Mikki belongs to KikiJuanita, and you need to ask her permission to use miss mouse. Remember how I told you to remember the guy that hit on Onyx from chapter 6? He is back in play this chapter in a funny little way. The lyrics that I have used in this chapter are mine. Enjoy!

"She's still getting ready," Seb informed him, pulling the door open, letting him enter. "You can try knocking. I don't think she fell asleep," he commented, heading back to the kitchen. "And Clint," he called getting the younger man's attention. "Good morning."

"Morning, Sebastian," he returned, heading down the small hallway stopping at the first bedroom. "Onyx," Clint called through her bedroom door, with a knock. Raised better than to just barge into a woman's bedroom.

"Just a moment," she called, looking in the mirror to see if she liked the pale green vintage floral style dress. It stopped above her knee and it was perfect for the hot summer day that would overtake the warm morning they have. A pair of white wedges accompanied the dress. Deciding to pull her hair up so it would be out of her face, she pulled her bedroom door open. Her makeup was very little as it was an off day for her where she didn't feel like wearing it all. "Cat got your tongue?" She asked with a smirk, grabbing her purse, her belongs already inside of it.

"Have fun on your date," Seb called from the kitchen sipping on his coffee. "Do have her home before midnight," he chuckled.

"Why?" She asked looking at Seb, hand on the doorknob. "It's not like you come home before midnight," she remarked, pulling the door open. "And you know how I feel about your rules. So I'll be home a quarter after midnight," she stated, sticking her tongue out at her best friend, Clint laughing at the antics between friends. "You do know despite what my best friend says, this isn't a date, right?" She questioned waiting for the elevator. Why she felt the strong need to clear that up, stumped her. Despite the teasing from Seb, Clint knew that friendship is all they have going on right now.

"I do know that," he nodded, he wouldn't assume anything with Onyx. "We are friends, and I am not going to push you into anything," he confirmed hitting the button for the lobby, once they got on the elevator. "As uncomfortable as it is going to be, I do think we need to clear the air after that drunk call from you while I was out of town." He groaned to himself, seeing the look of dread over taking her face. He just put his foot in his mouth, again. He was starting to think he wasn't going to learn how to keep things to himself.

"I thought you said I didn't say anything stupid," she sighed, casting a look between anger and annoyance at him. She didn't appreciate him keeping that from her. She wanted him to tell the truth not lie about what she said and use her drunken words against her at a later date.

"I didn't want to say anything over text. That just screamed wrong to me," he told her. "If you can't hear what you said while drunk, how can we be friends? Because I cannot forget what you said, Onyx." She could have said things worse than what she told him, he knew that. What she told him wasn't something horrible. They could remain friends, with very little embarrassment between them.

"I didn't say anything stupid, did I?" She questioned. She didn't have a problem talking about what she happened to say while intoxicated, it was the fact he didn't say anything about it sooner. Which, she did let him know about.

"I am sorry for not being truthful there, but there was no right way to say it over a text. And maybe you oughta define stupid," he replied. Cringing with what had been said and it could be defined as stupid. And maybe it was best if they dropped the topic altogether. No, he couldn't do that now that he brought it up.

"Ugh, you can't do this to me," she whined, stepping out of the apartment complex. Her mind racing on the very excessive things she could have said.

"Do what?" He laughed, placing his hand on her lower back leading her to his 1968 Shelby Mustang in a cool black. "I'm not doing anything, this is all on you," he said.

"Real fancy," she laughed, running a hand over the side of his car. "Why I haven't I seen your car sooner?" She questioned, coming to a stop next to the passenger side door.

"I didn't know you wanted to see it," he chuckled, pulling the door open for her now that it was unlocked. "Some idiot scratched it a few weeks back, had it in to get the scratch removed, along with few other things that I didn't have the time to do," he shrugged. "It's not like you're jumping at the bit to show off your car," he remarked, shutting the door once she was safely inside. "You do have a car don't you?"

"Would that change anything, if I didn't have a car?" She questioned, purely out of fun; curious to know how he felt now that she asked him.

"No," he answered. "It wouldn't change anything."

"Good," she smiled. "Yes, I have a car," she shared. "My car is in the shop. Once I get it back, you can check it out all you want," she told him. "But nice job in changing the subject," she laughed, buckling her seat belt.

"Me?" He chuckled, fastening his own seat belt. "I did no such thing. You're the one that got all hot and bothered over my car," he teased.

"Can you blame me?" She smirked. "But seriously what did I tell you while heavily intoxicated?" She asked. She dreaded hearing what messed up things she said, knowing what thoughts lurked in her mind late at night about him.

