David

Once I helped her to the bedroom, I stayed with her.

"You really don't have to–"

But I passed her a Stitch plush. I didn't know what she likes but seeing it...

...Made me think of her a lot.

"David." She said my name, shocked.

"It's like a welcoming gift from me... though spoilers, the gang wants to take you to Olive Garden when you're all better."

"Eh, I'll probably be back to normal tomorrow." She said with a warm smile.

She looked at the plush, then sat it next to her.

"I...I'm speechless, David. First, you hired me to help me and my sister... then this..." she said in a soft voice.

"Why?" She asked.

"Well I saw you were a mess and overheard your story... and I didn't want you to leave the party and risk yourself getting killed or get in jail for DUI. And I also felt bad for your sister because cancer fucking sucks."

Tears were rolling down her eyes, as she was trying to hold it in.

I opened my arms and she hugged me.

"Thank you, David... I owe you my life."

I chuckled.

"You don't have to, Maeve."

"Please," she begged.

And when I looked at her and looked deep into her eyes like two shining pools that were glimmering.

Aaaaaand I'm in love with her.

"David?"

I snapped back into reality.

"Okay, sure," I said in a fast-paced, awkward voice.

"Well, you need some rest.," I said before getting up.

And going back downstairs still blushing and looking like in a trance.

"Oooh, guys look at David!"

"He's blushing!"

"David and Maeve sitting in the tree! K-I-S-S—"

"Oh grow up!"

"The important question is did she love the plush?"

"Yes."

"Knew it."

"Next up is David is making a move."

"You know, David..." Natalie paused.

"She'll definitely kill me but eventually you had to know..." She paused.

"Type xxmaeverockzxx and it'll have one video up,"
Natalie said as I pulled up YouTube up and typed in what she said.

"Wait is that..?"

"Yep, that's Maeve when she was in middle school."

"Thought you said you guys didn't go to the same middle school?"

"She showed me this earlier."

I clicked on the video. There was a young Maeve who looked so cute and had a guitar with her and she began to play.

"Hey there Delilah what is like in New York City?" She began to sing.

"I'm a thousand miles away but girl tonight you look so pretty. Yes, you do." She continued.

I immediately paused the video trying to take it all in that this girl who is now my video editor, is also a singer.

"Aaaand I think I like her more now," Dom said as I gave him a cold glare.

"Fuck off," I said.

"I was kidding chill!"

"And apparently to her, she's not comfortable with it and thus why you guys came in and saw her chasing after me and fell."

It makes sense now of why she was chasing after Natalie.

"I think you should make her have a channel."

"I already talked to her about it... she didn't say anything yet though."

I looked at the time and it was midnight. And she's running through my mind again.

I know she's the only new vlog squad member that isn't present and is in bed sleeping it off, but I...

..Heard distant shushing.

It's like someone was shushing someone...

"David!" Jason said as I was startled.

"Guys I need to check up on her." I hastily said as I run upstairs and the humming can be heard.

"You are my sunshine." I heard singing.

"My only sunshine." It continued and came from Maeve's room.

I opened the door and it was her on the phone.

"You make me happy when the skies are grey." She continued to sing in a soft low voice.

"You'll never—" She stopped when she looked at me.

"Look, I love you, Addie. Don't worry about it... I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She said as she hung up.

I can tell she looked as if she just woke up.

"Little sister troubles?" I asked.

"Yeah she had a nightmare that I didn't get a job and..." her voice trailed off and covered her mouth.

"Look, I should get some sleep. We will meet my little sis tomorrow, 'Kay?" She said avoiding a conversation.

"Look, you can always tell me things. Technically, I am your boss."

She sighed as she sat up and points down to the bed, signaling for me to sit.

"Five minutes." She warned.

I sat at the edge of the bed and saw she kept the stitch plush on the bed.

"I know it's rough for you. I imagine it's hard to have a sister that looks up to you... that has cancer..."

"Is that why you hired me? For pity?" She asked angrily.

"No... I saw a girl who was suffering so much and was in dire need of a job."

"Especially a pretty one."

