He sighed at the interruption, taking his plastic cup of iced coffee and sipping his beverage through the straw, "When I thought I was ready."

"You're as ominous as your father," I huffed, turning back to the chapter I was writing, my fingers tapping heavily on the keyboard, "And that's not a compliment."

He rolled his eyes before I heard him continue on his work. I glanced towards my notes and smiled gently when I saw the word I wrote in a bold marker, even underlining it because I thought it was so witty when I delivered it to Adam.

Sisterzone.

Is it worse than being in the friendzone? Perhaps, but then again, if you're in there then it meant that you guys trust each other more than as friends, but as family. Besides, he dug his own grave and I'm quite glad that he's moving on, even though the notes I was currently reading were written from the time when he was in love with her.

He still is but slowly shifting it into a different light.

"Sienna?" somebody questioned and I looked up, slightly twisting my body to see Vance walking from the counter, "It is you, how's it going?"

"Fantastic," I replied in a polite tone, "I didn't expect to see you here."

"That goes for the both of us," he chuckled before his gaze shifting towards Andy, his expression morphed into something inquisitive.

I perked up before making a move to introduce him, "Oh this is my cousin Andy."

Something akin to relief graced his face as he waved almost awkwardly at him while Andy responded with a nod of acknowledgement before resuming his typing. He bent down, shooting a subtle and teasing wink, "I thought that I had to tell something to Adam."

I knew right away what he was implying, effectively making me shut my mouth. His name was called up by the barista and he excused him as I turned back to Andy who was now smirking, his palm now up, "Pay up."

That stupid bet will be the end of me.

"As if," I swatted his hand away, switching windows to see if anybody has sent me a message. And rightly so, I could see a picture of Sam at the upper right corner and I smiled because this has been the first time he messaged me since I went away.

Opening the chat box, my eyes roamed on his words and I coughed to disguise the rumbling laughter that was threatening to erupt. He said that he was trying to impress this girl from his school and apparently, he heard that she was a fan of my book and he slipped out that he was my brother as well as promising a video chat between us.

Ah my baby brother is growing up.

"What are you giggling about now?" Andy asked.

"My little brother needs me now," I grinned, feeling slightly evil and kind of happy, "And I can't let him down, I'm going to see him tomorrow."

I typed back a reply that he could call me up during noon so that he was more or less out of school by then and I suggested that he take the girl out to some food while they're waiting. Let your big sister play cupid for now.

"Never thought I'll see the day that Sam will depend on you," he commented with an impressed chuckle.

"I think it's 'make Sienna feel homesick' week right now," I said, sipping my coffee, "Yesterday my mom called me saying that she misses me then my friends and I planned a sleepover, which I did mainly because they were talking about doing it during Thanksgiving and I wouldn't be home for that. I think Sam is just the last straw in the long list that makes me want to go home."

I was surprised that I wasn't booking a flight months earlier than when I needed to go. Then again, I was more rejuvenated to work harder because I knew that the people I desperately want to be with were supporting me.

"I'll be going ahead now," Vance tapped on my shoulder, walking out of the café, "See you Sienna."

As I waved him goodbye, Andy said, "So what does Sam need?"

"Just needing to impress a girl," I informed, humming happily while setting my chin on the back of my palm, grabbing a pencil to write on the sketchbook, "By the way, why don't you get a girlfriend?"

He glared at me while I continued to snicker, prompting him to reach out, take my eraser, and toss it right at me. Hitting me square on the forehead, I rolled my eyes and he laughed, going back to typing while I scribbled on the paper.

We were young adults but we still acted the same way we did when we were kids.

A few hours passed and that was when we finally decided that we should finish. We packed our bags and parted ways with me heading back to the dormitories and he to his apartment. There was a small bounce in my step because I was pleased with myself for completing another chapter so that meant that with the pace that I was going, I could have a working draft sooner than I expected.

Before I went up the stairs towards my room, Kristy our dorm mother, stopped me and spoke, "We're having a charity drive so if you have any things that you're not using anymore, you can donate them by dropping them in the box at 2-Ladies Dormitory."

"Certainly," I nodded, ascending through the steps until I was on the third floor. Stopping right at the door with the plate 3K, I pushed the door opened to see Julia on the floor surrounded by a pile of textbooks, looking already worst for wear even if it was still early in the evening, "What are you doing?"

