It was Friday today, the week had gone in a blur. Everyone was so excited because next week we would be going on the field trip. Luke was miserable because he wasn't included, and even Dale was upset. The rest of us could barely contain our excitement.

After Saturday night when Aiden had told me more about Katherine, I had tried to take a step back. I think he was noticing though, Dale and Charlie definitely were. We had planned for Dale and Charlie to stay at mine tomorrow night so we could spend Sunday together. I think they thought something had happened and they wanted to cheer me up. I guess in a sense something had happened, realization punched me in the face. Hard. And now I knew I never had even the slightest chance with Aiden.

Toby had continued watching The Vampire Diaries, he was obsessed and it made me laugh so much because it was all he talked about.

At break today, we had another meeting and now everything was finalized, all we had to do was show up on Tuesday. Tiffany was in the other class and all the guys apart from Blake were really pissed. She had been giving me looks lately and I had felt like she was up to something, not like she had anything to worry about. She was way more his type than me, she might actually have a chance.

School had just ended, we won our second game yesterday and Luke and Charlie both had to stay back for practice, they had seemed to be getting a lot closer lately and I was genuinely happy for them.

I had just got home, mom and Robert were still at work and Elijah would be getting home any minute from the bus. As soon as I open my door, and excited Labradoodle jumps on me. I giggle, putting my stuff down and sitting at her level to give her some well-deserved attention. As if any dog was as cute as my baby.

The door opens and Lij walks in, he smiles when he sees Nala and I and puts his stuff with mine so he can pat Nala as well.

"Hey Lee, can we call Miles. I need his advice on something," Lij asks, blushing a little and making me very curious.

"Something about what?" I smile cheekily, standing up and walking towards the kitchen knowing that both Eli and Nala will follow.

"Leeee," Elijah groans, his face just getting redder as his sits on the stool. I hold up a bottle of juice, silently offering Lij some and he nods.

"Tell me!!" I beg, he looks down again as I hand him a cup of juice and sit opposite him with my own. "Wait," I begin, "Is it about a girl?"

Lij blushes even more and I get my answer. "Aweee my baby bro has his first crush."

"Lee!!" Elijah scolds.

I smile, "okay fine, but you have to tell me more."

"Her name is Sophia Ryder and she's in my classes but she doesn't even know I exist," Elijah replies sadly.

"Lij, don't say that. You just have to talk to her, tell her how you feel." I reply, smiling at the absolute adorableness of the whole situation.

"No Lee, you don't get it. I'm just a loser. If it wasn't for her brothers, she would get all this attention but they always threaten any guy that even talks to her or her best friend." Lij sighs.

"You just have to be different than the other guys, show her how amazing you are. If you don't tell her how you feel, you'll never know," I convince. Elijah gives me a pointed look and I look at him in confusion.

"Lee, I love you but you can't tell me to just tell her how I feel when you're 1000000 years away from telling Aiden how you feel," he points out.

"What?! I don't have fe-feeling for Aiden like th-that," I try and laugh awkwardly but it comes out all weird sounding, Lij just gives me a look.

"Fine." I reply, "But you're better than me, and definitely not a loser."

Before Lij can reply, the doorbell rings. I stand up and look at Lij as he follows; "we will continue this conversation after."

Elijah rolls his eyes but nods as he follows me to the door, obviously wondering who it was. I open the door and I'm surprised to see a smirking Aiden.

It was weird him coming to the door instead of our frequent window chats.

"Collins, oh hey Eli," Aiden smirks.

"Hey Aiden," Elijah smiles excitedly, throwing me a quick knowing glance but then going back to smiling excitedly at his apparent role model.

Aiden walks in and begins talking to Elijah, completely ignoring me as I follow them into the kitchen wondering what the hell was happening. I was trying to distance myself!!

"Oh hey Aiden, can I ask your advice on something? I was going to call Miles but you're here anyway." Elijah asks and I am very aware of what was about to come.

"Yeah man," Aiden says, listening and somehow making him even hotter.

"There's this girl and I don't know what to do, she doesn't even know I exist," Elijah states, looking at me mischievously and making my stomach do nervous flips.

Aiden smirks at my brother; "she cute?"

"The cutest." My brother responds.

"Just ask her out," Aiden shrugs, "be confident, girls love the confidence."

Eli nods like he's taking it in before he looks at me, the same glint in his eye, "do you like confidence Lee?"

"Um," I stutter, trying my best to use our sibling powers to glare at him through our heads.

Both Aiden and Lij look at me expectantly; "I guess it depends?" I question.

"Well guys like Aiden," Eli continues, "do you like Aiden's confidence?"

I try even harder to murder my little traitor through our sibling mind powers.

"Um," I stutter again.

"Of course she does," Aiden smirks, putting his arm around my shoulder and successfully saving my ass.

"You know, speaking of couples, you guys would make a good couple," Elijah smiles, again the glint obvious in his eyes.

