"Hey," I greeted the sitting and relaxing Maxine, smile dancing on my lips. I bet she wouldn't even notice me if I didn't say hello, that's how she always sunk into her sketchbook. Although she drew beautifully.

I quickly approached and sat down on the other bench, facing Maxine. I let my pencil case and notebooks fall down onto the wooden table standing between us. My backpack took a sit right next to me.

I let out a heavy sigh and set free my pitch black hair, earlier tied with a hairband. It was a hard and annoying day at school, but now I was free as a bird. Well, let's not ruin the vibe by any mentions of homework. At least I knew I wasn't alone, since I saw the same tired expression on my friend's face.

"Heey, Elektra," she replied happily anyway, her eyes lighting up. "How are you? Did you survive math?"

She told me to meet her here, in the little park near our High School. Almost everyone hung out here after classes, and today was no exception. It was a great place to talk and do homework if you didn't wanna go home just yet.

I loved how sun shone through the already present green leaves. I was so glad it's finally May, I think it's my favorite month. It's not too hot nor too cold, and seeing the world bloom is the best thing ever.

"Yeah, I did. And it wasn't even so stressful." Ya know, exams.

"See? Told you." she said and I rolled my eyes. She and her always being right. "Do you wanna hang out later? Go and skate or something?"

"Of course I do, but you know my mom." she nodded sadly. "She'd rather know I'm bored shirtless and suffering from loneliness but safely in my room, than let me go out."

"How's your book? Any new ideas?" Maxine asked.

"Yeah, I've actually made a whole plan, here." I showed her one of my notebooks. It was fully devoted to writing and probably one of my prettiest stuff ever. I carry it everywhere, in case I got some wonderful idea.

For quite some time writing's been a part of me, and I love doing it. I can escape whenever, and write my heart out, not worrying a thing. I mean, not like I'm publishing it or something. Maybe not just yet.

"The thing with your mom sucks." Maxine said annoyed, after we finished talking about how great imagination is.

"Oh man, it does. I don't know what's up with her. She even yelled at me yesterday because I put a plate into the dishwasher 'in a wrong way and not how she does it'."

"I wonder what I'll do when I'm older. Because I'm sure that not happily visit her every weekend." I added. "She just doesn't make me feel right."

"Even I'm sure of that," Maxine agreed-

The sound became clearer and now I could finally recognize it.

My phone's ringtone.

I groaned and shoved my hand under the pillow in search of the devilish device. I hate being woken up by phone calls, though recently it's became more like bread and butter to me. I don't like anyone waking me up in general, to be honest.

My fingers spotted something hard and in a shape of a rectangle. This must be it. I grabbed the still ringing thing and opened one eye to see who it was.

El.. sie

"Oh my god," I muttered to myself. Don't get me wrong, I adored how Elsie handled my business, but the always early calls were the worst thing. If she called me, instead of texting, means something is up and I'll probably have to do a thing that requires getting out of bed.

Since when I am so lazy? I seriously gotta get my shit together.

I felt some weight on and pressing my whole right arm down, but I didn't pay much attention to it as I was still in 3/4 asleep. Something also tickled my cheek, but I shook it off.

I cleared my throat before clicking the green earphone. I hope my voice won't sound like I actually woke up 30 seconds earlier.

"Hello?" I said, closing my eyes again. Oh what did I expect? I didn't even get a bit rid of my hoarseness.

"Good afternoon, sleepyhead. How it's like to still be asleep at 2 pm?" Elsie's sweet voice traveled through the phone. Which pm?

I looked over at the clock near the TV with one eye peered open. Oh, well, if you put it like that..

"Great, actually. Zero dealing with the real world." I replied, slowly adjusting my eyes to the light, coming from huge windows in my living room. Why was I sleeping here again? We'll have to figure it out later, because even my vision is still a little blurry from sleeping, so let alone thinking clearly.

