"You guys feel like pizza for dinner?" Sam let out a squeal. Smiling, I took that as a yes and turned to Neri. She shrugged, not looking up from her phone. I ordered enough pizza for four, knowing Ara would be home any minute. Just as I'd hung up the phone, Ara walked in.

"Hey guys! You must be Sam and Neri." She smiled warmly at them both. Sam glanced at me, his expression alarmed. I smiled at him, letting him know it was okay.

"Guys this is my roommate, and best friend, Ara." Neri smiled shyly, while Sam stared at her with wide eyes, instantly taken by her relaxed att.i.tude, and her beautiful looks, like most people were.

"Are you looking forward to school, Neri?" Ara took off her coat, throwing it on the back of the chair she flopped down into, "I went to South West too. You will love it, especially a hot little thing like you." Neri's face reddened as Ara chuckled, "Hey, if you have it, flaunt it, right?" She nudged Neri, who blushed even more.

"I like school." She admitted finally, "But I'm not sure about starting one mid semester, especially freshmen year."

"Honey, all the boys will want you, and all the girls will want to be friends with you."

"I have a boyfriend already." Neri said quietly. I looked at her in surprise. A boyfriend? I hadn't thought about the friends she'd had to leave behind, much less a boyfriend.

If I were in her shoes, I'd be hating the world right now.

"What's his name?" I asked, smiling. Neri managed a smile back.

"Jeremy."

"Is he cute? How long have you been with him?" I asked smiling.

Neri pulled out her phone and handed it to me. I looked at the picture on the screen. Neri had her arms around a boy of about 16. He was cute, with his dark hair and tall athletic frame.

"We have been together almost a year." I felt a pang of sadness as I noticed how happy she looked in this picture. There was no trace of that happiness in her face looking at her now.

"Maybe we can go and visit him next weekend." For the first time, a sparkle appeared in her eyes.

"That would be awesome." She smiled. Was I finally breaking through her armor?

Sam was busy showing Ara the ins and outs of his Lego collection. His shyness had evaporated as soon as she'd asked him about it. Ara glanced up at me and winked.

"Let's put on a movie." I decided. Pointing to the cabinet behind the TV, I told Neri to choose one. She poured over my selection (which admittedly wasn't very good), before coming back over with Mean Girls.

"Now there's a great choice before starting a new school." Ara said dryly. Neri laughed, fitting into the spot between Sam and me on the couch.

"Maybe it will give me some ideas on making friends." She quipped. Both Ara and I giggled.

"G.o.d help me if you get yourself suspended from school." I moaned, covering my face in mock horror.

"You don't need to worry about that." Neri rolled her eyes, "If I want to study medicine, I need great results. Everything from now counts."

I eyed her in awe of her determination. At fifteen, I'd had no idea what I wanted. The biggest thing on my mind had been trying to ensure how I could get an uninterrupted night's sleep.

"How long have you wanted to be a doctor?"

Neri shrugged, "For about the last two years. As soon I was old enough to really consider what my options were." I sat back, shaking my head. This kid was fifteen? She had more focus than half the people in my college. Who *considered their options' at thirteen?

"You are so driven." Ara commented, mirroring my thoughts. Neri blushed. "No, don't be embarra.s.sed. Be proud that you know exactly what you want." A small smile appeared on Neri's lips. Secretly, I think she loved having her hard work recognized.

"What does mom think about you becoming a doctor?" I asked softly, not wanting to ruin the moment, but curious as to how much encouragement she'd received at home. The smile disappeared and was replaced with a frown.

"Not much. She never really took much of an interest in school. So long as I went, and I pa.s.sed, that was all that mattered." Her voice hinted some sadness at mom's lack of interest in her future.

"Neri, I've no doubt that with all the hard work you put into school, you will be an amazing doctor in ten years. You are definitely a special girl. This Jeremy fellow is lucky to have someone hot and smart." I teased. Neri covered her face with her hands, but I could see she was smiling at my dig.

It had been a long day for everyone, so when the kids had gone to bed just after the movie, I wasn't at all surprised. Alone in the living room, Ara joined me, handing me a beer.

