I wake up giddy as flashbacks of last night flow through my mind. It was like a dream. It was so  astonishing, I needed to check to make sure that it was real. I lifted the blankets and peeked under; I was naked. I smiled. I never imagined my first time would be like that. When I tried to lucid dream the perfect man, I never could've imagined Blade. He's unbelievable in every aspect. It was a strange thing to know that someone could be better than a dream. I looked around the room, the candles still sitting on the dresser, unlit. The morning sun shining down on Blade, sleeping next to me. He had stayed. I now knew for sure that he was serious about me. I got up as quietly as I could and went over and put his gray button up shirt on. I went out to the kitchen and started cooking omelets, humming to myself.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Blade leaned against the wall, smirking.

"I figured you cooked pancakes for me, now it's my turn to cook for you." I held a plate out to him. He took it graciously.

"Oooh I like that idea." He smiled at me. He sat the plate down and grabbed my waist. "But I love the idea of you wearing my shirt." He played with the outline of the shirt I was wearing, sending chills down my spine. As his fingers brush my bare skin the craving I have for him becomes so intense it felt like my body was screaming. Is this how everyone feels after their first time? I think maybe if it's right that's how it is. I can't imagine what it feels like if you give that part of yourself to someone who isn't right for you. My heart goes out to those people. The fact that we got discover that side of ourselves together was beautiful. I wonder if he's feeling the same way I am. One thing I love about Blade is he always makes me feel likes he's thinking about me, that he cares. I've never had anyone treat me like that before. It was really meaningful.

"Good, because this probably won't be the last time I steal one of your shirts." I winked at him. For a moment I was transported back to when Blade sat by me on Nikki's couch, watching a movie, and he winked at me. It gave me a warm feeling. It seems that every time I'm with him a core memory is created.

He moves his face just inches from mine. "After last night, you can have anything you want from me."

"Anything huh?" I said, giggling.

He sat behind the bar and took a bite of his omelet. "Anything."

"Be careful what you wish for."

Blade looked me up and down. "I don't know, it's good to dream. I wished for you and I'm thriving."

I sit on his lap. "I wished for you too."

He kissed me gently. "We're so cringy aren't we?"

"Yeah, but I think we're allowed to be right now." I stand up, running my hand across his shoulder.

His eyes follow my hand and then he looks up. "I'm glad you feel that way because I don't think I can stop if I wanted to at the moment."

I sat down beside him. "How's the food?"

"Delicious." He said, taking another bite.

"Good." I took a bite of my own food. I swallowed then turned to him. "About last night..."

He squinted at me. "What about it?"

"I want you to know that it was very special for me." I smiled at him.

He leaned towards me, grinning. "It was?"

"Yeah." I said softly.

"Me to." He pulled my chair right next to his and kissed me.

It's not long before we hear a tired voice coming from the kitchen entryway. "Seriously you guys again? It's like 9am." Smasher fumbled his way into the kitchen, looking exhausted.

Blade crossed his arms. "You came home late again from Nikki's, wanna talk about what went on over there?"

"Yeah, yeah touche' and all that." Smasher said, getting himself a plate. "You guys are going to have stop waking me up with food."

I smiled at Blade, then turned to Smasher. "Hey, try a bite of your omelet and tell us which was better, the omelet or the pancakes." Blade shook his head, smirking.

Smasher shrugged and took a bite. "Definitely this omelet." I raised an eyebrow at Blade. He rolled his eyes.

We all turned when we heard a knock on the door. "I'll get it." Smasher said, straightening out his shirt. Blade and I turned to each other and burst into laughter. Smasher sent us dagger eyes.

"Oh, Smasher, hey!" Nikki said shyly.

"Hi!" He said opening the door.

She walked in. "Hey guys." She smiled brightly at us.

"Hi." We said in unison.

She came over to me. "How are you?"

"I'm really good." I said, genuinely.

"You are? Even after your run in with Landon?" She seemed surprised.

I nodded. "Yeah, honestly I kind of forgot about it."

"Oh, good." She fidgeted. "I was coming over to tell you that you don't have to worry about him anymore. I took care of him."

"How?" I asked, eyeing her skeptically.

"Last night, after I saw you, I knew I had to do something. He'd gone too far this time." She stared off, reliving what had happened. I was really touched that she cared so much about me. I have an amazing best friend, I'm so grateful. "I decided that I needed to report him. He needs help."

My eyes widened. "You reported him?" I couldn't believe she finally did it. I was so proud of her. "That was so brave of you."

"I had to." She said sheepishly. "He would've seriously hurt someone, or worse." She shivered.

"What ended up happening?" Smasher moved beside her, all of his attention on her. "Where is he now?"

Niki looks at her feet then back at Smasher. "He was admitted into an insane asylum."

Blade and Smasher exchanged glances. "An insane asylum." Blade echoed.

She moved her head in agreement. "Yeah, he's in some place called Clementine's Residence."

Our eyes all grew wide. "Nikki, doesn't that name sound familiar to you?" I asked in disbelief.

Her face scrunched up in concentration. "Not really. Should it?"

This was the right moment to tell her what's going on, I could see it on the boys faces. "That's the place where Blade was, when he was picking up Smasher. Remember when we were searching for him?" I hoped I didn't sound condescending. I knew that Niki's mind wouldn't go there, she doesn't naturally see things in a negative way so she her mind wasn't going to send her in the right direction in this case.

"Oh my gosh, now I remember!" She gasped. She looked over at Smasher, putting two and two together. "You lived there?"

Smasher looked down at his feet, nodding. "For a little bit yeah."

Nikki's mouth dropped lower than seemed humanly possible. "Why?"

"Doesn't matter really, he never should've been in there." Blade intervened. "We've all had tough times."

Nikki ignored him, keeping her focus on Smasher. "Smash?"

Smasher's eyes were still fixed on the floor. "I went a little crazy when my ex died. I did some things that I guess could be considered insane." He finally looked up at her, his eyes pleading. "I just felt so guilty you know? I didn't know what to do with myself."

Nikki ran over to him and kissed him. When she stopped, they were both wide-eyed. Blade and I were smiling. "Why didn't you ever tell me?" She asked.

He stood up, surprise still on his face. "I didn't know how."

"I'm sorry. That couldn't have been easy." She was staring intently at him. "Is that why you've never kissed me?"

Smasher's eyes gave away his shock. "Yeah, I haven't really kissed anyone since her."

Nikki looked at him shyly. "I thought maybe you just weren't that into me."

Smasher's immediately stopped her. "No, that's not it at all. I like you a lot." I felt like I shouldn't have been there. It seemed much too intimate a moment. I wouldn't ruin it by leaving though, so I just sat silently.

Nikki smiled brightly. "You do? Really?  You mean it?"

He smiled back at her. "Yeah, since the first time I saw you I thought you were amazing."

She blushed. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that." He looked at her, in a debate with himself. Then, he leaned in and kissed her. Her foot lifted off the ground.

"Do you want to go get some coffee or something?" Now he was blushing. She nodded, dazed. They walked out the door together.

"Well on that note, want to come with me?" Blade asked, holding out his hand.

"No." I said, smiling.

He took mine hand anyways. "I was only asking to be polite; you're coming whether you want to or not." I loved having his hand in mine.