Chapter 5: Hugs and Smiles

Just like the time that Tybalt was forced by Harry to take me home because Milo was busy writing lyrics for their new song, the ride to my house was quiet; all you could hear was Harry's snoring from the backseat. I really wanted to break the ice but then, I don't know what Tybalt and I should talk about. This is so awkward, oh my gosh. I kept thinking about what I could talk about with this guy sitting beside me, that I haven't even noticed that we have reached my home. Tybalt slowly turns his head to look at me and I gulped.

"Ooh.. yeah! Yeah, right! I'm getting off," I unbuckle myself and got off their car. I bent down to thank him for driving him home but he was already on his phone. I pouted, turning around to get to my house's gate. I was about to go inside when Harry called for my name, so I turned back around and faced him.

"Yes?"

"Can we...hang out?"

I chortled, "Didn't we just earlier?"

"No no, what I mean is, at my house."

Eh?

"Can you come over to my house?"

"You-you...you mean you want me to go to your house?"

He nods. "I just love hanging out with you. And-and I'm sure Ty and the others too!" I looked at Tybalt over Harry's shoulder and immediately looked away when I saw him looking back at me.

"Su-sure—" I stuttered, "—pick me up anytime here on Saturday."

"Seriously?" I nodded and he smiles brightly as the sun to me, "Deal. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah... see you."

"And oh! Before I forgot, we'll pick you up too tomorrow morning. Don't argue with me."

Before I could speak up, Tybalt had sped off. They left me with my mouth hanging open.

I just shook my head in amusement, getting inside my house and saw my mother at the kitchen, cleaning the dishes.

"Hi mommy, I'm home," I kissed her on the cheek and taken a loaf of bread on the table.

"How was school, honey?"

"Same as always," I answered which caused mom to laugh.

"You always say the same thing, Lorien."

"Because it is always like that," I replied as I remembered what Harry asked me earlier, "Ooh! Harry, the youngest member of the band Zenith, has asked me to come to their house this Saturday, mom. Can I come?"

"You're close with them already?" Mom asked me, wearing that evil smirk on her face.

"Come on mom," I groaned. "Stop with the teasing. We're just friends."

"Friends, you say?"

I laughed. "Friends. Now, can I come?"

"Yes, love."

"Awesome!" I cheered and hugged her from the back, "Thank you, mommy! You're the best!"

"Alright, let me go, baby. I'm washing the plates."

"Oh, sorry. Well, I'll just go upstairs to change and come back down here for food."

"Oooooh, you little food monster." Mom pinched my cheeks.

"Mom!" I shouted and she laughed at me, "Now I got soap all over my face," I pouted.

She laughs, "You look like Pikachu."

"Do you want me to make you look like Bulbasaur?" I raised my eyebrows up and down with a grin.

"No," Mom replied with a smile on her face. "No Lorien! I said no—!"

***

I plop down my bed with a sigh, then grabbing a towel from my cabinet and wiped my face dry. Mom and I had made a huge mess downstairs, and I ended up helping her doing the dishes while she cleaned the whole kitchen. It was fun.

All of a sudden, my phone beeped and I took it out of my back pocket.

@loriendaniel already home? :)

It was a tweet from Milo.

@miloellis  yep. Now in my room, laying in bed. :)

And I clicked the send button. I closed my eyes for a minute, but then my phone buzzed.

@loriendaniel would you mind checking your messages? I bet there is something in there for you ;)

Huh?

@miloellis you know you're being creepy, don't you? The fact that you sent me this ;) emoticon 

@loriendaniel hahaha! I can promise it isn't something that you should be scared of.

@miloellis *death glare* I doubt about that...

@loriendaniel come on, Lorien, don't you trust Milo Ellis?

@miloellis alright, I'll go to my messages before you start praising yourself non-stop.

I clicked the envelope icon on the lower side of my phone and was surprised to see that Milo has left me a message.

Wait! I don't have your number yet!

I read his last message that was sent yesterday. I face palmed myself, mom was calling for me and I hadn't noticed that he has sent me a reply.

I'm so sorry for not replying to your message yesterday.

Mom was calling for me.

Haha, no.

It's okay.

Why are you asking for my number anyway?

It's okay if you don't want to.

No no!

It's fine! I'll give it to you tomorrow morning so you have to drive Harry to school tomorrow if you really want to have my number. Haha.

This is unexpected, haha.

We'll see about that, if I don't have much work tomorrow then expect me to be standing in front of your house tomorrow morning ;)

You sent that emoticon two times in a row today...

What? Why?

It's..... creppy

C r e p p y

Ugh

*creepy

No.

It's C R E P P Y

Yeah actually, you could find that word in the dictionary.

Heh, oh yeah?

Yeah! Lorien's Webster :)

Ha ha ha ha... ..... .....

Funny, isn't it? Yeah, I really appreciate it. Thank you for laughing at my joke.

Hahaha!

I'd really love to get to know you more.

Yeah me too. Anyways, see you tomorrow, Meelo!

I get off from my bed then changed into my casual clothes and pulled my hair into a big bun. I shoved my phone into my shorts' pocket as I went downstairs.

