Zayeden Lopez

I was lying on my bed, I didn't know for how long I'd slept, but I felt so much better now. I got up and went to the bathroom, I desperately needed to take a shower right now.

After a long hot shower in the bathroom, I emerged from the shower, feeling much more refreshed. I wrapped a towel around my waist and stepped in front of the mirror, wiping the condensation away with my hand.

I looked at myself in the mirror, my thoughts wandering as the droplets of water dripped down my chest. My body still had traces of a few wounds that were slowly healing over.

I stretched my arms behind my neck, then shook my head to get some of the water out of my hair. "D-mn... I can't believe I let her take care of me... I don't understand why she did, though. " I muttered as I grabbed the t-shirt.

I pulled the t-shirt over my head, the fabric softly brushing against my bare skin. I caught sight of myself in the mirror again, my wet hair sticking to my forehead and neck.

I rolled my eyes as I continued getting dressed, I wasn't in the mood to dry my hair, so I just threw a towel over my head and headed out of the room. I was literally starving because I had no appetite the whole day yesterday.

As I entered the kitchen, I saw Amelia by the stove, cooking something with her back to me. She hadn't noticed me yet since she was engrossed in her task, stirring something in a pan.

Dylan and Devin were home too now. They must've come back yesterday or something. They were playing video games on MY Xbox, these wild animals.

I glanced back at Amelia, somehow... what she did yesterday made my heart soften a bit, just a little tiny bit. But not enough to stop people from bullying her at school, she deserved to suffer... right?

Suddenly, she dropped the spoon and grabbed her finger. "Oh my God! That's the third time I've burned myself today! How do people cook!" She exclaimed angrily, still oblivious to my presence.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her outburst, and she suddenly looked up and noticed me standing near the kitchen doorway. She froze, her eyes widening with surprise.

"Oh," she said, clearly caught off guard. "You're up..."

I pushed myself from the wall and walked towards her. "Move." I uttered softly yet demandingly.

She hesitated for a minute but then moved away from the stove. I wasn't planning to be any friendly with her, but I accidentally burst into laughter when I saw how burnt the pancakes were. "The hell is this thing?" I managed to utter between laughs.

She frowned and placed her hand on her hips, looking absolutely offended. "Hey! I made those pancakes from scratch, you know!"

I gave her a smirk, still chuckling about the state of the pancakes. "Well, congratulations. You managed to achieve the impossible. You've made black pancakes."

I noticed her cheeks reddened a bit, and she looked away. "Oh really!? If you're so good, then do it yourself."

She was stupid for challenging me, I was an excellent cook, unlike her. "Okay, okay. Let me do it then." I said as I grabbed the pan and threw the burnt... thing into the bin.

"Watch and learn," I said confidently as I turned back to the stove, ready to prove her wrong.

I dipped my finger into the pancake mix, tasting the sweetness on my tongue. "Hmm..." I hummed thoughtfully. "It could use a bit more sugar."

I took a sugar jar from the countertop and added a bit extra sugar to the mixture, stirring it together for a moment.

She rolled her eyes. "I forgot to even add sugar..." she muttered, but I heard it.

I smirked at her confession, unable to resist teasing her a bit. "How did you forget to add sugar in pancakes?" I asked, pretending to be astonished. "I thought you said you were a good cook."

"Shut up."

I poured the batter into the pan, and in a few minutes, I had a perfect circle of golden pancakes sizzling on the stove. I could feel her watching me intently, trying to hide her impressed look.

"See. That's how you make pancakes." I said with a smug grin as I flipped the pancake over in the pan.

She rolled her eyes again, trying to keep up her defiant act. "Anyone can make pancakes. It's not a big deal."

I chuckled at her stubbornness. "Oh really? Then why couldn't you make them properly?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. As I poured some more into the pan.

She huffed in frustration, crossing her arms over her chest. "I was... distracted."

I let out a mocking gasp, pretending to be hurt. "Distracted? By what? The pan was flirting with you?" I teased her as I flipped the pancake again.

"Ugh... why didn't you just stay sick. The house was so calm without you." She mumbled in annoyance.

I scoffed at her stupid remark, I knew she didn't mean it. She literally spent the whole day yesterday trying to get my fever down.

I finally finished preparing the pancakes. They were all in the same shape, perfect golden brown, and stacked on each other perfectly.

She stared at the stack of pancakes, and her eyes widened slightly with awe. She was visibly impressed but was careful not to show it too much.

I chuckled at her reaction. "Speechless, aren't you?" I asked smugly.

She glanced up at me. "But how?" She asked.

I looked at her, though I wasn't as mad at her as I was before... but I remembered what she said a week ago. Though I answered anyway. "My mother... taught me." I whispered while taking the plate and placing it on the table.

There was a long minute of silence now. The events of our argument replayed in my mind. My promise, to never let my guard down around her. I was starting to get really angry just at the thought that I failed to ignore her again.

