They run down the sidewalk at full speed I have to run at my hardest just to keep up. We run all the way down the street onto the next subdivision, then out of the subdivision onto the main road.

“Dukun!” I shout.

They run to the corner store and then run down the sidewalk again towards the shopping strip. Dukun is barking like a mad dog, chasing the cat everywhere.

Finally, they stop just before running into oncoming traffic.

I grab Dukun’s leash.

“Sit!” I shout.

He does.

“Bad dog! Stay!” I tie him to the light pole before eyeing the countess.

She is puffed up so much it’s hard to see her face. Her back is arched and she inches towards the road.

“Here kitty, kitty, kitty. It’s okay.” I inch towards her.

“Skylar,” Darleen runs up behind me out of breath.

Jade and Oli round the corner and make their way over to us.

“Shh! Here kitty, kitty, kitty.” I take a step towards her.

The countess steps into the road.

“Oh, okay, come back, come back now.” I inch towards her.

Then she takes off running into the street.

“No!” I shout.

“Skylar don’t!” Darleen calls after me.

I run into the street and scoop up the cat into my arms. I turn and see headlights and hear someone leaning in on their horn, slamming on the breaks.

“Skylar!” Jade cries out.

I brace for impact. Darleen tackles me onto the sidewalk. We both go sliding and I hit my head on the brick wall of the flower shop.

“Oh my gosh, are you guys okay!?” Someone runs up to us.

“Skylar, Skylar are you okay?” Darleen helps me sit up.

I look down into my arms to the cat clung to my skin. Then I rub the back of my head, I feel blood.

“Ow, yeah I think so. You?”

“Oh my god, you stupid idiot, you almost got hit!” She embraces me into a hug.

I see her arm is scraped up really bad, blood drips onto the floor.

“Darleen your arm,” I say.

“Your head.” She pulls back with blood on her hands where she held my head to her chest.

“Is everyone okay?” The diver steps out of the car.

“Yeah, sorry.” I smile sheepishly.

“Ya gave me a heart attack.” The woman sighs in relief.

“Skylar!” Jade and Oli run over to me.

“I got her.” I pry the cat’s claws from my skin and hand her to Jade.

“You scared the hell out of me.” Jade kneels down and embraces me.

“You are so stupid, don’t scare me like that again.” Darleen squeezes my hand.

Oli helps us up and all the onlookers start clapping.

I feel my cheeks go red and I smile appreciatively at them.

“Go on home now, and don’t just run into the street. You could have been seriously hurt if it weren’t for your friend.” The woman says.

“Sorry,” I say again.

We all walk home, Oli holding tight to Dukun’s leash who is whimpering with his head low. He knows he’s in trouble and that I got hurt.

“You saved my life.” I look to Darleen.

“Yeah, I guess I did.” she smiles.

“Thank you.”

“Just don’t do it again.” She kisses me on the cheek.

“I won’t.”

“Everyone okay?” Archer asks as we walk up to the house.

“Define okay.” Darleen shows her arm.

Wini hisses in pain.

“Come on, I’ll get you patched up.” I grab Darleen’s hand and lead her into the house.

We go into the bathroom where I help her wash her arm off and clean it up before putting two of those jumbo Band-Aids on it. She has a large scrape all the way down her left arm.

“Now you.” She says, pulling my head closer to get a better look.

“Ow.” I wince in pain.

She brushes some of the hair out of the way before getting a damp cloth and dabbing it clean. Then she wraps my head in gauze giving me a gauze headband. I giggle at myself in the mirror.

“You are lucky I am a faster runner than you.” She jokes.

“Rub it in why don’t you.” I poke her in the stomach.

She giggles.

Then she takes a step closer to me. Her lips are so close. She grabs me by my chin and pulls me in for a soft kiss. I lean into her. She sighs into me before lightly pushing me against the door. I grab her by the waist and pull her closer.

Our lips move against each other and her hands slide up my shirt. I have actually grown used to Darleen’s make out sessions, surprisingly. She’s a really good kisser and I like the way she makes me feel all giggly inside.

Maybe being with Darleen isn’t so bad after all.

“Mmm.” She moans into my mouth as I slide my hands up her back.

Her hands slide over my breast and I shudder under her touch.

“I want you.” She says breathlessly as she pulls back.

“Easy there Beasty, taking it slow remember,” I say against her lips.

“What did you call me?” she smiles against my lips.

“Beasty, because you are a beast always attacking me like this.” I tease.

