20 Chapter Twenty

~Post-Sleepover~

Liv's POV

A day at the beach is exactly what I need right now. Well Drew and I. We're both on lounge chairs getting a tan with coconut drinks in our hands.

It was perfect.

I was wearing sunglasses so I removed them and handed them to Drew who kindly kept them for me. "Thanks" I said before I got up, removed my towel and ran into the water. I had no idea why I was doing this.

I can't swim. Heck, the water terrifies me. While I love the beach, I choose to observe the sea from the sand.

I ran through the waves. Or at least tried to. As I was running I felt something pulling me back. It had a very strong and tight grip on me, so I eventually gave in.

I landed on the floor with a thud. Wait, hold up floor??

I opened my eyes only to see that I was still in the comforts of my bedroom.

So the beach... Was a dream. Well that sucks.

I could still feel the tight grip though.

Oww! Turns out when I hit the floor, I actually hit the floor. A sharp pain immediately went to my head making me scrunch my face up. Then I sit up and look around me, confused as to why I'm on the floor and not the bed.

As I look around, I see Josh and Ken on my bed, Winnie and Nick curled up in a corner of my room, South and Cece on the couch while Blair was on the floor beside none other than Drew. Who was tightly gripping on me. So he was the grip. All makes sense now. Well at least that part.

Since he was still sleeping, I took the chance to admire him like I did last night.

His beanie fell off, letting his hair show more. I just felt like running my fingers through his golden locks. then my eyes fell onto his lips. his gorgeously pink lips that I just wanted to-

"Cupcake, you're still staring?" Drew's lips that I had previously been drooling on formed into his signature smirk that always had me all warm inside.

My cheeks turned a deep red as I cleared my throat due to how close our faces were "Uh..er..I..wasn't- Good morning" I managed to squeak out

He chuckled, apparently he's used to me getting all flustered around him.

As he chuckled his breath fanned my face and so I wouldn't get flustered again I quickly looked away as I cleared my throat, apparently I do it a lot when I'm nervous, in this case, flustered.

"Morning" he said then he glanced down to where his hands which were still firmly planted on my waist and then he blushed a light shade of pink as he slowly released me from his grip.

My heart was jumping for joy as I thought over and over the fact that I made him blush. I released the breath I didn't know I was holding and my heart rate was probably normal again.

After he untangled me, we both got up to stretch and then I went up to reach for my hair and realised I probably looked crazy.

I dashed to my bathroom which was just inches from where I was standing and tried to rake my hair down. I looked in the mirror and it was a horrible mess. I always had a terrible case of bed head.

I was startled when Drew called out "Hey Medusa, my back aches from sleeping on the floor can I get some pills?" I could literally hear the smirk in his voice.

I quickly packed my hair into a neat ponytail after a few tough tries and then came out trying to keep a poker face, ignoring the fact that he called me medusa.

"Pills are on the way" I called out to Drew who had used his donkey onesie hoodie to cover his precious golden hair and had settled on the bed right beside Josh while playing Temple run.

I knew because of the "aaaahhh" I heard from his avatar who I had settled was Zack wonder the football player.

What? I don't just think of Drew during my spare time. I play games too, like every normal teen. Don't act so surprised.

I left my room and went down the hallway and opened the door that was opposite Alex's room. "Morning" I said when I noticed him on his bed tapping away on his phone - his door was open, I'm not a creep -

"Yeah so wanna explain the eight teenagers you have cooped up in your room?" he asked not looking up from his phone

Uh-oh.

I started clearing my throat like an idiot "Well..ya see..they just...they just..wounded up in my room..I mean like they just..bam inside my room..they just- please don't tell mom" I begged eventually giving up.

He glanced up to meet my plan B. Puppy dog eyes and pouty lips.

If anything, Alex was a sucker for Puppy dog eyes and me, once I found out, I took every chance I had to use it against him.

"Oh no, not the puppy dog eyes and pouty lips" he said trying to cover his face

I grinned inside, a whimper would finish the job.

Then I whimpered like a puppy, something that I had used years to finally master, and he cracked like a walnut.

"Fine" he huffed

Then I grinned "Bestest bro ever" I said going to give him a quick hug

"Yeah I know, I got a mug that says that" he wasn't lying anyway.

"Mugs don't liieee" I called out

Then I skipped out of his room victoriously while he called out "You're seventeen turning eighteen not seven turning eight" then I laughed.

He's right, my birthday is in like...

A few weeks!

Finally, I'll get my own car. I already got my license last year. Wahoo!

I got pills from the cabinet and used some myself. One night on the floor and my back aches like crazy.

I skipped to my room and saw practically everyone was up. "Hey guys" I greet and everyone greets back and they go back to whatever they were doing.

