This is gonna prolly be the last chapter. Thanks for reading till the end.

Ended: 05/26/2014

…

Graduation went pretty smoothly and was over rather quickly. As graduation caps rained down around me, I left the crowd to find my grandma.

She had invited him, so there he was smiling at me as she hugged me. I gave in as he gave me a congratulatory hug.

Okay, so maybe I missed his arms just a tiny bit.

"Benny!" I turn as Erica hugs me tightly, picking her slightly up off her feet. She squeals before I set her down, hugging Rory and giving him a kiss – I see Ethan out of the corner of my eye roll his own as he watches us, looking displeased.

Okay, so that's a pretty good feeling.

"You must be Erica and Rory," he said, stepping up as I stand with them. I don't miss the way Erica gapes at him and Rory looks pissed – probably remembering how he barged in on our date all those months ago.

"Yeah. Guys, this is Mr. Morgan."

"Please, call me Ethan."

"Hey, Benny," Rory said, pulling me away from Ethan. I am glad for the distraction as we walk away. "My mom wanted to give you a graduation card," he said, and then we're off, leaving Erica alone with my grandma and Ethan.

Yeah, I bet that's gonna go over swell.

…

With Grandma, Ethan, and Erica:

Grandma, seeing the way Erica was staring at the older man, excused herself to the restroom and left them staring at each other.

"Why are you here?" Erica asked, crossing her arms across chest, anger for the man clear in her eyes.

"The same reason you are: Graduation." She narrowed her eyes at him and stepped forward, poking him in the chest with a perfect nail.

"You stay the fuck away from Benny."

"Just because you got burned by an older man doesn't mean the same is going to happen to him." Her face turned red then as she began to sputter at him.

"H-how…w-what…WHAT?!" He smirked at her then, watching as she floundered for a moment. "How..?" she asked once she had caught herself, making him shake his head.

"It's written all over that pretty little face of yours every time you look at me. You think I'll hurt him."

"I know you will. You're married-"

"Divorced," he said, holding up his left hand for her to see – no wedding ring. She stared at him for a moment before she shook her head.

"Was that because of him?"

"Naaaaah… He just made us realize we weren't in love anymore. It wasn't fair to the baby to keep lying to each other." Erica was silent then before she shook her head.

"Well too bad for you," she said, trying to sound smug only for her voice to waver under his gaze. "He's dating Rory. And they've slept together!"

"Who he's not that interested in. I can tell that too. And you're point being?" She flushed again and shook her head.

"Rory loves him."

"Rory's a kid. And does Benny love him?" When she didn't answer, he smirked. "Fair game then."

"I talked him out of dating you once, I can do it again."

"I'd like to see you fucking try."

…

I was walking back to where my Grandma was when Rory stopped me.

"Benny…. We need to talk."

"What is it?"

"I just… I got into that college in New York"

"That's great!... Why do you sound so sad about it?"

"I know you got into the local university."

"How?" Although I knew the answer and ended up saying it with him. "Grandma." We laughed and he sighed. "Are you mad about that?"

"No, no of course not… I just… I don't know how long-distance will work for us."

"Are you… breaking up with me?" Rory shrugged and I stepped back, surprised by the brief pain I felt.

"I don't want to. You know that. I'm crazy about you. But.."

"I-I understand," I say, reaching for his hand. "I mean, it's probably for the best anyways…"

"I love you." I smile at him and hug him.

"I love you too."

…

Two Weeks Later:

I was at the airport saying goodbye to Rory as well as Erica, who was also going to New York for college – they had to leave so early into the summer so they could get into their dorms and everything.

"I'm going to miss you guys," I say, hugging Rory and giving him a goodbye kiss before hugging Erica, who held on to me just a little tighter than normal.

"He won't hurt you, if you want to go back to him." I stare at her as she gives me a sad, resigned smile before they turn and both are gone from my life.

…

When I get home I find Ethan on my porch.

"What is it?"

"I know your friends left today. Thought you'd like some company." I actually smile at him and let him in – my Grandma had gone shopping so it was just us. "Listen, I'm sorry about… everything, that happened."

"It's fine," I say, smiling at him. "You liked me, I liked you. Things happen." He nodded and I get him a water bottle and we sit at the dining table, just staring at each other.

"There's another reason I came over though."

"Of course there is." He smirks at me – I guess he missed my sarcasm.

"I'd like to rehire you as my babysitter. And… if you were up to it, give you room and board for college." I stare at him, surprised – I had been looking for places that weren't dorms for a while now, but hadn't had any luck.

"Why?"

"Your Grandma can't put you up forever kid-"

"I'm not a kid!" He chuckled at me and I found myself laughing too.

"Okay, so really – would you like to live with me and take care of my daughter?"

"…Sure. Why the hell not?"

…

August-My First Semester of College:

I was driving home from college – yes, I have a car now thanks to Grandma – and was in the driveway when I stopped to think about how these last few months had been.

I had moved in with Ethan and helped take care of Julie, who had learned to walk now and was a tiny terror for the both of us – she was with us most of the time and only spent a small amount of time at her mother's.

I had found a couple other babysitting jobs so I made pretty decent money.

Of course, Ethan got his book published and it happened to become a bestseller, so he covered a lot of my expenses these days.

And I'm sure you can guess what happened between us.

At first, we just playfully flirted with each other. Slowly, it progressed to more hugs and touches. Then, a couple of kisses every now and then.

I guess you could say we're together, but there's not really a label for us.

We just are what we are.

I knew it would happen.

I didn't try to stop it.

Because, when the sparks start flying, its better to just accept it than run away.

It took me a while to realize that, but it was so worth it.

"Hey handsome, you just going to sit out there and stare into space or come in for dinner?" I laugh and get out of the car and meet him on the porch; he has Julie in his arms, but when she sees me she squirms to go to me.

So, is this where I expected to be when I first got the job?

Hell no.

But I wouldn't change it.

Because I'm finally happy.

…

Yeah, the ending could've been so much better, but eh, it is what it is.

Thanks for reading and thanks for all the great reviews.

-JustMe133