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“But actually,” I say abruptly, trying to get rid of her sadness, and she looks up, brows furrowed. “I have a new favorite memory; salsa dancing lessons definitely take the top right now.”
She grins happily then laughs through her tears. “Loose arms drop the guacamole!” She imitates and we both get lost in our laughter.
“I still don’t know what that even means,” I chuckle and sigh.
“Tell me a memory you haven’t told me yet.” She says, gazing into my eyes. All I want to do is kiss her deeply and sink into her endless green eyes.
“Okay, there was this one time…” I start.
THIRTY-THREE
MADELINE, THEN
One year together.
The last 365 days have been filled with endless adventures, laughter, and insurmountable joy.
We finished freshman year with great grades and new friendships. Ana and I signed on to another year in our apartment, so we had to find summer jobs in the area. Ana was picked up full time at the restaurant she waitressed at. I convinced Elliot to apply at the local community center with me where we worked for the summer day camp with kids from the community. While I was so excited to work with kids for the summer, he was a nervous wreck; not having any experience. But he fell into such an easy rhythm with the kids and other employees. The kids absolutely adored him. There were days where I had to drag him out of there to go home.
Home for him now is with Ana and I. He basically moved in with us and honestly I loved it.
We weren’t sure when to start counting our first day together. Almost being shot at the gas station? The first night I invited him into my apartment? Our first kiss?
We decided on the night I first invited him in for coffee and to talk.
One year.
We are sophomores now. This morning he woke me up with sweet kisses and breakfast in bed—frozen waffles with fresh fruit he cut up himself. It is perfect.
He tells me he has a special evening planned for us, so I am bouncing in my seat during my classes, excited for our anniversary date.
Our professor gives us time in class to work on our current assignment, but we have to stay in the classroom. For the last few minutes, I am chatting with my friends, Ashley and Lindsey, until our professor releases us. I met them last year and we’ve been able to maintain a great friendship. Once we are free to go, I boltout of the classroom and start heading toward the parking lot.
Ana and Hayden intercept me halfway. “Are you ready for tonight?” She wagsher eyebrows at me.
She is still with Hayden and I have never seen her so happy. He stays over almost as often as Elliot does. He is tall with bright blue eyes and has long ashy blonde hair that he pulls into a man-bun. He wears a lot of black with skateboard shoes, the complete opposite of what Ana usually is into. They somehow perfected the ‘opposites attract’ stereotype.
“Yes! I hate not knowing what is going on. But I’m excited,” I say happily. “I can’t believe that it’s been a year!”
“I know,” Ana agrees. “It feels like this past year has lasted decades, I swear.”
“Right?!”
When we finally make it back to our apartment, I change quickly and sit on the couch to wait for Elliot.
Not much has changed in our apartment in the year we’ve lived here. The main furniture is the same, but we’ve added a few more pictures to the space. Pictures of Ana and I, Elliot and I, the three of us, and Hayden in a few…our little family.
Elliot finally knocks on the door, and I sprint to let him in. I open the door to find him dressed in a gray pullover sweater and black jeans with his black boots. I got him new badass looking boots for his birthday in March, so he wears those now. His old ones were getting pretty beat up.
His hair is a little longer, still wavy and messy. His constant act of running his hand through his hair makes most of it stay slicked back but there are a few unruly pieces that always fall forward. I love those pieces. He has a little more stubble on his face than he did last year, and I love that too.
“You look beautiful,” He says, stepping forward to take my face in his hands and kiss me.
“You said that this morning when I had bed head,” I challenge him and he smirks.
“I meant it then too.” He smiles and kisses me again, quickly. “Ready to go?”
“Ready to tell me where we’re going?” I try asking again, but he shakes his head, putting his arm around my shoulders and I sigh. We start walking toward his truck. “I’ve got to tell you, I’m not a fan of this.”
