Awesome! It sounds like this will be a fun story to write. ;)

Your request doesn’t sound onerous at all. No worries there.

You’re absolutely right! I didn’t even think about writing a scene where she calls him. I will write that scene ASAP.

[I know that I said that I wanted to do justice to the story, but I figured it would be okay if I skipped ahead a little. If any of you want to read the events leading up to this scene, just PM me.

This scene takes place about a month after the last.

One more thing: since Connor and Kylie's relationship has developed a lot since the last chapter, I included a few details... No worries--I'd still rate the story as PG-13.]

I'm in the middle of cooking ramen noodles when my phone starts ringing. I wipe my hands on a towel lying on the kitchen counter and take my phone out of my back pocket. It's Connor.

"Hey," I pick up. "Can I call you later? I'm kinda busy with something."

It takes Connor a few seconds to respond, which piques my concern. "This is important."

Something in his tone makes me walk over to the stove and turn it off. I take a seat behind the counter. "What's wrong?"

Again, Connor doesn't speak for a little bit. "You know the promise we made?" His voice shakes.

My concern deepens. Is he...? "Yeah, I remember." Shelby (my roommate) walks into the kitchen and starts to talk to me, but I put my finger to my lips. She nods and goes back to her room.

"You probably want to be here right now."

I stand up, stride over to my room, and grab my car keys. "I'll be right there."

"Okay. See you soon."

"See you soon." I end the call and open the front door.

"Wait!" Shelby appears again, carrying my coat. She brings it to me. "Don't forget this."

"Thanks." I throw the coat over my shoulders, walk out of the dorm, and lock the door behind me. Shivering, I walk over to my car, careful not to slip on any black ice. Once in my car, I crank up the heat and drive away.


It only takes me five minutes to reach Connor's dorm. Once there, I take out the spare key Connor gave me (even though we're technically not allowed to give keys to people who don't live in the dorm) and open the door. I close it quickly behind me.

I search the living room for Connor. When

[I know that this chapter also doesn't include any crying, but I want to do justice to the story. There will be another crying scene ahead, rest assured.]

Kylie and I eat our lasagna and talk in further detail about what we're going to do now that we're a couple. We discuss when we're available, when we're going to tell everyone else, and other random stuff. She asks my opinion on public displays of affection. I ask her whether or not she's going to tell her parents. They live all the way in New Mexico, and I've only met them once when they flew up here to visit. They're not the best parents--Kylie barely even told them which apartment complex she lives at, for sake of her privacy (and sanity). We agree that I can tell my parents if I feel so inclined, but Kylie's not going to tell her parents.

Before I even know it, we've finished eating, and are washing the dishes together. Kylie nudges me softly with her elbow, and I nudge back. We smile at each other.

After a few minutes of light conversation (and after the dishes are washed and drying on the rack), Kylie looks at me with regret. "I have to go back home. I've got a killer research essay I have to write for Psych."

"Aw," I sigh, drying my hands before pulling her into a hug. "Okay."

"Just promise me one thing."

"Yes?" I wonder what she could possibly want me to promise.

"Call me whenever you cry. I don't want you to be alone." Kylie's breath tickles my neck.

"Sure. But only if you promise me the same thing." I smile unconsciously, knowing she'll hate the fact I turned it back on her.

She groans in frustration. "Fine. I promise. Your turn."

"I promise," I say. Giving her one last squeeze, I let her go. Again, we just stare at each other, appreciating the fact that we can--we're together now.

Kylie's eyes widen. "Right. Psych essay." She walks over to the front door. I follow her. She looks back at me before opening the door. "I'll see you soon?"

"See you soon," I say.

The door closes behind her.

I continue rubbing her back as she cries, speaking soft assurances. I wish that there were some magical words I could say that would give her hope and heal her trauma, but words fail in moments like these. Simply being here with her and comforting her will speak more than a thousand words--at least, I hope so.

When she begins to calm down, I pull back from the hug and wipe more of her tears. She keeps her eyes lowered.

"Kylie?" I ask, still wiping away her tears.

"Yeah?" She sniffles and shoots a quick glance upward, meeting my eyes.

"Can I..." I pause, not sure she'll let me. "Can I, um--"

"Kiss me again?" Kylie asks.

I try to read her expression, but for some reason, I can't. The ambiguity--which I take to mean as neither a yes or a no--is what spurs me to kiss one of the glistening tear tracks on her cheek. I allow my lips to linger, enjoying the warmth of her cheek. I pull back slowly. "Can I do that?"

Kylie sits back a little and wipes her dainty nose on her sweater's sleeve. Then, she leans back in and kisses me. Again, I lose myself in the moment--any concept I had of time and space before is completely and utterly destroyed. All that remains is the softness of her lips.

She tastes like cotton candy and nostalgia.

After what felt like a millisecond, but was probably at least thirty seconds, we separate. I catch my breath and notice how my heart is hammering in my chest. I put my hand over my heart, willing it to stop beating so fast.

Aaand Kylie and I are avoiding eye contact. Great.