Chapter 4 - I think I love you

It was now 10 pm, we had just arrived back to the room from spending the whole day on the beach. Lacey and I sat down against the wall and we went through all the polaroid pictures we took today. She leaned her head on my shoulder and asked,

"Wanna dance?"

"Duh, Laces" I leaped up.

She chuckled following me up.

I played an old pop rock playlist and danced with her.

"My Dad used to play this" she got out her polaroid camera and started taking pictures of us.

I pulled her up to dance with me and before we knew it, it was midnight. We fell on the bed, I was exhausted and was already half asleep when I heard her mumble,

"Thank you for the best day".

I woke up at around 11:30 that morning with Lacey on top of me. I put my arms around her and gently tucked her in next to me, making sure that I didn't wake her, I kissed her forehead and then sneaked out to get a change of clothes from my room.

I washed my hair as I had been swimming yesterday and got changed. As soon as I was ready, I headed back to Lacey's room. I knocked and there was no reply, I texted her-no reply. I waited for about an hour but still there was no reply. At this point I was starting to get worried. Just as I was about to text her again, I saw that she was typing...

"hey love! Come back to my room tonight at 8, I have I surprise for you :))".

That day felt different without Lacey by my side. I decided to go on a walk to the mountain where she took me on our first date. There was nobody up there apart from a family of three with their golden retriever.

I smiled at their daughter, who looked awfully a lot like Lacey but just a bit older.

She looked at me almost shocked and ran over and hugged me. I fell over and was now on the ground with this girl I didn't know. She looked me up and down as her dog came over to lick my face and her parents were confused.

"Catherine, it's really you!" she seemed so happy.

"I'm so sorry but have we met?" I asked awkwardly and embarrassed.

"It's me Sydney, Lacey's sister!" she smiled.

"Lacey always sends me pictures of you two, she must like you then."

"Hey!" I replied, confidently, forgetting what just happened,

"What are you all doing here?" I giggled with their dog still licking me.

"Lacey has a surprise for us." Her mom smiled, still unsure who I was.

"She wouldn't tell us what's going on" her dad chuckled, pulling the dog away from me.

"For real? She didn't want to be bothered today, that's why I am here by myself. I'm Catherine by the way" I introduced myself, shaking her parents hands, I felt as if I was being judged, but they seemed cool.

After getting some ice cream on the seafront and getting to know her family, we all headed to her room. She saw me first and threw herself around me. She almost kissed me but then saw her parents watching and pulled away.

She winked then hugged them leaving Sydney laughing, as she knew what was going on.

"I spent the whole day writing and recording a song that means a lot to me," Lacey started "And here it is! It's called my girl" we watched music video.

The beginning started with "Promise me it was real. You dancing in my room." I instantly remembered what happened last night and blushed.

In fact, I was blushing the whole time, she was wearing all of my clothes through the whole video, her mom was making comments on every part saying "I like that, oh I like that too," her dad patted her shoulder every time she used one of the techniques he taught her in singing and Sydney was trying to sing along as Lacey had put subtitles underneath; but she was offbeat.

overall, it was a cute, short video of her dancing in her room.

When the song was over, we all cheered and hugged her. She then uploaded online and informed us all that her new name for her career was going to be "Strawberry Laces". I couldn't help but admire her. Sydney obviously knew what was going on between Lacey and I.

"So... Strawberry Laces," she went on.

"Who did you write this song for?" she asked, glancing over at me.

"Catherine." Lacey answered, her face turning bright pink.

"The last couple of days I have had with her have been some of the best days of my life so far.

"So, is she your girlfriend?" her parents asked with excitement.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" Lacey turned to me with her innocent smile and confidence.

"Of course, Lace! You're my girl, you always have been since the day at the lobby."

I forgot her parents were still in the room... I could see out of the corner of my eye her dad was looking right at me.

"Only if it's okay with you Mr Parker..." I said biting my bottom lip.

"Geoff for you!" He smiled "Lacey obviously likes you and Syd seems fond of you" he winked.

"Daaaaad." Sydney rolled her eyes and groaned. Making their mom laugh.

We hadn't noticed that whilst we were all talking, Lacey' notifications were popping up madly. We all looked from behind her shoulders to see that she had 99+ notifications on all her social medias. She looked up and smiled at all of us. My Girl must've blown up! Instead of going straight to her platforms,

She looked at all of us, trying to hide her happiness,

"I'm kinda tired now... Can we all go out for breakfast tomorrow?"

"Of course, baby," her mom said kissing her forehead.

"Good night, girls," her Dad waved us goodbye.

"See ya!" Sydney called as she walked out.

She sat me down on the bed next to her.

"Lacey that was amazing! I'm so proud of you angel." I smiled, putting my arms around her.

"Catherine..." she gulped and looked at me.

"what's up, angel?" I asked confused.

"I think I love you."