Chapter Song - Power By Isaiah Danielson.

The biggest decision of the night is right in front of me. It's one that well determine the rest of the night, and my mood. I should be smart about it, but something tells me I won't be. Something tells me I was going to wing it, and it so happens that decision makes me happy. So I grabbed the butter, dumping the whole thing into the bottle of popcorn.

Oh, sweet apples, that's a lot. I grinned more with the Twizzlers in between my teeth. Movie night. By myself, but it was still movie night. Mom's working tonight, again. Sara was busy with her family, and when she mentioned that I think I did my best to hide the sadness in my voice, I even smiled as if she could see that through the phone. I guess it wasn't for her, but for me. I was trying to tell myself I was fine, I wasn't lonely, but the thought kept fizzling in my mind. My stomach twisted as I called my sister and she said they were going to her husband's parents' house, and it twists even more as I grab the bowl of popcorn that I was going to eat by myself tonight.

I told myself it fine, I even said it out loud, but the words were to meek, to weak, and to untrue. I wasn't okay. I was exhausted, because barely sleeping was catching up with me. I was tired of being alone, tired of being put as everyone' second and tired of having to put everyone first. It was who I was, smiling Lina. Laughing Lina. Okay Lina but okay Lina wasn't as okay as she pretended to be and only this house knew. Only this deadly quite house knew how not okay I was. Only it knew the tears that stained my eyes late at night as they burned from being sealed open. Only it knew how much it took for me to actually smile, and how much that smile weighted like a million pounds. Only it knew how close I was to giving up.

I know many people in the world are alone, but I wasn't always alone. There was a time when this house was my comfort zone, my happy place. A time where dad would come home after work and mom would already be making dinner. We would sit at the family table and talk about our days. We would laugh and even joke but now that family table is the joke and one that I can't even get myself to look at anymore.

No one has sat at that table since he left. No one went in the room anymore.

So, maybe I only feel lonely because I have never been alone. I'm sure I'll be fine. I just need to find a way to smile through it.

I sighed, pushing all those thought's so far back that my head was starting to pound. I was going to focus on the movie, plus this big bowel of popcorn with excessive amount of butter coating it. Grabbing the bowl, I pulled the Twizzlers out of my mouth and took a bite before chewing as I made my way to the fort on the couch I have made. Might as well, not like there was anyone to stop me, or tell me to act like an adult. No one but me and I wanted a fort with popcorn, a movie, and a lot of Twizzlers.

Mid bit of the same Twizzlers, the door rung. I froze in spot staring at the front door only a few feet away from me. The second time It rung, I started backing into the kitchen. Mom had a key, so did Emma. Sara was with her family and she call's before she comes over, so she was out of the picture. The third ring, my hand's start's to shaking, and the bowl of popcorn along with it. Taking a breath I set the bowl onto the table and fumbled around trying to grab my phone out of my hoodie pocket. The fourth ring, even though I knew it was coming startled me to the point that I jumped a little.

I knew I shouldn't be scared, I kept repeating that to myself, but it was as if I had no choose in the matter. My finger's trembled as I pressed the front door camera app. The longer it loaded, the more my breath came in to heavy and when it finally clicked on and I saw who it was, I froze, again.

In the camera, he checked his watch, a scowl sitting on face as if it was really permeant, and for him it seemed to be the case. He looked down at the potted plant on the side of the porch, narrowing his eyes at it as I stood in the kitchen watching him through my phone. Then he turned his head over his shoulder, glancing over at the car parked out in the street before turning back. He leaned to the side, checking the window that led directly into the living room before pulling back and crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Then he dropped his arms.

Why was he so antsy?

He rung the door again, and ran his hand through his untamed hair. It hit me then, that I should open the door, and not stand here watching him. Clicking my phone off, I shoved it back into my hoodie and grabbed the bowl of popcorn before starting to walk to the door. My heart hammered in my chest so loudly that I swear if you listened close enough you would hear it, loud and clear.

