July 3rd 2015, Sunday

I woke up feeling happy and I quickly got dressed, ready to start the day. I wasn't sure what time I could visit the Home without feeling like I was too eager, especially now that I didn't really have any business being there.

As usual, I checked the weather before deciding on wearing shorts and a crop top. I grabbed my sneakers and head down to the kitchen.

"You have plans today?" My mum asked as soon as she saw me and I nodded, grabbing a strawberry smoothie out of the fridge.

"Erm yeah, Devon told me to write him something, I told him to paint me something. I'm just going to give it to him today." I informed her and she immediately started smiling.

"So whatever it was the problem you had with accepting your feelings for him, is that resolved now?" She asked and I shrugged, choosing to stay nonchalant.

"Actually mum, he solved them for me. Never mind that. What's on your agenda today?" I asked.

"Well, me and Annie are off to go talk to the mayor. It seems like if we play our cards right, we might get his stamp of approval on our project today." She announced and I grinned, happy that their hard work finally had a chance on coming to pass. This meant that Aaron, Andre, Ellie and the other children all had chances of living with families who would take good care of them.

"Wait, mum. Is Devon part of this? I mean, he's almost 18." I ask and she shakes her head.

"No, he specifically requested that he's not involved. I don't know why, but I suppose he'll tell you if asked." She replied and I nodded making a mental note to ask him later. I probably knew the reason anyway.

"I wish you both good luck today though. This is such a huge chance for the children." It was moments like this that made me all the more prouder of my mum.

"Thank you honey, you have a nice day too." She replied, getting her bag and leaving the house. I sighed, deciding to make myself some breakfast and call Grace who I knew was definitely awake.

"Sup." She answered, as I bring out some eggs and bacon.

"Just seeing if you want to come over and hang out before you have to go to your piano lesson." I replied.

"You are a life saver my darling. Otherwise I would have had to listen to mum nag all day." She whispered, obviously so her mum couldn't hear. Grace's mother was so unlike mine in the terms that her mother was strict, bossy and controlling, as Grace had described her. When she was nine, Grace took a minuscule interest in piano and ever since then her mother had been forcing her to take lessons with a teacher every day.

"Just come right over, should I make you breakfast?"

"Please do. My mum is on this new diet she is making me and dad endure. I'll be there in ten." She answered.

"See you then." I replied, hanging up and bringing out a couple more eggs and bacon. I played some music as I cooked, thinking of what I had wrote for Devon.

By the time I finished cooking, my doorbell was frantically ringing. I sighed and dialed Grace's number.

"How is it you arrived just as I finished cooking? Just take the spare key where you know we put it. I can't be bothered to walk to the door." I tell her as soon as she picked up and hung up. Minutes later she was entering the house and coming straight to the kitchen.

"Rude, you do not hang up on people like that." She complained sitting down on the counter.

"I made you breakfast, I have the right." I replied, handing her the plate of food and a carton of juice. She made her way to the living room and I followed with my own plate of food and two cups. We sat down on the couch and I pulled the table towards us until we both got comfortable.

"Did you text Trent?" I asked, turning the TV on and she shook her head.

"Not yet. I don't know what to say." She murmured and I sighed, holding out my hand.

"Phone, now." I commanded and she rolled her eyes handing it to me.

I navigated through her contacts until I found Trent's name and proceeded to text him.

"What did you say?!" She demanded and I smiled.

"Hey." I replied and she laughed, settling deeper into the couch.

"I hope this doesn't classify me as a beg." She muttered and I shrugged.

"I doubt texting a boy "hey" classifies you as a beg." I answered, eating my food happily.

"Okay, how about broody boy. When are you seeing him?"

"Broody boy. Once again, no comment. And I'll go over when I drive you to your lesson." I replied.

"You know I'm actually so happy about this. I need to meet him, to like thank him or something." She informed me.

"And you will, once you don't have to go to piano lessons every day."

"Actually, the instructor is off on holiday next week Saturday, so I'm free for the summer. Though I have all those Uni open days to go to because my mum made me apply to at least 20."

"Ugh, Grace we're going to Uni this year do you know how weird that is?"