Maeve

"Especially a pretty one." He said slightly flirtatiously and awkwardly.

Am I hearing this right? David, the guy that my sis looks up to (along with the other guys), called me pretty?

I was a little shocked.

"Stop.," I said as I looked down at the bed.

"David, I'm sorry... I don't mix business with pleasure."

"Plus... I don't even know if I want to date a guy and then they want to use me for sex–"

He moved a little closer.

"Plus, what about your fans? I looked at your comments. People want you and Liza back together. Even though they like the idea of seeing a new girl in the vlog squad, but if words get out. They'll hate me and want me to–"

He shushes me.

Before he can open his mouth, I get up.

"If you say that you wouldn't care and you want to treat me right and like a princess. Then I quit. This is better for the both of us." I said as I grabbed the plush.

"Here, give it to your ex-girlfriend or the new girl you'll meet."

I said before about to leave he grabbed my wrist.

"You cannot leave." He said as he turned me around.
"Oh, I can. Watch me." I said as I turned around and tried to, but he didn't let go.

"You're afraid of me and what others are gonna say, I can see it."

I didn't say a word before struggling and then giving up.

"What do you want, David Dobrik?"

"You."

I didn't say a thing.

"Maeve..." He said my name softly before putting his hand on my cheek.

"David... Please. I don't know much about you. All I know you're a vlogger, you dated Liza Koshy, and you pull crazy stunts and pranks on your friends aka the Vlog Squad... But not the REAL you." I went on as I shed a tear.

He rubs it with his thumb.

"Then, go on a date with me. I'll tell everything about me and in return, I will know the real Maeve."

I didn't say a thing once again.

"Goodbye." I finally responded before leaving out the house and leaving quickly before him charging after me and I got in my car and locked the doors.

"Open up! Please!" He begged.

I ignore him and put the keys in the ignition and he continued to beg and bang not so loudly on the window and I pulled the car in reverse and he jumped back and I drove off.

*•*•*

It took me an hour to come off after driving around trying to cool off.

I went to the fridge and saw alcohol.

"Tempted, but no," I said as I went to the fridge and grabbed the ice cream.

I know it's unhealthy to eat like this, but food is a better "anti-depressant," than alcohol.

My phone kept ringing and it was David calling me and texting me.

David:
Maeve, please! Answer your phone!

Is the last text that came in.

I typed in my password to make a phone call.

"Hey, Amber."

"Maeve? What are you doing calling at 12:40 in the morning?"

"I.. need some girl company."

"It's too late for me to leave my house. Tell me over the phone."

"You promise you won't tell Addie?"

"I'm already having my one hand crossing my heart."

So I told her everything up until now.

"So let me get this straight. This boy who is also your adopted little sister's idol hires you to help you and also Addison is starting to have feelings for you?"

"Yes and I know I've probably made a mistake."

"Yeah, you did because he would be your only opportunity to get the money and pay off for the chemo treatment."

"What about love stuff? I know you're only a nurse and–"

"Honey, you're talking to a hopeless romantic."

"Now, do you have feelings for him now?"

"Sort of. It's been two days and I got to know his friends and got to see his gentleman personality. But at the same time–"

Amber coughs.

"Yeah. You have trust issues. But from what a couple of Youtube videos of that fella Addison showed me. Seems like he respect women but I don't know him personally to tell."

I looked at the time and it was 1 am now.

"And you know the thing is we planned to surprise Addie tomorrow and I already had the plan set out. But now that I'm not working with him and I kind of need space, I don't think that's ever gonna happen."

I can sense Amber smiling on her side of the line.

"You're a sweetheart, Maeve. That's why he's in love with you - not the only reason probably - but you also have a bubbly personality."

I just sat and listened and put the ice cream away once I felt full and went to my bedroom to change.

"Amber?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, I owe you."

"No booze, remember?"

"How about a smoothie?"

"You know my favorite?"

"The berry flavored?"

Amber weakly laughed as she was still tired.

"But seriously, Amber. Thank you."

"Hey, it's no biggie. Get some rest, Mae." Amber said as I hung up and finally got some sleep.