AN: short chapter...

They all stare at me, completely dumbfounded, and it's then that I realise what I just said. My eyes widen in shock, and I immediately try to explain myself.

"I'm so sorry!" My hands wave in the air frantically. "I didn't mean to say that out loud."

Xavier's face is full of so much emotion: surprise, confusion, but the most obvious thing that stands out is an overwhelming amount of adoration.

"Y-you love me?" He asks, stunned, and my head falls, a blush forming. But I nod my head nonetheless, signalling to him that I do in fact love him.

"Yes," I answer, my head still downcast. He leans forward, clasping my chin is his thumb and forefinger, and gently lifts it up. My eyes meet his, and I feel myself begin to melt under his heated gaze.

"I love you too, Ava," he says, and my blush disappears. A ten thousand watt smile forms on my face at his confession.

"You do?" I ask.

"More than life itself," he admits, smiling just as wide as I am. I turn towards the boys to see their faces etched with looks of grief and disappointment, and I immediately know why.

"I love you guys too! I didn't want to tell any of you like this; I wanted to make it special," I add, making their grief-stricken faces turn into two grand smiles.

"We love you too, Avelyn," they say in unison, and I giggle. But I soon realize that I'm still naked, and my skin tints a bright crimson. They notice my sudden mood change -- as they always do -- and ask me what's wrong.

"Um," I stop to clear my throat out of embarrassment. "Where are my clothes?" Cole chuckles and scratches the back of his neck nervously.

"Right, about that, I kinda... tore them off, remember?"

"Right," I nod my head at the sudden awkwardness of the situation. "Well, can you bring me down some new shorts and underwear please? I'll just put back on my old shirt and bra." He nods and leaves the room to grab the said items.

I skim around the room, finding my shirt and bra across the room, and I wonder how it got there. I literally took them off myself, and I know that I didn't chuck them across the room. I ask Ash to go grab it for me so I don't have to get up and get it myself.

I know that what we just did was far from innocent, and that they've already seen everything, but I can't help but feel embarrassed at the thought of having to walk across the room butt naked in front of them.

Ashton hands me my clothes, and I finish putting them on just in time to see Cole progressing toward me, new shorts and panties in hand. I thank him and slip those on as well. They turn away while I get dressed like the chivalrous guys they are, even though they literally can't see any more of me that hasn't already be seen.

Still, it's the thought that counts. I check the time to see it read 7:38, so I decide to make dinner.

Not really feeling like cooking up a very extravagant meal because I'm still exhausted from our earlier activities, I conclude to making tacos because they're quick and easy. Plus, they're freaking delicious.

We spend the rest of the night just laughing and playing, not having a care in the world. The tacos were fucking amazing, but I didn't expect any less. We went to bed together, and we fell asleep blissfully.

~~~

Right now I lay awake in bed, pondering my life away. The boys and Ava are sleeping, but my mind is too awake to shut down for the night. It's still reeling from the events that unfolded today.

Right now, I lie here thinking about how my life finally feels substantial once again. I have a purpose, and her name is Avelyn Liliana Gravaldi. And yes, I know her middle name; she told me.

The moment she said she loved me, I felt my heart melt. A few years ago, if I knew that I'd ever be thinking this, I probably would have puked. I've never been one to settle down. Neither have either of my brothers, but I know they feel the exact same as I do right now.

I can honestly say that I've never been too keen on sappy, maudlin, love story cliches. The cheesiness of the romance hysterics usually too much for me to administer. But, in truth, Avelyn flipped a switch in me that I never even knew existed. She managed to do the impossible; she successfully turned me into a hopeless romantic. A person who, without reason, thrives off of another's love story.

Because now I find myself thinking, saying, and believing things that, previously, my brain had always registered as too 'mushy' and 'sentimental'. Now, I catch myself repeating the once unthinkable.

Because Ava, my kitten, is everything to me. When she's not around I feel my mind race with thoughts of her, and in her absence lies a crater of bleak misery. A crater that can only be fulfilled with her undying love and adoration. My heart swells when she's near, filling with a pool of toxic desire, trust, love, and patience.

My skin crawls beneath her touch. I'm completely infatuated and captivated by her, my angel. And, I love her with every piece of my heart and every bit of my soul.

~~~

"We're getting closer, boss. They're all clueless and ignorant. It won't be long before we have her," he states, and I nod my head in agreement.

"Yes, yes, this is true. The plan will unfold on Monday. We will take her then, and her and her stupid little dogs won't ever see us coming," I laugh thickly, very much excited for what's in store.

Once we have her, she'll wish she were dead. And once I have my teeth embedded in her throat, she'll be begging on her hands and knees for mercy -- something I've never been capable of.

Two more days, Avelyn. Two more days until the rest of your miserable life officially begins. You thought you knew pain before, but just you wait. No pain could ever measure up to the hurt I can cause. The hurt I'm going to cause.

The plot for a pure blood thickens.

____________________________________

Sorry for the super short chapter, but the next one is probably going to be pretty long. And even if it isn't, it's definitely going to be one hell of a chap. A shit ton is going to happen, and you're all probably going to hate me. I have a plan for it, but I haven't actually written it yet. So I don't really know as of now how it'll unfold, but I have some sort of idea, at least. Okay, that's it.

*insert signoff here*

As always, until next time...

Sincerely,

The Annoying Author Lady

(P.S. Tomorrow's Christmas! Hell yeah!)