A/N: Okay. 2.4k to 4.8k reads. Did I mention it doubled? D: WHUT IS GOING ON. So I've been bit busy lately, hence the short delay in uploading. BUT. I made a longer chapter :3 So enjoy. This chapter is for killingmeinside, my fellow alien coming from the same planet. Cheers!

And I love you all for reading.

Chapter 8: Beer, Strawberry-flavour, and Photo frames.

Chip's POV

So...it was a perfect Saturday afternoon—until I was sent to pick up the glass jug Rose ordered a few days ago and get some packet drinks from the convenience store.

And of course, I had to meet Xander.

"Chocolate Chip!"

It's not that I didn't want to—it’s that I couldn't. Being myself around someone like Xander wasn't something I could manage (You probably understand how I feel).

When I heard that sweet voice, I immediately knew who it was and my feelings lifted instantly.

"Gise-!" I stopped abruptly, taking in the tall figure beside the gorgeous girl. My arms tightened around the large cardboard box in my arms.

"Cupcake cupcake cupcake!" Giselle said repeatedly, tugging at the hem of my shirt. I ruffled her hair slightly (making sure not to make skin-contact) and told her that if her brother allowed, she could come to the bakery for tea.

Ever since Xander's...incident, Rose had been constantly bugging me about the siblings, pushing me to invite them to dinner.

Well, I don't mind if it's Giselle, but-but-but-but Xander!

I just couldn't bring myself to look him in the eye.

"Hey," a sudden snap of fingers brought me out of my thoughts and my head jerked up instinctively.

"What are you doing here?"

Is that how you greet someone?? The bad inner Chip hissed.

"W-well I um...I'm here to get-" There. I forgot what I was going to say.

Great. Way to go Chip.

My eyes darted to Xander's face tentatively and I saw him raise his eyebrows. "Get...?"

I randomly opened the nearest refrigerator and grabbed the first can drink I saw. "This."

Xander coughed. "A beer?" I could tell he was trying to suppress his laughter.

I turned to the aluminium can in my hand, struggling to balance the cardboard box on my knee. "Y-yes. Why not?"

"You're not even of age, stupid." Giselle's brother snorted.

I was beginning to feel like an idiot—I couldn't even hold a proper conversation with this guy and here I was trying to persuade him I could drink.

My cheeks warmed and I bit my lip, telling myself to stay calm. Stay calm.

Hastily, I re-opened the refrigerator and placed the can back onto the rack, almost dropping the box containing the glass jug being the total klutz I am.

Fortunately, Xander was quick to notice my struggle and caught the edge of the tipping box.

"I see you need some help," He said smugly—as if aware that I (being a guy) wasn't even able to handle a cardboard box properly.

I blushed in shame and embarrassment, muttering a word of thanks.

"C'mon Giselle, let's go to the supermarket...the milk's too expensive here." Xander beckoned his sister to follow before he fit the box under his arm easily and headed for the automatic doors.

Giselle continued to stare at my shoes (which she had been doing for the past few minutes) before noticing that her older brother had left. Fixing the strap of her bag across her body, she tottered after him.

I was left staring at the exit of the convenience store, wondering what I was here for.

And then I realized that the jug Rose had ordered was with Xander.

"Hey! My box!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I followed the pair of siblings to the nearest mart, wondering what I could possibly be doing. As I trod quietly behind, I couldn't help but notice how small and dainty Giselle's hand looked in Xander's. Though he grasped her hand firmly, Xander had a gentle smile on his face, occasionally checking to make sure his sister was right beside him.

Somehow, everyone in the world has this sort of side to them. No matter who, no matter how, everyone has a gentler side. A protective side.

The side that loves.

As though sensing my gaze, Xander turned around and stormy grey orbs met mine.

I blushed, embarrassed. Darn, I was staring! My head instantly lowered, avoiding his questioning gaze.

By the time we reached the supermarket, it was already four in the afternoon. Xander and Giselle combed the mart smoothly, choosing wisely but quickly—as if it was a daily routine. After filling their basket with a carton of milk, eggs, and orange juice, the pair went to queue at the cash register while I remembered to get my box of packet drinks (Finally).

When I returned, Xander was talking to Giselle in a soft tone.

