I woke up to an empty bed. It was now night time and the rain still hasn't eased up. It was pitch black dark in Daniel's room. The lightening occasionally lighting up the room. I leaned over the bed to turn on the lamp but it wasn't working. The power must have gone out while we were sleeping but I'm not surprised. I threw the blankets off me and got out of bed, wondering if Daniel was downstairs. It was eerily silent and I was suspicious. I walked out of the room and turned only to notice mini candles lighting up the dark hallway, all the way down towards the top of the staircase. I bit my bottom lip as I started to follow the trail of candles. It led me down the stairs, towards the living room that was at the back of the house.

I stood at the entrance with wide eyes and my mouth agape. A couple of fur blankets along with some pillows were set out in the middle of the room, in between the two side couches, in front of the fireplace. The fireplace was lit with the fire crackling. On the blanket was surrounded by fake rose petals that I'm pretty sure were Evelyn's since she used to love crafting but stopped last year. Along with it was a picnic basket, two wine glasses, a bottle of wine, two bowls of pasta, some breadsticks, a plate of strawberries and a slice of red velvet cake. Daniel was standing in the middle of it with a nervous smile. 

"W-what is all of this?" I stuttered out. 

"This is a kind of date" Daniel replied. I smiled as my cheeks flushed. I walked up to wrap my arms around his torso. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me to pull me closer in return. "I'm guessing that you like it?"

"Of course I do! I love it! How did you manage to set all of this up?" I asked. We let go of each other and sat with our backs against the pillows that were rested up against the white couch behind us, now facing the two light blue singular couches. The fire warmed us up instantly. 

"You'd be surprised with what I can find in this house," Daniel said with a sly smirk. I rolled my eyes.

"Ok, and how many of these things are from Evelyn?" I asked, raising a brow expectantly. Daniel handed me a bowl of pasta, holding his own in his other hand. 

"The fake rose petals, the blankets and that cake but I'm allowed to take her things since she's a bitch" he shrugged. 

I stared at my pasta in silence. I didn't know how to reply to that exactly. I mean ever since I got here, it seems like she is. I just can't voice it out loud. I know the guilt of ignoring Evelyn is going to hit me soon. That's why I want to avoid her as much as possible because I'll just forgive her, like last time, and she'll probably do the same thing again when she's drunk. I just want her to realise what she did and own up to it, not make excuses. It feels like she's stopped being my best friend and becoming more like a stranger or an enemy but I don't want to be. I miss the way things used to be between us before everything.

She cares more about hating Daniel than anything else. She hasn't even contacted me the whole week to apologize but she did, however, come to me earlier this week to talk in person but that didn't end well. It was the second encounter after I didn't accept her first apology. She made excuses again and told me that she shouldn't even be the one apologising, I should. So we had an argument, again, and I stormed off to the usual spot by the cliff near the water to cool off. She always gets what she wants, I know that better than anyone else. I just can't be the one to give her the satisfaction of an apology that I don't think I even need to give. It wasn't my fault, I didn't start the whole ordeal. She did when she couldn't hold her tongue for only one night.

"Are you ok?" Daniel asked, softly cupping my chin to lift my head and look into his eyes that held only concern in them. His eyes searched mine before a look of realisation replaced his worried expression. "Let me guess, Evelyn?". I nodded.

"Do you think I'm being stubborn by ignoring her and expecting an apology from her?" I asked, looking down, avoiding his gaze.

"Of course not, I think it's great you're standing up against her, she doesn't deserve your forgiveness" he declared. I quirked my lip up into a half-smile.

"Thank you, you're right, I'm sorry I brought her up," I said.

"There's no need to apologize" he smiled. 

We spent the rest of our time eating and talking while I curled up with the blanket around my lap since Daniel said he wasn't cold like I was. We are currently in December and I now don't know whether I'm going to visit my grandmother for the holidays, after the New Years party, or if I'll go with Kylee and Ruby on the camping trip. I want to see my grandmother but on the other hand, I want to go with my friends. I don't even know if Evelyn is still going because technically no one uninvited her and she co-planned it with Kylee and Ruby.

Kylee and Ruby were still angry with Evelyn and are disappointed with what she said. I told them it's alright and that they didn't need to ignore her because of me but they told me I wasn't to blame for how they react to her. I had to push the guilt that I felt at the fact that she's now alone without Kylee, Ruby or me to hang around her. I know she's got Keith but that's it, she doesn't like anyone else in school, not enough to make friends with, she's too stubborn. She's told me plenty of times how much she hates the people in her school and then she proceeds to insult them without getting to know a single person.

"What are you thinking about?" Daniel mumbled into my hair. I had moved closer to Daniel and am now cuddling up to him with my arms around his abdomen and my head on his chest while he rested his back against the couch. We were close to the fire to keep warm even though being close to his body did just that. 

