Notes:

Additional Cast:

Tatiana Maslany as Kira Killian

David Chavret as Cole Parker

Alyssa Milano as Melanie Parker

Jojo Kushner as Kate Parker

Robin's POV

A vibration somewhere near my ear startled me, causing me to wake up. My phone is going off like crazy next to me, on my pillow, and I grab it groaning.

Another damn Saturday ruined by someone. What have I done in this life to deserve this? I am a nice person!

I look at the wall clock for seconds and the time is 12:43, great. I bet it's Sophie. I lay on my back and finally look at my phone. Sophie's name is not there surprisingly enough, instead, the face I see on my screen is Kira's. I press Accept Call.

"Wake up Monkey!!" her sweet voice reaches my ears. Another cheerful person in the morning. Typical Kira.

"Hey, Kira. Morning." My voice is deep from sleep.

"Alex called and told me he has to stay longer at work, which means you will probably end up eating junk food. So, being the perfect person I consider myself to be, I am bringing you lunch. I get off work in 15'. Get up Monkey!" with that the call ends. I toss the phone on my mattress and puffing heavily, I turn to my side and close my eyes again.

The persistent sound of the doorbell wakes me up again. Shit, Kira is here!

I get up and put my sweatpants, my sports bra and a T-shirt, and rush my way downstairs. I almost fell but thank god for my quick reflexes! (Kidding, I am clumsy as fuck, so I guess I got lucky). With a short breath, I reach the front door and open it.

"Ha! I knew you would fall asleep again!" her eyebrow is raised but her smile is plastered on her face.

"Hey Kira." I eye roll. She walks past me holding 3 bags of Chinese as I can see. Cool, it's been a week since I ate Chinese. I follow her in the kitchen and watch her put the bags on the counter, take the boxes out and then put them in the microwave. I give her a confused look when she turns around and comes near me smirking.

"I haven't seen you since New year's, Monkey! Let's hang out for a while and then eat." She says and hugs me tightly, almost motherly like.

Kira has been something like a mother to me I guess. She and Alex have been together for almost 8 years and yes, they still don't wanna tie the knot. Don't ask me why that is. I keep asking Alex but he says that they are fine that way.

I was eleven and a half when I first met her. Long story short, my uncle had a minor injury at work while rescuing an old lady from a building fire, so he ended up in the hospital for stitches. Kira was one of the nurses there, so details aside, now they are together. Alex brought her home on a fine Sunday morning and they took me to the zoo. For some reason I got super excited about the monkeys, which lead to my nickname, a nickname I would despise under other circumstances, but that's not the case with Kira, plus I don't think there's a chance she will stop calling me that any time soon, so it has grown on me.

We sit on the couch and turn the TV onto E! to watch the Kardashians.

"What did Alex say?" I ask. He was supposed to be off work at 13:00 but I guess he was needed at the fire station. When I was a kid, he rarely worked at nights, and the times he did, Kira would sleep over to watch after me since she always works the morning shift at the hospital, but now that I am a grown up he takes a few night shifts a week, which of course helps with me and Sophie. I can't complain, we do have privacy, especially now that we do need it. Anyway, Kira has been in my life for a long period of time and I love her. We share a strong bond, not exactly like mother and daughter... maybe like older sister – younger sister status, but no matter the label, I love her. Considering she has been here for so long, it was only natural. Her persona also helped. She is very kind, sweet and caring, and I don't know if it is possible for someone to have a mother instinct without having a child, but Kira surely has it.

She was the second person I told I was gay to and the second person I told I was dating Nat to. She has been there for everything really. Either I tell her or Alex does, she is always up to date with my latest news. She was also the one I had to ask about sex, 'cause let's face it, even though teenagers hate the 'talk' with their parents, it's pretty informative and enlightening. I could never ask Alex about it but Kira is a nurse, which means she knows human anatomy, and a woman, which covers the emotional part of the drill. She warned me it was too early to have sex with Nat, with after 2 weeks of officially dating but she informed me anyway. She was the one that suggested watching videos though, so that we can learn more stuff about girl on girl action... Do other parents suggest porn to their kids? See, told ya, Kira is gold! She was the one I called after it happened too. I guess because she was the closest thing to a mother and it is something daughters say to them, right?

Alex had to find out the weird way I was intimate with Nat... yup, he caught us.

"He didn't say much, only that I shouldn't let his only niece starve!" she jokes, then she turns her body to face me and I do the same. She puts her hands on my lap and smiles. "Tell me about your girl! I still can't believe I haven't met her yet, Monkey! It's been 4 months, when did you expect to introduce us, at your wedding day?" she slaps my thigh playfully.

"Hey, you are exaggerating! And the question here is, when is Your wedding day, not mine." I mock her and she sticks her tongue out. Very mature for a 37 year old.

"Nah nah nah, don't make this about me Monkey. We are talking about Sophie here. So, how are you guys? All good?"

"Yeah" I smile sleepily thinking of her and my cheeks feel hot.

"Aww, look at you blushing. What did you get her for Valentine's?" Kira adores it and so do I, no shame here!

"Um... don't laugh but I have been giving her a cd with a love song every day since February 1th, along with heart shaped candies. Too lame?" I ask grimacing.

"Kid, you are so cheesy. But hey, one of the Summers had to be cheesy and this ain't your uncle!" we both laugh so hard at her comment. Boy, Alex is clueless when it comes to presents. Last year he bought her a toaster for Valentine's Day... need I say more? Now that I think about it, he hasn't bought anything good all these 8 years they have been together.

"Please tell me you are helping him this time?" she asks hopeful. Alex declines my help every year claiming his gifts are awesome.

"I will try. I feel sorry for you." And I give her a pitiful look.

"Great, I will give you a list of things I want to receive." She winks. "So anything interesting since New year's'?" she gets curious.

"Alright, well Sophie and I... you know" I say blushing. She knew about our waiting deal and actually congratulated me for being considerate.

"Oh! That's great, I don't need the deets, but was it everything you wanted? You were a gentlewoman, right?" she asks, eyeing me.

"Hey, you know I always am... and yes, it was amazing." My mind floods with images of us so I quickly push them away.

"Good, I am happy for you, kid. Anything else? Give me gossip, I live through you Monkey. How's the gang?" she loves some gossip, that's given.

"Ok, well Jen thinks she is Bi, and hooked up with a girl and Viv tots' is in love with her, but they are both oblivious dorks. How can people be so oblivious?" I say and then my mind goes to a specific incident during Christmas. "Also... Nat." I say and her eyes widen, I got her full attention, that's for sure.

"What did she do again?" she gets agitated. Kira was here when Nat came knocking forcefully on my door at 1 am, asking me to open up and let her talk to me, but given the fact she had cheated on my less than 48 hours prior, Kira was the one that handle the situation.

