Chapter 1

Prologue:

You’re a 17-year-old girl at your New York high school. You were born and raised in the city, but you moved outside of it when you were 12 during the process of your parents’s amicable divorce. The divorce went quite smoothly and your parents remained friends and made sure the family was a main priority.

For five years you’d been travelling back and forth from Queens to the Upper East Side to balance living with your writer mom, Michelle, and your CEO dad, Jordan and unfortunately, his fiancée Lauren who you hated more than anything. But aside form that, you led a pretty normal life.

You live with your mom, your sister Aria and your brother Dante in Queens. Your mom had natural curly hair which you and your siblings inherited and your dad’s golden bronze skintone and laid back attitude is what you took from him too.

It was the start of the Junior school year, you’d been offered and were currently doing an 8-week weekend internship at a studio in Upper West Side, NY. You were excited because you were halfway through it and mostly because you could get it out of the way to could look forward to the Festive Holidays and enjoy the new year with your bestfriends and family…

YOUR P.O.V.

Y/N- *puts bag over your shoulder* So what coffees does everyone want when I come back?

Marla- The usual.. four latte’s, espresso and a cappuchino for me..

Y/N- *smiles* Okay.. *leaves*

I left the office in New York City that i was interning at. I went onto the bustling streets of the Upper East side and headed to the nearest Starbucks. It was almost Christmas, it was in just over a month and it was so festive here in New York, I loved it. I couldn’t wait to spend it with my family and get this internship finished!

I went into a cute Pizzeria on 2nd Avenue, a place I forever loved and I was greeted by the restaurant owner who greeted me warmly as I was all too familiar to him and I saw my half-Japanese, half-Caribbean best friend Kumiko and my sister Aria whom I approached at the table they sat at.

Y/N- *sits down*

Aria- I already ordered your favourite..

Y/N- Pepperoni and pineapple and a slushie?

Aria- *nods*

Y/N- *gasps happily* You know me so well!

Aria- *laughs*

Kumi- *shakes head* I don’t know how you can eat pineapple on a pizza tho..

Aria- It’s amazing, you don’t know what you’re missing.

Waiter- *brings over food* There you are… fresh outta the oven..

Kumi- I ain’t missing nothing. *gestures to pizza* That right there is offensive to pizza.

Y/N- *chuckles* *to the waiter* Thank you..

Waiter- *leaves*

*half an hour later*

Aria- *eats pasta* So how’s life going?

Y/N- This internship.. I’m sure they just use me to bring them coffee and group files..

Kumi- *laughs* That’s what they’re meant to do!

Aria- Lest you getting paid a lot.. and it’s only on weekends anyway..

Y/N- I miss my Saturday lie ins tho..

Kumi- You got a lotta those to catch up on. Don’t be so down tho, it’s only 1 o’clock..

Y/N- *loosk at watch* Dammit. *folds napkin* Right.. I gotta get back then.. *stands up* *leaves $20 on the table*

*the girls all leave money and a tip*

I sad goodbye to Kumi and Aria and rushed to the nearest Starbucks and when it was my turn to order, I went up to the counter and ordered the four latte’s, espresso and a cappuccino for the people who I worked with in the office and of course I didn’t forget my mocha coffee, that was my favourite go-to drink.

I collected all the drinks in their cup holders and as I went to the flavouring station at the side of the counter, I almost dropped all the coffee’s but someone saved them for me.

Y/N- Ah, thank you, thank you so much..! *breathes* I was gonna cry just then.. *laughs a little*

Diggy- Don’t wanna ruin that perfect face doing that huh? *rests coffees on counter*

Y/N- *chuckles a little* That’s sweet… coulda been a lil creepy tho…

Diggy- Lucky it weren’t.. *chuckles to himself* Um, what’s your name?

Y/N- Y/N.. *flavours coffees* *looks at watch* Dammit, I really gotta go.. *puts lids on cups*

Diggy- Wait, I didn’t even get to know you.. I mean, wait, what’s your favourite coffee?

Y/N- *holds up Mocha cup* This one *smiles* I have to go, I’m sorry.. *leaves*

Diggy- *watches you leave* *sits on sofa* Y/N…

I rushed back to the office and I had three minutes to spare. Phew. I rushed around, calmly though, and I handed everyone their designated coffees and sat back at my little desk I had.

The best part of this job wasn’t meeting some of the high-profile clients and artist that used the facilities.. it was going out, whether it was for lunch or for business meetings with my boss Marla and chaperoning our clients around the city. Since my dad lived on the other side of Central Park, I knew this area and the city quite well and the travelling was a bonus. I loved it in the city.