It was one hell of a white and gloomy morning-afternoon, probably still from the rain yesterday. I loved to drink tea or coffee and read books at times like this, and this is mostly the main reason why I love fall. I mean, except that weird seasonal depression but let's not be picky about the details.

"I'm glad. Well, I, on the other hand, have been answering calls from your mom all morning, saying she needs to talk to you." she countered and I raised my brows in surprise. Well, I haven't seen that coming. I wonder what's so important she even called Elsie. Wait- how did she get her number?

"What did you tell her?" I asked. One thing I loved about Elsie was that she always had me covered, no matter what.

"I told her you can't talk because you're extra busy with extra serious work. I also said that she can tell me, and then I'll transfer the information to you." she said. "She finally agreed- damn she's such a stubborn woman, by the way."

Of course she is. Her whole charm in a nutshell.

"Anyway, she told me there's some kind of family meeting at their house in LA, in three days."

Family meeting? No, this isn't real. I fixed my, horrified with the vision of future, gaze on the white ceiling. I haven't seen nor heard much from my mom in- basically since April. Like I said - we don't really get along.

I'm the youngest sibling, and I share quite an age gap with my two older brothers, Luke and Peter. By the time I got to be a teenager, they were both adults, so I was kinda the only one child left to my parents, and it was horrible. They were both overprotective and thinking I'm a baby, so our relationship back then wasn't very good. Plus, they both couldn't really control their anger and due to that ruined the vibe more times than I can remember.

Ever since then, I've distanced a lot from them and things started to be a little better, but only because I had changed, and it wasn't painless. Yeah, here's a quick explanation why I didn't wanna go there so much.

"Great," I muttered, more to myself. "Did she say anything else?"

"Yes, she told me some Luke and Peter are gonna be there too," and how long I haven't seen these two!"And that Arabella's excited to see you. Are they your family too?" she asked and I quickly confirmed. My eyes lit up at the mention of Arabella. I missed her like hell.

Arabella is my eldest brother's, Peter, first child, and I'm her proud aunt. I haven't seen her in ages, due to my living in New York. She's turning 14 this year, which is around the age I was in when she was born. She has taught me so many things and brought such happiness, that I can't even describe it. Everyone said she was like a baby version of me when she was little, due to the same eye color we share.

When she was younger we used to do so many fun things together, and my heart melted every time she would greet me with a tight hug, saying how she'd missed me.

But I haven't seen her in a very long while and I was extremely curious of how she is now, what music she listens to, if she watches movies, and stuff. Just what person she turned out to be.

That's why my heart ached suddenly as great longing overcame it. She might be the only reason I'm ever flying to LA, actually appearing on our little family meeting.

"There is also the other thing I wanted to tell you about," she started, firstly checking if I was still there as I zoned out a little. "Hearing your sleepy state I guess I won't get a confirmation, yet I know you two hang out a lot, but if I will it's really non of my business to know how it happened, if you know what I mean." she explained quickly in one breath. I chuckled a little.

She'd often focus on explaining everything before telling the actual thing, but I was the same kinda person and that's why I felt like I could trust her.

I sensed it's something about Johnny and my thoughts drifted off to him. I got to feel right, as soon after Elsie asked me a question. "Is there Johnny around, by any chance?"

I was about to smoothly decline, when I suddenly remembered last night. The movie night. Now I know why I slept downstairs, and why my arm is being pressed down. I've got one, clingy human still beside me.

My gaze went down to see a black mess of wavy hair resting on my shoulder, which probably has been the cause of the tickling on my cheek. Although I did see some parts of his face, like the tip of his nose and slightly parted lips, preceding the calmly resting, sharp jawline. So sharp you could cut something with it.

I smiled.

I felt one of his arms sneaked around my upper arm, his hand resting under his head. The other one laid across my stomach, and I had no idea how I haven't noticed him sleeping here like this. His presence also explains why I'm still warm, even though my blanket is tangled only somewhere near my legs.

