;; i'm tired and angry but somebody should be

“i get that and that’s totally understandable. like, i’ll be civil but i’m definitely not going to trust them like i did the first time because i’m not going to let myself be betrayed again.” symone hummed as the girl pecked her lips and nudged her nose against billie’s. “i guess it does.”

“For sure. I can’t stand people that, like, are besties with someone and then talk shit behind their back,” Billie admitted, “Like, why? What point is that?” Billie’s smile widened, taking Symone’s hand and tugging her from the ottoman where she had sketched to the couch, getting comfortable and wrapping her arm around the blonde. “Alright, what do you wanna watch?”

“i think that girls just end up being more photogenic than boys are and they way more willing to pose and get dressed up. brandon’s never liked that stuff.” his mom pointed out. brandon couldn’t stop the smile from growing on his face, “i know. i mean, obviously i have a nice face. would you stick around if i didn’t?” he joked.

“That’s true. I was kinda used to it because my parents loved to get professional photos of us every year, especially because I’m a twin and twin pictures are the best,” Hannah explained with a nod. Seeing Brandon smile made Hannah grin, nodding her head. “You do have a nice face. Who knows, maybe you wouldn’t have caught my attention as much,” she laughed, “Just give your parents a picture.”

“i don’t think either of us expected that.” malik replied with a soft laugh, “i’m glad it happened though.” he added and shot the girl a smile before leaning down and pressing a kiss against her temple. he was trying not to be too affectionate. he didn’t want to do to much with brandon and hannah here, and make them uncomfortable. “we did. it went good. they like hannah, which isn’t surprising.” brandon nodded, chuckling after and then shaking his head. “yeah, you definitely should tell them before you start showing. mom will be upset she didn’t find out sooner. i didn’t rat you out though. that’s your news to tell.” malik rubbed her back gently, “yeah, we’ll tell them soon. my parents too. i’m sure they’ll be excited regardless.” brandon knew that their parents would be excited. he had no doubt about it. they loved malik. “i can only imagine. maybe everything will chill out soon.”

“Me, too. Or I will be once all the shitty symptoms stop,” Delilah mused with a laugh, shaking her head, leaning into Malik’s touch and smiling to herself. “That’s good! Of course they did, I didn’t think you had anything to worry about,” Delilah assured with a nod, “I know, I know. I just want to tell them in person with Malik and we’ve been busy. I just gotta suck it up and make the plans.” Hannah smiled, nodding her head as well, “I definitely think they’ll be excited,” she agreed, grinning.

“that’s for sure. that’s why i don’t really hold grudges either but it never gets you anywhere and it just ends up putting more stress on you in the end.” symone bit down on her bottom lip as the other girl leaned closer and shrugged her shoulders. “that’s alright. i may or may not be a cuddler myself.”

“I don’t really hold grudges, per se, but if someone shows me they’re a shit person then I’m gonna keep it in mind,” Billie mused, “Moreso just to know not to trust them again. I don’t need those kinds of people in my life.” Billie’s lips pulled into a grin, leaning in and pecking the blonde’s lips again, unable to keep herself away. “I guess that works out perfectly then, huh?”

“oh, god. yes! i can’t tell if that’s everyone’s son or if brandon just likes to give up a hard time.” his mom spoke. “i think he likes to give us a hard time.” his dad added with a chuckle. “yeah, yeah. i haven’t changed that much. i still look the same.” he pointed out.

“I think that might be everyone’s son, honestly, I know a lot of people have issues with that. My parents are just happy they got all girls and have infinite pictures of us all,” Hannah laughed, nodding her head. “Some people just like to see your face,” she pointed out to Brandon, “Same reason you’re my lock screen on my phone. It’s a nice face.”

symone noted that billie looked down at her lips and a smile involuntarily tugged at her lips. “that’s for sure. dwelling on the bad things never gets you anywhere anyways and so there’s no use in it, you know?” she liked how much they agreed on things and how similar they seemed.”sounds good to me.” she hummed, leaning a little into the girl. “think we could stay like this while we watch movies? i like being this close to you.”

“Exactly, people who constantly get stuck on the past, I’m just like... dude, there’s nothing you can do to change it, just take it into consideration and move on,” Billie agreed. Her grin widened as Symone leaned closer, mimicking her actions so they were close. “Of course,” Billie agreed with a nod, “I may not look like it, but I’m a cuddler, so watch out.”

brandon’s mom lit up at hannah’s suggestion and nodded her head, a smile spreading over her face. “oh! that would be so nice. i feel like we had so many of the girls and not enough of our boy.” brandon sighed softly and shook his head, smiling slightly. “you don’t need any. you know what i look like, mom.”

