Bittersweet Affection[COMPLETED]

Texting/Dad is home!

WINTER

Tossing and turning on my bed, I couldn't sleep any longer. The light from the moon streaked inside my room through a break in the curtain, brightening it. I twisted to check the time from the clock on my bedside table. It was some minutes past four and still very early for me to be awake.

About going back to sleep, my phone glowed on the nightstand signalling a call. I swiped up to unlock it, an unknown number flashed on the screen. My face contorted into a grimace as I pondered if I had given my number out. Certainly, I would remember if I did.

I answered, and was about to say that the person had gotten the wrong number when I listened to the voice at the other end.

"Rey?"

"Yep. I thought I got the wrong number, so bye." He said with a chuckle.

"Wait, " I whisper, shouting carefully not to wake Hailey. The wall was thin and I didn't want her asking who I was talking to at five in the morning. "How did you get my number?"

"Never mind, " he said, chuckling again before he hung up.

"i***t," I muttered to my phone as I withdrew it from my ear.

I stared at it, for a while, as I thought over who might have given it to him. Lee might have, but knowing her she wouldn't without my permission and it would be too suspicious if Rey went to her to ask for it.

Though Rey and I had nothing going on, it would feel like a betrayal since he asked her out already and I wasn't a snitch. I live and dwell by the girl's code we drew out since we became close.

Whilst storing his number, I received a text from him.

REY: You have such a nice voice pooh

I smiled at the message and stored his name. I thought of the emoji to add to it. Yeah, I was a weirdo if you are wondering, as every contact on my phone had emojis attached to it. So, I went ahead with the cool one.

WINTER: Thanks

REY: That emoji at the front of your name is creepy and also changes your name to Winnie the Pooh.

WINTER: And I'll change yours to idiot

REY: You wouldn't dare

I giggled as I screenshotted his number, sending it to him with a caption.

WINTER: Trust me I can

He didn't reply and I was tempted to send him a text that I was kidding. I did store his name with Rey but quickly changed it when I sent the message which was good for him. He never should have underestimated me.

I played Candy crush for an hour on my phone. Then the alarm went off signalling it was time to get ready. Stretching I made my way to the bathroom, showered then donned on ripped jeans with a tank top. My hair was in a messy bun and I took a bag containing some clothes I would change into at Lee's.

I went downstairs to see my dad in his Pyjamas, working on his laptop. My mouth hung open as I surveyed him.

"Hello Pumpkin, " He kept his laptop on the old coffee table in the living room. He stood up, holding out his hand for a hug.

I recovered and squealed, "Dad!" He ruffled my hair as I hugged him tightly.

I don't get to see my dad all the time, a sailor and always away at work. He comes home ten times a year or more if his schedule was flexible. So whenever he was around, a joyous emotion often filled me.

"What's the noise about? " Hailey asked, trudging from her room with her eyes half-opened.

She moved to the small kitchen situated at the left corner of the living room. She didn't see dad and we both giggled as we planned to frighten her.

"Nothing," I said, moving closer to the kitchen, "I'm going to Lee's side. I'll be back on Sunday."

Hailey nodded, poured some hot water- Definitely from the one my dad used for his coffee- into a cup and added 2 spoons of Nescafe and a cube of sugar. No milk.

Yuck

My mouth twisted at the feeling as she took a sip. My dad and I counted to three as she was about to turn.

"Boo, " He screamed.

I jumped. She jumped too, pouring the scalding coffee on herself. Hailey screeched in pain, ran to the fridge and brought out ice.

My dad and I looked at ourselves and tried suppressing the laughter that threatened to burst out but failed miserably as it eventually spilt out.

Hailey walked back to the parlour with her hands clutched to her clothed chest. She lifted her head and was about to yell when she noticed my dad.

"Vincent?" She questioned moving closer.

He grinned, closing the distance between them. He held her waist as she hugged him tight whispering sweet nothings in his ear. He lifted her head, dipped his mouth and kissed her for a few seconds.

I coughed, fake gagging when they drew apart, "And I'm out, " I yelled as I ran out of the door.

Hailey was foul-mouthed, yet loving. She had been there for my dad since my mom died. I remembered the first time I had met her, she had said, "I know I'm not your mom and I won't pretend to be but I'll make you not feel her absence. It's okay if you miss her but I'll be there when you need me."

