→ The best are the simplest

→ Only the best for the perfect girl

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fixated on the television as daddy lays his head on my lap. I play with the hair sticking up near his forehead, mindlessly smoothing it out under my fingers. The characters of my favorite show run around the screen singing. The unrealistic actors in huge costumes and cardboard sets only make the show a million times more entertaining.

A blue dinosaur wearing a costume of yellow spikes shrieks to the pink hedgehog before another song starts playing. This show could all well be a musical. The teapot grows legs within seconds and joins in the chaos. As unbelievable as these shows were, they always managed to keep me on line.

"And a happy happy ever after," I joined in, having memorized the ending from several television marathons.

Daddy sits up abruptly as the television screen turns black. He takes the remote gently from my hand and places it on the glass coffee table in front of the couch we were laid on.

"What do we do now?" I ask, always curious to get going. The curls on my hair bounce along with me as I stand up on the couch and start jumping.

"You just finished T.V., angel. Sit still for at least a minute." My face twists at his words but I still sit. Folding my arms in my lap and staring in front of me, I start counting the same way we learned how to in school.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6..." The speed of my counting: about a million words per minute. Daddy shakes his head with a chuckle. I continue counting in a need to prove my point.

"-59, 60." I exhale, tired from all the numbers. School made me do enough math and numbers and I didn't want to do it at home too, but it had to be done. "Done! Now what do we do?"

Daddy rolls his eyes playfully before brushing off his jeans and standing. "Now... we make dinner," he announces, walking to the kitchen to start dinner, with me trailing along.

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I stretch my legs out on the couch and rest my legs on the perch. A yawn escapes my lips as I scroll through my phone.

"You tired?" Eli asks, his eyes shifting over from the screen to me. I hum in response. He chuckles, placing a hand on my legs before going back to the film playing on the flat screen television.

My grounding sentence was just about over and winter break would be over in two days. My phone vibrated in my hands and my eyes flew to the notification that popped up. A text.

Will you go on a date with me? It was a short text, straightforward and right to the point. I didn't have to look at the contact to know who it was from.

Ryan's contact was with the profile picture we had taken at the bowling alley. He had been posing with Tyler but I had caught that his eyes stayed on me while I snapped the picture. The mischievous yet happy glint in his eyes was one that could hypnotize.

I stare at the text, unable to move my fingers to type out a response. It was the first time Ryan had texted me since the kiss. I had gotten in trouble already once and broken my brothers' trust not too long ago. I couldn't do it again- especially after all they had done for me. But I couldn't bring myself to type out those words. I refused to click on the text, fiddling with the charms of the bracelet on my wrist. If I clicked on it, Ryan would know I read it and I would have to respond.

Before I could come up with a defined plan, Eli plucked the phone out of my grasp. I looked up to see that the television had turned off and that Eli was standing above me. I had been so involved in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed Eli's calling.

"What in the world are you looking at that has gotten you in another world with that silly smile on your face?" He asks lightly, holding the phone away from my grip. I'm quick to jump off the couch and reach up but I was too short.

"Hey, give it back!" He turns the phone towards him, not budging by my claims, and squints to read Ryan's text. His light hearted smile turns into a frown and soon morphs into anger as he finishes reading. The anger disappears in a minute when he looks at me. I had stopped struggling and sat back on the couch. I kept my eyes trained on the floor, knowing how much trouble I was in- yet again.

"Jess," Eli starts surprisingly softly. "Do you really like him?"

My eyes immediately dance up at his words. Eli wanted to know if I liked him? I nod as an immediate response. Ryan had somehow managed to capture my heart, all summed up by something about him that fascinated me. I loved his different sides- with his sister, with his friends, and last when we were alone. Something about his usual smirk and taunting eyes captured me.

"Yeah, I do." I answer honestly, my voice hoarse.

"Then you can go. I'll talk to the others." I hold in a gasp of disbelief at his words. This was breaking one of their rules yet Eli still said he would let me go. I run up to him and squish him into a bear hug. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me. "I love you, Jess. I just want the best for you."

"I love you too, El."

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"This is the first time I've done this," Ryan says, suddenly breaking the silence. Taking a look at my confused expression, he elaborates. "Taking a girl on a date." My eyebrows shot up, in temporary shock, before realization. Of course he didn't. Ryan was the sort of guy known to have flings and never take in commitment. I would have never expected that I was his first date, though. I had always expected that he had a few girlfriends in the past. Nevertheless, I nod in understanding. It made me special to think that I was his first day, just like he was mine. Yes, I hadn't been on a date before either, for different reasons, obviously.

Eli had managed to convince the boys to let me go after only a little ruckus and screaming match. Aiden was the most hesitant but Eli's convincing got Caden on board right away. Mason had surprised me, getting protective and choosing sides with Aiden. But at the end, Caden was the final decision maker and everyone respected his decision.

It took me about two hours of exchanging clothes in my closet to choose my outfit. A gray sweater with loose sleeves that hung from my arms and black leggings were my final choice. The plan was to put my hair up in a ponytail as usual but Eli had swiped the rubber band from my hair, saying it looked better down. My hair was naturally straight and thin, as always, so a quick comb of the brush did it. Aiden's grumbling about me wearing makeup didn't damper my cheerful mood but just to spite him, I added a little mascara and lip gloss- that Aiden was so sure was secretly lipstick.

Ryan's initial reaction when he saw me was plain awe before he stammered a quick "You look beautiful" under my brothers' watchful gazes. He had taken my hand and guided me to his expensive lamborghini. He pulled the door open for me, extending his arm to help me in. Then, closing the door gently, he strided to the other side. My brothers stayed at the front steps, their gaze following us until we rode off. The small action made me feel as if I was in a romance movie.

