Lifting a hand to my mouth, I cover my yawn as I stumble into the kitchen on Saturday morning. Both my parents are already up and having coffee at the dining table on the other side of the counter. It seems like everyone else is still asleep.

"Morning," I tell them, going to the cupboard to get out my cereal. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the best. If you try to fight me on that, you'll lose.

"Morning, baby," Mom looks at me over the top of her mug before setting it down in front of her. She's unable to contain her smile as she asks, "How was last night?"

A content smile automatically lifts my lips as I think back to the previous night. My date with Layla was perfect. She is perfect. I don't deserve her.

"Great." I reply, pouring some cereal into a bowl.

"That's it? Great?" Dad questions, raising an eyebrow at me.

I turn my back to them to get the milk from the fridge and also to hide my smirk, "I mean... I have a girlfriend now, so-"

I'm cut off by my mother's intense squeals. She immediately jumps up from her seat and runs over to hug me. "I'm so happy! Layla is perfect for you, Reece. I'm so happy you met her, baby."

I smile, hugging her back, "I'm really happy too, Mom. She's amazing."

"I am so glad you two finally got together!" She exclaims as she lets go of me to walk back to her seat at the dining table, "I was starting to think it would never happen."

"So was I," I mutter, finally pouring milk into the bowl and going to sit across from my parents at the dining table.

"Is she coming over today?" Mom asks casually, but I know she's really wanting to talk to Layla about last night.

"She's going shopping with Anna and Amanda this morning. They'll probably come back here after though." I tell her, starting to eat my cereal.

"I should make some muffins if you all are going to be here. Are you, Liam, and Mark going to be here then while the girls are out?" She asks me.

I shrug, "Probably. I don't know."

Mom shakes her head, "You boys are useless at planning. The girls have already sorted that they're going out shopping today whereas I bet you didn't even know that Liam stayed the night here last night."

"Nope. Not surprising though."

~

"You're throwing, dude! Come on," Mark complains to Liam, his eyes intensely focused on the TV screen.

"I'm not! Reece is the one who keeps getting shot!" Liam argues.

"The one time I get shot at first and you keep bringing it up." I roll my eyes before gluing them back to the TV, not even looking down at the controller in my hands.

"Boom! Got one! There's only a couple left, right?" Liam asks.

"Yeah- I just got another. We're down to the last one." I reply.

After a few moments, Mark sighs, "Fúcking shot me again."

"So now it's you throwing, huh?" Liam smirks, glancing at Mark quickly.

"I got like the first three guys. It took you ten minutes to even make a half-decent shot."

"Hi," A new, soft voice in my ear has my head jerking to the side. I look up, a smile instantly forming on my face when I see Layla leaning down over the couch I'm sitting on.

"Hey, Sunshine," I reply, completely forgetting about the video game I'm supposed to be playing.

"Bro! Stop getting distracted by your girlfriend and play the- never mind, you died." Liam huffs in annoyance.

"I'm sorry I made you lose." Layla whispers into my ear as she walks around to sit on the armrest of the couch right beside me.

"Doesn't matter, Sunshine. How was the mall?" I ask her, placing my hand in her lap so she can hold it. She does so immediately, letting me twist around the rings she wears on her fingers.

"Good. I bought a couple shirts I liked. I also brought you back a juice. You're favourite." She says, handing me a cup from the juice place at the nearby mall.

I grin, taking it from her gratefully. "You're the best, Sunshine."

"I know," She smiles, bending down to peck my lips.

"I can't believe we lost that game because you suck and you can't keep your eyes off Layla. Hi, by the way, Blondie." Liam smiles at her after calling Mark and I out individually.

Layla laughs, "Hi, Liam."

Liam spots the juice in my hands and gasps turning to look for Anna. When he spots her sitting in the armchair, he lights up. "Did you get me a juice, Annie?"

She nods her head towards the kitchen, "It's on the counter." Liam immediately darts out of the room to get it.