Grabbing the door, I unlocked it and pulled it open. He titled his head at me, the rims of his eye's darker from the lightening. "Why are you opening the door for strangers?" was his first question.

My lips tilted upwards, as I pressed them together trying not to smile. "I knew it was you. Saw you through the camera." I replied, pointing to the camera in the ringer before grabbing a popcorn and tossing it into my mouth. His eyes followed the movement, lingering on my lips for a second before snapping back to look at me.

He nodded, looking down at the potted plant. "Your house key is in there, isn't it?" he asked, pointing at it. It was, and I was about to say so, but he rose his palm up in the air. "No, don't say yes. That's terrible and I can't even begin to tell you how fucken unsafe. You know that is the first place a robber, or intruder would look, right? That is the worst hiding spot."

Pushing forward, he leaned into the house, but only his head went past the door as he searched for something. Can't exactly tell you what because I wasn't completely sure. I grabbed another popcorn as I watched him, and plucked it into my mouth. I could feel my mood lighten and lifting by a hundred the longer he stood at the door, and my thought's from earlier a long lost memory.

He straightened back in his spot. "Is there any type of security system?"

I shook my head, watching his eye widen just a little in shock before he shook it off and pointed to the living room window. "Are you aware that you can see right through your living room? People driving by the street, see straight into your house. You should get some curtains, or close the blinds. It's a safety issue, privacy too. Some gates.." he looked behind himself, "would be good for security too."

I did realize that people see into my house, but closing those blind's felt like it closed the house in on me. It's why I slept (when I slept) with my window open too. Instead of telling him that, I grinned at him, and grabbed another popcorn. "Did you come here to investigate my house about wither it would be the perfect safehouse for the president himself?"

"It's not even safe for you." he retorted back before pointing at the door handle, "And you should change that lock too because that is one of the easiest locks to pick. I think I could do it in less in a minute, and Maddox could have it under thirty seconds."

I chuckled, finding all of this funny. Him standing there analyzing my house, looking extremely uncomfortable and me standing in a hoodie way to big for me, a pair of leggings and a bowl of popcorn in my hands. Oh, how the night has done a one eighty. "Thank you for all your safety suggestions, I will take those to the owner of the house." If I see her this week. I didn't mention that part.

Mateo nodded, rubbing the back of his neck and I smiled at him. "Do you want to come in? I was about to watch a movie, and I made some bananas tart's you should try. Plus there's a fort, popcorn—"I lifted the bowl to him, "And Twizzlers."

He glanced between the bowl and me, looking like he was actually thinking about it, and I wanted him to say yes. I wanted company, his company. It's been day's since the incident and all the boy's checked in, exact him, until today. Today he texted out of nowhere, racing my heart into an uncontrollable speed and now his here. Standing in dark blue jeans, and a black long sleeve that clung to his chest, showing off every muscle. Lord? If I'm dreaming then this is the best dream by far, thank you!

So yes, I wanted him to come in because I missed him as dumb as that sounded. Because of that, I decided to push him a little. "Standing with my door wide open isn't safe either, so make your decision quick." I grinned at him and grabbed another popcorn. Oh sweet cherries, this bowl was going to be gone before I even sat down at the couch. The butter thought was a good idea. The best idea.

Mateo finally nodded, taking a step forward before stopping. "One second." he said spinning around and jogging down the porch to driveway where the car waited. Before he made it there, the driver window rolled down, and Ash stuck half his body out the window. Raising his hand in the air, he waved at me. "HI LINA!" he yelled, so loudly that I'm sure half the neighborhood hear him. Thank goodness no one was out here, or I would be sliding right back into this house.

I smiled and waved back at him before Mateo stopped in front of the him and with both hands pushed Ash's head back into the car. The kid was something, but he was great. We have been text more lately, and he showed me so many pictures of his snakes, and even the race-cars he build's. Which is so cool itself that I was shocked. I actually called him, to confirm that he didn't just pull that photo off Google. Turn's out, he didn't because when he answers and switched the call to FaceTime, he proved he had them, in his giant garage.

