July 9th 2015, Saturday

"Today is the day." I sighed, checking the time to see it was four in the morning.

"Why won't you, or Devon or Brad let me sleep Grace?" I asked.

"I just finished filming a video and I couldn't go back to sleep. Plus mum has officially ungrounded me." She said.

"Seriously? How did you get that to happen?"

"I told her I needed to help you get ready for your date; you know she adores you." She explained.

"Rude, using me as an excuse." I complained.

"But I am coming over to help you get ready!"

"Good, because I am freaking out. Yesterday I think we were only so close to kissing again, but people really have bad timing."

"Don't worry, he'll be blown away when I'm done with you."

"Oh yeah because jeans and a hoodie is oh so appealing. By the way it's 31 degrees today I cannot wear jeans, nope. I'll die. I don't even know where he's taking me."

"Don't worry my young child. I have an idea in mind, just let me reach your house first. What time are you meeting him?"

"Haven't asked yet."

"Ugh, okay we'll sort that out too. You get some sleep, I'll see you."

"Bye Grace." I said, hanging up, knowing fully well I wasn't going to sleep. I only had a few minutes left till Devon would probably call. I grabbed my laptop and the charger instead, going over to my window area. Ms Smith had replied back to me to tell me she'd sent off my work after proofreading it.

"Here's to hoping." I sighed, playing with the hem of Devon's shirt. After getting home, I started work on my mum's present and ended up falling asleep. I folded up my legs, peering outside, before looking over my emails and checking the replies from universities. I had many from Unis based in the UK and quite a few from other countries.

"Stay in the UK or leave?" I muttered, thinking of my mum. I was the only one she had, I couldn't shake off how guilty I'd feel if I left her and moved to another country. I put my laptop to the side, opting to work some more on my mum's birthday present instead.

As soon as it hit five in the morning, my phone started ringing.

"Good morning Picasso, did you sleep well?" I asked, putting the phone on speaker and continuing with the embroidery.

"You're happy this morning, have you been awake for some time?"

"Yeah, Grace called like an hour ago, and I can't go back to sleep once I wake up, so. Thank you guys for that." I said, turning the lights on before repositioning myself on the seat.

"You're very welcome. I've been awake for some time too, Ellie couldn't sleep. I only got her to sleep ten minutes ago."

"Is she okay?"

"She's pretty nervous about Monday. I think she doesn't want to leave, but she also kind of wants to. I'm skipping art tomorrow, she's been wanting to go to beach. I'm taking her there."

"Yeah? Can I come, if it's alright with Ellie?"

"Yeah she wanted you to come along too, actually. I was going to ask you."

"Oh great! And where am I meeting you? Should I drive there?"

"It's a surprise Elaine. You can drive here, but we're walking to where we're going. Come over at one."

"Okay fine, but what should I wear. This isn't for me, it's for Grace; she needs to know. You have to tell me where we're going."

"I can't."

"Okay, I'll rock up in a sack then, don't say I didn't warn you. You'll probably be getting a phone call from Grace."

"You could dress as a chicken and you'd still look beautiful." I scoffed as sunlight started streaming into my room.

"Don't blame me when I do that Picasso. Look out the window." I muttered, glancing out myself.

"What makes every sunrise so different from the last?" I asked, as orange mixed with a sort of purple entwined with the blue in the sky.

"I'm watching it with you, duh. Nothing can beat the one we saw last winter though, seriously."

"Seriously? Why are you so hung up on that one?" I asked opening my window a bit. I could hear footsteps outside my room, probably my mum waking up. She had a lot of work to do with Annie to prepare for Monday which meant I hadn't had a proper talk with her for quite some time.

"I'll tell you that today."

"And you can't tell me now because?"

"Because I will tell you face to face." I sighed, noticing footsteps outside my room.

"I'm meant to be the mysterious one Devon." I complained, quickly shoving my mum's present behind me as surely enough, the door swung open.

"Honey, you're awake early in the morning again." She complained, tying her hair up.

"Hey Picasso, wanna tell my mother who's behind me not getting eight hours of sleep?"

"Good morning Annabelle." Devon said. My mum shook her head, then smiled.

"Good morning to you too Devon. Elaine, I just came to check up on you. Annie and I are sorting through potential applicants today and it's going to take quite some time."

"Oh, is she coming here then?" I asked.

"No, I'm going there. Suzie's taking a day off and apparently Devon told Annie he was busy today." I smiled, glancing at my phone where Devon was still on the line.

"Yeah he is. Are you leaving now?"

"In about two hours. I woke up early to cook us breakfast."

