"Let's change into normal clothes before we go to my dad," Sammy decides, and motions at the stairs that were on our right. "Come on."

I'm kind of nervous for attending her house for the first time knowing that one of her parents already hates me.

"Admit the motorcycle wasn't that scary," I say. "Even though you were clinging around me like a koala."

Not gonna say I didn't enjoy that.

Also, she's walking up the stairs right now and I glare at her for one second before I immediately look down, not wanting to disrespect her though I can feel my stomach do a flip.

"I was clinging around you like a koala for a reason." She turns around with a sigh . "Come on now."

"I get it, I get it- I'm flustered too, but I'd really prefer to act like a gentleman instead of having awesome, by the way, view of your ass- ow!"

She didn't have to throw a shoe at me!

Maybe I shouldn't have added the awesome.

Too flirty?

Hm, no.

"Follow me and just look down as you do so."

I clear my throat as I obey. I change in the bathroom as Sammy does in her bedroom, and I wonder what it looks like. Probably cozy and full of books.

"Ready?"

I put my hands on my hips. "I'll be a gentleman."

She scoffs, then opens the door only to get attack by a hug as the man I assume is her father yells her name out ik happiness.

"And this must be Minho. Nice to meet you, Buddy."

A small, curly-haired man stands in front of me, his smile welcome enough.

I shake his hand. "Likewise, Sir."

Be a gentleman: check.

Sammy sits down next to Jeff's chair while that boy gets up and gives me our usual hug.

"Yo, man! Good to see you."

I claim the other seat next to Sammy. "Smells good here."

Compliments: check.

"Looks good, Dad." She smiles.

Ugh, her smile.

I try not to stare at how adorable she looks.

"So." Her father looks around. "How were your days?"

"Good!" With an already stuffed mouth, Jeff holds up his thumb. "Dad and I went fishing this morning, Sam."

"That's... cool."

She definitely doesn't find it cool.

"I went shopping and then backpacked on Minho's motorcycle. Never gonna do that again."

I mentally protest.

But I chuckle under my breath. "It was pretty cool. Come on."

"Cool it is," her father agrees. "Nice, Minho. And what'd you buy, Sam?"

"Tote bags!"
"One hundred percent books."

Sam looks from her brother to me. "Both. Good guesses."

Tote bags. I keep that in my if I ever happen to buy her something.

Proud, I cross his arms, knowing it affects Sammy because she immediately looks up at me.

"What books did you buy? And the bag?"

"The bag is purple. Got black letters on it. Plenty of books. I barely even remember."

I snicker. She obviously knows damn well which nasty books she bought this time.

Her father smiles in satisfaction, "And you, Minho? Did anything special today?"

"Not really." I shrug. "Went for a run and picked Sammy up. This food's awesome, by the way."

Another compliment: check.

If this father didn't love me when he saw me first, he must love me now.

I hope.

Gratefully, her father smiles even brighter at me. "I'm glad you like it." A pause. "How's school been going? I hope mom's not watching you guys too closely, or is she?"

I see Sammy's smile fade. A warning goes off in my head, and I might already feel the desire to know more about this because I don't want her to be hurt or anything.

Jeff speaks about the basketball game and I join in, not wanting to make things too obvious.

Then, we all watch Sammy.

"Every Monday we have to go run for PE. I like that. And... I finished an assignment for English yesterday. Not much else has been going on."

Something was up about that assignment.

"You're gonna watch our game, right? It's-"

"Outside, I know." She nods. I frown, and I don't enjoy the feeling that's forming in my chest. Sighing Sammy explains, "Gally texted me if I wanted to watch. He already told me it's outside."

"Gally?" Jeff furrows his eyebrows. "Are you serious?"

I agree with Jeff. Again, I never really liked Gally and certainly not around Sammy.

Not to be possessive! Please just anyone but Gally.

Annoyed, Sam throws her head back. Man, her neck. "What's wrong with Gally? Or both of your problems with him, at least?"

Then I nearly burst out at myself. Flames rise up my face and I feel them burning inside my body from embarrassment. I can't drool over someone's neck.

"We don't have any problems with Gally."

"Not at all," I add.

"Boys, if Sam likes this Gally and you two don't, that's alright."

"But she's gonna have to watch the game for us, not Gally," Jeff protests. Sammy rolls her eyes.

"Yeah," I agree. Immediate agree.

Sammy no longer replies. I only sense her father staring at me when she takes more sips of her drink. "Any plans for the weekend?"

"Not really, Sir."

"Call me Sahil." He lies his hands on the table. "I mean, if you don't have any plans, you're free to spend the night here."

I nearly choke on nothing.

Stay. The. Night. Over. At. Sammy's.

Did I hear that correctly?

