"Her cheeks glistened with moonlight, craters hollowing out her barren heart. But like every celestial body, her light never failed to warm the souls of others."
❃ B l a z e ❃
Ribbons of lavender and tangerine streamed across the sky, mingling with the ocean of blue. The sun dipped in the horizon, casting an ethereal glow on the pavement as I walked towards Rafael's house.
Work had ended early today because Charlotte and Noah had Bingo Night. An impromptu plan to meet at the Hernandez home had popped up due to Jonah's impeding date with Summer in two days. According to Annikah, Jo had a lot to learn, hence the hangout where we would also meet Serayah, Ann's girlfriend.
My sneakers grazed against the concrete as I hummed to myself, a soft breeze caressing my hair and cooling my heated cheeks. The weather was gradually getting warmer and my dress fluttered against my thigh as the Hernandez house came into view.
A few seconds after ringing the doorbell, Travis opened the door with a beaming grin that painted his face in joy.
"Hi, nugget. I missed you." His bulky arms wrapped around my middle and I patted his back awkwardly with a choked grimace.
"We saw each other in school five hours ago, Trav."
"Five hours too long."
"Where is everyone?" I glanced around the empty living room.
"Ann and Jonah went to get food, Raf and Bree are acting as siblings do." Travis' lips curled in annoyance as he led me to the pool area, holding the door open.
"Where's Serayah?" He simply shrugged his shoulders at my question.
My gaze swerved across the rippling water until it landed on Rafael and Bree arguing a couple of feet away.
"Hey, B. You look pretty," Bree's eyes lit up in acknowledgement as I strolled towards them, her cheeks saturating with warmth.
"Very pretty." The gravel in Rafael's tone made sparks tingle down my spine as his gaze trekked down my bare legs. I narrowed my eyes, clasping my fingers on the hem of my sage green sundress. Ignoring the flutter of nerves in my stomach, I shifted my gaze to Bree.
"Thank you, I felt...nice. Can I borrow some clothes? I want to slip into something comfier." The sunset caught on the right side of Bree's face as she grinned.
"Of course you can, you don't need to ask. You can have my entire wardrobe if you want, though I don't think it would match your vibe," she clicked her tongue in annoyance and I nodded with a mild smile.
"You can have my clothes too, open to interpretation." Rafael's emerald eyes glimmered with mischief as he quirked his head to the side. My cheeks flooded with heat, Bree slapping Rafael's forehead as I ambled towards the door.
Once upstairs, I slipped into Bree's room, the evening light casting her dark grey walls in light orange hues. Padding towards her closet, I grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a loose tee. Once changed, I bundled up my dress and made my way downstairs again.
Just as I descended the last step, Serayah's familiar form popped into my peripheral view. Her hair was down, the dark roots giving way to beautiful peach box braids that came up to her waist. A bright grin graced her lips as she waved at me, warmth radiating off her angular face.
"Hey, Blaze. It's been a while." Serayah's voice was velvety smooth and confident as she traipsed towards me and I couldn't help but grin back. Her high waisted shorts and baggy graphic tee showcased her dark, flawless skin and I could see why Annikah was fawning over her every chance she got. Sera was absolutely stunning.
"You can blame Ann for that. She thinks we'll embarrass her and she's probably right." Serayah shook her head with a dim smile as we walked towards the pool.
"I was supposed to be on dinner duty with her and Jonah, but Travis wanted someone to play connect four with." An airy chuckle breezed past her lips.
Just as we opened the door to the pool area, the sound of heated fighting reached my ears and I deflected my gaze to see the twins glaring at each other.
"I did your brows amazing last time." Bree's words became clearer as I neared them, Serayah seeming amused.
"You shaved off half of my right eyebrow, dumbass." The snarky retort originated from Rafael.
"That's because you didn't stay still."
"No, you clearly sabotaged me because you're jealous of this," Raf wildly gestured at his face.
"We're twins, dumbfuck."
"Fraternal."
"What are you two on about now?" A deep voice interjected their snappy argument. Mr. Hernandez's brown eyes narrowed at his children, who smiled sheepishly.
"Rafael told me to do his eyebrows but now he won't trust me. I'm his twin sister for fuck's sake." Bree rolled her eyes, identical to her father's earth brown irises.
"Language, Aubree." I shifted nervously on my feet, the intimidating edge to his voice slicing the atmosphere.
"She destroyed my eyebrows last time," Rafael grumbled and Bree threw her hands up in exasperation.
"Then why'd you tell me to do them?"
"Well, I can't ask anyone else, now can I?"
"That's enough." Mr. Hernandez rubbed the bridge of his nose, shooting the rest of us a strained smile.
"Rafael, you can go get your eyebrows done at a salon. Why are you so adamant about your sudden grooming obsession anyway?" His father's question seemed to catch Rafael off-guard as he pursed his lips.
"It's for his date with Blaze," Bree supplied with a cheeky smirk. Mr. Hernandez's gaze turned to me, his lips tipping up in acknowledgement.
"Well, I was waiting for the day my son finally got the courage to ask you out properly." A hearty chuckle wafted past Mr. H's throat and I smiled wanly.
"Actually, I asked him out."
"She's never letting Raf forget that," Travis inputted with a bright grin and Rafael grimaced uncomfortably.
"Breaking gender norms, like you should." The smirk from Bree made Rafael smile as well, his eyes lighting with admiration.
"Anyways," Rafael cleared his throat. "I'm not trusting a stranger with my beautiful brows. Bree, you can have the honour of doing them." Bree scoffed at Rafael's announcement, flipping him off.
"Behave, Aubree. Arguing over damn eyebrows," Mr. Hernandez muttered while shaking his head in bewilderment.
"Where are you going, Dad?" Rafael quirked a brow, sharing a knowing smile with Bree. Serayah and I exchanged a look teeming with curiosity.
"It's a business dinner."
"Quite dolled up for that," Bree commented and my eyes travelled down Mr. Hernandez' outfit. He was wearing a dark maroon silk shirt with black dress slacks, looking like an older and polished version of Rafael.
"Being dressed well makes a good impression," Mr. Hernandez answered grimly, the corner of his eyes crinkling with discomfort.
"If you were going on a date, we wouldn't mind. You're the only single one here," Rafael's lips tilted in a rare, genuine smile directed towards his father. Surprise crossed Mr. Hernandez' face for a fleeting moment before he shook his head tersely.