"Aw thank you mother, I will come down in like forty minutes." She turned to go before looking back at me.

"Elaine, that isn't your shirt." I inwardly groaned, aware that Devon was still on the line.

"No mother, it isn't. It's Devon's." She raised an eyebrow, then shrugged before leaving the room.

"Aw is this your way of keeping me close. Wearing my shirt?" I rolled my eyes, getting up and grabbing a towel.

"Devon, I genuinely fell asleep in it by accident. You made me dream of forests you know. Don't worry I'll remember to bring it today." I assured him. It seemed like an eternity passed before he finally replied.

"Um, nah, you keep it." I smiled; the little hesitation he had before replying reminding me of the kind of person he used to be. The Devon I knew now could easily tease the life out of me, be sarcastic towards me, but hesitated in asking me to keep his shirt. In a way, it felt good knowing he didn't just abandon whom he used to be.

"Alright. Thanks. I'll see you soon. Don't want to keep mum waiting."

"I'll see you soon, bye."

I finally made my way into the bathroom, took a shower and changed into neat, comfortable pj's. By the time I reached the kitchen, my mum had already set up the table and was pouring me some orange juice. I sat down in front of her.

"Jesus Christ have I missed your cooking." I mumbled, taking a big bite of the bacon she'd prepared.

"We've both been so busy lately haven't we? Me with Annie, you with Devon."

"Oh mother, you don't have to be coy about it. I'll tell you straight up, me and Devon are going on a date today." I informed her.

"What?! And you're only telling me about this on the day. I mean, honey, this is revolutionary. Do you know how long it's been since you've had a date? Since you were about fourteen years old."

"Thank you for that beautiful reminder mum, really."

"It certainly explains what Devon is busy doing today. Will you kiss him?"

"Mother! Have you ever heard of the consequences that come with being too curious? Eat your food." She chuckled, leaning back on her seat.

"I'm just saying. You and that boy are so compatible, I see a marriage in your future. I mean you have his shirt. Isn't that like a love thing between teenagers?"

"Mum, eat your food. Don't keep Annie waiting."

"Fine, fine. I'll stop. But just one thing." I sighed, looking up at her.

"Go on."

"Make sure to take lots of pictures, so in the future you can show your children how you both looked on your first date."

"Oh my God mum I'm going to the living room." I said, picking up my plate and drink as she laughed behind me.

"Will you please help me wash my plates? I want to stay more, but I have to go!" She called to me.

"Of course! But we need to have a girls day together mum, it's been a long time!" I called back to her as she hopped in the living room trying to put on her shoes.

"I know honey. But come next week, I'll be less busy. Then we can spend as much time together as you want. Have a great dayte. Get it? Day and date?" She asked, bending down to hug me.

"No yeah mum, unfortunately I got it. You too have a great day." I replied, and she stood up, making her way out of the house as my phone started ringing.

"I'm on my way!" Grace exclaimed as soon as I picked up.

"It's only six in the morning Grace, I'm meeting him at one."

"Yeah but I need to raid your wardrobe and pick you something suitable. Plus mum's home today and she would probably make me do morning yoga with her."

"So where are you now?"

"Walking up your driveway. Hi Annabelle!" Grace said and moments later she was barging into my house. I hung up the phone as she flopped down on the couch beside me, taking my plate from my hand and drinking up all my juice.

"Your mum is quite possibly the best cook in the world."

I glared at her as she shoved more of my food into her mouth.

"I had like two bites of that." I accused, getting up to prepare cereal instead.

"What's yours is mine El, don't be so selfish. Especially since I sacrificed my sleep to come and help you."

I rolled my eyes, sitting back down beside her and pouring myself another glass of juice.

"The fact that I love you is the reason why I let you eat my food. And since I know you're about to ask, take my phone, Devon's the last person I talked to. You can interrogate him as you wish." I said, turning the TV on and flicking to a Disney movie. She dialled his number and sometime later he answered.

"I'll make a man out of you!" I sang along with Shang causing Grace to punch me.

"Shut up Elaine, he just said something and I didn't hear!"

"Um, I said hello." Devon clarified.

"You're probably expecting Elaine, but nah it's me Grace, the best friend who advised you to be the boyfriend." Grace answered.

"Yeah, I remember."

"I'm never gonna catch my breath!"

"Yeah! You won't be able to catch your damn breath when I knock it out of you." I glared, pausing the movie as Devon laughed in the background.

"Just because Mulan slays Frozen doesn't mean your salty ass has to be so bitter. You've already stolen my food, do not stop me from looking at my Shang."

