July 8th 2015, Friday

"Did you purposely call me at 5 in the morning or did your hand slip and dial my number again?" I asked

"Nah it was on purpose this time. And if you don't want to be disturbed, why do you leave your phone on loud before sleeping?"

"I will honestly strangle you on Saturday. In fact, I might just drive there now just to strangle you. I was having the best dream, what's your problem Devon?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"Ugh because an emergency could happen at any time." I answered, getting up to sit by the window. If I was going to be up anyway, I might as well watch the sun rise.

"I wanted you to watch the sun rise with me, is that an emergency?" He asked. I smiled, opening up the window to peek out.

"Oh. Is this a tradition now? Watch the sun rise with you every morning?" I asked, grabbing a blanket and wrapping it around me before putting the phone on speaker.

"...every day of our lives." I frowned.

"Erm, sorry I didn't get the first part. What about our lives?" I asked.

"Never mind, look out the window El. It's starting." He muttered. I glanced outside to see the sun peeking out and spreading over the horizon. I let the blanket slide away from me as heat poured over my face and I leaned out of my window further. All I could hear was the slow, steady breathing from Devon on the phone and I smiled, caught up in the moment.

"And if I could freeze time, it would be at this moment. With the sun warming my face, and kaleidoscopic colours dancing around in the sky. This moment, right here, with you." I whispered, completely entranced by the sky to barely comprehend what I'd said.

"Elaine?" He questioned. I smiled, going back to my bed.

"Sorry, sometimes I have outbursts like that when I see beautiful things apparently. Grace says it's been happening since we were children." I explained.

"Seriously?"

"Yep. Do you know how many of those I have when I see you? I just manage to control them." I answered, taking my laptop from under my bed and turning it on.

"Are you claiming I'm beautiful?"

"It is a fact, like an actual fact. Like, I'm sure scientists in the near future will end up being interested in what makes your face so appealing." I mumbled, going to YouTube and to Grace's channel to watch the video we didn't end up watching yesterday.

"Just like scientists in the near future will end up being interested in what makes your entire being so amazing."

"It's not even eight yet Picasso, don't flatter me too much."

"Are you planning on going back to sleep?"

"Nah. I don't think I'd be able to. It's gonna be a long day, I have absolutely nothing planned and Grace's mum's home today, she's still grounded."

"Why don't you come by then? Spend time with the children, and with me."

"That sounds very tempting actually, I might just come there." I replied.

"If you do, you have to stay in my room." He answered.

"Yeah? Aren't I coming over there to spend time with the children? Or do you just love having me to yourself?" After finding the right video, I snuggled inside the duvet, turning the volume up a bit.

"I actually do. But no, I'm repainting the kitchen and my art corner, everything is covered up at the moment, so."

"So you're depriving the children of food and of playing too?"

"No, I just cook for the entire home. Plus, as long as they stay away from my corner, it's fine."

"Yeah? I wanna help you paint though. Or will I mess up your artistic vision?" I asked, pausing the video to comment.

"Nah, you're the exception."

"I'm the exception for many things aren't I?"

"That's because I like you Elaine." He replied. I clutched at my duvet, trying to regain my composure and calm my breathing before I spoke again.

"So now you dislike the children?" I asked, trying to be indifferent and indirect like he used to be.

"Of course I like them, just not how I like you." He answered. I inhaled, closing my eyes, my pulse quickening.

"Yeah? What's different between how you like me, and how you like the children?" I asked, though I was hoping I knew the answer.

"Well, with the children, it's like a friend slash paternal thing? But with you, it's-"

"Elaine, honey, are you awake?" My mum's voice drifted through and I opened my eyes, sighing.

"Devon, one second." I whispered, annoyed at having to cut him off. I quickly muted my phone before replying.

"Yeah mother, I am awake and you have incredibly bad timing!" I shouted back.

"I won't ask what you're talking about! Go back to sleep honey!" She shouted back, and a few moments later, her bedroom light was off. I unmuted my phone, inhaled once more before speaking up.

"You still there or did you fall asleep on me?" I whispered.

"No yeah I'm still-"

"Devon, I don't know why you're up but thank God you are. Ellie's had another nightmare." Annie's voice cuts through and I heard Devon take a sharp intake of breath before replying.

"What about this time?" He asked, as I heard some rustling in the background, probably of him getting up.

"I don't know, she's asking of you." Annie replied, and minutes later, their footsteps sounded through the phone.

"I'll leave you here. You have the situation under control don't you?" Annie asked.

"Yeah, of course." Devon answered, and a door was opened.

"Els. You still awake?" Devon whispered, seemingly forgetting I was still on the line.

"Devy?" I hear Ellie's voice.