He sounded so excited as he walked me around the car that even though I had no clue what half the stuff he was talked about was, I was excited for him. Kirsan checked in a few times too, even stopped by and dropped off that book we talked about at lunch. Which was so kind of him, and it was a gestured he had no idea meant so much too me. I didn't have people checking me on me like that. I had Emma but when she checks in, it felt more like she was just waiting for me to say something bad about mom so she can shame her, then to really check on me.

Sara checked on me often, even stopped by, but she didn't know the extent of my loneness. I didn't want to put the burden on her, I didn't want her to worry. Even Maddox checked in, which shocked me to say the least. A part of me was upset that Mateo didn't check in. I thought I scared him off that night after telling him what happened. I thought he wanted nothing to do with me. I was to much to deal with and I understood that but then he texted me earlier, I realized how much it would actually hurt me if he gave up so quickly.

But his here so maybe he wasn't giving up? But if he did, I would understand too. It would hurt like a baseball to the face, but I would understand. I would try.

From down the driveway, the back door of the car opened and a man stepped out, pulling his hood over his head and titling his head to the ground. Mateo said a few more thing's to Ash who nodded at him as he listened. Then, Mateo turned to walk back, the man following beside him. Ash stuck his hand out of the window. "BYE LINA!"

"BYE ASH!" I yelled back, waving my hand at him, and even surprising myself. I don't normal yell, or stick out. In a crowd of people, you would never find me. But that kid's happy attitude was contagious and it put a giant smile on your face that you couldn't wipe off even if you tried really, really hard. Mateo looked over his shoulder, shaking his head as he walked up the driveway with a soft smirk on his face. He leaned into the man, saying something as Ash drove off, revving the car really loudly. Ash brought attention anywhere he went, it was like it followed him. He wasn't scared of it, he actually enjoyed it, and for that I envied him.

I grabbed another popcorn, putting it into my mouth as Mateo and the man walked up the porch. The man, who I could barely see from under the hoodie was taller then Mateo, broad shoulders and built body. He walked over to the side of the porch and leaned back on the wall, swaying his head side to side as he looked around. From here, I could see he was maybe mid thirty's, and very handsome in a rough way.

I eyed him. "Who's that?" I asked, raising my brow at Mateo as he stopped in front of me. He glanced the man's way. "Say hi, Joel."

The man lifted his hand, waving at me without look my way making Mateo sighed. "His my babysitter, a little moody tonight, ignore him. I think his grumpy because he been driving me around, except that's not my fault, is it Joel?"

The man swung his head in our direction, glaring at Mateo from under his hood and I cringed, feeling uncomfortable by the hardened features of his face. The scar running down his face, and the cold look that could bury you deep in the ocean where no one would ever find you. But Mateo waved his hand at him, brushing him off.

I stepped backwards, opening the door further. "He doesn't want to come in?" I asked, but I don't know if I really wanted him in here, it just was the nice thing to do.

Mateo shook his head, stepping around me and started taking off his shoes. "He won't come in. Safety wise it's better for him out there. He can watch the street and be alerted of any danger."

I nodded with relief filling my breath and closed the door behind me. "So his more of a bodyguard then babysitter. And you need one, why?" I asked, watching him line his shoes up by the wall before straightening. He turned to look at me, the edge of his jaw tightening and his hazel eyes blanking. "My dad's business isn't always safe so he gave me a personal babysitter."

I smiled, about to say how it's funny it is that he has a babysitter but he changed the topic. "What movie are we watching?"

I walked around him, leading him to the kitchen to one, make more popcorn and two to have him try a tart. "I just finished reading the book named Fight Club. I found out there is a movie too it, and I have made it my life mission to read all book's that have movies. I'm comparing wither the book or movie is better." I explained, stepped around the counter and pushing the plate of tarts at him.

