Looking through old photos of Casey and his first girlfriend, Raquel, had Snow awwing at the times when they were together. It looked like going through an old timeline that was once a part of Casey's life that she couldn't quite believe.

The two of them never followed each other on Instagram, so when she followed him and got access to his private profile, there were photos of him and Raquel. Snow finally got to know how Raquel looked like, and she could see how beautiful she was.

"You two were so cute together," Snow said, gazing at a photo where Raquel had her arms firmly wrapped around Casey's neck with her smile to the front and with Casey's head leaning next to hers with a slight smile appeared on his lips. It must have been at night when they took it with the background dark, and their faces flashed in silver lighting.

Pictures of couples were absolutely horrifying to peek her eyes at, but it was amusing to preview the photos and selfies between those two. Casey and Raquel looked like one of those couples she would kill to be like them.  

Snow scrolled through another picture. They looked mysterious together. Raquel mostly was concealed by half of her hair, and just her eye was visible. She held Casey close to her, with her hand covering half of his face with part of his nose sticking out. It was another night selfie photo.

Casey was sitting next to Snow on the couch as he watched her on her phone to view his Instagram photos. "Having fun seeing what we looked like together?" he asked.

"How is it possible that both of you are so cute? They looked like a year ago, but I can't believe you posted photos." She couldn't peg him as that type of lover.

He was private with his life but wouldn't mind posting some photos between him and his girlfriend. It sounded unbelievably sweet to her.

She read the caption he put. she's taking over my life.

"Must be nice to have photos with someone you really like," Snow said.

Casey leaned his head back against the headrest. "Yeah, we used to take lots of photos together. I have more in my phone than on there."

"I guess you two really hung out a lot."

"We did."

"So she really is pretty. You must have felt so lucky." 

Casey kept his thoughts to himself as Snow looked at a couple more photos. She couldn't lie to herself that Casey with someone else was mind-blowing, but it did happen to him that he and Raquel had their kind of bonding that was between them. If Snow and Casey weren't testing out what they had with them, she'd totally support the two as a couple because their photos were just total couple goals written all over.

Then she stopped at this particular one. Casey was kissing her cheek while he held the side of her face. She focused on his thumb near her jaw and the way his hand was large and was on her neck. Raquel had her fist closed as it looked like she tightened her grip on his shirt. She was smiling beautifully. Both of them had their eyes closed, but their expression was much like Snow would see in any couple she observed before. 

Like they were happy and in love. How they looked comfortable and had no other thoughts but each other.

The caption perfectly captured the mood and love there was with them.

Hoping for a forever kind of thing with you. 

He even wrote her username in the description, and Snow truly believed now that Casey was head over heels during that time that was taken.

"You looked really good together... with her," she said, with her eyes still staying on her phone.

"I didn't know you guys were this good together. You two shouldn't have broken up."

Would it feel weird to root for the two of them together? Maybe they're the real couple...

He narrowed his eyes at her with his weird and confused look. "You're saying I should get back together with her?"

Snow glanced at her phone for several seconds, and then she was meeting his eyes. She should be the kind of girl to assert her dominance and say no. That she wanted him where he was. But frankly, these photos would make her think differently. "You still could..."

"Then you don't want to see me?"

"I didn't say that." She curled her lips down.

Casey cocked his head with a raised brow. "That's funny. Didn't you just say how we were cute together, but you don't want to let me go?" He started to inch closer to her as she uncomfortably reared her head back.

He gave her a look. It was almost threatening to her. "Don't you dare play with me."

"But I wasn't."

"Then do you like me?" he asked.

As though on cue, she was immediately flustered. "You already know how I feel about you."

"Say it."

She made her voice lowered. "I don't have to say it again."

He looked the other way. "I could always call her."

"Right now?"

Snow moved her gaze back at the loving photo of Casey and Raquel. Would Casey be this happy again if he was still with her instead of being here with her? Even from just a picture, she could feel their chemistry with so much love in them.

Without warning, Casey took her phone off her hands. "Why don't you just tell me how you really feel?" he said before he swiftly moved in to place his lips on hers.