"At least you have your mind set on English, I can't take acting like I want. My mum wants me to take a music course but how do I tell her I despise the piano?"

"Grace you need to talk to your mum before she sets you on a path you'll hate in the future." I warned her and she sighed.

"You don't think I know that? But talking to her is like talking to a ton of bricks, I might as well be talking to air." She replied. Grace had a rough relationship with her mother, who often compared her to her sister and critisised her any chance she got.

"But you can't stay in Uni for like two years doing music when I know how awesome you are at acting, it's unfair." I complained.

"Yes, but she just won't listen. The last time I suggested acting, she had a fit I swear she almost convulsed." The thought of Grace's mum having a fit sent me into a laughing frenzy that ended with me and Grace sprawled on the floor.

"Oh God! Remember that time I came to your house and we decided to paint our nails?" I ask in between laughter.

"And every time we placed the nail varnish down, she'd like inhale because she thought we would destroy her precious carpet." Grace finished for me which resulted in us having another laughing fit.

"I feel so bad laughing at her like this." I inform her when we've both calmed down.

"Please it makes me feel better." She muttered and I sighed, hugging her.

"I just hope you find a way to talk to her soon Grace."

"Me too El, me too. Otherwise I'll end up living a life I'll regret." She whispered.

*

After watching two movies, Grace making me sing along to frozen and her panicking over Trent not texting back, I finally drove her to her piano lesson.

"Text me as soon as Trent replies." I say to her and she nods before entering the music studio. I sigh, taking out my writing from my bag and reading over it again before driving towards the Home. The clouds were beginning to thicken and I knew it was only moments away before Devon was about to experience a huge downpour.

By the time I reached the Home, little droplets of rain was starting to drop and I quickly knocked on the door, careful not to get my bag wet; more concerned on the work inside than the actual bag.

The door swung open to reveal Suzie and she hugged me, pulling me inside the Home at the same time.

"Oh thank God you're here! Annie's gone with Annabelle and I need input on wedding dresses!" She exclaimed as an explanation and I grinned.

"I'd be happy to help you." I answer, going over to her reception and sitting down on the spare chair as she brings up a website.

"Okay, so I'm stuck between five dresses, plus I don't know if it'd be a good idea to order online, you know, just in case I end up hating it." She informed me then showing me the five dresses.

"Shouldn't they have these in stock, why don't we go to their actual store? I'm sure they have one on the high street." I informed her, already checking on my phone for the details.

"You wouldn't mind, I mean we'll have to wait for Devon to get back." She asked hopeful and I shook my head.

"Of course not." I answer, grabbing my bag and remembering that Devon did tell me he went to art apprenticeships every Sunday; just as the door swung open to reveal a very wet Devon, shaking his hair to get rid of the water in his hair.

"Did I not tell you to take an umbrella artist boy?" Suzie asked grinning in a very smug way.

"Don't worry Suzie, he'll get inspiration from this, and a cold." I say causing both of us to giggle. Devon scowled which made him look all the more adorable.

"Mind looking after the children for some time? Me and Elaine are off to do some wedding shopping." Suzie informed him and he turned to me.

"Are you coming back?" He asked and I nodded.

"Of course." I answer, then liking arms with Suzie as we made our way out.

"My car or yours?" I asked her.

"Yours, I don't like driving in the rain." She shudders and I smile as we dash towards my car, with me unlocking it and getting in.

"You're all grown up now, it's hard to believe you were the same girl that first came to the Home seven months ago, asking for Annie." Suzie commented as I sped towards the high street.

"Oh yeah, you were the very first person I met at the Home weren't you?"

"Yes, and now look. I'm getting married, and you and Devon are so close." She pointed out, smiling at me suggestively.

"Well, I'm just happy he's more engaged with everything if I'm being honest." I answered back and she shrugged.

"Remember that day when you guys went out for groceries and you came back half-filled to the brim with snow and Devon was trying to wipe the stupid grin off his face, I knew then you would definitely be the one to help him with getting him out of his shell." She informed me.

"Mum and Annie told you everything didn't they?" I asked, careful to keep my eyes on the road.

"I find it cute that you have a crush on Devon. I don't blame you really."