"Elaine, I genuinely think you have weed in your room or something, really. So I'll leave you to your Shang."

"Be a man!" I sang, unpausing the movie as Grace left the living room.

A lot of time passed before she finally entered the living room again.

"What do we want?! A girl worth fighting for!" I sang. Grace sat down next to me, turning down the volume.

"One more thing." She said.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm not talking to you El, I'm talking to Devon. As I was saying, did you just hear what Elaine obnoxiously sang like a minute ago? A girl worth fighting for? Well she is, she's a girl worth fighting for. So if you ever hurt her in any way, shape or form, I will honestly track you down and fight you. Here Elaine." She finished, handing me my phone and making her way up the stairs.

I stared at her, mouth opened before glancing at my phone. I laughed, turning up Mulan louder.

"And you wanna know the most amazing and amusing thing? She's actually a whole lot shorter than me."

"Eh, I like her. She's the actual definition of a best friend."

"What did you guys talk about anyway?"

"She said not to tell you, and quite frankly, I'm scared of her, so I'll keep my mouth shut." I burst out laughing as Grace threw her shoes down the stairs.

"Don't worry Devon, I won't let her hurt you. I'll see you later." I said, hanging up and charging my phone.

"Grace! Do not destroy my bedroom! You know how I feel about messiness!" I called up to her, grabbing a blanket and snuggling in to watch my movie in peace.

"Okay, so you're going to meet him at one. But there's going to be quite a lot of traffic now, so you'll need to leave around 12. It's currently 7:20 which gives us roughly four hours to get you ready." Grace explained, coming down the stairs armed with my box of nail polish.

"So I assume you know where he's taking me?" I asked as she laid out a bunch of newspaper and sat on the floor. She patted the space beside her and I complied, sitting down beside her.

"No, he said he knows how easily you can get information out of people." She replied, glancing at me before apparently deciding on the light blue nail polish. "But, he did give me an idea of what I should put your ass in."

"Okay, so what are you putting my ass in?" I asked as she shook her head at my bitten nails. She grabbed a nail file and aggressively started filing down my nails to the point where I knew even if I tried biting them again, I'd always remember the pain and wouldn't dare.

"That's for me to know and for you to see. But I'm still sticking to my original idea." She replied.

"Grace, which part of I can't wear jeans in this weather don't you get?"

"Elaine, shut up and leave everything to me please and thank you. Now, you watch Tangled and let me fix your nails." With the ways her eyebrows were furrowed up and her tongue was poking out, I knew if I dared to interrupt her, she'd probably make me drink nail polish. I sighed, doing as told instead.

And by the time I got to the part of Flynn Rider riding off to save Rapunzel, she finally declared she was finished. I glanced down at my nails, surprised. Although she'd picked out blue nail polish, she'd settled for a baby pink instead, that basically matched what my nails looked like. The only difference being she'd added little drops of rhinestones at the base of my nails.

"Erm, why so simple?" I asked, looking at the time to see it'd taken her thirty minutes to do them.

"Do not ask me questions Elaine. Now blow on your nails to make them perfectly dry, whilst you do that, I'll go sort out your clothes."

"Okay then. But please don't mess up my room. You know it drives me mad."

"Ugh, I did not leave my house to come help my mum's doppelganger get ready. Just come upstairs when your nails are dry."

"Okay your bossiness." I answered, exaggerating blowing on my nails. Ten minutes later, I headed up the stairs with perfectly dried nails. I entered my bedroom to find Grace putting a bunch of stuff on my dressing table. Some clothes were laid down on my bed and a bunch of shoes placed to the side.

"Okay, so I thought long and hard about this. How do I make you look like who you used to be without giving you a heatstroke?"

"And you came up with?"

"Well, you practically used to live in hoodies and jeans, but you always kept it simple. So, I thought it doesn't matter if you can't wear jeans, your simplicity is what made you who you were." She replied.

"I am not comprehending, but go on..."

"So I am going to place you in a maxi skirt and a white top, with white flats. As for makeup, your favourite shimmery pink lip gloss." She explained.

"How simple of you."

"No Elaine, I need to make sure he's good enough for you." I rolled my eyes, as she handed me the outfits, turning around as I quickly changed into it. I glanced at the mirror, looking at the flowy burgundy skirt contrasted with the white top, it really did look simple, but still good for a date.

"Now, sit on the chair my darling I want to do your hair." She grabbed a blanket and tossed it over me before proceeding to yank at my hair with a brush till every knot was unravelled. Next, she packed it up to the sort of ponytail I used to do back when I worked at the home. Then she started braiding it and when she was done and I finally got a chance to look at it in the most awkward way, I realised she did a French braid.