Hannah grinned, nodding her head happily. “For sure, I can so see him doing that, too. Does he refuse to smile in pictures for you guys?” she asked curiously, leaning into Brandon so he knew that she was just teasing. She rolled her eyes playfully at his words and turned, giving him a look. “Maybe she wants to remember what you look like when you’re not here,” Hannah pointed out.

“that sounds good to me.” symone paused for a moment and nodded her head, smiling at the girl. “someone to watch movies with, someone to kiss…” she trailed off, biting down on her bottom lip. she noticed the slight pink in her cheeks and it felt good to know that symone had the same effect on her that she did. “exactly. there’s no going back most times and so it’s best to just come to terms with it.” or at least, that’s what she always did. she couldn’t remember the last time that she was genuinely upset over a break up. it’d been a while. she kissed her back, her hand on her cheek for a moment and then she nodded. “i like the sound of that.”

“Definitely someone to kiss,” Billie grinned with a nod, her eyes flickering down to Symone’s lips as she watched her bite her bottom lip. “For sure, and life goes on. No matter what happens, shit goes on and there’s no use dwelling,” she agreed with a nod, sending Symone a smile. It was nice to know they understood each other, we're on the same wavelength about things. “And I have Netflix and Hulu so, like, we have endless options about what to watch.”

brandon laughed at his girlfriend’s words. he was messing with her and he was sure she knew that but he also did think she was perfect. maybe it was because he loved her so much. he wasn’t really sure but either way, he knew he was happy. he shook his head, “i know this might come as a shock but i’m really not that photogenic.”

“Liar,” Hannah laughed, shaking her head before turning back to his parents, “I can send you pictures if you need me to. I have a ton. He’s not looking at me in most of them because he doesn’t know I’m taking them but they’re really good pictures.”

“which, i’m totally okay with. i would love more excuses to show up at your apartment and spend more time with you.” she admitted, returning the smile. “god, you’re so cute.” symone breathed out as her eyes took in her smile. “that’s true. that’s a good way to think about things. i try not to think about my failed relationships anyways.” she bit down on her bottom lip and leaned into her slightly, “that’s good to know. i just really don’t want to leave.”

“I’ll start making all the excuses I can, then,” Billie grinned, “Because, like, I have a lot. Someone to eat cake with, someone to sketch, someone to bond with my cat so she doesn’t just have me to play with. The list could go on.” Her face lit up at the compliment, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. She wasn’t a big blusher but some things did get to her, painting her tanned cheeks a light pink. “Exactly, that too. If things don’t work out, they don’t work out, no use over-analyzing everything trying to pick out what went wrong,” Billie agreed, the smile never leaving her face. She leaned in again, kissing Symone softly before pulling away, “Then don’t. We can have a movie night, I have popcorn, it’ll be great.”

brandon scanned over the smile on her face and he wanted so much to kiss her again but he knew he couldn’t be as affectionate toward her in his parents house. “i mean, you’re welcome.” he joked, nudging her gently. he looked over at his parents and listened to his girlfriend speak. brandon’s mom let out a small laugh as she set the lasagna on the table. “thank you, and those are the only pictures we have. brandon won’t let us take any. well, we do have his senior pictures too but not much else.”

“Thank you,” Hannah laughed, rolling her eyes playfully at Brandon’s words, nudging him back teasingly. She rose her eyes at Brandon’s mom’s words, turning to give him a confused look. “Why won’t you let them take pictures of you?” she asked with a laugh, “You were just saying how big your ego is, you’d think you’d love getting your picture taken.”

malik let out a laugh at the girl’s words and nodded his head, “that’s for sure. who knew this is what would happen when we ran into each other?” he knew he definitely didn’t expect it but he was happy. brandon rolled his eyes, “i know, i know. i heard the same speech from mom and dad when we had dinner with them a week ago. don’t worry so much. hannah helps keep me in line.” he reassured, giving his girlfriend a small smile. “any other annoying pregnancy symptoms or just the morning sickness?” brandon asked his sister.

“Yeah, definitely didn’t expect to get knocked up, that’s for sure,” Delilah teased with a laugh, her hand moving to rest on her lower abdomen almost instinctively, something that was becoming a habit. She would notice herself just resting her hand their lately, even if nothing had changed outwardly yet. “You had dinner with mom and dad? How did that go?” Delilah asked curiously with a smile, “We need to be planning that, honestly.” Hannah grew curious, asking, “Do they know that you’re pregnant yet?” Delilah shook her head, letting out a laugh. “No, not yet. That’s why we need to plan a dinner,” she explained before answering Brandon, “Mostly just morning sickness, honestly. I’m starting to get some cravings but nothing too crazy yet, the only other thing that’s changed is my boobs ache, which is super annoying but more bearable than the nausea.”

brandon nodded slightly, knowing she was probably right but he wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about what steps they were taking tonight when he felt as if they were celebrating everything else. of course, he didn’t mind being honest with delilah and if she asked, he’d tell her. “yeah, you’re right. a lot could change in a year.” he agreed, trying to play it off with his girlfriend. he squeenzed her hand gently and then malik nodded. “babies and everything else can wait.” he added. he chuckled, rubbing her back. “maybe eating will help settle your stomach for a little while.”

