・seven months later・

7 months, 3 days, 23 hours, and 16 minutes

seven months, three days, twenty-three hours, and sixteen minutes since I last saw Anthony.

since I've seen the boy I called my best friend for over 10 years.

I've reached out to his parents ⏤ no answer, their phones go straight to voicemail.

The last thing I got from anything connecting to him is a birthday card signed by his parents, them saying that Anthony sends his best wishes.

That was 5 months ago.

... but nothing from him.

I've been accepted into UT Austin with Jullian and made the move with him to this giant state a few months ago to start the new college life. It was a hard choice- separating from our family- but it was worth it since I couldn't stand going around seeing all the placed Anthony and I used to go.

Jullian and I's dorms are relatively close, they're in the same building but just a few floors away which is good. I quickly grab my keys from my desk and head out the door, locking it before I make my way to the cafe.

"Hey Char," I say walking into the cafe, hearing the bell single when I step through the door. I see her quickly wave before serving coffee to the awaiting customer, getting a polite 'thank you' which she quickly replies with a 'no problem' before heading back behind the counter.

"Back corner," she says with a smile which I nod,  heading towards the back of the cafe, looking for Jullian as a smile creeps to my face when I spot him with my regular across from him as he quietly works on his computer.

"Hey loser," I chuckle, sitting across from him in the booth, taking a sniff of my coffee, almost moaning at the smell, "you're a true lifesaver."

"That's what boyfriends are for right?" He smiles as he closes his laptop, holding one of my hands on top of the table as I use the other to take a sip of my coffee. 

"Yeah," I smile, putting my cup down. One of Jullian's eyebrows raise I continue to look at him, "What?"

"You have a little-" he begins to say, starting to chuckle. I begin to join him as I attempt to lick it off my face, probably failing. "Here let me get it," he smiles, leaning across the table to bring the soft padding of his thumb across my lip, his emotion turning solemn. I look to his eyes as I watch them glued to my lips. After a moment of silence, he lets out an abrupt soft chuckle, leaning back into his seat, wiping the whipped cream on the square napkin under his coffee. I begin burying my face in my oversized sweater, hiding the heat rising into my cheeks. "It's funny how I still manage to make you blush Norie," he smiles, watching me.

"Well that's what happens when you do things like... that," I mumble, letting out a small cough as my face calms down.

"Things like what?" He says innocently, his face turning into a devilish smile. His grin only grows as he begins leaning over the table again, the pad of his thumb running back over my upper lip. "Things like... this?" He asks, bringing his thumb to his mouth as he licks the remaining whipped cream off of his fingers. "I missed some."

If we weren't in a public setting I think my mouth would've just hung open for hours, I was in shock. My stomach erupted with butterflies as my skin burned with his light touch. As my eyeballs refrained from bulging out of my skull he continued to stare at me, his eyes trained on my next move. "I uh-" is all I'm able to fumble out before my cheeks turn to crimson and a smile appears on Jullian's face from ear-to-ear.

"Yes Norie? Is there something you'd like to say? Or do?" He asks with a look of mischief in his eyes as I purse my lips, looking into my coffee cup to distract myself.

"Teasing isn't very nice you know," is all I say as I keep my eyes trained on my cup, watching how my breath creates little ripples in the foam. I quickly grab my cup, bringing it to my lips, being careful not to get whipped cream on my lip this time.

"The only reason why I haven't kissed you here is because I don't know if I'd be able to stop myself... unless your into public-" I almost choked on my coffee, the sound that same out of my- I don't even know where- was oh so attractive when interrupting his upcoming sentence. He must've noticed my flustered-ness because he began to go into a fit of laughter, earning some glares from the one and only. "This is why I love you Norie."

"Whatever you say Jewel."

・・・

I wake up to knocking on my door, quickly looking at the time to realize it's 26 after 7, meaning I slept 26 minutes too many. I quickly open my door to see a smiling Jullian with 2 coffees in a tray on one hand and a bag of donuts in the other. I can't help from smile as I let him in, closing the door behind him. "I ended up being your alarm I'm guessing?" He chuckles, setting the food on the table as I go to wash my teeth in the bathroom, then walking back to the main room to take a sip of my coffee, which was a bad choice.

"Yep since apparently the actual alarm I have set doesn't feel like, ya know, doing it's job," I sigh, trying to refrain from throwing up from the horrible toothpaste + coffee combo.

"And no roommate either?" He asks, looking at the neat side of my dorm.

"Still out of town, she said she'd be back next Tuesday."

He quickly raises his eyebrow before having a big grin plastered on his face, "you should let me come over one day, maybe we could-"

"Haha Jewel, very funny," I roll my eyes, taking a bite of my donut.

"But I wasn't joking," He pouts, scrunching his brows.

"Jullian," I warn, resulting in him crossing his arms like the 5 year-old he is. I just shake my head with a smile, finishing my coffee.

Welcome to my lovely life

・author's note・

Author's Note: AND THAT'S A WRAP ON CHAPTER 17 FOLKS! I hope you liked it, it's mainly just to tell you the time period they're in and some info on where the characters stand. I have some 10/10 👌 content coming up that's gonna have you guys shaken up (;

Also I have an idea for a new book.... which I'll probably make eventually... meaning I'll have 3 on-going books lol (I'll make it when I actually have the time)

 I'm also thinking of uploading 2 times a month, on certain days, possibly the 15/16 and the 30/31  depending on the month :) Does that sound good? If so plz comment so I can know... it's either that or if you're fine with me possibly uploading faster or slower then that 😂

Also did I mention I got to 100 THOUSAND VIEWS on my first book?! I probably did... but idk BECAUSE THX MY DUDEEESSSS :)

Love you all lots and thanks for enjoying! (hopefully)

・originally published on November 16, 2017・updated on July 27, 2019・