A/N

first and foremost, i just want to say thank you for 50k reads on darling. you don't understand how much that means to me, all your comments, votes and just you reading the book in general. i'm so happy how far it's come and i'm so blessed. also i'd like to thank all the amazing friends and people i've met and made through this app. i love you all so so so much. you all mean a lot to me. i hope you all enjoy future chapters/(books???) of mine and yeah. that's all. ily <33

- jules

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I pushed my glasses up my nose as I walked into the living room to see the three boys sitting in front of the tv. With papers scattered all of the table and a tupperware of cold rice krispies sat in the middle of it all, the boys munched on it, not even giving me a glance my way.

It wasn't until I had slammed the fridge closed I caught their attention.

"I haven't seen you wear glasses in forever." Louis told me from across the room. He then grabbed the eyes of the boys directing it towards me.

"Since when do you wear glasses?" Willie asked while Alex sitting on the recliner next to them piped up as well, "Since when we're you blind?"

They all bit into a rice krispy.

I walked towards them rolling my eyes, "My contacts were bothering me this morning, and since 7th grade. Hope that answers your questions." I said as I set my feet down on the table, sipping on my cup watching the tv.

Alex swatted my feet down, "Careful dumbass we need to sign these."

I clicked my tongue at him, "What are these for?" grabbing a paper.

"These are contracts you need to sign before we start press, photoshoots and most importantly the premiere." Alex replied. I felt the boys heads turn beside me.

"Also I took over as your manager for now, maybe forever if you sign these." Directing his statement towards the two and handing them each a paper.

"Where's Kuya?" I asked as Alex organized the papers into 3 piles and Willie walked away to grab some pens.

Louis sat closer to me, "He went to set early." I tried to hide my disappointment as he looked down at my neck.

Grabbing the jewelry he smiled, "I like it." He was talking about the silver necklace hanging down.

I whispered a thanks while Willie sat back down between us and handed us pens.

"Oh Ami nice necklace wonder who gave it to you." Willie rolled his eyes at me.

Wait what.

"I thought Jo and Alex did?" I asked, pointing at Alex in the recliner in front of me. He shook his head while Willie turned to me, a hurt look planted on his face.

"I got you that Ami!" He laid back down on the couch disappointed as Louis who sat on the other side of him looked confused.

"Why'd you get me a gift? You didn't apply to adopt me." I questioned, knowing Jo and Alex got me a gift because they're my "parents" and Timmy got me one because he applied but got denied, so why did Willie get me one?

"It was odd that everyone got you a gift except me...and you're my best friend!" His thick accent rubbing through.

Then Louis scoffed which I ignored.

Pulling Willie into a hug I told him, "Thank you Willie, I love it seriously." He smiled proudly.

Louis looked at us, "and you're my best friend" he mocked Willie with his thick accent as well, making Alex laugh.

"Okay enough now", Alex said after clearing his throat, "I gotta explain all this to you and you got to sign so pay attention because i'm not explaining it again, got it dipshits?" We nodded our heads.

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"Finally" Louis exclaimed, all three of us laid back on the couch, my feet sprawled across Louis and Willie's legs, "We're done, that was way too much papers and information."

"My hands are sore." Willie held his hand up.

"Wait! One more!" Alex said, making us all groan as we grabbed our pens.

"Okay this is basically for the premiere, it's the amount of seats you'll be occupying for the theater for you and your family. Willie Dillie I already spoke to your parents, they're coming. Louis you got 4 other family members right ?" He nodded his head, "Great, sign here. Okay cool. And last...Ami."

Then a weird silence took over and the boys looked at me.

"How many will you be inviting?" And now I understood why. I didn't even have to think.

"Just three. For you, Kuya and Jo." Alex looked at me closely.

"I meant your family."

"I know, that's why, Just three." I took the paper from him and signed it, ignoring the awkward tension we created.

"But Ami-"

"No, my family signed you guys as my legal guardians, which means they basically gave me away. They didn't support me taking this role or anything after that so they shouldn't be there for my success. They don't deserve it." I said, an octave too loud, but it got them to stop asking and giving me pity looks.