"Never," he laughed, pulling his car into the street. "You told me about the scumbag hitting on you and why you were out drinking, but can you not remember anything?" He asked. It felt weird to tell her what she said, it would embarrass her and he didn't want to put her in that awkward place. "Anything you want to say to my face while sober?" He asked.

"About you?" She questioned. He nodded, pulling into the turn lane. She silently groaned, fearing she might have said something she may regret in a few minutes. "Can you just tell me, because I'm never going to figure it out," she sighed.

"Your first thought when you saw me, other than me being a total wreck," he commented, willing to see if she would say the same thing as she did while drunk. "And compared to the scumbag that hit on you, who is the one with the looks?" He asked in a challenging flirty tone.

"You duh," she remarked. "You're like ridiculous hot," she confessed, not even thinking about what she said.

"The hotness level goes both ways here, Onyx," he remarked with a smirk.

"Damn straight it does," she stated with a cringe. "I feel like we've had this conversation before. And did I mention something about you smelling delicious?" The thought randomly coming to mind now that the rest seemed to be cleared up.

"You did," he confirmed, not finding it funny this time around, not wanting make the matter worse for her. "This doesn't change anything, Onyx. We can still be friends."

"I know we can. I am not worried about that at all," she told him. He had made it clear that he wanted to be in a relationship with her, maybe it was time for her to be a bit more honest with him.

"You've been awfully quiet," he commented, after they were seated and ordered something to drink. Onyx getting a pomegranate green tea and Clint getting an Earl Grey tea.

"I've been thinking," she sighed, leaning forward. "About us, about having a sit down with Hunter and talking things through to get that closure so I can move on from him with you," she told him.

He couldn't contain the smile on his face at hearing that news. He did feel giddy at the prospect of getting the girl. As happy as he is, he knew it wasn't right for her; not after everything she had gone through with Hunter.

"Again Onyx, I don't want you to feel like you need to rush into a relationship with me. Take your time to fully move on from what you had with Hunter. You were with him for a year, that's a lot of your time spent with him, loving him. I don't want you to feel as if you need to rush into something with me, because of your friends. You need to know when the right time to move on is for you. Let yourself heal from the heartbreak," he told her, reaching across the table, placing his hand on top of hers. "We can wait as long as you need to," he assured her.

"Thank you," she told him, turning her hand over to hold hands with him. "I do want you to know that I want to be with you, that I like you as my friend and I want to try having a relationship with you, when I'm ready. But, I know not so deep down now, that I need to sit down with Hunter and have that chat with him. He cannot be a reason things don't happen between us and he is the only one that has the answers that I need," she sighed.

"I think it's a good idea," he told her. "If it helps you move past him than I'm all for it, because you don't deserve to live with the fear and pain he brought you," he said, pausing once their tea was brought out to them.

"Are you ready to order?" Their waitress asked.

"Yes," Onyx nodded. "I'll have the English French Toast," she ordered. Her order served with grilled breakfast potatoes Battered English muffins topped with whipped cream, bananas & strawberries. "And can we get a half order of chips and mad salsa?"

"Yes, you can," she nodded, writing it down. "Okay and for you sir?" The waitress asked, looking at him to write down his order.

"I will have the Mad Breakfast #3," he said. His food consisted of 2 eggs with bacon, and toast with strawberry butter.

"Would you like to add grilled breakfast potatoes? Or a bowl of fruit?" She asked.

"I think I'll add both options," he smiled.

"Okay, anything else?" She questioned. Onyx and Clint shared a look. Onyx shook her head no, Clint voicing that they wanted nothing else. "Alright, it'll be out in a few minutes," she informed them, walking off to put their order in.

"A little early for chips and salsa?" He inquired with a chuckle.

"It is never too early for chips and salsa," she fake gasped. "How dare you say that."

"Yeah, maybe if you're drunk or hungover," he retorted. Onyx laughed, nodding in agreement to what he said.

"Doesn't change the fact that it is never too early to have chips and salsa," she stated, picking a chip up and getting a hardy amount of salsa on her chip.

"Okay," he laughed shaking his head. "I get it. You have this affair with chips and salsa," he joked. Onyx rolled her eyes, tossing the last small bite of her chip at him. He laughed, catching the chip and tossing it in his mouth.

"Really?" She questioned feeling amused at his antics.

"What?" He laughed, grabbing a chip adding salsa to it.

"Nothing," she shook her head. "Now who's having an affair with chips and salsa?" She teased.

