| Nathan |

Waking up the next morning and seeing her sleeping next to me was new, but I liked it. I had slept all night last night, I didn't wake up once to check emails or just to lay in bed until it was time to get up. I was beginning to think having her with me caused me to sleep better. And I'd begun to enjoy sleep now that she was here with me.

Yesterday, I hadn't expected her to show up like that, but I was relieved she did. I was scared to let myself feel something for her but it scared me more to think she'd truly let whatever was between us go. I didn't like the thought of her moving on without me, it was selfish, but true.

Actually telling her everything also hadn't been the plan, but I trust her. She's the first person I've actually trusted, outside my family. I was glad to have that with her. Maybe feeling something for someone didn't have to make me weak, like I always thought it would.

She looked so peaceful when she slept, her face more innocent than ever, and sunlight glowing on her cheeks. I'd noticed she loved leaving her curtains open, even when she slept at my place, she opened the curtains. It seemed simple but it was so like her to do. She also liked to open the windows, just a little, but enough that the morning air could drift lazily into the room. I smile thinking about it. And I think back to last night.

Rachael needed to be talked into being okay with us. Last night, when we arrived at her apartment, I was sure Rachael was going to kill me. She was looking at me like I was making a huge mistake. But Isabella was able to calm her down and explain everything. Even so, she continued to glare at me when Isabella wasn't looking. One time, she even pointed two fingers at her eyes and then jabbed them in the air at me, telling me that she was watching me. She was protective, I understood that, but she was also terrifying. Isabella, of course, thought it was hilarious that her best friend was so frightening to me.

Then we snuck away to her bedroom, I needed her too badly to want to eat dinner. And I think she felt the same.

I watch Isabella now, soft breathing coming from her as she continued to sleep. I reach over and brush a few strands of hair out of her face. Her eyes flutter a little, and I suddenly worry I've woken her up, but then she smiles gently, catching the hand I tried to pull away from her in her own tiny one. She opens her eyes lazily.

"Good morning." she whispers and I smile back at her. She brings my hand to her lips, kissing it gently and then pulls herself closer to me. I wrap her in my arms, reveling in this moment.

"Morning." I say softly, kissing her cheek gently, and then her neck as she buries her head against my chest. I roll over, pulling her on top of me and she sits up. She was still naked- we both were, too lazy last night to put clothes back on, but I liked it this way.

"Did you sleep well?" she asks, leaning down again to run her hands through my hair.

"Yes, did you?" I ask and she nods. She sighs, letting her head rest on my chest as she continues waking up.

"Boyfriend." she murmurs and I smile.

"What?"

"You're my boyfriend now." She says, sitting up to look at me, a happy expression on her face. She looked so content.

"And you're my girlfriend." I say, even if the word felt strange to say, I found I kind-of liked it. I pull her to me, kissing her gently. Her lips were so soft, and plump. Perfect for kissing. I run my hands through her hair, then down her back. I feel her hips arch against me, her hands holding on to my chest as we kissed.

She breaks away from my lips to kiss my jaw, then my neck. I sigh a little, closing my eyes and running my hands over her soft body again.

"Hmm, I'm hungry." She murmurs. And I laugh a little.

"Shall I cook you breakfast then?" I ask, rolling us over in bed so that I'm on top now. She smiles.

"What are you going to cook?" She asks, curious. I lean down, kissing her shoulder and then down her chest.

"Pancakes." I say and she hums happily. It was then we heard a loud crash echo from the kitchen, waking both of us up a lot faster than we planned. I jerk my head up, looking at her closed bedroom door and wondering what was going on outside it.

"What was that?" She mutters, also sitting up. We listen carefully. And the next sounds that follow probably scar me for life.

A deep moan echoes from the kitchen, followed by "Oh my god, yes, Hunter". Isabella gasps. I look at her and we both seem to remember that he came over last night after we got home.

"She wouldn't." She mutters. And we hear more cries, and an "awe yeah, take that baby". I suddenly felt a little sick. "Do you think they're- doing it on purpose?" She asks slowly.

"What do you mean?" I hiss quietly, feeling disgusted.

"Like maybe we were too loud last night, so this is like, revenge." She says and I shake my head, rolling off her. She lays her head against my chest and I wrap one arm around her.

"I seriously hope not." I mutter. She giggles.