My heartbeat fastened as I scanned his body and mine cuddled up. He seemed still asleep as I felt his chest rising up and down gently.

"Would you give me a moment?" I asked Elsie and she agreed. I muted my microphone as I had to wake him up firstly. How come he hadn't in the first place? This guy really has to be in sleep of his life, but unfortunately I had to interrupt that.

At first he only let out some dissatisfied grunts, burying his head even deeper into the crook of my neck, causing me to have goosebumps all over my body.

After some time and few giggles from me, he decided to enter the world of awake. We said goodmornings and I almost just melted at how adorable he looked with a little puffy eyes and messed hair, right after he woke up.

I tried to get him the most conscious I could, so Elsie could actually tell us the thing she wanted.

He refused to leave my chest and get some actual pillow but I didn't blame him. I was also so comfortable and cozy at the thing we've built from pillows, that I didn't wanna leave it at all, and some bigger movements could make it less enjoyable.

"Alright, we're back." I said, speaking with Elsie again.

"So he is there?" she asked and I confirmed once again. "Like I said, non of my business." I rolled my eyes and smiled. I put her on speaker so my friend could hear her as well.

Johnny wasn't very willing to talk, as you do for the first moments when you're awake. Anyway, I did the talking while he listened.

"I have news about the movie," she started and I felt excited butterflies in my stomach. Even now I still can't believe I'm gonna be a part of a movie. "The official title is and you two are getting demo scrips soon. They will be sort of different, due to what your part is, but I'm sure you can enjoy the plot together."

Johnny grinned for the whole time and seemed as excited as me, and we won't probably be able to shut up about it for the next couple whiles.

We talked a bit with Elsie before saying goodbyes and hanging up. I was 100 percent awake by now, and almost so was Johnny. My predictions were right, the topic of our talks went straight to working on the movie. I wondered how it'd be on a movie set, and Johnny told me everything he knows since he's kinda experienced.

But after some time I've grown thirsty for a nice cup of tea, and also I really had to pee. I, somehow, freed myself from whining Johnny, saying he'll be cold if I leave.

"That, my friend, is called a manipulation." I said to him, jumping off the couch. He only rolled his eyes and buried his face into the pillows, spreading his all four limbs across the provisional bed we made.

I smiled on my way to the kitchen, thinking about today. Suddenly, it hit me.

Basically, me and Johnny have slept in each other's arms. I fell asleep in his while he woke up in mine. It looks like this one scene from a romance book, but it had happened to us, friends. Although it wasn't really awkward, it felt like that's how it's supposed to be. Oh, what am I talking about? We're not in a romance book, and I don't think we'll ever be. It's so bizarre that I even have to think about this.

But only at the memory of his face placed in the crook of my neck and his facial hair tickling my delicate skin there, I get the butterflies and even literally sense myself blushing- No, no I shouldn't feel this.

So you're gonna pretend like you didn't enjoy it?

What I'm saying is, it just.. happened. There's no much to think about it and.. okay, maybe I enjoyed it a little but it's not like I adored it and wanted to have it forever.

You thought something else while breathing in his scent last night.

Oh, shut up! What would Johnny think, knowing I have these sorta feelings? He'd probably cringe at me 'loving' his scent or something. I can imagine him with that certain expression-

The water boiled, so I had to pour it into the cups with teabags already in it.

Without any discussions in my mind, I say we shall just think of it as a normal thing, though I must admit it had.. I don't know, broaden the boundaries between us or something.Yeah, maybe it's just our friendship growing?

I've done my business in the bathroom before going back to the kitchen. I added two teaspoons of sugar to Johnny's drink, the same as I did to mine. We both more liked sweet than salty or bitter, and tea was no exception.

I came back to the living room to find him sitting on an armchair near the window. It was slightly ajar, and on the little table near I could see the whole set: cigarette sheets and tobacco. He was making two cigarettes, looking focused as ever.

