Without even noticing, the semester flew by. I am finally in the last week of the spring semester before finals. I can't help but look around at the campus like I am seeing it for the first time. I cannot believe that it is almost my last.
Even with school ending, the professors are still piling on work. I'm bound to collapse under all the papers due. Luckily, I am working on my last chapter in the book so I can hand it in and be proud of everything that I have accomplished in just a few short weeks since the semester started.
Taking a deep breath in, the smell of the blooming flowers infiltrate my nose. The smell is nostalgic to when I was younger and my family would go to the park together and we would ride bikes around the small lake that was in the center of everything. It reminds me of when I would run for cross country in the same park, my mom being the only one to show up to every single one of my meets. The smell comes with good memories, but every spring comes with a new beginning. You can choose who you want to be; be reborn if that is something that you want. It's a time where everything is growing and living after the heavy snow of January and February.
Looking up, birds fly above me. Their melodious songs travel through the trees. It's beautiful, calming, peaceful. Spring is hands down my favorite season.
The roar of an engine catches my attention and my already good mood gets even better. Even after deciding to live in separate apartments, we take turns sleeping at one another's house. Why sleep alone when a hunk of a man wants to sleep with you? And that's all he wants to do which makes me feel like one of the luckiest girls in the world.
Increasing my pace, I briskly walk to his car. He always gets out of the car now, ever since my first draft was passed onto the editor. I think he wants me to run and jump in his arms again, like the stereotypical cliche scene, but I haven't had anything to top that moment yet. Stepping out of the car, he stretches his shoulder and back. His shoulder muscles flex deliciously.
I increase my speed even more, I just want to be in his arms already.
Finally, after another thirty seconds, I stand in his arms. They wrap around my waist and pull me into his chest. The weather outside is warm, but he always seems to be warmer. Goosebumps rise on my skin, but vanish after staying in his arms for a few seconds longer.
Stepping back, he looks down at me and I look up at him. Our relationship has become stronger, more passionate over the last couple of weeks and we cannot get enough of each other. We have come to a point where we don't need to verbally communicate, we can stare into each other's eyes and let them do all the talking. It sounds cheesy and cliche, but I love him and I love our relationship. I have never been closer to anyone in my entire life and if I stepped back now, I feel like I would lose a part of me.
My feelings are risky, especially with how strong they are, but I can't stop them from growing.
"Hey. How was class?"
"Hey. It was good, a lot of work since all the professors are scrambling to finish everything before finals, but I'll survive one more week. What did you do today?"
"I hung out with Brandon for most of the day. We cleaned the apartment finally, it was long overdue. I received a phone call today."
My curiosity piques, "who was the call from?"
"My family. They want to come over this weekend. I told them about you and they would love to meet you."
My mouth dries up and my heart starts racing faster than a race house at the tracks.
"They- they want to meet me? What did you tell them about me?"
It's not that I don't want to meet his family, but this is so sudden. How can-
"If you don't want to meet them, you don't have to. I'm not going to force you."
I'm taken aback by his reaction. I do want to meet them, but this is just so much at once. I was not prepared for this. I should have known that I would have to meet his family sooner or later, but I expected it later. I definitely did not expect it now when the semester is almost over and everything is a rush.
"No. No. I- of course I want to see them. You just caught me off guard, that's all. I would love to meet them. But I have one question, and I don't want you to take offense to it because I just want to make sure that you're safe and all, but how are they coming to see you? Won't the company follow them and find you? What happens then? I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you."
"Awe, baby." Pulling me into his arms, I snuggle into his chest. Students passing by look at us, but I pay them no mind. When I'm with Damon, I feel like I'm in my own little world with just him and I. "I will be fine. They know the proper precautions to take and they know I am still in hiding, but I have not seen my family in a long time and I miss them and they miss me. It will be great to see them, even if it is risky. It'll be worth it. Trust me. When you meet them, you'll agree with me."
I don't know if it is worth the risk, I love him and anything that puts him at risk makes me uneasy. I am happy that he's excited to see his family, but I don't want anything to happen to him just because they miss each other.
"I can't wait to meet them." Stepping back and gesturing at the car, I ask, "ready to go? I've been here long enough and I want to do something tonight with all of us."
"That sounds like a good idea. It's been awhile since we all hung out. Get in the car and we will head back to the apartment."
We both quickly hop in. I immediately turn on the radio and change the stations until I find one that we both will like. Turning up the volume, we both belt out the lyrics the whole car ride home.
Once we are both in Damon's apartment, my fingers fly across my phone screen somehow not misspelling any words in my message to Amelia. When my phone dings two minutes after with a confirmation message that she will be here in an hour, we look for Brandon. He isn't too hard to find in his room.
Knocking on his door, I turn the knob when I hear his faint voice saying "come in." He takes out his headphones as I step into his room.
"Hey. We are all hanging out tonight at my place. Do you want to join us? It's going to be a quiet night with movies, popcorn and take out."
"Yea, sounds good. What time?"
"Amelia will be here in an hour."
"Okay, cool. Let me go shower and then we can head over to your apartment."
"Wait, real quick." He pauses from getting up from his bed and I continue, "What food do you want? I was thinking Chinese again."
"That works. Can you get my regular?"
"Yea, I'll order it as soon as I text Amelia."
He walks over to his dresser and I leave his room, the message to Amelia already sent. Her reply comes quickly and I order everyone's food.
Thinking about it, I did not need anyone to tell me what they wanted to eat. After spending so much time with them, especially when we hang out and frequently order take out, it's easy to remember. That fact alone brings a warmth to my chest. I created my own little family and we may not be perfect, but we all have each other's backs and that is what is important.
Opening my apartment door an hour an hour later, Amelia stands there in comfy pajamas holding the two bags of food in her arms.
"Hey. Thanks for picking that up."
"Of course, girl. I love the smell it leaves in my car after. It always makes me hungry but it reminds me of better times when I was eating." She sighs wistfully and places the bags on the kitchen table next to the plates.
Hearing our voices, the boys come out of the living room to say hi and grab their food. Once we are all settled on the couch, Damon hits the play button on the remote and "Annabelle" pops up on the screen. The first one is easy to get through, it is not scary or as thrilling as the second one. I gulp when I realize that I'm going to have to watch all three of them tonight. We never leave a series unfinished, even though we all fell asleep halfway through "Harry Potter" and "Star Wars."
"You are all sleeping over if we have to watch the second movie. Deal?"
They all reply, mouths full in sync. At least I won't be sleeping alone tonight.