This one is a little longer, I hope you like it. Its dinner night! Let me know what you think! And thanks to you all for following the story, make it one of your favorites and for reviewing! Its good to know you are there waiting to read a little more. Till next chap!

It all belongs to Jojo Moyes, of course.


I found a parking spot in front of my door. I suspect it was due to my father telling the neighbors we were having a dinner party and asking them to change the spot for a little leftover of mom's food. Everybody in the block knew she was an amazing cook. My dad told me he has set up a ramp for Will, so the only thing to do was get down of the car and enter the house to an overexcited mother and a father full of jokes at my expence.

Once the introductions were done, I saw she was standing in the kitchen door, rigid with anxiety. I felt a sudden wave of sympathy for her. It couldn't be easy being my mother.

'Really. It will be fine.' She let go of me, kissed the top of my head, and brushed her hands down her apron.

'I wish your sister was here. It seems wrong to have a celebration without her.'

Not to me it didn't. Just for once, I was quite enjoying being the focus of attention. It might sound childish, but it was true. And just as I turned to look to Will and Dad, I heard the front door open. And the cry of joy of Thom when he saw me. I was glad that he was here, but that means my sister too. I couldn't have one chance, not once.

'Happy birthday aunty Lou! I have a present for you!' My smile for him wasn't forced, and the drawing that he gave me was incredibly adorable. It was of me cooking, I suppose, because I have a spoon or some culinary tool in my hand and who I suspect to be Will standing next to me holding a present with a bow and everything. 'That's you and your new friend Bill making dinner and celebrating for your birthday.' How I love this boy.

'It's a fantastic drawing Thomi! Thank you so much, I'm going to hang it on my bedroom. Come here' I gave him a hug and then take him to met Will. 'He is me new friend, but his name is Will not Bill.'

'Hello mr Will, look what I draw' He placed the drawing in front of him and looked up expectantly.

'Hello mr Thomas, you are an exelent artist, that's exactly how we look, don't you think, Clark?' He had a crooked smile and I couldn't believe that he was this nice with children. Maybe it was an exeption because he is my nephew, but it don't seem like thats the case.

'Yes! It's like a photograph!' Thom smiled at both of us and went running to tell his mother the news. His mother, uuugh.

'Hello, I'm Treena, Lou's sister. It's a pleasure to meet you.' I rolled my eyes and exit the room to ask my mother what was she doing here. She was studying and she wasn't due to come home until the weekend. She said it was a surprise, and that she didn't even knew she was coming.

'Hey lou, happy birthday.' She said entering the kitchen.

'It's tomorrow. My birthday. Aren't you supposed to be studying?'

'Yes, but I could accomodate a few clases to come home for a long weekend'

'Girls, I need your help, Trenna take this to the table, and you Lou, go and drink something with Will. You need to be a good host.' Treena looked annoyed to be helping with the party, but I wasn't surprised. I went to Will and he was chatting with Thom again and my father was chuckling beside them.

'So this chair can fly? You could go anywere super fast! It start working when you push that buttom?'

'No it can't fly, but its like a compact car, and sometimes I go shopping driving through the streets faster than the cars!' Thom has his eyes wider than platters. Will looked at me and winked.

'I'm going to leave this in my bedroom, I'll be right back.' When I was going up the stairs I heard the knocking on the door and dad telling 'I get it'. I entered the room that once was Treena and Thom's and went towards the desk.

'Would you jump in my grave so quickly?' I was startled by the sound of my sweet sister's voice. The moment I turned I could see the fury on her face. Come on, she can't control herself even in my birthday.

'What are you talking about?'

'Where are me and Thomas supposed to go at weekends? We can't both fit in the box room. There's not even enough room in there for two beds.'

'And even after saying that you seem to think it's fair for me to sleep in that cardboard box for over 5 years now. It's outrageous, god forbid Lady Katrina to not be able to stretch her legs in her room!'

'You can't take my room. It's not fair.'

'It's not your room anymore, you don't even live here! You come back on weekends, why it is so hard for you to be a little less selfish!'

'But I need it! Me and Thomas need a place to sleep when we visit!'

'You will have the box room, you'll be here only two days! Don't be such an insufferable immature baby.'

'Now I'm being immature? Look who's speaking, aren't you a little old to still live with your parents?'

'You move away less than a month ago, what are you talking about? It's not like you are so much younger.'

'I don't believe you. No wonder you were so keen to help me leave.'

'What? So you begging me to keep my job so that I can help you out financially is now part of my sinister plan, is it?'

'You're so two-faced. You are just jealous that I'm actually doing something with my life. You just wants to make it difficult for me to come home again.'

'Why would it be difficult? I need a bedroom, not a cupboard. I'm not Harry Potter yet, and if I were, in this moment I would make you disappear for annoying me so much!' I was furious, trembling with rage, and I couldn't contain my next words.'And you've had the best room the whole time, just because you were dumb enough to get yourself up the duff.'

