Where are you?

Louis sent me the text ten minutes ago but I've only seen it now because I had to mark all the other messages read first. I text him back quickly.

Just got home xx

He responds instantly.

Just? From where?

Zack, Ella and I were at the diner and it got a bit late. Sorry oo

What's with the oo?

People always put xx so the o's must be feeling lonely xo

Are u drunk?

I don't think so xo

Go to sleep, babe. I think you're tired ;) xx

'Night ;) xx

I put my phone on the bedside table before dozing off. Thankfully that night my dreams have no nightmarish faces or screaming. Its an empty and dream less night.

I awaken to the smell of eggs frying and I groan before shuffling out of bed. After my shower I pull on a simple pair of jeans and a white cotton blouse. Hurrying downstairs with my bag I see that Jase still isn't downstairs yet. Perfect, I can quiz Nana now. She is standing by the stove, she is moving from left to right in what looks like the beginner version of a twerk. She's dancing. This has never happened before.

"Morning, Nana." I kiss her cheek.

"Morning, sweety. Eggs?" She dishes out some for me as I seat myself at the counter.

"You're in a good mood."

"What makes you say that?"

"You're dancing at the stove."

"Am I?"

"Okay, Mrs. Coy. Tell me about this Tom Greene, where did you two meet?"

"We met at that silly garden club a few months ago."

"How many months?"

"About six."

"So did he take you on a date?"

"A couple, yes. He's so sweet, caring and gentle. I really do like him."

"I can tell, Juliet. Did he kiss you?"

"Sam! Personal space, please."

"Says the grandmother who still says 'get freaky'"

"Rascal." She throws a berry at me and I catch it grinning. Its so fulfilling to see Nana talk about someone this way. Its good to know that there's someone other than me who loves her and will take care of her.

"Your rascal."

"Do you like him, Sam? You weren't supposed to meet the way you did yesterday but now that its done do you like him?"

"He seems really nice. Great teeth."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Good because I have something to tell you but I needed to hear your opinion first."

"Okay, go ahead." I smile at her while eating my eggs.

"Tom.......he asked me to marry him."

I freeze with the fork in mid-air before leaving it back on my plate. I look up at her utterly stunned at what she just said. I just can't get a break with all the big news this week.

"What?"

"I didn't give him an answer yet because of you and Jase. Sam, I like Tom and you said that you did too."

"When did he propose?"

"Last week but I didn't say anything because you got sick and he hasn't rushed me."

"What will happen if you say yes?"

"He loves kids and Jase and him have really bonded. He would love to have you two come live with us. He lives in the country side, he owns a small farm that will be perfect for us."

"Nana, our finals are in two days our dissitations next week."

"I know but he's invited us all out to his home to get to know you and Jase better and erase all doubts about him."

She looks so scared that I'll say no to the entire arrangement. I am on the verge of doing that when I think about how accommodating she's been to Louis. I can't make her do this so I smile genuinely up at her.

"That'll be great. But can we all just go out for dinner instead? I think Jase and I can interrogate him well enough in that duration." I joke and she visibly relaxes.

"Yes, of course. When do you want to do it?"

"Let's ask Jase." I hear the soft patter of his footsteps approaching us.

"A-ask me what?" Jase walks up and I pick him up off the ground and onto my lap. He takes my fork and looks up at me. "Can I have some please?"

"Of course you can." I smile.

He picks up the fork and puts it into his mouth, then picking up more egg but holding it up to my mouth.

"Jase, how would you like to have dinner with Sam, Tom and I?" Nana asks him.

"Yes! I like Tommy." He grins

"When would you like to have dinner then?"

"Tonight, please."

"Are you sure?"

"Aha."

"Okay, tonight it is. Sam, can you take Jase to school? I want to call Tom and tell him about your plan."

"Yes, ma'am." I salute her and hop off the stool with Jase.

Grabbing both our bags I glance over at Nana throwing her a wink before racing out the door when I see her aim a dish towel at me.

I drop off Jase and go to campus. Zack and Ella are sitting at our usual spot at the back of the class when I join them.