"Yeah, honey, it's me. Annie told me you wanted me." Devon answered.

"I had another nightmare."

"What was it about, do you want to tell me?" I heard some footsteps; probably of Devon sitting down beside her.

"Um, it's just that I had a nightmare that everyone had parents who wanted them, and I was left alone with no one." Ellie summarised.

"Ellie, firstly, you being left alone is impossible, you'll always have me, right here, by your side. And there's no way you wouldn't be wanted. You're the best little girl I know, you'll be at the very top of the list." Devon assured her. I smiled, feeling like although I was invading their privacy in a way; it led me to discovering a side of Devon I didn't know existed.

"Really?" Ellie asked.

"Of course, or my eyes aren't violet." Devon answered, and moments later, I heard Ellie giggle.

"You're the best big brother in the world." Ellie whispered.

"That's only because I'm your only big brother." Devon answered.

"And I wouldn't have it any other way. Can you tell me a story, before you leave?" Ellie asked.

"Els, if it's not to do with visual art, I cannot make up a story to save my life. Especially not on the spot like this." Devon answered.

"Please! You did in the book you made!" Ellie begged.

"But that's only because I had drawings to base it off on."

"Please Devon!"

"Fine."

"Can I have a story about fairies and you?" Ellie asked. I laughed, careful not to make it too loud, in case they heard me

"How demanding you get once you get me to do what you want. But fine. Long ago, in a kingdom in which fairies and humans lived together, there lived a very unhappy and easily annoyed fairy named Devon. Now, this was quite unusual as all the other fairies lived in happiness and joy, yet Devon, well you could usually find him spending time alone in a big field.

Well, one day, a new fairy was born. This was quite rare as fairies were only born every two hundred years, yet this specific fairy came a hundred year early. Even Devon couldn't miss seeing the new fairy. When the fairy was sprouted from the flower, a little girl came out, whom the fairy clan decided to name Ellie."

"That's me!" Ellie cried. I smiled, hearing Devon laugh beside her.

"Yep, Ellie, that is you. Now, Ellie grew up quick, as all fairies did, and when she was finally old enough to explore on her own, she chose the big field where Devon usually spent his time. When Ellie finally met Devon, she was shocked at the rare violet eyes he had, no other fairy had that eye colour. Ellie realise that Devon must have been very special. So she told him.

And she made sure to tell him every day, until Devon stopped distancing himself from her. It still didn't get him to socialise with the other fairies, but it was a start. And now I think Ellie should try sleeping now, don't you?" Devon asked her.

"Yeah, but before you go, how did Devon end up talking to the other fairies?" Ellie asked. I grinned, picturing the first time I had seen Devon in my head.

"Well Ellie, God decided to give a special human that job. But that's for another story. Good night." He said, and sometimes later, I heard the door click.

"How gentle you are." I say.

"Oh my God, Elaine, you're still on the phone!" Devon exclaimed.

"Yep, you got so busy with Ellie, you didn't realise. But who knew Devon could be that gentle and compassionate?"

"What, because I apparently brood half the time, you think I lack emotion?"

"I think you're quite possibly the most amazing teenage boy to ever exist on planet earth Devon." I answered, truthfully.

"Well, guilty as charged." I scoffed, playing Grace's video.

"Yeah? Wanna tell me who the special human is that God gave the job, hmm?"

"You tell me, you're pretty special." He answered.

"I don't know, did the human have the name Elaine by any chance?" I asked and I could just see him smiling.

"Nah, I think it was something like Alayne, I don't remember though."

"Ugh, Alayne. First person to ever make me want to fight them." I muttered, remembering the stuck up girl who was also a volunteer last winter at the Home.

"Why is that anyway?" He asked, and I shrugged. Not really sure of it myself.

"I genuinely don't know. She just rubbed me the wrong way."

He chuckled. "Were you jealous El? She did get pretty up close and personal with me." I sighed, actually thinking about it, and realising he was probably right. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Jealous? For what reason. Come on Picasso, it's not like I was deeply in love with you. But um, you seemed pretty jealous when that boy asked for my number. That volunteer, what was his name again?"

"Michael? Why would I have been jealous, it's not like I was deeply in love with you." He mimicked.

"Oh please Devon, you even remember his name."

"Yeah? Just like how you remember Alayne's."

"Yeah it's kinda hard not to when her name is so damn close to mine. Do you know how many people got us mixed up, what did I even have in common with her?"

"Well, um, she's pretty, you're beautiful." He mumbled. I stopped concentrating on the video, pulse raising, feeling a bit dizzy. I inhaled, before replying.

"Oh come on Devon, you're being biased, she was beautiful." I said, because it was true.