I set the two cups on the same table and he suddenly looked up, like only now aware of my presence. He cracked a smile while I sat cross-legged on the other armchair, near him.

I watched his tongue lick across the little line of sheet he left to be able to connect it with the rest, then doing exactly it and creating an actual cigarette. He straightened it a little with his fingers and offered me.

I mumbled a thank you and set it between my fingers, waiting for Johnny to join me. I watched him yet again, doing the same thing for himself, while taking small sips of my already chilled tea, chilled enough so I wouldn't burn my tongue and whole guts in the end.

It was so satisfying, how Johnny was making the cigarette, especially him being fluent in this action. I loved watching him do that whenever we'd met someone and he was kind enough to treat them with freshly done cig.

"How did you sleep?" he asked softly, briefly looking up while still busy with the cigarette.

"Good," The best ever. "And you? Weren't you scared of the 7ft tall man anymore?" I said, smirking, and he shot me a glance.

"It wasn't fair," he mumbled.

I asked him what he meant.

"You took advantage of the fact that we've just watched a horror movie." he explained with furrowed brows, almost like offended. I raised my brows and laughed mockingly at his excuse, to which he cracked a half-smile.

I adore this side of him. Everyone thinks he's a bad guy for having tattoos, wearing leather jackets and all of that, but deep down he is a really sweet person. Right in front of your eyes is an example - he played tough, saying I'm the chicken, but in the end he was the one chickening out. I'm not sure if he's doing it on purpose, but he can always make me laugh anyway. I'm so glad for having him. I don't know how could anyone ever hurt him.

I made fun of him for a while before we lighted our cigarettes. There's nothing quite like first nicotine after you wake up. Johnny quietly enjoyed it too, before turning his head towards me and saying,

"Thank you, El. For taking my mind off things and showing me your world." he held this soft and sincere look in his dark eyes. "Also, for putting up with me. I know it's hard sometimes."

My heart did a flip and I nodded, letting him know it's fine. I smiled widely to myself, now looking into the foggy distance.

2 days later

"And what I think about, one love, two mouths.."

Music, naturally louder than my thoughts, blasted through my headphones. I've just exited the plane, making my way into the LAX.

After thinking about the situation, I decided I'm actually gonna go to LA. As much as I didn't want to, I then thought my conscience wouldn't bear the sad look on Arabella's face when she finds out I'm not gonna be there.

The other thing that had huge influence on my decision were flashbacks of how I felt while skateboarding there. New York is nothing compared to the LA vibe.

When we first moved to America I didn't really know what to do with myself. I had left Maxine back in Europe and some part of me was missing. So I used to ride far away, near the beaches and city streets, escaping the uncomfortable feelings.

I didn't mind the never ending questions about where I was and why I didn't call them, my parents. After watching, let's say, a completely different sunset than I used to, for the first time, I felt at peace. Nothing could disturb that. I guess that's how skateboarding found its way into my heart.

The Californian sun was different than where I was born, and it really changed me and had a huge impact on my future. And here I am, somehow ended up where I ended up, more or less how I wanted to. Now I'm back in this wonderful place only to see not so wonderful people. With exceptions, of course.

The sun shone brightly on the cloudless sky, and here I am, a hopeless poet. Sorry, it just sounded like that. Though it's true, I had to take off my jacket because I felt like the leather could get on fire every second. I put on my fancy Windsors and carefully looked around the place before walking into the airport.

I'm a little paranoid after the last time at the café, with Johnny. I don't think I'll ever be capable of understanding why paparazzi want pictures of me. I do nothing but sleep, do my work and overthink, yet these guys still wanna photograph me. I don't even have the beauty of a model or something. I know it's mostly because of my relationship with Johnny, but seriously?

The reason I'm alone right now is because Jack's waiting for me where you already exit with your baggage. Then he'll drive me to my parents' house. I was honestly relieved I didn't have to go all the way to the parking alone, but he'll be waiting for me. He was like a bodyguard and driver for me, all at once.