"Julianna, there's yet another vase waiting for you on the step!" The sound causes me to groan as I push myself away from the desk in my bedroom. The entire week, Chase has been sending flowers to me; I don't know if it's to try and apologize or what, but I can't deal with him right now because the grind never stops and I have school things to get done on top of what I already have to do at work. "What is it that they are doing this time?" When I got back to the living room, I saw Mark holding a vase that was full of red roses. "What are those?" I asked. "Oh my goodness, why can't he at least send some nice flowers?" I let out a sigh as my irritation grew. "Not a fan of red roses, are you?" I laugh at his jokes while removing the vase from his grasp and placing it on the countertop in the kitchen. I despise them because of how cheesy they are. I informed him about it. "Up until now, they've all been red roses; if they were another kind of flower, I'd probably display them in my bed
When I hear a knock on the door and some talking, I start getting dressed. She's here way too early. Before I leave, I quickly change into my clothes and put on some nice shoes. Then, I grab my purse and check myself in the mirror to make sure I look good. I pick up the roses for her and walk down the hall. What surprises me is how Kent can make my mother laugh, no matter what story he tells her. He even brought her a glass of water. "Uh, hi, Mom," I say quietly. Usually, she rushes to me for a hug, but Kent was chatting with her. "Oh, Julianna!" I give her a hug when she smiles. "You can have these," I tell her as I hand over the flowers. "Be careful. She's happy," Kent says. "We were just talking about how interesting your thesis presentation was." "Really?" I ask, raising my eyebrows, and he nods. "Yeah, it's pretty cool," he says with a casual shrug. "I told you to be ready when I told you to," Mom says, and I sigh. She pokes my arm. "You said to be ready at a quarter to,"
My mother has been talking about Kent ever since she had dinner with him. It's only been two days, but she's already mentioned him twice. I'm not sure what she sees in him. Kent is tall, handsome, can be kind, has a confusing charm, and smiles with dimples, but I don't understand what's so special about that. Ugh, here I go again. Even though we're finally getting along, I can't stop my mind from wandering to him when it shouldn't. We've agreed to be friends, and he's made it clear that he knows the boundaries and won't cross them again. I need to let go of this silly thing that's driving me crazy for no reason. He can't be in a relationship. What he's told me should be enough, and his actions and what I've seen support his words. I know Kent has a lot on his mind, and I suspect he didn't have a great childhood. He's dealing with enough, and I don't want to add to his burden. We can keep this a secret because it was just a mistake between friends. I can control my feelings, and he
"I'm glad you decided to come out with me, Julianna," he says with a smile. I smile back and reply, "Tell me about yourself then." "I'm in my fourth year at Brown, studying early modern history," I tell him, and he smiles. "What do you want to do after your fourth year?" he asks, and I just shrug. "I plan to keep researching. Ideally, I'd like to do it at Brown and get my master's degree," I explain. "Then, maybe go to graduate school for a PhD or become a museum curator." "That sounds like a good idea," I say with a smile, and he nods. Looking at the menu, I see steak with fries. That's what I want, so I can use utensils and not look messy. I'm starving. "Tell me about your job," he asks. I put my hands on my knees. I've never been to this restaurant before, but it has white tablecloths, soft jazz, and candles on each table. It's expensive, and there are no prices on the menu. Lord help me. "I told you I'm a software developer. After college, I worked at G****e but wasn't appr
As Abby and I walked home from the library, she asked, "So, when will I finally meet this guy?" I chuckled in response to her question. "You're starting to sound like my mom," I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed. I've been dating Dane for almost two weeks now, even though we've only been on two actual dates. Two weeks might not seem like a long time to some, but for me, who hasn't dated anyone in years, it feels like a significant amount of time. I believe Dane and I are a good match. Ever since our disastrous first date, he's been incredibly sweet and kind to me. He's been eager to meet up, but I've been too busy studying for a midterm exam scheduled for tomorrow. Balancing schoolwork with a relationship isn't always easy, especially when my roommates seem to have lighter course loads. On Monday evening, Abby and I left the library to grab dinner together, but she had to return for soccer practice. "I'm not sure," I replied to Abby's question about when I should introduce Dane to
We drove to his house in complete silence, but the car was incredible. It was so expensive that driving it would make me nervous. We arrived at his apartment, which had an underground parking garage, and as soon as we pulled into his spot, I noticed my baggy jeans and hoodie. I was carrying a schoolbag like a child, while he was dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase like an adult. This was the first time I noticed our age difference. I struggled to keep up with him as he exited the car. I accompanied him into the elevator and looked up to see a stern face staring dead ahead. We entered his apartment, and I examined it. It was large, and it was outfitted like a spaceship, with impractical fancy furniture and decorations. There was no picture of anyone or anything that felt personal here. "Your place is nice," I said quietly, to which he nodded, clearing his throat and removing his suit jacket. He was tense and almost angry. "Look, I'm not going to do this all night; either talk
This night was supposed to bring joy and excitement, but instead, I felt emotionally drained. After a day of school, it was time for the Halloween party. Earlier, we had prepared the house for the party by securing it. I had purchased a locked container a few months ago to store my belongings under my bed. Although our rooms were off-limits, people still managed to sneak in. I hung my costume on the closet door, but I no longer felt excited about wearing it. "Knock, knock." Abby appeared in the doorway; I had asked her to come over early so we could get ready together. "You're not still upset about Dane, are you?" she asked. "No, I'm not upset. Just a little irritated," I replied, and she smiled, bringing two cups of orange Jell-o shots. "Here, drink this with me," Abby said, and we both took a shot. "We're going to have so much fun tonight," she said, shaking my shoulders, making me laugh. "Yeah, you're right." I said. I was determined to leave Dane behind and not let him ruin