Marla- *puts papers on your desk* 

Y/N- What’s this? *points to pile*

Marla- Your homework.. or the work you can do now..

Y/N- But.. that’s huge.

Marla- Just group the clients by needs and type of event for the studio use..

Y/N- *flicks through files* There’s over 150 clients here.. *looks at her*

Marla- *shrugs* I’m sorry, everyone else is busy and these needs doing..

Y/N- You’re so lazy Marla..

Marla- *laughs* I know, I’m sorry bout this.. you don’t mind doing it right now do you?

Y/N- No, I don’t.. someone has to do it anyway

Marla- *goes to her office*

Miranda- *coughs* Oh my God..! *puts coffee down*

Y/N- *looks at her* What’s up Miranda, you okay?

Miranda- *coughs repeatedly* Y/N, what did you put in this coffee?

Y/N- Um.. 

Miranda- *looks at you* You do know, right?

Y/N- I did them all the same.. Vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg..

Miranda- *coughs and chokes* Nutmeg? I’m allergic..

Y/N- Oh crap.. *stands up* I’ll go get you another one..

Miranda- You sure? *looks at the papers on your desk* *coughs* You got a lotta work there tho… *puts hand on throat* *strained voice* Feels like I’m dying.. 

Y/N- I’ll go.. *grabs purse*

Miranda- You sure? *reaches in pocket* Here’s ten dollars.. take your time, I’ll just get a water fomo the tap for now.. *coughs*

Y/N- Put your money away, it’s on me. It was my fault for being forgetful anyway.

Miranda- *shrugs* If you insist *puts money away*

Y/N- *leaves*

*20 minutes later*

I went into the same Starbucks and the girl at the cashier called Laura recognized me from earlier today and all my previous visits and she instantly served me once she was free.

Laura- The usuals?

Y/N- Nah, just one Cafeè latte.. one of my colleagues is allergic to the nutmeg I put in it and she’s literally dying..

Laura- *smirks* Sounds fun.. *writes on cup* That’s $3.50 please Y/N..

Diggy- *perks up* Y/N? *turns around* *sees you*

Y/N- *takes change from Laura* Thank you.. 

Laura- It’ll be a few minutes tho

Y/N- Okay, that’s cool *looks at receipt*

Diggy- *stands up and approaches you* Y/N?

Y/N- *looks at him* Oh, hi again *smiles*

Diggy- Where did you go before?

Y/N- Um, I had to go back to my internship.. I was almost late after my lunch break.

Diggy- Oh, sorry I held you up

Y/N- *shakes head* It’s not your fault.

Diggy- Can I like.. have a coffee with you?

Y/N- Um… *shrugs* Yeah, sure

Diggy- *to Laura* Excuse me, could I get a grandi Mocha please?

Laura- Of course.. *picks up cup and writes on it*

Diggy- Thank you…

Y/N- My favourite..

Diggy- Yep.. I’ll er, meet you over there?

Y/N- Sure.

Diggy- *walks to the sofa*

Y/N- Laura..

Laura- *looks at you* *hands you the latte* ‘Sup? *nods* I see you with that guy..

Y/N- *chuckles* That’s nothing

Laura- He’s cute.. do you know who he is?

Y/N- *shakes head* Nope.. but he knows my name. I don’t know him at all, we’re just gonna sit down and talk maybe..

Laura- Alright.. you better get to know him. *hands you the mocha*

Y/N- Thanks.. *hands her the latte* Keep this one warm tho..

Laura- *takes it* Sure *walks away with it*

I walked over to the sofa where that guy was sitting and sat on the one opposite him. He was cute. Clean haircut, nice teeth, bright brown eyes and eyelashes that were long enough to compete with mine. He dressed well too; jumper, jeans, Jordan’s and a coat, appropriate for the really cold New York weather we were having outside. He looked real cool and I think he was my type.. 

Diggy- So, Y/N..

Y/N- *smiles* You remembered my name..

Diggy- I remember the names of beautiful girls like you..

Y/N- I bet you say that to all the girls you see

Diggy- Hell no, hand on my heart, I don’t. I haven’t seen any girls that look like you

Y/N- *smiles*

Diggy- So, where do you work?

Y/N- Um, a studio in Manhattan.. it’s only on Saturdays though and I’m getting a lot of experience so..

Diggy- *nods* Sounds sweet. 

Y/N- I didn’t even catch your name

Diggy- *chuckles* It’s Daniel.

Y/N- *clears throat* I wanna do this properly *reaches hand out* Hi Daniel, I’m Y/N..

DIGGY’S P.O.V.