I blush, once again trying to murder my little brother through my glare.

"We'd definitely be the best looking couple," Aiden smirks, once again clearing the awkwardness in the air.

"Why are you even here?" I find myself asking him, wanting him to leave so I can kill Elijah.

"Wow Collins, I can't come over just to hang with my favorite neighbor...and his weirdly ticklish older sister?" Aiden smirks. Eli laughs and they high five.

"Aiden," I warn, but the smile is evident on my red face.

"Kidding, mom's going out for the night and I'm watching the girls, mom told me to come over and ask if you'll come and help with the girls because Mia hasn't stopped talking about you and some movie you promised her," Aiden asks nervously, it's actually quite adorable at how fast Aiden went from confident to nervous. "You don't have to, the girls just asked for you," he continues, slightly blushing and I once again resist the urge to 'awe' out loud.

"Of course, I'd love to see the girls!! What time?" I smile, excited that the adorable twins actually wanted to see me.

"Like 5:30?" Aiden suggests smiling genuinely at me.

"Sure, why didn't you just ask me from the window?" I ask curiously.

"You weren't there, when I saw your room empty I figured I'd be better to just come over and ask," Aiden replies shrugging.

I nod excitedly, "I'm excited!!"

Aiden chuckles, "see you soon babe."

Before I can reply he's already walking to the front door, leaving a smirking Lij and a murderous me behind.

"Run." I say calmly.

Elijah flinches and sprints away, me following closely behind.

I hear the door open and Roberts booming voice, Eli smirks and runs to Robert, successfully hiding behind him.

"Hi to you too kids," Robert laughs as Elijah hides behind him and I continue trying to get him. "What he do?" He continues, still laughing.

"Embarrassed her in front of her Aiden," Eli teases, grinning from his protected spot behind our stepdad.

"Really?" Robert smirks.

"Yep," Elijah smiles proudly, obviously thinking that Robert was going to take his side. He always had been super protective of us.

"In that case," Robert begins, Eli smirks.

Suddenly Robert reaches behind him and grabs Elijah, pulling him so I could get to him. I grin cheekily and launch at Lij, tickling him onto the floor as Robert's laughter booms throughout the house.

"Don't get blood on the matt, it's vintage," Robert laughs from the kitchen where he obviously had walked to.

I smirk at my brother, grabbing him and pulling us both up. We fight for control as I drag him outside to where the pool is. He realizes what I'm trying to do and squirms, laughing. I push him into the pool but at the last second he grabs me and we both tumble into the freezing water.

Robert comes out to see what was happening and laughs historically when he sees us both fully dressed in the pool with Nala jumping around excitedly, obviously having been riled up by Lij and I.

***

"Emmy, you have to go it's 20 past," my mother calls from the door. Eli and I just ended up staying in the pool while Robert cooked dinner. My mother had just gotten home and obviously Ang had called her because she was telling me to hurry up, laughing at her children who were comfortably swimming around fully clothed.

"Fuck," I yell on instinct, climbing out of the pool and gratefully taking one of the towels Robert had left for us.

"Language." My mother laughs.

I smile back but rush around trying to dry myself. I had no time for a shower as I was already late so it seemed like the best I could do was get into dry clothes.

"Love you, everyone," I yell as I run out the door, dressed in clean grey sweats and a plain white shirt, the movie securely in my hands. My hair was still dripping so there was a wet patch where my hair fell but I didn't really have time to care as I run over to Aiden's with no footwear on apart from socks and barge into his front door.

"About time Collins, I thought you forgot about me," Aiden winks from the ground where he sat with the twins wearing a paper crown.

I laugh at a smirking Aiden and his princess crown and Mia sees me and runs over to me. I put the disk on the bookshelf so we can all watch it later.

"Emmy!!" She shrieks, hugging me. I giggle, leaning down to her level so I can hug her properly. Even Ella sees me and runs over to me to give me a hug. She was so much more comfortable with me now and it was so cute.

"Toby wants to come over later to watch whatever you're planning with the girls, something about you have amazing taste and wanting more," Aiden smirks.

I laugh, he's gonna regret that when he watches a child turn into a mermaid and talk to an awesome talking penguin and walrus. "When's he coming?"

"In about half an hour or so." Aiden shrugs.

"So no princess movie until Toby comes?" Mia pouts, obviously having listened to our conversation.

"Mi Mi, we have to wait for Toby, he wants to watch it as well you know," Ella scolds. Mia pouts but nods.

"Let's bake some cookies!!" I smile excitedly at the pouting twin and her scolding sister.

"Yes!!" Mia shrieks excitedly.

"You're the best Emmy," Ella giggles.

"Come on!!" I smile, the girls giggle, both running into the kitchen.

"Bet I can make better cookies than you," Aiden smirks as we walk into the kitchen.