"Hey mom, did you make something yummy for me?"

"Yep," mom replies, popping the 'p' sound, "I made you a banana split. Go get it in the fridge."

"Ooh, that's delicious! Thank you!" I exclaimed and took my snack out from the fridge and headed to the living room. I sunk down our couch and turned the television on.

"Lorien, I'm going to the grocery store, okay?" Mom shouted from the kitchen.

"Grocery store or shopping mall?" I smirked.

"Both..?"

I laughed. "Take care, love you!"

***

"Give it up for Zenith!"

I was awoke by the loud screams coming from the TV in front of me. I opened my eyes slowly, rubbed them gently with both hands and saw their faces on the screen.

Suddenly, my lips had formed a big smile.

I watched Milo strum his guitar and Harry waving to all the fans. Then my eyes had found Tybalt walking around the stage, smiling to all the fans and sometimes holding their hands. The fans all screamed when they played their latest single, as my smile had gotten more wider as I watch them get all hyped up on the screen.

But that smile faded when someone has rang the doorbell. I lazily stood up from the couch and opened the door, as it reveals a smiley Harry standing right in front of me.

"What are you.." Before I could even speak, he ran inside of my house and laid on the couch where I was just a second ago.

"Oh wow, it's comfortable!" He say and closed his eyes. Tybalt and the others just smiled at me before getting inside.

"We're sorry for intruding," I chuckle when Milo said that with a nervous laugh.

"No worries," I replied.

"Yeah! Besides, she should be honored Zenith's inside her house!" Rin added, wrapping his long arm around my shoulders.

"Yay, I'm so happy to have you here..." I rolled my eyes on them, making them break into fits of laughter, "And I'm taking it back. Intruders." I sassed.

Rin dramatically puts his right hand on his chest and said, "Ouch.. that hurts." I just rolled my eyes on him and removed his arm from me.

Tybalt slowly walked to the couch and hit Harry on his thigh to make him sit up, Harry groans then Tybalt sits beside his younger brother and the others as well.

"Now why is everyone here? Don't you have any works to do?" I asked them, my arms folded just on my chest.

"We don't, that's why we're here." Harry answered me, his head laid back to the wall. "And we're in need of food."

"It's you are in need of food, Harold." Milo corrected and I let out a laugh.

"Alright," I clapped my hands. "What do you want?" I asked them a hand on my hip.

Harry sat up properly and looked at me, "I want mac and cheese."

"Really?" I raised a brow, "I don't know how to cook."

"Aw come on, Lorien!"

"Anything but cooking, Harry."

"Can you make sandwiches then?" Milo asked making me and Harry look at him.

"Uh, yes. I can." I nodded.

"Then give it your best shot!" He said and formed his fingers like a gun as he winked at me, I blushed.

"Sandwiches? Are you kidding me?" Harry complained, "That'll not be enough!" He added.

"Okay, then how about this, you boys order pizza and I'll still make some sandwiches. Deal?" I suggested just so Harry will stop complaining. Sigh I really wonder what he's got inside of his stomach...

"Deal." All of them said in chorus as I let out a deep sigh and headed to the kitchen to go make the snack.

These boys give me headache.

"Hey-"

"Oh my goodness! Oh God!" I jumped just when someone spoke behind me.

"Pft," I heard him giggle and looked down to the floor. Did he just laugh at me? He's scared the hell out of me, yet he still laughed?

"You-you gave me a heart attack, Tybalt," I commented with a hand on my chest as he smiles. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be joining them?"

"Yeah but, I thought that you might need some help."

"I sure do." I smiled and he smiles back at me.

***

"Yeah! That's the spirit!" The four other guys shouted from the living room. Tybalt and I looked at each other, as we bursted out laughing here in the kitchen.

"Hey," he called.

"Hm?"

"Do you really think the fans would love the lyrics for the new song Milo and I have written?" He asks.

"Of course!" I answered without hesitation, "I am very sure of it. There's no doubt, trust me. What part of it was yours by the way?"

"The second stanza."

"Wow. You must be in love with someone." I said making him chuckle a little.

"Connor wrote the other one."

"Ah, I see. Don't tell me.. you two are inlove?" I just said and put the big plate of sandwiches on a silver tray, I clapped my hands which shocked Tybalt. "Don't tell me you brothers are in love with the same girl!?"

Tybalt chuckles, "Let's go back there, they must be hungry," He suddenly snatched the tray from me.

"Eh? It's ok-"

"Let me carry this, you go first and I'll follow." He cut me off wearing a bright smile, I just smiled back to him and we both headed back to the living room.

"Sandwiches are here!" I shouted and their attention were drawn to Tybalt as he puts the tray on the table and sat down on the sofa.

"Pizza will be here in five!" Harry announced as he checked the time. "What about drinks?"

"Right, uh..."

"Kofibucks?" Romeo suggested.

"Sandwiches and pizza with coffee?" I asked, he nodded.

"It doesn't sound so bad."

"Okay," I gave in.

"Sweet!" Milo howled and started jingling his car keys. "Who wants to come with me?" He asked no one in particular.