'Yes, well, if you weren't so thick that you can't even get a proper job, you could have got your own bloody place. Or what's the matter? You've finally figured out that Patrick is never going to ask you?' Thats it. I listen enough, so now was when the true would come out.

'I'M NOT EVEN WITH PATRICK ANYMORE! WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND LET ME ALONE? STOP BEING AN INSOLENT BRAT AND FOCUS ON CLOSING YOUR LEGS SO I DON'T HAVE TO GET ANOTHER JOB TO PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKES WHEN YOU ARE CONCENTRATED IN STUDYING AND SELLING FLOWERS!' She was standing still with her mouth hanging open and wide eyes, so I use the advantage of her shock to leave the room. That was a mistake, a huge one. Because when I reached the bottom of the stairs was to find my parents also in shock, my mom with tears in her eyes, my father with anger in his, in Wills there was concern and in Patricks there wa...PATRICK! What was he doing here?! The last thing I wanted was to see him!

'For the love of crap, what are you doing here Patrick?!' It seems that nobody in the room had ever listened to me cursing. It felt good to let all out for once. 'Didn't you understand what I told you the other night? Why would you come tonight?'

'Your mom invite me' I almost don't hear him, he was speaking so low and looking down. He looked ridiculous and it was such an absurd excuse that all I could do was laugh. If they were shocked of how I was behaving, now they didn't seem to know me anymore. 'Mom, Patrick and I are not a couple anymore, so please don't include him in everything anymore.'

'What happened dear?' 'Did he hurt you?' Mom and Dad looked to each other and then to me.

'No, he didn't. But it wasn't working anymore. It's between Patrick and I. Just acept that, and you can go back home now, you already saw a show tonight.' Patrick looked up, and then to Will.

'He was the one you been spending all day with? I don't see how that's a boss-employee relationship.' Okay, I need to inhale, exhale, inhale...It's your birthday dinner, finish this and go eat until your stomach explodes.

'Really? You want to talk right now?' He nod, and he wasn't going to leave till I explain or hurt him with my words. 'Okay. He is the man I've been spending all day with. He is my friend, and in the short period of time I've known him, he paid me more attention than you in years. So be a man and acept that you neglected me and we can put an end to this conversation now. I want to eat.' I noticed that Will was trying to hide his grin by looking down. And Patrick was looking between us with a glare.

'You don't have anything to say? You ruined my relationship.' The grin droped of his face and look Patrick with a judgemental glare.

'Actually I have. Your former partner is the most fascinating person I've ever met. And I think you are going to regret that you didn't appreciate her when you should have.'

'Will is right, isn't he Bernard?'

'Yes, he is, now Patrick, please we need some other things to discuss.' He turned away from us and started making his way towards the door. But before he exited, Will talked again.

'And you should know that she certainly gives a good bed bath.' My dad snorted, I was apple red and Patrick was like a bull. He stormed off and slammed the door. My mom gave me a hug and told me she was sorry for what I was going through.

'What happend with your sister? We heard the shouts and everything.'

'So then you don't need me to tell you. She is being selfish like always.'

'You girls need to understand each other better, it's not okay to fight like that' I rolled my eyes and looked to Will and he gave me an encouraging smile. 'We better start dinner.' My mother, she didn't need more stress than she already was in by inviting some lad to our house. I'm almost sure that she imagine every person that enters the house is a cleaning inspector.


My sister joined us in the table halfway through dinner and the mood changed notably to awkward. When the time for presents came, we were all sitting in the couches around the coffee table.

'Go on, open it' Said Dad. He and mom looked nervous. When I opened it, I found an icredible beautiful photograph album. She told me about granddad seeing something about making your own presents and how she wanted to mean something.

It does, Mum.' My eyes had filled with tears. 'I love it. Thank you.'

'Can I see?' Asked Will. I sit next to him, in the arm of the couch and leaned closer to him to start flipping though the pages Our faces were almost touching, and when we were looking a particular picture of me in Mauritius, I heard Will whispering 'It's beautiful' and then he looked at me. We were so close, in that moment I had the urge to kiss him.

'Well, I think we should eat pudding now,' Dad said. 'Before it gets too hot.' He laughed out loud at his own joke.

We broke the eye contact and I leaned back to put some distance. Mom was inspectin Wills face, and I realised that everyone witnessed the moment.

'There's something in my bag for you too,' Will said, quietly.

My mother paused, the serving spoon in her hand. 'You got Lou a present, Will? That's ever so kind of you. Isn't that kind of him, Bernard?'

'It certainly is.'

'Oh my God! Where did you get these?' My face was about to split in two because of my smile. 'I can't believe it!' I think he just gave me the best gift I've ever recieved.

'I had them made' He said with a stunning smile. ' But I couldn't find the wellies' the mischief in his eyes was contagious. And I couldn't or wanted to contain myself, launched myself to him and ebraced him while my eyes filled with tears.

'Thank you so much' I whispered next to his ear.'You don't have idea how much this mean to me, I love them' He chuckled softly and put his hand in my waist, it made me smile even wider, if it was even possible.