"Morning." I greet and receive simple replies.

Mr. C comes out and proceeds with his lecture finishing up after about an hour and a half. When class is dismissed Zack and I are called down to his desk.

"Go. I'll be at the diner waiting so don't take long." Ella warns us before departing.

Zack and I make our way down the steps to Mr. C's table and he walks around it to address us.

"Zack and Sam, I have a some excellent news for you two." Mr. C looks at us with a look of pure excitement. "Ella told you that she's been placed in New York already and I know that might have been a sad surprise for you both. She's a clever girl and will do just fine there. For you two I've found spots in a local private medical center that's eager to have you as part of it's team."

Zack and I look at each other oozing joy, we're of course ecstatic to have our dream careers right here at home.

"Mr. C, thank you so much. This means so much to me." Zack can't contain his happiness and attacks Mr. C with a bold hug. Mr. C doesn't make Zack feel uncomfortable and hugs him back.

"Truly, Mr. C. This is absolutely amazing. I hope you didn't have any trouble with getting this information." I shake his hand rather than hug him.

"Nonsense. The hospital was looking for recruits and I simply said that I knew two ideal students. But they do require a response immediately and that would mean moving your dissitations up a bit." He frowns apologetically.

"I think we can handle that. Move it to when?" Zack queries.

"Say on Sunday. I can get everything organized by Sunday. Your final assessments can still be handed in on Monday. That way I can grade everything and give the final answer to them by Monday afternoon."

"I can do that. Sam?" Zack looks at me.

"Yup, Sunday it is." I smile gratefully at Mr. C before we're dismissed and hurry off to tell Ella.

We walk at a relatively quick pace to the diner and settle into the booth with Ella.

"So?" She looks expectantly at us.

"He got us placed at a medical center here in London. But our dissitations have been moved up to this Sunday." Zack explains.

"Congratulations, guys! That's amazing. We are Skyping every single day when we get to work." She looks genuinely pleased and that makes me just a little less tightly wound.

"Thanks, El." I smile at her just as the waitress comes to take our orders.

Ella and I both order lemon water and a salad while Zack orders a chicken and mayo sandwich with tea.

"So we can move the sleep over up then too, right?" Ella suggests.

"If you want to." I shrug.

"How about since everything will be officially over by Monday we have the sleep over Monday night and our day out on Tuesday."

"That can work."

"Yeah, I'll be there." Zack nods.

Our food arrives and we pig out. Considering I'm going to be going out for dinner I decide on a light lunch. I'm constantly reminded that the biggest exams of my life are two days away. Finals on Saturday, dissitation on Sunday and final assessment on Monday.

Looking out the window something catches my eye across the street. A person in a completely black outfit. They have their eyes focused on their feet and people are walking past as if they're invisible. The build and height would suggest it was a male, I observe further. He looks up and I gasp loud enough that Zack and Ella stop eating. The man in black smiles at me, and I recognize that sickly grin. The Z-man.

"Sam? Sam, what's wrong? Who are you looking at?" Ella kicks me under the table. He's gone. He must be some form of internal fever. He isn't real. He's just a nightmare.

"N-nothing." I stutter finding it impossible to pry my eyes away from that spot across the street.

We go our separate ways at two and I go to pick up Jase from school. He's sitting outside the school on a bench when I get there. Lighting up like Christmas when he recognizes my car he runs over and I get out to help him in.

"Hey, Sammy." He hugs me around my waist and as I awkward as it is for me I hug him back.

"Hey, Jase. Ready to go?" I kneel down.

"Yup. I even know what I'm going to wear for-for dinner tonight." I open the door and he jumps in.

"Really? Well you're better than me, I haven't got a clue yet."

I weave through traffic to get us home in time. My eyes continuously scan the crowd out of paranoia. He's just a nightmare.

"Sam! Tom's coming to pick us up at seven so go get ready!" Nana shouts to us from upstairs the second we walk in.

"Okay." I yell back.