"Giselle, go choose a packet of sweets from that counter over there kay?" The towering figure bent down to meet his sister's eye level and pointed to the shelf of coloured packages near the cash register.

"Choose sweets. Choose sweets. Choose sweets..." muttered Giselle as she inched further from us and approached the counter several meters away.

I felt Xander's eyes turn to me.

"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked, slight annoyance in his tone.

"I-I'm...not avoiding...you..." I replied, trying to raise the volume of my voice but failed miserably. Instead, my voice faltered and I couldn't seem to hold my gaze.

"See. You can't even look at me," Xander growled, a low baritone sound of frustration. The customers in front of us turned around for a moment to stare quizzically.

Xander flashed them an apologetic smile, then glared at me.

B-but what did I do?

Looking down at my shoes guiltily, I didn't realise that Giselle was already back with a small pink package in her hands.

Small pink package.

"Choose sweets," Giselle said proudly as she handed the package to Xander, grinning broadly.

"Clever girl," Her brother commended kindly, ruffling her hair. I wondered how could such a jerk be so, so nice to someone else. Well, I guess blood is thicker than water after all.

My gaze rested on the label of the pink package that Giselle has passed to Xander.

My eyes widened instantly and I felt a heated blush creeping up my neck, burning my face.

Apparently, Xander had noticed my expression and following my gaze, he tried to suppress his laugh.

Durex: Strawberry-flavoured Condoms.

"Pft, pfahahahaha!" Xander could no longer hold back the huge wave of laughter and it took hold of him, shaking him back and forth.

Heads turned. The attendant at the cash register eyed the tall teenager apprehensively, and the customers around us glared.

"Gi-Giselle! Ahaha—Oh you..."

Before Giselle could say anything, the cashier beckoned us forward to make the payment.

The first thing she scanned was the pink package.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander's POV

I swear, that kid blushes WAY too much.

After pulling Giselle out of the supermarket, I just laughed and laughed and laughed. I don't think I've had such a fucking good laugh in a long time.

Chip's face was flushed red--almost identical to a strawberry. Oh wait, strawberry. Ha, Strawberry-flavour. Ha, Strawberry flavoured condoms.

I love you Giselle.

I couldn't suppress the small laugh that slipped through my lips again.

"Xandie," Giselle tugged at my sleeve to gain my attention.

"Yeah?" I said, feeling lighter than before.

"Why laugh? Why you laugh?"

I grinned, ruffling her hair like I usually do (Giselle likes me to touch her head) and replied, "It’s nothing."

I turned around, glancing at the walking strawberry who always found his shoes so interesting. "Hey, bread boy."

He responded by jerking his head up abruptly to meet my gaze. "Y-yes?"

If any worse, he blushed more.

"You're over-reacting dude, it’s just condoms," I laughed.

But then he suddenly looked anxious, and fidgeted uncomfortably, biting his lip.

I raised my eyebrow, wondering what the hell was wrong with this guy when instantly—it dawned on me.

Smirking, I slowed down, my pace matching Chip's. "Virgin?" I asked smugly.

If he was a strawberry just now, he's a tomato now.

"I-I-I..."

Yep. Definitely a virgin tomato.

"Perks of being a virgin huh?" I chuckled, nudging the poor boy who was far too badly teased.

When he didn't reply, simply looked to the ground, I tried again.

"Need some advice?" Smirking, I glanced at Giselle, who was far too busy with the strap of her bag to notice our conversation.

"I-I don't need any!" Chip replied, somewhat indignantly, "Thank you for your...your kind offer." He ‘hmph’ed and glanced in the opposite direction.

"Don't worry—I know your special preference," I teased, quoting the two words with imaginary quotation marks.

Bread boy's eyes widened, and he looked taken aback by my words.

"W-what do you mean? I-"

I cast my gaze skywards, already losing my patience. "You're gay. I know. End of story."

I picked up my pace, putting more distance between us.

"Well then, see you in school—“ I began, starting to head in the direction of our rented apartment when I felt a tug at the back of my shirt.

"Wait!" I could hear the hesitation in Chip's voice.

"I...um...how about...the cupcakes?" Again. The eyelashes. What. The. Actual. Fuck. Even girls can't do that.

"There are some...left in the freezer...the ones that G-Giselle likes..." He still didn't let go of my shirt.

