21. Night Out.

Chapter 21: Night Out

Kelsey's POV

*****

"Good morning Kelsey," Noah chirped as he entered the kitchen. "What's for breakfast?" He asked as he filled a cup with juice.

"Well there's eggs, bacon and sausages for you, me, Lara and Ethan and then there's fruit with custard for Ellie," I said as I placed the plates on the table for everyone.

"Wow, I can't believe you've actually made Ethan breakfast," he said chuckling.

I was still mad at Ethan, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised that there was no point in acting like children. He said some harsh words and they really hurt, but there was no reason for us to keep acting like kids who were fighting for the same cookie and then pretend like the other doesn't exist.

"You know Kels, my brother has suffered a lot. He might not look like it but he actually is very soft inside," he said.

I couldn't argue with that. There were certain times where Ethan just acted like a little child who just needed someone to understand him. Then there were times where he acted like someone who didn't need anyone in his life. The more I thought about it, the more I saw that the latter could have simply been a way for him to mask his emotions.

It's easier for somebody to pretend they don't need anyone. That leads to far less heartbreak.

"I know Noah, I've noticed that a couple of times," I replied.

He looked at me with a sympathetic smile, showing me that he understood what I was trying to say completely. "The girls have already told you this Kels, you make him happy. His eyes shine when you're around. You are so special to him you don't even realise it."

It was actually nice hearing that from someone close to Ethan.

Why couldn't I stop being so confusing, even to myself?

"He isn't very good at showing it. He literally flat out told me that he can't stand being around me," I replied as I started placing the food on the plate, making Noah let out a sigh.

"He's my brother Kelsey. I know he might come off too strong at times but I also know how he acts when he cares about someone. You need to think about it. You have to talk to him and try to figure it out," he said.

I could tell that Ethan had problems expressing his feelings, and he found it even harder when somebody seemed to reject them.

What he told me hurt, but wouldn't I have probably acted in the same way if it was the other way round?

"We all know what happened the last time I tried talking to him," I replied, turning to look at him.

"Yeah, he has this problem of not knowing when to shut up," he chuckled, making me laugh, knowing that I couldn't argue there.

"Good morning Kelsey!" Ellie said, hugging me as she and Lara came in to the kitchen.

"Good morning princess. I made you some fruit with custard today," I said, knowing it would make her happy.

I loved doing little things for them, simply to see a smile on their faces. They were so caring, they definitely deserved it. Besides, two little angels once told me that I had to stop putting frowny faces on the pancakes I served.

"OMG best babysitter ever!" She squealed as she sat down.

"Thanks for that Els," Ethan sarcastically said as he entered the kitchen.

He was wearing sweatpants and his hair was wet, signalling that he had probably just gotten out of the shower. How could he look so hot when I was trying to be mad at him? His eyes met mine but he quickly averted his gaze, clearing his throat shortly after.

"You made me breakfast today," he said surprised, his eyes locking with mine once more.

"She doesn't want you to starve, even though I'm pretty sure you're grown up enough to make your own food," Noah answered whilst stabbing his bacon, knowing I didn't feel like talking to Ethan.

*****

I was surprised when Meg called me out of the blue asking me if I wanted to go on a moonlight picnic. Apparently May wanted to do one with Noah but she was too scared to ask him out on an actual date and so she wanted to make it a group thing.

May and Noah had always been so cute.

I instantly accepted because I had always wanted to do a moonlit picnic. I had never done one before and it would have probably given me a break from everything that had been going on.

As soon as I opened the door for Meg, she was stunned, eyeing me up and down in surprise. I was wearing a baby pink top and a white skirt that flowed right above my knee, a white cardigan and my black converse.

The thing that surprised her the most was probably the fact that for once in my life, I was wearing make-up.

Actual make-up.

"Since when do you wear make up?!" She said, her mouth still hanging open. "If I didn't know any better I would have thought that you were going on a date and was trying to impress the guy," she said with a smirk, making me roll my eyes.

"Ellie did this," I said.

"Ellie? As in our Ellie? Seven-year-old Ellie?" She asked in disbelief.

I was a bit skeptical on letting a seven-year-old do my make-up. Apart from the fact that I didn't really like it that much, I was afraid that she would end up making me look like some killer clown ready to attack. I just hated hiding myself behind make-up and preferred myself as I naturally was.

Oddly enough, however, that little fashion designer and make-up artist wannabe did a really amazing job.

"The one and only!" Ellie said, coming up from behind me and walking towards Meg to hug her.