"Like I said, it's a business dinner."
Bree looked like she wanted to press him more but at that moment, Ann opened the door with great force, slamming it into Mr. Hernandez' ribs.
"Oh fuck." The mutter left Ann's lip as she started apologising profusely, a disgruntled heave rasping out of Mr. H's mouth.
"You kids have a terrible vocabulary."
"I'm sorry about that."
"I think you cracked a rib." The uncharacteristic joke from Mr. H made Ann smile warily as she edged away from the door, revealing Jonah who looked highly uncomfortable.
"Well, the food's here," he murmured, breaking the awkward silence.
"I'll be leaving in ten minutes. Do you all need something?" Mr. Hernandez dragged his gaze amongst us.
"No, thank you."
"I need money."
"A will to live."
The last two answers from Travis and Bree prompted an eye roll from Mr. Hernandez before he left.
"At least you're made for each other," Ann directed towards Travis. "Bree can give you money and you can give her a will to live considering you make us all want to die from your excess positivity."
"I'm a ray of sunshine, Ann," Travis beamed, ruffling her hair and she smacked his hand away with a grunt. Serayah grinned before walking over and placing a chaste kiss on Ann's lips, eliciting warm smiles from everyone.
"Are you blushing Ann? Looks like you have a heart after all." A sly grin overpowered Raf's face.
"Shut it, knobhead."
"As soon as Jonah aces his date with Summer, we'll all be dating someone." Travis clapped his hands in joy. "We can go on dates together."
"Fuck no," Ann muttered.
"Nobody is going on a date with you Travis," Rafael added.
"In case you forgot, you messed up all of the three dates we had," Bree angled her head to the side.
"The first one was the restaurant's fault, they put a hairball in my spaghetti." Travis raised an offended hand to his chest.
"And you felt the need to throw it into my plate?" Bree dangerously glared at him and he unwisely kept rambling.
"Semantics. The second and third dates were well.... disasters." No one needed elaboration on that because Bree had narrated the details quite vividly.
On their second date, Travis had gotten a chicken nugget stuck down his throat which mysteriously went away when Bree allowed him to order his sixth glass of Sprite, causing an unnecessary commotion amongst the restaurant patrons. Their third date wasn't better, which ended with Bree getting into a fight with an eleven year old after he intentionally pushed her and her ice cream onto the concrete on their walk in the park.
In conclusion, dates weren't their thing.
"We can have dinner and then give Jonah some date pointers, yeah?" Everyone hummed in approval of Ann's suggestion. Jo looked distraught and I made my way over to him, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"You look like you're going to pass out."
"Ann grilled me on date questions while we got food. Do you really think I need to make flashcards on potential topics?" Jonah rubbed his forehead, black hair strands knotting between his fingers.
"Your conversation skills are pretty bad so maybe." The distress on Jo's face intensified and I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"I'm joking and I'm sure Annikah is too. Just be yourself."
"That sounds like a motivational quote from a mug, B." A small smile appeared on his lips as we made our way to the kitchen, the others crowding over the takeaway boxes of Chinese food.
"Kung Pao Chicken reminds me of Po from Kung Fu Panda for some reason," I heard Travis announcing and Serayah's face contorted with confusion.
"Don't try, you won't be able to understand how his mind works," I grinned, heaping my plate with lemon rice and chop suey.
"I figured."
Making our way to the living room, I settled down on the couch beside Rafael. His plate was piled with orange chicken and egg rolls, steam billowing from the food.
Annikah switched on the TV as we ate and The Princess Diaries 2 played on the screen.
"I like this movie," Jonah voiced, shifting his gaze from the television to us.
"Yeah me too," Rafael added gruffly, swinging his legs onto my thighs. Through my peripheral vision, I saw him smile softly when I elbowed his knees.
"I pine for Chris Pine," Travis supplemented and despite his terrible joke, everyone burst out laughing.
"Chris Pine? More like Chris Fine," I blurted out and six pairs of eyes pivoted to face me. Rafael's throat elongated when he threw his head back in laughter, his Adam's Apple rippling beneath the smooth skin.
"No lie there."
"Cheers to that," Bree shrugged and downed the rest of her Sprite can.
As the movie progressed, everyone ate in amicable silence while Travis made the occasional comment about how Joe and Queen Clarisse deserved a movie of their own.
"Can you get another can of Sprite for me?" A saccharine smile stretched across Bree's face as she extended her arm towards Travis. He grimaced and stood up without protest, disappearing into the kitchen.
"Here," Travis retreated and shoved a can into Bree's hands with such force that it ended up spilling over her lap.
"What the fuck?" Bree gritted out angrily, her brows furrowing with frustration.
"I'm... sorry?" The cheeky grin on Travis' face portrayed that it was anything but a mistake and with a glare, Bree spilt some on his T-Shirt. Her annoyance was replaced with smug delight.
"Oops."
"Are you sure they're dating?" Serayah murmured as Bree shoved past him and stormed up the stairs. Travis followed soon after, muttering that he was borrowing one of Rafael's tees.
"They've been dating for longer than we have," I pointed between Raf and me, who snuggled closer into my side.
"We have a lot of weird relationship dynamics here. Bree and Travis act like they hate each other and fight all the time but surprisingly work well. Raf and B act like they're married but they haven't even gone on their first date and Jonah's just a shy bug." Annikah's ramble made Serayah's eye widen with surprise before she burst out laughing.
"For the record, we're going on our first date in two days," I crossed my arms over my chest defensively.
Rafael shot me a lopsided grin as he nodded, eating the last bite of his orange chicken. We got up simultaneously, advancing to the kitchen to put our plates in the sink.
"About the date, what am I supposed to wear?" I tilted my head towards Raf as he swallowed a gulp of water.
"Clothes, Blaze. If you want, it can be optional." The teasing lilt in his voice made heat scorch my veins as I punched his shoulder.
"What category of date is it? Fancy, casual, semi-casual? I need to decide on an outfit because I can't be overdressed or underdressed." Gesturing with my hands, I explained my dilemma to him.
"Hey, you'll be fine. Wear whatever you want, it's nothing fancy cause I figured you wouldn't like that."
"You guessed right, we're not paying hundreds of dollars just for them to shave a little chocolate and put three blueberries on our dishes and call it a day."
Rafael's deep laughter chimed through the empty kitchen as he clutched at the counter, the top of his cheeks gleaming with mirth.