I told her about what she did this time and even though Kira's emotions were at bay, once I was done, she gave me a piece of her mind.

"God, I knew this kid was trouble. Told you when you got together and told you again when she started acting like a bitch to you. She just won't let go!" She sighs and I nod my head.

"Kira... do you think I should have told Sophie?" I ask skeptical. The only reason I didn't say anything was to avoid the drama and keep Soph from getting jealous over something that is over.

"Well, kid, I understand why you didn't say anything, but honesty is the key. I know it wasn't anything important for you, but maybe Sophie would like to know... so think about it." she replies carefully.

I know honesty is everything and if it was anyone else making a move on me, I would have told Soph, but Nat is on my permanent record, so Sophie would feel insecure or that I would leave her for Nat. Like I said, I need no drama, so I think I should forget about it, but next time she does anything stupid again, I will tell Sophie. I swear.

"Speaking of Sophie." Kira continues, "I want to meet her now. Call her and invite her over for lunch." She demands and I giggle. I take my phone but before I call her I look at Kira.

"There is a huge chance she will say no 'cause she might be nervous to meet you. You have been warned." I explain and press Call. She picks up immediately.

"Hey baby!" I greet her enthusiastically.

"Hey babe. How are you?" her voice is calm, as per usual.

"Well..." I don't get to finish my sentence when Kira grabs the grabs my phone.

"Hello Sophie, this is Kira." Kira says politely. She is in 'convince Sophie' mission. She puts the phone on speaker and Sophie's voice comes through the speakers.

"Umm,... hello Kira. I am Sophie." My baby girl states and I can feel it in her voice that she is nervous.

"Sorry to interrupt your conversation girls, but as I was saying to Robin, I brought a lot of Chinese home and I would like to invite you over for lunch. Have you eaten?" she asks and we wait for her answer. It is almost 14:00 and I am sure she has eaten already. She takes a minute and then she replies.

"Ummm... not yet." That's weird.

"Great! Now you have to come join us! I would very much like to finally meet you, if this is ok with you?" Kira is being extra sweet and I think it is actually working.

"Su... sure, I can be there in 20." At that Kira raises her fist in the air.

"Splendid! We'll be waiting, Sophie!" she says and ends the call. She actually got Sophie to join us! I am impressed.

Twenty minutes later, Soph is knocking on my door. I open up for her and kiss her cheek and then Kira approaches her. Sophie is ready for a handshake. My little nerd.

"Hello, I am Sophie Lillian Ford." She offers politely. She does that every time. So formal. Kira of course goes for a hug which surprises Sophie.

"Nice to finally meet you, Sophie. The Summers family is enchanted by you." She winks at her after breaking the embrace. The statement made Sophie blush.

I interrupt them by clapping my hands. "Ok peeps, let's eat!"

Kira and I ate like there's no tomorrow, while Sophie ate a few bites of rice and some chicken. After lunch, we engage in small talk.

"So... Pre-law, huh? How is that treating you?" ok, this is Sophie's moment. She loves talking about law and school and her precious classes, so I know today is not an exception. Her eyes light up and she smiles like a kid on Christmas and starts talking about her passion, but I only look at her face. She really loves it and it is obvious. I love that she is happy doing what she loves.

"Wow, that sounds like a lot of work!" Kira says impressed by Sophie and the load of personal reading she is doing on her own.

"Yes, I know it is, but I enjoy it so much!" she says and I take her hand in mine. I wink at her. She continues. "It takes a lot of my free time and I can't see Ro at college because of our schedules, but we get together after school, plus we chose the same elective again so we spent Monday mornings together." She explains. Sophie was the one that suggested getting the same class again and I couldn't be happier about it. As for me, not much have changed this semester, Sophie got a lot of homework, but we manage to find time.

Kira soon notices our hand holding and when my eyes find hers she gives me her famous 'I approve' nod.

"Well, monkey, Sophie is a keeper." She looks at us and I eye roll. Sophie on the other hand even though she was expected to lower her head and blush at the compliment, surprises me by looking directly at Kira.

"That's what I keep telling her. Thank you, Kira." She replies playfully and they both laugh. Well, that's new! I have been having a difficult time guessing her moves after Christmas, which is definitely not my fault. She is getting more comfortable... she is gaining confidence, especially after our first time. I can see a huge difference in the way she carries herself and I love it. She is not so conscious and closed off any longer and every day is a surprise with her.

Sophie then looks at me and then Kira. "Um... monkey?" she directs her question to Kira. Not the zoo story again! Kira is ecstatic.

"You see, when Robin was 12 and taken to the zoo, she got so excited about the monkeys that she just stayed there for like an hour. I mean, given that the zoo had a variety of majestic animals she got hooked on the monkeys. Needless to say she has a monkey onesie somewhere hidden in her closet!" she says and Sophie's eyes widen in shock.

What? Traitor!

"Hey, Kira what the heck!" I complain but Sophie starts laughing at me hysterically. I look pissed at Kira, I am really mad but I do need to defend my life choices. "Monkeys are majestic. I think they are my spirit animal" I pout crossing my arms. "and my onesie was very fussy and warm. Thank you very much." That caused a new wave of laughter directed at my face. I stay like that for seconds until Sophie's lips touch my cheek.

"Sorry Ro, we didn't mean to make fun of you." Says the person that got mad at me for making fun of her at the frat party months ago. Interesting turn of events. "I think monkeys are nice animals too. And very clever."

"Thanks for the validation, babe." I sass. Here I was, trying to keep Kira and Alex from making Sophie uncomfortable, but they both ended up embarrassing me. They both deserve each other!

When we were done with the small talk, we exiled Kira in the living room and got on dish duties. I am throwing away Sophie's left overs when it hits me. It should have happened sooner but I was distracted.

I approach Sophie who is on her tiptoes with her back on me, putting glasses on the top shelves, and wrap my hands around her waist, flushing my front to her back. She puts the remaining glass away and then turns around, giving me her beautiful smile. I can't take my eyes off of her lips so I peck them quickly.

"Sophie.?" I start.

"Hmmm" she brings her hands around my neck and kisses my cheek... and then the other one.

"You had already eaten, hadn't you?" her face says it all. "Then why did you say yes?" I ask curious, but glad she came. She nuzzles her head on my neck and gives me a small kiss.

"Because Kira invited me and it would have been rude to turn her down." She mumbles.

"Dork." I say and giggle, which lands me a swat on my shoulder.

When Alex arrived at 16:00, he found the three of us on the couch watching reruns of gossip girl, chatting like high schoolers.

Sophie left home right before 23:00, holding a heart shaped lollipop and a cd containing this day's love song. She took them gladly and kissed me goodnight before she drove off.

Today's love song is 'electric love' by BORNS.