After everyone was ready and came down, we all got into Meg's car. Fortunately for us, her car was one of those big ones which meant that everyone was able to fit in perfectly without feeling like they were being sandwiched, much unlike Ethan's car.

"Didn't you bring Jake?" I asked Meg as soon as I sat down on the passenger's seat.

"No he wanted to hang out with Ethan today," she replied.

I simply nodded in understanding and then looked at the backseat to make sure that everyone was okay, instantly seeing Noah holding May's hand, making me smile.

They had a better relationship than I had ever had in the nearly seventeen years I had spent alive.

As Meg started driving, I looked out the window to see the scenery. I didn't know why, but I had always loved to look out windows and see the road like it was rushing with us. I had always imagined it trying to keep up with the car but failing.

It also made me feel like I was in a music video of some sort, which allowed me to escape from reality during any road trip.

"We're finally here!" Meg said after thirty minutes of driving, snapping me out of my thoughts.

As soon as I got out of the car and looked around, I felt speechless.

"Meg, are we?" I asked, barely able to finish that sentence, astonished at what was in front of me.

"We are," she confirmed with a slight nod, smiling at me.

"This place is just like how I remember it," I said, feeling tears forming in my eyes.

My mom used to bring Meg, Leah and I there almost everyday after kindergarten. I was very young but I still remembered. I even had the photos to prove it. I wished my mom was still with us. We could have had a lot of other memories here.

"We haven't been here for thirteen years," I said, a tear slipping down.

The grass was dark green due to the night sky, but the fairy lights that were strung between the trees illuminated it better. There was a small grey gazebo at the centre, with a rock trail in front of it that lead to the lake.

"Kelsey, why are you crying? Are you hurt?" Ellie asked, looking worried.

I smiled and picked her up.

"No Ellie, I'm okay, thank you for asking," I said, giving her a soft peck on the cheek.

She looked at me with a sad face, wiping a tear that slipped down my face.

"People who are okay don't cry," she said, giving me a tight hug.

That kid was an angel.

"I knew you'd like it," Meg said, sending me a smile.

"I do, I really do," I said, giving my best friend a small smile in return.

We then walked through a path and my mouth opened wide when I saw everything that was prepared.

It had dangling lights, food baskets, and candles. It was honestly beautiful, like something out of a movie.

"Wow!" Lara exclaimed.

I thought that it was so sweet that May would do all of that for Noah.

"Kelsey, turn around," Noah said, grinning at me.

I turned around, only to see the one and only,

Queen of England carrying Aaron bridal style

(JK OMG I'm so not funny ;-; I'm not even British what am I doing? I just wanted to make your day and try to make you smile, in case you haven't done that yet today <3)

Ethan Walker.

"Ethan?" I asked, confused.

He was supposed to be at a party with Jake. Clearly, I had no idea what was going on.

"Erm, Jake and Meg helped me set all this up for you. Do you like it?" He asked as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and made a step towards me.

He looked so adorable in his black T-shirt and dark blue jeans.

What? He sets all of this up for you and just notice his clothes? Come on Kelsey, snap out of it.

"Erm, yeah I guess," I said, shaking that thought away, not really knowing what else to say.

"Okay we'll be over there now," Meg said, leading everyone away from us before I sent her a glare.

"I knew that just talking to you wasn't going to cut it. I had to go to extreme measures to show you I care Kels. I do care about you, a lot. You are definitely not a waste of time. I'm so stupid for not being able to control my mouth. These past few days have been killing me. Not talking to you, not laughing with you. I miss that Kels. Please give me a chance to try and explain and maybe make it up to you," he said, leaving me speechless.

"One chance Eth. You have one chance," I said, trying to hold back the smile that was already forming on my lips.

Ethan let out a sigh of relief, smiling at me.

"Oh thank God! I was so afraid you'd say no," he said, flashing me a grin.

"Well I said yes, don't blow it," I replied, finally smiling back.

He plugged in his phone to a speaker that was lying on the grass, whilst walking towards me and offering me his hand.

"Dance with me?" He asked, making my heart beat faster.

I simply nodded and took his hand.

Suddenly, a cover of 'The night we met' came on and Ethan started singing along. It took me a minute to realise that the person singing was actually Ethan.

How had I never noticed how amazing his voice was?

"You can sing?" I asked him as we were still dancing.

"I've learned a thing or two," he said. "Mom used to sing to me and Noah when we were younger. She used to teach us how to play the keys from the piano. Noah was always better at it but doesn't mean I never learned anything," he continued, looking down. "Life was fun before mom and dad started working like crazy, barely having time for us. It's very hard on Ellie and Lara. They're young and they need their parents"

"I think that it's not just Ellie and Lara who are effected by this," I said right before the song stopped.