But suddenly, she stood right next to me, as if she had read my through my thoughts. "I... I never had the... chance to apologize. But I really didn't... mean what I said back then." She sighed. "I am sorry, Zaid." She whispered. And actually sounded genuine, not gonna lie.

My mind immediately started to protest, telling me to stay detached and remember my promise.

But her voice was soft and sincere, and her eyes were filled with remorse. It tugged at something deep within me, weakening my resolve.

I turned to face her, my expression impassive. "Why now?" I asked, my voice cold. "Why are you apologizing now?"

She looked a bit taken aback by my cold tone, but then she sighed softly and gave me a saddened look. "Because it's been eating me up every day," she confessed. "I never meant those words, I said them in the heat of the moment. And I've regretted it ever since."

She paused for a moment, her eyes pleading. "Can you... can you ever forgive me?"

I smirked to myself, though I wanted to stay angry at her. Those sincere sad eyes were just so cute to be resisted. But, I wanted to mess with her a bit. "Hmm... forgive you? Don't you think you should give me something in return?" I said as I leaned on the table.

Her eyes widened slightly, and I could see the flicker of nervousness in them. "W-what do you mean?" She asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

I chuckled lowly, my smirk widening. "Oh, you know what I mean," I replied, my eyes glinting with amusement. "You want my forgiveness, right? I think it's only fair that you have to pay a price for it."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression shifting from nervousness to confusion. "And what exactly is that 'price'?" She asked suspiciously.

I chuckled again, finding her wariness amusing. "Oh come on, it's not like I'm asking you to do something ridiculous." I said with a wave of my hand.

She was still looking at me with distrust, her eyes narrowing even more. "What is it, then?" She asked impatiently.

I shrugged and then looked back at her. "You'll hold my hand while we walk to school. Let's say... for a week."

Her eyes widened in surprise, and her cheeks flushed a slight pink. She clearly wasn't expecting that kind of request. "H-hold your hand?" She repeated, clearly flustered.

I chuckled at her reaction, enjoying how her confidence was wavering. "Yep, that's all I ask." I said, feigning innocence.

I pushed myself up from the table. "I'll stop the bullying as well, only if you did that."

At first, she sounded unconvinced at all, but after I said that, I think she liked the idea. "Ugh... your requests are always so freaking stupid. But fine. Just if you stop the damn bullying, because it's annoying."

"Good girl." I purred.

I know it was completely the opposite of what I had promised myself. But what she did yesterday. She stepped on broken glass just to save me. She took care of me and didn't leave until she was sure I was fine. And now she literally apologized and was willing to do whatever dumb request I had... I don't know... but maybe... just maybe, she is actually different.

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink when I called her a good girl, and she quickly looked away, seemingly flustered.

"Shut up," she muttered, trying to sound defiant but failing miserably.

I chuckled, enjoying the way she was acting. "Aw, don't be embarrassed," I teased. "You agreed to it, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever that sh-t is." She muttered as she grabbed a cup of water.

I leaned against the counter, watching her. "Watch your language," I commented, a smirk on my lips. "Good girls don't swear."

She rolled her eyes at my comment, clearly irritated.

She mumbled something under her breath that I couldn't quite catch, but I had a feeling it was probably a vulgar retort. I chuckled, finding her attempts at being defiant amusing.

"You're cute when you're annoyed." I commented, just to rile her up even more.

She almost coughed out the water she was sipping on when I said that. "W-what the-"

I walked to her and gently patted both her cheeks. "Yeah, just like a little bunny." With that, I chuckled to myself and then grabbed a fork and took a whole piece of the perfect pancakes I made, then shoved the whole thing into my mouth in one bite.

She stared at me, her cheeks reddening as I called her a bunny. She clearly wasn't used to me being this... playful? Flirtatious? Whatever this was.

I grinned at her reaction, enjoying the sight of her all flustered and confused. "These are good. Try some. You're lucky you get to try my amazing pancakes. " I said with a bit of a muffled voice cause obviously my mouth was completely full.

She just rolled her eyes at my bragging and looked away, desperately trying to hide her blushing cheeks but failing miserably. She muttered something under her breath that sounded like "arrogant prick." I chuckled, amused by her response.

"Careful, bunny. You're about to lose your forgiveness." I warned jokingly.

She was about to retort back, but suddenly, Dylan and Devin came in. "Huh! Are you guys eating without us?" Dylan uttered annoyingly, to which I just chuckled. These two were just too adorable yet so annoying.

"Sorry buddy, forgot about you. Come on, we haven't eaten much yet. You guys can join us."

Devin's eyes widened with excitement as he heard that. "Yes!" He exclaimed happily, immediately grabbing a plate and piling some pancakes on it.

I watched as the two boys sat down, already digging into the pancakes like there was no tomorrow. I couldn't help but chuckle, amused by their enthusiasm. I turned my gaze to her, and saw her chuckling softly at the sight.

And f-ck... I liked seeing her smile, didn't I? Her smile was... cute. Her whole face lit up when she smiled, and her eyes seemed to sparkle.

Thoughts? I think he is manipulative. But I still love him, lol.