"This is my first date too," I admit.

"Then I have got to make this as perfect as possible, for the perfect girl." I chuckle at his enthusiasm and the cheesiness of the comment. The mood immediately picks up from there. Ryan plays music to which we sing along, both horribly out of tune. My musical abilities were on pause with my jitters in combination with my adrenaline rush.

"Can you please tell me where we are going?" Ryan was insistent on keeping it a surprise. We had been driving for more than an hour and I couldn't sit still any longer.

"You'll see. We're almost there." His usual smirk stays on his face as he winks in my direction. I groan overdramatically before putting my elbow on the windowsill. We had passed all the big buildings and were heading towards the quieter, rural part of town.

Ryan's car finally pulled to a stop near an empty field. "We are... going hunting?" Ryan rolls his eyes. Even I had to admit that my guess seemed a bit off. Ryan pushed open the car's front door and held a button on the keys. I curiously looked around to see what the button would do. Though my brothers all had fancy cars, it always seemed like each button would do something special. I waited for something, anything, to jump out. Maybe the car turned into a D.J. Booth, or better yet, an icecream truck.

It was nothing of the sorts. The trunk slowly popped open. Not even fast paced, a slow purr. Ryan pulled something out of the trunk. When he finally turned to my direction, it revealed what he was holding. A striped red blanket and a brown woven basket. A picnic.

"The sunset is really pretty here. I wanted to make this perfect for you." I hold back an awe at the sincerity on his face.

"Thank you."

"Only the best for a pretty girl." The cliche statement makes me laugh as I run ahead into the open field. The dried grass field with the open clear skies made me feel invincible. Like there were endless possibilities in such an enormous universe. With a joyful laugh, I spun around in a circle with my arms extended out. The only sign of civilization was a tiny house on a nearby mountain that looked so far away. The sun was still out, but barely. There was a slight breeze, regardless of the clear skies, that made the wheat plants lean sideways.

Ryan chases after me. The picnic basket weighs him down, making me laugh at his annoyed expression, before going over to help.

We set the picnic basket down together and spread out the checkered picnic blanket in an empty spot in the middle of the dried grass. In the distance, a windmill spins slowly by the breeze. The trees sway as the wind makes them dance.

We both plop down on the mat. Ryan removes the basket's lid, revealing two grilled cheese sandwiches and two vines of grapes. "I know it's simple but I hope you like it." His voice seemed nervous but his words made me smile. He cared.

"I really do love it. Thank you, Ryan." His smile slowly relaxed until it was free-going. His dimples pushed in slightly and he ran his hand through his hair, making it more disheveled but gorgeous as always.

He gestured to the basket, urging me to take a sandwich out. I do so, noticing how perfectly the sandwhich's triangles were cut. It was held together by a clear wrap, which I removed starting from the top. I held the removed portion with the sole of my slipper. Ryan copied my action.

"This is seriously perfect. Everything is so... perfect," I say, with lack of a better way to explain it.

Ryan laughs, "and so you said." I playfully slapped his shoulder in response, and he nudged me back. We were now sitting shoulder to shoulder, the sandwich forgotten about. The sun was starting to set more now. The sky was painted a perfect pink shade, combined with orange by the horizon. The clouds had faded, and the breeze was getting stronger. A flock of birds flew above our heads, in the midst of a picture perfect view. Ryan was right. It was beautiful.

"Can I ask you something?" Ryan asks, fidgeting with his fingers. I nod expectantly, turning to face him. "Why do you always wear that necklace? I mean, you don't have to answer, I was just curious. Sorry."

That was not the question I was expecting but a sudden urge to tell him suddenly takes over. "My dad gave me it," I say hesitantly. "He's... he's not here anymore."

He gently takes my hand, placing it in his lap. His gentle smile wraps like a comforting blanket all around me. He doesn't push me and doesn't ask for any more answers. Digging his hand into his front jean pocket, he pulls something out but closes it inside his fist. His right hand still holds mine and he reaches for it. A cold metal material touches my hand. Looking down, I see a silver ring, shining against the sun rays. It had a heart in the middle, connecting the two sides with a tiny swirl.

"It was my grandmothers. She meant the world to me," he says, his eyes not meeting mine. A faraway glint touches the top of his eye as he looks across the valley. "She passed away from a heart attack."

I gasp softly, placing my free hand on top of our conjoined hands. "I'm sorry." He gave my hand a short squeeze as acknowledgement but didn't reply. He held my hand out and gently pushed the glistening ring onto my pointer finger. It fit perfectly.

"After she died, my mother didn't care about us anymore. The only thing she cared about was her business and-" his voice cracked a little. "Herself. I took care of my sister and became distant. The only people there for me were Jack and Tyler until I met you. There was something about you- I noticed every single thing you did. I see that cute thing you do, bite your bottom lip when you're nervous. How your eyes crinkle slightly every time you smile. How your laugh is enough to brighten my world. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that you're so beautiful inside and out and... I love you." He murmurs the last part, so quiet that I almost didn't catch it.

I realized how strange it was. Two people who have barely known each other for a month, already saying the sacred words. We didn't even know everything about each other. But we weren't normal.Not individually and not as a whole. And we have a whole adventure ahead of us. A new chapter, an entire story. I understood that now, which is why I knew I wasn't lying to myself when I said my next words.

"I love you too, Ry. We'll get through everything. We'll get through it together."

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