"Hello?" My groggy voice breaks the silence of my room as I answer the phone. I didn't even see who it was, I'm still very sleepy.

I didn't sleep till late last night because of that argument Mateo and I had. It just makes me mad that he would assume that right away. If the roles were switched, I would've been supportive. But I guess everyone thinks differently.

The person on the other line speaks and it's exactly who I was just thinking about.

"Hey Veronica," Mateo says in a soft tone. I rub my eyes with my free hand trying to get the sleep out of my system. "Did I wake you up?"

"Yeah but it's fine," I move the phone away from my ear to look at the time. 8:36am. It's still way too early. "It's early Mateo, is everything okay?"

He usually wakes up an hour before me which would be like around ten. This is way too early so I'm assuming something must've happened. My mind always starts to come up with different scenarios. I hate when that happens, it eats my mind until it's all I can think about. I hate it.

"Everything is fine. Sorry for waking you up, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to go eat breakfast at the diner. We can talk about yesterday if you're up for it."

I let out a sigh and ran a hand over my face. "Yeah let me get ready," I say while sitting up and removing the blanket that laid on top of me.

"Okay I'll pick you up in 15," he takes a deep breath. "I love you."

I'm glad I'm not that mad at him. I never liked the movies that showed a couple arguing and then one of them leaves without saying "I love you." You never know what can happen, it doesn't matter if you're mad at your person. You still love them.

"I love you," I responded back.

~

I'm sitting outside on the bench we have on the front porsche. I got ready pretty quick. Just changed into some grey sweats, a black long sleeve, and my crocs. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and tied my hair into a low pony. I did all that in just ten minutes.

There is still some sleep in my system but it'll go away eventually.

The sun is out and it's a bit chilly. Days like this are my favorite. The sun makes it feel not as cold but you're still able to feel the breeze.

When Christopher and I were younger, Mom and Dad would take us to the park a couple blocks down. We would always go whenever the weather was like this. During that time, it felt like I wasn't afraid of anything. If only it was like that now.

Mateo's truck slows down and parks in front of my house. I stand up from the bench and make my way to his truck. Through the window, I see him looking down at his hands. He usually looks at me and smiles. I guess not today.

I opened the door and sat down in the seat without saying a word.

He put the truck in drive and began driving us to the diner.

As we drove there, I stayed facing the window. I watched how the sun would cast shadow beneath the trees. How the clouds seem super close but they're actually really far. Whenever we would stop at a red light, I still looked out the window not wanting to face him. I didn't want to risk making eye contact with him. It didn't feel awkward, it just felt like not us. We always talk or sing when going somewhere, it's never quiet. Unfortunately this time, it was silent.

The diner came into my vision a couple minutes later. We pulled into the parking lot and once he parked the truck I got off quickly. I moved to the front of the truck and waited for Mateo to get off. He walked up next to me and before he could say anything I started walking to the entrance. I opened the door and held it open for Mateo to walk through. He didn't go in though, he grabbed the door from me and lightly pushed me so I could head inside.

We both began walking to our usual booth, we took a seat once we got there and I immediately looked down at my hands.

"Good morning, what can I get for you today?" I looked up and saw Valencia with a notepad in her hand. I didn't see her when we walked in, she must've been in the kitchen.

"Can I get a coffee, three pancakes, eggs scrambled please, and a side of hash browns please," Mateo tells Valencia and she begins to write down his order.

"And for you Veronica?" She asks me with a smile on her face.

"Just a coffee please," I smile up at her and look back down at my hands once she nods her head and walks away.

"Just a coffee?" Mateo says and I begin to nod my head.

"I'm not hungry," I look up and make eye contact with his dark eyes. It's mesmerizing to stare into them. Sometimes I don't even want to look away.

His dark hair is messy but yet looks super soft at the same time. Some of it lays on his forehead and I'm tempted to lean forward and brush it back. I know I can't, I'm supposed to be upset with him.

"Let me start off by saying I'm sorry," he grabs my hand and holds it gently. "I should've listened to you instead of jumping to conclusions. It was wrong for me to say those things and I know you wouldn't have said those types of things to me. I love you Veronica so much, and I trust you. A lot."

My heart melts at the words he said. I know he's truly sorry, I've known since last night. I guess I'm just too stubborn and only saw that I was hurt.

I smile slightly at him and intertwine my fingers with his. "I shouldn't have gotten that upset. We were bound to have an argument soon, I just didn't think it would be over this. Just so you know I'm not completely sure about my decision. That's why I told you." I squeeze his hand once I finish talking. Now that we're in a good state of mind, I feel like this conversation will go more smoothly.

Valencia comes back with Mateo's food and our coffee. We tell her a quick 'thank you' and continue the conversation.

"So you want to go to school. A school two hours away?" He questions as he cuts into his pancakes. I take a sip from my coffee and set it back down onto the table.

"I'm not sure. I want to but then again I want to take a gap year." I pick up my coffee once again and drink from it. Mateo nods his head and looks down at his food. He picks up a piece of pancake with his fork and puts it into his mouth. I wait for him to say something before I continue what I have to say.

He puts his fork down, picks up his coffee and takes a sip. I watch as he puts the cup down and hear him clear his throat. "Okay. Just so you know I support you with everything V. I know it seemed like I didn't agree with the idea but I do. I'm here for everything you want to experience."

"Thank you Mateo. But I'm still not so sure, like you said yesterday I'm not rea-"

"Stop," he cuts me off. "Forget everything I said yesterday. You are ready Veronica. You've changed. When I first started talking to you, you were shy and you never did anything out of your comfort zone. And now, you're able to do more things that you never thought you could do." He said confidently.

A smile breaks out onto my face. "It's all because of you." It's true. I honestly believe that if I never started talking to him, I would still be the same shy person who only has one friend. Now I have a couple more friends and I'm doing things I never thought I would like Mateo said.

"You've changed me to Veronica." I lean over carefully not wanting to drop any food off the table and peck his warm lips. I sit back down and watch him blush.

"And even if I do go to school Mateo, we'll make it work. I know we can. But like I keep telling you I'm not for sure set on the idea."

"Yet." He says.

"Yet," I replied in a low voice.

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to wait a year. I need to see what I actually want to do, whether it is photography or continue working at the shop with my Dad." He picks up another piece of pancake with his fork and I hum.

I don't want him doing something he doesn't want to do. He should do something he loves, has a passion for. Photography is what he loves.

"Do what you love Mateo." He looks up and smirks at me.

"Well I love you." My eyes widened as he said that. The audacity he has.

"Mateo please," I cover my face with my hands and laugh. "We were having a moment and you decided to say that."

"You said 'do what you love' so I'm gonna do you one day." His smirk only grows more and he wiggles his eyebrows playfully at me.

"Okay Mateo whatever." I wave my hand and laugh more. Now I know I can never stay mad at him for a long time.

We stayed at the diner for another hour once Mateo is done eating. We talk more about College and our future. He started suggesting ideas just in case I do go to school and I smiled at how focused he was coming up with a schedule.

No matter what happens, I know we'll always overcome it.