"It's casual, you'll look beautiful even if you wear your PJ's." Raf's fingers cupped my cheek, the cool metal of his rings soothing my burning skin. Our proximity caused a fire to rage in my veins as he leaned in closer, his hot breath wafting across my mouth.
Our lips met gently and then passionately, one of his hands traversing to the dip of my spine. My fingers twisted in his soft hair and as I tugged, a deep sound reverberated from the back of his throat. Rafael captured my top lip between his own, his teeth scraping fleetingly across the tender flesh. My skin suddenly felt feverish as his tongue probed in my mouth, heat pooling deep in my abdomen as his hands roamed under my tee.
"Please keep your soft pornography to yourself."
I suddenly jerked back as Annikah's voice cleaved through the heavy tension, provoking an irritated grunt from Rafael.
"You're very fucking annoying," Rafael glared at Ann who shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
"It's a trait I pride myself on," she sidled past him to put her plate in the sink and took a seat on the counter.
"Don't you have a movie to watch?" Rafael's eyes tapered into slits.
"Don't you?" she retorted sharply and I sighed at their never-ending comical arguments.
"Why are we friends again?" Rafael raised his brows in mock curiosity and Annikah laughed dryly.
"I never said we were." Her lips twisted in a feigned, sweet smile.
"You're a bully."
Before their pointless bantering could continue, Rafael's phone lit up and he sighed. "I need to get my charger from my room, my phone's about to die."
As soon as he left the kitchen, Ann's face lit up with a smile.
"It's fun messing with him," she explained, her legs dangling off the kitchen counter.
"You fight like children," I stated.
"Anyways, Serayah likes you guys a lot. I was wondering if I could invite her around more often. I asked everyone else except you and Raf earlier and they said yes. Got to take my girl to meet my family, you know?" A blush peppered Ann's light brown cheeks as she rambled, the colour barely visible although the crease between her eyebrows testified to her nervousness.
"Of course you can, she's amazing. It's not even a question and Raf won't mind either," I shook my head and Ann hopped off the counter. Her arms wrapped around my middle in an atypical hug and I reciprocated.
"Are you using Rafael's perfume? You smell like an alpha male." Of course, Annikah had to ruin the moment with a blunt remark.
"I am, and did you call us family? Rafael will be delighted to hear that," I swung an arm around her shoulder, which she shrugged off with a glare.
Before I could be answered with an acidic response, a heavy thud resounded from the adjacent room. Annikah and I looked at each other with widened eyes before rushing to the living room to find a figure sprawled on the carpet beneath the stairs leading to the upper floor.
"I'm dying, there's been a murder attempt on my life." Travis' howl echoed throughout the house as he laid face down on the carpet, his naked back bunching up with his arms outstretched in front of him.
"Oh, shut your dramatic ass up, it was three stairs," Rafael appeared on the steps with a venomous glare, chucking a rumpled tee on Travis' back.
"What did you do?" Suspicion crawled through my voice as I turned to Rafael who pouted innocently.
"He tried to kill me," Travis' voice was muffled against the floor as he made no move to get up.
"I'm going to kill you, Rafael," Bree's voice boomed from upstairs and instantly, fear rocketed through Raf's face as he raced towards me.
"Hide me."
"You pushed Travis down the stairs, didn't you?" Rafael nodded wordlessly, digging his face into my hair in a poor attempt to conceal himself.
Suddenly, Bree appeared on the stairs above Travis, a fuming sneer slashed across her lips. As I took in the wrinkled state of her clothes and the lack of thereof on Travis' body, it struck me that Rafael had found them... canoodling.
"What is your problem?" Bree stepped over Travis who was still sprawled on the carpet like a shirtless starfish.
"Did you seriously have to make out in my bedroom?" Rafael retorted with a glare, which subsided when Bree's eyes flared with anger.
"You pushed my boyfriend down the stairs," she threw her hands up incredulously while the rest of us watched from the sidelines.
"She called me her boyfriend, I can die happily now." Travis thumped his fists weakly against the carpet.
"Shut up," the twins glared.
"He was running away from me and down the stairs, it was an accident." The lie was crystal clear in Rafael's voice and Bree advanced towards me.
"I'm moving," I raised my hands in surrender and stepped to the side.
"Traitor," Rafael's voice turned thick with artificial betrayal. Bree's fist collided with Rafael's stomach and as he doubled over, she thumped his head with a pillow.
"I taught you to punch well," Rafael raised a thumb which Bree ignored, making her way to the couch.
"I'm guessing this is a regular occurrence," Serayah commented with a meek smile. I nodded as we made our way back to the seating area.
"Is he alive?" Jonah motioned towards Travis who was still in the same spot as five minutes ago.
"Get up, Travis." Ann sighed in annoyance as he lay paralysed on the floor.
"No, you didn't give me enough attention, I think I broke my leg."
"You're an attention whore, you wouldn't be satisfied even if we had 'Travis is the MVP' written on Times Square." Rafael aimed a pillow towards Trav's head which landed its target, earning a dramatic grunt from our resident Patrick Star.
"I don't like you, Rafael Hernandez."
"The feeling's mutual, bro."
I sighed and got up, crouching beside Travis.
"You'll squish your core muscles if you keep sleeping on your stomach." It was a blatant lie that I made up, but Travis tilted his head towards me with widened eyes.
"I do have a pretty hot abdomen." He mulled it over in his head and I bit down on my lip to contain my grin. Feeding into Travis' inflated self-conceit was something that always worked.
"I'll get up, but only because you said so," Travis receded with a huff and I handed him the tee that Rafael had thrown on him. He pulled it over his head before taking a seat on the couch beside me, forcing Rafael into the chair.
"Blaze is the only one here that cares for me," Travis sighed dramatically, which everyone pointedly ignored.
As the movie progressed, Annikah started dozing off and curled onto Serayah's lap, a smile curving on my mouth at the adorable sight.
Around me, Travis and Jonah started yawning too and my gaze flickered to the digital clock above the TV. It was past 10:30 PM and judging by the exhaustion lining everyone's faces, bedtime was approaching.
"We should go," I nudged Trav in the ribs and he jolted, nodding furiously.
"Should I drop you home?" Raf glanced at me and I shook my head.
"I'll drop Ann home," Serayah whispered, gently running her fingers across Ann's face to wake her up. Her brown eyes slowly drifted open, a serene smile plastering on her lips.
