These past few weeks have been the happiest I've ever been. I've been spending most, if not everyday, with Ali! With her family's help, I was able to file a restraining order against Skye. It was harder than it seemed since she was a princess. Nevertheless, she's been out of my hair. She literally flew back to Monaco, so yay!

I've been remembering very minute things, but I still didn't remember Ali the way I left her. I was falling for her, but I wasn't as in love as people claimed I used to be. I tried to force myself to remember, but that's only resulted in a massive headache.

We were currently at a hipster cafe to watch slam poetry. I snickered at the look on Ali's face. She was clearly waiting for the event to be over. She's only here because I really wanted to come. Ali's was fidgeting with her hands. She clearly would rather be on her phone, but was making the effort to be engaged with me. I wonder what she'd do if I had her go up.

"Ali." I whispered since I didn't want to disrupt the poet's passionate reading. She hummed at me. "You know what would make me fall for you?" I now had her undivided attention. "If you go up there and improv a poem." I smirked at her horrified face.

"Uh..."

"I thought you said you loved me." I tilted my head and gave her a frown. I had to bite back the chuckle at her panicked face.

"I do! I-"

"Then will you go up there?" I ran a finger along her arm. "For me?" I pouted.

"I'll go next!" Ali shot her hand up. The poet raised a brow since he was still speaking. "Enough of you." She stood up and gently shoved him out the way. "You're boring me." She motioned him off the stage.

I entwined my fingers together and rested them under my chin. I smiled as Ali nervously adjusted the mic. It was adorable seeing her out of her element. Normally, she's always in control. Let's see how she acts when she's put on the spot. She took a deep breath and found my eyes. A gentle smile fell on her face.

"This is for Nicola." She smiled at the crowd.

"I would sleep with the thought of you,

with the silhouette

of a single memory, with the scent

left hours after you've touched me.

I would love myself in the folds

of your dress, the fabric

of the shirt you wore when you

fell asleep leaned against

my shoulder. Paint me

in the soft focus fog of your

tenderness, pull me from myself."

Tears were in my eyes as Ali thanked everyone. The boring poet even had to clap at Ali's beautiful words. I sniffled and quickly wiped my tears. She sat next to me and held my hand.

"How'd you like it?" Her voice was filled with nerves.

"I loved it." I smiled and kissed her, causing her eyes to widen. She then closed her eyes and deepened the kiss.

"PDA alert." We quickly separated to see Zara and Gem.

"What do you want?" Ali snapped at her sisters.

"TRIPLE DATE!" Gem squealed. We immediately covered our ears.

"She wants to go on a triple date with all of us." Zara crossed her arms.

"Can't you see we're busy?" Ali's voice had an edge to it. I snickered at her annoyance. I knew Ali just wanted her sisters to leave so she could continue kissing me.

"DON'T CARE!" Gem grabbed our hands. "Let's go!" Gem and Zara clutched my arms and dragged me away.

"If you want to spend time with Nic, then you'll have to come." Zara smirked at her sister.

"Ugh!" Ali threw her hands up and angrily walked behind us.

X

"Umm... I'm lost." Gem's brows were creased.

"That's because you're holding the map upside down." Ali replied in a bored tone.

"Ahhh! Thanks, Ali!" Gem squeezed Ali before skipping over to Chico. "Chico! Ryder! Help!" The boys ran over to try and help her understand the clue.

"Why an escape room?" I asked Zara.

"Yes, like it was my idea to be trapped in a room with you." She rolled her eyes, but I saw a teasing smile on her lips.

"Really?" Ali walked over. "This was your genius idea." She crossed her arms.

"I suspected it'd annoy you." Zara snarked.

"It say we need joke." Chico scratched his head. "Funny joke... Ryder, we need joke." Chico shook his arm.

"I gotya, bruh." Ryder lightly punched Chico's arm. "Funny joke? Funny joke- I got it! Babe, why do women have flowers on the front of their underwear?" He smirked at Zara.

"I don't know. Deflowering?" She looked unimpressed while the rest of our eyes widened.

"Nah, babe. The flowers are in loving memory of all the faces buried there." Zara's eyes widened before she bursted out in laughter from Ryder's joke. "Right, Ali?" He gave her a gentle nudge. Ali gave him a playful glare and shoved him away.

"My only joke is that I looked up the best places to eat and you came to the top of the list." Chico said to Gemma, who giggled.

"Don't you mean cum." Gem teased him back. "Ryder." Gem got his attention. "You know you'd look like a mountain man if you grew your beard out."

"That's if he could even grow a beard." Ali joked.

"Knowing him, it'd look like pubes on his face." Ryder scoffed at Zara.

"I'm so hurt, babe!" Ryder dramatically stated.

"Whatever, let's get back to figuring out the clue." Zara wrapped her arms around Ryder. "Was that a funny enough joke?"

The staff seemed to find the joke funny enough to allow us passage. We walked through the open door and picked up the next clue. Ali and I were more focused on joking around with each other. Gem, Chico, and Ryder were trying to figure out the clues while Zara groaned at my affection with Ali.

We eventually finished the game... it took us so long because Gem and the boys would often be distracted. Zara had no incentive to actually help, so she was on her phone the entire time. Ali and I had been talking about little things we liked. We totally forgot to help the others with the game.

"My turn!" Gem announced when we got outside.

"What are you talking about?" I glanced at Ali, but she was just as confused.

"Fight!"

Gem took a bag of blue powder and chucked it at Ali and I. We squeaked, but couldn't escape since Zara dumped green powder on us. The boys had orange and red paint. They began squirting us. Ali ran and got some purple powder. She tossed it to me. Together, we got the other couples back.

We laughed as we threw paint balloons at each other. Ryder screeched when I socked him in the face with the balloon. It exploded all over him, leaving him entirely pink. Gem and Zara doused me with paint. Ali was running away from Chico, but he ended up decking her. By the time we were out of paint, there wasn't a clean spot on any of our skins.

"How'd you enjoy that surprise?" Zara and Gem swung an arm around my shoulders.

"Thanks." I smiled and hugged the twins.

"Much better than slam poetry." Zara smirked.

"You have me beat there." I smiled and squeezed the twins tighter.