Today is Friday and we're going to the beach house after school. I'm in last period right now, staring into space because it's dragging. The bell finally went and everyone hurried out of the room. I was last as always. When I came out, Cody was stood with his back resting against the wall with one leg resting on it.

"Hi." I smiled. "Hey." He kicked himself off and held out his arms. "Why are you here?" I asked as I hugged him. "If I get to you first, I can walk home with you." "So it's a competition?" I began walking to my locker.

"I guess you could call it that." "And do I get a choice between your sister and yourself?" "If you choose myself, you get a choice." He smiled innocently. I laughed at him and opened my locker. "I need you to make a decision about this weekend." He said. "What's that?" "I'm gonna need you to choose to sleep with me." "Why?"

"Because I wanna sleep in a double bed." "So if I choose Alli we get the double bed?" "Don't be annoying." He moaned. "Poor bubba." I played. "Also I don't wanna share a room with Tom or sleep on the pull out." "Hmm. Interesting." I rubbed my chin. "I think I can make it worth your while." He smirked at me.

"They'll be right next door!" "So?" He opened the door for me. "Where's Alli?" I looked around. "With her boyfriend." He said in a mocking tone. "You don't like him." "Nope. Not at all." He shook his head quickly which made me laugh.

"So what's wrong with them being next door?" He asked. We started walking and he slid his fingers between mine. "They could come in or hear us or I dunno." "You worry too much." He laughed. "You're careless." "I'm careless?" He stopped walking. "I just mean that you don't care if we get caught." I pulled him to start walking again.

"Hmm." He hummed quietly. I looked up at him but he stared forwards. We walked the rest of the way without saying anything to each other. "See you in a bit." He stopped by my gate. "You're not coming in?" "I need to pack." He looked at his front door. "You mean you're mad at me?" I pulled his chin back to look at me.

"I do care." He sighed. "Come here." I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down so I could kiss him. "I didn't mean that you don't care, okay?" "Mhm." He nodded. "I love you." "I love you." He replied. I moved away but he pulled me back. "I'm not done being sad yet." He pouted.

"Yes you are." I kissed his lips and pulled away. "Pack something special." He said. "Why?" "I might have planned something." "Might or have?" "You'll have to find out." He smiled and walked to his front door. I walked to mine but stopped. "Does anyon-" "If you ask someone to find out, it will be cancelled." "Loser." I narrowed my eyes. "Dork." He smirked and went inside.

I went in to find Dad kissing someone in the kitchen. I'm guessing it was his girlfriend. "Excuse me?" I coughed. "Izzy, I didn't hear you come in." "Clearly." I looked the woman up and down. "This is Sam." "Isn't that a boy's name?" I folded my arms. "Samantha." She smiled and held out her hand.

"Hi." I said without moving. "Izzy.." Dad warned. "I've gotta go pack. Sorry I can't stay to join in with the fun." "Isobella, be nice." "I don't want to stand here and watch you make out. You're forty. It's wrong." "Your sixteen, I've watched you make out with your boyfriend." "You didn't have to watch." I pointed out.

"Izzy, I know why you're upset but if you could just give me a chance? We could end up being very close." "It's Isobella." I corrected and went to my room. I got out a bag and began throwing clothes around my room as I tried to find what I wanted for the weekend and for tonight.

There was a knock at the door. "What?" I asked. Samantha or Sam, if you like, came into the room. "Can I speak with you?" She asked softly. I shrugged and made a space for her on my bed. "I understand where you're coming from, it's disgusting to watch your parents kiss-" "Parent." "I meant that."

"Carry on." I allowed. "But I strongly believe that we could get on very well if you'd give me a chance. I never want to replace your mom, please don't think that. I have children too, two boys. You guys could meet each other and I could give my boys and sister and give you brothers, would you like that?" "I'm very busy." I said.

A noise sounded on my balcony but I didn't react because I knew it was Cody. "Isobella Gra- Hi." He stopped. "Cody, this is Dad's girlfriend, Sam. Sam, this is my boyfriend, Cody." "We met the other day, didn't we?" She got up to shake his hand. Cody hesitantly nodded while looking at me as if he knew he was in trouble.

"I better leave you kids alone." She said and left. "Yes you should." I said once the door was closed. Cody laughed and laid on the bed on top of all my clothes. "Cody!" I moaned. "Cody!" He copied me while getting up.

"Can I wear this tonight?" I held up a black playsuit. "No. I can't get those off of you in moments of need." "Moments of need?" I questioned. "Yes." "You don't need to take my clothes off at any point." "That's where you're wrong, Isobella Grace. I do need to take your clothes off sometimes." He said.

"This white dress is nice." He picked it up. It was lace but had a plain thing underneath. There was also a nude belt around the waist. "I'll take that. I have another dress I've packed too though." I took it and put it in the bag. "I came over because I need help and when I asked Alli she laughed at me." "Why do you need help?" "I cannot pack." "Oh wow." I laughed a little.

"Let me finish." I said. Cody nodded and walked onto the balcony. He was looking over the edge while he waited. I finished and we went over to his house. "I have it all laid out but I can't fold it." "You have too much." "No, I don't." "You've got four shirts and three pants. Where's your underwear?" "Oh yeah." He laughed.