"Let Tybalt do the work! Game's about to start!" Thomas told him, "Lorien, you go with him." He pointed to me.

"M-me?"

"Yeah, who else here is Lorien?" I rolled my eyes on him as Milo handed Tybalt the car keys.

"Don't you dare eat without us!" I glared.

They all laughed, including Tybalt. "Yeah, we'll wait for you," Rin said with a wink.

"Good," and we left them all howling like wolves inside of my house.

Right when Tybalt and I have arrived in Kofibucks, he immediately sprinted into the line while I was just standing here at the corner, and waiting for him to be done. I helped him to carry the drinks and made our way out.

And to my surprise, he has held the door for me.

"Are you going to go outside or I'm going to leave you here?" He asked me with a grin.

"O-oh, right!"

I didn't stutter, did I?

Oh yes you did, Lorien Adasha.

I mentally slapped myself and groaned, as Tybalt unlocked the car and opened the door for me which shocked me again.

Is he sick?

"Lorien?"

"Oh-oh, yeah... thanks," I climbed inside the car and as well as Tybalt. I swallowed an invisible lump in my throat as he started the car and stepped on the gas.

What's with him today?

"You seem like you're in deep thought."

"Huh?"

"Are you? Or are you just really staring at me?"

I blushed. "Oh? I-I'm sorry! I just—" I sighed.

"What?"

"I'm just— curious. Why are you being kind to me today?"

"Huh?" He looked at me then back to the road, he clears his throat, "Well I...I've been rude to you since day one so—

"—you realized that you shouldn't be like that to me anymore, huh?" He scratched the back of his neck and I grinned, "Aww, Tybalt Ellis is shy! You are so cute!" I teased him.

His face turned red, oh my he looks so adorable! "Stop it, Lorien."

"Aww, you're being shy!"

"Stop!" He screamed, which scared me so I really stopped from teasing him. "Uh, no I—... I didn't.. ugh.. I swear... Lorien I... I didn't mean to shout at you..."

"It's oka-okay.." I just replied then looked on the road but taking glances of him and will look away.

Tybalt had pulled over in front of my house's gate and I immediately get off the car, carrying the boys' coffee.

"Lorien, hey.." Tybalt held my arm, "A-are you mad at me?"

My eyebrow creased, "No, I'm not."

"Look, I-I didn't mean to shout. I-I'm sorry.."

"I know," I looked at him and smiled. "Come on, they're probably starving."

"Su-sure."

And just when I opened the door, I saw my mom laughing with the other four guys inside of my house.

"Oh, Lorien! Ty! You're finally back!" Harry exclaims, then went back to laying on the couch.

"Yeah.. but, mom? You're back?" Mom stood up from the couch and walked to me, "I just came back and saw these guys sitting comfortably on our couch."

"You-you're not mad at me because I let them in?"

She chuckled, "Of course I am. But they're good guys. I'm happy to know that they're willing to be your friend and they also have told me that they'll protect you."

"Wait, protect who now?" I asked mom perking a brow at the guys. "These guys told you that they'll protect... me?"

Mom nodded and looked to the guys, "Right boys?"

They all nodded. More like, they've been threatened by my mother.

"Didn't see that coming," I laughed and they joined in, including Tybalt.

"Now I'll be just at the kitchen, okay? Call me if you need anything."

"No ma'am, we're good." Tybalt told mom.

"Call me aunt Francheska," mom replied and smiled to him. Tybalt smiles back to my mother and she headed into the kitchen while I just sat in between Harry and Romeo, getting my face stuffed with food.

***

"Bye, Lorien! See you tomorrow!" Harry yelled from inside of the car.

I chuckled and waved back to him. "Bye, see you tomorrow, twin!"

"Did you hear that? Have you recorded that? Did you all hear her call me twin? She called me her twin for the second time, I'm going to cry!" He shouted at the top of his lungs and hugged Rin tightly, I just laughed at his idiocy.

"Hey," I froze when I heard that voice from my left, I turned to him and smiled.

"Yes?" He smiled just like an innocent little child. So cute.

"I've had so much fun today. I really love hanging out with you." He said, and I blushed.

"Me too. Drive safe." He nods.

"Ah but before we go, I need to have your number first." My eyes widened while he just chuckled, "This Meelo cannot wait for tomorrow to come anymore." He added making me laugh.

"Give me your phone then," He smiled as he pulled out his phone from his back pocket, unlocked it and handed it to me. I typed in my number and returned it back to him.

"Now that you have it, go home."

He smiled to me once more, with his teeth this time, as I nearly melted. I stared up to him for a couple of seconds as he suddenly pulls me into his embrace which shocked me.

"Bye," he whispers into my ear, his arms tightening around my body as I hesitated to hug him back. I'm still surprised about the fact that Milo Ellis is hugging me..

"Y-yeah.. see you tomorrow," I replied as Milo pulls himself away from the hug and I looked down to my shoes, face flushed red.

He slowly turns himself around, gets inside the car, looked back at me and smiled to me once more, he waved before speeding off.

Milo Ellis just hugged me. I am not okay.