I grabbed my phone from the kitchen counter and went back outside to call Nate.

I dialled his number and waited for him to pick up.

"Hey Sunshine." He greeted and I could hear the smirk in his voice.

"What are you doing?" I asked getting straight to the point.

"Why? Do you wanna get naughty with me?" He teased.

"I'm serious, Nate!"

He laughed. "Well right now, I'm speaking to you."

"Do you think you could meet up with me? I wanna talk to you about something." I asked, rolling my eyes at his statement.

"Is everything alright?" He asked sounding concerned.

"Yeah I just wanna talk. Where do you wanna meet?"

"How about your favourite place?"

I knew exactly where he was talking about. And he acts like he doesn't remember me.

"Okay I'll be there at two so I suggest you be there before me, you know I hate waiting."

"Yeah I'll see you there." He said and ended the call.

It was 12 pm so I had 2 hours to get ready. Oh no, I have to confront those two idiots! I thought really not wanting to face them after what happened this morning.

With a sigh I walked inside and spotted Ashley who seemed to be leaving.

"Victoria, I'm sorry about what happened this morn-" she started and I could sense a whole rant coming along so I cut her off.

"Yeah, whatever, it's okay." I told her while she let out a relived breath.

"I thought you were gonna be mad at me for days."

"Well I'm not, so kudos to that!" I said sarcastically.

"Are you leaving?" I asked her.

"Yeah I told Jessie to pick me up, my parents think I stayed over at your place." She answered.

"If only they knew that I'm homeless." I muttered to myself.

"Well I should get going, Jessie is waiting for me outside. See you tomorrow." She smiled and walked out.

I walked upstairs, ready to shower and get ready until I bumped into Gerald on the staircase.

"Watch where you're walking!" I snapped.

"Not like I did it on purpose." He murmured.

"Yeah whatever, I'm going to shower." I said  making my way up until he stopped me.

"Victoria wait!" He called.

"What?!"

"Look I'm not going to apologise for what happened earlier on because I wasn't wrong, I still think you're fucking insane to apologise to that bitch and I don't really care if making sure you do the right thing involves you being mad at me." He said and I turned around to face him.

"I can make my own decisions, I don't need anyone making them for me." I said rudely.

"Victoria, you've been away from home for only a few days, you can't possibly be that homesick to put your pride down. What's the real reason that you want to get back home?" He said taking a step forward so he was just one step down from me.

"There is no other reason." I said coldly.

"You're lying." He said intensely.

"You don't know me as well as you think, Gerald." I said with a humourless chuckle.

"And once again you're lying." He shook his head.

"I really don't want to have this conversation. I'm going to shower." I said and turned on my heel.

After I got ready I left the house unnoticed and caught a cab to meet up with Nate since I had no car with me.

After arriving I walked into Starbucks and felt the aroma of coffee hit my nose. Yes Starbucks was my favourite place, don't judge! 

I walked and found Nate sitting at a table waiting for me.

"Aren't you punctual?" He said sarcastically.

"I'm only half an hour late so shut up!" I glared.

"So what was it that you wanted to talk about?" He asked.

"How about we order first?"

"Okay." He agreed.

After we got our drinks we sat and he looked at me waiting for me to say something.

"How do you know my favourite place is Starbucks?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Memory, sunshine. I happen to have a pretty good memory." He smirked.

"So you do remember?" I asked him hopefully.

"Remember what?" He asked looking oblivious.

"You know what I'm talking about." I said edgily.

"Is that what you wanted to talk about?" He asked seriously.

I sighed and decided to drop that topic.

"No. I kinda need your advise."

"Okay, I'm listening." He said and smiled.

I took a sip from my drink and started to explain to him what happened that night with my brother right to this morning's events.

"Damn, your life is like a daily soap." He sad after I told him everything.

"Tell me about it." I said bitterly.

"So you want to apologise because you feel that you're a burden to Gerald?" He said looking at me.

"Yes."

"Well I highly doubt that he finds you a burden, probably the opposite actually but I understand why you feel that way so I'm going to support what you want to do." He said while taking a sip of coffee.

That's exactly why I wanted to talk to him, I knew he would understand me, after all we are a lot a like in a way.

"But," he paused and smirked at me,"you're going to apologise and get what you want and then get some sweet, sweet revenge." His brown eyes had a mischief look in it.

