Then, all the sudden, lights from a distance start to come closer into our view, ruining our scene.
“Cops!” I yell and that causes all of us to surrey out of the water, grabbing our shoes and running back to the dorm. We run so fast we don’t even look back to see if they’re still behind us or not. I’m pretty sure they gave up though because when we make it to the front door of my building they are nowhere to be seen. We probably out ran them. Any security guard I’ve ever seen on this campuslooks like they’ve only ever chased after a snickers bar. They’re the equivalent to Kevin James in “Paul Blart: Mall Cop.”
We walk through the lobby and get in the elevator, leaving a trail of water with us wherever we go and go back up into our room. Honestly, they could’ve followed our trail back with Google Maps. We basically left a wet breadcrumb GPS.
All the running pretty much sobered us up, so we all take showers and get ready for bed. Ending the night with Derek in Lana’s bed and Aspen in mine. Yes, two twenty two year old six foot men sharing a twin sized bed with chicks. Now that’s a sight to see.
The road ahead is unknown, but for the first time in my life I’m excited for it. I’m excited to move and to see what will happen. I’m excited to be doing something for myself rather than for someone who is not living my life. It’s time I took matters into my own hands and lived life for me and me only.
Not my mom, not my dad and not my brothers.
For me.
Aspen is sound asleep beside me, and the warmth of his arms feels like home. It doesn’t matter where we are or where we’re headed he’s home for me, and it feels good to finally be home. But then, Aspen stirs and turns toward me. He must have been pretending to sleep this whole time.
“It felt like we did everything backwards,” He whispers to me, “but I almost forgot. Genevieve Brown, will you officially be my girlfriend?”
“Aspen Davis I thought you’d never ask, Yes!” I whisper back.
Then we kiss and try so hard to not make love because our ex-roommates would hate us forever.
“I love you, Snowflake,” He whispers between kisses.
“I love you too.”
And we lay there, wrapped in warmth, as snowflakes softened the world outside.
Life’s messy, but at least I accessorize well.
The End
Epilogue
Genevieve
6 months later
I turn the keys in our new vehicle and start it up, nerves buzzing with excitement, a steady hum in my chest. Today’s the day I finally get to show Aspen the birthday present I’ve been planning for months, a gift that’s been nothing but a dream for us ever since we met.
As I drive toward the house I can’t help but grin. I can still remember the first time we pulled into this driveway, the way it felt like the first real step into our future together. And now, as I roll up once again it’s like I’m bringing a new chapter with me. A chapter that’s just for us. I park across the street, far enough away so he won’t see the van and guess immediately. My stomach flutters with anticipation. This house already holds so many memories late-night takeout on the kitchen floor, furniture we built together, the sound of his laugh echoing through the halls. But this moment feels like it will surpass everything that’s come before it.
I text Aspen, so he can come outside.
Come outside. I have something for you.
A minute later the front door swings open. Aspen steps out scanning the driveway with that familiar confused look on his face, like he’s searching for something that hasn’t clicked yet. I smile to myself as I watch him trying to hold in my excitement, it’s so like him to look for meaning in everything, even in the smallest things.
Then, when I step out of the van and close the door behind me, he sees it, he sees me.
His face lights up instantly, and before I can even speak he’s already halfway across the street, the grin on his face impossible to miss.
“You didn’t?!” He shouts, his voice tinged with disbelief and excitement.
“I did!” I call back, heart pounding in my chest as I step toward him.
I walk around to the side of the van and slide open the door revealing the interior. The smell of fresh wood and newness fills the air, it’s everything we talked about everything we dreamed of, no more waiting to build it from scratch. No more "one day" It's here, it’s real, it’s ours.
The inside is perfect. The full-size bed in the back is layered with cozy white blankets and chunky knit throws, nestled under a row of soft-glowing string lights that flicker like stars. A small wooden kitchenette stretches along one side white cabinets with brass handles, a mini sink, and even a little stove the kind of thing we’ll make countless cups of coffee on during those early mornings. There’s shelving for our gear and a skylight above the bed, perfect for stargazing on those clear summer nights. A compact fridge is tucked in the corner ready for whatever we need to take with us on our adventures.
