Zoe was still asleep when I snook back inside, which is what I was hoping for. I dropped my bags and checked my phone's Lock Screen to see a notification from Matt.

*I'm sorry if I was too straight last night, take as much time as you need.*

I ignored it and put on my music quietly as I got out the ingredients to cook breakfast.

The sausages sizzled in the pan as I cracked the last four eggs into another one. I'll need to go food shopping later.

"Smells great." A zombie-looking girl slouched onto the counter behind me, "How was it? Did you tell him?"

"Yeah, he wasn't very happy about it."

"Shit, is that why you're home so soon?"

"Nah, he's going to something with his Dad this weekend. I said I'd think things over and he's home tomorrow night so we'll talk again then."

"And Matthew?"

I showed her the unopened notification. "So we're ignoring him now?"

"We're having a girls weekend, I'm ignoring everyone."

"About that..." she had a grin on her face as she pulled out her phone, opening iMessage and showing me what she was doing all night.

*Hey, this is Zoe :)*

*Hey Zoe, glad you got my note!

Sorry I didn't come find you, the place was so busy."

*No problem, I was on my way home anyway.*

*how's your night going?*

*Not bad, just watching tv now, yours?*

*still behind the bar :/*

*I hope I'm not keeping you from working...*

*Don't worry, I'd much rather be texting you ;)

Are you busy this weekend?*

*Spending tomorrow with my sister, but I'm sure I could

spare some time, you do owe me a drink...*

*How does Sunday night sound?*

*I suppose I could clear my schedule :)*

*Send me your address, I'll pick you up at 7 ;)*

"Oh my god Zoe, you're going on a date!" We squealed.

"I know! You're going to burn our breakfast..."

"Shit-"

"Language."

"Sorry." I turned off the pans, serving two plates of eggs, sausages, beans and bacon.

"What are you going to wear?"

"I don't know... wanna go shopping tomorrow?"

"You know I do."

"We're out of food, I'm going to head into town after this, can I take the car?"

"Sure, just don't crash it."

"I'm not that bad."

"Mhm..."

*

Zoe cleared up the plates as I hopped into the car, twisting my key and buckling in. I switched on the radio, turning on Love on Top by Beyoncé as I drove through the quiet village.

I drove slow and made sure my distractions were limited so I could focus on driving - I hate driving.

I sighed in relief when I made it to the grocery store's parking lot in one piece.

It was quiet due to how early it is, so I made my way around with ease, getting our usual items and a couple different things to try for dinner.

I picked up more shampoo and body wash to replace what I've left at Theo's, casually pushing the cart down the longs aisles as I reread my list off my phone, until my screen was taken up by a call, 'Dory' plastered across the top.

"Hey."

"Hey, you know how to tie a tie, don't you?"

"You still can't tie a tie? We literally wear them to school."

"I just wrap mine in a knot." We both know he's good at tying knots.

"I presume you're at the hotel now then..?"

"Yeah, just getting changed for this meeting thing, and apparently I have to look professional."

"Well I'm in the middle of the store right now, can you wait five and I'll FaceTime you?"

"Oh sorry, yeah, okay."

"Talk to you then."

I hurried to join the queue, double checking my cart as I waited behind an elderly lady.

"Excuse me? Um, sorry?" A finger tapped my shoulder.

"Hm?" I turned to meet a boy with thick, black hair. He was about my height, maybe taller if you add his afro, and looked strangely familiar.

"Sorry, you dropped this." His hand reached out, showing me my loyalty card that must have fallen out of my phone case.

"I didn't even notice, thank you so much."

"No problem." He smiled. "Hey, I know you."

"You look familiar too..."

"Jake."

"Camila."

"Oh! You're friends with DeMarco!"

"Yeah, you're on his team?"

"Yeah, year below y'all."

"Well it's nice to meet you, thanks again."

"See ya 'round."

I finally made it to the front of the line, packing things into bags and paying. "Thanks."

I called Theo as I made my way back to the car, leaving my bags in the trunk as it rang through. "Hey."

I climbed in the car, propping my phone up so I could demonstrate.

"I just met Jake, said he was on your team."

"How'd you meet him?"

"I dropped my card at the store, he gave it back to me."

"Oh cool, did he say anything else?"

"No... should he have?"

"Nah just wondering, he's cool."

"Yeah. Okay so put this piece over the top..."

I tied an invisible tie as he attempted to copy, wrapping his black tie around his white shirt's collar.

"And pull it."

"Like that?"

"Yeah, perfect."

"Thanks."

"No problem, you look great." I gave him a thumbs up as I strapped myself in, "right, I'm going to go, good luck and call me after."

"Sure, drive safe."

"You too."

I switched off my phone, driving home carefully as Scream Drive Faster by LAUREL played on my radio. I stopped by Starbucks and got Zoe and I Frappuccino's before coming home.

"Honey, I'm home!" I joked as I opened the door, carefully dropping my bags at my feet. "Help me unpack, I got coffee."

"Thank you." She sang when she spotted the drinks.

We sang along to the 'pop hits' on the tv as we put away the groceries. "So what are you wearing? Is it like jeans and a nice top or a dress and heels type of thing?"

"I don't know... it's a drink but I don't know where."

"Text him!"

"Ugh okay." She smiled, pulling out her phone. "Do I start it with 'good morning' or 'hey' or just get straight to the question?"

"Maybe just 'hey, what do I wear tomorrow?'."

"Okay, okay." She began typing, showing me the message first.

*Hey! What should I wear tomorrow?*

We finished our coffees and waited for a response. "You know, he's probably asleep, he works late too-"

She was interrupted with a ding, picking up her phone instantly to read the notification from her Lock Screen.

*You'll look good no matter what, it's up to you ;)*

Her face was red with blush as she turned to me.

"Dress and heels."

"Dress and heels."

"Ah! I'm so excited." She jumped off the counter, "I haven't been on a date in ages."

"That's because we were on vacation."

"True."

"Let's just chill today, and we can go all out tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me." We slouched on the sofa, switching on an episode of the vampire diaries.

I've got nothing to do today - Theo's busy and I'm ignoring Matt. I kind of like it though, I don't have to worry about 'choosing' one of them, not yet anyways.

It's funny how much you can relate to a character when you think about things deep enough. I'm like Elena Gilbert, not being able to choose a brother, except in my situation Stefan is Matthew and Theodore is Damon.

Stefan's the nice one, the one that looks after you and treats you right, he's the smart one from school with a toothy smile.

Damon's the one you know you shouldn't be with, but you can't help but go back to him. He's got a mischievous grin and can be rude but he'd pick you over the world, and let's you know it.

Elena's the indecisive orphan girl in between. Who can't decide which one to be with, so she hurts them both by dragging them into her own problems and makes them wait for her to finally make a decision.

And Zoe's Caroline, obviously.