"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No.

"Please?"

"No."

I let out a sigh. Nico did a satisfied smirk as I sunk back in my chair, letting him make lunch. I tried to convince him to let me cook it, but he refused to change his mind.

Rio and Romeo agreed to go out for dinner with me later. I invited Nico, but he said that it's a family thing that would probably make my brothers uncomfortable if he were there. I don't know if that's true, but I respect that he doesn't want to. He probably feels a little guilty.

I watched as Nico cooked, tapping my fingers against the table. He flipped the food in the pan before walking around the counter, coming to my side and turning me in the spinny stool.

"We're gonna paint after?" he asked, and I nodded.

He leaned down and kissed my forehead, and then my cheek. He went back over to the food, and I played with the ends of my dress as he flipped the food around in the pan so that it would cook evenly.

Once it was done, he got two plates and filled them with food. He slid mine to me across the table, and walked around to take a seat beside me.

"You like to cook?" I tried to learn more about him, hoping that he'd be more open to talking about himself now.

He used his fork to put food in his mouth, and as he chewed, I thought that he wasn't going to answer me.

"I used to not like it. But lately, I have been," he answered, and I tried to hide how excited I was that he answered me.

"How come?"

He looked at my plate, "Take a bite, and then I'll answer."

I cut some of the steak and put it into my mouth, holding it in my mouth for a second before swallowing since it tasted really good.

Once I swallowed, he answered, "I like cooking for you. Makes me happy to know that you're fed."

My heart skipped a beat. He continued, "I like taking care of you."

"But Nico, who takes care of you?" I asked.

"I don't need anybody to. I've been doing fine," he replied with a shrug, and a frown formed on my face.

I shook my head, "A relationship is 50/50. We should do it evenly; why don't I make you breakfast tomorrow?"

"You'll keep your ass in bed until I've made it for you," he argued and pushed my plate closer to me. "Now eat, pretty."

I cut another piece and put it in my mouth, knowing that I was going to make him breakfast in the morning no matter what.

Once we were done, we still had about 5 hours until I was meeting with my brothers. Nico said he needed to go to the tattoo parlour during it, so I felt happy that he had something to do.

The five hours went by in the blink of an eye, when all we did was lay in bed and watch TV. I needed to re-brush my hair before going, since it was now a little messy from Nico playing with it.

He leaned against the doorframe with crossed arms as he watched me brush my hair. He spoke up, "If anything happens, just call me."

I nodded, even though I wasn't worried.

I set the brush down once I was done, and Nico delivered a kiss to the top of my head before we started walking outside.

I skimmed through the radio stations while we drove, even though it was only a 10-minute drive. Once I found a channel I was happy with, I leaned back in my seat.

"I'll be parked out here to pick you up once you text me," he told me.

I felt guilty. I didn't want him to have to drive me everywhere. I have my license, I just don't have a car. It made me feel bad that I always made him take me places, even though he has never complained about it before.

"What is it?" he asked, and I guess my emotions were shown on my face.

I let out a sigh. I told him, "I feel bad that you always drive me everywhere."

"Why do you feel bad?" his eyebrows tugged in the middle. "I like driving you."

"I don't know...it just makes me feel bad," I shrugged. "And I probably won't have my own car for a few years."

"And that's okay," he reached over and squeezed my thigh. "I like driving you, it lets me know that your ass hasn't died in a car crash."

"I'm a good driver!" I told him, and he gave me an 'I'll believe it when I see it' look.

He will see it for himself one day.

We pulled up to the restaurant, and I recognized Romeos' car in the parking lot. He told me, "Text me when you need me to come."

I nodded, and he leaned across the seat to kiss me. I smiled to myself after, feeling all warm inside. I went to get out when he stopped me, "Wait."

I turned away from my door, to look at him again. He grabbed a black jacket out of the back seat, and leaned across the seat to guide my arms through the sleeves. I told him, "It's not cold out, Nico."

"I know. But restaurants always have the air on too high, and I don't want you to be cold," he answered while pulling my hair out that was stuck in between the jacket and my shirt.