“A lot can change in a month, let alone a year,” Delilah pointed out to her brother with a laugh, looking over to Malik with a small smile, leaning into his side. It was still surprising to her, to be back with Malik, but things were going so well, she truly hadn’t been happier. “School is important,” Delilah agreed with Malik, giving her brother a pointed look, “Very important. You hear me, B?” Hannah let out a laugh at Delilah’s pointed comment, giving Brandon a teasing nudge. “I’m keeping him in line,” she assured, part joking since she knew Brandon knew school was important. “I hope it helps,” Delilah mused to Malik, “I’m starting to get sick of ginger ale.”

brandon chuckled, “i’m completely in love with you. you’ll never have anything to worry about when it comes to how i feel about you.” he reassured, smiling down at her. “isn’t it best that i’m honest?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

Hannah simply smiled at his words, her heart nearly soaring out of her chest at the words, feeling on top of the world hearing Brandon say that. “I love you, too,” she hummed back before nodding her head with a giggle, “It is, I do appreciate the honesty.” Realizing his parents had entered the room, Hannah’s cheeks flushed, sitting up a bit but keeping her hand linked with Brandon’s. “You have a lovely home,” she let out, nodding, “I love the baby pictures of Brandon.”

“i appreciate that. i’ll gladly take the invite and go into a sugar coma with you.” symone replied, a smile playing on her lips as she bumped her knee against billie’s. she nodded, “yeah, but still. at least you’re moving on fro it though.” she could tell the girl didn’t want to dwell on it too much and she got that. she bit down on her bottom lip, “oh, don’t tell me that. you’ll never get rid of me.” she teased.

“I’m definitely going to hold you to that, an excuse to eat cake and an excuse to see you,” Billie grinned, smiling over to the blonde. “Oh, for sure. No use it living in the past, y’know?” she nodded, “You can’t change the past, so there’s no point in sitting and being mad about it. Just use it to shape your future.” Billie grinned to Symone, laughing gently to her words, “Hey, maybe I don’t want to get rid of you.”

“it’s probably best i have my phone. i could lose your kid for all i know.” he joked. “but i’m sure they wouldn’t get too far. my apartment’s small.” brandon added, a laughing leaving his lips. “yeah, i know i’ll have to do it eventually but i think it’ll be nice to learn off your kid before i do it on my own.” which, he wouldn’t really be on his own. he knew he’d probably have hannah or someone else, hopefully hannah though. he didn’t want anyone else anyways. malik chuckled, “you two are young. you have plenty of time. finish college first.” he encouraged. “well, hopefully it’s done for the night and you can enjoy everyone’s company.” he added. brandon nodded, “we’re easily pleased.”

“By the time the baby is mobile, I doubt you’ll still have your apartment,” Hannah pointed out, pursing her lips before her cheeks flushed, not knowing if Brandon wanted her to mention their idea of moving in together in the near future to his sister, “I mean, like, that’d be over a year away. The pregnancy plus until the baby is crawling, so that’s awhile.” Delilah’s eyebrows rose at Hannah’s comment, curious if the comment was hinting at something but nodded along as she finished it off, knowing that was a while away. “Yes, please finish college first,” Delilah agreed, nodding her head. Hannah let out a laugh, nodding along, “Don’t worry, it would definitely be after we’re done college.” Delilah leaned into Malik’s side, kissing his shoulder, “It better be done. I’m gonna be seriously annoyed if it’s not.”

“the only problem i hear there is the fact that you’re not sharing the cake.” symone pointed out, jokingly as a laugh escaped her lips. “well, whatever happened to make you have that rant must’ve sucked and i’m sorry that you had to go through any of that.” she smiled, nodding. she wouldn’t mind sitting still and letting the girl sketch her again. she really just wanted to spend more time with billie, especially after that kiss. she couldn’t remember the last time any girl had given her butterflies. “i could get used to your company too.”

Billie’s grin widened, her head falling back in a laugh at Symone’s words. “Fine, I’ll make sure to invite you over whenever I cave and buy a cake for myself,” she assured with a giggle. Billie shrugged her shoulders, bumping her shoulder gently with Symone’s. “C’est la vie. That’s the saying, right?” she let out, pursing her lips to think if she got it right. Her smile widened, nodding her head. “Same, honestly,” she agreed, “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want tonight, just so you know. Like, honestly, as long as you want.”