"No way," I scoff, my cookies are legendary, just ask Barney Stinson.

"You're on Collins," Aiden smirks.

"Okay girls, pair up, we're having a competition and Toby can judge when he gets here." Aiden says as we walk into the kitchen.

Both of the girls rush over to me and my heart explodes. How is it even possible for these girls to be even cuter.

Aiden looks a little noticeably shocked that his baby sisters both chose me and I can't help but laugh, "feeling a little left out?"

Aiden recovers quickly and replaces his shock with his signature smirk.

"Come on El, I want to be with Emmy," Mia says before Aiden can reply.

"No Mi Mi, you're always with her, it's my turn," El replies, crossing her arms and stomping her foot.

I bend down so I'm level with the girls; "how about this, I'll be with El this time, and I promise next time I'll be with Mi Mi?"

"Fine." Mia sighs, grudgingly walking over to a once again shocked Aiden. Ella smiles in triumph.

Aiden gets out all the ingredients while the girls watch excitedly, he lifts Mia so she's sitting on the counter and I mimick his action with Ella. Both the girls were very small and therefore weren't too heavy.

Aiden passes me a baking tray and we get to work, the girls both shrieking excitedly, trying to help as much as they can.

***

We had just put the cookies in the oven, making the batter took a while because the girls did mostly everything with our instruction.

"We're going to win!!" El shrieks in my ear.

"No we are!!" Mia replies cockily.

"I guess Toby will be the judge of that," I smile at the adorable twins.

Before anyone can say anything my phone chimes, for a split second my heart pounds with the possibility that it may be my father again. I hadn't heard from him in a while and while I hoped he had given up, something told me that he hadn't, but thankfully, it's only my mother.

I read the message and blush at my mothers obvious suggestive tone. She totally did this on purpose.

"Everything okay Collins?" Aiden smirks, motioning to my fire truck face.

"Moms gone out with Lij and Robert, I think I'm staying here the night," I explain awkwardly. She could have just left me a key, or even left the bloody window open.

"Lucky you, get to spend the night with the sexiest man alive again," Aiden smirks. The twins look confused but stay quiet.

"I get to spend the night with Damon Salvatore!!" I reply, feigning excitement.

"I want to come and spent the night with Damon Salvatore, maybe Bonnie and Elena will be there!!" Toby yells excitedly from the kitchen entrance, announcing his presence in a very 'Toby' way.

"Toby!!" The twins shriek excitedly. I help Ella of the counter and watch at the adorable sight of the twins running to Toby and him opening his arms excitedly.

"It's my 2 favorite girls and my BFFL," Toby grins as he puts the twins down and opens his arms for me.

I laugh, hugging him. "Hey Tobes."

"So we going to Mystic Falls or what?" Toby asks excitedly.

"Hell yes!!" I reply excitedly.

"This is why you're my favorite person MiIlls," Toby replies, the familiar cheeky grin on his face.

"Obviously," I giggle.

"Yeah, hi Toby, it's not like we've been best friends for over a decade or anything." Aiden cuts in.

Toby grins, "oh hi Aiden, didn't see you there."

The girls giggle and I can't help but join them when I see the look on Aiden's face. He sees me try and refrain from laughing and smirks.

"Can we play princesses and princes and then watch the princess movie?!" Mia asks excitedly. Ella lights up at the mention of the game and nods vigorously.

"Sure," I giggle at the adorable little girls, I didn't expect Aiden to play, Toby might but I doubted Aiden would. I, however, couldn't say no to the twin's adorable faces.

"Yes!! Of course!!" Toby agrees excitedly. I laugh as the girls beam.

"I don't know, only if I can be the princess," Aiden smirks, I laugh again. I have to admit, I'm extremely surprised that he was agreeing.

"No Don. You can't. Emmy is here which means she's the princess, you or Toby have to be the prince and me and Ella are the queens," Mia replies in a 'duh' tone.

I stifle a laugh at the little girls scolding, Aiden notices and smirks at me. I try very hard to ignore the butterflies in my stomach but I find it impossible.

"Shots being the prince, I want to be Mill's prince charming," Toby says as soon as he hears the rules from Mia. I laugh at him again.

"Okay then, Aiden you can be the bad man," Mia demands, Ella agrees seriously.

"What? No. I wanna be the prince," Aiden argues, a smirk still situated on his extremely attractive face.

Was I seriously witnessing the 2 bad boys of Pearlacre high fighting over being the prince in a game of princes and princesses?!

I would have to remember this.

"No Aiden. Toby is the prince. Emmy is the princess, me and Ella are the queens and you are the bad man." Mia scolds again.

"Yeah Aiden, Toby asked to be the prince first," Ella cuts in.

I physically have to bite my tongue to stop myself from having a laughing fit and Toby looks like he shares the feeling.

"Fine." Aiden smirks at my expression.

"Yay!!" The twins cheer, I can't help but smile at their excitement.