“No.”

The words slipped out of my mouth after a couple of minutes passed. Drew’s face fell and I swallowed up all the emotions for a quick while.

“You’re facing a lot of problems,” I rushed out, silently pointing to Ariel, “I don’t think dating would be appropriate for now.”

He nodded in understanding before letting out a deep sigh from his nose, “Can we clarify one thing?”

“Shoot.”

“Will you go out with me even if it’s not right now?”

Like reflex, I nodded. Honestly, if these dramas weren’t happening, I would have jumped up and down before kissing him like silly.

“Promise,” I smiled sincerely.

*

*

*

Humming a tune to myself, I grabbed the popcorn from the microwave and transferred everything into a bowl. Placing the bowl on a tray along with a can of diet coke and a glass of milk, I started to make my way back into my room.

Savannah sat on my bed with her teddy bear engulfed in her arms while she stared in fascination on my laptop screen.

“Here we go,” I plopped down on the area next to her and handed her the glass of milk. She gave me a toothy grin as she took the glass from my hand. Taking my can of coke, I placed the popcorn in between us.

“So what should we watch tonight?” I asked her, scrolling through the videos I had saved in my laptop.

“Disney!” she squealed and I laughed at her expense.

Last night, I went home when I tied the loose ends at the hospital. My parents were fortunately asleep with the guests already gone. I found Savannah still asleep in my bed and thank God my bed was a queen size, the two of us managed to fit.

I explained everything to her in the morning and she looked overjoyed that she was staying with me. My parents met her already and they adored Savannah, much to my confusion. Jazzy said that it was because Savannah reminded my parents of a younger version of me.

While I knew Drew was busy looking after his mother, I decided to allow Savannah to stay with me until I knew Ariel was already stable.

“How about the Lion King?” I suggested and she nodded her head vigorously.

The Circle of Life sounded through my room as the movie started. Savannah clapped and sang through most of the songs. When the scene where Simba found Mufasa dead appeared, she was already wailing with her head buried in one of my pillows.

“Why did Simba’s daddy need to die?” she sniffed.

I paused the movie to turn to her, “It’s the circle of life. Simba needs to learn how to be a true king without his father.”

“Will he miss his daddy?” she asked, staring up to me with the same green eyes Drew has.

“He will,” I responded.

She looked down and started to fidget with her fingers, “I miss my daddy.”

My breathing hitched, I haven’t seen Savannah’s point of view about her father’s imprisonment.

“Mommy said that he’s resting somewhere but he hasn’t come home since Christmas,” she muttered sadly.

“Come here,” I said, gesturing to my lap. She crawled on my sheets and found her spot in between my crossed legs. I hugged her from behind and kissed the top of her head, “I’m sure your daddy will be home soon.”

“Do you promise?” she asked, looking up to me with the most hopeful look I have seen on a child.

I wasn’t even sure myself but something inside of me made me say, “Promise.”

She smiled at this and pointed to the paused movie on my laptop. I laughed at this and played the video again.

Halfway through the movie, a knock on the door sounded.

“Come in.”

Jazzy allowed herself in and looked at Savannah, “Savannah, do you want to help me bake a cake?”

I gave her a curious look, it was nearing seven already and she decides now to bake a cake. I was about to object because I didn’t like having Savannah eating sweets when it’s almost her bedtime but when the word cake escaped Jazzy’s mouth, she sprung out of bed.

She ran out of my room faster than the speed of light, when she was gone, I gave Jazzy a disapproving look.

“You’re in charge of getting her in bed,” I told her, knowing there was no way to tame a little girl once she had sweets before bed.

“It’s worth it,” Jazzy shrugged and I raised a brow.

“Worth what?”

She didn’t answer my question but she only gave me a teasing smile before walking out of my door. I looked at the closed door and back to my laptop.

Oh well, Hakuna Matata.

Getting more comfortable in my sheets, I grabbed the bowl of popcorn and continued on with the movie.

My door opened once again and I didn’t even bother on looking who it was. I guess it was jazzy because I knew it would be a huge hassle to pull Savannah out of a kitchen full of goodies.

A deep voice cleared his throat. Last time I recalled, Jazzy didn’t have a deep voice.

Lifting my eyes from the screen, I gaped at Drew Everett standing at my doorway.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, standing up from my bed.

He held up a Chinese takeaway bag and shook it, “I brought food.”

“I see that, captain obvious,” I said sarcastically, reaching to turn on the light which I dimmed when we started to watch the movie.

“Want to eat them?”

“Where are you going with this?” I suddenly asked just to cut off the casual talk.

“Look,” he started off, setting down the takeaway on my dresser, “You promised me a date and that’s what we’re going to have.”

“In my bedroom?”

“In your bedroom,” he confirmed.

“And Ariel…” I trailed off gently, I was afraid that it was still a sore subject for him.

“According to the doctors, mom’s already stable.”

“I find it hard to believe you’ll just leave your mom even if she was stable.”