"I might be trying to make you casual, but it's still a date. Now, just let me put your locket on you, and honey you're done." She said, grabbing my locket off my necklace stand and attaching it. I stood up, glancing at myself in the full length mirror. Grace had done a good job of incorporating who I used to be into my clothes. Even though my hair was different, and I wasn't wearing jeans or a hoodie, or sneakers for that matter, she'd still manage to bring back the simplicity I thought I'd lost.

"You know, I'll start dressing like this again more often, it's quite calming." I informed her.

"Well, when you're blessed with naturally good looks, who needs makeup and exaggeration? Anyway, I've already helped you pack your bag with the necessities, you just grab your flats and let's go downstairs for the pictures."

"Thank you Grace, really." I said, hugging her, and grabbing my shoes, heading downstairs with her.

*

"God Grace, I'm more nervous than that time when I had to read for the mayor." I said, checking to see the door was locked before we both headed towards my car.

"Elaine, you compare every nervous moment with that one, you'll be fine. You're just going on a date with a really good friend, he's not alien to you."

"I know, but Devon's a different kind of friend. I can't screw anything up with him." I unlocked my car, but before getting in, Grace stopped me, forcing me to look at her.

She smiled. "I won't tell you what we talked about for so long, but I will say this one thing. You genuinely cannot screw up anything with that boy. You relax, and have fun on your date, let Devon do the rest. Call me tonight." She muttered, hugging me before turning.

"You sure you don't want me to drive you?"

"Nah, you just go straight to Devon!" She answered, walking away.

"Bye Grace!" I called.

I climbed in my car, sent a message to Devon to inform him of me coming before trying not to accelerate towards the Home. By the time I saw the Home in the distance and Devon sitting on the kerb, sketching, I was practically about to faint from anxiousness. I parked, inhaling a bit and checking my mirror before getting out.

Devon, like a true artist was too preoccupied with his sketching to notice my arrival. The Home seemed deserted as well, which meant the children were all probably in the playroom as Annie and my mum were far too busy to actually engage in activities with them. In a way, I was incredibly thankful for that.

I walked up to Devon, who was also pretty casual in a deep burgundy shirt, black trousers, rolled up to his ankles and black trainers, his hair quiffed up and blowing gently in the wind, a beanie placed carelessly on it. With Grace's advice in mind, I sat down beside him, with him apparently still not noticing. I saw that next to him was a picnic basket.

I nudged him, causing his pencil to fly out of his hands and his notebook to drop. He looked bewildered for a minute before finally looking at me, confused. I laughed, leaning back.

"I genuinely could have mugged you and you wouldn't have noticed. What were you drawing anyway?" I asked, picking up his notebook and turning it to the page. "A forest?"

He remained staring at me, until I had to look behind me to make sure someone wasn't about to axe off my head.

"Earth to Devon." I said, waving his notebook in front of his face. He finally smiled, resting on his hands.

"I'm sorry, you just look incredible, kinda lost my thoughts there." I leaned back too, determined not to let my nervousness get the better of me, though I was pretty sure my entire body would be red by now.

"Thank you. You look pretty hot yourself, like a hipster, and we match. You know you should get Tumblr, you'd become famous overnight." He laughed, getting up, and taking the basket before helping me up.

"Thanks, but wouldn't that mean you'd had to share me with a bunch of people?" I noticed he didn't bother letting my arm go, instead interlocking our fingers together which I definitely wasn't going to protest to.

"Oh please, I am above all those people."

"You really are." He answered, completely serious.

"Yeah? So will you tell me where you're taking me? Am I putting my trust in a disguised sociopath? I think Grace put pepper spray in my bag you know." He scoffed, steering me towards the kind of forest area that was pretty close to the Home.

"As if I'd ever hurt you Elaine, just keep walking." I sighed, letting him guide me inside the forest, which he apparently knew how to navigate with ease; making me wonder just how much time he spent wandering it.

"Alright, we're almost there."

"Have I ever told you I despise surprises?" I asked him as he finally stopped and pointed at something.

"No, but that's something I'll add to my list of things I know about you, look." He said, and I faced where he was pointing, which was an opening to the forest that I didn't even know could be there. In the time we'd be walking, I didn't even notice how steep the footpath was. Hidden behind the forest was apparently a lake, with grass that clearly haven't been trodden on often.

The water also looked clear, and fresh with different flowers blossoming around it. Even the trees surrounding it looked different, taller and stronger, and full of life.