"Okay well...we're done here." Alex said after a while, putting the stacks of papers into three piles.

"Well I'm starving, wanna get some food?" Louis stood up, Willie following after him. "Ami?" I shook my head at him. He looked at me longer, but walked away when he realized I wasn't going to budge. The boys then left the apartment.

I watched Alex fix the papers into a folder, putting it into his backpack. Looking at me when he was done, he nodded towards the patio, signaling for me to follow when he walked up and out.

As I came to his side, we stood watching the afternoon aftermath of L.A. on a tuesday morning in mid January. Honking and yelling can be heard down below, the smell of smoke and cigarettes wafted up into the air as I took it in.

"Did my dad-" I began to ask before I got interrupted.

"He did" I looked at Alex. He was slouching, his fingers interlocked in front of him with his left leg in front of his right. His eyes looking around the horizon.

"So when do I start the classes?" I asked, looking at his face hoping I could find an answer before he can voice it.

"Never." I gave him a confused look, which he didn't see and he continued. "I managed to convince your dad to not let you take the classes. Making some excuse you'll be too busy and it'll affect your grades. Got an ear load from him, but you're off the hook kid."

I released a breath I was holding in and looked out. I felt Alex's arms snake around my shoulder and I leaned my head against his chest. I felt like my body was lighter, but something was still holding it down.

"Is Kuya mad at me? Did I do something? Is that why he's not talking to me?" I asked Alex.

His chest went up and down as he broke into laughter. I looked at him, "Ami, Tim could never be mad at you. He gets like this every time he films something. But I can guarantee you, he's not mad. He cares a lot about you especially ever since..." And then he stopped. He didn't have to say what, but I knew what he was talking about.

"Alex?" I asked looking up at him, he held onto my arm a little tighter to let me know he was listening. "What happened to Dylan?"

Then I felt his body go rigid against mine. He went frozen as he looked out into the sky and his arm fell from my shoulders.

He took a deep breath. "A day or two after what happened, Timmy went to the police and filed a restraining order against Dylan. Which conveniently worked because a few days later Dylan tried to break into your old apartment." I felt a gasp left my body as I looked down at the streets, too scared to look at Alex right next to me.

"But wouldn't I need to sign the restraining order too?" I asked.

A/N ; i have no idea how restraining orders work so just bare with me 🙂

Alex shook his head, "No, since you were mostly unconscious and all bruised up, it was enough evidence for the police to let Tim sign it. Last I heard though, Dylan moved away...you don't have to worry about him anymore."

Then finally I felt like I was able to breathe. I think that was what I needed. Confirmation that I will never see him again. I looked out into the streets, happy knowing Dylan was not walking among them. Happy knowing I won't have to look over my shoulder every time I go out. Or have an excuse to have any of the boys or Jo to accompany me just to get the mail. Or have to bring pepper spray just for when I want to take a stroll around the block. I was free. Finally free.

I didn't realize it until Alex wiped the tears from my cheeks. I was crying. "Where did he move to?" I asked, not facing him.

I felt his eyes on me, "I think they said Dublin."

Then my head snapped towards his direction, "In Ireland?"

Alex laughed, "Man I wish, no Dublin California. It's a city up north."

I looked down and then began to laugh along with Alex. "I didn't even know there was a city named Dublin in California."

Wiping tears from his eyes, he began to laugh even harder.

A/N

hiii, so i made this as a filler chapter because i felt like i didn't completely close the story off for dylan and i think this would clear the air. hope everything makes sense and he never enters ami's life again 😡 or will he 😳

anyways wish dylan left my life like that smh 🙄

also i'll be releasing another update in an hour or two so keep a look out for that !

hope you're all having an amazing day ! ily and make sure to drink water and eat ! <33

- jules

questions :

• how is distance learning ? what do you feel about it ?
a ; tbh some days i like it, most days i don't. i hate learning through a screen, i'm a visual learner and this whole thing frustrates me. but i can't do anything about it.

• did you have any nicknames for any of your crushes ?
a ; definitely, some were - will smith, pineapple, john b. , koala, a.v. , d**** , panda