"Aren't you gonna need it when you go to the tattoo parlour?" my head tilted slightly.

He shook his head, "Don't worry about me. You need it more than I do. Now go, your brothers are probably starving."

I knew that he was just trying to get me to leave go that I wouldn't take the jacket off. I kissed his cheek quickly before getting out, and he watched me the entire time that I walked to the door.

I turned to wave at him before entering, and he was watching me with a smile.

I pushed my palms against the door, causing it to swing open. My eyes scanned the restaurant, and it didn't take me long to see the table that Romeo and Rio were at.

Romeo noticed me first as I got closer. He stood up from the table and pulled me into a hug, nearly squeezing me to death.

I laughed, "Romeo, you're killing me."

He released me, and then Rio pulled me into a hug. Only his was tighter.

Once he released me, I took deep breaths and touched my ribs to make sure they weren't broken. I took a seat and Rio started asking me questions, "What happened? Mom said you don't live at home anymore? She said you don't value family?"

"Hey, knock it off," Romeo slapped Rio's chest. "Let her sit for a second before spamming her with questions."

I blew air out of my lips and ran my hands through my hair over what my mom told them.

"She said that I had to choose between dating Nico, or her. She said that if I chose her, I'd have to live the life she wants for me. Which is becoming a doctor, never dating, blah blah blah. But I want to live! Death creeps up faster than you think, and I don't want to miss out on living," I confessed to them, and they both looked at me sympathetically.

"I get it. Sometimes I think about moving out," Romeo spoke up. "After seeing how she treated you over something as small as having a boyfriend, I think I might start looking at places."

"What about me, idiots?" Rio spoke up, and the corners of my mouth turned up.

I shrugged, "Guess you'll have all three bedrooms for yourself."

He thought for a second. A smile slowly spread across his face, "That's actually pretty cool."

I laughed as the waiter approached the table. We ordered our food, and as I sat with my brothers, I began to feel better. The air in here was cold, and I was grateful Nico gave me his jacket.

I ordered a big dinner so that Nico wouldn't have to cook me anything later, and so that I could give him food once he picks me up. I want to make sure he eats just as much as he wants to make sure that I do.

Our food came out quickly, and we all started eating. As we ate, I asked Rio, "You have a picture of that tattoo?"

"Tattoo?" Romeos' head lifted.

I made an 'oh shit' face, but Rio just rolled his eyes. He spoke casually, "Cross is giving me a tattoo, but Elle wants to see what it is first."

"But you're 17," Romeo stated.

Rio nodded.

"So...you can't get a tattoo....because you're 17," Romeo drawled out.

Rio lowered his eyebrows, "Don't be lame. My existence will be like it never even happened in 80 years so if I want a damn tattoo I'm getting one."

Romeo looked like he was thinking. I felt my phone vibrate in my lap.

Rio: Gaslight him into thinking it's okay.

Me: Lol ok.

"Rio's basically 18 anyways, so what's the difference?" I shrugged. "You wouldn't snitch, Romeo. Would you?"

"Yea Romeo," Rio spoke up. "You gonna be a little snitch?"

Romeo rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Get the damn tattoo, but what is it?"

Rio pulled out his phone and showed us a picture on his phone of a wrist tattoo. It was three small zodiac signs, linked together by a constellation. He continued, "I'd get our three zodiac signs, but that's what I want."

I felt my bottom lip stick out, but it was out of cuteness. I told him sincerely, "I love it."

"Yea?" he smiled.

I nodded and Romeo agreed, "I like it too."

Rio smiled contently.

We continued to eat, but I had a smile on my face the entire time thinking about seeing Nico again.

We finished eating, and I let out a breath. I'm so bloated.

Romeo paid for all three of us, making Rio and I speak at the same time in an overly sweet voice, "Thank you, Romeo."

Romeo rolled his eyes, "Yea, whatever. You need a ride, Elle?"

I shook my head, "I'm gonna text Nico to come pick me up."

