Meant To Be

Accidentally In Love

There's only so much we can get away with 

But you've never taken that as a sign 

The world's spinning fast enough to fake it 

And I'm yours if you wanna be mine 

 - Change Your Mind, from FOUR's fourth album, Already Gone 

We're red-cheeked and breathless when we tumble back in from the cold, bursting through the door like we're being chased.

"I just don't understand," I say, laughing, "why people think you're the well-behaved, responsible one. Have they met you?"

"Hey," Holland says. "I'll have you know that I am very good at acting responsible."

"Acting being the key word, there," I say, and we both start laughing.

Holland's dad - and Emily - are back when we come into the living room, and with them comes the return of my nerves. I'm not that nervous about meeting his dad - I was way more nervous for his mom - but Emily's my age, and just because she isn't the oldest doesn't mean she can't be super protective.

It's just different with another girl. We'll either be instant honourary sisters or she'll just hate me. I mean, he's her brother, and I'm some random girl he met all of one time. I'm sure she's worried about fame chasing liars, or crazy superfans.

I would be, in her place.

But if she's thinking any of that, it's not showing on her face when she stands up from the couch.

"Hi, I'm Emily," she says. "It's nice to meet you. Holland's told us a lot about you."

"Yeah, George was mentioning that," I say, shooting a look at Holland, who's glaring at his brother. "I'm Cass. It's really nice to meet you."

"How was the flight?" she asks. "Not to busy?"

"Long," I say, and we share a commiserating look. "No, it was good. I wasn't seated next to any weirdos or anything."

"I'm glad," she says.

"My turn," Holland's dad says, coming up and offering me his hand. I shake it, feeling nervous in that way that I do on the rare occasion that I have to shake someone's hand. It always feels so like, strange and weirdly intimate? Like holding hands but - more violent, somehow. And I never know if I'm doing it right.

But Holland's dad has a smile on his face as he takes his hand away. "I'm Rob," he says. "It's nice to meet you, Cass."

"Nice to meet you, too," I say, and then, because I do have some manners, "You have a very lovely home."

"She's so polite," Edith says, coming to stand beside Rob. "What are you doing with my hooligan of a son?"

"Mum," Holland says. "Please stop trying to drive off my girlfriend. It's only been one day."

My heart thrills when he calls me his girlfriend. This is the first time I've actually heard him do it.

"Sorry, love," his mom says, running a hand over his hair, which he unsuccessfully tries to duck.

Once he escapes, he straightens up with as much dignity as he can muster and runs a hand through his hair, trying to straighten it. I'm biting my lip, doing my best not to smile.

"Thanks for that, mum," he says. "Really making me look cool and everything, not like I'm still 12."

"Oh, that's just how mothers are, sweetheart. I'm sure Cass knows what thats like."