"So, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm good. Better than I thought." I admitted. Strangely enough, I really liked having the kids here with me. I knew it would take time for them to settle in, but the first day had gone well.

"They are great kids." Ara commented, reaching for a handful of the nuts she'd just set on the coffee table, "I can't believe Neri is only fifteen."

"I know." I agreed, "It's kind of scary, how focused she is. I hope she doesn't forget to be a kid while she still can."

"I think she'll be fine. Look at us. I'm always home, pining over my boyfriend, and all you do is work and study." I rolled my eyes, wanting to argue that wasn't true.

Unfortunately, it was.

"You should have seen this detective, Ara." I sighed dreamily. Ara giggled, raising her eyebrows.

"Kait has a crush? Who'd have thought?" She laughed as I rolled my eyes. She made it sound like I never had boyfriends. "Admit it, Kait. You haven't exactly been fawning over the opposite s.e.x lately. Or any s.e.x, for that matter." She giggled. "And picking up the odd guy for a one night thing doesn't count." She cut in before I could reply. I closed my eyes, knowing I had no come back for that.

"Shut up and let me enjoy this." I grumbled, propping my feet up on the coffee table.

"Fine, so what does detective hottie look like?" Ara held her hands up in defeat.

"He is so great." I sighed, closing my eyes and picturing his face in front of me, "His eyes, Ara, are just so d.a.m.n s.e.xy. He has the most wonderful smile. And his body, G.o.d don't get me started on his body-.. What?" I stopped abruptly when I realized she was smirking at me.

"Nothing." She shrugged, her eyes dancing with amus.e.m.e.nt. "I've never seen you like this over a boy, that's all."

"Like what?" I argued. "You asked me what he looked like."

"Yeah, and look at you. You've gone all swoony and lovely dovey. You're like a big bag of mush."

"I did not go all lovey dovey." I retorted, color creeping into my cheeks. Ara rolled her eyes.

"You did too. It's cute." I knew she was teasing, but I couldn't help but bite.

"Like you can talk! I hear you on the phone with Luke. Talk about lovey dovey." I grumbled. Ara giggled and nodded her agreement.

"Hey, I'm not embarra.s.sed about it. I'll gladly admit that Luke and I never got past that cutesy stage. As soon as you admit you have the hots for this detective." She added.

I narrowed my eyes at her. Why couldn't I just appreciate his attractiveness? Why did I have to be crushing on him?

"Night Ara." I stood up and kissed her head, ignoring her giggling as I went to my room.

Chapter Five.

Waking up to a five year old crawling over me was not something I was used to.

"Kait! Get up!" Sam yelled in my ear. No, yelling would have been good. He was screeching at the top of his lungs.

"What time is it?" I mumbled, trying to bury my head into my pillow. Glancing at the alarm clock, I groaned loudly when the numbers 7:15 flashed back at me. "Sam. It's too early to get up." I snuggled back into my comfy blanket.

"Hey, wait, what?" I jumped up and clutched onto the floral blanket as it was being ripped off my body by Sam. I was moments away from being naked. I made a mental note to sleep in some pajamas from now on.

"Okay! I'll get up." Sam, satisfied that he'd won, ran out of the room cheering. I felt like a zombie as I forced myself out of bed, pulling on some tracksuit pants and a top. I stumbled out into the kitchen, heading straight for the coffee machine. Sam had already turned the television onto the cartoon channel.

"Couldn't you have just put the TV on and let me sleep some more." I grumbled as I poured fresh water into the coffee pot. I slumped onto the counter while I waited.

Coffee in hand, I slumped onto the couch next to Sam. For the next two hours, he watched cartoons as I struggled to keep my eyes open. Time was dragging a and I mean dragging a along. By ten o'clock, I was on my third coffee and all I wanted to do was slip back into bed, when the doorbell rang.

"Seriously, who the f.u.c.k visits someone this early?" I mumbled under my breath. Slipping my feet into my slippers, I went to open the door.

Devon. Of course.

Who else would it be when I was looking like I'd just rolled around in a pig trough?