************************************************

CD ready, ice cream purchased, keys, money. Ok, I am good to go.

I lock the house and walk to my car, feeling my fingers freeze from the ice cream tub, since I forgot to put it in a bag. Very clever Ro... very.

Anyway, once in the car, I buckle up, turn on the engine and the radio and leave the driveway. Today I am going out with Joss, since we both have free time and it's been awhile since we have been out without the others. Sophie has a paper, Sam has a cold again thanks to Stella, and Nathan is invited to a party... So it's just us tonight, thus the not so provocative outfit. Just a pair of jeans and a sweater. If Sophie was joining us I would definitely be wearing a lot more revealing clothes just to make her squirm... and other things.

I stop at a light, and gaze at the passenger's seat, and the CD I made for her. I wonder what she is getting me for Valentine's Day... maybe a locket? Hmmm... or a teddy bear? Do people still buy teddy bears at the age of 19? I did buy teddy bears and chocolates for Natalie but now I don't think Sophie would be a teddy bear person. There are no stuffed animals in her room, or anything childish really. Her room is so grown up, and so much woodsy and white... and bare of personal items, like photos or souvenirs or whatever. But I do love her bed! Her bed is epic, king size, soft mattress, it's like I am laying on the clouds. I really love her bed.

I begin driving again, nodding my head to the music as I recall my first Valentine's Day with Nat. She surprised me at school, having stuffed my locker with candies and a heartfelt card, while I got her a huge lion teddy bear and roses and dinner date. That was a nice day. Now... our second february 14th, was a bad day. We had fought, I mean she did, because I happened to have gone out the day before, with Jen and Callie, without inviting her. I didn't invite her because Callie and Jen, were pissed at her, so being the peacemaker I am, I didn't invite her. It proved to be the wrong move, since a furious Nat came by my house first thing in the morning, accusing me of cheating on her. So yes, she slammed the door, left the house and didn't show up at school that day. She didn't speak to me for 3 days, and it had to be Callie and Jen's intervention so that she could be sure I did not hook up with another girl. That also caused a fight between me and the gang 'cause they kept telling me that Nat was a bad influence and was treating me like shit. I did not listen to them at that time... or the countless other times after that.

Soon enough, I park outside the guys' apartment and after I buzz the intercom, I take the elevator and reach their door. I knock a few times but nothing, so I wait looking at the door as I feel my fingers numb from the ice cream tub. Come on, open up already, I am carrying ice cream that's been outside of the freezer for 30 minutes... what up people? I knock again and again, eyeroll, when finally the door opens, presenting a dashing Joss.

"Hey beautiful! Come on in!" Joss points at me with his hand to pass the doorstep. He's wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. He's hair is pretentiously messy as always with his bangs covering his forehead. His style is completed by a black watch on his wrist.

"Took you long enough! The ice cream is about to melt, step aside!" I pass by him and rush to the kitchen, take the ice cream out and put it in the freezer. Relieved, I sigh and turn to look at Joss.

"Hey, Casanova! Looking good" I wink at him.

"I always look good!" he smirks.

"Of course, where is bae?" I say and at this exact moment, Sophie immerges from the bathroom, with damp hair and pjs.

"Hey, girlfriend, you look good." I approach her and hug her tightly, kissing her forehead.

"Hey, Ro, you look beautiful too." she pecks my cheek and I wink at her cockily. I didn't even try. Natural beauty, folks, that's all I'll say.

"Girls, restrain yourselves! I will be drown by all this treacle!" Joss teases us, and I chortle. "Ro, get your pretty ass and get moving! I don't have all day!" he puffs.

"Fine, fine, relax, the crazed fans are gonna be there, don't worry." I say and shake my head. I leave my pretty girl momentarily and grab my bag to fish out today's CD. I pull out a blue one today, with Heartlines by Broods, and give it to Sophie. "Here, baby, I made this for you, and I also got you cookie ice cream, I put it in the freezer. Have a good night, I'll text you when I get home." she takes it and smiles brightly at me, her cheeks red already. Dork.

"Thank you, baby, that's so thoughtful of you. Have fun, ok, and don't let him do anything crazy please? Plus, ummm... maybe you know... if someone approaches you... you could tell them you have a girlfriend?" she asks shyly, lowering her head. Oh my Buddha, is she jealous? That's so adorable. God, I love this girl.

"Sure, don't worry, babe, I am unavailable. Want me to put up a sign?" I wink at her and walk towards the door.

"No, you dork, just don't talk to strangers." she pouts so I run real quick back to her and hug her, bringing my mouth to her ear.

"Don't worry baby, you are the only one I see, you are my pretty girl, no one can compare to you, trust me, I belong to you." I whisper to her so that Joss won't hear. I break the embrace and kiss her sweetly one more time. I detach myself from her and head to the door.

"Come Casanova, let's go." I command and blow a kiss to her again.

"Finally you're done!" he exasperates. "Don't worry Soph! I'll keep an eye on her as well!" he winks at Sophie and then we get out of the apartment towards my car. We get in and I instantly turn the radio onto my Muse File, since Joss and I are fans. It's one of the bands we have in common, since he listens to rock music of all decades really, whilst any rock band before 1990s is dead to me, and put on Supermassive black hole.

Needless to say, he couldn't stop banging his head and hands to the beat. I am sure the passing cars thought he was possessed.

Finally we walk to the bar and walk towards the pool table.

"Ready to get your ass kicked?" Joss asks me with a cocky smile, grabbing a cue.

"For sure, me and balls don't go well together." I mock him. I suck at pool. Virtual football, I rock thanks to my fingers... but with actual balls... not so much.

"You can always learn a thing or two by the pool master, aka me!" Joss sneers, pointing at himself with his thumbs.

"Show me, master! I am ready to learn " I could use some help for sure. I could beat Sam! I grab a cue as well and let him do his thing.

"Wait a minute, my apprentice, I have to put the balls into the triangle." Joss says and starts setting the game. Then he removes the triangle and leans on the pool table with his cue at hand ready to strike, and I take my phone out for a photo. I get the perfect angle and after I fitler it, I open messenger.

*Robin created a conversation*

Ro: look at what you guys are missing. IMG_980

Baby: I am ignoring this.

Alice: I am sure 1000% he has rehearsed this pose.

Nathan: Ro u better avenge me, he kicked my ass the other day

Samthegreat: work it Joss, nice bun.

Vanessa: Hey guys! Have a wonderful time! :)

I laugh at their comments and watch as Joss hits ball after ball. Damn he is good.

I finally get my turn and he instructs me how to lean and how much power I should use, and I actually got a ball in! Wow, look at that. After a few rounds, I am bored, as per usual, so I take selfies, which I send to Soph, and then look around. The place is getting crammed pretty quickly, given the fact that all alcohol is 20% of tonight. I spot a few guys talking to some girls, some girls dancing, and of course, a group of girls looking at the pool, meaning Joss. This guy has a huge fan club, and with this pose he did catch the girls' eyes. I take my phone again, and discreetly take a picture of them, for two reasons. Reason A, sent the picture to the group chat.