"My professor is making us have a three-chapter test tomorrow and I waited last minute to study," she groaned, tugging on the ends of her hair, "I hate myself sometimes."

"Good luck," I smiled, opening my closet and looking through the clothes I brought with me from New York that I didn't want anymore.

Ripping off most of old t-shirts and dresses from their hangers, I started to throw them on top of my mattress so that I could organize them after. While watching me, it was Julia's turn to shoot me the same question, "And what are you doing?"

"Donations," I answered and she crawled towards her side of the room to grab something nearby her bed, "Can you give this as well? I already bought a new one."

She gave me an overnight bag and I nodded, using it to help me transport the clothes as well. I folded them neatly before I placed them inside the bag just as my phone rang. I peeked over to the screen to see Adam's name and I scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion – why was he calling me at this time?

I excused myself so Julia can continue to study in peace, walking out of the room and slightly closing the door behind me before I picked up the call, "Hello?"

"Want to go grab lunch tomorrow," his voice was rather nervous and shaky, "You mentioned that you didn't have any classes during that time."

Usually, I would have been completely alright with this, albeit a little bashful since we did have an impending dinner date, but I already promised Sam.

"I'm so sorry!" I breathed, shutting my eyes tight as if he was standing right in front of me. I heard his breath hitch and my conscience was full on yelling at me by this point, but I was sure he'd understand. I rarely get asked by my brother and the homesickness had been rumbling around me for quite some time now, "Is it alright if I choose family first for now?"

"Your uncle, aunt, or cousin?" his tone was now turning almost desperate and I was rather concerned. What had gotten him so rattled up like that? I checked my wristwatch and saw that yes, it was already a little late but there was still some sunlight outside so maybe I can visit him if it was an emergency or I can ask my uncle and his family to check on him since he does live next door.

"No, my brother," I corrected before finally questioning, "Are you alright?"

He never replied because there was a loud thud from his side of the call and I gaped at my device, ending the call immediately in order shoot Emma a text. I tried to contact Adam again but I went straight to voicemail.

Alright, something was definitely wrong.

I went back inside to take my coat so I could go out again but I halted when a call from Emma was going in, "Did you check on him?"

"Actually, the moment I went outside the flat, he saw me then exclaimed your name before rushing out," she recounted, "What's going on?"

Girl, I would love to know what as well.

"I'll find out soon enough," I sighed, packing up all the clothes I was going to donate inside Julia's bag, "Thanks."

I hung up and put on my coat, telling my roommate I was heading out. I planned to go over and drop this off first before I go on and try to investigate what the hell was going on with Adam.

I only managed to get a few feet away from the dorm when I heard somebody fanatically calling my name and I whipped around to see the man in question sprinting towards my way, his long legs carrying him at a speed a track runner would be proud off.

Now if that wasn't peculiar enough, he reached out those wide arms and pulled me into a hug, pressing his sweaty body with mine, "I barely made it."

He was puffing for air but he still didn't release me. Needless to say, I was frozen on the spot. My mouth opened and closed, trying to shoot a question but I was too shock to even utter a single word.

What?

"Don't leave," he whispered into my ear, causing shivers to course through my body and I was definitely sure that it wasn't the wind causing it.

Now this was really bizarre.

Finally regaining his breath, he released me but placed me at arm's length, his hands resting on my shoulders while I simply guffawed at him. His gaze went down to Julia's overnight bag and shook his head, his left hand creeping down my arm until he reached my hand, holding it in his grasp, "Please don't go."

His hand was holding mine, his eyes bore holes through my body, his face troubled and clearly showed panic, and I was on the verge of fainting.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to internally calm myself first before speaking, "This is probably making sense to you but it isn't for me," I did my outmost best to ignore his hand that was gripping mine because right now, I needed to be sane. My heart was going at a speed that was far from normal and my mind was futile in its own attempts to calm my whole self down, "So please explain."

"I know you're feeling homesick and I know it's probably selfish of me but you can't go back to America," he told me as I felt his hold tightened.

Homesick, yes. But going back to America?

Nope, still confused, "Where is this coming from?"

"Vance overheard you telling your cousin that you're going home and then there's the sleepover, I think, with your friends and then that talk with your mom..." he explained, trying to run through all the information he had gotten.