Jase goes into his room and I go into mine shutting the door behind me. The clock says its five already so that gives me two hours. He's just a nightmare. I repeat the mantra over and over again. Its the stress of this week that's getting to you.

Should I tell Louis? I promised not to keep anything from him. Its just a nightmare, my subby snarls. You'll tell him if you see him again, she continues.

There's a knock on my glass balcony door and I jump up. Allowing my heart beat to slow down I go over to the door and pull aside the curtain to unlock the door.

"What's wrong?" Louis asks immediately.

"Nothing. Why?" I hate lying to him.

"Your heart was racing."

"You tend to spook me at times."

"Sorry." He kisses me and all the worries of today evaporate. Stress? What stress? "I've been waiting for you to come home for a long time."

"Stalker." I stick my tongue out at him.

"I prefer to call it being worried about you." He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in for a second kiss.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have dinner plans tonight." I pull away glancing at the clock.

"With who? I'm going to hunt them down."

"Its Tom. Nana asked Jase and I to have dinner with them tonight. He asked her to marry him."

"No way. What did she say?"

"She hasn't answered yet. Waiting for our seal of approval."

"So am I." He kisses my hand.

I don't want to think about his question now. Tonight belongs to Nana and Tom, no wandering off.

"Don't you have a job? How is it that you can keep tabs on me and work at the same time?" I move away going into my closet to find a suitable outfit.

"I quit."

"What? When?"

"Monday."

"Why would you do that?"

"The job was just a hobby really and I have you now."

"I don't know if that was an insult or not."

"I'd never insult you. I meant that I now have you to spent time with. Besides, its not like I need the money."

"You certainly do not."

He's used that disorienting speed of his to approach me and I step back when I see him appear inches from me. He grabs my hips to pull me to him, he pulls the hair band out letting my hair fall over my shoulders. My hands have settled on his forearms and I gasp when his hand moves from my hip to my bum. He pushes me against the closed cupboard door behind me so that I am entirely his captive. I feel very gazelle-like again.

"I have you to get lost in now. No job is more exciting than you." His lips swoop down catching mine in a passionate kiss.
His tongue runs along my bottom lip asking for entrance that I deny. It obviously angers him and he squeezes my behind making me squeal and for him to force his tongue into my mouth. I moan and he grinds suggestively into me.

"I have to get ready." I break the kiss gasping.

He says nothing. Ignoring me he pins me with his hips, his hand that now rests on my behind, floats up to the band of my jeans under my blouse. His fingers form a hook around it. He tugs forcefully on the fabric and it pulls me further backward with Louis pressing himself against my body. He buries his face in my neck, I feel the tip of his tongue skate across my skin and his lips lock down on my soft spot that only Louis' acquainted with. He sucks hard and my breath hitches from the tingling sensation that spreads all over my body.

"Louis." I moan closing my eyes and moving my head to the side so that he can have more access. I feel his smile against my neck, his sexy wicked smile. My fingers find themselves tangled in his hair, he kisses the spot and releases me.

"Have mercy on me, Sam." Louis whispers into my ear. The statement could apply to his big question.

"I need time." I can't just give him an answer in the heat of the moment. I need to think about everything. I decide to tell Louis about everything that I've been informed off in the past twenty-four hours. "Zack and I got placed at a private medical center here in London. And our exams have been moved up so we're writing for three consecutive days now."

"I'll keep you in my prayers." He mocks me. "You'll be fine, babe. You're one of the smartest people I know. By the way, will Aggie be moving in with Tom if she says yes?"

"I guess so. He owns a farm in the countryside."

"And where will you and Jase be?"

"Nana says Tom loves kids and that Jase will enjoy himself out there."

"And you?"

"I-I don't know. I've been focusing on just getting through these next few days."

"I see. Do you want me to come over tonight when you return?" He looks wounded and I want to slap myself.

"Yes, please. I sleep better with you."

"I thought I never let you sleep." He smirks making me feel like jelly, I feel the heat racing to my cheeks. "I love when you blush."

"Because I do it so often."

"SAM!?" Nana calls from outside and she could be coming into my room.