Josh suddenly smirked at me and I just stare back at him confused, then he glances at Drew. I settle beside Blair and Winnie as they discuss.

Josh sits beside me "So you and Dicky here were the first two to be up" he said, his playful smirk never leaving his face.

Trying to brush off the redness in my cheek, I cleared my throat "Yeah and?" I ask

"How do we know you two weren't smooching your worries away?" He teased, just loud enough for everyone to hear. Then they all stopped doing what they were doing and mocked me.

Some friends they are.

Before I could say anything, Drew replied " Yup. You're right. We made out for hours and hours and Liv didn't want to stop, but I convinced her" Drew said it so easily as if it were real.

If only it were real.

»»*»»

So that's pretty much how my morning went. Everyone eventually left.

Luckily Mom went for an early shift so she didn't have to know.

So right now I'm finishing up on my history assignment. I went over to Cece's to meet up with her and South to do our assignments together. Most of the time that's what we do when we have an awful amount of assignments.

"And....done!" Cece and I say and we both high-five each other

"Finally, now we can all eat" South finishes up her assignments waay before us because she's, as Cece likes to call her, "Booty and Brains"

We all head to the kitchen for a snack and see Cece's mom already making one.

"Hi girls! Done with your homework?" Her mom asks as she removes her apron and drops it on the island.

We settle to sit at the round table Cece rolls her eyes "Mom, we're not doing homework, we're doing assignments. Colton, now, he does homework" She said

Her mom - Mrs Mongol - rolled her eyes or as she would like us to call her, Tori.

Cece's nine year old brother, Colton ran into the kitchen and slipped and landed on his butt. "Ow" he cried out as Cece started laughing at him while South and I help him up

"Colton, what did I tell you about running" Tori said in a very motherly tone

He looks down, ashamed of himself "I'm sorry! but there was a really big spider and it wanted to eat me!!" he said. Colton has this huge fear of spiders and It gets the most of him.

"Would you just shut up about spiders! I mean what's so scary about them?!" Cece said already frustrated

"Cece, spider, on your arm!" Colton yelled and then his big sister dropped the glass cup she was holding and screamed her life out "Not so scary hunh" He teases as he smirks.

Then Cece gives him that murderous look she always gives Josh even though she loves him just like her brother "MOOM" She yelled

"Colton why would you do that!" Tori said and ordered him to clean it up and apologize. After reluctantly apologizing he returns to wherever he was.

"That boy's just a piece of work" South said, finding it amusing just like I did.

Cece and I nodded only because we were too busy stuffing our faces with the cupcakes Tori offered us.

We took our stuffing to Cece's room just as I got a call from an unknown number.

Cupcake still in my mouth I pick the call "Hello" I said in a muffled tone

"Hey, its Xander, I'm using my house phone..My phone's dead....Are you eating something?....I called at a bad time?" He said

"Uh no...what's up?" I said as I had finished my cupcake.

"Well...remember our 'son' ?" He asked

"Our what?" I asked, confused as hell. I put my phone on speaker so South and Cece were hearing loud and clear and they both gave me quizzical looks then I shrugged.

He chuckled "The baby project? Life development?" He said trying to remind me.

Oh that! "Oh my God! I'm so sorry, I left him with you all week, didn't I" I say ashamed as I slap my forehead with my hand

He chuckles again "Its alright though, I got it covered" As if on cue, I heard a baby crying

Probably our plastic child - Cody.

"Okay so that was a total lie, I don't have it covered, he keeps crying and crying and he never stops, I don't even know if he's hungry or he pooped or he peed or he just hates my guts or he just - point is, I need help!...Can you come get him?

I chewed my lip "...Actually no, I can't, sorry...unless you can bring him over? I can text you my address" I say

"Actually, anything works for me. No need for your address, I'll find my way there" He says

"Okay then. I'm not at home now but I'll hurry there. Bye" I say then cut the call after he says "bye"

Then the girls look at me "Xander's your partner?" they both ask

"Yeah...You know that..Gotta go...Bye girls" I say and they repeat.

I head down stairs and pack my books and head out to start my ten minute journey.

Then Alex face timed me "Yoo there's a dude waiting for you at home and I'm heading out now. so get here" He said as she shows me Xander who waves.

I nod then wave back.

»»*»»

When I got home Xander was sitting on the porch looking like a real father with his face looking all stressed and tired and sleep deprived. Oh my God what have I done!

He had black circles around his red eyes and his hair was all over. Apparently, Alex left him outside alone. Then I rushed to him and sat beside him. He seemed so deep in thought that he didn't notice me until I dropped my bag with a loud thump.

We exchanged greetings and discussed how we're gonna share custody of Cody.

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