"I blame you," he joked, popping the last of his chip in his mouth, getting an eye roll from the woman across from him. With things growing silent between them he figured it was best to bring up the conversation they were talking about before the waitress showed up to take their order. "Onyx, I want you to know that after your talk with Hunter, I'll be there if you need me," he let her know, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. Their hands still laying on the table top interlaced.

"I know, but it is nice to be assured of that fact," she smiled. "How was your company?" She asked, suddenly becoming nervous because she didn't know who his company had been.

"Hanging with the guys?" He asked, his thumb stroking along her skin. "It was alright," he chuckled. "They wanted to fill me in on what I missed when they went out while I was in New York. It was nothing bad. What did you think it was about?"

"Nothing, as I didn't know who your company happened to be," she shrugged, taking a small drink of her tea.

He chuckled leaving it at that not wanting to press his luck anymore than he already has. He wanted to enjoy the morning with her now that the more serious conversation had been dealt with. He wanted to be free, to be himself. Around Onyx he got to be himself, with no judgement.

With brunch over with, and an argument over who would be paying the bill they decided on splitting the cost of their meal; they headed back to Clint's place for a few hours to figure out their game plan for the night; as Onyx did need to be home hours earlier than midnight, if she stood a chance of getting up early come morning. Even if that meant staying in at Clint's place watching horrible movies, which they made fun of while they slowly drank what beer Clint had. Ordering in when they couldn't find anything to cook until a little after 9 at night, so be it.

Unlike last week where she could sleep in until noon, today being Monday she needed to be down at the community center at least by a quarter to 8, to help the kids that not only needed the extra help but help the kids that wanted to keep a sharp mind over the summer months. The best perk is that Seb will be joining her at the community center. It's been something they've been doing for the past three years now, ever since they started to teach.

"Tell me you have coffee going?" She asked, sleepily walking into the kitchen, hearing Seb banging around more than seeing him.

"I have coffee that is done," he laughed, standing up. "It's moments like this that I remember how much of a morning person you are not," he chuckled, fixing her a cup of coffee.

"You my friend are a lifesaver," she grinned, blowing on her steaming cup of coffee. "I'm going to shower and get ready then we can go," she informed him, seeing him ready for the day. "What time did you get up this morning?" She asked, stopping short of the hallway.

"I've been up for the past hour. Now go get ready or we're going to be late," he ushered her off.

"I'm going, I'm going," she muttered, sipping on her coffee as she went.

With needing to get ready for the day the only time she looked at her phone had been to turn the alarm off. So while Seb drove them to the community center, since her car was still in the shop, she checked to see if she had any messages awaiting her.

'Enjoy your day of shaping the minds of the young.'

'Morning to you as well.' She quickly typed out, her smile now in place for the most of her morning.

'Did I forget to say that?' She snorted reading that part of his message. 'Morning, Onyx.'

"Don't even say it," Seb groaned, parking his car.

"Say what?" She laughed, putting her phone in her bag, leaving it on silent.

"Nothing," he said, turning the car off and pulling the keys from the ignition.

"Oh no, you can't pull that stunt with me Sebastian Smythe," she stated, leveling him with a glare. "You were all perky this morning and now you're a grumbling mess. Nothing is something and for once it has nothing to do with me. Now spill or we will be late because we will sit here until you tell me what's gotten into you," she warned him.

"I talked to Mikki this morning," he sighed, dropping his forehead to rest on the steering wheel.

"When is talking to your girlfriend a bad thing?" She questioned with a frown.

"When she declares that I must meet one of her brother's over lunch today," he filled her in with a fake smile on his face looking at his best friend.

"I see," she nodded, pushing her door open to get out of the car. Making sure to grab her belongs while Seb sat in the driver's seat bewildered.

"That's all you have to say?" He questioned, rushing after her, once he not only had his belongs but his car locked as well.

"Are you serious about Mikki?" Onyx asked, stopping short of the door. Seb nodded his head agreeing to that question. "Then you need to man up and meet her brother. It's logical, dude," she shrugged. "In order to move forward with Mikki you need to meet her family and vice versa."

"I hate you at times," he said, pulling the door open letting her go first. Everything she told him he knew he needed to do. He just didn't think he was ready to meet any of her family. He could do friends, but family is a whole nother level of being freaked out.

"I know and the feeling is mutual," she smiled, heading in the direction they needed to be going in.

Lunch approached sooner than either one thought it would. They kept pretty busy with the group of kids they had for the morning. With an hour until the next session started they sat outside, soaking up the sun, eating their food when Mikki approached with who Onyx could only assume is her brother. She did feel Seb tense up beside her on the bench.