'I could tell. I'm glad you like it' I didn't wanted to let go.' I don't mind, but I think your dad is not very confortable with you all sprawled on me.' How on earth I end up in his lap without noticing? I scrambled up quickly to my feet and excused myself to go and put the tights on.


My birthday dinner was on Thursday, and by midnight on Sunday I was lying in bed looking to the photo album after trying for hours to fall asleep. I made my way downstairs to drink a glass of water, but a noise coming from the living room made me stop to listen. I turned around and looked inside and to my surprise, there they were, both of my parents sleeping in a imitation of a bed arranged with the sofa cushions. I didn't believe my eyes, what was happening?

'Why on earth are you down here?' I asked incredulous.

'We fancied a change.' It sound more like a question than an answer.

'What?'

'We've given Treena our bed. They weren't sleeping well in the box room' Dad said. He looked like he haven't slept in weeks.

'Are you seriuos? She really accept that? I've slept five years in that room, how it's possible for her to have problems in two nights? This is not fair!' If I had trouble sleeping before, this was it for my trying to not look like a zombie tomorrow in work.

'We're fine, love. You need your sleep, you are the only one working after all.' He looked ashamed of himself, and I went and gave him a hug.

'It's going to be fine, you'll find something'

'Go on Lou, we're fine' Mom was trying to save Dad of his emotional situation. So I made it easier on him and went to bed, to turn around until morning. Although I was awake, I somehow managed to be late at the annex.

In my way there I recieve a text from Nathan, asking if everything was allright, that Will wanted to know. Not long ago, we had a technician install a voice recognition software in Will's computer. So now he could send emails, search the web and even sent text to our phones. It seems that he wasn't ready to be in his chair talking to a screen. He hasn't send me a text yet, since this new development, and now I'm wondering if he even have my number.

I texted back and told Nathan to put the kettle on, I was just a few blocks away. The moment I entered the kitchen, I was bombarded with questions about what I do on my weekends to always look so bad on Monday mornings. They started to joke, guessing what tipe of nocturnal life I lead.

'Actually, my weekend was spent listening to my sister complaining, a lot of time inside my room, and to put an interesting end to all that, this early morning I went down to have a drink, and found that my parents are sleeping in the bloody floor, becuse they gave their bed to my sister the bloody Princess, who apparently can't stand to sleep in a room that isn't big enough to contain her giant selfishness.!' God, how I needed to take it all out. It felt good. Both of them were still looking at me, in shock after the mood changing monologue.

'Isn't your sister in a campus or something?' Nathan didn't have the update of the Thurday night.

'That's why this is worse! She'll be coming on weekends only! I know her, she isn't going to stop until I leave the room and move back to that claustrophobic room! Sometimes I really want to smack her over the head!' I prepared the tea, and notice that Will hadn't said anything yet.

'Are you alright ?' He exited the trance he was in, and nod.

'Why don't you move out?' He asked the question as if he were talking about the weather. I frowned upset.

'For some people moving out it's not so easy. All the money I make here it goes for my family. My dad lost his job after all.'

'I know what you do with the money, but nothing is impossible, there are always options'

'Yes, like murder my sister' He smiled at that and Nath laughed with the toast he was eating still in his mouth.

'You can move in here with me, I have a spare room after all, and its closer to work.' I was petrified, did I heard right? He was offering me a place here? It was too much, but, were are friends now. Isn't that what friends do? Help each other?

'Wha...Are you for real? I swear if you are jokin right now, I'll put something in your food.' He chuckled and his eyes started shining a little more.

'Of course it's a joke!' He started laughing but stoped immediatly when my face fell. It felt like I was a waxdoll entering an oven. How could he joke with something like that? But of course, I was foolish to think he would want me to spend all day here. We were friends, but not such good friends, it seems. When he saw my face he started getting closer, but I steped away. He leveled the chair to be face to face with me and told me to stop.

'Do you really believe I would joke with something like that? I'm your friend Lou, I know what are you going through.' He looked disappointed with himself for making me feel so bad. He was trying to make it better,so I let him. ' Listen, I know this would be difficult sometimes, but we should try. This...this is hard to admit, but...it would be nice having someone around that isn't here just to tend my necessities..it gets lonely.' He was directing his gaze at me, but to the floor, his face was redder than ever, and he was fidgeting with his better hand while biting his lower lip. In one word, he looked adorable. I notices Nathan watching us, and he gave me an encouraging smile and thumbs up, and then went to the living.

'Will, look at me...'He did, so I went on' Are you sure? This is your home, you know I can't afford renting the room. It would make me feel like I'm abusing you.'

'Don't be riddiculous, I'm asking you to move in, so don't start with that. I would really enjoy your company 24/7 Clark, well, maybe not 24 everyday, you can talk a lot, a man need his silence' I slapped his shoulder playfully and smiled.

'So...would you be my guest..indeterminately?' his hopeful eyes convince me.

'I would love to'

' A