I shook her hand and she had a firm handshake. I liked that. She had the cutest smile and her hair was straight and tied up in a ponytail. She looked cute in the dress she was wearing.. she looked beautiful in general. I’d never met someone like her.

The conversation between us flowed like crazy, it was like we’d known each other since we were kids and we were just catching up… I loved having a connection like that with someone.

*ten minutes later*

Diggy- Tell me about your family, do you have any siblings?

Y/N- Well my parents are divorced and yeah, I have an older sister Aria and a younger brother, Dante. 

Diggy- So you’re the middle child?

Y/N- *nods* Yep… I gots that middle child swag going on..!

Diggy- *laughs to himself* That’s so different to me. I have three sisters and two brothers and I’m the second youngest

Y/N- Tough life?

Diggy- Nah, not really.. it’s just me and my little brother and sister living at home since the others moved out

Y/N- Aw..

Diggy- But yeah, where do you live?

Y/N- My dad lives in Upper West and my mom lives in Queens

Diggy- You serious? Queens?

Y/N- *nods*

Diggy- I was born there, that’s my town!

Y/N- *laughs* But now you in New Jersey..

Diggy- Whatever, Queens, New York is my home!

Y/N- *laughs* You love it there huh?

Diggy- Yep. 

Y/N- Your favourite thing to eat?

Diggy- *thinks* It’s gotta be a burger, hands down..

Y/N- Naw, pizza for me..

Diggy- *laughs* So I gotta take you to a pizza place in the city

Y/N- I gotta take you to the best burger place in Queens.. you’ll love it 

Diggy- Swear it’s the best?

Y/N- Swear. You won’t wanna leave. I’ll make it worth your while…

Diggy- So.. is that a date?

Y/N- *smiles* Do you want it to be a date?

Diggy- *shrugs a little* I would love for it to be.. for me to take you on a date and you take me on one *looks at you*

Y/N- Sounds great *smiles* But it’ll have to be when I’m in town..

Diggy- What do you mean?

Y/N- I live with my dad on weekends then I’m back in Queens for the rest of the week because I’m at school

Diggy- Oh okay.. I’ll be between New Jersey and the city for a while now..

Y/N- So how we gonna set a date?

Diggy- Um..I take your number and I’ll call you later?

Y/N- *laughs a little* You promise?

Diggy- Yep, I don’t break promises.

Y/N- *smiles* Okay.. *pulls out phone*

YOUR P.O.V.

I gave him my number and he said he’d call me later.. gotta admit, he was slick with his move. He was charming and the way he spoke to me was so genuine, like her really wanted to get to know me for real.

I remembered that this wasn’t a free weekend I had and after giving Daniel my number, I hugged him goodbye, finished my mocha and went to collect Miranda’s latte which was still perfectly hot and nutmeg free.

Y/N- *walks in office* *exhales* Here you are.. *hands Miranda the coffee* You okay now?

Miranda- Yeah, a little water cleared it up but my throat is burning me..

Y/N- I’m sorry..

Miranda- *shrugs* It’s okay, it happens.. what took you so long anyway? You were gone almost an hour..

Y/N- *sits at desk* I bumped into someone and we had a chat, that’s all..

Miranda- You sure?

Y/N- Yeah. *looks at papers* This is gonna be some work for me

Miranda- *chuckles sarcastically* Good luck

Y/N- Oh shut it..

Marla- *approaches you* *looks at papers* You haven’t started..

Y/N- I…

Miranda- *interrupts* It’s okay Y/N.. *to Marla* She went and got me another coffee, mine had nutmeg in it

Marla- Oh yeah, you’re allergic

Miranda- *nods*

Marla- Well, you have by the end of the week to finish it, at least it’s just grouping

Y/N- Yeah.. *looks at papers*

*later that afternoon*

Y/N- *walks in apartment* Dad, I’m home.. *puts bag down* *jumps on sofa*

Lauren- *walks in* Aw, don’t do that, I just straightened it..

Y/N- *shrugs* Oh well. What’s done is done..*turns on tv*

Lauren- *walks out*

I didn’t like Lauren.. it’s like ever since they got engaged, she decides to act like my mom and like she has the highest of morals when she basically caused my parents’s divorce in my opinion.

I get that her and my dad were unfortunately marrying at some point, but she had to remember that I live here too. The worst thing was she tried to be a step-mom and my best friend and I hated that. “Be one or the other”,I always thought.

Lauren- *walks in kitchen* *shouts to you* You hungry?