"Elaine, you don't get it. There's a reason why I only see you as beautiful and other girls like Alayne and Ethel pretty. Like that one time you asked me if I was attracted to Alayne and I said she was pretty."

"There's a reason." I echoed.

"Do you wanna know?" He asked, his tone soft and gentle, making me feel like he was next to me. I nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see. Although I'd pretty much been in his personal space at this point and I knew everything there was to know about him, nothing could beat the way I felt at the moment.

My chest contracted to the point where I couldn't breathe, yet I didn't know whether I wanted to. He'd never talked to me in that way before; gentle and soft, not sarcastic or mysterious and confusing. I knew that whatever he was about to tell me, would hold no mystery behind it. He genuinely wanted me to know.

"Well, the way I see you, you have this sort of personality that's rare, and I'm not talking about you trying to find the beauty in everything. I'm talking about the way you were able to see through the façade I put up for everyone else. I'm talking about how Alayne wasn't able to see through it, and how Ethel looked at me a certain way when she found out where I lived.

It's the way you actually see people, and not what they want others to see. Annoying and aggravating half the time yes, but it's also incredibly beautiful. And yes, your face is beautiful too, but that's not why I call you beautiful. It's literally due to your way of seeing people. So yeah, Alayne was pretty, and you were and still are incredibly beautiful." I didn't realise that I was smiling until my cheeks felt like they were about to burst.

"I honestly, don't know what to say, for once in my life. You broke a writer." I muttered.

He laughed. "I'll see you when you come over. I need to go cook for the Home. Bye Elaine."

"Yeah, I'll see you. Bye Devon." I said, hanging up. I grabbed my laptop, navigating to my ideas folder and opening up my "outbursts" folder; where I jotted down all my outbursts in case they came into use for a story later. Under the word document entitled "outbursts I've had but never said", I wrote down:

"And with each passing moment, you make me fall, slowly in love."

*

"Brad!" I shout, and he laughed, hugging me and entering the house.

"Elaine!" He answered, seeing that I was ready and just about to head out.

"I wanted to say sorry Brad, for being a little prick to you. I know I was meant to spend this summer with you guys, not with Devon again, and I'm sorry." I said. He smiled, pulling me for a hug.

"Grace's told me about everything. Don't worry, it took a lot of convincing. And you have never liked a guy like this before, so please go for it yeah? Besides, you can't spend summer with me anyway."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm off to Miami! Right now! Surprise present from Jack to mum and the family." He said, and it was only then I noticed the suitcase he had beside him.

"What, Brad!"

"I honestly can't stay long. I'll call you as soon as we land! I promise."

"Why do you seem so excited, I mean, you should be, but this is a different kind of excitement." He smiled, as I closed the door and walked him to where his family were waiting.

"Well, I'm planning something big for Miami." He sighed.

"As big as?"

"Coming out of the very depressing closet." He whispered. I gasped before jumping into his arms. The real reason why neither I nor Brad cared about the rumours was due to the same reason why I kept telling people he wasn't friend zoned. I knew he didn't have feelings for girls; me being the only human being he's ever told.

"Yes Brad! Good luck. And then when you come back, we can finally tell Grace and Kelsi and Liam and Trent!"

"Yeah, somehow I'm more nervous for them, especially Kelsi than my parents. I'll see you babe." He muttered, hugging me again before getting into the car. I waved until their car wasn't in sight before going over to Grayson. As soon as I got in, my phone started to ring.

"Elaine! Are you busy by any chance?!" Suzie immediately asks as soon as I pick up the phone.

"Erm no, I'm actually on the way to the Home. Did you want me to do something?" I asked.

"No! No! That's perfect. Come here, erm, Kemi's here along with a bunch of other family members. She's picked out the bridesmaid dresses and the junior bridesmaid dress; if you could come here to try it out." She informed me.

"Oh yeah! I'll be there in like twenty minutes."

"Alright honey, bye!" I hang up and quickly sped towards the home, getting there faster than I thought. When I arrived, all the children were outside, the front door ajar and people running in and out. I navigated my way inside, to collide straight into Suzie, who hugged me and rubbed at the sweat that was forming on her forehead.

"God, they always make weddings look so magical on camera. I am about to die. Thank God Annie's been kind enough to allow me to use the spare room as a base to put everything together." She says, slumping down to the ground.

"Anything I can help with before trying on the dress?" I asked, already dreading to see the style Kemi picked out for me.

"Would you please help Devon in the kitchen? The poor boy's been cooking for more than thirty people since morning. I don't even think he's had the chance to shower yet." She explained.