Hailey had been there, truth be told. I didn't remember my mom because I was two years old when she died, or so I was told. I only have a picture of her in the locket that I do wear around my neck and I had been wearing it since my eighth birthday. Hailey didn't want me to call her mom but I still do sometimes. I felt she deserved it since she kept the house in order.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

I was twenty minutes away from Lee's house when a silver Ferrari parked in front of me. Facepalming, my eyes narrowed as he wound down the window.

"I never said you can follow me around," I did an eye roll, though I was secretly glad he was here.

"I'm not," Rey grinned, showing off his teeth. His eyes gleamed, making the blue orbs more gorgeous.

My heart jammed in my chest as I willed myself to stop awing at him. So what, Rey was hot? He wasn't the only one in the world but the only one you want, I reminded myself.

Pretending he didn't exist because of Lee was becoming a tad too difficult as I couldn't get the image Of our connected hands pledging friends yesterday, out of my head.

"Why should I believe you?" I asked with an eyebrow quirked.

"I'm here with Nora." He pointed at something at the back of his seat.

"What is Nora?" I inquired dumbly.

"Who." He corrected me. "She's my little sister." He added and a baby of about five years of age with a fair head, porcelain skin and baby blue eyes surfaced.

Wow!

I never knew Rey had a sister and one as adorable as this because we have not been friends for long and Rey was gorgeous, why wouldn't his sister be too?

"Come in, we can drop you off to where you're going." He said.

I was about to decline when Nora added.

"I'm sure it's no trouble for Rey."

I awed as a cute dimple emerged in her chin.

"I'll come in because you're so cute and nice." I gushed.

"Than Rey?" She asked

"Obviously better than him," I replied whilst entering. I sat shotgun and did my seat belt.

Nora gave her brother the "I told you so look" and concentrated on the block game in her hand.

I laughed at her cuteness and rolled my eyes at Rey as he feigned hurt.

I gave him the direction of where I was going which was of no use since he knew it.

How many places does he even know, I mused.

Sunny Height was a small town that was basically filled with students going to Sunnyville. Each of us lives, thirty minutes apart, which was an advantage for the people that didn't have a car like me. I hated taking the public bus, so I would either go to school on foot which was thirty minutes or acquire a free ride from Hailey.

The con was Alyssa getting to know where everyone stays which was disastrous. She hadn't come to mine though but the last person house she had been to as I heard was practically flipped as she complained it was too crappy for her taste, got drunk and threw up all over the antique jug on the table. She went further to take a snapshot, adding a degrading caption to it.

So, Rey could know everywhere, considering his popularity in school and the number of girls I heard he had been with.

"I like your ribbon." A tiny hand stretched out, breaking me of my thought as she fingered the purple ribbon tied to my hair.

"Really?" A smile appeared on my lips as I twisted to stare at her. Her blue eyes were a deep shade of blue unlike Rey's which is a bit lighter. I wondered who they got their features from, especially Nora to make her look this lovely.

Perhaps, from the mother since mothers tend to be lovelier than the fathers. I have been told several times I looked like my mom by dad.

Also, I had seen my mom's beautiful pictures to confirm I was blessed with all the features in her- From her cute button nose to her beautiful hazel eyes, her heart-shaped face and pointed chin save from the dimple which was from dad.

"It makes you look pretty," Nora said, whilst bouncing her head.

"She meant the opposite." Rey chuckled.

I sent him a withering look and focused back on Nora, "Thank you, Nora. I would get one for you to make you look the prettiest."

"You are the best." Nora jumped, holding her thumbs out to me.

"What about me?" Rey's eyes briefly left the road and he made it appear huge as he glanced at her. He pushed out his lips, sniffling. I followed suit, blinking mine to draw out tears.

I never knew he was this playful because of the coldness that radiates off him most times. I was glad, I was among the first or maybe fifth person, counting from his parents to sister and Kellen that got to see this side of him since everyone in school had different stories to tell. Even Lee.

Nora glanced between Rey and me for some seconds deciding what to say, then shouted, "You both are the best!" She went further to hug my body through the chair and did the same to Rey.

"Just say I'm the only one," Rey said to Nora who was back on the block with her. He glanced back to the road when he didn't receive a reply.

I giggled whilst looking out the window, staring at the tall green trees that lined the road, sunlight shone on each of them, making the green a lovelier shade. The trees swayed, here and there as the wind whipped it.

The remaining ride remained in silence and I got to Lee's house earlier than expected because Rey saved my sorry ass.