"Suzie, I'm pretty sure that classifies as incest and you're getting married next month." I joked and she laughed.

"No I'm just saying, I don't know who would be a better match for him than you."

"I'm pretty sure that's biased Suzie, he barely know any other teenage girls." I reminded her, turning the radio on.

"Even if he did, none of them would know him like you do. Don't fight me on this." By this point we were close to the high street where the annual summer festival was starting to be prepared for in full swing. Even though small compared to the rest of England, the town of Devon sure knew how to throw festivals.

Ever since the late 90's it became a sort of tradition to throw a whole town festival every single summer, preparations starting from the first of July and the actual festival starting from the 15th of July and ending on the 30th of July.

The High street workers usually ended up earning a ton of money during that period because that was when tourists flocked to our town, all trying to enrich themselves in fun. People were running to and fro, hanging up lanterns and fairy lights and putting up more colours as if the town of Devon wasn't colourful enough.

I pulled in to the driveway of the wedding shop which was incredibly popular in Devon. The exterior of the shop was incredibly beautiful, everything holding it up made of sheer glass that paved way for the beautiful dresses inside. Right at the top in glass was the shops' name Enchanted.

We ran inside the store, the rain picking up. How the people of Devon could work in both heat and heavy downpour was beyond me. There was a long queue of brides to be waiting for assistants to guide them around the store and we stood in line, waiting for our turn.

After ten minutes, we finally arrived at the front and a pretty brunette receptionist beamed at us.

"Good afternoon, my name is Bridgette, how may I help you today?" She said in a voice that made it very obvious that she has said this a thousand times and was probably bored of it. I glanced at Suzie.

"Just looking for wedding dresses." She replied in a totally sarcastic voice. The receptionist's smile wavered a bit, but it quickly flicked back to her lips.

"Buying or browsing?" She asked.

"Browsing for today." Suzie replied.

"Great, just wait over there and an assistant will be right with you." We went over to where she directed us and sat down on one of the plush chairs.

"We're so coming back here Elaine. Me, you, Annie, Annabelle and my friends and my mum, we're all coming back here." Suzie gushed, obviously enthralled at the thought of her upcoming wedding.

"God, I can't wait for your wedding! When's the specific date?" I ask, marveling at the dresses, all unique and beautiful in their own way.

"July 30th, the end of the summer festival." She answered as a young woman, looking to be around Suzie's age with bright pink hair make her way towards us.

"Hello, I'm Jasmine. Your assistant for today." She beamed at us, unlike Bridgette, she seemed to really like her job.

"Great! Let's get started then." Suzie answers, standing up, prompting me to do the same.

"So I'm told you're only browsing today? Any specifics for me to work on?" Jasmine asked and I pull out my phone, revealing the pictures I had taken of the dresses Suzie had picked earlier.

"Erm yeah, specifically these dresses? We came to check if they're in stock." Suzie answered, handing my phone to Jasmine who took note of something on her notepad after flicking through each one.

"Awesome! So the great thing is four out of these are available and there is plenty in stock, the last one, however will have to be re-delivered, but seeing as you're just browsing, it shouldn't be a problem, oh and are you trying them on today? When exactly are you coming back for the actual buying process?" Jasmine asked leading us down the aisle to go check out one of the dresses.

"I would rather try them all on when I have all my friends and family present here, and I'm coming back this Tuesday. That's when I can gather everyone together." Suzie announced.

"Alrighty. And here we are, the first dress." Jasmine informed us, stopping in front of the princessy gown Suzie had picked out earlier. She took it from the rail and handed it to Suzie who stared at it in awe; as I was. The dress, although a bit too puffy, made sure that any bride to be who wore it would never not be the center of attention. The bodice was lined head to toe with Swarovski crystals all glistening as Suzie held it to the light.

The dress was simpler at the bottom, the only sort of design coming from the ruching at the bottom of the skirt.

"Oh God Suzie this is beautiful and it's only the first one." I exclaimed as she held it to her, glancing at herself in the mirrors that lined every single path of the shop.

"How am I meant to choose on Tuesday?" She exclaimed, handing the dress back to Jasmine who fitted it in place. Jasmine smiled as she started steering us to another aisle, and finally stopped in front of another dress.

