“What are you doing up so early Daniel? It’s barely even 7.”

“Sorry Did I wake you Danielle? I just wanted to get a book, go back to sleep.”

“I’m awake already… might as well get up.”

“Did you get any sleep last night?”

“Huh, good joke, Amerie was over again.”

“Again? I don’t like that woman Danielle, she’s like a leech, always hanging around Dad..”

“What’s the big deal, I hang around you and you don’t call me a leech.”

“That’s because I’m stuck in a room with you. I really have no choice.”

“Thanks Danny, I feel so loved.

“No problem, but seriously I don’t like her.”

“She’s not that bad. At least she notices us and says hi if we bump into her in the morning.”

“She’s sleeping with half of the town, I mean if that’s not an indicator she’s just here for a ride I don’t know what is.”

“Oh please, you’re exaggerating. So she likes some fun, it’s not like dad’s married or anything.”

“You haven’t seen anything, you were at work the other day and some dude caught them in the act.”

“Serious?”

“Yeah, he was all up in her face about it and even slapped her for being an unfaithful wench!”

“Well that’s and overreaction.”

“Oh please you would do the same if somebody was cheating on you.”

“Not if I cheated on them first.”

“What? Danielle that’s just wrong!”

“Oh come on, share the love you know!”

“Don’t even go there, I don’t even know how we’re related.”

“Don’t worry I wonder the same as well. Anyways did you hear what’s going on with Damien?”

“Rika Peterson right?”

“Yeah, they finally hooked up.”

“Didn’t she make a pass at him two weeks ago?”

“Yeah, but now it’s official, the future king and queen of the prom… that is if they last and they beat Caitlin O’Koren and Jackson Clarke.”

“You’re horrible Danielle! They’ve barely started dating and you’re already jinxing it!”

“Oh shut up Danny, Mr. Trackstar. You’re one to talk sneaking around with Caitlin behind Jackson’s back! You think I don’t know? The gossip is flying rampant about you two!”

“There’s nothing going on!”

“Oh please you think I don’t know? You sneaking out at night with her going to parties behind Jackson’s back,”

“That was once-”

“-and the secret phone calls at 2 AM in the morning.”

“We’re friends! Is it a crime to talk?”

“Not when you’re like friends with benefits.”

“Worry about yourself. I know you’ve got the hots for Jackson and I know for a fact you made out with him behind the bleachers during the football game.”

“Oh you’re one to talk.”

“See? You’re not even denying it! I know you went out on a secret date with him when you told dad you were just goin’ out with some of your cheerleader friends.”

“They invited him! I didn’t know he was going to be there! And that kiss was a one time thing!”

“Oh so you did kiss him!”

“Shut up you’re having an affair with Caitlin as well!”

“…”

“Yeah that’s right, so I suggest you shut up about it and I’ll shut up about you. Fair?”

“Fine.”

—–

“Hey there gorgeous,” Andrew smiled as he pulled Hallie in for an embrace.

“Hey there yourself handsome.” Hallie flirted back, a smile creeping up on her face as Andrew gave her a quick kiss.

“How’s it going?”

“It’s been fine, pity you couldn’t stay for the rest of Leon’s birthday party.”

“Sorry, the babysitter had to leave early that day.”

“It’s fine, I mean I understand having so many kids and all.”

Andrew smiled fondly at Hallie as she continued to tell him about her week. She was friendly, and pretty, but above all she was understanding. Sure Amerie has a smoking bod, and she was great in bed, but she was high maintenance.

Amerie demanded all of his time, and all of his money while he was at it. Amerie wasn’t wife material, that was a certain and a man like him needed to settle down with somebody who would support him even when he was old and wrinkly.

He had given this a lot of thought prior to making this decision of course, marriage was a major thing. Especially the publicity these days surrounding his rise to MVP for the Lush Valley Llamas.

“Remember that lunch we had at your place about two weeks ago?” Andrew began.

“Yeah what about it?”

“Well..”

—–

“Do you plan on living here with Rika until you grow old?”

“Well, it’s not like I have much choice. Finances are tight. I can’t afford to move out and give the house to Rika as much as I would like to. Leon as well wishes to set out on his own. He needs money to accomplish that and give him a good start.”

“But what about you? What do you want?”

“Me? I want to move out. Sure it’s great seeing the kids and my parents everyday, but I feel like I’m living in a state of unchange you know? Mom and Dad are retired and enjoying their golden years as much as they can, Rika’s all prepared to be our family’s heir, and Leon is keen on becoming independant. I’m just here for financial support really. If it wasn’t for that, they wouldn’t really need me.”

“Don’t say that, the kids love you, and your parents would want to spend time with you as well till their time here ends.”

“I know, but it just makes me wonder, what do I have to look forward to?”

—-

“- I think it would be a good idea for you to have something to look forward to.”

“Like what?” Hallie asked with an eyebrow quirked.

Andrew fumbled with the case in his pocket. He had spent his last three paychecks on this ring and hopefully it wouldn’t go to waste.

“Hallie Peterson, will you marry me?”

Hallie’s eyes widened as she stared at the shiny ring. “Oh my God,”

Andrew’s smile faltered a little. “Umm so should I take that as a yes?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Hallie cried out in joy as she slipped on the ring and jumped into Andrew’s arms.

“I would love to marry you Andrew Keyes.”

“And I would love to marry you as well Hallie.”

She hugged him tighter as she kept on whispering “I can’t believe it!” into his ear and stroked his hair.

He made his decision.

He will have to end things with Amerie once and for all.