I THROW MY head back and laugh, watching from across the table as Penn and Noah both furiously try to clean Noah's white shirt that had just been stained with marinara sauce. 

Vera and I were laughing uncontrollably as we clung to each other. Noah glares at us, holding up his middle finger on one hand while the other tried to wipe up the mess on his shirt. 

"Noah, there are children in this restaurant!" I chide him through my loud laughter. 

"Remember to dab and not rub, darling." Vera cooed, using her napkin to wipe the tears coming from her eyes. The rest of the table was laughing 

" I can get that out for you sweetheart, don't worry." My mom who is apparently the washing wizard, informs Noah who sighs heavily. 

"Thank god because my mom will literally murder me, then bring me back to life just to murder me again for staining this shirt." Noah panics as we laugh at his adorable frantic state once more. I, mean, I don't blame Mrs O'Conner, his shirt was Docle & Gabana. 

Noah and Penn eventually head to the bathroom, with Spencer calling out after them and informing them not to take too long because I had said; there are children in the restaurant. Penn's face turned as red as the hair on top of her head as Noah just laughed it off. 

After Vera's laughter sobered up and she wasn't gasping for breath anymore, I pick up my large slice of cheese and pineapple pizza. I know, I'm a fucking monster who doesn't even know what taste buds are, but in my opinion it's the best and it's great because no on else eats it. Plus this restaurant makes the best cheese and pineapple pizza and I feel like i'm cheating if I buy it anywhere else. 

I was half way through biting down on the delicious food when I glance across the table to see Chase smirking at me.I playfully narrow my eyes on him as if asking "what?". He just laugh silently to himself like the weirdo he is and shakes his head. 

Was he seriously dissing my pizza choices right now. 

I ignore him as my mother and David stand from the table, David whispering softly to his soon-to-be-wife. 

"Where are you two love birds off to?" Vera questions as my mother places a hand to her shoulder. 

"David's tired." My mom speaks to the table as David snorts behind her. 

"I'm tired? Me? Weren't you the one who was yawning every five seconds?" David questions, making myself and the rest of the table laugh as my mother playfully swats his shoulder. 

"See? The sleep's making him delirious." Mom teases him as David nods along with an expression of disbelief, "Anyway, we should get going now and leave you guys to have fun." 

"But Aunty A, fun doesn't exist when you're not around." Spencer pouts from where he sat between Levi and Chase. It was as if it was a race against time for Spencer as he darted between the two guys and he was fucking loving it.

"Okay, so you're getting the biggest Christmas present." Mom points at my cousin as Spencer quickly pokes his tongue out at me. Did he learn nothing from this afternoon when I tackled him into the sand?

Everyone stood watching from the porch of David's house, laughing their asses off as Spencer and I wrestled in the sand. 

David then pulls out his wallet and drops his card on the table, "Dinner's on me."

"Oh no, David-"

"I'm happy to do it." He pouts his hands up in defense as we all try to convince him not to pay. "Buy whatever else you want." 

Okay. It's official. My mom is marrying a fucking god. 

After they leave and Noah and Penn return with a semi clean white shirt, we order another cheese pizza and a few drinks. Vera gets a few photos with just us girls that were taken by the professional photographer Spencer. Note the sarcasm. 

We didn't end up using David's card to pay. I mean, he paid for our flights and is letting us stay in his massive house. The least we can do is pay for his meal and our own. 

Everyone chips in for the cheque and soon after we're twirling and spinning out of the Italian restaurant. Well more so Vera and Spencer. I swear they're the exact same person. The restaurant was close to David's house so we all walked. The sky was pitch black except for a few splatters of white stars. The sun had gown down eons ago and so had the temperature. 

"Cheese and pineapple, Jones? Really?" Chase asks as he falls into step between me. I glare up at him, highly offended. 