"Of course, don't you worry Suzie." I assured her, heading towards the kitchen. I quickly checked myself in the mirror beside it, shorts and a midriff crop top. I opened the kitchen door to find that Devon was right, almost everything in the kitchen was covered up, and half the wall was painted. Devon was in the midst of it all, wearing an apron over a loose top and pyjama shorts.

His hair was covered completely with flour and when I coughed to get his attention, I found out that his face was also covered with flour. I grinned, spotting the mess on the floor, wondering how it was possible for him to still look adorable covered with flour.

"You wanna explain?" I asked, taking off my shoes, and placing them to the side.

"Ellie. That's all I'm saying." He answered, bending down to check whatever he was baking in the oven.

"Right, okay. Well Suzie's half crying outside, she said to come help you with food prep." I answered, reaching up to try and get the apron off the top of the drawers where I knew they kept it.

"Jesus Christ why am I this short? And the flour on the floor isn't helping either." I complained.

"Hold on one second El." Devon said, suddenly close behind me. I felt his hand on my lower back as he reached up and took the apron with ease. I turned around, having to look up at him.

"When did you get so tall and grown up. You were my height last winter." I muttered, reaching out to touch his face, the flour rubbing on to my fingers. He leaned into me, eyes close and smiling.

"A lot can change in seven months." He whispered, suddenly reaching out to my waist, pulling me closer to him. He didn't let go.

"A lot did change in seven months." I answered, my heart thudding. I didn't know whether it was possible to call whatever I felt for him love, but I knew I was heading to that point very fast. The thought scared me more than it should have. I concentrated on his eyes instead, an intense violet, getting lighter with the sun shining on them from the window.

Magical and unreal, just like him.

"I know." He mumbled, entwining his fingers through mine and stepping closer. I found myself rising up to meet him.

"Devon!" We spring apart, and I sighed, taking the apron and putting it on as Suzie emerged.

"Please tell me you have the pie ready, and why is this place such a mess?"

"I'll help clean it up Suzie, don't worry." I assured her. She looked at him and back at me before smirking.

"Ha, I see, okay then. Just please come out in about thirty minutes, to come try on your dress." She said, before leaving again. I smiled, thankful that she came and gave me the time to compose myself.

"I'll get started on cleaning, and you can bake that pie. If your food's so good that the children and Suzie don't mind eating it, then you better have amazing food for our picnic tomorrow." I said, bringing out the dustpan and brush. Apparently, the flour was more slippery than I thought and I found myself slipping backwards, landing on my back.

Devon, apparently, also found it incredibly amusing.

"You are the most unbalanced cheerleader in the world."

"No longer one so I have an excuse." I complained, rolling over to look up at him, aware that my entire body was getting covered in flour, and probably the back of my hair.

"Comfy?" He asked, sitting down on the counter, using his leg to kick the door closed.

"Yes, why don't you join me, let's watch your pie bake."

"Oh how fun."

"Don't be so pessimistic Devon, I've been told watching pie bake is a great way to catch up."

"Yeah?" He asked, getting down from the counter.

"Yep. Seven months' worth of catching up actually." I answered.

"Okay fine." He replied, dropping down to the ground with me, our legs and arms touching as we watched the pie. And during that time, I learned all I could about him and he learned all he could about me.

Kemi turned out to actually have really good taste, and after I tried on my dress, I couldn't help but admit it. Devon, who'd been waiting outside and complaining the whole time of not getting to see me glared as I walked out wrapped in a blanket.

"I can't believe I'm driving home with my clothes covered in flour. Thank God Suzie let me use the bathroom." I said, seeing Devon had also showered and changed.

"Oh you can always have one of my shirts, the biggest one I have could probably reach your knee or something."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, of course. Come up to my room, it's kinda my fault you got covered in flour right?"

When we reached his room, he searched through his wardrobe before producing a light blue shirt, big enough like he'd said.

"I'll just be outside." He muttered, leaving. After he closed the door, I dropped the blanket and quickly put his shirt on. As he'd said, it reached just above my knee. I looked at his mirror, happier than I should have felt at being in his shirt.

"As if you've never worn his clothes before." I whispered. His scent seemed to fill the entire room, pine leaves and spearmint; comforting. I took one last look in the mirror before leaving his room. He smiled seeing me, putting his hand on my waist and pulling me closer, which I didn't object to.

Together we went back to the kitchen and got my shoes, found where I'd dumped my clothes, and he was still joined to me when I said goodbye to Suzie who smirked the whole time and pretended not to notice.

And as I finally got in my car, I pretended not to notice when he mumbled "people really have bad timings don't they?" even though I couldn't agree more.

*

a/n: aw look how far devon has come c: so next chapter's their date. comment your thoughts on this chapter and vote if you enjoyed it