The sound of the tv was tuned out as background noise as I separated the lumpia wrappers laying in front of me. The aroma of cooked beef, pork and veggies filled my nostrils. I sat at the kitchen island wrapping lumpia for the New Year's Eve party which will be held at the Partridge's household tomorrow night.

Louis and I had flown into South London late December 27th at night. Which was Timmy's birthday. I stayed up with him till midnight the night before my flight, so I'll be able to spend his birthday with him before I leave.

Flashback :

"You're going to miss me right?" I said as my head laid on Timmy's lap. He was stroking my hair.

Then he slapped my forehead, causing me to look at him confused, rubbing the slight pain. "No dumbass I won't." I pouted my face at him, causing him to roll his eyes. "Of course I'm going to miss you Ami. I can't believe you're leaving on my birthday, like am I not that special to you?"

I got up as I rolled my eyes at him, "You didn't even know my birthday till the day was half over!"

He got up, "Okay to be fair, you never told any of us it was your birthday!" He followed me into the kitchen.

I read the clock, 10:47 pm, I took out the pitcher of the fresh lemonade I had made the morning of, as Timmy took out two cups.

As I poured the lemonade, I noticed Timmy playing with his hand in the corner of my eyes. Something he does whenever he'd get nervous.

"What do you want?" I looked at him, handing him his cup.

"Whattt, nothing." He took a sip.

I leaned against the island, where he sat on a chair beside me. "No tell me."

I nudged his shoulder to grab his attention which I did.

"Okay so I know I'm your big kuya and all, and I'm new to this, but you'd tell me when you're talking to a guy right or if you're dating someone? A girl or guy, I'd never judge." He said.

I looked at him and laughed, not too loudly though, the rest of the boys along with Alex and Jo were still sleeping. "Yeah I hope you don't judge considering you made out with a guy in a movie and fucked a peach."

He pushed my shoulder, "Oh shut it,...but seriously though, you would right? We're close like that."

I looked at him in the eyes, seeing the sincerity in them.

"Of course I would, you'd be the first person I'd tell." I laid my head on his shoulder, as I felt one of his arms go around me, stroking my arm.

"Okay great....so what the fuck is up with you and Louis?"

Flashback Over

I bit my tongue as I grabbed the hot, steaming meat in my hands and placing it into a thick line on top of the wrapper.

Both of my pointer fingers covered in dried egg yolk wrapped the food tightly, placing it neatly in the container next to me. I looked at big pot full of meat along with the stack of thin wrappers beside me, sighing knowing it'll be a long night.

Flashback :

"Wake up! Wake up!" I said, knocking on everyone's door, making my way towards the dinner table. Timmy who was sitting at the head of it with his head in laying on top of his arms, and the rest of people currently sleeping in our apartment, making their way slowly towards us.

I clapped happily, noticing I was the only one fully awake even though it was 2 a.m. on December 27th. "C'mon guys crowd around, crowd around." I pushed Louis and Willie behind Timmy.

I took out the cake I had baked earlier that night out of the fridge and set it in front of the sleepy birthday boy. I lit up the candles and began to sing.

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" I sang as I nudged Willie beside me as he opened his eyes wider and yawned.

Timmy blew out his candles, "Great, eat cake later, we have to get ready for the airport." I said, putting the cake away.

Timmy turned to me, rubbing his eyes, "Ami your flight isn't for another 2 hours, we're gonna be early." I widen my eyes at him.

"2 hours? No, no we're going to be late, chop chop let's change!" I yelled as I shoved them down the hallway, accidentally bumping into someone.

I looked up to see a pair of droopy eyes looking at me, "Oh hey Lou." My hands felt shaky as I remember them combing through his curls on the hill, a couple hours before.

"Hey darling, you ready to go back home?" His raspy morning voice spoke. My knees felt weak.

"I-um I yeah I'm ready, are you?" I asked as I bounced on my heels.

He looked at me and grinned, "Ready as I'll ever be." He turned towards the hallway before facing back to me. He gave me a kiss on my forehead and walked away. Leaving me to look at his back in shock, my stomach forming knots.

Flashback Over

I yawned as I switched the channels on the tv remote, careful not to get it greasy.

I scanned the guide list before my eyes came upon a familiar movie name.

Little Women.