Louis kisses me before he's gone with the wind and Nana knocks on my door.

"Can I come in?" She pops her head around the bend.

"Yeah. I'm in here." I call back returning to my clothing hunt feeling a bit heady.

"What are you going to wear?"

"Maybe a dress. This one or this one?" I show her two dress options. One is navy blue and long sleeved stopping at my knees with no design and the other is a glittery black with the same structure.

"I like the blue one." She points to the right one.

She sits down on my bed and I can tell something's wrong.

"Nana? What's wrong?" I sit down next her taking her hand.

"Nothing I'm just........scared. About tonight, about everything."

"Don't be. Nana, Tom's a wonderful person and I know he'll take care of you, he'll love you excessively. It might be scary now but believe me, it'll be worth it in the end. You love him, don't you?"

"Yes, I think so."

"No thinking. You have to know. I remember when the roles were reversed and I was scared of relationships but you told me that its okay to be scared, to make mistakes. Its how you grow. Look, Jase loves Tom, I like Tom and so do you."

"So I'm not rushing anything?" She looks up earnestly at me and I find that my mouth and brain are no longer connected.

"No. You're not rushing anything." I cover her hand with mine. "Louis had asked me to move in with him."

"No way. Sam, what did you say?" Oh God, she sounds like him.

"I said that I'd give him an answer by next week. I have finals on Saturday, my dissitation on Sunday and final assessment on Monday. Mr. C got Zack and I placed at a private medical center right here in London."

"It would be more convenient."

"What would?"

"If you did say yes. Tom's home is too far out to travel to and fro everyday."

"I haven't decided yet, Nana."

"What are your fears about moving in with him?"

"Fears? Maybe just that we're moving too.....oh." I get Nana's point when she raises her eyebrow at me. If I'm encouraging her to go ahead with Tom, I should practice what I preach.

"Exactly. Get ready, honey. We're waiting downstairs." She kisses my forehead and leaves me to my things.

Nana's words sink in, making me realize that if you love someone there shouldn't be any hesitation. Love's a leap of faith and you just hope the other person's there to catch you. I feel giddy now that I've made up my mind but I have to tell him in person.

I put on high heels - I've never really worn them before - and the navy dress with simple stud earrings and leaving my hair in a neat ponytail.

Tom is here promptly at seven and we all huddle into his car. Jase and I sit in the back and we observe Nana and Tom's every movement like the annoying kids we are. They glance at each other a lot, sharing shy smiles but Tom's bold move puts him permanently in my good books. He takes Nana's hand and kisses it. I nearly swoon for her but I control myself.

The restaurant is Italian - yum, pasta - and very expensive-looking with the glass vases and silk table cloth. Jase sits next to me at the circular table and Nana and Tom are opposite us. Staring at the menu I decide on a spaghetti bolognaise and a garlic bread - for the heck of it - and order the same minus the garlic bread for Jase.
I nibble on bread sticks as we wait for our food. Tom is comfortable around Jase, just a little nervous now probably because of me.

"So, Mr. Greene. What work do you do?" I smile sitting in the best posture I can manage without pulling a muscle.

"I'm into mechanics. I also love to cook and my animals are my top priority." He answers enthusiastically.

"What sort of mechanics?"

"Cars. Boats. Aeroplanes. I even designed an energy efficient engine for all three."

"That's amazing."

"Please don't call me Mr. Greene, its Tommy."

"Sorry, Tommy."

"And Aggie tells me you're at Oxford, you must be a bright girl. What are you studying?"

"Emergency medicine. I have my finals in a day."

"And I bet all this must have come as a shock to you."

"Not an unpleasant one."

"Do you like animals, Sam?"

"Oh yes, although I have a strong disliking for cats."

"Bugs?"

"I can handle bugs."

The waiter returns with our food and I help Jase with his, the plates too big and the chance of him dropping everything is too great so I pull his chair closer to mine.

"How about we share mine for now and then eat yours?" I offer.

"Okay." He feeds himself and I'm grateful.

When we're done eating the dessert menu is brought to us and I order a slice of chocolate cheesecake and for Jase I get a brownie with ice cream.

