. "No, thanks. Really," I say. Unfortunately for me she sits me down in the chair and starts doing something on my cheek. I sigh again.

"Done! Leave it like that and every boy at school tomorrow wants you," she shouts and I sheepishly nod. Hell no. I look like a barbie.

But, I still thank her and go home. As I bike home, I wonder if I should leave it. I do want a boyfriend...

But not like this. Personality is more important than the looks, so no make-up for me. Although, all my personality has brought me with boys, is hate. Oops.

I park my bike in the garage and walk in the kitchen to grab some food. But of course, I'm not looking and crush to someone's chest. I expect it to be Jack, but when I look up, I see Dane's face and his raised eyebrows.

He starts laughing and my shoulders slump. Dammit. "New look?" he hiccups, wiping the tears from his face. I ignore him and walk to the living room, to see Jack playing on the PlayStation. "I thought you were meeting him at his place?" I hiss. 

Jack looks up, and his face goes from apologetic to amusement. "What happened to you?" he laughs. "Stop laughing, I know it looks horrible. What is that dick doing in our kitchen?" I snap. He stops.

"Turns out his PlayStation is broken," he says. I roll my eyes. "So? There are other things to do. And couldn't you send me a text? So I know I can hide? You know he just wants to embarrass me," I sigh. "Sorry, bubs," Jack whispers and I sigh again.

Bubs is my nickname. I don't mind it, but if Dane finds out... He'll make my life hell at school.

"I'm going upstairs. Stay away from me," I warn, knowing Dane hears me. I run upstairs, to the bathroom.

While I'm wiping my make-up away, I hear Mom and Dad laughing. I walk to their door and peek through the key hole. They're lying in bed, cuddling. They look happy. I want to jump on the bed, to be part of it, but I'd just screw it up for them.

I turn around, but I hear a change in their laugh. Then, a silence. "Willow! Come join, we know you're watching us," Mom laughs and I smile. I open the door a little and show my head. 

"Sure? I don't want to interrupt anything..." I hesitate. Dad lets out a laugh. "Just come here!" he laughs.

I hop to their bed and they settle me between them, hugging me. "I love you," I whisper. I feel Dad melt. "We love you too, Willow, very much. But now I'm crying," he whispers back. I giggle a little, facing him.

Yes, he has tears in his eyes. Sometimes, I don't know if I show them enough how much I love them. Mom gives Dad a kiss and he smiles. "I love both of you," he says, lightning up from happiness. He's such a softie and I love it.

"Hey, I have a story," Mom smiles. I blink up at her. I love their stories. "We never told you, but your Dad was a badboy at school," she smiles. I start laughing, not believing her. Dad and badboy are not possible in the same sentence.

"Why do I always get this reaction," Dad sighs. I take a deep breath, calming myself down. "Because you're a softie," I giggle and he rolls his eyes. "Okay, okay, fair enough. Let your Mom finish." As soon as the words leave his mouth, I scream, "That's what she said!"

Dad sighs. "I've heard that too many time before."  Mom winks at me and starts telling her story.

"Yeah, he was. And your aunt, Nell, told me bad things about him, so I immediately didn't like him. She told me he was a player, did every girl in for one night. I think she didn't want me to be hurt too. So, I said they wouldn't get hands on me, him and his friends. Gosh, Willow, they looked so stupid in their leather jackets!" she giggles. Dad rolls his eyes. 

"It was a trend, okay?" he tries. Mom gives him a kiss. "Sure it was. But, he came after me. We did some pranks, me as the newbie and he as the badboy. And then I found out my best friend was his sister. Nell's face was hilarious!" She laughs at the memory.

"He still didn't know my name, and when he asked for it, I tol him it was Nora. But, I said it was 'Miss Queen' for him, and he always kept calling me that. Even now, twenty years later, I'm still his Queen," she smiles. 

That is so cute.

I smile. "You're a real softie, Dad." He glares at me. "I was a cute boyfriend. Everyone was jealous of her cute, romantic, hot-looking boyfriend," he brags. I cock an eyebrow at Mom, but she's smiling at Dad. "Yes, they were."

He looks satisfied with himself. "See? I had the looks and the personality. I was the perfect boyfriend." 

Mom gives him a knowing look and his smile fades. "In the beginning..." he sighs. "Maybe it's time for the story, honey. She's been waiting for it a very long time," Mom reasons and he looks down.

"Maybe... But then she'll tease me again that I'm such a softie," he grins, but I see pain flashing in his eyes when he looks up. "Okay, here we go. Don't laugh at me when I cry, okay?"

I nod and he sighs. "Okay. Your Mom and I were... pretty good together. Everything went well, I told her things about me that no one else knew. But then, she came over fot a sleepover. And no, Nell slept in the room too so don't worry," he chuckles. I shiver.

"And when her Dad, your grandpa, came to get her, he saw that my Dad was his enemy, in business. My Dad forbade me and Nell to see her ever again, and transferred us to another school. But I had to break up with Queen. It was the hardest thing I've ever done," he says, his eyes set hurt. Mom crawls on his lap, tucked to his chest.

He breathes out. "I called her a bitch, humiliated her for the whole school by dumping her. It hurt so much, I was a complete wreck on the other school. Your aunt didn't want to let anyone know I was her brother. I did drugs, so much drugs, to forget Queen. I cried at school, broke down in the hallways."

A few tears escape his eyes, and Mom kisses them away. It really hurts him to tell this. "And after three weeks, I was so crazy I saw her at school. In real life. She was talking to Nell, and I could almost touch her. And then, I saw her at home, while having a breakdown."

"But, I was real," Mom smiles and Dad agrees. "Yes, you were. We made up and I was so happy, I almost exploded. But eh... In the weeks I tried to forget Queen, I agreed with my parents to move to Italy, and all the plans were already made. So I left in January, three months after the break up. we were together, and we called every night. But I didn't felt complete."

He sighs. "And then I did the stupidest thing I could do. I signed up for an university in Italy, and I got in by the way, and told your Mom to not come after me. We broke up, four years. Four fucking years. And I didn't even went to that university, after all! But I lost her, and then she became my assistent." He smiles at the thought.

"I was so happy. But she was engaged to another man and I broke down. And, lucky for me, she broke up with that guy, all of sudden. The day after, I kissed her in the office and ever since we're together. I love your Mom so much, I need her to survive. And, surprisingly, she needs me too. And I can't thank her enough for that. Or for you."

He's crying, but smiles. "And this proves that even the most fucked up people, like me, deserve a happy ending. Queen, you're my happy ending," he smiles, and Mom starts crying too.

"Not everyone. What about Romeo and Juliet?" I debate.

Dad sighs. "Really, Willow? Are you comparing us to Romeo and Juliet?" he asks and I shrug. His eyes light up. "So, Romeo and Juliet or us? What's more romantic?"

I think about it. "I think you are. I like this ending much more than theirs. You guys are happy," I smile and they nod. "We definitely are. Oh, and Willow, try to always remember you too will have a happy ending. I know it's hard sometimes, believe me, but the happy ending is so worth it."

Smiling, I hug them. "Dad, now you're even more a softie," I giggle and he makes an indignant sound. "Can't we just agree your Mom turned me into a softie? That it's not my fault?" 

I giggle again. "Maybe it's not your fault, but you still are one." He sighs, but smiles. "Yeah, I can't deny it anymore. I am a softie. Maybe I should warn Jack he'll become one too once he's in love," he grins.

"Mom, did you wear make-up to school and to seduce Dad?" I ask. "Nope. It's all based on my good personality, girl," she jokes. Dad hugs her tightly. "Yes it is."

See. No need for make-up.