"Hey, did I wake you?" He eyed my appearance, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans.

"No, you're three hours late to have woken me." I grumbled. "Apparently, the best cartoons start at seven." I explained, seeing his confused expression. He laughed. Well I was glad someone found my getting up at seven amusing. "Coming in?" He shrugged and nodded.

"I was just checking on the kids." He explained. "How are they going?"

"You're not in your usual suit." I instantly regretted my comment. That suggested I'd paid way too much attention to his attire the last two times I'd seen him. He smiled, as if he was thinking the same thing.

"No. Day off today." And he spent it coming here? Interesting...

"Do you always get up so early on your day off?"

"Early?" He snorted. "Let me guess, unless absolutely necessary, you'd probably never even see morning. Am I right?" I poked my tongue out at him. "I knew it." He said triumphantly, amus.e.m.e.nt shining in his eyes.

"Shut up and sit down." I ordered. He grinned at me as he sat on the couch next to Sam, who didn't even look up.

"Hey Sam."

Sam mumbled a reply, his eyes glued to the TV. Devon laughed. He stood up, joining me in the kitchen. I struggled to focus on the coffee making with Devon leaning on the counter across from me. A smile played on his lips as he watched me. I could feel a flutter in my stomach, as I wondered what it would be like to kiss him. He owned the s.e.xiest pair of lips I'd ever seen, so red and full. I wanted to feel them on mine much more than any self-respecting girl should.

"What are you thinking about?" His question threw me off, for obvious reasons. I wasn't about to tell him the truth. "What?" He pressed, amused.

"Nothing." I blushed. "What are you up to today?" I said, averting the conversation.

"I have a birthday thing on." He replied. "And don't think I didn't notice the change in subject there." I was about to reply when Neri walked in. She looked mildly surprised to see Devon standing in the kitchen.

"Hi." She said frowning, looking from Devon, to me, and back to Devon.

"He just dropped by to see how you guys are settling in." I quickly said. I could see the wheels turning over in her mind. "I was roped into watching cartoons at seven." I added, rolling my eyes at Sam. Neri giggled.

"Sounds like Sam alright." She grabbed the gla.s.s of juice I'd poured for her.

"Hungry? Eggs? Pancakes?" I asked Neri, slipping a coffee across the counter to Devon.

"Pancakes sound awesome." Devon grinned, raising his eyebrows.

"I was talking to Neri, not you." I poked my tongue out at him.

"Pancakes do sound good." Admitted Neri, smiling. I flipped Devon the bird as he chuckled.

"Kait!" Sam stood at the end of the counter, horrified by what he'd seen. I clapped my hand over my mouth as his own dropped open in shock.

"You did the finger." His eyes grew wide.

Devon and Neri both fought back laughter. If he was upset with that, wait till he heard some of the language that came out of my mouth.

"I'm sorry Sam. I shouldn't have done that. It was very, very rude of me." Sam nodded, his little face creased with concern.

"You should say sorry to Devon." He finally said. I turned to Devon, who was waiting for his apology, thoroughly amused. He raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"Sorry." I murmured, making sure he knew I was not in the slightest bit sorry.

"What was that? I didn't hear you."

"Sorry." I repeated icily, knowing full well he'd heard the first time.

"Are you really? Because I'm not feeling it." He chuckled as I threw him a look. Sam looked satisfied and went back to his cartoons.

"I hope you're not expecting pancakes." I muttered to Devon. He laughed, pushing himself off the counter.

"What if I make them?"

"You?" I repeated doubtfully, as he wandered around my side of the counter. He brushed up against me as he reached for the mixing bowl.

"Yes, me." He murmured. Neri raised her eyebrows and grabbed her juice.

"I don't think I need to see this." She announced, heading for the couch. I felt my cheeks color.

"You blush a lot, Kait." Devon c.o.c.ked his head and grinned at me. Which, of course, made me blush more. "Imagine if you actually had something to blush about." He whispered in my ear.

I pulled back in shock. Was he hitting on me? I drew in a breath, and backed out of his way. He winked at me, and set about preparing breakfast.