Romeo nodded and I stood up to give them both one more hug before they left. I sat back down after, and they exited the restaurant.

I texted Nico that I was done, and I saw that I had a text from Winter.

'Hi! Do you wanna hang out with me tomorrow?? We can walk around downtown or something.'

I replied back, 'Of course :).'

As I sent it, my phone buzzed, 'Here.'

A smile instantly formed on my face and I pressed my palms against the table to stand up. I walked to the door and went outside, the night air feeling warmer than inside the restaurant.

I nearly ran into somebody as I exited, but I quickly stopped so that I didn't. I looked up at them, "Sorry."

I thought that was going to be the end of it, but then they spoke up, "No worries. What are you doing here by yourself?"

"Oh. Well, I was eating with my brothers, but they left. Now my boyfriend is here to pick me up," I explained quickly, wanting them to move.

When they didn't move, I held the container of food for Nico a little tighter out of annoyance.

"Your boyfriend couldn't even walk in to come get out?" the guy smirked at me. "Doesn't sound like a very good boyfriend."

"Get out of my way," I ordered.

He let out an amused scoff. He looked around, "Or what? Doesn't seem like your boyfriend is going to do anything about it."

"Yea?" Nicos' voice spoke from behind him.

He turned around, the cocky look on his face slowly dropping.

Nicos' face never shifted as he looked at the guy. Without breaking eye contact, he said to me, "Elle, go wait in the car for me please."

I nodded, holding onto the food with both hands as I walked to the parking lot. I rounded the corner, unable to see Nico and the other guy now.

I walked across the stone parking lot until I got to Nicos' car. I got in and put the food in my lap, tapping my foot while I waited for him to come back.

After a few minutes, Nico finally rounded the corner. I felt relieved seeing that his face still looked the same, although his hair was a bit messed up now. He opened the car door and sat down, grabbing my face and pulling my lips to be against his before I could even get a word out.

Once he pulled away, he turned his keys in the ignition. He pulled out of the restaurant parking lot, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the man wiping blood that was pouring out of his nose.

I tapped the container of food, "I got this for you. I thought you might be hungry."

"Really?" he looked surprised, and I nodded. "Thank you."

I knew he wasn't going to eat while he drove, so I held onto the container. He asked me, "How was it?"

"Good! Romeo is actually thinking about getting his own place now," I told him. "Winter also asked me to hang out tomorrow."

He nodded.

"Are we still going to paint tonight?" he asked me.

"Mhm. After you eat."

I held onto the food until we pulled into his driveway. I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out, and Nico took the food from me so that I didn't have to carry it even though it was light.

Once we were inside, I took the jacket off and draped it over his couch.

I turned around, and Nico was holding a bite of the food out for me to eat. I started, "Nico-"

"Take a bite, hm?" he said while moving it closer to my mouth.

I ate it, but then quickly stepped back, "Now the rest is for you. If I eat anything more, I'll explode."

I started grabbing some paintbrushes and dipped it into the can of paint. I walked over to the table pressed against the wall and stood on it, painting the wall with the brush vertically.

When I felt Nicos' hand on the back of my leg, I turned and looked down at him.

His hand moved up and down my leg, "I'm making sure you don't fall."

"I won't fall," I told him while continuing to paint.

I heard him eat as I painted, and I smiled to myself. Nico always seems so focused on taking care of me, that he doesn't take care of himself.

The grey walls started to turn white. I actually liked the white more, it made the room feel more welcoming.

"Are you doing anything tomorrow?" I asked him while continuing to paint.

"I have one thing to do, but I'll do it while you're with Winter," he replied.

I smiled to myself at how much more free I felt with Nico than my parents. He doesn't make me feel bad about going places or decisions I make. I've heard some people complain about how their boyfriends' don't let them hang out with people, but Nico didn't seem to mind.

As I shifted my weight backward, I slipped back off of the table. I shut my eyes tightly, but opened them once I felt Nicos arm under me. He was looking at me with a smirk, "See?"

A smile formed on my face, "Shut up."