“My aunt arrived this afternoon. She practically shooed me out of the hospital when she learned I haven’t left since yesterday,” he explained while shaking his head at the memory, “So here I am now.”

“With a takeaway bag,” I pointed at the food sitting on top of my dresser, “Does this have something to do with the fact Savannah is likely having a sugar rush in my kitchen right now?”

He smirked at me and grabbed the food. He handed me a box with a pair of chopstick and he grabbed his own.

“So what are we watching?” he asked, crashing down on my bed.

I looked down on the box in my hand then back at him. So we’re really doing this? We’re really going to have a date? In my bedroom, while we eat Chinese takeaway.

“For once in your life, stop over thinking things,” Drew suddenly said, stopping my train of thoughts, “Remember, Hukana Matata.”

“Are you seriously going to give me a Lion King reference?” I teased, moving to sit next to him.

“It’s what you’re watching,” he pointed out.

“How about we choose another movie?” I suggested, closing the window that was playing The Lion King.

He scrolled through the movie files and I laughed at what he highlighted. He looked at me, silently asking me if it was okay with an amused smile on his face. I shrugged in response and he started to play the movie.

Twilight.

Honestly, we were laughing throughout the whole movie. When it was supposed to be dramatic, Drew would make a comment on how stupid it was and we’ll both end up cracking up.

We deserted our empty boxes of food on my bedside table and we chose another movie that we both knew wouldn’t suck. No pun intended.

It’s Kind Of A Funny Story.

“I like Craig and Noelle’s relationship,” I muttered, resting my head on his shoulders.

“Why?”

“It shows that even with your imperfections, you’re still perfect for the other person,” I explained, “And even if they’re both hurting, they somehow fill up the gaps in each other.”

“How can you say?”

“Noelle taught Craig how to live a little, he always over thinking things.”

“Just like what you do,” he whispered, “You’re like Craig.”

“And you’re like Noelle,” I replied, “Though I could say that you’re tamer than her.”

We watched the rest of the movie, laughing at the funny scenes and staying intensively quiet when a scene like when Bobby started to mess the things around the room.

“You know,” I laughed, “We have our own kind of a funny story.”

“Maybe…”

“I had fun,” I said, closing my laptop and placing at the side.

“So is that a success for a date?” Drew asked, suddenly all serious.

I smiled and kissed him on the cheek, “Yes, it’s a success. A little unplanned but a success nonetheless.”

“So where does this place us?”

I paused for moment to think. Were we really prepared for a relationship? Right now, there’s nothing I want more than to be with Drew.

He asked me that question, silently giving me the decision. If I didn’t want this, he looked like he’ll accept it.

That’s what I like about him.

He gives me freedom, our relationship didn’t lock and limit each other. Maybe this is only because we’re not official. I’m quite afraid that if we do give our relationship a title, something will change between us.

“I want to be with you,” I told him truthfully.

He seemed to urge me on. His green eyes telling me to continue, he knew it that there was a but in this conversation.

“Are you sure we’re ready for this?” I asked.

He ran a hand through his hair and leaned his head on one of my pillows, “If we’re not ready now, will we ever be?”

Senior year was running faster than expected. Soon enough, we’ll find ourselves at the middle or prom then graduation.

 For once in your life, stop over thinking things.

Drew’s words rang in my head and I gave him one more look. I could never stop over thinking things, that was how I’ve been raised by my parents. To make sure every single detail was seen.

But Drew made me forget everything that I used to do. He taught me how to live a little, for a huge portion of my life, I saw myself as unfortunate for having absentee parents. Sure, I was so lucky to have my best friends but there was still this void. When I met Drew, I realized that my problem was only a feather compared to the troubles he was bearing.

“How about I do something to help you think?”

Staring at him with curiosity, I nodded my head to his suggestion. What did he have in mind?

He cupped my cheek and slowly leaned his face forward.

Oh.

It was only a light brush on my lips but it was enough to cause tingles to shoot through my whole body. He stared into my eyes with his emerald orbs and that’s when I knew what I should say.

“Yes,” I said in audible whisper.

He knew what it meant for the response I got from him was that he crashed his lips onto mine.

-----------------------

Here you are folks, they're official and I'm done with this story... goodbye!

Nah, I'm kidding, I've still got a lot of loose ends that I need to get rid of but we are slowly nearing to the end. Graduation will be the end of this story so since Celeste already mention graduation, just go aww.

Question: How many chapters should this story have? I'm not going over fifty, I'll do my best not to go forty as well but let''s just see where my muse takes me.

Bonus Question (and completely random): *Asked by beanie126 on the last chapter* If you could pick to have any accent at all, what would you choose?

Oh yeah, remember when I said that I was going to Megamall on the 26th? Check the external link for details (it was posted on my tumblr). Follow while you're at it, I give out spoilers and hints there.

Look at the side image, isn't it cute? I use it as a bookmark; if you want to print it out for your own benefits, PM me!

Long A/N, time to wrap it up. Love you guys and don't forgot to comment, vote and follow.