He smiled at me as we sat down on the grass next to each other, his fingers intertwined with mine.

"You see right through me don't you Kels?" He chuckled making me slightly laugh.

"Sometimes I feel like you're the only one, and that's probably why I still like you so much," he said as he looked in to my eyes which were as huge as saucers.

"You what?"

After everything he had told me, I thought that I blew it with Ethan. That he had stopped liking me and wanted to move on. Hearing him say those words made me truly happy.

"I still like you Kelsey. I never meant anything I said. I was stupid and hurt and my ego got the best of me. I understand that you're not ready to be with anyone yet and I respect that. I want you to know that I'm willing to wait for you until you're ready if you give me the chance, because you are most definitely worth all the time in the world," he said, before looking down at the ground, his cheeks turning red, making my heart skip a beat at those words.

I gently lifted his head up so that he was looking at me before speaking. "Thank you for understanding Eth, that's all I ever wanted. Thank you for being willing to wait for me," I said before kissing him on the cheek.

As soon as I pulled away he gave me the most heart-warming smile anyone could have ever mustered and then engulfed me in the biggest hug ever.

"I need to ask you something," he suddenly said after a moment of silence.

"Yeah?"

"When I was talking to Meg, she told me that I was your first kiss. Is that true? Have you never kissed Aaron then?" He asked, fearing that maybe he went over his boundaries.

My head instinctively turned to where Meg and the others were hiding behind the bush, trying to be incognito, and gave her a huge death glare.

I never wanted anyone to know that I had never kissed anyone, that was why I didn't tell Ethan.

I looked back at Ethan and took a deep breath, preparing myself for the embarrassing story I was about to tell.

"You're going to think I'm a stupid little baby if you don't think that already but, when Aaron and I went out, we were young, I mean not that young but still young. I was afraid to have my first kiss because, well, what if I'm a bad kisser and he decides to leave me for someone better? We have had pecks here and there but whenever he came in for a proper kiss, I always chickened out and turned my head to the other side," I said, lowering my head in embarrassment, my cheeks burning.

Ethan gently lifted up my head so that I was looking at him, the same way I had done to him a few moments before.

"If you were scared of being a bad kisser then you should get over that fear because you're definitely not. And I don't think of you as a little baby, everyone has their fears, especially when in a relationship. No one wants to do anything to ruin it, Kels, I could never think of you as a stupid little baby, to me, you'll always be amazing," he said making my face redden, resembling a tomato.

"Thank you for stumbling in to my life Kelsey," he said, looking straight into my eyes.

"I had nothing to do with it, but I guess I should thank you as well," I said, laughing slightly, making him laugh too.

"God you're so beautiful. I don't know why so many people like hurting you. You're one of the most amazing people I have ever met," he replied, making my heart flutter.

What was happening to me?

"Now you just sound creepy," I said, trying to hide the way he made me feel.

"I'm sorry, I just missed this, I missed you."

I missed him too.

"So what do you say? Are you willing to eventually give me a chance?" He said, his eyes looking hopeful.

I looked at him for a moment, still in awe about everything that he had just done for my forgiveness. Everyone says stupid things when they are hurt, and when a person is willing to do all of that for you it must mean that they truly care. No one would be willing to do it for nothing.

"Yes," I said causing a huge smile to appear on his face.

"She said yes!" He screamed, with a huge grin on his face, making me laugh.

I suddenly heard squealing and screams coming from behind me and saw everyone just standing there and smiling.

"You guys tricked me!" I said laughing, happiness radiating from me.

I truly was happy I stumbled in to their lives.

A/N: Ayy jellybeans! I see you've stopped throwing chairs, that's nice. I'm so sorry for not updating last week but I was honestly so stressed I couldn't get myself to do it. I had too much studying to do and I still do but decided to find some time and update.

You: I've had popcorn ready for a whole week you jerk!

Me: Okay okay chill I explained myself I thought you'd understand :(

You: You're right I'm sorry. We all love you

Me: Aww thank you that makes me happy -grins widely-

You: Throws a chair and breaks my teeth like in Tom and Jerry

Me: -cries-

OMG I'm sorry that was horrible xD it's midnight and I've been studying all day like crazy and I feel so tired I can't even explain it right now so I'm going to go sleep so I can be ready for my exam tomorrow! WOOOO! English literature! ;-;

I love you guys

~M