Although it took me a few seconds, it finally clicked. His explanation was a complete mess but I concluded that he must be talking about me gushing to Andy about Sam's request and that Vance might have misunderstood everything, "Now you have that bag and you're probably on your way to the airport then I saw you so I kind of panicked..."

I cut him off by dropping the bag, because I knew that he wasn't letting go of my hand anytime soon, and shaking his arm, "Hey!"

This managed to catch his attention and he clamped his mouth shut. I took this as a sign that it was now my turn to speak, "I was just going to call my brother tomorrow that's why I had to cancel our lunch because if I call him any later with the time difference, it would be inconvenient. The sleepover isn't happening until the holidays and this bag is just full of donations that I was supposed to take to the other building before you tackled me."

Brain, good job. You actually managed to explain it in a calm and orderly manner.

That was the only thing that made him release, almost retracting as if I caught a nasty bug.

His hands stayed glued to his sides and from the way that his figure suddenly went stiff, he was making an obvious effort to keep them there. I bent down again to grab the bag, shaking my head at him, "Didn't you think I was at least going to say goodbye if ever I was going to leave."

And even if I wanted to, I sure as hell wouldn't be parading to the next flight out of here. I had my lessons, a ton of school work to do, and it was right in the middle of the semester.

"I panicked, I'm sorry," he let out, taking the bag and carrying it for me, "If it makes you feel any better, I'm not going to talk to Vance for a long time."

I blinked up at him before I couldn't help the small giggle to escape my lips. It was ridiculous, he was ridiculous, and everything about the past five minutes was ridiculous.

We started walking again and when I glanced towards him, his face trying to be amused yet the aftermath of such a weird thought was still present. Was I annoyed? Far from it actually. He had never looked more endearing than that very moment.

If that was what he felt when we barely knew each other, I wonder what he would think when I leave the country permanently after getting my degree. Then again, some crazy fight might happen between us in that span of time and we might be archenemies when the day that I finish college.

I didn't know which situation sounded more unappealing.

But then it was my turn to overthink because as if I was only realizing it now, it dawned upon me – I was going to permanently leave this place in a few years. Alright, maybe I would still come back as a tourist or when I visit my relatives but still, at one point I was going to get used to the lifestyle here then I was going to be thrown back to America again.

Maybe the reason why I wasn't so upset with leaving home was because I knew that at the end of it all, I was going to return. Here? The most I can go back to was a few weeks or months at most.

What about Julia? I'm sure that we would become close soon because she was literally the face I sleep and wake up to. Perhaps I might warm up to Meg so that meant that I will miss her too.

And what made me worry the most was the man walking beside me.

Theoretically, let's assume that I do fall for him like what everybody says. Let's also just say that deep down, he might like me as well. Then there's a chance that we might enter a relationship.

What happens then?

I have to stop myself before this disaster happens.

Help, there's that cowardice talking again.

"Want to grab a bite right now?" I questioned, stopping him right in front of the other dormitory so that we could drop off the donations, "Since our lunch was suddenly canceled?"

Because I really have to stop myself from being a coward. If I'm always too afraid of the consequences before I even try, is that the life that I think is worth living?

"As appealing as it sounds, I have to test tomorrow," he explained as we walked up to the box near the entrance of the building. We dropped the whole bag inside, hearing it plop over the other donations inside, "But let me walk you back."

This dormitory was ironically nearer to the entrance of the university so it made more sense for him to go towards the other direction and head to his apartment. Instead, he jammed his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and flashed me a smile, stepping down the concrete stairs while waiting for me to catch up.

I should really stop thinking of horrible situations before they happen.

Grinning in response, I approached him and wrapped my arms around one of his, feeling how thin his jacket was. I frowned slightly at the thought that in such a dreaded state, he simply grabbed the first article of clothing he could find and sprinted out.

Now how could I get upset with that?

"So what time are you picking me up on Friday?" with our distance decreasing, I found myself relaxing instead of switching to a fumbling mess. I heard him chuckle and I thought to myself, maybe this wasn't such a bad thing.

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

Sometimes I get questions if Valentine and Brooks are going to appear in this book. The answer is a solid yes (more or less six chapters to go before that happens), but they will appear and they will be as feisty as you remember.

I haven't missed a week yet so... HA!

Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow. I love you guys and I shall see you all next chapter.