"You're such a loser." I giggled. He threw a few pairs of underwear at me. "Two shirts and one pants. Some stuff for swimming and towel." I said. He picked his favorites of the clothes on his bed and handed it all to me. I folded and packed it into his his bag. "Oh wait!" He went into his bathroom and came out with a box of condoms.

"You don't need the whole box." I laughed and took two before throwing the box back. "Nothing is guaranteed." I told him as I put them in his bag. "It's better to be safe than sorry." He grinned cutely. "Adorable." I laughed.

"Cody..?" I said as a question. "Mmmm?" "Why didn't you tell me you'd met her?" "It was only briefly while I was talking to Daddy. And Daddy didn't want you to know I'd met her before you had. He already felt bad enough for keeping her behind your back for almost a ye-" He suddenly stopped and stared at me. Guilt was clear on his face.

"Almost a year?!" I shouted. "He told you that?!" I walked towards him which made him move back until his back hit the door. "You never told me?!" "I only found out on Tuesday!" "It's now Friday! You had all week to tell me but you never did! I thought we were supposed to-" "He made me promise!" He defended.

"I can't believe you." I shook my head at him and left the room. "Where are you going?" He followed me. I went into Alli's room and slammed the door before he could follow me. "Woah." Alli turned around. "Dad's been dating that slut for almost a year. ALMOST A YEAR! He never told me! Cody knew as well!" "When did he find out?!" She asked.

"On Tuesday!" "Don't get mad at him then, it's not like he lied to you." "He didn't exactly tell me the truth though." I folded my arms. "You're just upset." She held out her arms. I sighed and let her hug me. There was shuffling around and then Alli spun me around and then I was wrapped up in Cody's arms.

His hands held my thighs as he lifted me off the floor. I held his shoulders and his my face in his neck. "It's okay, baby." He said once he'd closed his bedroom door. He sat down on the bed with me on his lap. "No it's not. Mom knows he was lying and never helped me to find out." I said. "She's up there watching him and never gave me a signal." I looked up. Cody did the same and then smiled.

"Well maybe she saw that he was finally happy and saw how happy this woman could make you. Maybe she trusts that you will never replace her so she found you someone to fulfil the things that she can no longer give you. Like days at the spa and boy talks and mother-daughter time. She knows what she's doing, she's a smart woman and I trust her. You should do too. You're her baby and she only wants what's best for you." "I do trust her." I looked up again.

"I think she saved you." I said. "You do?" "She saw that you were hurting so she made us walk home together one time. And then she made us become attached." "You mean you think she's the one responsible for your fate?" "Yes. I think she wanted Alli to know so she showed her and helped her catch us." I nodded.

"You have a lot of faith in your mother, don't you?" "She's the only one who's always there to listen." I said. "You have two people now." He kissed my nose. "How are you feeling today?" I asked. "I'm doing okay. I'm starting to need less time alone." "That's good." I smiled. "It is." "And you see that what you're doing is good for yourself?"

"I'm helping myself and even though sometimes I want to lie in bed all day, I have reasons to get up now. I never want to deduct the minutes I'm allowed to spend with you. We both know that our time is limited and no one knows when it's gonna end." "Exactly." I smiled. "I also know that I wanna kiss you." He said. "Whatcha waiting for?" I raised my eyebrows.

It took an hour and a half in the car but once we got to the beach house we all ran inside to choose bedrooms. "We're having this roooom!" Cody bounced on the bed. "That's not fair!" Alli fought. "I always have this room!" She said. "I never have this room." Tommy pouted. "I'm having this room. Get off my bed." Alli stood on the bed.

"Alli's bouncing." Cody teased and held her hands as he jumped. "Cody!" She tried to get away but he held on. "You'd think he was eight." Angie laughed as she stood in the doorway. "He's happy and comfortable." I replied with a smile. "Perfect combination." She returned the smile.

"Mom!" Alli screamed. "Cody, leave your sister alone." "Tell her that this is my room." He let go. "Cody and Izzy are sharing this room." "But I'm always in here." "Not anymore." Cody smiled cockily. I laughed at him. "It's all your fault." She blamed me playfully. "Couldn't be more sorry." I sarcastically apologized.

"Are you and Tom sharing the twin room or are you sleeping on the pull out in the living room?" "Is that a double bed?" "You know the answer to that." "I'm on there then." She smiled. "I'm gonna be lonely." Tommy pouted. "Don't make me feel guilty." Alli scolded as they walked out of the room.

Cody fell onto his back. I watched his body bounce gently until it laid motionless. He turned his head to look at me. "Hey, pretty." He smiled. I rolled my eyes and put my bag on the dresser. "Come lie with me." He patted the space next to him. I crawled up the bed and laid with him. "It's really bouncy." I laughed.

"If we leave at seven, when do you start getting ready?" Cody asked." "Half five." "Half five?!" He repeated in shock. "I'm a girl. I don't just throw something on and go." "I don't do that either." "You always have an answer, don't you?" "Mhm." He nodded. "You better start getting ready." He looked at his watch. "I'm having a shower." I said. "Enjoy." He watched me leave the room.