I smirked. "Please do continue."

"Okay, so you're going to apologise and make it look sincere, then your brother will be happy and let you back in and give your car back. Then we think of a way to make Jessica screw up so badly that Michael hates her, then they fight, they break up and then she can get a taste of her own medicine." He explained.

"I like that idea. The bitch must know what it's like to be hated and have nothing! I want her to pay for what she did." I said feeling good when I thought about her suffering.

"I'm sure Gerald will like that idea too." He smirked.

"If he doesn't too bad, I'm still going with it."

"When you get back you can explain to him and let me know what he says." Nate said.

"Yeah I'll do that. I knew you'd understand, the others think they do but they have no idea what it feels like to have a family that hates you." I said referring to Gerald and Ashley.

"You know I'm just a phone call away whenever you wanna talk." He grinned and I could see that little dimple on his left cheek.

"I know." I smiled.

"I should get going." I said getting up.

"Victoria?" Nate said just as I was about to leave.

"Yeah?" I said and sat down again.

"You asked if remembered? Well yeah I do, how could I possibly forget." He said staring at me intensely.

"Then why do you pretend to not know? The first time in class you asked my name as If you didn't know it. Why?" I asked, not breaking eye contact.

"That's a story for another time." He smiled.

"Really? So you're just going to brush it off like that?" I asked agitated.

"Victoria, I really don't want to talk about this, please can we just have this conversation another time?" He said with a pleading look in his eyes which made me soften and I decided to drop it.

"Okay, fine. I'll drop it."

"Iliana thought you my girlfriend." He grinned, changing the subject.

"Please you're not that lucky." I said smugly.

"Aww, Sunshine go ahead and break my heart more." He placed a hand on his chest feigning to be hurt. I laughed at his childish behaviour and we had a little light hearted talk until we left. 

After I got home I explained to Gerald what I was going to do. He looked confused as so to why I went to Nate but he let it slide.

"I like that idea." He grinned. We were sitting together on his couch while I explained to him what I was going to do.

"Me too. So I'm going to call my brother and ask to meet me after school tomorrow, then I can 'apologise' and bring the bitch down," I smirked.  

"So you'll be leaving tomorrow, then?" He asked sounding disappointed.

"Yes, I can finally get my baby back." I said referring my car as 'baby'.

"Too bad I enjoyed your company here." He said shifting closer to me and kissed my neck.

I moaned as he kissed my neck, my collarbone and finally my lips.

He placed me body flat down on the couch ad kissed my hip bone, he placed soft kisses all over my torso until he reached my mouth and placed his lips on mine.

I kissed him back passionately, he softly bit my lower lip making me moan. He pulled out my shirt while I moved my body against his.

I pulled his shirt off while he unzipped my pants and pulled it off. He placed his lips on mine once again, his hands roaming all over my body.

Just as he was about to take his own pants off we heard someone unlocking the door.

"Fuck! I think my dad is back home." Gerald said and quickly got off of me, pulling his shirt on.

I quickly jumped out of the couch and hurriedly put my pants and shirt on, by now I could hear Mr. Iver approaching the TV lounge. I quickly zipped up my pants and neatened my hair. Gerald and I hurriedly sat on the couch and pretended we were watching The Simpsons, which was on TV.

"Made it in time." Gerald said quietly to me as his dad just walked in, beaming at his son.

"Hey dad." Gerald said happily and went over to hug his dad. I could see how happy he was to see his dad. I smiled at looking at him so happy.

After they spoke for a while, Mr. Iver greeted me.

"Hello Victoria. How are you?" He smiled warmly at me.

Mr. Iver was a tall man, he was maybe 2 inches shorter than Gerald. He had dark brown hair unlike his son, and had the same small, brown eyes as his son.

"I'm good thanks and you, Mr. Iver?" I smiled back.

"I'm great now that I'm back home."

"Dad, Victoria will be staying for a while with us." Gerald informed his dad, taking a seat next to me again.

"That's if it's alright with you, Mr. Iver?" I said. I really can't wait to get back home, it feels so weird staying here now that Gerald's dad was back.

"Of course you can." He smiled. "Is everything alright with you and your brother?" He asked me.

I quickly thought of a lie to say, "Yeah, he just had some work out of town and he thought it'd be better if I stayed with Gerald with him being a guy and everything. You know how protective he can be and Gerald is the only guy he'll trust me with."