Ro: His milkshake brought all the girls in the ward. IMG_981

Alice: God help us! His ego will be escalated over 9999.

Baby: protect these children.

Nathan: That's my man, go make me proud

Vanessa: oh that girl with the red blouse has a really nice scarf ! Well done, can you ask her where she got it from?

Samthegreat: get it, Master of SEX. also, I am leaving this convo cause you guys are pissing me off. I have a cold, leave me alone

Vanessa: ohhhhh get well soon Sam! I am here if you need anything.

Baby: yes, get well soon. :)

Alice: Get better bitch! ;)

Sam: thanks Vanesssaaaaa you are so sweet. Thanks Al, and thank you Ford, now leave me alone.

That's the end of the convo. Now moving on to Reason B. I get next to Joss and show him the picture. "Choose." I give him the phone and wait for him to show me a girl.

Joss is checking out the girls in the photo.

"Such a difficult choice! Not this one for sure" he shows me a brunette girl at the left of the photo. "The blonde is a real devil, but I wouldn't say no to the red haired one. She is a true temptation." He bites his lip.

"Ok, smart choice. Follow me." I walk towards the 3 girls with him trailing behind me. I approach the red-haired one from behind and tap on her shoulder. The other two girls look at me, and soon tonight's target, turns around and eyes me from head to toe. I smile at her and throw my line.

"Hello, have you met my friend Joss?" I step aside, so that Joss is in her visual.

"No, but I'd love to..." the red-haired answers with a grin.

"Perfect, this", I stop and gesture at Joss, "is Joss, and he likes you, so why don't you have a little chat with him, huh?" I smile at her and then wait for Joss to speak.

"Hey beautiful! As you've heard, I am Joss and you are?" Joss addresses to the girl with a charming smile.

"I am Phoebe!" She smiles back at him. Her friends next to her look pretty angry. It might be that Joss chose Phoebe over them.

"I had no doubt that a beauty like you, would have a pretty name." Joss beams at her and she giggles. "So do you want me to buy you a drink?" he asks her and her face lights up in an instant.

"Hey Phoebe!" The blonde girl chimes in. "We all came here as a company! Remember?" she raises an eyebrow. Oooohh this girl is a buzz kill. I turn to her as sweetly as I can manage.

"Listen, we are deeply sorry for ruining your night, but you see, my friend here just broke up with his girlfriend, and his dog had to be put down a few days ago, so I thought maybe you could cheer him up? We won't bother you for long, just a drink. Scouts Honor." I tell them.

"Oh my God! This is so sad!" the blonde girl touches her heart. "Of course we are going to cheer him up!" she offers.

"Great!" Phoebe exclaims. "So let's go all of us to the bar for that drink?" she says with a smile.

"Of course, Phoebe!" Joseph flashes a wide smile at her and then puts his hand behind her waist, without being too bold, to guide her to the bar. The blonde girl rushes to his other side without leaving any space. I look at the third girl no one bother to talk to.

"I am Robin, sorry." I shrug.

"Don't worry, I am Carmen, and you totally lied." she smirks.

"Hey... sorry about that too." I give her an apologetic smile.

"That's ok, I was getting bored already. My boyfriend is waiting for me so I was about to bail." We walk to the bar together and sit next to the others.

"Oh, I totally get you, I also left my girlfriend at home. I miss her." she nods and takes the glass Joss gave her. I take mine as well and we all clink our glasses. I wink at Joss and watch him flatter the girls as Carmen puts her attention on her phone.

"So girls what are you studying?" He asks them casually, but his seduction mode is on full activation.

"I am studying French Philology." The blonde answers first, whose name is Liz, if I heard correctly.

"Me too!" Phoebe answers with a smile. "We're classmates!"

"You, handsome?" Liz barges in,without leaving Phoebe any space to talk.

"I am just a geek!" he answers and both girls look at him with a puzzled, yet intriguing face. "I am studying Computer Science!"

"My laptop is so broken!" Liz exclaims and I eye roll. I am getting bored, so I pat Carmen's shoulder and we start talking a bit, but I can still hear their convo. "When can you come to fix it, computer doc?" she purrs, while playing a blonde hair with her finger. Bimbooooo.

"Whenever you want! I will be at your service." Joss answers with a wink. "Do you have any computer problems as well Phoebe?" he turns to Phoebe now as Carmen starts talking about her boyfriend and I take my phone out as well.

"Thank God no! I am surprised though, because I have no idea of how to use one. I mean I know the basics, but still I suck!" she says frowning.

"Look how we are going to do this." Joseph takes her phone from the table and starts typing, betting for sure his number. "This is my number." He shows her her mobile, with his number on it. "Call me whenever you want, for private classes. You will be a computer genius in no time." he grins and Phoebe gives him a coy smile.

"What about my computer?" Liz says in a commanding voice.

"Don't worry. I never disappoint the people, who need my aid." he beams at her.

"So do you want my number?" She asks, but she basically pleads.

"Yeah!" he answers casually, tapping his hair and then gives his phone to Liz, who writes her number. I zoom them out as I focus on Carmen who just asked me about my girlfriend, so I give her my phone and point at the screen, while the others keep talking.
"This is my girl!" I smile as a goof as we both stare at a picture of Sophie. "Her name is Sophie, isn't she pretty?" I ask her beaming at her.

"Oh my god, she really is, you are very lucky!" she remarks and I feel proud.

"I know, and given I miss her, I am going to go." I tell her and she giggles, saying she is leaving the others too.

"Hey Joss, I am about to head off, ok? You good?" I ask Joss as I put on my jacket.

"Ok! I guess I will take a cab or a bus to return." he shrugs.

"Are you sure you don't want to go?" Phoebe asks concerned. "It's fine by us."

"I am having fun and I don't want to leave yet." he beams at her. "But if you are that concerned, maybe you can give me a ride." He winks at her.

"Of course!" she replies.

"Awesome, but maybe you could like take your time here, 'cause I haven't seen Sophie in a while, if you know what I mean, and we are gonna need an empty house for a while." I grin.

"Do your thing, girls! You have a free pass." he winks at me. "I am in a good care." he turns to the girls, with a smirk.

"Thank you!" I blow him a kiss. "Nice meeting you, girls. Have fun." I wave at them and turn around to leave, but I remember something, so I turn around.

"Hey, Liz, where did you get that scarf from?" Vanessa needs to know.

"H&M." she replies.

"Hmm... nice. Good night everybody." I wave one last time and take off to my girl.

I text her on my way home and when I buzz her, she lets me up immediately. The moment she opens the door for me I pick her up and carry her to the couch. I make her sit on my lap as I kiss her with everything I have and she straddles me. When we break apart for air, she cups my face.

"Where's Joss?" she asks and I grin.

"He has company so I left him and came here to you. We have the house to ourselves, baby." I kiss her neck and then start nipping at her ear, but her hand on my chest pushes me away, and I frown.

"The girls you sent us?" she asks and after I nod she lowers her head, looking timid.

"Baby, what's wrong?" I am really confused. Did I do something wrong?

"Did you catch anyone's eye?" she plays with her fingers not looking at me, which makes her even more adorable. I take her hands in mine and squeeze them.

"No, I did not, and I wouldn't care if I did, either. Like I said, I am yours." I have never been into the idea that people belong to us, I could never fathom calling anyone my property or being anyone's really, but now I think Sophie needs to hear that, and frankly I feel hers. She is the only one I want to belong to.

"Ok... thank you. I am sorry, I have no right." she hugs me tightly and I caress her back.

"That's ok, baby. I don't mind. On the contrary, it turns me on." I say seductively and she gulps. "Wanna go to your room?" I lick my lips and she shudders.

"Yes, let's." she licks her lips too, so I pick her up and she brings her legs around my waist as I carry us to her room.

Nathan's POV

"Damn it!" John bangs his fists against the wall. I can't blame him. We just lost another game.

"What the fuck, cap? Where was your mind at tonight?" Dylan says proving for one more time he is not the one who is holding back. The truth is John was completely off tonight.

"I know, I... I let my nerves get the best of me!" He punches the wall again.

"You are our fucking captain, you are supposed to keep it together!" Dylan shouts at him. "We are all looking at you for guidance!" He is harsh with John but he has a point. The team's captain has big responsibilities. That doesn't mean though he is indeed responsible for everything.

"This is not on John. We are a team and we just lost as a team." I chime in.

"It is on me. Armstrong messed with my head big time last week and losing by him again made me a wreck. I was so pissed that I couldn't stay focused on tonight's game!" John tosses his shirt on the locker room's floor. He is pretty mad at himself. I would feel worse if I was him.

"Fucking Armstrong? Really? We're blaming him for this too? He just told you your chick is a whore to get at you, get over it already, man!" Dylan doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

John clenches his draw. That douchebag Armstrong was provoking the shit out of him. I barely hold John back not to bleed him.

"Dylan, knock it off!" Paul interferes. "You are a fucking freshman and you have no idea how much pressure this kind of games put on us. You weren't here when we lost year and were disqualified mostly due to Armstrong and his fucking team! As you weren't here the year before that when we smashed every single team and won the championship!"

"No, I wasn't but I got into this damn college to be on the team who has won the most championships and has made history in the college basketball!" Dylan yells back at him. "I didn't expect that one shitty year would have an eternal effect !" He looks at me to back him up but I shake my head no. So much drama in the locker room. I am not here for the drama, I am here just to play basketball.

"Ladies, keep it down. I think everybody, not just in the locker room but in the whole court, has heard your catfight." Coach steps in the room. "We didn't play well tonight and as I see it, it would take a miracle for us to get qualified. We are all upset, believe me when I say that I am more upset than anyone, but we'll talk about it at practice. Now go get a shower, deal with it on your own and be sure to show up at our hotel's reception in 3 hours to take off."

"Three hours? I thought we were to leave right away." Adam makes the wrong question at the wrong time.

"Excuse me for not taking your permission to arrange some important meetings, Robins." Coach fakes a smile. "Get your ass to the shower now!"

Adam was really testing his limits. After a quick shower, I take my things and go to the parking spot to find my folks. The whole Parker family didn't miss the chance to come and see me play since tonight's game was just a 2 hour drive from home. It was like high school all over again besides the fact that now Kate has turned worse than my mother on cheering up for me. She comes up with the dumbest nicknames.

"There's my baby!" My mom opens her arms for a hug as I approach them. "You did so good today."

"Mom, we lost." I eyeroll.

"You almost saved their asses once again." She kisses me on the cheek and Kate laughs. "Kate, close your ears!" She points a finger at her and Kate pulls her red beanie lower to cover her ears.

"Couldn't you just come in casual clothing?" I lift my eyebrows looking at the three of them. My dad is wearing a red checked shirt, my mom a red sweater and Kate... well, Kate is red from her head to her toes. They kind of overdid it on wearing our team's colour.

"What do you mean?" My dad smirks.

"We just wanted to let the world know which team we supported." My mom comes up with the lamest excuse ever.

"Yeah, like they wouldn't understand it with all your yelling. Especially you, little monster!" I grab Kate by the waist and turn her upside down.

"Parker is - going to- be- your father!" She shouts her ridiculous cheer between laughs.

"Becoming a cheerleader is not an option for you." I chuckle.

"Why are you saying that? I can do a perfect handstand!" She narrows her eyebrows. "I'll show you, put me down!"

"Another time, Kate. Get in the car, now it's dinner time." My mom hands the keys to my dad. It takes us 20 minutes to get at the fancy restaurant I am sure my mom has picked. It seems like 20 minutes weren't enough for Kate to talk about her everyday problems, if the struggle of an 8 year-old to fit her dolls in the damn dollhouse could ever be considered as a problem.

"Good evening, sir. Have you made a reservation?" A girl around her 20s beams at my dad. He is doing okay as a 45 year old. You can't blame the Parker genes, right?

"Parker for four." My mom takes over leaving no room for flirting to the red head. That chick looks good in her black dress and under other circumstances I would try to find out what she hides under that but there is no room for me to flirt either. Let's not forget I am here for a family dinner.

"Follow me." She leads the way guiding us to the middle of the restaurant. "There you go." She points at our table and leaves.

"Do you like it?" My mom asks enthusiastically after taking off her black coat.

"This is so dope!" Kate mimics her exact moves.

"Language, little missy." My dad attempts to scold her but she wins this battle after giving him her perfect puppy eyes.

"All these crystals and their glins are beginning to make me nauseous but whatever." I comment at the place's decoration with sarcasm.

We order right away and wait patiently for the food to get ready. I am vanished to say the least.

"So how's college going?" Kate starts the conversation in a serious tone.

"Good, Miss Parker." I raise my glass at her. "How's school?"

"School is school, you know." She puffs.

"That bad?" I try to hold my laughter.

"Well, it isn't bad but nothing interesting happens. Tomorrow though it's Valentine's day so I am waiting for some action!" She lifts her tiny eyebrows up and down playfully.

"Did you hear that? You better lock her in her room until she reaches 15. Or 18 better." I tell my dad.

"She is a charming little girl, you know. She even makes hearts break at the clinic." He pretends to say this to me as a secret.

"Oh, Nolan!" She sighs. "We are this close to the marriage proposal!"

"Excuse me but I can't recall giving my permission." I smirk at my baby sister.

"We live in the 21st century, that is not needed. Women's rights are humans' rights. JLo says it herself." She begins murmuring some melody and moving her hands all around.

"Kate, this is not the time for you to pull off you Ain't Your Mama choreography." My mom raises her eyebrow at her.

"You order is here, sir." The waiter arrives with our plates.

"Yummy, yummy!" Kate licks her lips. "Daddy, will you cut my chicken for me? This knife is too big, it doesn't fit in my little hand!"

"How can I say no to you? Of course, my princess." He takes her plate and she gives him a victorious smile.

"This is good." I remark after taking a bite. "So who is Nolan?"

"Just a new doctor at your dad's clinic." My mom informs me.

"Not just a doctor! He is super cute!" Kate defenses her current crush. "And he likes macaroni with cheese! I love spending time with him! It's a good thing he visits us pretty often."

"Cole, give me her plate, I'll do it for you." My mom offers.

"It is okay, Mel. I'm almost done." He smiles at her. "Nolan is pretty good at his job as well for a young doctor."

"He is 35 and a Virgo." Kate chimes in. "Thank you, daddy!" She blows him a kiss and starts eating.

"Isn't he just a little old for you?" I tease her.

"Love has no age limits." She says with a full mouth.

"We don't talk while eating, sweetie. Anyway, what happened with the team tonight, Nathan?" My mom asks me curious.

"Yeah, that didn't remind me the team I saw back in November. You had so much potential. Your captain didn't play well tonight." My dad comments.

"We kind of lost our focus after the Christmas break. The team was really nervous for the rest of the season since they screwed it up last year." I explain.

"Language!" Kate points her fork at me.

"Good job, Kate!" My dad chuckles. "You were the only one on track. You and that guy wearing the shirt with number 13. Is every hope lost by now?"

"Pretty much. We have another game next week but even if we win, it depends on what the other teams will do as well." I answer at his question.

"That's sad to hear. You chose this college because their basketball team is considered one of the very best." My mom pouts.

"You mean THE very best!" My dad quips. He was such a loyal fan back in his college days. Now with his son in the team, he is an even bigger one actually.

"Okay." My mom giggles. "That is still sad for our boy though. He was born a champion and this season didn't give him the chance to show it."

"Nathan did what he had to do. He was dominating every game. His statistics are high. He-" My dad begins to brag.

"Yeah, whatever." I cut him off. "Let's hope next year the team does better." I am in no mood to hear them put me on top. We had a game tonight, we did lose and I had a part in that too.

"Of course that is going to happen!" Mother reassures me with a smile. "My son never fails!"

"He is a Parker after all." My dad winks and his phone rings. Good, maybe this way they'll finally stop it. "It's from the clinic. I'll be right back." He excuses himself and stands up to take the phone call.

"Daddy is always so busy." Kate makes a grimace.

"I know, honey. I know." My mom puffs.

"So Nathan, you didn't ask me about Kristoff." Kate gives me a disappointed glare.

"Who?" I frown. It doesn't ring a bell.

"My puppy." Kate exhales. "Is he really my brother, mom?"

"Yes, he is, Kate." She answers at her while checking her phone.

"Not a slice change there was a mistake at the hospital?" That little one has sense of humor. My mom ignores her and stays focused on her phone whose screen lights up, making her smile. Does that mean...

No, I am getting suspicious again over nothing. I might haven't noticed anything weird during Christmas break but the image of my mom in a stranger's arms wearing only her robe and standing at our front porch on Halloween has been stuck on my mind for good.

"Aren't you going to ask?" Kate brings me back from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I turn to face her.

"About Kristoff!" She exclaims.

"Yeah, how is he?" I ask indifferently and she starts talking about her new pet with enthusiasm. I pay no attention. My eyes are on my mom. It is clear she is texting with someone and that this someone makes her happy. I want to grab the damn phone and solve this mystery but I guess it won't seem like the normal thing to do. My dad comes back to our table and now he and Kate both narrate to me the puppy's adventures. Could they both be so naive? Alright, Kate can be, but what about my dad? My mom hasn't spoken at all for the last 15 minutes. All she has been doing is drinking wine and beaming at her phone screen.

"Mommy, can I show Nathan the photos we took of Kristoff at the playground?" Kate asks. Bingo. Now we are going to find out to who the hell Mrs Parker is texting.

"Um, sure, love. Let me find them for you." She hands the phone to Kate.

"Mom, I know how to do that." My little sister eyerolls. "Look Nathan, here we are playing on the slide." She shows me the first picture.

"Your hand is shaking, I can't see well. Give me that." I take the phone from her.

Okay, let's see... What? There is not even a single text left! She has deleted everything! And I know she was texting just some seconds ago. I saw her with my own damn eyes! This is the only time that I hate the fact I was right all along.

"Have you seen the one we're swinging?" Oh little Kate, guess who was swinging behind our backs for a God knows how!

"Yeah, yeah, cool pictures." I handle the phone back to her.

"Daddy, have I shown you this?" Kate goes on driving my dad crazy. I've already been driven nuts by another member of the fucking perfect Parker family. I try to calm down but I can't damn it! I want to stand up and yell the shit out of my mother. How could she? Because it is certain. She is a damn cheater. I barely hold myself to not throw the table against the wall. How in hell did she do that? Why? I glare around the room. Everybody is laughing, drinking and eating this damn fancy food like nothing has happened. And it hasn't really. I look at my right at my sister who is babbling about her damn puppy and then at my left at my dad who is actually paying attention at every single detail this little girl says. Finally, I look across the table at my mom who is giggling at Kate's stories and squeezing my dad's hand. It seems like nothing is wrong, yet everything is. I can't deal with this bullshit.

"I am leaving." I announce as I get up.

"So soon?" My dad asks surprised.

"Yeap, Dylan just texted me about this change of plans. I have to go to the hotel to leave with the rest of the team." I say the first believable lie I can come up with.

"I'll drive you." My dad is about to stand up.

"No, I'll take a cab." I gesture to him to stay seated.

"We didn't even have dessert." Kate crosses her arms half sad, half angry.

"Next time, little monster." And if it is up to me, it will take long for the next family meeting to take place. For sure.

"We hoped to see you a little more." My mom complains. Did you hope to see me or your fucking lover?

"Have a safe trip back to campus, Nathan." My dad wishes me with a smile. Poor man, he has no idea.

"Call us when you get there." I hear my mom's voice from behind but I don't turn around. I leave in silence and try to maintain the volcano inside me from erupting. How in hell am I supposed to do that?

********************************

After hours and hours of trying to shake the shit that is happening into my life right now away and not succeeding, my feet brought me here. I give a slight knock on the door. Who would hear that at 3 am? There is no time to be polite. I knock harder, louder, with both of my fists. Nobody answers.

"Damn it!" I shout and give a kick at the door as well. Who knows, this might work.

"Are you fucking crazy?" A girl with untamed black hair yells at me from across the hallway.

"Mind your own business." I turn and give her a proper gaze to make her get the hell back in her room.

"I am going to call the building's security." She is persistent and fucking annoying.

"Oh yeah? You go do that!" I provoke her in a mocking tone.

"What's going on?" I hear a sleepy voice behind me. Seems like while fighting with that chick I didn't notice the door opened. "Nathan?" Vanessa tries to focus her sight on me. Her hair is in loose curls and covered in a hoodie... with some kind of ears on too? I observe her from head to toe. She is wearing a light grey onesie. Even in this damn ridiculous outfit she looks ten times better than the freak across the hallway. She is so fucking adorable that I barely hold my laugh.

"For God's sake, girl! It might be Valentine's day but couldn't your boyfriend wait until the sun comes up?" The annoying freak is back at complaining. And making false assumptions. "I am calling the security right now!"

"Sorry, Stephanie! It won't happen again." Vanessa apologizes and pulls me into her room.

"What are you..." She begins to say but then looks at the back of the room where Alice is still sleeping like a queen. Vanessa opens the bathroom door and drags me along with her.

"What are you doing here?" She asks the million dollar question after closing carefully the door behind her. Is this really a bathroom? It is like a hole really, too damn tiny. That tiny that makes me suffocating.

"I..." What am I doing here really? "I..." From when do I shutter? "I'd better go."

I touch the handle to open the door and get the hell out of here but Vanessa saddens me when she puts her hand on the door to block me.

"Are you okay?" Her voice comes out as a whisper. I turn around and see her bright green eyes looking at me worried. I don't say a word. "Come here." She takes my hand and gestures me to sit on the toilet. She lets it go and stands with her back on the wall but I take hers back and pull her closer. "So..." She sits down on the bathroom's floor. She looks cuter than ever into this grey thing she's wearing. "Why are you here?"

Why am I here? I exhale thinking about it myself. Vanessa squeezes my palm gently to shake my tension off. Maybe it is time to answer this question. Answer her and answer me.

"I needed to talk to you." I reveal after a moment of silence.

"You needed to talk to me?" She repeats surprised.

"Yeah, I needed to talk to somebody. Anybody." I admit my desperation and she nods her head in understanding. "Not just anybody." I correct myself. "You. I need to talk to you."

It seems like the truthness of my words confuses her. If only she knew how much it confuses the shit out of me.

"Okay, let's talk." She tells me after some seconds. "But not here. Alice will kill us both if we become the reason of waking her up." She makes a grimace and stands up. "Just give me a sec."

She lets go of my hand and goes by the sink. She shakes her head at her own reflection in the mirror and washes her eyes with her index finger. She looks like a little kitty trying to wake up. The hoodie with the ears that still rests on her head makes her look like that even more.

"Dear God, please keep Alice in sleep for the next minute." She looks up and then at me sighing. She walks on her tiptoes till her wardrobe, takes a jacket and a pair of boots. "Open the door." She instructs in a low voice. We get out and she almost trips trying to put her boots on. "Let's go." She puts her jacket on as well and leads the way to the elevator.

"Going where?" I ask as we get in and she pushes the button.

"I suppose you didn't walk till the dorms at 3 am." She teases and I eyeroll. "Come on." She holds me by the hand till we reach my car.

"You are crazier than me." I say as we get in and turn on the heat.

"Why you say that?" She frowns.

"You know you just got out in nothing but your onesie?" I smirk at her.

"And my jacket. And my boots." Vanessa shows proudly the rest of her outfit.

"What is this anyway?" I pull her hoodie lower and she slightly hits my hand.

"This is warmer and more comfortable than you could ever imagine." She defends her choice of pijamas.

"And the ears over here?" I chuck her on the top of her head.

"Well, if you're wearing an onesie, you have to wear it with style." She giggles and after several hours I feel like nothing has destroyed my life as I knew it so far.

"Are you warm enough?" I ask concerned. I did woke her up in the middle of the night, I don't want her to also catch a cold because of me.

"Yes, I am. Don't worry." She nods in reassurance. "Do you want to talk now or..." She pauses after seeing my discomfort. "Or why don't we take a ride? Yeah, that's a better idea. Definitely a better idea! I've never been out this late on a weeknight. Let's see what's out there!"

She puts her seatbelt on excited. I am thankful that her curiousness never takes over her discreteness. She will make nonstop questions about something totally unimportant but when she senses something is damn serious she always gives me time and leaves me in charge to decide whether and what I am willing to share or not. That's why I came to her tonight. Well, that and other reasons.

I start driving around campus taking orders from Vanessa when to turn right or left, even if she has no idea where each road leads. She recalls her non ability to drive as an excuse. There is no one but us outside, wandering around at such a time. She has something to say about almost everything. About the weather being pretty cold considering we are in the middle of February, about the broken traffic light on the corner of Wilson's street, about how big is the local mall and how funny her first visit there was since she was desperately trying to befriend Sophie while Alice and Joseph were fighting like cat and dog. All this babbling makes me relax and feel ready to finally talk to somebody about the thing that has been bothering me for months now. Talk to her.

"What? The tour is over already?" She pouts when I park at the first free place I spot.

"I thought we could use a break." I turn off the engine. And now what?

"Okay." She pulls her seatbelt off and turns her whole body to face me.

"You look funny." I chortle.

"Excuse me for not passing by the hair salon at 4.30 am" She points at the car's clock.

"Funny and cute." I add. "Aren't you feeling sleepy?"

"No." She shakes her head.

" 'Cause if you are, I can drive you back at the dorms." I suggest.

"Nice try." She lifts her eyebrows. "I don't want to go back. I am wide awake and I am with you." Her cheeks have blushed but she is looking into my eyes. "What is keeping you up?"

"Well, let's see. It can't be my mother fucking around with a God knows who behind my father's back." There I said it. I didn't expect to say it right away though. Vanessa mustn't be expecting this either, as I can tell by her shocked reaction.

"Your mother?" She processes the info I just gave her. "She has been disloyal to your father?"

"I didn't use that word but yeah." I say half smiling awkwardly. The truth is Vanessa is already making this lighter for me.

"Maybe you've got the wrong idea." She tells me what she thinks I want to hear.

"No, I have not. She is fucking with another man and my dad is damn clueless about it." I tick tack my fingers on the wheel.

"Are you sure?" She asks in disbelief.

"Yes, I am fucking sure, Vanessa!" I yell in frustration. She stays silent. "I am sorry." I don't want to be a jerk to her.

"It's okay." She gently brushes my arm with the back of her hand.

"I just have been in denial for so long and... it just stroke me tonight." I apologize.

"It's okay." She gives me a reassuring smile. "Do you want to tell me what happened tonight?" She asks unsure.

"We had a game two hours away from Seattle so my family came to see me play. We went for dinner after our big fat lost." I begin to narrate my nightmare of a day.

"You lost? That shouldn't upset you. You'll win the next game." She attempts to cheer me up.

"We won't and even if we do... It doesn't upset me. At least not as much as this. Between my family being torn apart and losing a basketball game, I would choose the second anytime." I exhale. She doesn't push me to speak again. After a couple minutes I go on. "We went for dinner. All four of us. The fucking perfect Parker family." I remark ironically."And we were the fucking perfect Parker family until my dad stood up to take a phone call from his clinic and my mom took her phone out and started texting."

"She could be texting with anyone. Just saying." Vanessa shrugs.

"Oh yeah? And why did she delete every single damn text then? Not to mention she was giggling like a school girl all along." I cross my arms.

"Maybe she was having a private conversation with a friend." I raise an eyebrow at her theory. "Or maybe she was arranging a surprise for your dad and wanted to keep it a secret! It's Valentine's day after all."

"Oh, please." I say in a sarcastic tone. "Maybe for her fucking lover."

"This isn't evidence. Maybe you misunderstood?" She is way too innocent.

"No, I did not. Does seeing her with my own eyes standing at our front porch wearing nothing but her robe while a stranger was holding her into his arms in the fucking dawn count as evidence to you?" I exclaim and her mouth falls down. "Yeah and that happened on Halloween, meaning almost four months ago."

"The day I saw you at the airport... And you were a mess..." She puts the pieces together. "It was about this?" I nod giving her the answer. "Why... Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I am telling you now." I close my eyes and rest my head back on the driver's seat. "And I haven't told a soul."

"You've been carrying this on your own for so long. I could have helped you!" She is so desperately trying to save my world from falling apart. I believe that if it was up to her, not even a single piece would fall down.

"And what could you have done? Ask my mom politely to stop cheating on my dad?"

"I would... I would..." The crack in her voice makes me open my eyes. Tears have started streaming down her face and I feel shitter than ever.

"I've told you not to cry ever again." I sweep her tears away. "And especially not for me."

"I am sorry." She sighs. "I am sorry that this is happening to you, to your family."

"Don't be. I know it's pretty childish of me to let it get to me that much." I caress her cheek. It is so soft and warm. I've missed this. Her.

"Don't ever say it's childish! It is natural. It is human. I understand how you must be feeling." She touches my hand that rests on her cheek.

"You do? I don't even understand it myself." I puff. "I have my own life now and a million things to occupy myself with and yet this affects me in such a ridiculous way."

"Having your own life doesn't mean your family isn't a part of it. It will always be." She rubs her nose. Thank God, she has stopped crying. "Even if you're now in college and miles away from home, everything that happens over there might upset you. And it should. It is your family. People that you love."

"This is just so messed up." I comment after taking a big breath. "Wifes cheat on their husbands all the time and nobody gives a fuck."

"Nobody who is on the outside." She corrects me. "You don't care about it till it happens to you."

She takes my hand from her cheek and covers it with her both small ones like it is the most fragile thing in the world. Glancing at this, a short laugh escapes my lips and Vanessa narrows her eyebrows puzzled.

"That was deep." I smirk.

"How are you feeling?" She stares at me trying to find out herself.

"Better somehow. It still sucks but I am feeling better." I answer at her honestly.

"Talking helps." She sits up and brings her feet on the passenger's seat still holding my hand.

"I think it is you." There's a voice in my head that screams it is her who lifted the weight off my chest.

"You should talk about things like that. Sharing makes it easier." She smiles at me with her grey hoodie still resting on her head. I can't help but laugh again. This kind of outfit choice is something you don't see everyday. "What now?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes?" She tells me unsure.

"Where did you get this thing? Have you been searching for it for a long time? Was it a spontaneous buy? Did you have other alternatives? Why did you choose this one?" I tease her as everybody else would do really.

"That wasn't A question!" She giggles. "Don't you like it?" She beams at me really proud of her onesie.

"I think you are the only person that I know who can actually pull this off." I raise an eyebrow at her.

"Well, thank you." She takes her hoodie off after almost three hours.

"What are you going to do about it? Your mom." She asks me after a while.

"Not think about it." I shrug.

"That won't make it go away." She mentions seriously.

"I'll try not to think about it until it pops up again. I don't know what I am supposed to do. My dad is damn blind, he has no fucking idea. At least it seemed so." I exhale.

"Are you thinking about telling him?" She questions with a sad look.

"No. I don't know... He should know but how can I tell him something like that? It will crush him." All the possible scenarios pass through my brain and none of them is ideal. "Plus, I don't know if I want to tell him. I mean I don't want to be the one to tell him. I prefer him finding out on his own. Or for it to never have happened."

"But it did? Couldn't it be something else?" She doubts again.

"No, there are fucked up things happening in the world and this is one of them, special friend." I say and she sighs. " Enough about my shitty family now, what about you? I haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, I haven't seen you either." She puts her hair behind her ear. "Oh, wait, I saw you last week on your basketball game!" She shouts in excitement. "You were really good!"

"Not that good, we kind of lost." I smirk.

"That doesn't matter. You were really good." She repeats.

"Well, it kind of matters too but whatever." I chortle.

"You really love it, don't you?" She looks at me with her bright green eyes lighting me inside.

"Playing basketball?" She nods. "Yeah, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess." She mocks me and I lift my eyebrows at her amused. "Why don't you say it? You are really passionate about it! It's like the whole world stops and you're just playing. Like nothing else matters. You seemed so focused on it. That means you love it."

"You think?" I move closer. She does the same bringing our faces inches apart.

"I know." She says playfully and touches her forehead on mine.

I didn't see that coming. My eyes are captured by hers. I think that I could stare at them for hours. She half opens her mouth to say something but she regrets it. That though is enough to get my attention to her full lips now. I have dreamt about kissing them a bunch of times, why shouldn't I find out how they taste in real life? Why? Just why? I feel like if I go for it, I am stepping over some serious boundaries. Like I would do something I am not allowed to. Something I am not ready to. Something I can not deal with. But they are so fucking tempting. A weird noise takes me out of my dilemma.

"Oops. That was my belly." Vanessa covers her face with her hands embarrassed. I burst into laughter. "Don't laugh!" She joins me. "I said don't laugh!"

"Time for breakfast?" I propose.

A/N: Sophie is coming more and more out of her shell, thanks to Robin. Joseph remains his charming self. As for Nathan... did you expect him to act the way he did? We want to know it all, share with us your reactions. Thank you for your support! xx