But then, I'm reminded we're fake dating and Sammy's probably a bit uncomfortable right now.

"Uh-" I meet her gaze.

Man, her eyes.

And mentally hit myself again.

First, man her smile.
Then, man her neck.
Then, man her eyes.

I can't keep manning her features or whatever it is I'm doing.

Damn, her eyes.

Goddamn, her eyes.

Holy, her eyes.

Hm.

"You should, man!" Jeff encourages.

"I mostly suggested that so Sam has some company, and not for you to steal her boyfriend, but whatever works."

Sahil probably just made the embarrassment of Sammy worse.

And mine too. A little bit.

I clear my throat. "Okay, I'll stay here. If Sammy agrees- at least. Otherwise I would've spent my time at school anyways, and I'm already spending my time there the whole week."

Truth. My home sucks because no one is ever home and when there is, no one's happy.

"Uh- okay. Sure, Minho can stay. I'd like that."

Obviously it's a lie, I can see it, but it still satisfies me that those words left her mouth.

"Then that's settled!" Still smiling, her father gets up. "I'm gonna make a dessert ready. You three go do something else for a while."

"Wanna-"

"He's busy. Sorry, Jeff." She suddenly touches my arm and it's like an electric shot goes through it. Then, she pulls me toward the stairs. "You want the answers to those tests, right?"

"Uh... I guess," I mutter, totally taken aback because I don't want to use Sammy for grades anymore, never have, and she's freaking touching me.

"You guess?" She stops. Turns around. "It's yes or no."

I swallow. "It feels wrong."

"Yeah- it is wrong." She leans her mother's office's desk. "But we're not fake dating for nothing and this is one of the few chances we're gonna get, Minho. So what will it be?"

Shit, man. I don't want to hear her say fake dating. I do enjoy my name coming out of her mouth.

"Fine," I decide as a grunt leaves my mouth. "I've got maths and biology soon."

She starts looking and I try not to stare.

"I got biology!" She holds up some papers, which I take. "Tell me if you see or hear anyone approach."

"Will do."

Five minutes later, she stands straight up with more papers. Her breaths are heavy and cheeks flush from bending over those dressers the whole time, and I again, mentally punish myself for admiring her again.

"Got it."

"I think I heard-"

Before I can even finish that sentence, the door handle gets pressed down.

"Shit," she curses, and all the papers fall out of her hands.

The next thing that happens is something that would happen in my dreams.

Has happened in my dreams.

Her lips crash onto mine as she pins me against the wall, guiding my hands on her waist. Later, I can't stop myself from lowering them because she's so damn... well, words can't describe it.

Her lips are soft and sweet and my knees buckle at them. She holds my face, her touch leaving a burn I can feel in my bones, and I think I might be dying.

"Sam, Honey, there really wasn't a possibility to wait after the dessert? And in your mom's office, really? I mean- you're free to... whatever is going on here, you're almost nineteen, but uh-"

"Right. Sorry." Her breaths are even heavier when she lets go of me and I mentally curse.

"Dessert's ready. No one replied when I called," her father speaks, "so that's why I came to... check up. I'll keep in mind to never do that again."

"I'd recommend you to do so, yes. We'll be downstairs in a second."

She turns back to me, face even redder and breaths very audible in the quiet room.

Sammy lets her head fall against my chest. I hold back a groan at it. "Sorry," she mumbled.

Once I realize my hands are still on her butt, I remove them. "Let's just go downstairs before Jeff starts bullying me," I suggest.

She nods. "Yeah, let's do that."

Good thing, she didn't complain about anything.

I'm making progress.

The tension between us during the dessert is awful, and I can't bring myself to look at her or I'll go crazy.

"Sir- I mean, Sahil?" I cough. "Where do I sleep tonight...?"

I wouldn't mind sleeping next to Sammy, but I'll be fine somewhere else too. I don't want to overwhelm her or even give away I have this tiny crush on her.

"Wherever you want, Kid."

My eyes linger on her face for just a second before I avert them. "I'll take the couch. I don't want to make Sammy uncomfortable."

"Maybe Jeff would like it if you stayed with him."

"Of course."

"Okay, awesome." I nod. "Thanks."

Jeff lends me some clothes and I try to focus on his talks, but I don't think my mind will work properly until I've thanked Sammy and wished her a good night.

"I'll be back in a second," I tell him, and open Sammy's door without thinking.

"Hey."

Her eyes widened and she flinches, which I smile at.

"Sorry, didn't want to scare you. Just... thanks for the answers. I appreciate it. And I'll try to work a bit harder myself."

She smiles, too. And I melt. "You're welcome. Night, Minho. Let me know if Jeff is too annoying."

I chuckle. "I'm sure it'll be fine, but thanks. Good night, Sammy."