"Well I'm glad that Gerald has become a responsible and trustworthy man." He said proudly.

"Told you I was a good guy, dad." Gerald smirked and I rolled my eyes at him.

"You better keep that up, son." He warned. "I'm going up to my room to freshen up, you kids have fun but not too much fun, I'm too young to be a grandfather, you know." He joked and walked upstairs.

"That's why there's condoms in this world." Gerald winked at me.

"Eww you're disgusting." I scrunched my nose.

"You don't think I'm very disgusting when we're doing you know what." He said mischievously.

"Hmm and what is that?" I smirked.

"Maybe we should go upstairs and I could remind you." He said scooting closer to me with a smirk.

We were sitting so close that I was practically sitting on him. 

He stared at me for a while then crashed his lips onto mine. Our lips were once again moving together in perfect sync, I wrapped my hands around his neck while he held my face and kissed me.

He moved his hands under my shirt and placed his hands on my hips. Every fibre in my body wanted to continue with him and have sex with him once again but I remembered that I had to still call my brother and that his dad was in the same house as us.

I pulled away him and positioned myself away from him.

"What's wrong now?" He sighed.

"Well, you know your dad doesn't happen to be right upstairs!" I said sarcastically.

"Oh come on, you're leaving tomorrow. I'm going to miss you." He pouted like a child.

"You're still going to see me everyday, dumbass." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah but you unfortunately won't be in my bed." He said sulkily.

I laughed at his behaviour. He honestly was overreacting, I mean I was only here for a few days he couldn't miss me that much.

"You're acting like a child whose toy is being taken away." I laughed.

"So you find this funny, don't you?"

"Yes very." I continued to laugh.

"Meanie." He said pretending to be angry at me but I could see a little smile that wanted to break through his serious façade.

"Oh come you know you want to smile." I said and poked his cheek. He finally grinned widely at me dropping his façade down.

"I just love it when you smile and laugh." He said.

"And I love it when you're being a complete idiot." I chortled.

"I know." He said and kissed my forehead.

"You know, you look even more beautiful when you smile?" He looked at me with that loving and affectionate look again.

"Says the guy who is permanently hot, even when he's not trying." I told him. For once I complimented him instead of insulting him.

"So you're admitting that I'm hot?" He smirked.

"Don't push it." I warned, pointing my index finger at him.

"I knew you couldn't resist this Handsome face, rock hard abs and V-lines."

"Like I said don't push it." I joked and kissed his cheek."But you and I both know the truth." I whispered in his ear teasingly.

I felt genuinely happy when I was around him, it was like I forgot all my other issues and I was a normal girl that was not damaged in any way whatsoever. But no one said I could enjoy the moment forever, I had to face reality and snap out of my happy, oblivious moments with him.

"You seem lost in thought." He said snapping me out of my reverie.

"Yeah I just remembered that I need to call my brother." I took a deep breath.

He grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.

"I'm right next to you." He smiled comfortingly.

"I know."

I dialled Michael's number on my phone and pressed call.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Hello?" I heard his voice answer.

"Michael." I said confidently.

"Victoria?" He said sounding shocked.

"The one and only." I said with a humourless chuckle.

"What made you call me? I doubt it is to do what I said." He said abruptly.

"Actually, after school tomorrow I wanna meet up with you and Jessica to apologise for what happened." I said softly. I hate doing this.

"I find that hard to believe, you're not one to apologise and put your pride down." He said suspiciously.

"Honestly Michael, I wanna come home and the only way to do that is look passed what happened and give Jessica a chance and if I feel that I should do it then that's exactly what I'm going to do. I really am tired of putting my pride first, they are more important things in this world. So I'm going to apologise and give Jessica a chance." I said and took a tired sigh.

"Okay. We can meet up for dinner tomorrow night at Jessica's place then you can apologise. I'll text you the address."

Why the fuck at her house?!

"Okay I'll be there."

"Bye." He said and ended the call.

"So did you hear or do I have to explain to you?" I asked Gerald who had an annoyed look on his face.

"I heard. Why the fuck at her house?" He asked sounding agitated.

"I really don't know but I'm just going to go with it." I sighed.

"Yeah okay, as long as she pays for what she did I'm good."

