After putting the brownies in the oven Erica headed towards the downstairs toilet to wash off the rest of the flour that Mike had thrown at her in the process of mixing the ingredients. He had taken a picture of this and put it on Instagram.
“I swear I will get you back for that” Erica said as she returned to the kitchen and jumped on the counter. Mike just laughed. Erica pulled out her phone to see that her instagram notifications were going crazy. She opened the app to see the picture of her covered in flour on Mike’s account. There was already hundreds of likes and comments. Most of them along the lines of ‘omg is that your girlfriend?’ or ‘who is she?’ Erica just chuckled to herself at this but Mike noticed and kind of guessed what she was laughing at. “Don’t worry about it, they’ll die down soon” He knew that was a lie. Fans always seemed to go a bit over the top when the boys posted pictures of them with people they didn’t know, especially when it was females. “I doubt it, I don’t mind though” Erica said now walking over to the living area. Mike followed her. Erica had decided she wanted to watch Peter Pan. “Peter Pan okay?” She asked Mike whose smile was now from ear to ear “Of course, it’s my favourite” “NO WAY, mine too!!” Erica said before putting the disk in and joining Mike on the couch.
About thirty minutes later the oven timer rang and Erica went to get up to check the brownies. She hadn’t realised until this point that the two of them had been cuddling since the movie started. It just felt so natural to her which was weird because she wasn’t the cuddling type of person.
As soon as she sat the brownies on the coffee table the door opened and in came her father. He had a smile on his face. He always did when he came back from Aubrey’s but this was a different smile. “Hey sugar plum, hey M-Mike right?” Erica got up and hugged her father “Yes, sir” Mike said nodding in his direction. “Please, call me Huw, I didn’t know you were coming over. I hope Erica is being a good host?” He made his way in to the kitchen to get a bottle of water from the fridge. “She’s been the best host. Even made brownies for me haha” He pointed to the plate and let out a chuckle. “She does make the best brownies” Erica was still stood just watching Mike and her father interact.“Yeah well if I had known I’d be getting a flour make over I wouldn’t have bothered” She said as she picked up the plate of brownies and offered one to Huw, who took one and bit into it. “Anyway pops why are you so smiley, like you’re really smiley!” He laughed and joined them in the living area. Peter Pan had been paused at this point.
“Well, I’m gonna ask Aubrey to marry me. I went and bought the ring before I got home” He was so happy. He and Aubrey had been together for 3 years now. His last marriage, with Erica’s mother wasn’t the best which is why it has taken him so long to even want to ask her. “OMG YAY, finally” Erica squealed with delight. “I’m so happy for you, she’ll definitely say yes!” Mike said congratulations too. “Hey guys don’t get too happy. She hasn’t said yes just yet. But if she does you know what this means right Erica?” Erica knew, she had almost forgotten though. “Ugh, I don’t want him to be my brother. I hate him” She was now not so energetic. “Trent isn’t so bad, I remember when him, Leon and yourself were inseparable.” Erica shuddered at Leon’s name. “I know but he’s such a jerk and don’t even get me started on Leon” She stood up and walked to the kitchen to get herself and Mike a drink.
“Well you better prepare to see them both tomorrow. We’re having a barbeque and they’re both coming. I don’t know what went down between you and Leon but I want you to be civil to him.” He shot Erica a look that made her sigh in defeat knowing that she would have to be kind. “Mike, you can come tomorrow too. Bring the rest of the band we can make a big day of it.” Mike was happy to be invited, more than happy actually. “Yeah that sounds great, thank you”

It was now ten at night and Huw was working in his study while Erica and Mike had just finished watching Aladdin. “Hey I think I should get going, the guys will probably think you kidnapped me or something haha” Erica didn’t want to go. “Okay, sure I’ll give you a lift back to the hotel.”
When they pulled up to The Marriot Erica and Mike shared another kiss. She really didn’t want him to go. He didn’t want to go either. “I get to see you tomorrow so it’s not like this is goodbye” Mike said to make them both feel better, it worked a little. “I know and what a day it’s going to be. You get to meet my crazy step brother and my ex best friend, fun!” She said sarcastically. Mike couldn’t help but wonder if this was the same ‘ex friend’ that had texted Erica at Stan’s party the night before. He decided against saying anything, he didn’t want to upset her. “I can’t wait, I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh we’re going to get a taxi to yours too” Erica wouldn’t have minded picking them up but at the same time she thought about how she wouldn’t be able to keep her hands off Mike and she didn’t want to look slutty in front of the other guys.“See you tomorrow then” Mike exited the car and waved back at Erica.