7

It was over 2 hours ago that Elie fell asleep on Kendall's shoulder. She was a little disoriented when she woke up because she couldn't remember where she was. She looked over beside her and saw Kendall was fast asleep, his arm around her, and then she suddenly remembered everything.

She looked at Kendall again, mouth slightly open, his face peaceful from slumber, illuminated by the soft glow of the television which was still on. Elie didn't know what to make of this situation that they are in, if you could call it a situation. Kendall did say that this was a date, but wasn't really clear about why they're doing this, or if this means something more. Looking at the boy peacefully sleeping beside her on that comfortable couch, she thought about her feelings for the first time, something that she has kept hidden and blatantly ignoring ever since she and Kendall became friends.

Elie didn't want to think about feelings. She specifically moved to LA to avoid them, that's why she has been sweeping her feelings for Kendall under the rug. When she met Kendall, she had a sense that he'll play a role in his life – she wasn't quite sure what – but it was something that has been on her mind since that day. He's a very attractive guy, sure, but she thinks she's too old for these so-called feelings and she's too old for Kendall. As long as she can keep it to herself and act like everything's normal, she'd be fine. But now, staring at this young man's face, alone in a room with him, she thought it wouldn't hurt to be honest for a few minutes.

He's beautiful, Elie thought. I've never been this close to anyone in a long time. Kendall stirred and shifted in his sleep.

"You know, Kendall," she uttered under her breath; "I really, really like you. I like you a lot." She continued in her thoughts, But you have the whole world and your whole life ahead of you and you don't need to be burdened by my emotional baggage. And to be honest, I'm scared of feelings, any kind.

To her surprise, Kendall opened his eyes and was now looking intently at her. Well, he heard. There's no denying now.

"Shit," Elie said, covering her face. She can feel Kendall's arms wrapping around her. She peeked out from her hands and saw Kendall smiling at her, still not saying anything.

"Say something," Elie said from under her hands.

"I… probably like you more," Kendall finally said. Elie didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She feared that he did. She half-wanted for Kendall to tell her he did not feel anything about her. Only half though, because the other half was happy that he felt more or less the same way. It's safe to say she doesn't know what to feel at the moment. She didn't mean for Kendall to hear. She just really wanted to get it out of her system so she can start ignoring her feelings again. Elie being in this position (literally and otherwise) and seeing how Kendall was looking at her made her dizzy.

Elie was still in Kendall's arms. It felt really nice, something she hasn't felt in a long time.

"Elie?" Kendall said.

"Yes?" Elie said in a voice, muffled by her hands.

Kendall let go of Elie, gently removed Elie's hands from her face and took it in his.

"Kendall, about what I said," Elie started, but she didn't know what to say next. She sighed out of frustration.

"We don't need to be anything, Elie. There's no rush. I mean I'm not assuming that you would… I…" Kendall was babbling now. Elie found it cute.

The door to the den suddenly opened.

"Oh good, you're awake. Come to the kitchen, dad and Kenneth brought food," Kevin said and left.

"I guess we should go out there," Elie said.

"Yeah, I guess we should," Kendall said.

They both stood up and headed for the door.

"E, I uh…" Kendall started.

"Maybe we can talk about it later, when you drive me back to Anaheim," Elie assured Kendall.

In the kitchen, Kendall's parents and brothers were all there. Kendall introduced Elie to his dad and oldest brother. Kendall mentioned something about Kenneth studying Mandarin and much to everyone's surprise, Elie started talking to Kenneth in Mandarin. It went on for a good couple of minutes.

"Hey, we're starting to feel left out!" Kendall mock-protested.

"Oh I'm sorry," Elie laughed. "I haven't talked to anyone in Mandarin in a long while."

"How did you learn Mandarin?" asked Kent, their dad.

"I love languages, I'm from San Francisco, hung out Chinatown a lot, that sort of thing," Elie replied.

"So you speak any other languages?" Kevin asked.

"Apart from English and Chinese, I do speak Spanish, German, and Icelandic. I think I'm rusty in a couple of those, but I can watch movies and read books in those languages. And, uh, I could probably carry on a conversation in Russian, but I'm gonna miss a few words here and there," Elie said.

"Aww, no French or Italian?" Kathy asked.

"I'm honestly scared of French," Elie said.

"But it's the language of looooooove," Kevin teased, elbowing Kendall. Kendall elbowed him back.

"It's really difficult though, at least I think it is," Elie said.

