"a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind"

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"I can't do this anymore." Sterling looks at me, his eyes pleading for a study break.

"Ok, let's go get a snack from the vending machine then," I propose.

The frustration washes off his face and he stands up pulling my chair out from under the table, dragging me on it.

He moves to stand in front of me and raises his arms out, motioning me to put my hands in his.

I grab onto him and he lifts me up, "Thanks, darling."

We walk side by side to the holy grail of snacks.

"What do you want?" The boy beside me asks as he stares through the glass.

"Sour patch kids!"

He puts some change into the slot and we watch as two packages of sour patch kids fall.

We wonder back to our table and open the packages of sugary goodness.

"How are you doing?" He looks at me genuinely.

"I'm okay," I answer, more honestly than usual. "What about you, darling?"

"I'm pretty good, Laney"

I want to be weirded out by our friendliness and sincerity, but it's nice.

But then I think it hits the two of us.

We're not bickering right now.

We burst out laughing, quickly realizing we're in the library but the more we try and stop, the worse it gets.

Our laughter dies down when Sterling looks down at the desks and a look of horror coats his face.

"Sweetheart?" he starts.

"Mhmm?"

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"What?"

"Are you done with those?" he refers to my sour patch kids.

"Yeah I am." I shrug my shoulders.

He looks down at my pile of green, red, and blue sour patch kids, "Why did you only eat the orange and yellow ones?"

"Oh, they're the only ones I like."

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I don't know what you could possibly mean," I retort, loving the fact that we're back to bantering like normal.

"Hypocrite!" I yell at him.

"What?" he tries to act as clueless as I did just a second ago.

"You seem to be hiding something from me."

He pushes them out of my line of sight and covers them with his hands.

I reach over, grabbing his hands and uncovering his own little pile of orange and yellow sour patch kids.

"Well at least I eat the good flavours," he laughs, "I am normal, you are not."

"That's subjective," I declare offended.

"I guess you're my perfect match, Laney," he says as he laughs about our new discovery.

"I'll take that as an insult," I have the last word.

"But yeah, I guess we are, darling" I admit in the softest voice I can muster.

The pair of us get over the incredible scene we just took part in and try to get back to work.

Mostly failing to stay on task.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"Do you need a ride?" Sterling offers as we pack up our things.

"No, I think I'm okay tonight. I'm getting picked up."

I watch as he fights off his curiosity and urge to ask who.

"I'll just stay with you until I know you're safe"

I smile and him gratefully.

About 30 seconds later, Chase is pulling up to me in the car, Jemma barely visible in the back.

"You ready Dell? We need to be there soo-" Chase asks, but his words are cut short when he sees who's beside me.

I see his eyes try and figure out what to do, but his protective brother instincts win when he steps out of the car.

"Who are you?" my brother tries to look as intimidating as possible.

While he's not quite as tall as Sterling, he's pretty close, standing at probably 6'1".

"Sterling Blake. Who are you?"

I can barely hold back an eyeroll as the two men in front of me get all weird and defensive.

Holy fuck. This is embarrassing for them.

I make eye contact with Jemma in the back of the car who is almost unnoticeable because of the darkness outside.

"Not that it's really any of your business, but I'm Chase."

Sterling looks severely unimpressed.

"Chase Lawrence."

I can literally see Sterling's recognition set in, "he's your brother?"

"Bingo, darling."

I guess my nickname freaks Chase out, "you two are dating?"

"What? God no!" I resolve all confusion.

"So she says," Jemma adds her very much unneeded input into this lovely conversation but luckily I think I'm the only one who hears.

I subtly flip her off.

"She's tutoring me. I was just waiting with her for you to get here. Just wanted to make sure she was safe." I think Sterling backs off when he remembers he's a big brother and he would be acting the same way if Charlotte was with a boy.

Not that Sterling is a boy to even worry about...

"Alright, thanks man," my brother cools down.

The two of them do that weird handshake every guy somehow knows and I wave goodbye to Sterling.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

I arrive at my parents' house of dinner and immediately run to the door, beyond excited to see everyone.

I kneel down and pet Harley's golden face.

"My babies," My mom walks over embracing Jemma and Chase, "I missed the three of you so much."

"Mom, we saw you last week," I speak into her shoulder as she hugs me unnecessarily tight

My dad joins my mom in the dramatic greetings and I laugh at my emotional parents.

I set the table while Chase and Jemma make the salad in the kitchen.

My parents walk in from barbecuing the chicken outside and we all sit down at the table for our weekly meal.

"I met Dell's boyfriend today," My brother utters out of the blue.

I kick his legs under the table, "oh my god, shut up."

My dad's eyes widen and my mom looks at my already desperate for the details.

"No he didn't, because he does not exist."

My best friend is no help when she just chuckles to herself, adding to my parents' interest.

"He's just some guy I'm tutoring," I roll my eyes.

"Just some guy, huh?" My mom adds to my embarrassment, giving me her 'I know exactly what you're thinking right now' eyes.

It would be really fantastic if the floor could swallow me whole right about now.

"He seems nice enough," Chase piles on more details.

My dad cuts in, clearly very intrigued, "Do I need to be talking to this kid, Delaney?"

"Look what you did." I death stare my bitch of a brother.

Jemma finally gives me an inch of support, "but for real, I think they're just good friends."

"Barely even friends," I add to this ambush of a conversation.

"His name is Sterling Blake, he's a hockey player, I coach his sister, and I'm tutoring him in psych," I add in one breath, hoping the summary will stop the questions and remarks.

I watch as both my mom and Jem make eye contact, a smirk playing on their lips.

Jesus.

I wish Sterling just left me on the sidewalk to be kidnapped.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

The three of us decide to stay at this house with my parents over the weekend.

Jemma and I set up our room with snacks and a movie for tonight and she goes downstairs to make popcorn.

My mom takes this opportunity to lay down beside me and continue the discussion from dinner.

I swear to god I'm going to get Chase back for this shit.

"So... Sterling, huh?" She instigates.

"That is his name. Good memory, mom."

"Just a boy? I find it hard trying to believe that, Delly."

"Maybe he's a friend."

My mom's eyes light up.

"Just a friend?"

"Just a friend. Nothing more."

"Hey, Lisa." Jemma opens the door, saving me, "Can I steal your beautiful daughter for a movie?"

"Alright," she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, "keep me updated on him."

"Yeah, whatever. Goodnight mom."

She gets up and gives Jemma a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Goodnight, my lovely girls."

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

Imagine if you didn't need to work to write a book. That would be great.

I wanted to do more with Laney's family because I love them so much!

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter :)

Also thank you guys so much for the comments, votes, and support on my tiktok too!

Stay safe and healthy <3