Any upcoming thoughts about him with Raquel were stopped as the focus now was how he took up the space between them. Since when did Casey sense her small pit of insecurity? Always. She knew this answer. Her hand moved on its own as it reached his arm. By that slight touch prompted him to push her down to the couch, and she landed her head on the pillow.

He seized hold to the back of her neck with one hand, and it made her shiver. There were subtle moments when she would feel his soft lips. What they had between them and so far of their casual relationship was still unthinkable. Seconds after he went gentle on her, he clung to her with a bit of firmness into the kiss. 

She instinctively with quickness wrapped her hands around his neck, holding him as she needed him truly. He must be great at making her forget about minor inconvenience if that was the goal, but she didn't mind this.

Could kissing a boy she liked be great? Especially on her couch at home?

They were just forgetting everything for a moment except for them. It was enjoyable for a short while, but their contact with one another was minimized. She opened up her eyes, and his eyes settled on her as if he's taking his time to study her and her facial features. Even when Snow could understand him little by little, there was still something else with the way his expression was unreadable and not giving anything away.

"Casey," Snow breathed his name.

He looked at her deeply for a few seconds and then said, "I'm a ask again now, do you like me?"

It's like his stare could pierce holes if it wanted to, and she found it unescapable with a suspicion that he wouldn't let this go until she answered him. "Do I need to say it?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I like you. I like you a lot. It's you I like, Casey."

"Now isn't that better to let it out?" Casey chuckled softly.

With his thumb delicately on her cheek, the smallest warmth was giving her noticeable goosebumps. She was cautious of his every little action of where his eyes wandered, how he looked at her, but more so, she was holding her breath at this indescribable moment between them. She could tell he was being considerate of his body weight to not let it press it down against her, and he had to hold himself up but their faces were inches apart.

"Don't think you're any lesser, okay? I'm spending my time with you. Doesn't that mean anything? It's nice to see you think of my happiness, but as of right now, I'm good where we are." He looked at her quietly, asking with his lifted brows as though he wanted to confirm with her with an 'alright?'

So he did that to make me forget about her? Aww... Snow broke out into a small smile that she couldn't help when she was with him. 

"Okay. Thank you for letting me know." She slowly raked the front of his hair, brushing a small side part of his side bangs out of the way so she could see him better.

"I think it's time I asked."

"What are you going to ask?"

"Remember how when you told your parents about me and how we start seeing each other? And your dad bombarded me with so many questions after you told me he wanted to see me? I think he dislikes me but doesn't say it."

"He doesn't dislike you," she laughed. "I think he just really wanted to thoroughly get to know you."

"More like investigate me and do a background check."

"You're exaggerating."

"Anyway," Casey said. "I think it's time."

That evening, Casey took Snow to his house to invite her over for dinner. Coming inside his house, the living room was a stark silhouette with only the low setting of dimmed lights from the lamps that glowed a warm yellow. Did he always live this way, she wondered.

There was a sound of a cabinet opening and closing, and it came from the kitchen. Even the setting of the kitchen was adjusted in low lighting when they walked in. A woman stood there, checking her options between the two food boxes on the countertop. She flicked her gaze between them back and forth until it looked like she decided when she picked a box up.

"Hey mom," Casey called to her attention. "I brought someone over... I thought you would like to meet her." He laid a hand on Snow's shoulder.

Through discerning her features in the low darkness and the small intensity of light that struck her face, Snow could tell just how beautiful she was in the small distance. Her dark hair—the same as Casey's in mid-length with a laidback look and in '70s shag cut style, featuring the blunt fringe that framed her face effortlessly. Her straight arched eyebrow looked done and seemingly natural. There was a strong similarity with her nose and mouth just like Casey's. Even that same innocent stare she's giving to the two of them was the same. She could look almost the same height as Snow, however.

Snow put her hand up to wave in a friendly gesture. "Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Shauna, but you may also call me Snow."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Hello," she said to her and turned to face Casey in questioning. "You brought home a different girl?"

Casey smiled abashedly. "Yeah, I mentioned to you once about her."

The shock registered on her face. She stared off into space absentmindedly like she didn't know what to think of it. A few seconds, she looked his way. "I guess it's a good start for you."