"That's cute. Bree tends to slap me awake," Travis glared pointedly at Bree.
"Wait, look at how cute Jonah looks while sleeping," Ann was fully alert now as we all diverted our gaze to watch the person in question.
Jonah's raven coloured hair flopped down his forehead in silky fringes, his breath making them sway softly. His swirling ashen eyes were peeking through barely closed lids laden with heavy eyelashes and although it would've been creepy on anyone else, he looked precious.
"Take a picture," Travis nudged me and I obliged.
A bright flash beamed through my camera and with horror, I realised I hadn't turned it off.
Jo awoke with a startle, glancing around at all of us in a confused frenzy.
"Blaze, what'd you do that for?" Bree whispered harshly, and I cringed at my slip up.
"I didn't know the flash was on."
"Is the movie done yet?" Jo murmured, failing to conceal a yawn and an adoring 'aww' could be heard from Travis.
"You're so cute," Travis pinched Jo's cheeks which flushed with colour, his slate eyes widening in horror.
"Stop it," Ann smacked his hand away and Jonah got up awkwardly, slithering past Travis to stand beside me.
"Are you sure you'll be able to drive?" Rafael's eyes brimmed with concern as he regarded a yawning Jonah.
"I'll drop Blaze and him home," Travis interjected and Jo nodded drowsily without protest.
"Let's go," I nudged him forward.
Rafael's eyes dilated with warmth as I placed a fleeting goodnight kiss on his lips, his familiar fragrance of cinnamon curling around my nostrils.
Slowly, everyone filtered out of the room and the sound of Serayah's car leaving rumbled through the driveway.
A loud crash followed by a string of curses graced my ears just as I was about to open the front door. When I turned my head, I saw a grinning Travis leaning over Rafael who had been pushed out of his chair by his best friend.
"Revenge, dipshit." Travis' triumphant instigated a feral noise from Rafael.
Fury erupted on Raf's features as he slowly pushed himself onto his elbows. A single syllable left Travis' mouth as he grabbed mine and Jonah's hand, sprinting away from the house and through the open front door to the driveway.
"Run."
Sleep vanished from Jonah's eyes as he scrambled in the backseat of Travis' car, just as I locked the passenger door, my lungs heaving from our sprint.
Rafael's tall, slender form cut across the gravel driveway to Travis' car as he shifted gears and put the car into motion, swerving it away from the house.
The chiming of our laughter and the acidic cusses searing from Rafael's mouth made my stomach twist with happiness.
Travis rolled down the windows and the wind whipped my hair across my neck, the blonde strands tickling my exposed collarbones.
Both Jo and Travis shot me grins full of delight and I couldn't ignore the peace that settled in my chest.
Nights like these were framed as polaroids in my mental scrapbook.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
"Did you get the kid-safe crayons?"
"I did."
"And groceries for dinner?"
"Yes, Blaze. I just bought them yesterday." Rafael sighed, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
The red light reflected on the sharp planes of his face, the flawless skin illuminated by the pastel sunset hues. His fingers were splayed across my thigh, the tip of his thumb rubbing against the bare skin exposed by my shorts.
"How do you think Jonah's going to do on his date?" I murmured, my breath hitching as his fingers toyed with the hem. I narrowed my eyes, setting my gaze on his mouth which relaxed with a knowing smile.
Rafael was quite aware of what he was doing.
"He was nervous but he'll be fine. I'm guessing Summer will handle it," Raf's shoulders sagged with a shrug and I nodded.
His hands turned taut around the steering wheel as he twisted it to the right, turning towards Jonah's house. Since his date was today, we were supposed to babysit Em and Rhett. Jo's mum was on call at the hospital, where his dad was also admitted overnight for checkup tests as a precaution due to his surgeries a couple of weeks ago.
"Okay, we're here," Raf tilted his head towards me and before I could respond, he placed a swift kiss on my lips.
"What was that for?" My voice turned thick with confusion and he smiled in satisfaction.
"Well, now we have to keep it PG because of the kids for the next couple of hours."
I bit back a grin, stepping out of the car as Rafael followed me to the house with art supplies and groceries in hand.
When I rang the doorbell, Jonah opened the door with a grim look which soon morphed into relief.
"Hi," I murmured, my eyes trekking down his date outfit. His towering, slender form was clad in an olive green jumper layered over a white shirt, the crisp collar peeking out from the neckline. Jo's beige pants were loose on his long legs, his sock-clad feet making indentations on the soft carpet.
"You look great," Rafael's mouth arched in a reassuring grin and relief swarmed Jonah's face as he nodded shyly.
"Wait," I motioned with my hands to get him to lean down and Jo obliged silently. I messed up his perfectly combed hair to make it look more date suitable and less yearbook photo-worthy.
"Now you look even better."
"Do you guys still think this date is a good idea? I know it's been long since Kiara, uh, died but I'm still... scared." Panic perspired on his face and my heart twisted with grief at the mention of my ex-best friend, painful memories trickling through my mind. Jonah must've been feeling the same, if not worse.
"Do you genuinely like Summer?" Sympathy lined Rafael's question and Jo slowly nodded, running his pale fingers through his sleek hair.
"And are you ready to move on?" I added gently, his grey eyes clashing with mine in hesitation.
"Yes, I think so."
"Then you should go if you're comfortable. Just be honest with her about how you feel at the end of it, yeah?" Jonah's gaze darted between the two of us before he nodded slowly, fiddling with the beaded bracelet on his hand.
"You'll be fine. Summer likes you," Rafael patted Jonah's shoulder before slipping into the living room.
"Where are the kids?" His voice bellowed in the empty room as we made our way over.
"They're in their room. It was quite a day," Jonah muttered before traipsing up the stairs, bleakness settling on his creamy skin. Rafael and I exchanged a confused glance before following him.
The door to Emery and Everett's room was slightly ajar as we entered. The silence was odd and unnerving considering Rhett was the person to fill any place with life with his incessant chattering.
The first thing I noticed as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting was Emery's small form tucked under her Toy Story blanket. Her hair was tied up in two ponytails as she read a book under the filtered light of the blinds.
"Hey Em," Rafael advanced towards her and she turned the other way, pulling the duvet up to her nose. Worry streaked across his emerald eyes before he deviated his gaze to Jonah.
"What happened?" Before Jo could answer his question, a message notification trilled loudly.
