Ayo, long time no see. I've been pretty darn busy lately, but luckily, this book only has a few chapters left.

So, let's get into it.

Nya's POV

"Oh, honey, are you sure you don't want one?" Edna told me, shoving a cookie in my mouth.

Yes-apparently, Jay's visitors happened to be his parents. Even though he didn't seem all that excited about it, I sure was.

I had forgotten how much I had missed them-Edna especially if I'm going to be honest.

Since we met Jay, his parents would always invite us home for Christmas. I usually didn't like sweet stuff, but I could never resist Edna's gingerbread men.

However, once I moved to Stiix for college, I never really kept in touch with them.

Ed-Jay's dad-stood up from our couch, placing his hand on Edna's shoulder. Since when did he wear glasses?

"Hun, leave the poor gal alone. Ya know she'll eat them later."

"But she looks so thin!" Edna cupped my cheeks, "what have they been feeding you, hun?"

What had I not fed me at that point.

"I'm fine, really, Mrs Walker."

The look she gave me made me realise I had made a mistake. Again.

I looked back to my brother, who was trying his best not to burst into laughter as he set the table.

"What have I told you about that?" she told me, "I'm just Edna to you. You're family."

Instead of letting her blabber more, I pulled her into a hug. "Thanks, Edna."

Meanwhile, the star of the show, Jay Walker, was sitting on one of the dining chairs, typing on his phone while mindlessly ignoring us.

That was one thing I always hated about him. He was always too embarrassed of his parents.

I snapped my fingers towards his direction, only getting a glance back before he turned to his phone again.

At least you've got parents, jerk.

Kai luckily helped me, smacking him over the head and taking his phone away.

"Hey!" Jay tried to snatch it back, but he was too short. At least we could relate on that front.

"No phones on the table," my brother told him, shoving it in one of the kitchen drawers.

He didn't get to protest before Kai served up the food, which was really just some mac n' cheese.

"We've already eaten," Jay said to both Kai and his parents.

"You've only eaten a cheap salad," I said and put my hands on the table. My salad.

"And you didn't even touch your burger," he shot back, so we both unanimously agreed to eat at least a bit.

As Ed and Edna began eating, I was flooded with questions yet again.

"How come you moved back to the city?" Mr Walker-erm, Ed-asked me.

Edna interrupted him almost immediately. "Oh, Ed, don't doubt her brain! You know very well she's already finished college!"

I'd like to have.

I cleared my throat, placing my fork down. "Well, I haven't finished it... I just moved here for... other reasons."

While Ed looked to be confused, Edna's face was more than concerned seeing mine.

"Oh, hun..." she pulled me into a hug, then pouring some more of the orange juice she brought into my cup. "Ya know, I've been through it. These things never last at first."

We all collectively raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well, whatever happened, he didn't deserve you sweetie," she went on to say.

I was a bit shocked, although a tad bit embarrassed hearing Kai mutter "of course he didn't" on the chair opposite of mine.

"How do you-"

"Ya see, Ed here had that very same face when I asked why he came to my home many years ago. But at least you could say he found a new person to smooch," she winked at him.

Honestly, I didn't know whether to be disgusted or sweetened by that.

"Ma..." I heard Jay whisper under his breath, giving me a good chuckle.

"It was a bit more complicated than that, Edna..." I told her, using the correct name this time around. Suddenly, a confident smile grew on my face. "But don't worry, next time I see him, he'll get his butt handed to him."

"And I'm glad for that, but do not stoop to his level," she said, turning to Kai and Jay immediately with a glare, Ed soon following.

"Now, how have these gentlemen been treating you?" Ed told me, his stink eye still on the two frozen-and quite scared, might I add-boys.

"I've given her my room," Jay blurted out.

"I've given her half my clothes," Kai said right after.

As the old couple burst into laughter, they both looked relieved to have survived.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you two," Edna said with a proud smile, "but Jay, sleeping on the couch causes back pain. You've seen how your aunt Natalie ended up, right?"

He sighed. "Right, ma."

"Well, get a few pillows and make that place home for while Nya is here with ye."

"Will do, ma."

Just as we heard a buzz, Jay immediately jumped up, pulling his phone out of the drawer and running to his room.

Oh, heck no.

I could see the disappointment build up on Ed and Edna's faces, but my brother seemed oblivious for the most part.

"Excuse me for a second," I excused myself, placing my glass down as I made my way to m-his room.

When I entered-well, more like peeked through the half-open door-the familiar scent was gone. That was probably my one and only sign that I had been living there for far too long. I never had my own room, really, but I wasn't willing to get one if it meant that I would be taking it from someone else.

My laptop was still under Jay's pillow, giving me the dreadful reminder that I still needed to finish revising for the exams.

"Hi, just in time," said Jay from his bed, putting down his phone for a second before returning back to typing.

