Sunlight spills into the bedroom as my consciousness comes back. I reach out my hand to Thomas' side of the bed, getting greeted by the cold sheets. My eyes flutter open and I realize I'm alone. I close my eyes again; he's probably at another meeting about me. He has been in meetings so much more since we became public. Hopefully he wasn't fired or anything awful because of this.

I let my mind wander as I try to think of reasons to get out of bed. I haven't looked at the comments on the video we put up yesterday. I don't think I even want to. I know there are bound to be bad comments, but I don't want to think about what Bianca and her group might say about us. Maybe something along the lines of me being a tramp that got him fired. Someone who possibly ruined his career. What would my dad think about this? Would he disown me?

Even with my eyes closed, I knew someone walked into the bedroom. The footsteps are short, but they are not a girl's. I used to know when to wake up for school based on the footsteps outside my door. My mom's were short, but they were also light. My father's were very heavy and demanding. I feel a hand on my shoulder, along with a kiss on my forehead. I open my eyes again to see Thomas standing above me, shirtless and wearing his pajama pants.

"Good morning, Andi," he says as I smile back at him.

"Good morning," I say as I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Thomas places something in my lap while I'm not looking.

"I figured you could use something to eat before you meet with Priya today." He explains as he takes a seat at the foot of the bed.

I look to my lap and it takes everything I have to not cry. Thomas Hunt, Mr. Coldhearted and Closed Off, made me breakfast in bed. He made me perfectly fluffy pancakes with syrup on the side, just crispy enough bacon, and toast with butter. He also cut strawberries in half with a small bowl of sugar. How was I even able to convince him to fall for me?

"I know you are nervous, Andrea," he inches closer, "but just tell Priya everything as honestly as you can. Don't think too hard about it and you'll be okay." He takes a strawberry from my plate and places it in his mouth. I never quite realized just how adorable he is when he isn't even trying. He's literally just eating a piece of fruit and he looks better than most people I know.

I don't care what Priya does today; I know that this relationship is worth it. Every last second I have spent with Thomas was one hundred percent worth it.


Priya is probably more coldhearted than Thomas is. When I walked in, she didn't even look at me. She just gestured to the chair in front of her and pulled out my file. She is still writing a few comments before she asks me the first question. "What exactly is your relationship with Professor Hunt?" I take a deep breath before I answer her.

"It's new, but it is very serious." I answer truthfully, just like Thomas told me to. "It is not just a waste of his time."

"When did all this start?" She asks, jotting down my answers.

I put a finger to my lip, biting my fingernail. How do I answer that? The Masquerade Ball was when it all started, but he refused to accept his feelings for me. It wasn't until after my probation hearing that he decided to give us a shot. "At Catalina Island just the other week. I don't remember the exact day but…" She cuts me off.

"So after your hearing?" She scowls at me. I nod at her.

The room grows quiet as she continues to write. I take a look around her office. She doesn't seem to be a very personal person. Her degrees, her awards, and maybe one photo are hanging on her walls. Does she even have a family? I feel like she just came here out of nowhere.

"Now, did you ever ask Professor Hunt for favors? A grade bump? Access to university resources?" My face twists. How can she even think I would do that?

"I would never put him in that position." I answer, growing defensive. "Why would you ever ask that? You know he would never do that!"

"Then what exactly is the nature of your relationship, Andrea?"

My blood boils. The way she scowls out my name made me angrier than it should have. Is she jealous of me? Jealous at the fact that her relationship with him didn't work so she's taking it out on me? Jealous at the fact he wanted to date someone younger, even if it meant putting his career on the line? Jealous that he would do all of this for me but not for her?
"I'm in love with him, okay?" I blurt out. Her eyes widen as I continue to talk. "If you want me to apologize for falling in love, I won't. I didn't mean for it to happen, either. I'm a daughter of a professor and I know exactly what happens when a situation like this occurs. Do whatever you need to me, just don't take it out on him." I am on my feet now, trying to compose myself.

"Sit down, Miss Leonard." I take my seat again. "Despite your outburst, I am pleased to see that Thomas isn't throwing this all away on a fling. We're all done here."