When I didn't reply, I saw his shoulders droop and felt the trembling of his fingers enclosed around my shirt.

His disappointment was so obvious it just made me want to tease him even more. "I don't think Rose wants to see me." I said, pretending to look upset.

Chip's head snapped up, as if realising he still had hope.

"Oh no! No—I mean, she wants you over for dinner! Wait! That's not what I meant—I just—It’s just—the cupcakes..." His voice deteriorated in volume as he tried to find words to string a sentence together.

I reached out a hand to ruffle his hair—WAIT WHAT.

NO. NO.

I DON'T WANT TO RUFFLE HIS HAIR. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME.

My fingers clenched into a balled fist as I retracted my hand abruptly. "Fine. I'll go."

"R-Really?" His face was lit up beyond recognition—as if something or someone ignited a flame within him. His eyes were drowned in something that didn't exist in my world.

Something called happiness.

I shrugged, "Yeah sure."

Chip practically beamed, and as if suddenly noticing that he had been grasping my shirt for the whole entire time, he recoiled instantly just as though he had touched a burning kettle.

"Th-that's great!" A blush formed on his soft cheeks, colouring his face an adorable pink.

That smile. It was strangely familiar.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So...Xander, right?"

I lifted my head.

"Yeah."

"Do you like it here? I heard from Chip that you just moved into town." The pretty girl named Rose said, a lady-like smile on her face.

My gaze turned to Chip, who non-surprisingly adverted my eyes.

"Well, yeah. It's cool here." I replied, flashing a quick smile.

Here I was having dinner with Bread boy's family—receiving suspicious looks from his brothers and flattering glances from his sisters.

The food was great. It had been a long time since I tasted such delicious food and definitely the same for Giselle.

"Would you like some more, Giselle?" Chip's other sister (Gretel I think) piped up when she saw that Giselle had cleaned her plate.

My adorable sister nodded politely.

"Say thank you!" She said, just the way I taught her.

But before Gretel could start piling more pasta on Giselle's plate, I gently tapped her arm.

"It's fine—we should get going." I gave them my best smile, "we've bothered you guys too much."

"Oh! Oh no no," Rose shook her head, "we would really like to have guests over again—don't we, Chip?"

I saw her nudge Bread boy under the table, causing him to flinch.

"U-Um...ya...I guess..." Chip muttered softly.

I grabbed the plastic bags of groceries and helped Giselle with her shoes.

"Thanks for the meal. It's very nice of you..." I said, but the look on Rose's face cut me off.

"Hold on a mo', I forgot about the cupcakes Chip left in the refrigerator for you! I'll go get them." And with that, she swept back into the kitchen.

Bread boy was blushing. As usual, he stared at his feet in a coy manner.

So...the cupcakes weren't just leftovers—Chip specially reserved them for Giselle...and me.

Fuck it. Why was he so...lovable?

"U-Um...You can wait in the living room upstairs,” Chip played with his fingers shyly,”—don’t need to stand in the hallway…”

I nodded and followed him up a flight of creaky wooden stairs, walls decorated with pictures of the past and shelves of photo frames littered along the way in what I would call an organised mess.

As I ascended the narrow stairwell—Giselle’s tiny fingers in one hand and groceries in the other—I took a quick glance over the frames.

Among the hundreds of family and childhood photos, already yellowed and tattered, there was one that caught my eye.

I stopped in my tracks instantly, almost as if mesmerized.

Giselle bumped into my back and stumbled.  

Chip turned around and asked what was wrong.

But there was nothing wrong.

It was right. Just right.

I carefully lifted the small wooden photo frame from the shelf, and brought it closer. Honey blonde hair; fair, soft skin; flushed cheeks; and that smile.

That smile.

It was him.

It was the angel I met 11 years ago. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: Hi guys! What did you think of this chapter? Did you laugh? So--fellow alien killingmeinside happened to remind me about something of...certain importance. Graphic Scenes. I was wondering whether you guys would like them. Cuz so far, it has been quite a...fluffy...and...mushy story. Perhaps my readers would feel uncomfortable with the gradual lead to...s-s-s I mean love making. Please comment to let me know T-T I'm so lost.

Vote if you ever mistook c*ndoms for sweets! :D I've always thought the strawberry ones were until I was 11.

-Cupcake