"More difficult than Russian or Mandarin?" Kenneth asked.

"I think it's because I have a fear of it. I mean I pick up words here and there, and honestly I'm starting to understand it the more I listen to it, but I'm a wuss to start conversation or even attempt to pronounce words," said Elie. "But I just really like languages and I take to them easily."

"What a wonderful young woman," Kathy said.

"Not very young," Elie smiled.

"Oh? What do you mean?" Kathy asked.

"I'm older than your children, Mrs. Schmidt," Elie said.

"Well, you don't look it," Kathy said. "So what made you want to be a production assistant?"

Elie shrugged. "I needed a change, I guess. Being cooped up in an office has its perks, but I wanted to be out in the sun, running around..."

"Doing errands for other people," Kevin interjected.

"Well, you know" Elie simply said.

"So what were you doing before becoming a production assistant?" Kenneth asked.

Elie was thinking very carefully on how she'll answer the questions asked her. She didn't like it when people are up in her business, but she didn't want to be rude. This family had been so nice and kind to her. "When I first moved to LA, I volunteered at a family friend's home care centers. They have three or four scattered all over Los Angeles so I helped with deliveries, records, taking the kids to doctor's appointments, stuff like that."

"And then?" Kevin asked, biting into a red velvet cupcake that Kent and Kenneth brought. "Why did you leave that job?"

"I still volunteer about once a week though, or whenever they need me," Elie replied. "Like I said, I needed change. I get antsy when I keep doing something for a long time."

"She doesn't want doing things for a long time," whispered Kevin to Kendall, hinting at the double entendre that Elie's statement had.

"Shut it!" Kendall whispered back at his brother.

"No, you shut it!" Kevin answered back. Pretty soon they were nudging and hitting each other right by the kitchen counter.

"What is the matter with you two?" Kathy asked his sons.

"Kevin was being annoying," Kendall said.

"You're acting like two 10-year-olds," Kenneth said. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Elie."

"Oh, no big deal. Kendall's like that on set anyway," Elie said. It made Kendall blush a little.

Suddenly, Kendall's phone rang. He went to the living room to answer it. The Schmidt family and Elie continued chatting about life in LA, where are good places to go, and traveling around the world. A few minutes later, they all heard Kendall stomping into the kitchen, face sour.

"I need to get to the studio do some reshoots," Kendall said, brows furrowed.

"Why? It's Saturday!" Kathy asked, worried.

"Some scenes got damaged or something, I don't even know. But I have to be in the studio in an hour," Kendall replied.

"What about Elie? Aren't you supposed to drive her home?" Kevin asked.

"Don't worry about me. I can always take a cab," Elie said.

"No, no. Maybe you can come with me the studio and then I'll drive you home after we tape the scenes. That's maybe like two sequences," Kendall said, pacing back and forth.

"Go get ready. Don't worry about me. I'll ride with you to Paramount if you want, and I can go home from there. I'll take a cab or catch the train or whatever," Elie assured Kendall.

"I'll go get my stuff ready," Kendall said, running upstairs to his room.

After about 15 minutes, Kendall and Elie said their goodbyes to the Schmidt family and were driving to Paramount. Kendall was still distressed.

"Why's your face like that? I thought you loved what you did," Elie asked, looking over at Kendall.

"I do. But I wanted to spend this day with you," Kendall replied.

"But we have spent the entire day together," Elie said. It was a little past 4:00 PM.

"I just really wanted to make this day great for you, you know," Kendall sighed.

Elie smiled. Not that she was happy at Kendall's frustration; it was nice to hear about what other people would do for you.

"I'll drive you home," Elie told Kendall.

"But…" Kendall trailed off, a little confused. Elie explained.

"After you're done with your scenes, I'll drive us both back to Anaheim, then you can drive yourself back to Burbank. Deal?"

"Wait for me in the car, or is there somewhere I can drop you off?"

"I'm here anyway, might as well work. They didn't contact me because they know I live farther than most. But if they need a hand, I'll work."

Kendall felt better knowing that Elie is gonna be there with him. They still haven't talked about what they started at the den back in Burbank, but he was in no rush. He's just happy they are where they are right now.

You guyssssss… Kathy tweeted a pic of Kendall with his grandma right around Thanksgiving and he was wearing the same Obey Dia de los Muertos shirt I made him wear in this story and I'm losing my mind. You understand, don't you? I just asdjklaassadajkalisala;; HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO Y'ALL!