I happily pressed play seeing it was almost halfway through the movie, a grin on my face as I see Timmy's face popping up on screen.

Flashback :

"Text me when you land, okay?" I felt Timmy's voice speak into my neck as we hugged in the middle of the airport.

I was standing with my 2 suitcases by my side as I went down the row, hugging everyone goodbye. Louis behind me doing the same.

"I will I will don't worry." I replied back.

I looked at the group in front of me as Louis came to my side.

Alex had his arm around Jo, with Timmy and Willie on both sides. They looked like a family.

I felt my eyes tear up at the sight, 2 weeks didn't sound like a long time, but it would feel like one.

Flashback Over

I wiped my eyes as I heard my phone ding across the table. As I made my way towards the ringing phone, my heart began to race. I peered down at the screen as it scan my face. Disappointment filled my body when I saw Willie had sent me pictures of his siblings and him touring around the city. I wish I were back home.

Flashback

I smiled as I saw Louis run towards his happy family. We had just come from baggage claim after an almost 14 hour flight, we arrived in South London at 1 in the morning on December 28th.

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Partridge, good to see you again." I said as I greeted the two.

They pulled me into a hug, "Glad to see you again Azami, we hope Louis behaved himself for the last few months." Mr. Partridge said.

I looked towards Louis, a smile shared between us, "He did okay."

I then walked towards the two sisters, bouncing up and down as I greeted them.

"Woah Mills did you get taller?" I asked the girl who was peering down at me as we did a group hug.

"No you're just short." I scoffed as I nudged her shoulder.

I turned to Issie who grabbed my hands, "We have so much to catch up on, uni is such a bore." She spoke, her thick accent seeping through.

"Let's catch up tomorrow girls, I bet these two had a long flight." Mrs. Partridge said as she ruffled Louis's hair.

"Ami do you need a ride home?" Everyone turned to me as I held onto my two suitcases.

I shook my head, "Oh no it's okay, my family will be picking me up, thank you though."

Mr. Partridge nodded his head and began to lead the family out of the airport, Louis staying a bit behind to say goodbye.

"I'll see you later then okay?" He said, pushing my hair behind my ears as I smiled at him.

"Mhmm" We stared at each other for a while before Louis pecked my cheeks and kissed my forehead. I watched his figure leave the airport doors. I wanted so desperately to talk to him about the kiss we shared that night on the hill, but my throat would felt tight whenever the words tried to leave my lips. So instead I decided to talk about it the next day.

But that was the last time I saw or heard from him.

Flashback Over

The sound of a lock undoing jolted me from my thoughts. I looked at the front door to see the twins along with my parents walk through.

The twins greeted me with a hug as I tried to decline since they had just come from baseball practice and their uniforms were all muddy and dirty.

My dad muttered a quick hello as he walked towards his office, not much interaction.

My mom set down the boys practice gear as she sighed looking at me. She smiled as she gave me a hug.

"You're not mad about the other day right?" She said into my neck.

She means the other day when they didn't pick me up from the airport. Resulting me to wait an hour and a half alone patiently waiting. I ended up calling an uber home at 3 a.m.

"No, it's okay." It wasn't okay.

They didn't really care when I woke them up at the front door at 4 in the morning since I didn't have my key with me. They were more upset that they were awaken from their sleep than happy that their daughter had returned after almost 6 months of not seeing each other.

My mom kissed my cheek as she walked away, most likely going to check on her boys.

Leaving me in the kitchen with egg yolk covered fingers and a longing for some kind of love to be returned in this house.

I sat back down as I thought of Louis. We had not talked or seen each other for almost 4 days. The longest I've been without him. I wonder what he was doing or how he was doing. A simple text would've been nice.

I tried to get the courage to text him first, but I always ended up deleting it as I felt annoying. He needs a break from you Ami, leave him alone.

I began making another line of meat on the wrapper as my mind felt heavy with the thought.

A/N

okay this chapter is kind of a filler chapter. I didn't really want to do a whole airport chapter again so I did it in flashbacks. I hope you all are excited for this book as I am. Don't forget to share this with other readers who've read darling, and don't forget to vote!

don't be a silent reader, i love reading your thoughts and comments!

- jules

also some might not know but i use a journal to write/jot down my thoughts and ideas for my book and look this is what my journal looked like after the first book :