"So," Amanda starts, fixing her eyes on me, "I think you and I need to have a little chat, don't we?"

"Uh, why?" I ask in scared confusion.

"Well, you think you're worthy enough to date my best friend. If you want to last more than a week, you'll need to get on my good side." Her eyes narrow at me.

Layla laughs, "Come on, Amanda. You've known him for months now. And was it not you that was screaming about how happy you are for me in the car a couple hours ago?"

Amanda raises an eyebrow, leaning back into Mark who's lap she's sitting on. "Don't act like you didn't do the exact same thing to Mark when we first started dating. You're just not as scary as I am."

"She got that part right." I murmur before taking a sip of my drink.

"Hey! I so was scary! Right Mark?" Layla defends.

"You were about as scary as a puppy." Mark shrugs.

"Rude."

"See." Amanda nods once before looking back to me with a grin, "Seriously though, I'm so glad you finally grew some balls."

"That's what Liam and I said!" Mark exclaims, laughing.

I turn to look up at Layla with a pout, "They had no faith in me."

"Aww, it's okay, baby. You did it in the end." She chuckles at my pouting.

I smile, gently tugging her closer to me until she slides down from the armrest to instead sit in my lap. Leaning down, I whisper softly in her ear, "I liked that."

"What?" She whispers back her question.

"You calling me baby," I reply softly.

She grins, "I guess I finally found a nickname for you then."

"I feel like things would have progressed much faster if you had been calling me baby from the beginning."

"You think?" Her giggle is like music to my ears.

I hum my agreement, "Yeah. It makes me feel all giddy when you say it."

She laughs, "You're so fúcking cute."

I sigh dramatically, "Let's not start this again."

~

Walking into school on Monday, everything seems to be right in the world. At least, it seems like it from where I'm standing. For once, I'm not scowling at everyone and everything I see as I walk through these halls. My mind is set on one person and my smile won't leave my face.

I find her at her locker once again and I don't hold back from going up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She doesn't even look at me, leaning back into my hold with a content sigh. "Good morning, Reece."

Resting my chin on her shoulder, I watch as she gets the books she needs out of her locker. "Good morning, Sunshine."

"You don't often come in on Monday mornings when you have a spare." She comments.

"Yeah, but I know you do." Is my only reply.

"You wanna sit in the library with me to study for the English essay I have to write today?"

"Of course. Want me to stop by the cafeteria and pick up a snack or something beforehand? You usually skip breakfast." I murmur, my hand subconsciously rubbing her stomach as I speak. She's so tiny.

She laughs softly, turning her head to press a kiss to my cheek. "That's very thoughtful, thank you, baby. Maybe some potato chips or something from the vending machine?"

I nod, "I'll make it happen."

"I hate Mondays." Amanda groans as she walks up to us a moment later, slumping against the locker beside Layla's.

"Since when?" Layla laughs, shutting her locker door. I loosen my hold on her and step away reluctantly. Not two seconds later, once her bag is on her shoulders, she takes my hand in hers, bringing herself closer to me.

"Since I have physics second period and a dance exam in third. Today hates me."

Layla thinks for a moment before a thought clearly hits her. "Ah, I don't think it's that. I just finished my period, babe."

Amanda looks at her with wide eyes, "No."

Nodding solemnly, Layla replies, "I'm sorry."

"Dammit. That explains so much."

"Uh, I don't get it," I murmur, leaning down closer to Layla.

She smiles, leaning up to whisper to me, "Her period starts just after mine, so she'll be starting hers probably today, which would explain her mood."

"Right. Makes sense." I nod, standing straight again.

"Ugh, I'm going to find Mark before class. I'll see you guys later." Amanda tells us, giving a wave before walking off again.

The bell rings for the start of class not two seconds later and I turn to look down at Sunshine. "I'll meet you in the library?"

She nods with a smile, leaning up on the tips of her toes to peck my lips quickly. "Can you get me some Skittles if they have them too?"

"Anything for you, Sunshine."