"The camping trip" I answered, staring into the crackling fire, watching the little bursts of sparks. 

"You're thinking of going?" he questioned.

"I don't know before I wasn't going to go but now I'm not so sure" I admitted.

"I think you should go and have fun" he suggested. I looked up at him. 

"You really think I should go?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah, at least then you can get away from Evelyn, the wicked witch" he joked. I chuckled. A sudden idea popped into my head.

"Hey, how about you come with us!" I exclaimed excitedly. I probably shouldn't have blurted that out immediately. I know I probably should talk to Kylee and Ruby about inviting Daniel. His eyes widened, shocked by my outburst.

"I don't think that's a good idea" he hesitated. 

I pouted up at him, seeing if that would somehow change his mind. Daniel groaned. I was secretly grinning on the inside. I think I was starting to get to him. I hope I do because I would rather he come with us on the camping trip because then if Evelyn is coming, I'll be alright. Evelyn would lash out but so would I if I face her alone because she'll probably use every opportunity to ruin my time there. I know we can always invite more people like Daniel's friends because Kylee and Ruby won't mind. Probably not as long as Thomas is there and probably Atticus since he keeps Kylee happy and prevents her from thinking about Axel. 

Daniel's friends are all such great people that it makes me wonder how Evelyn could hate any of them so much. Even Ivy doesn't seem threatening, she doesn't sound like she has any bad intentions. When she told Daniel about Joseph and Shane, there was nothing to gain from it, no ulterior motive. These are the types of reasons why I don't listen to anyone's ill version of another without getting to know them myself and making up my decision on whether what they're saying is correct, false or has deeper meaning towards their behaviour even though I'm in no way a therapist. 

"Ok how about this, if I can convince Kylee and Ruby to let you come and invite a few others, would you go?" I tried to reason with him since he wasn't going to budge, he was still hesitant in accepting my offer. Daniel took a minute to think about it.

"You really want me to come eh?"

"Yes, yes I do."

"Ok, fine but only for you."

I did a little cheer in my head as I grinned and kissed his cheek while Daniel chuckled. He pulled me closer. I didn't know what time it was but it felt like it was past midnight. Even though we were doing nothing, I still found peace and joy out of the date he surprised me with. I would prefer this over going out to some fancy restaurant any day. Just spending alone time with Daniel without anyone to interrupt us. Today was probably the first time no one called or messaged or walked in on us, finally having a moment to ourselves. 

When Daniel suddenly started humming a soft, sweet melody that I've never heard before, it snapped me out of my thoughts to listen in closely. I looked up at Daniel in awe as he continued to look into the fire, the flames reflecting in his irises. He then began to draw circles on my arm with the hand that was holding me close to his chest. Living in this moment right now made me forget about the world around me. I wasn't thinking about everything bad that has recently happened to me, not even about my cracked friendship with Evelyn and it felt like freedom.

"It's times like these where I wish the night would never end" I mumbled against his chest.

"We can always have nights like these, just probably not here," he said. 

That's the unfortunate thing. He was right, we couldn't, not unless Evelyn wasn't home because I didn't want to tell her about us. I don't want to keep us a secret but this is still new, I wanted to be sure this wouldn't end so soon before I told anyone. I also don't think I'm ready to hear any backlash directed towards me for my choice to be with Daniel. I wish I didn't care what Evelyn thought about us or what her reaction would be because I know it would diminish any chance of us being best friends again. I don't know if I'll tell Ruby and Kylee, maybe not yet. I don't know what I was going to tell them since I was supposed to call them today but got too distracted. 

"Well we can always hang at my house so we can have some alone time together" I suggested. A smirk appeared upon Daniel's lips. 

"I know we just got together but don't you think that's moving a little too fast?" he teased. I frowned and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion until it finally clicked. I glared at him and punched his chest though he just laughed it off, throwing his head back. 

"Seriously Daniel?!" 

"Hey! I'm not the one using violence, now you have to kiss me to make it better" Daniel joked. I rolled my eyes. I couldn't help but smile. I leaned up and pecked his lips.

"Better?" 

"Much."

Silence fell between us for the rest of the night. I felt safe, more than I ever have since I moved here because I wasn't alone, I didn't have to be closed off or hide how I was feeling inside. I didn't even have to hide what I was thinking, it was a night where I could be free from anyone that could possibly ruin this moment. It's better than any fancy candlelit dinner at some expensive restaurant. I fell asleep to the sound of the wild wind whistling a howling tune, the fire sending bursts of little sparks almost like a firework and my head pressed up against Daniel's chest where I listen to his steady heartbeat.