"Summer's waiting in the driveway, I have to go." Jonah's leaden eyes dilated with nerves.
"Wait, where's Everett?" Jonah simply motioned towards the far corner of the room where Rhett was sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor. My dread worsened as I noticed him absently drawing patterns on the wall with his fingers, the lack of volume from Rhett deeply uncharacteristic.
"What the fudge happened here?" At the moment, Rafael's censored cussing didn't sound humorous as he gazed at Jo with frustration and worry.
"They had a bad day at kindy." Jonah couldn't elaborate more because his phone buzzed with another message and he sighed before pocketing the device.
"I really have to go," Jonah shook his head and padded towards Emery, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. It elicited no response as she continued reading her book and a bout of unease skittered across Jo's features.
He silently approached Everett who shrunk further into the corner, refusing to look at any of us.
"Okay, I'm leaving," he heaved out a sigh when Rhett didn't let him come closer.
"Good luck," Rafael murmured, his gaze still fixated cautiously on the kids.
Once Jonah left, a heavy silence settled and I glanced at Rafael, who shared my distress.
"So, who wants to talk about their day?" I clapped my hands together, feigning a cheery voice. Raf took a seat on the edge of the bed, glancing momentarily at Em.
"I'll go first. I ate chicken nuggets." A wide grin fabricated on Rafael's lips. The deliberate mention of their favourite food didn't attract any response from the twins and my worry soared.
Gently, I sat down on the floor next to Everett. His bottom lip jutted out in protest as I shifted closer, halting my movements.
"So, why are you sitting here?" I nudged his shoulder playfully.
"You'll get bored sitting here by yourself. You should talk to me." My slight persuasion gathered a hesitated glance from his raven irises.
"I'm in time-out." Everett's muted response made Rafael glance up from his spot on the bed. He was trying to coax a response out of Em who was engrossed in her book and with a sigh, Rafael made his way onto the floor with me.
"Did Jojo put you in timeout?" Jonah didn't seem like he would do that.
Everett shook his head wildly, black hair splaying across his narrow forehead.
"I put myself in timeout," he murmured, drawing a triangle on the carpet.
A laugh bubbled out of Rafael's throat which soon morphed into a cough as I glowered at him.
"I didn't get timeouts as a kid."
"Yes, clearly."
"He's so innocent, no kid would put himself in timeout," Rafael elaborated on his point and I threw a venomous glare his way.
"Why did you put yourself in timeout, Rhett?" He nibbled on his bottom lip, dodging my question.
"You don't have to stay here, buddy. We can go draw or something," Rafael suggested but Rhett simply shook his head.
"I misbehaved at kindy today." Raf and I shared a troubled look before pivoting our gazes back to him.
"What did you do? I'm sure it wasn't that bad." I gently turned Everett around to completely face us and that's when I saw the splotchy, red spots on his face, indicating that he had been crying.
"Come here," I opened my arms and he crawled onto my lap, his small arms wrapping around my torso.
My sight perked when I saw Em making her way towards us, her book tucked under her arm. However, shock accumulated on my face as I saw the cartoon band-aids on her knees.
Rafael's eyes flared with anger before they softened as Em sat down in front of him. Mimicking my gesture, he tugged her onto his lap, avoiding the scrapes on her pale knees.
"Let's talk about what happened at kindy today, alright?" Raf's gruff voice derived slow nods from the twins.
"I pushed Bradley in the sandpit. He broke a tooth, now he has a big gap in his mouth." Everett's confession earned wide stares from Raf and I, terse silence weighing on the room.
Everett didn't seem like the violent type, not by a long shot. Judging by the tears welling in his eyes, he didn't like what he had done either.
"Bradley stole my lunchbox and pushed me into the sandpit first. I got hurt," Em chimed in with her soft voice, motioning towards the band-aid covered scrapes on her knees. "That's why Evey pushed him."
"Bradley did this?" Rafael gently tapped the side of her knee to confirm and when Em nodded, rage surfed through his face.
"Bradley's mean," she whispered, toying with the pages of her book.
"I can be meaner," Rafael angrily muttered the words and he quickly backtracked when I shot him a warning look.
"What I meant is, what did the teachers do after he pushed you?"
"I didn't tell them, I told Evey." Em sunk her head back against Raf's chest and a sliver of warmth bloomed in my heart at the sight.
"And Rhett broke his tooth after that?" Rafael looked oddly pleased.
"I didn't break his tooth, the sandpit did." Panic erupted in Everett's voice and I ran my hand through his hair.
"Sorry, of course, it was entirely the sandpit's fault. It shouldn't have been that sturdy." Rafael and I fought to hold back tiny smiles as we tried to calm Everett.
"You did the right thing, buddy. We have to protect our girls." A hum of electricity shot through the space between us as Raf looked at me intensely, his tone gruff with meaning.
"Stop encouraging violence to a kid, Rafael," I gritted out and he nodded sheepishly.
"You shouldn't have pushed him, though. Hurting someone rarely ever solves a problem," Rafael retracted his statement and Everett's eyes turned misty with unshed tears.
"Evey isn't allowed to go back to kindy for a week," Em murmured, staring at me with dewy, grey eyes.
"You mean he's suspended?" Shock condensed in my voice.
"Ms. Harrison said Evey should stay home and think about his actions."
"Do suspensions exist in kindergarten? Even I wasn't suspended in kindy," Rafael muttered and Everett's lower lip trembled, the threat of a breakdown hovering in the distance.
"You're not helping. Hush or I'll put you in timeout," I glared at Rafael who immediately shut up.
"And what about Bradley? Is he taking time off too?" At my question, the twins shook their heads. Rafael's jaw flexed as he ran his hand through his hair, gently putting Em to the side and getting up.
"That's pretty unfair, isn't it? Did you tell Ms. Harrison that Bradley hurt Em first?" Rafael directed towards the twins.
"I told her but she didn't believe me. I gave Ms. Harrison a flower and married her." Dejection coated Everett's words and a smile arose on my lips at his innocence.
"Did you tell her what Bradley had done?" Raf turned to Em who shook her head, digging her face into his neck.
"Em was crying and wouldn't talk to anyone," Evey offered while twisting the ends of my hair between his tiny fingers. At least he was in a better mood now.
A sinister look crossed Rafael's face and my senses stood on alert. Before I could protest, he picked up his phone, the planes of his face hardening with anger.
