The sound of birds chirping made me wake up. I could feel the softness of my bare skin brushing with the silk of my eiderdown, my eyes met the sun rays coming through the gap of the curtains. I yawned in exhaustion and then I rubbed my eyes. Little stars appeared in my sight and then I remembered last night. Matt was now in my thoughts and it brought a huge smile on my face. I stretched my arms and moaned, I didn't want to get up. The bed was begging me not to but then I remember I was going to see him today for brunch. Which was a happy thing for me. I decided to stay for a few seconds wrapped up in my bed and then I heard my phone buzzing, so I extended my arm to reach out for it and the screen was noticing me I was receiving a call from him. So I didn't hesitate to answer.

"Um, hello?" My voice was raspy and a little bit crooked. So I cleared my throat and waited for his reply.

"Good morning, you going to brunch today with me?"

"Of course." I chuckled, rubbing my eyes again. My voice was still raspy.

"Can't wait to see you." He giggled.

"Yeah me too." I blushed and smiled, reaching my eyes.

"Great. Get ready and I'll see you in an hour."

"Sure," I paused. "Thanks for calling."

"Anything for you." He hung up and then I got out of the bed and rushed to get a shower. I opened the bathroom door and tripped on the blue fluffy mat, I giggled to myself and then saw my reflection in the mirror. My dark circles were more prominent today and it made me groaned due to the dark color on them. It was almost impossible for me to wake up without them or even get to cover them with make up. But I was used to it, though it made me feel a bit insecure about my self. But it was something I've lived with for my whole life. So I headed to the shower and let the warm water run through my skin. Showers were a good time to think and pretend you were a famous superstar. Today, I was a superstar. I sang 'Feel Again' by OneRepublic and made up dance moves as I went along with the song. I was so funny.

''Lily, Matt is downstairs.'' My mom spoke, as she knocked gently on the door. I finished fixing my hair into a ponytail and opened the door, she was still there.

''Thanks,'' I sighed. ''You met him already?''

''We've just shared two words, but he seems nice.'' She said, with her arms crossed, leaning her body on the door frame.

''He is,'' I winked at her, walking out of the room. ''See you later, okay?'' She nodded and I went downstairs, leaving a kiss on her temple. As I placed foot on the last step, he was in the living room examining the different kinds of family pictures. Some were embarrassing, but I didn't mind that he'd seen them. It was part of getting attached to someone right? Getting them to know every embarrassing or great detail about your life. ''Lurking?'' He turned around to face me, grinning ear to ear. He looked so beautiful.

''You were such a cute baby.'' He walked closer to me, hands in his pocket.

''I'm still cute.'' I said, joking. He chuckled and then wrapped me in one of his hugs that I loved so much. Somehow he was always warm, never cold. I never understood why. His hugs were always welcoming and comfortable.

''Yes you are,'' He kissed my head and then pulled me apart. ''Now we should get going.''

''Sure.'' He grabbed my hand, taking me by surprise. My jaw gently dropped, but gladly he didn't saw. He closed the door, yet not letting go off my hand, until we got to the car and he opened the door for me, waiting for me to be seated to shut it. He ran toward the driver's seat and in a matter of seconds, started the car.

''Are you nervous?''

''Why should I be?'' I was freaking nervous. There's no word close to describe how nervous I was. But of course, I wasn't going to let him know that, because boys hate that. Or love. I don't know. The thing is, I wasn't going to let him know he was already in, I was in the palm of his hand already and it made me feel like such a fool for feeling that way.

''I don't know.'' He chuckled, looking shady.

''Why are you chuckling?''

''Don't worry Smith, things will be okay.'' He looked at me, leaving his eyes off the road.

''You are scaring me,'' I chuckled. ''Seriously.'' I shook my head, looking out at the view from inside the car. Same thing as every day.

''I'm not going to kill you.''

''You could totally be a serial murderer.'' I chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood between the two of us.

''There's a fifty percent chance I am,'' He continued the joke. ''In all seriousness.''

''I know.'' We both chuckled, but I never let my sight away from him. The wrinkles in his eyes were noticeable from the smile that wasn't going away from the joke we just made, but he was still focused on the road. I felt tingly, looking at him. Like something good is going to happen, and not just in the future tense but in the present tense too. He wasn't giving me any cold feet or bad vibe, it was good feeling this way. For once things were going like I wanted.

● ● ●

''No way.'' My jaw dropped. We were at his place.

''Surprise.'' He waved his hands to the side, with an innocent smile on his face.

''I thought you meant brunch as in some restaurant.''

''Is it wrong-''

''No, no,'' I interrupted. ''Your family is going to be here.''

''So what?'' He unbuckled his seat belt and then fixed his seating position. His back was on the door and his hand was holding mine, facing me.

''What if they don't like me?''

''They'll like you because I like you,'' He kissed my hand. ''Listen, you don't have to feel insecure around my family, they know all about you and they are dying to meet you.''

''I'm nervous Matt, what if I am not what they expect."

"Calm down, okay?" He kissed my forehead and then got out of the car. I opened the door and in a matter of seconds he was standing next to me. "Let's go." We entered his house and we went straight to the backyard, I knew from my heart the way to it, since it's been twice I've been here. They were sitting all of them in a round wooden table that was on the kiosk. Matt grabbed my hand and then, they all went quiet.

"There you are!" His mom exclaimed, putting her napkin on the table. She walked toward us, smiling. He hugged her and then she looked at me, examining me. "Lily isn't it?"

"Yes," I smiled, no teeth. "Thanks for having me."

"Take a seat please, make yourself at home." The two of us walked behind her and then I greeted everyone at the table. He had two brothers and a sister, they were four in total and they seemed like a very close family.

"So Lily, tell us about you." His dad asked, while his elbows were supported on the wood.

"I'm studying at the local college, that's where I met your son," He smiled at me. "I'm in the same major as Matt."

"He told us a lot about you, and that too." His mother's voice reflected kindness, and it made me feel good inside.

"She's prettier in person." His sister spoke and I couldn't stop my cheeks from blushing.

"Thank you for that." I grabbed a piece of fruit with my fork, as I looked at it, hoping for them not see my red cheeks.

"Are you into art?" His sister asked.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean do you like Monet or Picasso, or any other painter for that matter." His sister asked, looking straight into me. It was obvious she was into arts, interesting.

''I've seen their work,'' I cleared my throat. ''They are amazing. I took a class at school where it was about art, from the earliest of times to what we know now,'' I looked her, offering her a friendly smile. ''It's surprising, though art is not on the top of my list.'' I chuckled, trying to give some mood to the conversation. I didn't want her to get offended or something like that.

''Nice to know.'' She smiled and went back to her food. I looked at Matt, with a worried look on my face. I screwed it up.

''Actually, Lily is into writing and poetry and stuff like that.'' I nodded, after Matt stated that fun fact about me, shyly looking at his father, who was furrowing his eyebrows at me.

''Interesting.'' His hand tucked under his chin, he nodded.

''Thank you.''

''Favorite writer?'' He asked, looking straight into me. I could feel this roller coaster of emotions, I was feeling like in an interview. It was okay since I understood it's fine by his family to know about the girl Matt is spending his time with.

''I'm into Poe, Cummings and I'm recently really fascinated by Lang Leav, which style is simple yet very captivating,'' I cleared my throat. ''Kafka is amazing too.'' He looked at me, nodding at the words I was speaking. I chuckled, scratching my temple. Trying to find the right answer, but of course, there was no right or wrong answer, but it surely felt like it. But then I felt him grabbing my hand and suddenly the heavy feeling went away, everything was well.