“I like it.” She giggles.

“Yeah? I guess you have a pet name now.” I smile.

“I want one for you. Hmm, how about cuddly wuddly?”

“Definitely not.” I laugh.

“What? I think it fits you because you are going to be my snuggle bear.” She pulls me closer to her.

“How do you know if I am even a cuddler? We haven’t even cuddled together.” I point out.

“I can just tell, a big o softy like you. I bet you love cuddles.”

“You are not calling me that.” I giggle.

“Fine what about wifey? Since according to your sister we are going to get married one day.”

The nickname makes me turn beet red.

“No.” I cover my face.

“I think we have a winner.” She teases.

“Just don’t call me that in front of anyone,” I say through my fingers.

“I make no promises.” She pulls my hands away and kisses me.

She slips her tongue into my mouth and I wring my hands into her shirt, pulling her closer. Before things can get too heated, she pulls back.

“Just for the record, you do like cuddles right? Because if not then I don’t think this will work.” She teases.

“Lucky for you, I love cuddles.” I smile at her.

“Good, cause I have this image in my head.”

“Yeah?”

“Of you in my arms, cuddled up next to each other under the stars. How does that sound?”

“Sounds—”

“Are you two done yet? You know I am bleeding too!” Jade calls from the other side of the door.

Darleen narrows her eyes and grumbles under her breath.

“Easy beasty.” I tease.

“She’s doing it on purpose, I just know it.” She hisses.

“Don’t be jealous.” I kiss her lightly on the lips.

“Mmm, well you are in here with me and not her. So I guess I win. Wifey.”

“Please don’t call me that.” My face goes red.

“No way, it’s official now.” She giggles.

“Hello!? I can hear you two flirting in there.” Jade says.

“She makes it really hard not to hate her,” Darleen grumbles.

“I heard that!”

“Good!” Darleen calls.

“Stop it. Come on.” I pull away from the door.

When I open the door Jade is giving us the stink eye. She clutches her clawed up arm in her good arm and waits for us to move. I give her an apologetic look before leading Darleen back downstairs and outside.

The others have gone and took their babies with them So now it’s just Oli who is sitting outside with Dukun, Jade must have put the other babies in my room.

“Hey.” Mackenzie walks over.

I tense up.

“Hey,” I say awkwardly.

“Who’s this?” Mackenzie asks.

“Her future wife.” Oli snorts in amusement.

I shoot her a glare, “This is my girlfriend Darleen, Darleen, Jade’s cousin and my friend Mackenzie.”

“You look familiar…” Mackenzie says to Darleen.

“You might have seen me on a magazine cover. I just came out on the recent issue of my aunt's magazine. It was a segment about giving it your all in school or something like that. She wants me to inspire young readers.” Darleen rolls her eyes.

“Your aunt owns a magazine company?”

“Oh, I guess you still haven’t figured it out. I’m Darleen Grayson, as in the Grayson, Grayson’s. As in my family has more money then we know what to do with Grayson’s.” she wraps her arm around my waist.

“G-Grayson!” Mackenzie’s eyes go wide.

“Yep.”

“Oh my god, I heard your parties are legendary everyone at my school talks about you.” She says.

“Yeah? Well, my birthday party is coming up in a couple of weeks, you are more than welcome to come.”

“Really!”

“Sure, you can tag along with Jade.” She shrugs.

“I wanna come,” Oli says.

“No,” I say.

“You suck.” She sticks her tongue out at me.

I roll my eyes.

Jade walks back outside.

“Hey your mom is awake; I would get rid of your girlfriend before she sees.” She warns.

I look at Darleen. She pouts.

“See you tomorrow at school?” I say.

“Deal, maybe I can sneak you on a lunch date.” She smiles.

“Sounds like a plan, so long as it’s not with your whole family again.”

“It won’t be. They like you I swear.” She giggles.

“Sure sure.” I roll my eyes.

Then with a light kiss on the lips, she quickly gets in her car and drives away.

“You didn’t tell me your girlfriend was Darleen freaking Grayson!” Mackenzie hisses.

“Once again, you didn’t ask.” I point out.

“Big freaking whoop. She’s so urgh! No offense Skylar.” Jade says.

“I may be slightly offended.” I joke.

“And Wifey, yuck! Horrible nickname.” Jade makes a face.

I feel myself go red.

“Jade!” I complain.

Oli laughs at me.

“I’m just being honest.” She shrugs.

Sigh.

I wonder if those two will ever get along.