"I hope you're taking care of this Bradley dude tomorrow, Jo." Fury bubbled on Raf's face and I glared at him, realising he was disturbing Jo's dates.
I hastily placed Everett on the floor and attempted to grab the phone off Rafael who resisted. He shifted, listening to whatever Jonah was saying as I crossed my arms over my chest in disbelief.
"Jonah's going to their kindy tomorrow to talk with the teacher. He'll try and get Bradley taken care of," Rafael elaborated as his phone call ended seconds later.
"Rafael, he's four. What do you mean by taking care of him?" I whispered harshly, dragging him away from the kids.
"Well, I'm hoping he gets expelled but that won't happen because he's four," Rafael mimicked me on the last few words.
"Jonah will handle it," I muttered, taking a seat beside Everett who was playing a game on Raf's phone, his earlier distress subsiding.
"Jo told me to apply ointment on Em's knee," Raf muttered before disappearing into the bathroom. He came back with a tiny tube, kneeling on the carpet in front of Em.
Her smoky grey eyes widened as she silently raised her leg onto Raf's lap. His lips pulled up into a soft smile as he slowly peeled the band-aid, a sharp hiss of air moving past his mouth at the extensive scratches on her knees.
"Is this kindergarten or a WWE ring?" Annoyance slithered through Raf's voice as his fingers fleeted over the area, raw and a crimson red.
"What do you guys want for dinner?" I piped up, distracting a teary-eyed Emery from the wound on her leg. She glanced at me, her lips quaking as Rafael gently rubbed the ointment on her skin.
"Can I have Fairy Bread?" Upon hearing Em's words, pride swelled on Raf's face as he grinned at her.
"Of course, but you have to eat dinner first." Everett didn't object to our dinner plan as he was engrossed in a game of Pet Bingo.
"Now, do you want dinosaurs or flamingos?" Rafael held up the two band aids and Em pointed to the green dinosaurs. As soon as they were pasted on her knees, she crawled onto Raf's lap and resumed reading her book.
Over the top of her head, Raf waggled his eyebrows with a triumphant grin.
"I brought paint and crayons, who wants to draw?" Raising the bag full of art supplies, my announcement wielded bright smiles from the two kids. Em got off Rafael and sat down next to me, victory bubbling across my face as I arched a brow at him.
"Let's draw later, who wants food first? I'm making mini burgers." Betrayal made me gasp as Rafael's announcement lured the twins back to him. Without a word, he ushered them out while simultaneously flaunting his win with a sarcastic wave.
"Stop trying to make yourself the favourite," I huffed, scrambling to follow him down the stairs. Em and Rhett were in much higher spirits as they chatted about something, leaving me alone with Rafael.
"I'm already the favourite." He swung a muscular arm around my shoulder, his fingers curling the ends of my hair between his fingers.
"Behave," I narrowed my eyes at him as his fingers grazed against my collarbone, his thumb slipping just an inch below the neckline of my top. An ache settled in my heart as his forefinger skirted along the hollow of my throat, my pulse humming against his hand.
"Okay." In an instant, his palm retreated and I bit back a whine, pretending to be completely unaffected. Thankfully, the kitchen came into view and I dropped my head, letting my hair curtain around my cheeks to shield the flush that coated my face.
On the counter were mini burger buns meant for sliders and a variety of condiments placed neatly in a row.
"Dinner will take some time to make, you guys can go play or draw in the living room," Rafael directed the kids out and nudged me with them.
"What? I'm helping you make dinner." When I attempted to duck back into the kitchen, Raf banded his arm across the doorframe.
"I'll handle it, go help Em and Rhett draw or something."
"Do you know how to cook?" I teased, poking my finger into his ribs and he rolled his eyes.
"Yes, sometimes. I'm making ham and cheese sliders." Indignation fumed in his voice. When I realised he was stubbornly set on proving his chef skills, I took a spot on the carpet between Em and Rhett.
"Are we painting or drawing?" I swung my gaze between the two. Em answered both while Rhett was fixated on drawing purple grass with his crayon.
"Okay then," I whistled lowly and grabbed a piece of paper from the pile. "Time to put my artistic skills to use."
For the first few minutes, I struggled for inspiration on what to draw. Finally, I decided on going the traditional way and looking up a landscape on my phone.
"That's cheating," Everett suddenly piped up, knocking my phone off the table.
"Okay okay, fine. I'll draw from my imagination," I muttered, continuing with my blank canvas.
Time flew by as we all explored our artistic sides in companionable silence. My mountains looked more like disfigured piles of poop and the grass looked like overgrown weed but at least I was trying.
"Dinner's done," Raf appeared in the room after some time, a dishtowel hanging off his broad shoulder. A weird sensation akin to admiration soared in my belly as he directed everyone to wash their hands.
"You too." His eyes flamed with mirth.
"Right," I raised my chin at being caught staring, there was no need to be embarrassed. He was my boyfriend after all.
After washing my hands and dutifully ignoring Rafael's surreptitious glances, I sat beside Everett.
Rafael slid a plate of steaming Ham and Cheese sliders towards the three of us, beads of stringy cheese melting down the sides of the tiny buns. My mouth watered as I glanced at him, taking in the rolled-up sleeves of his white hoodie, a faded stain of ketchup smearing the fabric near his neck. The ink on his bulky arms rippled as he served the sliders to us, my brain fixated on the way his veins shifted underneath smooth, tan skin.
"You can eat now." The booming words echoed from Rafael as he caught me ogling him once again. Clearing my throat, I grabbed a slider off my plate and brought it to my lips, the smell of baked bread stirring my nostrils.
An eruption of flavours surged through my mouth as I took a bite, melted cheese and condiments warming my tongue. Mustard dripped onto my plate as the ham struck my throat and judging by Rafael's face, he was relieved by my reaction.
"Holy fu- funktown, this is amazing," I quickly corrected my mistake, grabbing a tissue from the holder in front of me.
Raf's green eyes glimmered with heat as they dropped to my lips, the corners stained with mustard. A flush blossomed on my face as I wiped it away with a tissue, Rafael's gaze following the movement with dilated pupils.
"You should eat too," I coughed discreetly and after a second of lingering on my mouth, his eyes flickered back to mine.
"Yeah, I should."
The tension fizzed amongst the room, bubbling beneath subtle smiles and lengthy glances. Em and Rhett were oblivious to the sudden void that encapsulated the room.