After browsing through more than five dresses and Suzie having an emotional moment with each passing dress, we finally made our way out of Enchanted with a promise to come back on Tuesday and headed outside to see a glistening rainbow draped all over the town.

"Good luck to you on Tuesday, seriously." I said as we entered my car.

Suzie sighed beside me as if bewildered.

"You know how many people I'll have to please with one wedding dress?" Suzie asked as I made a detour towards Starbucks.

"One, only yourself Suzie. Don't let anyone else sway your opinion on Tuesday." I warned her and she nodded, biting her lip to show she was still nervous.

"I still need to look for bridesmaids dresses and there's the whole maid of honour thing. Ugh." She complained as we entered Starbucks and waited in line.

"Suzie, it'll be fine. You have so much support from all of us, we'll make sure your wedding is smooth sailing." I assured her as we got to the front and quickly ordered before making our way back to the Home.

I could see my mum's car as we pulled into the driveway and just as we're about to walk the stairs to open the door, my mum walks out, laughing at something Annie said.

"Mother!" I exclaimed, hugging her and she seemed caught off guard before hugging me back.

"So how did it go?" Suzie asked expectantly and one look at Annie's radiant smile said it all, the Home's project was approved.

"Starting from next week, we can start accepting applicants. Annabelle you're amazing!" Annie proclaimed and I grinned, loving when others praised my mum and probably basking in it more than I should.

"As if I could have gotten this done without you!" My mum answered.

"Suzie, me and Annabelle were just going out to celebrate. It's quite late so the children have already gone to their rooms. Are you coming? Girl's night out?" Annie asked.

"Elaine, you wouldn't mind right?" Mum asked and I shook my head, stepping pass them to enter the home.

"You go have fun. Did you remember your key or do you want me to wait up for you?" I asked her.

"No I remembered. I'll see you at home El!" She cried, walking away with Annie and Suzie. As they got farther, I could hear Suzie gush about her trip to the store with me and I smiled, genuinely happy for her.

"How long are you going to smile at the door?" Devon's voice said from behind me making my heart beat rise up. I inhaled, trying to clear my head before turning back to him and giving him a smile I hoped didn't look constipated. My trip with Suzie had apparently taken longer than I thought as I glanced at the watch and saw it was already 8:06.

"I was not smiling at the door." I answer, moving from him and going to the empty playroom. Without the children playing in there, it felt weird and I stepped outside to find Devon waiting by the door.

"My room's a whole lost cozier." He muttered and I shrugged, following him up. I was glad to see that his door was still covered in the graffiti, though I could see that a lot more had been added to it, all layering on top of one another.

He opened the door and walked in. I tentatively stepped in, remembering that I hadn't been up there since I said goodbye to him. I looked around his room, feeling like something was off until it finally hit me.

Where the caravan painting was supposed to be behind his bed was now a painting of a dream catcher instead; painted in a kaleidoscopic way. The circles were purple, all entwining with one another, making me feel almost hypnotic looking at it. The feathers were a prominent mixture of pink and orange, blending into each other and the strings, they had to be my favourite parts.

He'd painted vines instead of strings, snaking around each other. He'd gone with all the shades of red for the strings, the very top being deep burgundy and the bottom reverting into a light red. I glanced at him and back at the painting, then back at him.

"I am rendered speechless." I finally say and he gave me one of his rare smiles, the one where his dimple peeked out and his eyes crinkle at the side.

"Thanks, I figured it was time the caravan disappeared." He gave as an explanation, sitting on his bed. I sat down at the edge, not knowing if I was allowed to get comfortable or not.

"You know you can pull your back out sitting like that." He pointed out and I sighed, and finally sat down properly, letting myself relax.

"I should have seen this before you tasked me with the writing thing, the abundance of inspiration that would have wrapped around me like a blanket would have been incredulous." I inform him and he started laughing. I look around for the source of his laughter.

"What?" I ask at last.

"Yeah you definitely would have gotten inspiration, did you just hear yourself speak. Abundance, incredulous and a simile." He pointed out and I groan, smacking my forehead. Grace told me I had a problem with speaking like Shakespeare whenever something moved or motivated me and she had just been proving right.