"What is this place?" I asked, letting him guide me down a hill that led to the lake.

"Not many people know about it, I don't think. I discovered it some months ago."

"God, it's so serene. Thanks, for taking me here." I said as he took out a blanket out of his basket and spread it on the grass. He sat down, dragging me with him, our shoulders touching.

"It's a special place for me, it's just fitting for you to know about it. You know, you're pretty special to me too."

I smiled, laying back on the blanket, feeling content with the sun shining down on my face. He laid down with me, his head nudging at my shoulder and I instinctively reached out to touch his hair, facing him in the process and knocking his beanie off his head. The sun was shining on him, his hair contrasting with his tanned skin.

"You're too tanned for the UK." I muttered, messing up his hair with the little patterned strokes I'd begun to do. He grinned, moving closer to the point where I could feel his breath grace my face.

"Well that's because I'm not originally from the UK am I? I'm not British." He answered.

"Hmm? Where are you from?"

"Well from what ex mum told me, my dad was Indian and she's Spanish. So half Indian, half Spanish."

"Oh that's why you know Spanish, how sexy of you. I wouldn't even know if I'm half anything, birth mother didn't include the details when she dumped my ass in front of the Home. It's cool though, I'm pale enough to know I'm probably full British. But you, you're like exotic you know, like fruit."

"Fruit, you just compared me to fruit."

"Shut up Devon, say something in Spanish. Do you have the accent, oh my God do you have the accent? Do you know full Spanish?" I asked and he raised an eyebrow smiling.

"Sí yo sé plena Español y sí yo tengo el acento." He answered.

"Okay if I remember correctly, you just said, 'yes I do know full Spanish and yes I do have the accent.' And you certainly do. Please speak Spanish for the rest of your life."

"Elaine, I am not speaking Spanish for the rest of my life."

"I'm just saying, it really works for you. Like you already have the face, with the whole Spanish slash Indian thing, you're the whole package." I muttered, distracted with how messy I was making his hair, but too relaxed to stop. He watched me for a while, before facing the sky.

"Alright mi cariño, whatever you say. That cloud looks a lot like a three legged bunny." He said, pointing towards it.

"Mi cariño." I echoed. "I don't remember what that means, what does it mean?" He faced me, giving me one of his rare, dimpled smiles and shrugged.

"You'll have to find that out yourself." I sighed, shaking my head.

"I'm not even gonna question it, that's what Google's for." A plane flew overhead, and I didn't realise I was watching it go, until Devon poked me.

"Why the fascination with a plane?"

"I've never been on one. I've never stepped out of Devon either, I just wonder what it'd feel like to go somewhere else."

"Hence why you applied for Unis outside Devon?"

"Yeah." I answered as he shifted a bit, fully resting on my shoulder.

"Well, I've been to so many places, it feels nice to actually settle for a while."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. I used to live the circus life remember? Driving around in caravans and living off nature, watching people get high on weed because it's the only source of happiness they can find. I've genuinely lost count of how many places I've been to. It's tiring." I glanced at him, watching as his expression darkened, and I stopped stroking his hair to poke at his dimple instead.

"Is there a place you'd like to go to?"

"Hmm, California I think."

"Really? Me too, which is surprising given your love of the cold." I answered.

"I dunno, it just seems like it'd be a nice place to live. Especially since I've been in bad places before." He replied.

"Bad places?" I asked.

"Yeah, like this one town we travelled to for a show. I don't remember the name, but I remember that it was a town filled with racist people, like from young to old. So there I was 11 years old, with my olive skin and weird eyes and the first time I went with a couple of friends to the town market, people started pointing, some even going as far as shutting down their stalls. And I got so annoyed, and went to ex mum.

And even though she was pretty useless, she did give me one of the best advice I've ever heard, she said "Danté, people will always have something against you. You could either get angry, or use it to your advantage, you choose. So I did, I went back to the market, and I terrorised so many people. Pretty bad of me, but eh."

"Oh my God Devon, what did you do?" I asked, sitting up and pulling him with me. He grabbed the basket and opened it, bringing out two paper plates.

"I didn't have to do much, I just went back to the market, and I'd stand by a stall and watch the terror on their faces as they quickly shut it down, I had way too much fun with it." He answered, bringing out two massive blue frosted cupcakes with silver baubles decorating the base. With pink food colouring, he'd drawn a dove on what I presumed was mine, and a tree on his.

"I swear to God Devon you need to stop." I said, bringing out my phone to take a picture.

"Yeah? Just wait until you taste it."