"Hey I'm going to check what my dad wants for dinner or if he wants to go out." He said and I nodded at him.

I decided to text Nate and tell him what happened.

After about five minutes later my phone buzzed with a reply,

Nate: Great! Go to dinner and pretend to forgive her and help her with the dishes and shit like that, make Michael believe that you've genuinely forgiven her, then we can get our revenge plan going. ;)

Me: That's what I intend on doing, dumbass.

Nate: Geez, why you always gotta be so mean?

Me: Not my fault that the truth hurts, darling. ;)

Nate: With my handsome face the truth is always sweet, Sunshine.

Me: More like the opposite of handsome. 

Nate: Meanie!

Me: Whatever I gotta go, I'll see you tomorrow at school.

Nate: See you tomorrow, Sunshine! ;)

I rolled my eyes at how many winks he sent to me in one conversation.

I hope this goes well! I said in my head thinking about that dreadful dinner tomorrow night.

I sat on the couch and watched The Simpsons on TV.

I looked at the time and seen that it was already 7 pm just as Gerald walked back.

"So my dad wants to go out for dinner, be ready in about ten minutes." Gerald said.

I honestly didn't wanna go out to dinner with Gerald and his dad, it would be really weird and awkward. After all I wasn't even his girlfriend, I was just his friend.

"I'm really not in the mood right now, I'm really tired and I happen to be enjoying The Simpsons, so I think I'm gonna stay here." I said with a yawn. Damn, I really was tired.

"But you have eat. Come on, we'll be back before 10." He insisted.

"Gerald I'm actually really not hungry, I kinda just want to lay on the couch with the TV in front of me." I said with a chuckle.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." I smiled.

"And what if you get hungry at like 3 am?" He questioned raising his brows.

"McDonald's is open for 24 hours, you know." I rolled my eyes at him as if he was stupid.

He laughed at my statement and shook his head.

"Okay, I'll see you when I get back then." He smiled and kissed my forehead.

****

It had been an hour since Gerald and his dad had left and I could feel myself getting sleepier and sleepier. I shut my eyelids closed and let sleep take over me.

----

Gerald's POV

I was driving my dad and I back home after a dinner between the two of us after what felt like years.

I wonder why Victoria didn't want to join us.

"Thinking about Victoria?" My dad teased.

"Hilarious, Dad." I said sarcastically.

We had that kinda relationship where he was like my best friend and farther. Ever since he's come back he's being teasing me like a middle schooler that has a crush.

"Please son, I know you have feelings for her. She is pretty so I do approve." He winked jokingly.

"She's not just pretty, she's beautiful and amazing. She's beautiful on the outside and inside." I said thinking about her beautiful smile.

"Wow you sound like me when I fell in love with your mother." He said sounding a little sad thinking about my mother.

My parents were high school sweethearts, they loved each other since they were 16.

"Do you love her?" He asked me seriously.

I knew the answer to that question was yes, I've loved her for a long time but if I had to confess to her I know she'd push me away.

"Dad I'm not you and she's not mom, so it's not the same situation. Our relationship is completely different. Mom was a ball of sunshine while Victoria is the complete opposite so if you're thinking that history is going to repeating itself then think again because right now she won't even go into a relationship with me and I find it difficult to to see her marrying me one day." I told him honestly.

"I'm not saying history is reaping itself, all I'm saying is that you sound I like did when I fell in love so all I'm doing is helping you realise your feelings."

I already have.

"I'm just doing your mother's duties since she's not here." He said.

"I know, I just really don't feel like having this conversation now." I said frustratedly.

"Alright, I'll give you your space then."

The rest of the car ride home was pretty quiet, just a little small talk here and there.

After my dad went up to sleep I walked to the TV room and found Victoria asleep on the couch.

I laughed lightly and walked over to her sleeping figure.

I moved her hair away from her face and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, careful not to wake her up.

I carried her bridal style and took her up to my room, I placed her softly on the bed and put the covers on her.

I stared at her for a moment and just looked at how peaceful she looked when she was asleep, like she was a normal 17 year old with no issues.

If only she could open up to her feelings and stopped being so closed off. She looked like an angel, beautiful and trouble free.

I bent down and placed a long and gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Sweet dreams, my love." I whispered to her even though she was asleep and couldn't hear a thing I said.

______

Please don't be a silent reader! :)