"Miks, hi," Seb greeted, standing up to give his girlfriend a small kiss on the lips.

"Hi," Mikki smiled. "Hey, Onyx," she greeted, stepping back from her boyfriend, holding his hand, at seeing his nervous and anxious he is at meeting her brother.

"Hi. I'm going to go and let you three have this," she said, starting to pack her lunch up.

"Please don't," Mikki told her, getting Onyx to stop what she is doing. "You need to know my brother since you are so close with Sebby here," she smiled.

"If you're sure," Onyx said, looking to the brother. "I'm the best friend and roommate to your sister's boyfriend. If you couldn't tell I'm Onyx," she said, motioning to the name tag she wore.

"Nice to meet you," he said, holding his hand out. Onyx easily slipped her hand into his to shake. "Call me Artie," he smiled, turning his attention to Sebastian. "That makes you Sebastian, the boyfriend I've heard so much about."

"Yep that's me," Seb nodded, moving to shake his hand. Artie being a bit more forceful with this handshake this time around. "Call me Seb."

"Alright boys," Mikki said, motioning to a nearby picnic table. "Let's go sit at the picnic table and talk," she suggested.

The other three easily agreed moving the few feet to the picnic table to talk and learn more about each other. As the hour passed them by the atmosphere around them became more relaxed and Seb could say that he made a friend out of Artie.

By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, Onyx was ready to sleep the whole weekend away. The early mornings easily kicking her butt. All she wanted to do was go home and sleep until dinner time, but unfortunately she couldn't do that. She needed to go home change from the clothes she used for teaching, head to her brother's bar to help him out for the night as he was having problems finding a waitress to cover a shift for the night.

"You owe me big time," she stated, pointing at her brother behind the bar. "Is that all you need of me tonight?" She questioned, walking behind the counter, to giving him a hand. "Where is everyone?" She asked, getting the shots a customer asked for.

"Blaine is running late, Sam fell sick, and I've called Nick in to help out," he quickly explained. "I know I do," he confirmed.

"And your waitress, what happened to her?" She questioned, seeing Blaine rush into the place.

"She quit, so I get to find a new waitress," Jeff stated, nodding at Blaine. "I need you to cover the left side," he started.

Onyx groaned, but dived into her duties for the night. She paid no mind to who came or went, getting back into the groove of being a waitress once more.

Nearly an hour later saw Jeff on the small stage. She stood next to the bar waiting on the drinks Blaine was making up for her.

"I want to welcome all of you to the Starling Starlight," Jeff said gaining most of the attention in the bar. "Tonight felt like a good night to do a bit of karaoke or an open mic night. So if you want to sing or tell jokes, please come up," he stated. "Have a nice night everyone."

"I am not doing it," she hissed under her breath, walking past her brother, dropping off the drinks at the right tables, she head to the back to take a little break. 'Want a brother?' She messaged Clint.

'What happened?'

'He needed help at the bar, and I was the one roped into working.' She sent him, watching Blaine enter the room she hid in. 'Oh and don't forget that he has made it karaoke/open mic night.'

"You're needed again," Blaine told her with an apologetic smile on his face. "I know you'd rather be elsewhere tonight, but thank you for helping out."

"The thing is, I would do this any night. I'm not about to leave my brother and friends in the lurch when I can lend a helping hand," she smiled, walking past him. "I do expect to meet this girl of yours," she called over her shoulder, entering the fray of the bar.

Instead of replying back to Onyx's message, a plan formed in his mind, tired of sitting around and watching his friends get killed on the game they were playing he came up with a new plan of action.

"I am going out to get a drink and watch drunks mess up lyrics to old songs," he announced, pushing himself from the couch.

"We are in." The others agreed, getting things turned off.

It took them longer than normal with the high amount of traffic for a Friday night. When they made it to the bar, Clint was hoping that he hadn't missed his chance on watching Onyx perform, if she happened to cave.

Upon entering the bar, they took the first table they could find, a fairly good view of the stage, a smile on his face watching Onyx up there swaying to the beat of the music coming from her guitar. Her voice as stunning as the rest of her. Not paying attention to his friends.

For a second I feel guilty,

I'm sorry my love isn't strong enough

I need you to know that I want to love you in the same fashion that you love me

I need you to know that I need to love myself before I can love you the way you love me.