She gathers her papers as I leave the office. Did I really just say that I loved Thomas? I really just did that. We haven't said that to each other yet. Does he feel the same way? I leave the building, the California sunshine washing over my face. Now I just have to wait for Priya's decision.


"I am still shaking," I speak into my phone, "almost as if all my years of therapy didn't help whatsoever." I run my hands through my hair, trying to calm myself down.

"It'll be okay, Andi," Jason says on the other line, "just take a few deep breaths and tell me everything."

I do as my brother tells me. He has always had a knack for helping people. It still amazes me that he isn't the one trying to become a psychologist.

"I explained to Professor Singh what the nature of my relationship was with Thomas and I ended up having an outburst." I start. "I may have told her that I was in love with him. And I told her how I am a professor's daughter. I know exactly what happens if a student and a teacher are caught."

"Just like with Professor Young." I shudder at JJ's comment.

Professor Young was the best teacher at my father's university back home. I knew him since I was born. When I was about seven, an anonymous tip was sent to the school board about Professor Young's relationship with a student. Turns out that he was dating her for several months and actually had gotten her pregnant. The school fired him on the spot. I knew that Professor Young's situation was nothing like mine, but it is a cautionary tale for everyone at my father's university. I don't even know what happened to the girl. They both just disappeared.

"So, you love Thomas?" JJ asks. My heart skips a few beats at his question.

"I mean, I do." I answer. "We just never said it to each other yet. We just became public and the board is still debating on what should be done to us."

"Don't you guys have a YouTube channel now?" He says. I smile at the mention. One of my family members finally asked me about it.

"Yeah, we do." I answer him. "Did you watch the videos we put up yet?"
"Of course I did!" JJ exclaims. "Emily actually found it first. The introduction video was very nice and your compatibility test you two did was great. Maybe we should have Mom and Dad take one."

I sigh at the mention of my parents. Ever since I left home, I haven't heard from them once. When I was packing up my things to go to Hollywood, I remember hearing my parents talking outside my room. Mom wanted Dad to go in and say goodbye to me, but he refused. I still remember exactly what I heard him say. "She'll be back, Mary Anne. Everyone knows that becoming a star is next to impossible. When she comes back, we'll be waiting."

"So, how are you and Emily doing?" I try to steer the conversation away from my parents. I'd much rather know about my sister-in-law than what my father thinks of my relationship status.

"As perfect as we can be," he answers with as much enthusiasm as he can muster, "Elliot has been going through a 'no' stage, so we can't exactly do anything we want without him throwing a fit. At least Eileen is very even tempered compared to her brother."

I could listen to my brother talk about my niece and nephew all day long. I feel like I haven't seen them in years, but I have only been gone for a few months. Elliot is two and a half while Eileen is only a year old. I continue to listen to him talk until my phone lets out a faint notification sound. I quickly check my messages, one from Ethan and one from Thomas.

New Text from Ethan B.: Any ideas for next wk? Addi has one, but we need yours too. Filming on Tuesday. B ready!

New Text from Thomas H.: Got an email from the board. They need to meet with me tomorrow. Where are you? I'm making pasta for dinner. Your favorite!

"Hey, JJ," I say, putting the phone back to my ear, "I have to go. I haven't left the university since my meeting and that was about three hours ago."
"Okay," he wraps up, "don't leave Thomas waiting. It's almost dinnertime there. Tell him JJ and the family say hi, alright? Love you, babygirl."

"Bye." I hang up the line.

I'm glad at least one of my brothers cares about my new life in California.

A/N: No video in this chapter, since I didn't have an idea yet for them to do. I wanted to show a longer version of the meeting with Priya, how Thomas treats Andrea, and her relationship with her oldest brother. This is basically a chapter of explanation. CatsRTheBOSS: I'm glad you're 'liking' the story so far. I'm trying to make this couple seem realistic enough but also sticking to their personalities (Andi being an outgoing lovable girl while Thomas is a bit of a grump). I'm also glad you ship Ethan and Addi too (I send them on dates in my game :P)! Anyway, thanks for Reading and Reviewing, babes!