"I'm finished," Rhett hopped off his seat minutes later, his cheeks stained with mustard. Em followed soon after, chewing on the remnants of her slider.
"Wash your hands," I motioned towards the sink, a stool placed in front of it for the kids. They obliged, soap suds lathering between their tiny fingers and Rhett even showed me how clean his hands were.
"Wait," Grabbing a tissue, I wiped the sauce off his cheek and a blinding grin pasted on his lips.
"I want to watch Paw Patrol," Emery halted in front of me.
After putting their favourite show on the TV, I returned to the kitchen. Rafael was placing all the dishes in the sink and I joined him, scrubbing the grime off the plates.
"The food was good," I murmured, trying to make small talk.
"Thank you," he smiled genuinely, not furthering the conversation. We washed the dishes in amicable silence, occasionally leaning past each other to put the plates in the dishwasher.
"Can you hand me the kitchen towel?" Rafael's voice cut through my monotonous thoughts and I nodded, realising all the dishes were done.
Our fingers brushed as I placed the cloth in his hand, sparks careering across my skin. Raf suddenly interlaced our fingers, his free hand wiping my hands dry. My breathing turned jagged as his slender fingers traversed up my arm, past my elbow and momentarily hovering over my shoulder. His lips descended on mine, tender yet intense as I clasped onto his neck, twisting his hair between my fingers.
Rafael's sharp nose grazed against my cheek and my skin blazed from the contact. As his hot breath tumbled down my collarbones, one of his hands traced the outline of my bare legs. Shivers bolted down my spine when his palms rested on my hips, nails digging into the sliver of skin exposed as my tee inched up.
The melodic sound of the doorbell ringing made me jolt away with surprise and Raf's eyes slowly dragged away, pupils blown and lips swollen.
"I'll get it." Reluctantly, I drew away, his gaze following me as I strode to the living room. As I peeked through the keyhole, surprise struck me at the two people grinning on the porch.
"What are you guys doing here?" I swung the door open to reveal Travis and Bree.
"We gave the date thing another try and went to get pancakes. It was surprisingly normal." Elation wrapped Bree's voice as she clapped her hands together. For Bree, she was in a freakishly upbeat mood.
"That's great," I tried to match her enthusiasm but the phantom of Rafael's hands on my waist still hovered, causing a flush to gush on my cheeks.
"Won't you invite us in? Jo said we could come over." Travis nudged past me and into the living room, Bree following suit.
"I thought you guys hated kids," I grumped as they glanced at Rhett and Em whose attention had been redirected from Paw Patrol to the newcomers.
"We do," Bree whispered, looking anxiously at the twins.
"Who are you?" Rhett quizzed, equal parts excitement and curiosity buzzing in his voice. At that moment, Rafael appeared in the room, exchanging a surprised look with Travis and Bree.
"I'm Bree, Rafael's sister and this is Travis, my... friend," Bree nudged Travis whose attention had wavered to Paw Patrol.
"Hello children," he waved awkwardly. Em dropped her gaze to the carpet timidly, her aversion to strangers bubbling forth.
"You're pretty," Everett stared at Bree whose eyes widened with wonder. She tipped her chin up in fabricated arrogance, brushing imaginary lint off her clothes as Raf rolled his eyes.
"I like kids now," she murmured, settling down on the carpet beside Everett and I took a spot on the sofa above Bree.
"Don't get too excited, he thinks everyone is pretty." Bree scowled at my light joke.
"Can I get a compliment?" Travis huffed, aiming his gaze expectantly towards Em. Her reserved posture withdrew from everyone as she climbed onto the couch beside me. Rafael flanked my other side, laying his feet on my lap.
"She's shy," I glanced at Emery who was ignoring all of us and ardently watching Paw Patrol.
"I drew this," Everett shoved his drawing into Travis' hand, rambling about how he wanted to see purple grass in real life.
"It's amazing, little dude." Travis ruffled his hair, matching the hyperactivity of Rhett's eagerness.
Small talk ensued as Trav and Bree tried to acquaint themselves with Rhett and Em, who was reluctant on talking.
"How did you get that?" Bree asked after some time, pointing at the band-aids on Em's knees. She didn't answer, looking at Raf and me instead.
"It's a long story," he supplied, a confused look crossing Bree's features at the tension in his voice. Thankfully, she didn't push it.
A yawn tumbled past Em's lips, her lids drooping with exhaustion. It initiated a chain reaction as Everett and Rafael's eyes watered with sleep.
"It's bedtime," I announced. Surprisingly, neither of them protested as I herded them up the stairs and into their room, Raf slowly trudging behind me.
"You're sleepy too," I nudged Rafael who shook his head instantly, concealing a yawn behind his raised palm.
Em and Rhett crawled onto their beds, making no requests for a story as I tucked them under their illustrated blankets. Everett clasped his short arms around me in a goodbye hug and Em simply buried her face in her pillow, murmuring a soft 'goodnight'.
Flicking the light off, I waited until they dozed off before turning to the stairs.
"We should start a babysitting club, we're pretty good at this." A lazy smile rippled on Rafael's lips.
I grasped his chin between my thumb and captured his lips with mine, the gentle scrape of his teeth sending butterflies fluttering against my insides.
A steady thrum of warm static still pulsated through me as we made our way downstairs. Travis and Bree were flicking through the movie channels on the TV, finally deciding on watching Forrest Gump.
"You really care for Everett and Emery, huh?" Bree turned to Rafael, curiosity swarming her chestnut brown eyes.
"Yeah, they, uh, remind me of Cairo," Rafael answered after several beats of silence. His voice was doused with latent grief and vulnerability, his eyes fixated blankly on the wall.
Reminiscent heartache flitted in Bree's eyes as she nodded, her perusing gaze straying back to the TV screen. Travis watched in silence, a rueful frown overtaking his lips.
We watched the movie drably, Rafael's fingers brushing against mine lightly. The hint of cinnamon wafting from his body wrapped around me like a blanket as I curled into his side, comfort seeping through our pressed skin.
"Jonah's going to be late," Bree murmured after a while, glancing at her phone.
"Good thing we have a movie to watch." The grin on Travis' face morphed into a yawn as he laid his head on the armrest.
"Go to sleep if you want, I'll drive you home," Bree muttered roughly and surprise shadowed Travis' face. From what I presumed, Bree showed her love through tiny gestures that amounted to a much larger feeling.