"Shut up broody boy." It was out before I could stop it.

"Broody boy?" He asked and I could actually feel the colour rise to my cheeks before it got there.

"Grace, I am going to murder you." I mutter to myself, hoping to distract him from what I just said.

"Broody boy?" He asked again, finding amusement in me being flustered.

"Just read the freaking thing." I mutter, grabbing the paper out of my bag and shoving it towards him.

"Alright preppy princess." He replied and I glared at him, snatching the paper out of his hand.

"You did not just call me preppy princess, how is that even better than broody boy?"

"You're the one that's supposedly good with words and you came up with broody boy." He pointed out and I scoffed.

"Well excuse me, broody boy." I said, emphasizing on the words. "I did not come up with it, Grace did."

"And Grace is?" He asked.

"Going to be murdered by me." I answer, smiling sweetly and shoving the paper at him.

"Perfection. The very word makes a person recoil as if burnt by the poisonous venom of a deadly snake, it makes a person turn into a martyr eager to give their views on the fact that perfection can't be achieved. Perfection, a word that most believe is as reachable as touching God himself, yet most can't let go of striving for it. The obsession to be perfect leads a person dangling by a thread, waiting for a chance to be hit by that all important limelight.

Human beings are as fragile as pieces of glass, yet as dangerous as the blood glass can produce when it seeps into your skin. We are the very definition of an irony, because we assure each other that everyone is perfect in their own way, but somehow believing it for ourselves becomes a challenge.

Perfection. A word that most people spend their life trying to achieve, but yet they don't understand. P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N it's just a word, it shouldn't be a state of life."

I finally looked up as Devon finished reading it.

"Erm, it came to me after I called you yesterday and I was trying to make everything perfect, like I do with my grades." I give as a sort of explanation since he just stared at me blankly. He smiled, reaching to the side of his bed and producing his painting for me. I couldn't explain the smile that came from me, one of my own rare smiles, the one I've only ever given to my mum and Grace. No one else.

Whenever I smiled like that, my heart always felt like it was about to leap out and my head always felt light headed as if I had no air left to sustain my lungs. Devon's painting for me was of me, actually two of me. On one side, he'd painted the me when I'd been at the home and surrounded it with little drawings of what had been part of me then. Snow and volleyballs, and anything else he could recall of the me then.

The other me was the one I was right now, and he'd surrounded that with what he recently learned about me, paintings of books and writing and Grayson. Right in the middle, he's painted basketballs and my cheer leading outfit.

Underneath he'd written, you might think you've changed a lot for whatever reason, but the "you then" is still the same as the "you now." What makes you up as a person is what makes you perfect, so please stop striving for perfection. -Devon.

"Thank you, for this, seriously, thank you." I could tell just how much effort he'd put into it because the painting was a lot larger than his other ones and I was so thankful to have Grayson so I wouldn't have to drag it around on the bus.

"Apparently, we think alike."

"Well literally all of my inspiration came from your words." I replied truthfully.

"El, you're amazing at writing." He complimented and I stared at his duvet, not knowing how to take compliments from him.

"Well I just like expressing myself through words." I mumble as my phone started beeping multiple times indicating that Grace was probably on the verge of dying of happiness.

"Well you do that beautifully." He says and I nodded, standing up from his bed and taking the painting.

"I should, um, probably go." I said, heading towards the door.

"Elaine, are you coming back?" He asked.

"Um, yeah, on Tuesday. Suzie wants us all to go with her for selecting her dress." I answered.

"Oh, well, I'll call you preppy princess." He replied grinning and I laughed.

"Please stick to art Devon." I begged, smiling and leaving his room, feeling elated.

As soon as I got back home, I hung the painting up right behind my own bed; a constant remind for whenever I forgot to stop striving for perfection.

*

A/N: I am now going to officially start posting Passion! I have two more exams left which doesn't require vigorous prep or concentration, so I thought why not! I hope you're as excited as I am for the development of Passion. Comment your thoughts on this chapter, ask any questions you want about this chapter, and vote if you enjoyed it!

Happy reading!!!