Happier

Chapter 10

The week went by as fast as a school week can possibly go by. Cole still lives with Lacey and everything is going the same way it has gone the first day he lived with the Goldbergs. They eat breakfast together, laugh and talk, drive to school with Stacey and from then on, Lacey only gives him a couple of glances. At night, they cuddle, kiss and watch TV. He hates it, but can't tell her off about it. She's giving him a place to live, for crying out loud! Plus, he has feelings for her. He doesn't want it all to stop, but it has to.

That night after school, Cole goes up to his room to work on his novel while Lacey is in hers, cleaning up a little. She's reorganizing her vanity when her mind drifts of to him. Cole. But before she can act up on her thoughts, her phone buzzes.

From V 👸🌸: Club tonite? xx

Every Friday night, the gang would go to the club where Violet's cousin works. He'd always get them inside without having to show their ID. The corners of Lacey's mouth curl up into a smirk. She'd love to go out and party again. Those are the best nights. Even though she's fallen out with Violet, she still wants to go. Maybe they could make amends.

"Sis," it sounds from behind her. Lacey turns her head to look at her sister, "You going out tonight?" she asks, knowing about all the other Fridays she's gone out.
"Yeah, I am," she replies with a smile.
"What about Cole?" her younger sister asks. Lacey's smile fades away. She hasn't even thought about that. Her eyes avert to her hand, which is holding a lipstick she got two weeks ago. She's playing around with it, clicking the cap up and down.
"I-I don't know... I don't think he'd mind staying here?" she brings out softly. Stacey sighs and shrugs before turning on her heel.
"I'll keep him company," she then says as she walks on. Lacey lets out a deep sigh and gets up from the stool at her vanity. She has to tell Cole though. Ask him to come if he wants, even though she knows he wouldn't ever do that. With a chaotic mind, she goes up the stairs towards his room and knocks on the door softly.
"Come in," his voice sounds. Lacey opens the door to reveal a Cole on his bed, laptop on his lap. He gives her a little smile, actually happy to see her even though he's seen her almost an hour ago. Instead of walking inside, Lacey stays at the door, holding onto the door handle. "Are you going to come in, or?" Cole asks a little confused. Lacey chuckles a little nervously. Why she's nervous, you ask, she has no clue.
"Right," she mumbles and lets go of the door to walk inside. She doesn't go to sit next to him, but halts in the middle of the room. Cole raises his eyebrow, growing more confused with the second. Why the hell was she so distant? It was only last night they kissed for the nth time. He places his laptop beside him on the bed.
"Lace, what wrong?" he asks, not moving a muscle. That shakes Lacey from her weird daze.
"Oh, no, nothing. I err, wanted to ask if you were up for a night out," she says to him.
"As in clubbing?" asks Cole with a chuckle. He walks towards her so they're only a couple inches apart. "I'm not really the type to do that sort of thing, Laceylay," he tells her, his voice deeper and lower, making the girl in front of him shivering a little. His hot breath tickles her nose as they stop and stare.
"Right, yeah... Do you mind if I go?" she asks, but it comes out as a whisper. Cole smiles a little and shakes his head, his eyes constantly switching from her eyes to her lips. "Okay," she then whispers and closes the gap between the two in yet another kiss. Her hands reach for his cheeks as she tilts her head to the side, deepening the kiss.
"Want to cook dinner with me?" she asks in a whisper once they pull away. Cole nods and smiles in response before kissing her nose. The two of them make their way downstairs and into the kitchen where they find Stacey.
"When's dad coming home?" Lacey asks her little sister.
"Late tonight, I think," she answers without taking her eyes from the magazine she's reading.
"Is your dad ever home?" Cole asks carefully.
"No, not since mom died," Lacey replies with a sad tone in her voice, "now that we only have one income, he has to work harder. That means more business trips, late nights, less dad..." Lacey explains to him. When he notices the sadness in her voice, he wraps his arm around her shoulder. The younger sister looks up from her magazine and just stares at the arm around her sister for a moment, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she averts her eyes and focuses back on the magazine.
While Cole and Lacey cook dinner, Stacey just sits and looks at them. Those two are the cutest couple-slash-whatever-they-are she has ever seen. Now all Stacey wants is for her sister to sort out her priorities, dump Archie and the Roosevelt Roses. She's way happier with Cole.