𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 (Walker Scobell)

wide awake

Christmas break came not soon after my license. Dad and I set up the house for Christmas, and we had an invite to a party in New York. I didn't know who it was until we got there though, so when I walked into the house to see Taylor Swift, I freaked out. Well, I didn't freak out like I would've if I didn't have celebrity knowledge - I thank the movie for that - but it was damn near close.

Everybody got their chance to say their "Happy Birthday"s to Taylor, and when it got to me, I decided to snoop around a bit. I had texted Mo about the fact that I was at a party for Taylor Swift, and she was freaking out. Mo had asked me to find out the set list for the Eras tour that Taylor had announced, which wouldn't start for another four months. When I got to talk to Taylor, I did ask her when she was going to Tokyo, and she chuckled. "How'd you know about the international leg? I didn't think you were on the celebrity teen informational list." Yeah, I learned a lot that night.

It was December 20 before me and Walker were able to FaceTime each other again. We had texted each other every now and then, with "good night"s and "love you"s, but now we were both on break and roughly in the same time zone as Walker had flown to Oregon to see some family. "Hey, J," he said, setting up his phone across from him. He had his own house I guess. He had his headset on, so I assumed he was in a game and I waited for him to finish it. "Sorry, it was ranked."

"Did you win?" I asked, now opening my laptop and logging on to the game that we would play. I could see a screen change from the game that he was just playing to the game that we were going to play.

"Yeah," he said, before looking and grabbing his phone. "How was your break?" He asked. I logged onto our realm. He made funny faces into the camera as I loaded in, making me laugh.

"It's fine. Dad and I went on a little date."

"Paparazzi?" He asked, as a player by the user "Schoolbell" joined the realm.

"Surprisingly, no," I said, checking my book to see what I still needed to do. "Hey, wanna pull an all-nighter?" I asked as I ran over to his house in the game.

"I don't see why not." A small pause as I raided his chests. "Hey, show me the license! You can't just say you pass the test and not send pictures." I laughed and showed it to him pulling it out of my wallet. "Babe, that's so pretty..." I kinda shot my head up to the phone, to which he replied with "What, I can't call my girlfriend pretty?" I rolled my eyes.

"So we're calling each other pet names now?" I joke before blowing a kiss to the camera. He laughed.

"Only if you're comfortable."

~~

After getting bored of Minecraft, I walked out to the kitchen, phone in my pocket, Walker in my headphones. My dad was cooking something. "Hey Papi. "

"Hey, mija. Hey, Walker." I looked at him and he laughed. "I know that you guys are dating. He told me when he asked for her address for "Heathers Day?" I don't know your Gen Z stuff. I don't even try anymore." I laughed as I took up my phone and AirPod, propping my phone up and looking into the fridge.

"Hi, Mr. Pascal!" Walker said, in his kitchen too.

"Call me, Mr. Pedro, please," he said he always hated that, being called Mr. Pascal, because he said he felt like a teacher or an older person. Mostly old.

"Walk, you make him feel old," I joked, and my dad pinched me.

"Please," Walker replied. "It's not just that." A bit, and I shove some grapes into my mouth. "Hey, with the trailer out and all, did you get more followers? What about at school? Did they bother you there?"

"Surprisingly," I start, swallowing my grape. "No one at school has caught on. And I limited my comments and DMS after what happened, so that's that."

"Good!" Both Dad and Walker said at the same time.

"Hey," Dad said. "What about Chinese?"

"Weren't you just cooking– Dad, why does the rice smell burnt?" I say, and he opened the pot, where the rice was black. I laughed, along with Walker. "Chinese it is," I accepted, wrapping my dad in a hug.  "You know my usual order," I say, and Dad goes to order. I go to check my mail, just to see another package from Walker. "Babe really?"

"That's your Christmas present. Don't open it 'till whenever you open presents." I chuckle as Dad takes it from me.

"I'll hide this somewhere."

"Thanks Walk. Thanks Dad," I scoff, the grab more grapes and head upstairs. "How's your family?" I ask, knowing they were all in Oregon.

"We're surviving. Your dad's clearly fine, what about your mo-" He and I froze. "I'm SO sorry, I forgot you said that earlier and-"

"Walker, it's fine. I don't care about my mom. If she wanted to be apart of my life, she would try. Merry Christmas to her or whatever, wherever she is."

"She's in Chicago," I heard my dad say from my door, and Walker raised his eyebrow. "Your mom's in Chicago, and she's tried to talk to you for about three years now. I always said no because you've always been... independent."

"Oh," I say, processing this. Walker just looks up at me from the screen.

"Well, do you want to meet her?" I hear Walker ask. I always admired Lele and her mom's relationship, same with Emma with Allie. Could it be I could get that now? I look at Dad, then Walker, then Dad again.

"Fine, let's do it."

"Let's meet my mom."

~~~

A/N - AND THAT MARKS THE END OF THIS BOOK!!!! so bittersweet

hope you guys enjoyed, it took me about 10 months thanks to school and all but I'm happy you guys liked it! please make sure to check out my other fanfic "A Place In This World" before the sequel to this one comes out. I know you guys will like that one better.

much much much much much love,

Luna.