"I'm grabbing a snack," Rafael grunted, traipsing to the kitchen with stiff motions. I trailed after him, seeing his back muscles bunch up with tension at my approach.
"Are you okay?" I probed gently, placing my palm on his shoulder.
"Yeah, it's just... I miss Cairo a lot more on some days," he murmured, dodging my gaze.
"It's stupid, she's been gone for almost eight years. I just wonder sometimes how different life would be if she were here. These dumb thoughts come to me at the most random of moments." With a sardonic chuckle, his words overlapped each other as heavy breathing interspersed his ramble.
"It's not stupid, grief doesn't disappear and you don't have to pretend it has," I whispered, running my hands up and down his back. The faint hum of his heartbeat echoed in my ears as I wrapped my arms around his narrow torso.
"I don't even know if I actually miss her or if I'm just too scared to let go of that guilt." Rafael's voice cracked imperceptibly, agony hollowing out his syllables.
I was at a loss for words because I had been faced with the same predicament when Kiara had died and the months blurred together in her fleeting memory. Despite my experience, I struggled to conjure up advice.
"What matters is that you realise what's good for you. Holding onto misplaced guilt will tear you apart, speaking from experience. You can grieve for Cairo without hurting yourself in the process." My throat clogged with emotion as Rafael pulled back, his thumb grazing against my bottom lip.
"You always know what to say." His compliment flooded my body with scorching heat, reassurance swelling in my bloodstream.
"I love you," I whispered just as Raf's lips skimmed mine, our breaths mingling like a whirlwind of feelings.
"I love you more," Rafael huskily drawled and before I could argue, desire overpowered his lips as they crashed onto mine like a wave lapping at a shoreline.
Every nerve ending in my body crackled with static, the slight pressure of his tongue pressing against mine fogging my senses. My skin felt torrid with passion as his hand stretched across my neck, his thumb pressing against the pulse point in my throat which responded wildly at his touch.
I couldn't help the typhoon of thoughts struggling to gain semblance in the folds of my brain, but one in particular shone through.
Every atom of my soul was attracted to his like the fiery sunrise was to the misty horizon, the jagged mountaintops to the heavenly clouds and the raging oceans to the golden sand paradises.
Maybe love really did birth poets.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
"Wait, you spilt ketchup all over her dress?" I scoffed incredulously as Jonah narrated the details of his date to me over the phone.
"It was an honest mistake, I thought the nozzle on the bottle was tight, but it just erupted everywhere." Panic surged through his voice and I could imagine the frazzled look marring his features.
"Well, how did she react?" A deep sigh whirred on the other side.
"That's the thing, Summer wasn't mad. She told me to calm down and take it easy."
"That's a good thing, Jonah."
"I'm not the best at picking up social cues from girls so how am I supposed to know if she isn't secretly pissed at me?" Considering how many words he was speaking per minute, Jo was on the verge of a panic attack.
"Did she act hostile or distant after?" I tried to keep my voice neutral, hiding the curiosity that rose in my chest.
"No, I don't think so."
"And did she snap or make passive-aggressive comments?"
"No."
"Then you're good, Jo. Like you said, it was a mistake." A relieved exhale breezed past his lips, causing the phone to crackle for a few seconds.
"Okay, that's reassuring."
"Did Rafael or the others pick up your call?" I asked after a beat of silence. We were all supposed to conference call to discuss Jonah's date, but no one responded.
"No, neither did Ann or Bree."
"Do you think they're dead?" My overthinking leapt forward and a soft chuckle rose from Jonah's throat.
"Why is that the first possibility you think of and why am I not surprised?"
"Look Jonah, Rafael and I have our first official date in less than three hours. I don't want him dying before we cross the first milestone of a conventional dating timeline."
"You do realise that you're going on your first date after a month of behaving like you're on your honeymoon, right?" The snarky comment was uncharacteristic coming from Jonah and my mouth parted in surprise.
"Jonah, I suggest you shut up now."
"I'm joking, B," he chuckled airily.
"What did the kindy teacher say about Bradley?" Instantly, the cheery mood shifted at my change of topic and a dense breath heaved out of Jonah.
"They said that Bradley's a model student and that he would apologise to Em. Apparently, he told his parents that he accidentally pushed Emery and that the stolen lunchbox accusation was wrong. He didn't get a suspension." Annoyance and anger swirled in his voice and I could feel my rage elevate too.
"He's also a bully, a liar and a basta-"
"You're cursing at a child, Blaze." Amusement permeated Jonah's tone and I glared at the ceiling.
"I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I do agree, sort of. Anyways, Mum's going to kindy tomorrow and she can get quite... aggressive when her kids get wronged." Pride crowded in his voice.
"Mama bear mode, huh?" A rare longing streamed in my chest for my mother, tangible pain aching through my heart. Sometimes, I wish I had someone other than an absent Aunt and a chaotic friend group to rely on.
"Definitely, she knows what Everett did was wrong too. They're teaching him how to control his emotions and how to react, stuff like that."
"That's great, Jo." Before I could continue my appreciation rant for Everett, the doorbell chirped in the distance.
"Wait, someone's here. I'll call you back." With a groan, I rolled out of bed.
"Don't die," Jonah's sneaky comment was cut off as I hung up. The doorbell rang again and I angrily muttered under my breath as I made my way downstairs. This person seriously had no patience.
As I peeped through the keyhole, momentary surprise settled on my face before I tugged the door open.
"Hello, gorgeous." Bree was leaning on the doorframe with an impish grin, her hands full with two duffel bags. Beside her, Ann's mouth split with a conspiratorial smirk, her brown eyes twinkling with a promise of a scheme.
"Not to be rude, but why are you guys here?" All I received was a roguish smile.
"Consider this a fun little party while we get you ready for your date."
"This is going to be so much fun." As Bree's words registered in my brain, I noticed the duffel bags brimming with clothes and snacks enough to supply half a grocery store.
Oh boy.
uh hello. i seriously don't know where to begin other than, i think i'm alive. yes, i'm quite aware it's been almost two months since i updated and i feel terrible. i've just been busy with my last month of uni and a stomach bug that isn't leaving anytime soon.
thoughts on the chapter?
anyways, i feel nervous posting this, maybe it's cause i haven't updated in eons. or maybe cause i feel like my writing is extra trashy here.
question: how many books do you have in your wattpad library?
also, do y'all like the new banners?
love
a