"Ugh I almost feel bad for destroying this." I muttered, opening the wrapping a bit to bite down into the cupcake. I almost moaned, as something erupted in my mouth.

"Strawberry and raspberry filling. Made it myself." He explained. I looked at him, then back at the cupcake.

"Good looks, amazing talents, a genuinely kind person and apparently a fucking good cook. I'm telling you God spent like a decade sculpting you to perfection. I should be bowing down to you or something, you're like a king." He laughed, as I practically devoured the entire cupcake before opening the wrapper on his.

"I'm glad you like it, there's plenty more food for you." He assured, offering me his cupcake.

"No way, I'm not depriving you of perfection." He smiled, splitting it in half and giving me one half.

"There, now I'm not deprived of perfection am I?"

"Well, God said to help ourselves, so eh." I said, eating his half of the cupcake, the filling trickling down my fingers. "I think I look like a cavewoman right now."

"An adorable cavewoman." I scoffed, looking around my bag for tissue, which Grace had apparently not bothered to put in my bag.

"Do you have tissue?" I asked him as he dug around the basket, producing a plastic bottle filled with what I assumed was pink lemonade and paper cups.

"You know the best thing about filling is licking it."

"Yeah? Well, you can either gimme tissue or lick it off my fingers Devon, I ain't doing it." He smirked, putting down the bottle, and suddenly everything around us seemed to stand still.

"Oh, is that a challenge or an invitation?"

"Take it as you will, I won't do it." I whispered, determined to keep looking at him even though his gaze made me want to crawl in a hole.

"Okay, you asked for it." He muttered, before grabbing my hand and slowly licking off each and every single spot of filling on my fingers. I watched him, physically unable to look away, my pulse getting faster and my heart beat getting louder to the point where I felt dizzy. He pulled away and I glanced at my fingers, then back at him before breaking out in nervous laughter, biting at my bottom lip and playing with my thumbs. He watched me, obviously noticing my nervousness, his lips turned up into a knowing smile.

"You're wild man. I bet I'm going to wake up tomorrow with magically enhanced fingers. I could clone you, you know." I babbled, failing to ease the tension I could still feel.

"Elaine." Devon whispered, moving as close to me as possible, putting the bottle away from us.

"I mean, really, I have your DNA all over me." I mumbled. A plane flew overhead, as he leaned close to me.

"Elaine?"

"Yeah Devon?"

"Shut up." He whispered, putting his hand on my lower neck. I inhaled, glancing down at his lips, my heartbeat getting faster. He looked at me for a moment, his eyes getting darker than I'd ever seen them, as if to wait for my confirmation. I kept his gaze, not daring to look away, and nodded, so slowly, I didn't even know if I actually did it.

He smiled, finally closing the distance between us, his lips coming over mine, strawberry and raspberry seeming to fill up the entire air around us. I closed my eyes, content with how soft his lips were on mine, my heart beating loud in my chest. I wrapped my hands around his neck as he bit down on my bottom lip, causing me to open my mouth.

I moved closer, as his tongue licked at my bottom lip and I tasted raspberry and strawberry, causing me to smile. He smiled too, also sort of moving closer as I hugged him tighter, his hands now rubbing circles on my back. He broke away, clutching at my face and looking at me, as I did the same.

I observed all of his features like it was the first time, his freckles, his long eyelashes, everything that made him who he was. And it filled me up with such a happiness I hadn't felt for anything, the kind of happiness I knew could never be replicated.

"Mi cariño." He whispered, tucking a few lose strands from the front of my hair behind my ear.

"Devon." I whispered, still unable to look away. The wind picked up, swaying the trees around us, making the water ripple.

"You wanna know something Picasso, your eyes are way too intense." He grinned, nudging me with his nose.

"Do you want to know why I'm so hung up on that one sunrise?" He asked, catching me off guard. I nodded, still staring at him.

"Because that morning, when I stayed there with you, even though both of us were freezing, the way you looked when you smiled at the sunrise, was unlike anything I'd ever seen. The way you looked that day was so full of light, and hope, and so much passion that it genuinely made me feel like anything could happen.

You'd just finished telling me about your birth mum, and yet you broke away from that to smile with so much ease, and happiness, as if you believed everything in the world could get better. I never told you, well I'm telling you now, but that was the day I genuinely started to feel something for you. And I pushed it away, because I was incredibly amazing at pushing things away wasn't I?"

"Devon, why are you telling me this now?" I breathed, as he played with my braid. He leaned close and pecked my forehead before replying.