You're the man I wish I could love, but I've got no love for myself

How can I love you the way you love me if I can't find my way to loving myself

I want to love you the way you love me, baby

But I can't love you if I don't love myself

Hold on to hope for me because one day I'll be ready to love you in every way

Let me find the love within myself for me and I'll be yours forever

I want to love you, love you

Let me love myself, love myself

And I'll be yours, all yours

"Who knew that you were hiding quite the talent," he spoke in her ear, getting her to shiver. He snuck up behind her while she put her guitar away.

"Anyone that knows me. Even you knew that I was in VA in 9th and 10th grade, you were in it with me," she stated, turning around. "Why'd you come?" She asked.

"To have a beer or two. To have a good time with friends. And now that I saw you perform, I have to wonder why you're not chasing that dream," he easily told her. "It's a shame I don't remember that time with you," he frowned slightly.

"It's a dream I don't want," she snapped, moving away from him. "I've got to get back to work. I might see you later."

"Stop by the table and you can meet my friends," he told her following after her.

"If I get time, if you're not in my section," she informed him, moving into the thick of the masses.

"Don't take it personal," Nick said grabbing a beer for him. "She gets worked up like that when her brother annoys her about getting up there and singing."

"Why doesn't she sing more often?" Clint questioned, leaning on the bar. She had the voice for it.

"That is something that you need to take up with her as it wouldn't be right to gossip about her," Nick stated. He wouldn't break the trust he has with Onyx. Not over this.

"She would be pissed about that," he chuckled. "Thanks for that," he said, taking his beer back to his table of friends.

"You'll never believe it," Vincent laughed.

"Believe what?" He asked, wondering what happened to be so amusing.

"Remember how we told you about the woman at the club that hurt poor Jason here by calling him all sorts of names?" Phillip asked, making sure he was on the same page.

"I remember that," he nodded. "She here or something?" He asked, looking around the table.

"Yes," they shouted in unison, Jason flipping them off.

"Dude why don't you get her over here so you can try again," Clint snickered.

"You?" They heard, turning their attention to the woman standing at the table.

"Me," Jason dryly laughed. "You," he said, taking a long pull off his beer.

"What am I missing here?" Clint asked looking between his friend and the woman he has feelings for.

"You're telling me that he is your friend?" Onyx questioned, looking down at Clint.

"Hold up," Dereck said. "How do you two know each other?"

"Guys this is Onyx," he introduced. "Onyx I would like you to meet Vinny, Dereck, Phillip and I'm guessing you already know Jason to an extent," he laughed softly.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you all," she said. "I think we got off on the wrong foot," she said looking at Jason.

"I am starting to believe we did. Though on the plus side, this is my perfect friend for you that I said would tame you, ironically enough," he chuckled.

"Where the hell did that comment come from?" Clint asked, looking at Jason. "And why would you say that to anyone?"

"Because I was being a bitch to him," Onyx shrugged. "And I did tell him that I would chew him up and feed him to the sharks."

"You do know that working means doing your job and not flirting with your boyfriend?" Jeff questioned annoyed.

"You do know that I don't work here and I am doing this as a favor because you are my brother. And I can leave when I want because you want to be an ass about things," she stated, turning to look at her brother.

"I know that," Jeff sighed. "It's just," he paused to take a deep breath. "We'll talk about this tomorrow over lunch?" He asked.

"If not sooner, Jeff. You are really scaring me right now," she told him.

"It's nothing to worry about it, our normal lunch spot?" He asked.

"Same time?" She questioned, getting a positive confirmation from Jeff. "We'll have to do this again when I'm not so busy. And feel free to go up and sing any song you want to sing whether it be for karaoke or original songs. You can tell jokes if you want," she told them.

"We'll keep that in mind," Dereck smiled.

"You'll let me know when you make it home?" Clint asked, stopping her for a moment.

"I can do that," she smiled. "And Clint," she said gaining his attention again. "I'm sorry about being so short with you earlier."

"It's fine," he promised her with a smile, watching her walk away. "I find it weird that you hit on the woman who is not only a friend, but one that I want to be dating," he nervously chuckled, turning to look at his friend.

"I didn't know she was yours," Jason stated. "If I did I wouldn't have hit on her. It is weird though," he agreed. "She is nicer when she isn't drunk," he laughed. "So she is your special someone, then?"

"Yes she is," he smiled.

"Someone is smitten," Phillip teased.

He took his friends teasing in stride. He did the same thing to them when they were crushing on their now girlfriend's/fiancée's. He reckoned it is his time for the teasing and he didn't mind a single bit.

'Home safe and sound.' Onyx texted him a few hours later, a selfie of herself cuddled under her blankets. 'Night Clint'

'Night Onyx' he quickly texted back, sending her a selfie as well with him in bed.