"he found the colours to paint where the world had left her grey."

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

Laney and I walk around the store looking for everything on the list.

Well, I walk and push her while she sits in the cart holding the food.

The two of us find everything we need and walk up to the cashier, an older woman with glasses and greying hair.

"Good morning," Laney sweetly grins at her.

The cashier returns a grateful smile to Laney, "Oh, good morning dear."

She continues to scan all of our items which includes marshmallows for Owen. I tried to protest against getting them — because who the fuck eats marshmallows with pancakes — but Laney insisted we get them for him.

"Can I just say, you two are a beautiful couple" the cashier looks between Laney and I.

Laney's eyes go wide and she starts to shake her head, "Oh n-"

"Thank you ma'am," I cut her off, snaking my arm around Laney's lower back.

This should be fun.

"My husband and I have been married for over 30 years, and he looks at me the way you look at her," she addresses me.

I look over at Laney who is politely smiling with flushed cheeks and an almost unnoticeable hint of annoyance in her face directed towards me. I take her hand in mine holding it and kissing the back of it.

"We could only hope to be together for so long," I add onto this scene.

Laney just ignores the two of us, putting the food into the bags we brought.

"Well, you two love birds have a great rest of your day."

"You too," I conclude our exchange as I take the grocery bag in one hand and Laney's hand in my other.

The second the two of us are out of the store and in the parking lot I burst into laughter.

"Really?" she looks at me with furrowed brows but I don't miss the smile she's trying to hide.

"Really." The two of us drive off and head back to the house.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"We're back!" I yell into the house and my voice is met with cheers from everyone.

Luke and Owen take the food from Sterling's hand and start to unpack and assess everything we bought on the counter.

"Laney!" I hear my favourite little 6 year old yell across the house. She runs over to me and jumps into my arms. Catching her, I rest her little body on my hip and she puts her arms around my neck to hold on.

"Hey superstar, I like your pjs." I asses her frozen themed outfit.

Sterling walks over to us, ruffling his sisters hair, "What am I? Chopped liver?"

Charlotte just laughs out of confusion, clearly not understand his expression.

I bring Charlotte over to the counter where everyone is now crowded around; Sterling, Owen, Luke, Mason, Theo, Daisy, Jemma, Harper, Beth, Aspen, Chase, and now me.

My heart squeezes at the sight of all my favourite people in the same room, getting along and having fun. I've dreamed of having a friend group like this my whole life, and now that I can say I have it, I don't think I could be happier.

I reflect back on how this all happened; how coaching a 6 year old and having to tutor her older brother has brought me so much joy.

Theo and I make what feels to be a gallon of pancake batter and Daisy and Mason both help cook them on the pan. Originally we had Luke and Owen flipping them, but we quickly realized that was a mistake after a fourth pancake fell on the floor.

After half an hour of producing close to a hundred pancakes we finally start to eat.

We spend breakfast just talking about really anything. Charlotte leads most of the conversations, telling us stories from school and gym making us all laugh. I frequently look across the table to Sterling who just watches his little sister talk animatedly to this group of 19-20 year olds.

This is exactly what I needed after the night I had; my best friends and a great breakfast.

After we all pitch in to clean the mess we retire from the kitchen and pile into the living room. Charlotte crashes from a food coma almost immediately and Sterling picks her up, bringing her tp his room to take a nap away from our noise.

God, I am so full I think I may need to never eat again. "Well fuck me sideways," I mutter to myself out of discomfort, not realized literally everyone could hear it.

"Okay," Sterling replies to me straight faced.

Theo just laughs and joins into this unneeded conversation, "Not with me watching."

"I'll watch," Luke adds his two cents.

"I'm with Luke," Owen makes matters worse.

I roll my eyes at the boys and look around the room; the 4 of them laughing at their own jokes, Chase looking rather disturbed at the conversation about Sterling fucking me and people watching, and my 4 best friends who just join the boys in laughter because they're no better than them.

Mason just covers daisy ears and shakes his head disapprovingly at his friends but I don't miss his amused smile.

I shoot them all a mocking smile as I slowly get up from my seat. Suddenly, the amused boys grow weary and I can only enjoy this moment of power I have over them.

I walk to the back of the couch and whack the four of them in the back of the head.

Mason laughs at his friends' misfortune, looking proud of himself for only ever smiling. That is until a mischievous smile appears on Daisy's face and she lightly hits Mason on the back of the head too.

"Hey! I didn't laugh, what was that for?" he turns to his girlfriend, rubbing the spot her hand came into contact with.

"What? I wanted to join in on the fun," she just shrugs her shoulders and we all burst into laughter once more.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

We spend the rest of the day lounging around the house and watching whatever movie Charlotte picked which consisted of Disney movies and I was fully on board.

When it got close to Charlotte's bedtime we all said goodbye and people started to leave. The girls and Chase left together and Mason took Daisy back to her dorm.

I decided to join Sterling in dropping off Charlotte and so we got into the car and just like last time she fell asleep the second we started driving. This time, however, I actually managed to stay awake.

"Thank you for today, really." I look up at the boy who has been there for me this entire weekend.

"It was my pleasure, thank you for arranging it and making the food. And mostly, thank you for everything you do with Charlie." He looks into the rear-view mirror to glance at the sleeping girl in the back.

"You don't need to thank me for that, I love being with her."

The smile that dances across his lips at my words warms my heart.

I wait in the car as Sterling quickly runs in and drops Charlotte off at his dad's. I watch as he jogs back to the car not wanting to leave me alone for long.

We spend most of the drive to my place in silence. Not awkward silence, but comfortable silence. Just enjoying eachother's presence and watching the snow lightly fall around us.

"Laney,"

"Hmm?"

"I just want to make sure you know you can call me. You know, if or when something like last night happens again. I already leave my ringer on at night in case Charlotte needs me so just call me." The sincerity in his voice threatens to knock the wind out of me.

Butterflies flood my stomach at his thoughtfulness and consideration. How can one man be so great? But nevertheless, guilt arises within me.

"Sterling I can't ask that of you," I conclude.

"Why not?"

"Because it's asking too much of you..." I pause to gather the right words, " and who you are to me," the last part comes out quiet.

He looks over at me, studying every micro expression of mine. "Okay, and who am I to you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" he repeats my words for emphasis.

I just shake my head. "Well who am I to you?" I turn his question around on him.

He sighs, "I don't know either, but the one thing I do know is that you can Laney, ask that of me."

I look back over at him, fighting the urge to avoid his eye contact as his view switches from my face to the road.

"I want you to. I want to be the person you call at 2 am without feeling bad about it." Sterling continues his train of thoughts.

"If we don't know who we are to eachother, thats fine, but I want to be the person you'll come to if you need anything- If you're okay with that."

"I'm okay with that." Is all I can get out with the emotions flooding my brain.

"Good."

We resume the car ride in silence once more until we reach my house and wish each other goodnight.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter but oh well because I don't feel like changing it. I asked what you guys wanted to see more of a while ago and I got comments wanting the group and Charlotte, so I delivered.

Also I'm sorry of these chapters are short than what you'd prefer but it helps me to stay motivated and get into the chapter I'm writing so I don't think I'll change the length.

Question of the chapter: Pancakes or waffles?

Stay safe and healthy everyone and remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed the chapter <3