"Because, Elaine, I'm not so amazing at pushing things away anymore. And for seven months, it was so hard for me not to look for you. And when you finally came back, it made me realise how easily it was to lose you, even for seven months. And I don't want to ever experience anything like that again." I swallowed, feeling like bursting into tears, but composing myself.

"And you won't ever have to experience anything like it again, I promise you. And Elaine Preston never breaks her promises remember?" I assured him, stroking his face. People leaving him was something he was used to, and with him being less reserved than before, it made it easy for me to forget that fact. It made it easy for me to forget that he was probably scared of anyone important in his life leaving him, of me or Ellie leaving him. I made a promise to myself then to make his outing with Ellie as special as I could.

"No, she doesn't, and I'm so glad about that." He muttered, leaning forward and capturing my mouth with his own. I complied easily, as my heart started fluttering and the same giddiness I experienced earlier came rushing back. I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips as my phone started violently vibrating in my bag. I pulled away glancing at him.

"I bet you, um, two kisses that that's my mother."

"I bet you three that that's Grace." I smiled, knowing in either scenarios, neither of us would lose. I turned on my phone and looked back at him, grinning.

"You, Devon, owe me two kisses." I said, showing him the proof. He poured out some of the lemonade for me and him, before setting them aside. He then brought out the other contents of the basket: grilled chicken sandwiches, salad, more cupcakes, fruit salad, grapes and berries, yogurt and a big bag of crisps.

"Eh, I'll give you three anyway." He answered, shrugging and I laughed as he pilled food on my plate.

"You know I might just hire you as a personal chef or something. Geeze, I can't eat all of this, I'll die!" I protested, already biting into the sandwiches which tasted like heaven.

"Or you could take it with you and give it to Grace as my way of thanks. I know you're probably going over to her house after this."

"Wise choice Devon, butter her up with her favourite thing in the world, food." I praised, as he separated the grapes on the blanket.

"Ugh let me guess, you're about to make the Mona Lisa with grapes?" He glanced at me, smiling in an amused way.

"Why make her when you're right here? And no, we're playing Ellie gets the grapes."

"Okay um, I do not know what that means?"

"It's a game Ellie made up, and decided to name after herself. So both of us start out with ten grapes, and we continue as normal. But over the course of the day, you have to try and steal my grapes without me knowing or stopping you. Person with the most grapes get bragging rights. Ellie's never lost."

"Because Devon always let her win; don't you dare let me win." He shrugged, opening the bag of grapes.

"You just worry about your grapes."

"Just for that I am going to win. Now, we're going to play 21 questions, but you have to ask me incredibly basic things, like my favourite colour." I said.

"Because?"

"Because I know so many things about you, but not the basics. I'll start, what's your favourite colour?" I asked bringing out a notebook and pen from my bag, and ticking off one question under my name in order for me to remember.

"White of course." He answered.

"Of course? There's a reason?"

"Yeah. White is the colour you could manipulate for anything, you could use it to highlight certain areas, you can blend it into things so easily. It's beautiful. Anyway, I already know your favourite colour, so um, your favourite book." I crossed off a question from him.

"I don't have one, I love reading so much, that asking me to choose between amazing books like: haunting violet, or the fault in our stars or petals in the ashes is like asking me to choose between Grace and you. I can't do it. So, my favourite book is any I have read that has touched me. What's yours?" I asked, ticking off another question from me.

"I don't read much actually, but I am currently reading the hunger games, so maybe that." I scoffed.

"Thank God my entire room is basically one big library, I'm bringing you books tomorrow." I informed him, leaning forward and quickly taking a grape from him.

"You think you're clever don't you?"

"Well, if the shoe fits." I replied, laying back down on the blanket.

"Shut up Elaine; what's your favourite animal?" He asked, popping berries in his mouth.

"I have an unhealthy obsession with cats, white ones and I don't know why, so yeah cats. I am not even gonna ask yours, I know it's going to be dogs, probably golden retrievers. Actually, I'm a hundred percent sure." I stated.

"Yeah well, you do know me." He muttered.

"So I'm right?!"

"You're right. I've always wanted a golden retriever, and I will get one when I can, and I'll name him husky." He explained, swiftly swiping a grape from my pile.

"Back to ten." I sighed, watching the clouds move above me.

After a while, he laid down with me, and we spent the rest of the afternoon learning what we could about each other, eating lazily whilst laying down. And when it finally started to get chilly, and I knew we had to leave, I brought out my Polaroid camera.

I looked at him, fiddling with my locket.

"There's space in my locket for one more picture." I revealed, flipping the locket open and showing the picture of my mum and dad to him.

