In the morning I wake up to the sun blinding me. My naked body is tangled in my sheets and my hair is an actual mess. I sit up and replay last nights events in my head. I look beside and see no Brandon. I untangle myself from the sheets and slip on the first shirt I find on the floor which is Brandon's navy t shirt. I slip on my underwear and throw my hair in a messy bun.

When I get downstairs I see Brandon in the kitchen making pancakes. He is in his jeans and no shirt. I smile when I see him. He grins and flips a pancakes.

"Morning," he says as I hop up into the counter beside him. I keep smiling and watch him cook. He looks up.

"What?" I shake my head.

"Nothing," I say still grinning. He puts down the spatula.

"No, there's something," he smiles and puts his body between my legs.

"I'm happy," I say.

"Because of last night?" He asks confused.

"Of course because of last night!" I exclaim.

"But you and Pricilla-," he started. I shushed him.

"Not that," I said.

"Ohhhh," he smiled and put his hands on either side of me. He leans closer to me and I kiss him. I break away and look at the pancakes.

"You're going to burn the pancakes!" I squeal.

"Oh shit," he says and picks up the spatula. I laugh and he flips the pancake. He laughs and I smile.

We eat our pancakes at the counter and talk for a little bit. Brandon puts the dishes in the sink.

"I should go," he said touching my hand. I nodded knowing he needed to check on his mom and brother. I touch his bruise on his cheek. I wish I could help him.

"I think I'm gonna need my shirt back though," he smiled looking at the shirt I was wearing.

"This thing?" I teased. He nodded. "Okay, if you insist."

I pulled the shirt off and smiled. He looked down and laughed.

"Here ya go," I said dropping it in his hands. He grabbed my bare waist and pulled me into a kiss. We broke away and I turned and left the kitchen. He laughed as I ran away half naked.

After Brandon left I took a long relaxing shower. I think about Brandon and his hands on me. Jessica was right. I like him. I really like him. I smile and get out of the shower. I stand in front of the mirror and stare at my face for a few moments.

Suddenly reality hits me like a truck and the events from the party unfold in my head. I closed my eyes and grab my phone.

Jessica: Ava, are you okay? I'm worried. Please call me.

Me: Hey, I'm okay. Rough night. How pissed is she?

Jessica: She was really pissed. She drank the rest of the liquor and the party died down after that.

Me: I'm not apologizing. I hope you know that.

Jessica: I know. You don't need to. She does... she found out about Samara and I.

Me: Jess... I'm sorry. How did she take it?

Jessica: She yelled at me and then walked away. I think she was tired from fighting you to continue fighting with me. Melody just stood there though and then she slipped out the back.

Me: I don't blame her. She doesn't want to be caught in the middle of this, even though she is.

Jessica: I have to go. My parents are arguing about me.

Me: You told them?

Jessica: Yeah...

Me: Good luck. I'll call you later.

I set down my phone and lean against my sink thinking about Jess. I look at the mirror again and I see my door to my closet looking in the background. I need something to take my mind off all of this. I shrug my towel off and slip my silky robe on and head inside my fill closet.

I clean out every inch of that closet. I get rid of clothes that I had never even seen or worn before. Eventually I'm left with two piles of clothes and accessories on the floor. One pile is to go in the trash and the second one is for the clothes I'm going to sell. I step back and admired my now cleaned out closet with only the clothes that I need and love.

Suddenly the closet door shuts and Brandon is standing behind it.

"Holy crap! You scared the shit out of me!" I jumped. He laughed and stepped over the clothes towards me.

"Sorry, I tried texting you," he said gesturing to my phone far away on the other side of the counter. Ah.

"Sorry, I was...a little busy," I said looking at al the clothes.

"I can see that. What exactly are you doing?" He asked.

"I cleaned out my closet," I said. He laughed and stepped inside the closet.

"You're kidding right?"

"What?" I shrugged.

"Ava, did you even get rid of anything? There's still hundreds of clothes in here," he said looking around.

"Hey, this... is progress," I gestured to the piles. He smiled.

"Whatever you say," he said.

"Have you eaten?" He asked.

"No, what time is it?" I grabbed my phone.

"Like 7," he replied.

"Crap, I was going to call Jess," I looked through the texts she sent me about her parents.

"What happened?" I looked up at him.

"She told Pricilla about Samara and her and then she told her parents and they have been arguing," I said sighing. "I should call her," I said. Brandon nodded.

"I'll make you dinner," he said. I smiled and he turned to leave as I pressed call on Jessica's contact.

"Hey," I said as she picked up.

"Hey, sorry I've been bothering you with all this stuff," she said.

"Jess, it's okay, I'm here for you," I said. "What happened with your parents?"

"They argues and argued and yelled at me, but I think they will come around. I'm inviting Samara to my house for dinner to meet my parents."

"That's great! Are you nervous?" I asked.

"Yes, I mean I really want them to like her," she said. Suddenly I heard footsteps in the hallway.

"Hold on a sec, Jess," I took the phone off my ear and peered into the dark hallway.

"Brandon?" I called. No one answered. That was weird. I put the phone back up to my ear.

"I'm sorry, did you just say Brandon? What is he doing at your house?!" She exclaimed.

"Um... making me dinner?" I said unsure of what she would think.

"Wait a second you guys haven't...have you?" She asked. My silence answered her question.

"OH MY GOD AVA!" She screamed. I held the phone away from my ear. "How did it happen? Tell me everything!"

"I don't know we were both just really upset and...it just happened," I said.

"Wait- Did this happen last night?" She lowered her voice.

"Maybe?" I said. She screamed again.

"So are you guys together now? I mean he is making you dinner.."

"I guess. I don't know it's all happening so fast," I sighed.

"I get it, just take it slow," she said. I agree with her and we talk more about her parents. When I hang up the phone I go downstairs. Brandon is sitting at the kitchen counter pouring macaroni and cheese into two bowls. I smile and go up to me.

"You know, you didn't have to make me dinner," I said.

"Yes, I did, or else you wouldn't have done it," he said. I sit down beside him and kiss him on the cheek and eat my dinner.