Y/N- Yeah

Lauren- There’s food in the cupboards and stuff if you want, just fix yourself food, you can cook right? And get your feet off the coffee table.. *leaves*

Y/N- *rolls eyes*

I got up from watching The Big Bang Theory and went over to the kitchen in this spacious two-floor apartment my dad owned. It was modern, modular and pretty sweet… I mean city views and full amenities in the building like laundry service, a pool and gym? I was practically living in a hotel.

I was starving. On the stove there was pasta, one and a half portions of it left.. like hell was I cooking when food was here..! I served and heated it all up for myself, kicked back on the sofa and ate it while resuming the program I was watching.

I loved it here with my dad because it was carefree and modern living in the middle of the city, but I loved with my mom where it was welcoming and really felt like home.

Jordan- I’m home.. *walks in living room* Hey sweet..

Y/N- Hey daddy.. *hugs and kisses him* How was work bruh?

Jordan- Usual. No different to any other day.

Lauren- *walks in* I thought I heard the door close.. *kisses him* Hey baby..

Y/N- *rolls eyes* *looks at tv*

Jordan- I’m good..

Lauren- *pats his back* I made you dinner..

Y/N- *eyes widen* *looks at plate* *puts fork down*

Lauren- *walks in kitchen* Where’s the food?

Y/N- I ate it..

Lauren- *turns to you* You what? That wasn’t for you!

Y/N- Calm the fuck down, it’s just pasta

Jordan- Y/N, language..

Y/N- *looks at him* Sorry but It’s just pasta and sauce, you can make it in like ten minutes..

Lauren- So why don’t you get in here and make some more if it takes that long..

Y/N- Because I—

Jordan- *interrupts* You know what? I’ll just go and get some steak for myself.. Y/N you want?

Y/N- Sure dad.. thanks

Jordan- Lauren?

Lauren- *frustrated* No, I’m fine.. 

Jordan- *looks at you* *raises eyebrow*

Y/N- *looks at him confused* What?

Jordan- You know what I was gonna say.. I’ll be back soon.. *leaves*

Y/N- *rolls eyes* I’ll try..

Lauren- *watches him leave* *to you* Every time I try to do something nice for your dad, you ruin it..

Y/N- Okay, whatever, I existed in his life first, get that right before you try to gain any power in this house..

Lauren- We’ll see.. *leaves room*

I continued watching my show and when it finished, I cleaned up the dishes and went upstairs to my room but my dad wasn’t back yet with our food. I had a shower and got refreshed for bed and when I came out of the shower and changed into my PJs, my phone rang..

Y/N- *answers call* Hello?

Diggy- I didn’t think you’d answer after all those rings..

Y/N- *chuckles* Hey Daniel, how are you? *sits on bed*

Diggy- I’m good.. just wanted to keep my promise and call you.. how you feeling?

Y/N- *sighs* I’m alright, waiting for my dad to bring some food.. 

Diggy- Oh you’re there?

*footsteps approach your door*

Y/N- Yeah..

Diggy- That’s cool then. So.. I thought tomorrow, you could come with me for dinner at that pizza place I told you about..?

Y/N- *chuckles* That sounds good.

Diggy- You sure you won’t stand me up?

Y/N- *laughs a little* I’m sure..

Diggy- Is 6 o’clock tomorrow okay?

Y/N- *smiles* 6 o’clock is perfect…

Diggy- I’ll see you then, bye..

Y/N- Bye.. *hangs up*

Lauren- *peeks in your room* Who was that?

Y/N- *jumps* *looks at her* Oh my God, you scared me.. what are you doing out here?

Lauren- *chuckles* Nothing.. eavesdropping on all that giggling and laughing.. But seriously who was that and what are you doing tomorrow at 6? *smiles*

Y/N- Nothing and that was no one you should even worry about.. it’s none of your business.

Lauren- You know if it was who I think it is then—

Y/N- It was no one.. and even if you think it’s anything, it’s nothing. And you won’t tell dad because it’s my business, not yours..

*front door closes*

Jordan- Girls I’m home..!

Lauren- *looks at you*

Y/N- *stands up* You say nothing.. got it?

Lauren- Alright.

Y/N- *walks past her* Coming dad..

I walked downstairs and dad had our steak and he bought some cheese fries for us to share. We relaxed and after he changed into his shorts and an adidas t-shirt, we sat on the sofa in front of the tv watching comedy shows and eating the steaks we each had on our plates and laughing at all the jokes on tv. Lauren didn’t join us but went upstairs to use her laptop and left us to it.

My thoughts diverted the the person I’d just been talking to. Daniel. The sound of his voice circled my mind.. he was cute.. and I was really looking forward to our date tomorrow..