"Ready?" I asked him, going over to his side and sitting beside him as he fitted his beanie back on his incredibly messed up hair.

"Ready." He answered, tilting my head up to look at him. I closed my eyes instinctively and he placed a kiss on my forehead, just as I took the picture. I opened my eyes, looking down as the photo developed. And when it finally did, I beamed up at him, extremely content.

"Wow, can't believe it's already five." He commented, getting up and picking up the basket. He removed the blanket and I helped him dust off grass before wrapping it up. I held on to it as we left the forest, and walked back to the Home, both lost in thoughts. When we reached, I saw that my mum's car was gone from the driveway and I finally checked my phone to see that Grace was apparently going to sleep over at my house tonight.

"Say hi to everyone for me will you? Grace is coming over apparently, so I need to go set up. I'll see you tomorrow." I said, as he walked me to my car and placed the basket inside. I turned to him, as he pulled me closer and I played with the collar of his shirt.

"Thanks, for today Devon. It's jumped to number one of my most amazing day list." I said. He laughed, bending down to my height and kissing me slowly, three times.

"There, now I don't owe you anymore, do I? And I don't have an amazing day list you weirdo, but today's been added to my brand new list."

"Now, who's the weirdo? And I believe you owed me four, not three." I said, tugging on his shirt. He sighed playfully, shrugging.

"Very well, I suppose I'll hurt my ego one last time." He whispered, backing me up a bit until my back was resting against Grasyon and he kissed me again, softly, and longer, tugging at my lip a bit.

"Oh and one more thing." I said, when we pulled away, unlocking Grayson.

"Yeah?"

"Who won Ellie gets the grapes?" I asked him and he smiled, as I climbed inside Grasyon.

"Just this once, I'll call it a tie. Bye, mi cariño." He said, stepping back.

"Bye Devon, thank you." I replied, driving off, feeling weightless and free, unable to wipe the smile from my face.

"Elaine, stop. You'll give yourself face cramps." I muttered, making me smile wider as I sped off towards my house, eager to talk to Grace and my mum, fit the picture in my locket and research whatever the heck 'mi cariño' meant.

When I finally arrived at my house, I saw Grace sitting down on the porch with my mum, both engaged in a deep conversation. I stepped out of Grayson, grabbing the basket and heading over to them.

"Is there a reason you guys are outside?" I asked, sitting down with them.

"It started to get a bit too stuffy in the house honey." My mum answered, looking me over.

"Grace, her lips are plump." She said and I groaned, quickly getting up and heading inside the house, with them trailing after me.

"Don't you dare." I warned, bringing out the picture I had taken and hunting around for my arts supplies.

"Oh my God Elaine, this is so cute!" Grace exclaimed, taking the picture and showing it to my mum. I sighed, sitting down on the couch, watching them. They glanced at me, sitting down on the couch in front of me.

"Are you going to tell us everything about your date now, or later?"

"Do I have a choice either way? I brought you guys food from our picnic." I said, putting the basket on the table.

"Damn, the boy can cook too?" Grace asked, going to the kitchen and coming back with plates.

"I recommend the cupcakes first." I said, taking the picture and working on it to get it to fit in my locket. True to their word, Grace and mum made me spill everything about the date, excluding where he took me and some things he said to me, I knew some things had to remain personal. After getting the picture inside the locket, we watched movies until my mum excused herself to bed.

"I um, brought my filming supplies with me, I wanted to do a video with you. My fans complain about me always going on and on about Elaine, but never including her in videos or pictures." Grace said.

"Grace, you know I'm camera shy." She sighed.

"Okay, and you know I'd never force you to do what you don't want to do." She said. I smiled, leaning over to hug her.

"But, you are my best friend and you've done so much for me, so let's do it."

"Yes! Thank you! It's a how much do you know your best friend thing. I'll go set up your room." She said, running up the stairs and I smiled, bringing out my phone.

"Now, let's find out whatever the hell mi cariño means." I muttered, searching it up.

"Mi cariño. A Spanish way of showing affection to someone, it's loosely translated to my love." I read. I glanced at the screen, rereading it, as my heart started beating faster. I remembered the smile he'd given me when he said I'd have to find out what it meant myself. I opened the locket, seeing the picture of me and Devon on one side, and my mum and dad on the other side.

Content, I made my way upstairs to Grace.

*

a/n: so um i am desperate to know all your thoughts on this chapter; did i do it justice, i hope i did. this is the chapter i know most have been waiting for since elaine and devon met in art, so i hope it matched up to expectations. okay, so vote if you enjoyed this chapter c: