"Tomorrow is the last day before the exams," she said to herself, determination settling in her mind. "I hope I can ace the exam so that I can surprise Harvey in his hometown. But I should probably ask his sister when he'll be back."
She paused, considering her options. "What? I know his sister. He introduced me to her before."
Feeling a surge of motivation, Lia grabbed her phone and typed a quick message to Harvey's sister, Emma. *Hey, Emma! I hope you're doing well! I was wondering when Harvey is coming back home after his break. I'd love to plan a surprise for him!*
After hitting send, Lia returned to her study materials, feeling a bit more energized. Thoughts of the surprise and Harvey's encouraging words filled her mind as she continued to review her notes. She was excited at the thought of celebrating together after the exams, and she was determined to make it happen.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed, and she quickly checked the message.
*Hey, Lia! He should be back on Sunday. I can imagine his face when he sees you!*
Lia smiled, her heart racing with anticipation. "Perfect! That gives me just enough time to plan something special," she whispered to herself, her excitement growing.
With renewed focus, she dived back into her studies, reminding herself that the hard work would soon pay off.
The day of the exam arrived, and Lia felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling inside her. She quickly texted Harvey, letting him know, *Today's the big day! Wish me luck! I'll ace it for both of us!*
After sending the message, she took a deep breath, gathered her materials, and headed to her examination room. The halls were filled with other students, some chatting nervously while others remained focused and quiet. As she walked, she mentally reviewed her notes, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Once inside the room, she found her seat and set up her things. The atmosphere was tense, and she could see her classmates fidgeting and flipping through their notes one last time. Lia closed her eyes for a moment, visualizing herself succeeding. She whispered to herself, "I've worked hard for this. I can do it."
As the exam proctor began to distribute the test papers, Lia felt a surge of determination. She glanced down at her phone one last time to see if Harvey had replied. Seeing a message from him brightened her spirits. *You've got this! I believe in you!*
With a smile on her face, Lia focused on the task at hand. She knew that she had prepared well, and no matter the outcome, she was proud of her efforts. The exam began, and she poured all her knowledge onto the paper, one question at a time, reminding herself that she was capable and ready for this challenge.
After finishing the first subject, Lia felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had managed to tackle the questions with confidence, and now it was time for a much-needed break. As her classmates gathered in the cafeteria, she joined them, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety from the exam.
Sitting at a table with her friends, she picked at her lunch, her mind still racing with thoughts about the next subject. "How did you guys find that one?" she asked, attempting to gauge their feelings.
"It wasn't as bad as I thought," Mia replied, though her voice had a hint of uncertainty. "But I'm still nervous about the next one."
"I think we'll be okay," Evan said, trying to boost their spirits. "Just take a deep breath and relax. We've studied hard."
Lia nodded, but her stomach twisted with anxiety. She could feel her legs shaking beneath the table. *What if I forget everything for the next exam? What if I fail?* The thoughts spiraled in her mind, making her more restless.
After lunch, the group headed back to the waiting area, where students were pacing and chatting anxiously. Lia fidgeted with her hands, glancing at the clock as it ticked closer to the start time of the last subject.
Finally, the announcement came that it was time for the final exam. As the proctor called for the students to line up, Lia took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. "This is it," she whispered to herself. "Just one more to go."
Walking into the exam room, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She found her seat and took a moment to gather her thoughts. The weight of the moment felt heavy, but she reminded herself of Harvey's encouraging words. *You can do this!*
As the exam papers were handed out, Lia focused on the questions in front of her, determined to give it her all. It was the last push before she could finally celebrate her hard work and look forward to a future with Harvey.
Finally, after two hours and a half, Lia was done with her exams. A rush of relief washed over her as she exited the examination room, the weight of the last few weeks lifting off her shoulders. She stepped outside the school's gate and took a deep breath of fresh air, grateful that the stress of the exams was finally over.
Feeling a mix of excitement and exhaustion, she quickly pulled out her phone and texted Harvey. *Just finished my exams! Can't wait to celebrate! 🎉* She hit send, a smile creeping across her face at the thought of seeing him soon.
As she stood there, waiting for her friends to emerge from the building, she felt a sense of accomplishment. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered with anticipation for what was next.
A few minutes later, her friends began to trickle out, and the group quickly gathered around her, sharing their own relief and excitement.
"How did it go?" Mia asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"I think it went well!" Lia replied, feeling buoyed by her friends' energy. "I just want to know how you all did!"
They exchanged stories of the exam, laughter mingling with nervous chatter. Lia felt grateful for the support of her friends, knowing they had all been through the same challenges together.
"Let's go celebrate!" Steve suggested, and the group cheered in agreement. Lia felt a rush of joy, knowing they would make the most of their freedom.
As they made their way toward the nearest café, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Harvey: *I'm so proud of you! Let's plan something special for when I get back. Can't wait to see you!*
Her heart soared at his words. *I can't wait either!* she texted back, her excitement growing for the future that lay ahead.
After a celebratory lunch filled with laughter and chatter, Lia and her friends headed to a nearby park to unwind and enjoy the sunny afternoon. They found a spacious grassy area and settled down, grateful for a moment to relax after the tension of exams.
As they lounged on the grass, Lia felt a wave of relief wash over her. The pressure of studying for her board exams was finally behind her, and the prospect of seeing Harvey again filled her with anticipation.
"Okay, spill the beans! What's the first thing you're going to do when Harvey gets back?" Mia asked, nudging Lia playfully.
Lia smiled, her cheeks warming at the thought. "Honestly, I was planning to surprise him at his home town in the UK then spend time with him. Maybe go for a walk or grab dinner at that little Italian place we love."
"Sounds perfect!" Hannah chimed in. "And don't forget to give him the customized keychain you made. He'll love it!"
"I will!" Lia beamed, grateful for her friends' support. She couldn't wait to see Harvey's reaction to the thoughtful gift.
As they chatted about their plans for the future, Lia's phone buzzed again. It was a message from Harvey: *Just finished my classes. How did it go?*
Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly typed back, *I think I did great! Can't wait to see you soon!*
After a few moments, Harvey responded: *I'm counting down the days! Let's plan for Saturday?*
"Are you two still texting?" Evan teased, a smirk on his face.
"Of course! He's soon to be my boyfriend," Lia replied, feeling a mix of pride and affection.
The group was in shocked with awe as soon as they heard it. "Okay, hold up. Don't tell me your finally making it official between the two of you?" Steve asked.
The group stared at Lia, their expressions a mix of excitement and surprise.
Lia blushed slightly, shrugging as she smiled. "Well... yeah, I've been thinking about it. I'm making it official when I go to the UK."
Mia squealed in excitement. "Finally! I've been waiting for this moment!"
Steve shook his head, grinning. "I can't believe it. You're actually going to make it official with a guy who lives in another country. That's a big step."
"I know," Lia said, her voice a little quieter now. "But we've been through so much already. He's been so supportive, and I feel like we're ready for this." Lia nodded. "We've talked about the challenges. But I'm willing to give it my all, and so is he."
As the group continued to discuss her future with Harvey, Lia felt a sense of calm settle over her. The thought of making their relationship official, even with the distance, filled her with a mix of excitement and determination. It felt like the next chapter of her life was finally beginning.
After a few more minutes of chatting, Lia glanced at her phone and saw another message from Harvey: I can't wait to see you. I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished.
She smiled to herself, feeling the warmth of his words, and knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they could face them together. As the afternoon transitioned into evening, Lia felt a sense of contentment wash over her. The future was bright, and she was ready to embrace it, with Harvey by her side.
"Let's take a group photo to remember this day!" Nicholas suggested, pulling out his phone. The group gathered together, posing and laughing as they captured the moment.
Once the photo was taken, Lia felt grateful for her friends and the experiences they had shared. She knew she could count on them no matter what.
"I haven't seen Jake after the exam, where could he be?" Jay asked, glancing around as the group relaxed at the park.
"Maybe he's with his girlfriend," Steve replied with a shrug. "After all, she came to support him today."
Mia nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. They probably went to grab lunch together or something."
"Yeah, he's been pretty focused on spending time with her lately," Evan added. "Not that I blame him."
Lia listened quietly, her thoughts momentarily drifting back to Jake. She hadn't seen much of him lately, especially with all the exam preparation, and now it seemed like he was caught up in his own life. It didn't bother her as much as it might have in the past, but there was still a small part of her that missed their old dynamic.
"Well, good for him," Hannah said, bringing the focus back to the conversation. "He deserves to relax after the exams just like the rest of us."
Lia smiled, grateful for the lighthearted tone among her friends. She knew Jake was doing what made him happy, and now she had her own future to look forward to—especially with Harvey.
"When will Jake introduce us to Emily?" Mia asked, her curiosity evident. "I mean, you guys have met her before, but we haven't."
"Yeah, I'm kinda curious too," Jay added, leaning back against the grass. "We've heard a lot about her, but it's different when you actually meet the person."
Steve nodded in agreement. "She seems cool from what Jake's told us. It would be nice to finally put a face to the name."
"I'm sure he'll introduce her when the time is right," Hannah said with a shrug. "They're probably just enjoying some time together after the stress of exams."