"Chicken Parmigiana, Everett? Really?" I retort lamely, trying to mimic his deep voice and failing miserably. He chuckles at me as I smirk arrogantly, "You have not lived until you've tried Cheese and Pineapple pizza." 

"Oh I have. And I almost fucking died." Chase answers while laughing and I shove him playfully. 

We laugh together as we walk side by side, the rest of the group being idiots in front, well, except for Levi who was just walking normally. 

"Holy fuck! Is that Hayden Jones." 

We all turn around at the exact second, watching as three guys in blue and white letterman jackets make there way towards us. One had a beer bottle in his hand I roll my eyes. Not these dick faces again. 

"Well, isn't this a nice little reunion?" They question as they stop a meter away from us, "You look good-" The front guy's, Daniel's, eyes scale me from head to toe and a sleazy smile spreads across his drunken face, "-really good." 

"And you look the same." I sigh in disappointment as his smirk fade, "Such a shame." 

"Still a fucking bitch." One of the guys behind him slur. I didn't recognize him but I recognized the other; Nathan Hansen, an asshole I had a stupid crush on in the sixth grade. 

"Hayden, let's just go." Spencer mutters behind me as he tugs on the back of my black sweater. 

"Maybe you should listen to your girlfriend, Hayden." Harrison grins down at me like a fucking predator. 

"Maybe you should listen to the bullshit that comes out of your mouth. You might learn something about yourself." I tilt my chin, not letting the anxiety and fear burning away in my stomach show. 

Daniel laughs, "What? Are you too good for us now?" 

"She's always thought that." Nathan scoffs from behind his much larger friend and crosses his arms. 

"Come on Hay." Daniel grins down at me as he reaches out and grabs my arm, pulling me into his chest with his unbearable strength. 

"Get your fucking hands off her." Chase growls, grabbing Harrison arm that was attached to mine. Harrison's unsettling blue eyes switch from me to Chase. 

"And what are you going to do about it?" Harrison taunts as I clench my free fist. I don't even think. I just do. 

I snarl, "This." 

Daniel's eyes barely glance at me before my hand swings in a large arc and makes impact on his massive ugly face. He let's go of me instantly and stumbles back into his friends. 

He spits on the ground and glares up at me, "You fucking bitch."

"Guys, I think we should run." Noah squeaks from behind me. 

I nod as I slip intertwine my fingers with Chase's, "Yeah I think you're right." 

Daniel and his friends step forward as we all turn and hightail the fuck away from them. We end up splitting up like they do in cartoon movies. Vera and Levi went one way, Penn, Noah and Spencer the other, and Chase and I continued running by ourselves, our hands still attached to each other. 

He pulls me through the streets, two of the three guys sprinting behind him. I glance at Chase's face and even though we were close to certain death and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I couldn't help but smile. 

We somehow manage to outrun them which is surprising since all three of them are on the varsity football team at Holden Bay High and I literally get winded walking up one flight of stairs. Once they were no where in sight, we stop running and take a rest on the side of the road. 

I place my hands on my knees and pant heavily.

"Is...this...what....dying feels like?" I wheeze as I glance up at Chase who was walking back and forth, his hands interlocked behind his head as he fills his lungs with air. He smiles down at me. 

"How do you always get yourself into shit like this?" Chase questions as I stand to my full height, placing my hands on my hips as I try to let the stitch that was fucking stabbing the hell out of my left rib subside. 

I shrug, "After eighteen years you'd think I'd know the answer to that." 

"Come on, idiot. We need to get back." Chase laughs at me as he holds out his hand. My stomach bubbles, my heart stops for a solid second while my inner six year old screams 'cooties!'. I smile at him, staring into those beautiful hazel eyes and slip my palm on top of his. 

We walked side by side, hands intertwined. Sometimes in silence, sometimes talking about what my life was like here in Holden Bay and other times insulting each other with sarcasm. It's an odd dynamic, but Chase and I make it work. I don't know what the hell is happening between us but I like that it is happening. 

