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BITTERSWEET
:: xxvii. | wishing for the sky

It had been a month since everything with jj but Vanessa couldn't be better about it. She felt like she was a bit happier because everything was kind of in the open now. Also, since she started watching Savannah's son any free chance she got. Her and Savannah started hanging out more and well, after meeting her son for the first time and adoring him, she just couldn't say no to babysitting while Savannah went to a meeting at the school on a Saturday afternoon.

Jonah is a sweet eight year old boy. He grew to like Vanessa and sees Cole as an older big sister. However, he can be a bit of a trouble maker when he's in the mood and this Saturday, he was very much so in that mood.

Jonah ran into the kitchen while Vanessa was making a snack for everyone and kicked her in the shin.

"Oh. My. God! Jonah!"

She dropped the knife on the counter, wincing in pain as she put her hand on her shin.

Cole came in and began to lightly laugh once she realized what was going on. She rose her hand up to Jonah who then gave her a hi-five.

"No, no. Don't hi-five her." Vanessa spoke to Jonah as she stood back up. Jonah then made his way out the kitchen and Cole approached her mom. Vanessa gave her a look, "You are not setting a good example for him."

"I'm not the one who kicked you." She walked to the fridge, "But I did say I'd give him five bucks if he did." Vanessa sent her daughter another look as Cole continued to speak, "You told me to bond with the kid."

"Yeah, bond with him. Not instruct him to kick me."

"Mom, I'm— ow!" Cole turned around and saw Jonah standing behind her with a smile.

Jonah just shrugged and headed back to the living room, plopping on the couch. Cole watched him as she rubbed the back of her leg with her mom lightly chuckling.

Cole slowly turned her head, giving her mom the side eye as she continued to now laugh because karma's a bitch sometimes. The teen rolled her eyes and then made her way out the kitchen to her room.

She soon plopped on the bed after closing her door. Cole grabbed her phone her from the pillow where she left it, then opened it. But what caught her attention was the random text from Daniel. She hadn't spoken to him since the day they broke up, so this was kind of in the air.

Cole opened the message and read it before responding back. Daniel wanted to talk, he wanted her to meet him at a coffee shop that wasn't too far from her house. After quickly responding, she slid her shoes on and headed downstairs to the door, letting her mom know she was heading out for a little bit.

• • •

Cole walked all the way to the coffee shop that's like five minutes when driving. She wanted to see what he had to say and maybe wondered if there was chance for them to get back together.

As she approached the coffee shop, she looked through the big, glass windows and saw him sitting at a table near the corner. She thought he looked good, maybe even happy.

She finally reached the door and as she pulled it open, she let out a deep sigh. Preparing herself for the worst if it was possible. Cole let the door close behind her as she walked in, then heading over to Daniel.

"Hey." She approached the table and sat across from him.

"Hey." He smiled, "Do you want me to get you something?"

"Um . . " Cole glanced to Daniel's cup then back to his eyes, "Whatever you're having would be good."

He gave her a slight nod as he got up to head to the front desk to order another coffee. It was pretty quick, maybe a minute or so before returning back to the table. He set Cole's coffee down in front of her while he sat back across from her.

It was hot but that didn't stop her from taking a quick sip. She lightly smiled at him, as she set the coffee back down, "Thank you."

"Yeah." He nodded, "I just — I wanted to see how you were. So, how's everything?"

"Well, I hurt you then we didn't talk for a month. Kind of avoiding Mia now, so not bad I guess." She gave him the run down.

"Why are you avoiding Mia?"

"I . . I don't know. I guess because, I told her we should remain friends." Cole shrugged.

He shook his head, "Don't do that on my account."

"Why am I talking about my love life with you? That's weird."

"We're friends, so not really."

"Friends?"

"Yeah." Daniel smiled.

Even though Cole thought it was still a little weird to even call each other friends she went with it. She asked Daniel how he was and he was doing good. Taking it day by day. Their get together was going but then he found his way back around to Mia. He was really pushing to talk about that which Cole didn't understand but went with it.

• • •

Vanessa had just finished helping Jonah pack his backpack. She had gotten a text a minute earlier that Savannah was five minutes away.

After he slipped on his shoes, Vanessa then helped him with his jacket and then he put his bag on. Vanessa bent down to zip up his jacket.

"I had fun. Hopefully I can come again." The little boy smiled.

"Other than kicking, sure." Vanessa smiled back. The doorbell soon rang.

"Please don't tell my mom. She will be really mad." Jonah plead.

Vanessa's hand was on the knob about to open the door. She briefly turned back to him, "I won't." She then opened the door and there stood Savannah Charles.

Savannah gave Jonah the car keys and told him to wait for her there so she could talk with Vanessa alone for a moment.

"Thanks for watching him." Savannah began, "I know he can be a handful sometimes so I really appreciate it."

"He is a sweetheart." Vanessa smiled.

"Thank you." Savannah lightly smiled back, "I know it's getting kind of late so I'm going to get going." Savannah reached down for Vanessa's hand and gave it a light squeeze, "Thank you, again. Goodnight."

Vanessa watched Savannah walk to the car and get in before driving off. Soon Vanessa walked back in and Cole came in behind her not even a second later. The mother and daughter greeted each other, then going their separate ways in the house. Cole went upstairs and Vanessa went to the kitchen to figure out something quick to make for dinner.

It had barely even been an hour by the time Vanessa's phone began to ring. Once she saw who it was, she immediately answered. Savannah had called which to Vanessa was weird but she was curious anyway.

"Just wanted to let you know we're home. I also wanted to ask you something. I know you're busy and I'm sorry about that."

"No, you're fine." Vanessa held the phone to her ear, "Glad you made it back ok. What's your question?"

There was a long pause on Savannah's end. She took deep breath before returning the question, "Do you want to go out sometime? Not just to say thanks for babysitting but as a date."

Vanessa was quite speechless, she did not see that coming. She hadn't had or been asked out on one in a long time and this just caught her by surprise. She had no idea what her answer was going to be. So she continued to think about it a little before answering.

• • •

While Vanessa was contemplating on yes or no, Daniel just approached Mia's front door. After his hour with Cole at the coffee shop, he had some things to say to Mia. He thought he would never be at her door ever again, but there he was. Just standing there, staring, trying to build up the courage to knock or ring the doorbell.

After a shake of his shoulders and a deep breath in, he finally rang the doorbell. Moments later, Mia finally answered the door. She was surprised to see Daniel. She thought it was weird, but yet intrigued. She stepped out, closing the door behind her.

"Hi?"

"Cole's special. She deserves to be happy." He paused, "I'll still be around, so don't hurt her."

"I don't intend to." Mia spoke with such confidence in her voice.

He nodded, "Good. That's all." He soon turned around and began to head to his car but was stopped by Mia's projection of her voice.

"Is this how it's always going to be!"

Daniel turned around and looked at her, "I have no other reason to talk to you."

"Cause you don't want to hear it. You never do." Mia exclaimed.

He simply shrugged, "I know it wouldn't change anything."

"Trust me, it will." She scoffed.

He stood there, staring at her, thinking. Maybe it was time for the seventeen year old to hear his ex girlfriend out. What really happened that summer and why she did it. So he took the chance. He headed back up to her and stood in front of her as he passed, heading into her house,

"Just don't waste my time."

a/n:
Daniel and Mia finally talking.
Vanessa got asked out && maybe
Cole will finally take that chance
with Mia 👀