"I guess breakfast will have to wait then." She starts but suddenly things quiet down. We both look to the door again, listening carefully. "Um, or maybe not, that was fast."

"Well I do not want to make breakfast in there now." I say and she laughs again.

"Yeah, you're right, lets go out then." She says, sitting up and leaning down to kiss me again. "And we can still have pancakes."

"Good." I murmur, grinning at her.

"But first, I need coffee." She declares and slides out of bed, walking to her closet. I get up too, pulling on my boxers. I grab my pants, and shirt, getting dressed. I walk into her bathroom, splashing some water on my face and fixing my hair a bit. She enters just as I'm doing up my tie, wearing a dress that looked good on her.

"Always so formal." She jokes, grinning at me as I smooth out my tie. I shake my head and roll my eyes.

When we're done getting ready, we walk out into the kitchen apprehensively. But, luckily Rachael and Hunter have moved to the couch where they are watching cartoons and eating bowls of cereal.

"Good morning!" Calls Rachael and Isabella makes a face.

"Well I guess it really has been a good morning for you hasn't it?" She retorts and Rachael looks over with a raised eyebrow. Hunter waves to us, but says nothing, choosing not to get involved.

"Oh I'm sorry, we're we too loud? Did you find that it disrupted your morning? We should have been more considerate, I'm sorry." Answers Rachael sarcastically. I smirk, leaving it to them as I walk to the kitchen in search of coffee mugs.

"I was right!" Says Isabella triumphantly. "You were getting back at us."

"Babe, you told me this morning you couldn't resist me because I was just too hot." Whines Hunter, pouting at Rachael who immediately consoles him and restores his ego. Isabella joins me, grabbing the mugs I was still in the process of finding and handing one to me. She brushes past me to the coffee pot.

"They're just jealous." She whispers to me, her voice cool and happy. I grin.

"Oh really?" I ask, as she pours me some coffee. And she nods, smirking at me. It was almost enough for me to pick her up and take her on the kitchen counter, and I wouldn't have given a fuck that Rachael and Hunter were there. She's swirls some cream and sugar in her coffee, before she opens a small drawer and pulls out a plastic straw.

She stirs the coffee and then sips some. I watch her intently and she gives me a questioning look.

"Why do you use a straw?" I ask and she giggles a little.

"It prevents the coffee from staining your teeth." And I grin even wider when she says that, everything she did was suddenly too fucking cute, but that especially. "I don't see why you think it's funny. I think it's smart." She says, raising her eyebrows at my amused expression.

"No, no. It's a good idea." I say smirking.

"So Nathan." I wince and Isabella purses her lips together, trying not to smile as Rachael walks into the kitchen. I look over warily and she's giving me the same secretly murderous look that she had been last night.

"Hey Rachael." I say slowly and she narrows her eyes. Isabella turns around too, leaning against the counter next to me. It was reassuring, because if she wasn't here I was sure I'd be dead by now. I probably deserved it too.

"How do I know you can be trusted again?" she asks.

"We went over this last night Rachael." says Isabella softly next to me.

"No, I know, it's just, I want to hear it from him." she looks back to me, eyes still narrow. I was feeling more uncomfortable by the second.

"Babe, just let it go, I did stupid shit too." says Hunter walking over, placing their dishes in the sink and grinning at me. I grin back, grateful that I wasn't the only male here. I was starting to appreciate Hunter. It was cool to connect over my car the night we went out, but he also generally seemed to be cool. "And I apologized."

Rachael glares at him. "Yes, I know, but it was just Isabella doing the talking last night. I don't want any stupid shit to happen again."

"But it's okay." says Isabella. "I'm more than fine, trust me, thanks for looking out for me though."

"And I am sorry." I add, deciding I should step outside my comfort zone and actually speak. "I know I fucked up, but." I pause looking down to Isabella, and she looks at me, I smile at her. "I don't ever plan on doing that again."

"Awe, baby." she says sweetly, setting her coffee down and wrapping her arms around my neck. She kisses me, not even caring there were people watching. I set my coffee down too, pulling her against me.

"Okay, okay. Ew, stop." I hear Rachael say and Isabella giggles lightly, breaking apart to flip Rachael off. And Rachael just rolls her eyes.

_

Hello Lovely Readers!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, another one is coming soon, maybe tomorrow or later tonight! Exciting things are coming! Also, in the comments, tell me what you think, I' love to hear your what you have to say!

XOXO

- Keara Rose