As we neared David's house, I notice two other figures walking towards us, illuminated by the glow of the street lamps. One was fucking tall while the other was small with a head of dark curls. I let go of Chase's hand and run towards them just as the girl runs towards me. 

We met right in the middle of David's drive, wrapping our arms around each other and sighing in relief. 

"I thought they got you." Vera breathes heavily as she squeezes me tightly. It's probably the only time I don't care about her iron grip or the fact that she's suffocating me. I'm just glad that she's here and that she's okay. 

I scoff as I lean back and we latch onto each other's hands, "Us? Never." 

The front doors of David's house are thrown open and my mother, David, Noah, Penn and Spencer all rush outside. 

"Oh thank god you children are alright. Come inside." Mom beckons us in as she wraps her floral dressing gown around her body. It was only then that I realised the temperature at dropped slightly. I follow Vera up the stairs as Levi and Chase hurry behind us. 

After hugging Noah and Penn tightly and telling them how happy I was that nothing had happened to them, we all sit down in the living room while my mother makes us hot chocolate in the kitchen. 

"Who were those guys, Hay?" Penn asks as she sits next to me on the white, comfy sofa. 

"There fucking assholes, that's who they are." Spencer grunts from the other side of me. He hadn't let go of my hand since we sat down which I didn't mind at all. 

"Exactly. Total pricks." I answer truthfully, "I didn't even know they knew my name." 

"Hayden's become a legend in Holden Bay after blowing up the cafeteria." Spencer cackles and I was glad he was back to his cherry, upbeat self again, "It's like knowing a celebrity. 

"If they press charges I have a good friend who's a top lawyer." David answers as he sits on the arm chair. He was incredibly worried and hugged me once we were inside. It was weird because I've only known him for two days yet he seems so much like an actual father. But then again, I don't really know what that feels like. I smile at him in thanks as he nods back at me. 

Mom shuffles in, balancing steaming mugs on a wooden tray as everyone moves to make room for her. She slowly places the tray on the large coffee table and begins to hand out the hot mugs. 

She passes me one and I grab it with both hands before pain erupts in my fingers, palm and wrist, "Ah, shit." 

Everyone goes silent as I cradle my hand in my lap, wondering when the hell did it get so fucking sore. David quickly places down his mug as he kneels in front of me and gently takes my hand. He begins rubbing my hand with his thumb, pressing down on different places before he hits the jackpot. 

"Holy fuck!" I burst out in pain as David nods to himself. I frown at him, "What? What's wrong?"

David runs a hand through his dark hair, "I can't be sure but I think you've fractured your fifth metacarpal." 

"Ha ha, yeah, preferably in English, Doc." Noah asks from where he was perched on the edge of the other sofa in the room, a hot chocolate moustache having taken over his top lip. Everyone chuckles at him. Leave it to Noah to make a tense situation better. 

"Her pinky finger, Noah." David answers as he glances over his shoulder. Noah nods and smiles, happy with himself and David's answer. David then turns to my mother, "Andy, can you grab the first aid kit?" 

"Oh! Of course." My mom skitters from the room instantly. 

"I think everyone should head to bead. It's quiet late." David tells everyone and he was right, it was a few minutes after midnight. I didn't realise how long we had stayed at the Italian restaurant for; I guess we were just having too much fun. 

Once everyone muttered their goodnights and I told the girls I'd be up soon, everyone slowly faded from the living room until it was just David and I. He was still gently holding my hand as he examines it further. He then chuckles silently to himself and glances up at me. 

"Why do I get the feeling that things like this happen regularly?" David questions with a small smile. If he know's anything about my mother then I'm pretty sure he already knows that answer. 

I sigh and nod, "You'd be surprised how regularly it happens." 

here you go another chapter because you guys are just sooooooooo fucking dope. 

i was going to update yesterday but i literally re-watched both seasons of stranger things and i went to be at four in the morning

i love fucking up my sleep patterns