"True," Mia replied. "But still, I hope we get to meet her soon."
Lia listened, feeling a sense of detachment from the conversation. While she had met Emily, she realized that her focus was more on Harvey now and the excitement of where their relationship was heading. However, she was genuinely curious how the dynamic between Jake and Emily would play out once Emily became more involved with their group.
"Yeah, I'm sure Jake will bring her around when he's ready," Lia said, offering a supportive smile. "Disclaimer, I haven't met Emily in person yet, just online," Lia thought to herself, feeling a little amused at the situation.
As the group continued chatting about Jake and his girlfriend, Lia's mind wandered back to her own relationship with Harvey. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement knowing that her own relationship was progressing, but she also couldn't shake the curiosity she had about finally meeting Emily.
"Still, it's gonna be interesting to see how she fits in with the group when Jake finally brings her around," Lia mused quietly, half-listening to the conversation around her. "What should I gift Harvey to make it official between the both of us?" Lia asked, turning to her friends for advice.
Mia's eyes lit up. "How about something personal, like a handwritten letter? You could pour your heart out in it, letting him know how much he means to you."
Hannah nodded in agreement. "Or maybe you could combine that with something he could keep forever, like a watch or a bracelet, something that reminds him of you every day."
Lia smiled, feeling inspired. "A letter sounds perfect, and maybe I'll pair it with something like a bracelet with our initials, just like the keychain he gave me."Â Lia's friends nodded enthusiastically at the idea, and Mia leaned in with a grin. "I can totally picture him loving that! Something thoughtful and personal, just like you."
Hannah added, "Plus, a bracelet with your initials would be a constant reminder of you even when you're not around. It's sweet and meaningful."
Lia felt a surge of excitement as she imagined Harvey's reaction. "I think I'll go with that then. A heartfelt letter and a bracelet. It's simple but meaningful." She looked up at her friends with a soft smile. "Thanks for helping me figure this out."
"You got this!" Mia encouraged, giving her a playful nudge.
As the group continued chatting, Lia couldn't help but think about how much Harvey had done for her, from sending her sweet notes to supporting her through her exams. Now, she was ready to show him just how much she appreciated him and their growing relationship.
"So, when are you planning to go to the UK?" Jay asked, leaning in curiously.
Lia smiled softly, playing with the bracelet idea in her mind. "I haven't booked anything yet. I'm thinking of going after the exam results come out, maybe in a few weeks. I want to make sure everything's settled here first before I fly over."
"That sounds like a good plan," Mia said. "It'll give you time to breathe and really enjoy your time with him once you're there."
"Yeah," Lia agreed. "Plus, it'll feel even more special once the stress of the exams is completely behind me."
"You better come back with pictures!" Steve teased.
Lia laughed. "Don't worry, I'll have plenty to share."
"So, when's the result for our exam?" Evan asked, leaning back on the grass with a sigh.
"I heard it's supposed to be out in about two months," Lia replied. "But I'm trying not to think about it too much. Just enjoying the break for now."
"Two months? That's going to feel like forever," Mia groaned. "I just want to know if we passed already."
"Same here," Steve added. "But there's no point stressing over it now. We did what we could."
"True," Lia said. "Now, it's just time to wait and hope for the best."
After the board exams, I didn't see Jake again. We haven't talked, not even online, even though I sometimes see him online. I'm sure he's with his girlfriend, probably happy, and that's enough for me. It's not like we were talking much before anyway.
Besides, I have something exciting to look forward to: I'm finally going to see Harvey next week! Just thinking about it makes me smile. We've waited for so long, and now it's actually happening. I wonder what it'll be like when we're finally together in person. I can't wait.
The days passed slowly, each one stretching out as I anticipated the trip to the UK. I'd packed and unpacked my suitcase at least three times, checking that I hadn't forgotten anything important and that I had Harvey's gift tucked safely away. I couldn't wait to surprise him with it.
Every evening, I'd end up scrolling through our messages, reading over the plans we'd made and the little jokes he'd sent to keep me motivated. The thought of finally being able to walk beside him, talk with him face-to-face, and just share simple, everyday moments felt surreal.
The night before my flight, Mia and Hannah came over, helping me do last-minute checks. "Are you sure you're ready?" Mia asked, laughing at my nervous excitement. I nodded, heart pounding.
I thought back to the journey that had brought us to this point. We'd spent so much time getting to know each other from miles apart, and now, all of that was about to become real. I just hoped everything would be as perfect as we'd imagined.
The next morning, as I headed to the airport, I took a deep breath, knowing that soon enough, I'd be stepping into an entirely new chapter—with Harvey right beside me.