No strength to her voice as it sounded just barely there and detached. It's like how someone would say congrats but not reach their enthusiasm into it. Remembering how Casey told the history between them and his family, Snow couldn't help how saddening it was. She wanted to boost the atmosphere.

"What are you making?" Snow asked cheerfully.

Casey's mom turned her head in slow motion towards the box into her hand. "Oh... I was going to make Mac and Cheese. I didn't think Casey would be home an hour early, so I didn't think of making anything yet for him."

"Do you have more boxes? I think we could make them together."

"Wait, what's together?" she asked, unsure.

"I could offer to make dinner with you."

"Ummm, that's not necessary."

"I don't mind." Snow walked closer to her. "I learned how to make a few things when I could sometimes help out my parents. Plus, it would help me to get a chance to know you a little bit."

"Sounds like it's time for me to be in my room for a bit," Casey spoke up, pointing to the direction to out down the hallway. "I think you might like her, mom," he mentioned quickly, then leaving in sight.

Snow smiled at her. They increased the setting of the light in the kitchen so it didn't look dull around them. After they did the simple water boiling in the pot, Snow added the mac and cheese, and Casey's mom stirred it around.

The room was quiet with just the sound of stirring. She watched her as her eyes just focused on the pot. "So, I can see where Casey got his beautiful looks from," Snow complimented.

"Oh," she said quietly. "I supposed we may have some similarities."

"He told me before that it's just you and him in the family."

"Yeah."

"I think you've done a good job raising him."

"Yeah?"

Snow nodded. "I like him and the ways things are going right now. I hope that maybe I could drop by sometimes and say hi more often."

Casey's mom peered her curiosity at her. "It's okay. I'm glad... you're able to help Casey being by his side. I used to hear him sometimes talk about Raquel... you heard about her, right?" Snow nodded, and she continued, "He was really at a loss when she broke up with him. He reminds me of me when he loses motivation of things..."

She checked the condition of the mac and cheese and let the water boil a while longer. Snow offered to take the pot over to the sink where she dumped the water and macaroni over the colander. She shook it around, getting the excess of water out, and returned to place the macaroni in the pot. Casey's mom took the butter and milk out from the fridge.

"I think it's absolutely normal to feel down and feel grieved over the loss of a loved one. We care about the ones we're always with. I would feel the same too if I thought about losing anyone." A soft smile took over her face, checking over her shoulder at her.

"Casey doesn't talk much about you. Just that you're someone recently that improved his life significantly."

"Oh yeah?" Snow's eyes shifted embarrassedly. I made his life a little better?

The next few minutes the mac and cheese turned outdone in honey color, steaming hot onto the plates they set out. Even if it was a five-minute routine of doing the food, Snow had fun preparing it with Casey's mom. It didn't have to be anything fancy or intricate and just simple and normal-looking for her to know she's going to enjoy the meal with them.

"This was fun. Thank you for letting me do this with you." Snow smiled appreciatively.

"It's not much, you know? Just a simple follow the instruction in the package box," Casey's mom replied.

"I know, but I like chatting with you. You're nice to talk to."

At those words she spoke, she saw her cracking just a mere smile.

"Is this what Casey sees in you? Letting people know and making them feel good about themselves..." She stared at her. "You look like you're an honest person."

She looked up for a second, pondering about she looked to be perceived. "I do like to live an honest life. It helps to be more authentic."

"You do look at things a little different, but... it's not bad."

Snow thought that maybe his mother could soften up a little just like him. "I hope I could be good for Casey eventually."

"If he comes home happier than he wakes up, I count it as a success," she said considerately.

Casey walked into the kitchen, his hands touching the countertops. "I smell dinner ready." He spotted the mac and cheese on the large plates. "Nice."

His mother gave Snow a fleeting glance but was speaking to Casey. "Maybe you could tell me more about how you two met."

She smiled, hearing those words at how she sparked tiny interest.

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Hello, I hope your November is going well. And that you like this cute chapter. I have at least two more ideas before concluding this whole story. 

I'll start planning out my next story in December and will announce when I'll be updating frequently. It's going to be kind of fun because I just have a feeling those two leads in my story will just be kinda funny and combined with a little chaos in the mix. They'll be different from our two main leads here. I hope you'll look forward to it! 

Please vote and comment as it means the world to me.