Amber's pov:

I watch as my dad blows his whistle at all the boys, meaning that practice is over. All the boys gather around to talk about the next match before they are dismissed.

I stand up and stretch as I look over at Julie who was yawning while doing the same.

"I'm going to need a coffee to make it through the rest of the day." She mutters tiredly while I nod my head, agreeing with her.

"I'm just excited to finally get some food. I feel like I haven't eaten in days, even though it's been only a few hours."

"I don't think this cafe is going to be ready for eight hungry teenagers. I would say especially the boys, but at this point I think I'm the one they should be nervous about." Julie says cheekily, rubbing her stomach.

I laugh at her words, but knowing me, I think that might just be the case for me as well.

"Were the ratings online for the cafe good when you checked?" I asked.

She nods her head, "Yeah, but I never really trust some ratings, I feel like places make their own ratings to be better."

"I thought I was the only one who thought that!! Sometimes I look at the username that commented it to see if there is any indication that it is actually a fake from the company."

"I do too!!! Ashton always judges me for it, but I KNOW there has to be places that do it. I can just feel it."

"I agree, but this cafe just opened up, so there couldn't even have been a lot of ratings so far, unless..."

"Unless..." she also draws out, before we both break out into a fit of giggles.

I look back at the boys to see them now all being dismissed, which means it must have not been that much of a group meeting because it was so short.

"I knew that they would be all sweaty, even after the shortened practice." I hear Ella mutter from beside me as she points at our three boys and then at the shower room before they could even think about coming near us.

I couldn't help but laugh at her gesture, but even more at Gianna's words that followed after.

"Y'all better be quick, DON'T make me come in there!!! Five minutes max!!!" Gianna calls after them before we had the chance to stop her, earning a few judgmental and a few confused looks from the other boys on the team.

"I don't think your boyfriend would like that very much." Ella snickers, but Gianna just shoots her a playful glare.

"I mean, he never minds when I walk in on him."

...

"EW GIANNA KEEP THAT TO YOURSELF!!!"

"Just saying."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like Gianna "kindly" asked...

The boys were out no longer than five minutes, choosing life over the wrath of Gianna.

But no matter what the outcome was, it was definitely the death of me...

My eyes, heart, and soul just decided to stop working when Damien stepped out with wet, messy hair, water droplets falling down his neck and onto his shirt, which clung to his body and showcased his abs that were hidden underneath.

I mean, I have always assumed that Damien would have abs because he is fit and all, but seeing it up close...

Wow.

If you told me that Damien was a model in his last life, I would hands down believe you.

What was I in my last life?

I don't think I would even want to know that answer to that.

Tearing my gaze away, I try to look at anything other than Damien's body.

Not going to lie, looking at him made me feel like a fat kid in a candy store.

And up to my no good luck, I lock eyes with Julie, who was looking at me smugly.

Like she just caught me stealing candy from the candy store.

I knew in that instant that she caught me red handed in drooling over Damien, but I pushed that thought to the back of my head and gave her a smile.

A guilty smile.

As in, I know that you know that I know that you know I was looking at Damien.

Huh, try saying that ten times fast.

"Was that fast enough for you Gianna?" Luke mocks as he slings an arm over Ella.

Gianna smirks evilly, "With one second to spare."

Luke's cheeky grin drops at her smirk as he soon gulps, hiding slightly behind his girlfriend who simply just rolls her eyes at his behavior.

I pick up my backpack that was hidden underneath where I was sitting and sling it over my shoulder, "I'm just going to ask my dad if I can hang out real quick since he is right over there."

They nod their heads before turning around to gather their own stuff as I start walking towards my dad.

"Wait, Amber..." I turn back to Damien rushing towards me, "let me come with."

I give him a small nod while smiling, "I'm just checking in with him."

"Okay, I just still can't believe it took me so long to realize he was your father. I never connected it even though you are here almost all the time."

I shrug my shoulders, "Yeah, a lot of people don't know, even if we do have the same last name, people don't really connect the dots, but I don't really mind." I say, pulling out a chapstick from my back pocket and swiftly putting it on.

"Maybe because of that." He says, pointing at my chapstick, to which I stare back up at him confused.

"Because of my chapstick?"

"Yeah, I mean, a lot of people know you based on your nickname 'Chapstick Girl,' so maybe that's why people aren't familiar with your last name."

I couldn't help but giggle at him using the phrase 'Chapstick Girl.' I feel like like I haven't heard that title in forever, sometimes I forget that's what people think of me of as.

"Is that what you thought of me as?" I couldn't help but ask, but he shakes his head.

"To be honest, I didn't even know who you were at all. I'm not the most observant person, even though almost everyone else knows who you were. I just wish I had known you sooner, we could have been friends for years."

Again, I nod my head at his words, not knowing what else to say, but his next words definitely got the air knocked out of me.

Not in a good way.

"Did you know who I was?"

Yes Damien, I have known who you were for years, and I've actually had a crush on you ever since I saw your charming smiling, cute gestures, and kind personality.

"Kind of, from the year book and then from your friend group because you guys were so known."

You liar.

"You should have approached me, I would have loved to talk to you."

I couldn't have because I probably would have made a fool of myself since I've had the biggest fattest crush on you and I'm scared of communication.

"Yeah I should have." I mutter as our conversation ends there as we approach my dad who was sitting on one of the seats making the plan of action for the next match.

"Hi Dad!" I say as he looks up at me and smiles.

"Hey hunny, how was your day?" He asks.

"It was actually really good. But I wanted to ask if I could go out with my friends to the new cafe that just opened."