She decided to hold her ground. "You can't just ditch your parents like that," she crossed her arms.

"I'll be back in five," he rolled his eyes, "can you stay here for a bit?"

I slowly nodded, leaving the door ever so slightly open as I walked further inside.

I know I had no reason not to trust him, but just in case.

I turned on the light as he showed me his phone, its screen only showing a picture of him.

"Who has themselves as their home screen?" I wanted to say, until I realised another arm was wrapped around his shoulder as I could barely see the hem of my sleeves-

"Whoops, you weren't supposed to see that," he quickly pulled his phone back, his face a deep shade of red as he tapped on the app called Chirp.

"Um..." he began, "so... remember Seliel?"

"Yeah. And that other girl... Mania?"

"Vania."

"Right."

"Well, Seliel is throwing a party for her... birthday," he said, showing me a picture of a virtual invitation.

"... And?"

"Well, she's invited me and Cole too. She basically told us to bring whoever we want there. Cole will be with Seliel and Vania, so..."

"You'll go with Zane and Lloyd?" I said. Why did I sound disappointed?

"No, actually. I... um..."

"Spill."

"I was wondering whether you wanted to go with me?"

"As in friends?" I said all too quickly.

"As a date."

We both stared at each other.

"I mean, you don't have to. I just thought it'd be fun."

My crush... asking me out. Well, ex-crush. Actually, now crush? I didn't really know what to think at that point.

"Okay..."

"Okay?" he asked me. "Okay as in 'sure' or okay as in 'I never want to see you again' okay?"

I smiled at his awkwardness. "Okay as in okay."

"Oh... nice."

"Nice?"

"Nice."

I thought to myself for a bit. I hadn't gone to a party since Senior prom. Well, I did go to a few parties with Morro, but they weren't exactly... parties. They were more like... well, not the most innocent events. I shuddered thinking about them.

But even then, I never had a proper date.

I wanted to be stubborn, I wanted to be angry that he didn't ask me out sooner. But I couldn't.

We had a rough past, that was well-known between us at that point. I guess we had both hurt each other in our own ways.

But he was there. I was there. We were safe.

I sat down on the side of the bed, scooting just a bit closer to him. The familiar scent that was long gone from the entire room had now returned as we made contact.

He looked confused at first, raising an eyebrow.

"So... when is it?" I asked, my voice a bit lower. I had completely forgotten about Ed and Edna by then-even Kai.

The atmosphere was oddly... comforting.

"Um..."

I scooted a bit closer.

"Are you sure?" he said out of the blue.

"About what?"

His face, as per usual, flushed red. "Oh, sorry. Nothing..."

I looked at him in the eyes. "What's nothing?" It couldn't be that.

"Well... nothing."

His face told it all. But was I ready for that? I wanted it, but how? I hadn't done that in weeks.

And even then, I didn't want to.

"Are you okay?" His voice was oddly... calm? Comforting? I didn't know how to describe it. It wasn't its usual, squeaky tone, that was for sure.

I nodded.

"Hey, so... how about I guess about what 'nothing' is?" I asked rather shyly.

His face became puzzled yet again before realisation hit him.

"Wait, you mean-"

I nodded again.

"Oh," he tried to hide his smile, failing miserably. "Oh."

"So?"

"So..."

I grabbed his hands, him responding ever so slightly by rubbing my palms with his thumbs.

I hadn't done that in a long time. I was worried at first that maybe I had forgotten how to do it. But once he leaned in, it clicked.

Yes, that was meant to happen.

We learned in, inch by inch, our eyes slightly closing. And after just a moment, our lips touched.

It wasn't like Morro's. It didn't feel forced or... hard, I guess. It was soft, while at the same time sweet-literally and figuratively, considering all the stuff we had eaten beforehand. A not-so-gentle thought once I realised that I probably tasted like a hamburger.

The hearing of a flash and a click broke us apart.

"Oh, oh, quick, take some more!" we both heard Edna's voice say as we broke apart in shock, quickly fixing up ourselves.

Three people were standing on the doorway; my brother, who was smirking with his scarred eyebrow raising-seriously, how had the scar healed so fast?-Ed, holding an old-timey camera and finally, Edna, encouraging him to take more pictures of us.

"Mom..." Jay mumbled under his breath, rubbing his cheek.

"You two are just too cute," said Edna as Ed nodded along.

"Adorable, even," my brother added behind them, earning a glare from me and Jay.

After a few more pictures, as well as some awkward silence, Jay spoke up.

"Oh, right. Um, Sunday."

"What about it?"

"The party's this Sunday."

Great.

"Jay, my exams are on Sunday," I said, a bit too disappointed. I mean, I know the date could've happened at any other place, but... I didn't know. Perhaps he wouldn't want to go anywhere else?

What am I saying? I should just spend my time inside, studying a bunch of boring books and-

"I have a plan," he smirked.