He stopped beside the counter, eyeing the plate in front of him and licking his lips. It was funny, and kind of cute how much he loved anything sugar filled. You wouldn't expect it, not with the way he looks. His built body screamed gym, grind, healthy, and carrots. Except his eyes screamed, sweets, sweets, sweets, and more sweets. I liked that about him, more then I probably should. But as a baker, I enjoy have a taster who actually enjoys the sweet's as much as I enjoy making them.

I grabbed a new package of popcorn as he spoke up, "What's Fight Club?" he asked, and I gasping spinning around and making him freeze halfway with a tart to his mouth.

I grinned, putting two finger's into the air. "Fight club has eight rules, but two main rules. The first—" I dropped one finger, leaving only one in the air, "You do not talk about fight club." Mateo's gaze narrowed at me, a smirk lifting to his lips as he watched me. I lifted my second finger back up, "The second rule in fight club, is—" I took a breath in, channeling some of Ash dramatics and replied slowly, "You do not talk about flight club."

Mateo watched me for another second as if he was trying to figure out if I was serious. And oh am I serious. Fight Club has rules and you have to follow the rules. And when he realized I'm completely serious, he bursting into a laugh that filled the kitchen. I wouldn't say the kitchen is small by any means but somehow his laugh was so filling that it felt all of a sudden tiny, and not able to hold the entirety of his beautiful laugh.

I smiled instantly, as the sound itself broke out a kaleidoscope of butterflies into my stomach. The rough noise so hard to describe because I couldn't find the right words. It came from somewhere in the deepest of his chest and from somewhere in the back of his throat. It molded together creating a sound that warmed against my skin and spun my head.

I didn't know a laugh, so heavily and deeply wild like that. I never imagined it'd sound like that, not even for a second. And I found myself just standing there, staring at him in shock. It was a sound I would never forget. Year's later, when I'm married, have kids and a career, his laugh would sound in the back of my mind, and I would smile. This sound, it will show up in my dreams, and even during the daydreams. This sound, it will forever beat in my heart even when we are strangers again.

I smiled, turning around to put the popcorn in the microwave. "The movie sounds great already, love." he said once he calmed, shaking his head with a lazy grin before biting down on the tart. I kept my back to him for a second to cool down my tinted cheeks, and started explaining more, "The book was great. A little bit of a mind twist at the end so I kind of know what to expect from the movie but if you haven't seen it then this is going to be so great." I finished, finally turning around and clapping my hands.

He pointed at the tart. "This is amazing, love. You ever considered becoming a professional baker?" I smiled at the compliment. I don't have many people in my life who were big sweet tooth types. It was me, myself, and I. I liked that he liked sweets. I liked that he liked my sweets and that made me smile wider.

I waved him off. "No, it's not something I want to pursue. I kind of like having it as a hobby. I appreciate the compliment though, and I'll give you some to take home."

He glanced up, his smirk tipping. "I like that even more. Your my baker, love. Can't have anyone else tasting your sweetness other then me." he said, watching me through thick lashes, and an expression full of amusement that I knew was making my cheek's burns. I know he can see it, and I flushed even more. Then raised my palms to my face, as I replied, "You have a mouth on you, you know that?"

He licked his lips. "I'm fully aware of what my mouth can do. Are you asking for yourself?"

My breath caught the back of my throat, as I grasped onto anything to say. Except my mind was empty, in shock and full of dirty thoughts. My entire body felt hotter as he watched me from across the counter, leaning forward like he wants to climb over the counter. What's scary is a part of me actually wants that. I wouldn't ever admit that but I thought it, that's for sure. His proposal, if you can call it that sure as puff balls sounded delightful and yet I knew I wouldn't take him up on that offer. I wouldn't know what to do with a man like him because I knew that in that category he was well more off then I am. I don't think I could match him, or even begin too.

He chuckled, obviously seeing the pure shock on my face. I wonder if he saw the deep desire too. Pointing to the treat, he said, "Your burning up there, love. For me I hope." he winked, "And it's fine by the way. You made them, and I'm sure there are other people who would eat them other then me."