What Is Love? | My Inner Demons x Reader

Chapter 1: The New City

~(Y/n)'s PoV~

        Today was the beginning of something new. I could feel it in my soul.

        I had just gotten off of the plane in a new city, where I would be living with my best and only friend from high school, Ava. Unlike other people who were close in high school, we never grew apart. Maybe it was because we were all each other had to hold onto. So, we texted almost every day, visited each other on vacations and long weekends, and now that college was finally over and I finally had a good paying job, we would be able to be back at each other's side, facing the world together.

        As I lugged my suitcase across the airport, I looked out the windows in awe at the beauty of the city, despite having seen it a million times already. No wonder so many people seemed to gravitate towards this place. I had lived here before with my mom and older sister, both of which still lived in the city, just in the suburbs. They were supposed to be picking me up from the airport and bringing me to Ava's apartment uptown.

        I went down the escalator that led to the food court and lobby. Just by the door I saw my sister and her wife, Leya, waiting for me. But my mother was nowhere in sight.

        "Leya! Kay!!" I called, sprinting over to them.

        "(Y/n)!!" Kay said back, smiling brightly at me. The force of my hug nearly sent us both to the ground, but she kept us steady. "I've missed you so much, Bean, how was college?" I shoved her away at the nickname, crossing my arms.

        "I'm too old for that nickname!" I pouted, provoking laughter from the two.

        "As long as I'm older, the name will live one... Beanie~!" She hummed, mockingly.

        Kay was a solid twelve years older than me, and she absolutely loved to rub it in my face. I sighed, rolling my eyes. "College was good, but I'm done with it." I replied. My eyes searched the sidewalks through the glass door. "Mom couldn't make it to this one either, huh?"

        Kay and Leya looked at me, sadly. "I'm sorry, (Y/n). You know how Mama is...." I nodded. I loved my mother to death, but she was never around all that much. She had tendencies to act blank, sometimes even disappearing from the house for days on end. This had to be the fifth time I've come home to be greeted by just Kay and Leya. That's why Kay and I are so close. Because she basically raised me.

        Our father had not been around either, at least not with me. Kay does not look like me or my mother, so my guess is that she got her looks from dad. If he wasn't there for my childhood, I assumed that he wasn't a good person, but Kay always tries to tell me otherwise. It always seems so hard to believe.

        Seeing my expression, Leya took my hand in hers with a smile. "Let's not think about that right now! You have plenty of time to see her since you're living here now." She squeezes my hand and shook it, excitedly. "Let's get you home, shall we?" I smiled and nodded, shaking the bad thoughts from my head. This was my new start, and I had to get it right. Ava and I would make sure of that.

        The three of us walked out to their car, driving away. The sun was just setting and the way it made the city glow was indescribable. College brought me away from this place for so long, I almost forgot how much I loved it. It was always so alive and the residents were so friendly. In my opinion, it was the best place to live!

~~~

        After roughly thirty minutes of being subjected to my sister's singing voice on the drive, we parked in front of a tall apartment building. When I stepped out, I almost immediately spotted the familiar black-haired girl, practically jumping with excitement at the sight of me.

        "(Y/n)!!" She ran over to me, knocking us both down onto to the sidewalk. She was leaning over me, caging me in her rib-crushing embrace.

        "A-Ava!!" You gasped out between giggles. She hadn't changed in the slightest.

        "Pumpkin, ease off a bit!" Another voice said, softly. I looked up to see Ava's dads standing behind her. Ava stood up, helping to my feet as well. Her dads smiled at me. They had been like my dads growing up as well, so our families are close. "Hi, (Y/n), you're looking well. How was your flight?" Andrew asked.

        "Good... but long. Way to long." I sighed with a laugh. "What are you guys doing here?"

        "We figured that we'd let Kay and Leya get home. So we're helping you unpack!" Devon stated, posing like he was some kind of hero. Classic Devon...

        We unpacked the car, said our goodbyes to my sister, and made it to the apartment. It was nice for an apartment. Like, really nice...

        "You live here, Ava?" I questioned in bewilderment.

        "Yep! And now you do too!" She beamed. I started opening your luggage, which wasn't much. And I quickly found out the real reason Devon wanted to stay...

        "So, (Y/n)... are you seeing anyone yet?"

        "H-Huh?"

        "Devon, please!" Andrew scolded. "The poor thing just got off a plane and you're gonna ask about their love life?"

         Devon shrugged, smiling. "Gotta ask the questions! I need to know if our other child has a special someone or not!"

        I giggled. "I... can't say I've really been thinking about love, if I'm being honest."

        "Is that so? Well, you'd better let us know if anything comes up!" Devon hummed. I nodded, laughing even more. Although, I couldn't help but notice Ava's slightly flushed face. Weird...

~Third Person PoV~

        A few hours had passed before Ava's dads left and the new roommates turned in for the night. (Y/n) laid in bed, staring at their ceiling, listening to the familiar sounds of city nightlife just outside of their window. 'Off to a good start, I suppose.' They thought, smiling to themself. 'Can't wait to see where this goes...'

        Little did either of them know, things were gonna change, real fast, in the next week...