FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

31 ➵ Truth Be Told

"I don't want you to love me because I'm good for you, because I say and do all the right things. I want to be the reason you can't sleep at night. I want to be the one you didn't see coming, and I think I am."
_

"There's the happy couple!" I heard shouts from further into the household.

Daniel's arm was around my waist, an eye roll in my direction. The Portland trip was over much sooner than we realized, already missing the lake and the people. I grabbed Nicole and Winston's contacts, though I doubted that Charlotte and I would be building on a friendship. It just felt too odd in my opinion, even if the history between Daniel and her was long forgotten.

Anna was back at their home, sleeping through the day because of our travels through the night. I hated redeye flights, but Daniel loved them. As he was full of energy, wanting to see his bandmates already, I was cradled in his arms, tired but also restless. I couldn't sleep much on the plane, my mind doing laps of worries, but I couldn't quite fall asleep back at the Seavey home either.

Daniel decided to take me back to the band's home, needing to write some song lyrics with Jonah for their upcoming album. They've been on hiatus for a few months, being as they are trying to put all their focus on building their next hits. Though, it was hard on all of them. I could tell. There was so many expectations, from fans, from management, that it was hard to keep up with the wants of others.

My steps were faint, sleepy. I could smell chocolate, yet it was reeking of smoke and burnt food. As I entered the kitchen, Zach was rummaging around the counters, an oven mitt in one hand and his phone in the other. The pile of burnt cookies was on the stove, alongside Corbyn inspecting the few to save. I looked over at the Seavey boy, him being much more amused than I am. Zach muttered a few curse words under his breathe, still looking desperately at his phone, before Corbyn noticed our appearance.

"Hey! How was your trip?" he stuffed a burnt cookie into his mouth.

The blonde gagged at the taste, covering his mouth and looking at the cook. "These cookies aren't salvageable, Zach. They're disgusting."

"You try baking, okay!" he argued.

I rested my elbows on the counter, giggling at the scene. "Since when did Mr. Zachary Herron cook?" I raised an eyebrow.

Zach looked distressed, annoyed, putting the oven mitts off. "Since I've been stuck in this house for 72 hours when you and lover boy have been in Portland," he sassed.

"Sassy," I snickered, looking at Daniel.

"Okay, high school dropout," Corbyn muttered under his breathe, taking a seat next to me.

"Hey!"

The brunet boy threw one of his cookies to the blonde, actually hurting him from how burnt to cookies have been. Zach later told me that he was trying out this recipe he found online, but no one wanted to help him make the treats, so he did it himself. Unfortunately, he decided to go into the yard to sunbathe for a few moments, forgetting the stale desserts. The cookies found their way to the trash with the Herron boy setting up the kitchen to try again.

Round two.

Daniel hugged me, resting his head on my shoulder. "I'm going to go find Jonah to think of some lyrics, okay? I'll see you soon."

I nodded as he kissed my temple as a short goodbye. The actions seemed so simple at the time, yet it caught both boys attention once Daniel left. As I looked at them, there was a sinister smile on the Herron boy's face paired with Corbyn trying to hold his own grin. It was then that I realized Daniel and I have never been too affectionate around the presence of the boys. Usually, we are either feuding or not confessing our own feelings.