"Sweetheart, you need to rest, go to your room", my Mom orders as soon as I step into the living room.

I sigh loudly. "Mom, I'm fine, can I not watch some TV?", I whine childishly.

"Absolutely not", Brody answers for her. I turn my head in the other direction; raising an eyebrow in mock annoyance.

"Who's side are you on?", I question; placing a hand on my hip.

"Sorry Tash, you know I love you. Really, I do. But I'm with your Mom on this one. You need to rest", Brody replies smugly.

Some friend he is.

"Traitor", I mutter under my breath; apparently a little too loud.

"What was that?", Brody asks; cupping his ear with his hand.

"Oh, nothing of importance", I wave my hands around; brushing it away.

"That's what I thought", A smug smirk appears on Brody's face, and I want nothing more than to just wipe it right off.

Remind me again why I like him?

"You little-

"Ok, Ok, let's not", my mom intervenes in our little fight; standing in between us. I cross my arms over my chest; huffing in annoyance. "It was his fault", I blame.

"Excuse me, I-

"No, stop it you two. You're like Tom and Jerry. Only worse", Brody begins to speak, but is cut off by my mom.

"Mom, are you calling me a cat?", I question incredulously.

"No, sweetheart, I'm not", she replies;  the corners of her mouth tugging into a warm smile.

She tenderly places her hand on my shoulder, "I'm calling you a mouse", she says cheekily, whilst trying to suppress a laugh. My mouth drops open and my eyes widen in shock.

Excuse me?

"Ooh, burnnnnn!!", Brody cheers from beside me; clutching his stomach while doubling over in laughter.

I feel the love.

"Mommmm", I whine, "I'm not that small." Brody pats my head; ruffling up my hair, effectively ruining it more than it already was.

"I hate to break it to you babe, but you are", he smirks at me. I can't help myself, and before I know it, a blush creeps up my neck, and onto my face.

He called me Babe. The word rolls off his tongue so perfectly.

But seriously, he needs to stop smirking.

"Ok, Ok, cut it out now you two", my mom warns. I squat Brody's hand away from my head; 'accidentally' scratching him with my nails in the process. 

"Oww", Brody whinges; pouting like a baby.I let the corners of my mouth tug up into a sly smirk.

Payback's a bitch.

"Sorry, it was an accident", I lie; batting my eyelashes at him, a little too sweetly.

"Yeah,right,an accident", Brody says, clearly unconvinced.

"Natasha, baby, bed. Now", my mom commands.

"But mom-

"No but's, bed."

"Fine", I give in.

I begin to trudge up the stairs, but halt in my tracks at the sound of Brody's voice.

"Wait, can't I get a goodbye hug?"

I spin on my heel; frowning violently as I walk towards Brody.

"You're leaving?", I question sadly.

"Yeah, I need to go and meet my....", he pauses for a moment; trailing away.

"Your?", I urge him to continue.

"My...Cousin", he answers after a few seconds.

That was strange. 

"Your cousin?", I ask; raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, he's having girlfriend drama", he answers.

"Oh, okay", I lean forward and wrap my arms around Brody's neck; hugging him tightly. "Bye", I whisper into his ear

He tightens his grip around my waist; pulling me closer to his torso. "Bye, get lots of rest", he reciprocates.

"I will", I chuckle as I reluctantly pull away.

"Goodbye Miss Pearson", Brody says as he gives my mother a hug.

"Bye Brody, stay safe", she tells him; hugging him back just as tightly.

Brody pulls away from my mom, and sends me one last smile, and a wave, before opening the front door; exiting the house.

I watch his retreating figure from my window as he strides over to his car. The muscles in his back tense with every step he takes. I smile to myself as I remember the moment he hugged me back. His beautiful hands resting against my waist, it felt so perfect, like a fairytale.

Unfortunately for me, that's all it was. In reality, he'll never like me like that, and I'll just have to accept this fact, and try to get over him.

Key word being: try. It ain't gonna be easy.

"Somebody's whipped", I turn my head around, to see my Mom standing behind me; wriggling her eyebrows at me in a teasing manner.

"No, I'm not", I fib blatantly.

"Yes you are, you're whipped like whipped cream", she continues to tease me; a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Stopp", I reprimand; jutting my bottom lip out, pouting playfully.

"My baby's got a crush!", she repeats over and over again in a sing-song  voice.

"Mom, stop, seriously", I deadpan.

"Ok, Ok, I'll stop", she says. She then proceeds to lean closer to my face, moving towards my ear. "For now", she whispers.

"You do that Mom, you do that."

I then kiss my mom on the forehead, "Goodnight mom." I say against her warm skin. Spinning around, I make my way over to my bedroom.

"Night! Whipped chick!" I chuckle as my mom shouts from the bottom of the staircase.

Mom, you're a funny one.

***
Beep. Beep. Beep.

The sound of my phone gains my attention. I grab it from my bedside table, and check to see who the message is from.

Leah: Hey hun, how are you?

I don't take five seconds to reply.

Me: I'm great sweets, What about you?

Leah: I'm faboosh!

Me: You seem awfully excited, what's New?

Leah: Well. I'm getting a new phone, and I'm going to see The Vamps soon!!

Me: Ahhh! I'm so jealous!

Leah: Aww, don't worry, I'll take pictures!

Me: Gee, thanks chicken.

Leah: No problem. Anyways, my dad is calling me. Night <3

Me: Night <3

After I have sent that last text message, I switch my phone off, and place it back on the bedside table.

As I lay on my bed, on my belly; watching the clock tick, I can't help but let my mind wonder back to that person. Brody.

I've never felt like this before, it's completely New to me. It's a mixture of so many different emotions, and it's beautiful. I know I said I didn't believe in stuff like this, but one can't help but wonder. He makes me feel so special. He treats me like I'm something so precious. That if he loses me, it would be disastrous. This all feels like a fairytale. It can't be reality, my reality could never be this perfect.

Sometimes, I feel like, maybe, just maybe, I could have my shot at this. That maybe, I could experience the joys of being in a relationship. That maybe, just maybe, Brody feels the same way.

But I don't dare act upon it. Maybe won't do. I couldn't possibly risk ruining our friendship for 'maybe'. My delusions aren't worth losing Brody for. They just aren't.

So I won't tell him. I can't. But I know one thing, that if this is meant to be, it will happen.  If this is what Destiny has planned for me, it will happen.

And,with that optimism thought in mind, I soon drift off to sleep. To the land of rainbows. And ponies. And Brody.

***

Hey guys! So I know this chapter wasn't very eventful, but trust me, it's all leading up to some serious Drama soon! Can't wait to write the next few Chapters!!

Ari x