"i still can't believe you would do me like that riles. you know this crap is still in my system?" ethan greeted riley in the hall, sliding his arm around her waist. it's been a few days of school, now wednesday, which was now the last day before christmas break.

riley found herself having a love-hate relationship with christmas. her birthday was close to it so either she got many presents for her birthday or for christmas. as she got older it didn't really matter. besides she has all she wants, ethan was the main one.

"hey i was just getting you back." she smiled at the ground, not used to publicly showing affection at school.

"by drugging me?" he questioned, following her as she headed to her locker.

"it wasn't my idea but it was pretty funny." she replied with a shrug, putting her combination in.

ethan shook his head, leaning against a nearby locker with a smile playing on his lips. "come over after school?" riley didn't know what it was but he looked like a meal at the moment.

"no i'm tired of seeing you." riley looked at him seriously for a few seconds before they both started laughing. "i was just thinking i should stay home today. i miss being a homebody but you can come over if you want."

"anything for the princess."

✧.*

"wow, can you believe it's christmas break?" ethan rubbed riley's arm soothingly as she laid on his chest. the two were at riley's house chilling out in the living room.

"yeah i don't find it all that fun anymore. it's like my birthday and then an extra day full of gifts that didn't make the cut." she said with a laugh just to show she wasn't really bothered by it.

"nah, we're going to make your christmas fun." ethan assured her, kissing the corner of her lips.

"yeah. . right."

"to be real, i wanna make every day with you fun." ethan smirked, dropping his hand from her waist, moving downwards.

riley squealed, slapping his hand away. "stop, khalil's back there." she mumbled, gesturing to khalil in the kitchen.

"really, babe? he's most likely seen worse, trust me." ethan shrugged, throwing his hands behind his head.

riley got flustered, sitting up between his legs. "i don't wanna think about what my little brother has seen." ethan only laughed as she held her face in her hands.

the freak side of ethan seemed to be coming out more lately and she had no idea how to handle it. it was either her fault and he just needed a little push or this was actually normal for him.

after a few minutes of ignoring ethan's stares when khalil came back with a bowl of chips, the sound of the front door unlocking made riley relieved of the tension.

"hey mom." riley spoke, letting her know where everyone was located.

"i had a feeling that car was yours. hey you two and khalil." mrs. mitchell greeted them, carrying in grocery bags and her teacher bag.

ethan took notice and hopped up off the couch, "oh mrs. mitchell, let me help you."

"thank you, ethan. there's more in the car if you don't mind. i'm exhausted." mrs. mitchell smiled at how polite he always was. riley had a feeling he was just putting on.

"of course." ethan set the bags down in the kitchen before heading out to the car to get the others.

"i might as well help too. christmas is around the corner." khalil sighed as if he had better things to do than stuff his face with food.

"y'all are kiss-ups." riley shook her head, leaning back on the couch and watching in amusement.

khalil only gave riley the bird on the way past her. "khalil mitchell." he heard his mother's voice before he ran out the door not knowing she was there.

"nice to see you home again." her mother teased, watching riley come into the kitchen from the sink.

"funny but i can't help that. the boy always wants to do something." riley shrugged, helping put away the groceries.

"i don't mind. it's preparing your father and i for when you're in college."

"yeah i guess."

"speaking of college, has he decided yet on where he wants to go?" she asked curiously. at this point ethan picking his college just gave riley a migraine.

"no, he's gotten a lot of offers but i think he's scared of choosing. like he doesn't want to leave me but i can manage." riley kept telling herself she could manage but she was truly nervous because of the anticipation of ethan not choosing yet or even giving ideas on where he wanted to go.

"that's something you two have to talk about. it comes with this whole age barrier." her mother reasoned.

"yeah i know but ethan doesn't talk about his feelings a lot. ." this also just made riley realize he doesn't show his other emotions often so sometimes she had no idea what he was up to.

mrs. mitchell's phone started ringing before she could even reply. "we'll talk more later."

riley made her way back to the living room where khalil and ethan were playing on the xbox. she was going to sit down beside him but he pulled her in his lap instead. "can we talk when you're done?"

"of course, babe." ethan held the controller around her waist, pressing his lips to her shoulder. she let out the breath she didn't even know she was holding.

++
ethan has bde.
just fax. no printer.

okay look. there's this book, it's been in my drafts like forever and it's sorta finished. i wont post it until i'm done with this story. in a way it's similar to this but it was supposed to be a hayes grier fic but i dunno bc i did thrasher squad with him.

so i'm thinking noah centineo/peter kavinsky or zion kuwonu. i dunno, help pls !! give me suggestions on a love interest !