He chuckles, "Of course you can go with Liam-... Wait, did you just say friends as in plural?"

I quickly cover my face in embarrassment at his words as I can feel Damien's barely audible laugh from beside.

"Daddddddd." I whine.

"What? It's always been just you and Liam, I'm surprised sugarplum."

Somebody take the wheel, because I can't.

"Dad we are in public, please don't do this to me." I peek one eye open at him to see him with the evilest glint in his eyes, as he laughed at my horrified expression.

"Okay, okay." But as if he just realized something, he glances over at Damien.

Then at me.

Then back to Damien.

Then back to me.

Then back to Damien.

Then back to me.

"Wait... IS THIS A DATE-..."

"NO!!!" Both Damien and I yell out at the same time, our cheeks a light shade of red.

"You guys could have just said so, I would have understood-..."

"Dad, we are friends! Friends!!! As in F-R-I-E-N-D-S"

"But... he's a boy..."

"Liam is a boy..."

"Yeah but I've known Liam since diapers, and plus he likes boys, which means I don't have to worry about being a Grandpa in my forties-..."

"Dad!!!"

If I could bury myself alive right now, I would.

It went silent for a couple seconds as both Damien and I glance at one another, not knowing what else to say until suddenly we hear a laugh coming from my dad.

I look over to see him laughing at our horrified, embarrassed faces, finding amusement at our reactions to his words.

And this is my Dad ladies and gentlemen.

"You..." *laughs* "should have..." *laughs* "seen the look on your guys faces." He wheezes out, while we just watch him in confusion.

He continues, "Amber of course you can go out with your friends. Damien you are probably the only person on this planet who I could trust in not kidnapping my daughter. I've basically seen you grow up because of how long you've been boxing with me. Just make sure she gets back at a reasonable time or I'll have your head. Got it?"

Although his words seemed to be saying one thing, Damien's nervous gulp was saying another, as he nods his head.

"Thanks Dad." I say, keeping my head down as I hug him.

"But if he hurts you, call me right away, and I'll be there with a shot gun, black bag, gloves, and a get away car." He whispers in my ear as my eyes widen at his words.

I could only pray that his words were just a joke.

For Damien's sake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Finally, food!!!" Julie says from beside me as I look up to see us nearing the new cafe.

It was Julie, Liam and I in one car.

Luke and Ella in the second car.

And Damien, Gianna, and Ally in the third car.

Before anyone could ask, yes, Liam did try his best to push me in a car with Damien alone, but everyone was just so rushed to get to the cafe that it ended up with everyone just getting into one of the three cars and going.

But is it weird that Liam was more disappointed than I was? Is it weird that someone obsessively ships you with someone? Please, tell me now, is that normal??!!

You know, for my sake!!

"This place better be as good as what the ratings are saying. My stomach deserves top quality food." Liam says as I turn back towards him from the front seat and laugh.

"Liam I've known you for years, trust me, your stomach thinks everything is top quality." I joke as he rolls his eyes playfully.

"Admit it, you love me." He grins.

"Ugh, get a boyfriend loser." I laugh as he glares.

"I knowww. Which is why I depend on other people's attention to get me through my days. So love meeee." He whines, shaking my shoulders as I laugh along with Julie, who pulls into a parking spot right in front of the cafe.

After the other two cars park, we get out and all eight of us walk towards the entrance of the cafe.

Walking in, we definitely don't miss the loud sigh from the host as he looks at all of us knowing that he'd have to push a few tables together to get us all to be together.

"Just give me three minutes and I will seat all of you right away." He says, disappearing as we all turn towards each other, slightly huddled from the cold that followed us inside.

"It smells good in here, that's at least promising." Ally says, as we all nod in agreement.

"It looks nice in here too. If the food is actually good, I wouldn't mind it even being our new hang out place." Julie responds, as we all take in the homeliness of the cafe. It had a comfortable, endearing atmosphere that just made you want to curl up in a blanket next to a fireplace with a warm cup of hot chocolate.

"I agree, our previous one is getting kinda old, plus it kinda gets a little crowded in there, at least this cafe is bigger and more decent sized." Luke says.

Tuning out of the conversation, I focus more on the person nudging me as I look up at Damien, who was standing close to me with his hands in his pocket.

"Hey." He whispers at me, a small smile dancing on his lips as he looks at me.

"Hi." I whisper back, returning his smile.

"Sit next to me when we get seated, okay?"

I nod my head at his words, "My presence is just the best, isn't it."

He chuckles at my words, "Well..."

"Well..." I playfully tease him as he nudges me again.

"The last time we ate together was McDonald's. That feels like forever ago."

"That was less than a few day's ago."

"I know, I miss McDonald's."

"Do you miss the happy meal part or the toy that came with it?" I tease him again as he shushes me playfully.

"For your information, I am still upset that they gave me the green power ranger." He pouts his lips, while I on the other hand fight every single urge to pinch his cheeks.

"You are still thinking about that?!" I couldn't help but laugh at his childish thought of still being upset from not getting the red power ranger.

"You don't understand the struggle because you didn't get a happy meal."

"Sorry?"

"You should be." He scrunches his nose cutely, while my heart melts at the sight.

Gosh, what this boy does to me.

"Table for eight." All of us turn towards the host before following after him to four tables of two that were pushed together towards the window of the cafe.

Damien stayed close to my side, lightly hanging on to the sleeve of my shirt until we were seated next to each other, with Ella on my other side and Liam in front of me, giving me a sly smirk at the closeness between Damien and I.

Oh this is about to be fun.

Hint the sarcasm.