"So, where do you plan on working after college, Sam?" Tom looks at me.

"I have a position at a medical center here in London." I reply.

"Oh that's nice."

The chatter at our table never dies down, we're constantly quizzing the helpless Tommy about his life and he's more than happy to answer us. He never let's go of Nana's hand either and I can't help but admire what they share. The thought of Louis and my relationship comes to mind. He'll never grow old, only I will.

Shaking off the painful train of thought I gravitate back to our table. A large tray is brought over and the lid is removed, its a Baked Alaska - I love those - but why is it at our table?
The waiter places a small flame onto its surface and the words 'Will You Please Marry Me?' are lit up. I cover my mouth to hide my grin that showcases just how romantic this is.

Jase starts clapping and the entire restaurant turns to our party. Tommy gets off his chair and kneels down. I feel so excited, my smile bares all thirty two molars as I nod reassuringly at the beautiful woman across the table from me. She holds her hand to her chest above her heart and I know she's blushing.

"Agatha Hunter, will you do me the honor of being a part of my life forever?" Tommy holds out a tiny black box opening it to reveal a stunning diamond ring. Everyone has fallen silent awaiting her reply. I bite my lip trying to contain myself, she deserves this. Say yes!

"Yes." She answers and the restaurant erupts into an applause and whistles. Tommy puts the ring on her finger and I rise to hug them both, Jase follows suit.

"Take care of her, Tommy." I say to him and he smiles.

"To my last breath, Sammy."

The Baked Alaska is ours and when the night is over I feel bad that Nana has to leave Tommy so early. When we get home I encourage Tommy to stay, he and Nana open a bottle of wine while I go tuck Jase in.

"Goodnight, Jase." I kiss his forehead.

"Goodnight, Sammy. W-will you say congratulations to Nana for me?" He requests.

"Of course. I'll tell her right away."

I leave his door open a little before stepping into the hallway.

"Sam?" Nana calls and I walk cautiously - these heels are torture devices - down the steps.

"Yeah?" I spot them sitting in the kitchen with the wine bottle.

"Will you celebrate with us?" Tommy asks handing me a glass of wine.

"I'm dead tired so one glass and I'm going to bed. Jase says congratulations again." I take the glass and sip the golden liquid when I remember I asked Louis to come over tonight. Drowning the remainder I kiss Nana goodnight and hug Tommy before hurrying up to my room.

The light is off so I don't see a thing. Closing the door behind me I bend to remove the gifts from Hell that we call heels. A hand encircles my waist making me stand up again.

"Hey." A low husky voice speaks against the skin below my ear.

"Hi." I answer.

"I missed you." Louis stands in front of me, hands resting on the small of my back. "You look sexy in heels."

"Thank you, but I don't feel it. They're killing me."

He releases me, kneels down and takes off my shoes discarding them on the floor.

"Better?"

"Thank you."

"Now for this dress." He straightens and goes for the zipper at the back. He tugs on it and swiftly draws it down my back to the end. He let's it fall off my shoulders to form a pool at my feet.

Louis grabs the hem of his t shirt and brings it over his head. However he doesn't let it fall, and rather puts it on me. He knows I love his shirts.

"Tom publicly proposed to Nana at the restaurant tonight." I say turning around and climbing into bed.

"Oh really? Did she say yes?" Removing his shoes Louis crawls in next to me and we lay on our sides facing each other.

"Yup."

"And he's downstairs now." He grips the duvet and pulls it up to cover me, once again tucking me in like a human sandwich wrap.

"Yes."

"That's sweet." His hand rests on my waist, his finger forming little circle on my skin.

"He's really nice. Oh and we went to an awesome restaurant tonight, I was hoping we could go there some time."

"Okay, what's the name?"

"I can't pronounce it so I'll write it down tomorrow."

"Sleep now, baby." I place my head on his arm that lies across the pillow moving closer to him so that his hand falls to my back and he still draws circles on my skin.

"Louis?"

"Hmm?"

"I'll move in with you."

Notes