this is NOT a love story

[4]

stephen's p.o.v.

8 a.m.

*bzz bzz*

i wake up to my phone buzzing on my night stand. it's not a call, someone texted me. oh hey, it's my best friend emma willis. what is she doing up so early? and why did she text me first? i have had a crush on her since forever, but she has a boyfriend and only sees me as a friend sadly.

emma: hey stephen, are you awake? i need someone to talk to. sorry if i've disturbed your sleeping, just text me back when you can <3

i hope everything is all right, though the way this message is written out, i'm counting on it not being completely all right. i go to text her back, when i hear a knock at the front door. i quietly head downstairs, as to not disturb my dads.

i open the door and see emma, the girl i've liked for years, and here she is now, standing in front me, who had no shirt on. "emma! i would hug you but my arms are a little busy covering my self up." i say somewhat embarrassed.

she just chuckled and hugged me anyway. "it's so good to see you stevie." there it was, the nickname that she gave me when we were younger. only she called me that, always have and always will.

"good to see you too em. what happened? are you alright? your text gave me quite a fright." i told her staring intently at her beautiful features.

"yea, i'm alright, it's just," she paused before going to go sit on the couch, "it's just that.. i think matt is thinking of proposing to me."

if your heart could physically break, i'm pretty sure mine just did. i go to sit next to her, after grabbing a tub of ice cream from the freezer, and comfort her, but i don't know why i'm so upset, she's almost 19.

"oh em, what's so wrong with that? don't you love him?" i asked, not really sure if i should have. "of course i do. but i don't know if i want to get married just yet." she said, not looking away from her hands.

"well, em, think about it this way, you can either say yes and plan the wedding now or let him know that you're okay with being engaged until you feel one hundred percent ready to get married to the man of your dreams, him." so far so good stephen, i thought, "or you could say no and risk him breaking up with you or hoping he stays and respects your decision of not wanting to yet."

she thought about it for a moment, and then spoke up, "you're right stevie. and if i say and he doesn't respect my decision then that's on him. he would just lose the best thing that ever happened to him."

she stretched and yawned, "i am tired." i asked if she wanted to go sleep in my bed but she said no and proceeded to just lay on me instead. i didn't mind, but i was a bit worried for when my parents woke up and saw us like this.

i didn't say anything and went to sleep with her on me, a content smile on my face.

dec's p.o.v.

11 a.m.

oh wow, how did i get here?, i thought. i was lying on the couch in our fort, so ant must of brought me up and cleaned up, i assume.

i look over and he's fast asleep, he's so cute but it's almost noon. i plant kisses on his face to try to wake him up without him complaining much, and it worked.

"well good morning to you." he said in his husky, morning voice. "i love your voice in the morning. it's sexy." i give him one more kiss before getting up and getting ready for the day.

i decided to wear a dark flannel, tucked into my khakis and wore brown boots to finish off the look. "ready."

i go to check on stephen, but he isn't in there. so i then made my way downstairs while ant got ready as well.