"I'll give you five bucks, and I'll even watch Die Hard with you," I say, making an offer. "Deal," he chuckles and hands me a ping pong ball. "Are you ready? Eye-to-eye, no cheating," he says, and I nod, focusing on the cups. His green eyes were captivating, making me want to do things beyond my control. "Look right here," he says, tapping his forehead, and I roll my eyes, preparing to shoot. The game is intense, but we both hold our ground, and soon we're down to the final cup. The room is now crowded, the music so loud that our trash talk is barely audible. "Why's everyone watching this?" a girl asks her friend. "Because if Kent loses, he has to do a strip tease!" the friend says excitedly. "I'd love to see his abs!" "That's not fair. Why wouldn't he make that bet with one of us?" the first girl asks. I didn't want to do this in front of everyone, but Kent makes the final shot and wins. I deliberately miss my two redemption shots, relieved that I won't have to follow through
After 2 years... Kent "Today has to be perfect." I've been super busy preparing for this day for the last few weeks. It has to happen tonight, or she'll suspect something's up. Juls is getting her master's degree today, and I've never been prouder. She's incredibly smart, always reading or researching. That pile of library books in our office never seems to shrink. She's applied to Ph.D. programs all over, but I think she'll stay at Brown. I'm okay with that because I don't want anything to change about our lives. Well, except for one thing that I hope to change today. I finished my MBA a few months ago and started working full-time downtown. I'm in marketing for now but aiming for investment banking and trust. I know my path, and with time and connections, I hope to take care of us. Juls keeps saying she'll stay in school because she doesn't know what else to do, but I think it's the other way around. School and academia bring out her best. Her eyes light up when she learns some
"We're almost there," Kent insists, turning on his car's signal. I feel like we're in the middle of nowhere, and we've been driving for over an hour. Kent refused to tell me our destination because, as he put it, "I would just g****e where we're going, and then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore!" The weather was gradually getting less cold, not warm yet but no longer snowing or freezing. I was on my last spring break, trying to finish my thesis and schoolwork. We recently received information about our upcoming graduation. In about a month and a half, we would be finishing our undergrad degrees. It was still surreal to me, moving from starting a university degree to finishing it. Kent had been discussing plans for the summer, including hiking trips, which I pretended not to dread. I wasn't much of a hiker, but I was willing to do it with him. We signed our lease for next year, securing that cute little apartment on the other side of campus. The thought of moving in with him excite
"I got my email." Even though Doctor Binkley said I have a spot, I'm still nervous to open it. Maybe I should've waited to open it when I'm alone, but I can't wait. I'm opening it on my way out of lecture. I open the email, quickly reading the first few lines. But at the top, there's a big box that says 'congratulations' and 'welcome!' My heart immediately slows down, and I feel relieved, clutching my phone to my chest. It's official; I'm staying at Brown next year. That means I'll be with my family, my school, and, of course, Kent. We can start our life together, still have our friends and continue studying, but we'll be together. I remember how tough that month at Northwestern was, how much I missed him, and how I felt like I had no support. I need to text my parents and tell them the news. They've been anxiously waiting to hear what I'd do about my living situation next year. But I'll do it later. Right now, I just want to go home and be with someone I love. I pull out my phone
"I hate school sometimes." Yes, I like researching and finding answers to questions no one's ever thought of before, and I like my degree, but the coursework sucks. I'm sick of reading pages and pages of scholarly articles and books and writing a new paper every other week. My honors project is draining every ounce of energy from me, and I was starting to worry if it was even worth it anymore. I hadn't heard about Brown's Master's program yet, and that's the whole reason for this extra burden. Today was Tuesday, one of my busier days. I only had class today until noon, and then I usually spent the rest of the day grinding out work. Today I had to meet with Doctor Binkley and discuss my work. It was something we did monthly to make sure I felt like I was always on the right track. Kent had a break after his class at one-thirty, and we were planning to meet up and study together until his next class at four. Then I was planning to go home and take it easy. I take the elevator up to
I wake up in the middle of a large bed with Kent beside me. We were completely tangled in bedsheets, just beside each other in a beautiful room. I sigh, feeling my body ache and my head pound, but it's bearable. I shuffle over slightly, laying my head on his chest and snuggling back into his side. That seems to get his attention. He moves under me and groans slightly, eyelids fluttering. I feel his lips press a simple kiss to my temple, and I smile. "Hey, Juls," he mumbles. "Hi," I whisper back, watching his eyes open slowly. He grins at me easily, running a hand through my hair. "How do you feel?" he asks, and I shrug. "I have a headache and I'm tired, but I'm okay," I sigh, tracing my fingertips down the center of his chest. "I had a lot of fun last night." "Good," he whispers, putting his hand over mine on his chest. "I know how hard you've been working and all the crap we've been dealing with." His voice is thick with sleep, deep and raspy. "It was nice to have a day that wa
"It's been an amazing night and an unbelievable birthday. I'm pleasantly tipsy, happy, aware, and buzzing," I express. It looks like all three of our friends have scored phone numbers tonight, giving Kent and me some alone time. I notice the place clearing out, and I realize it's probably time to head home. The bar is closing in about thirty minutes, and it's close to three in the morning. "Want to go somewhere else?" Abby asks as we wait for our jackets. I sigh and shake my head. I'm ready to devour some greasy food, drink water, and snuggle into bed with Kent. We've teased about getting intimate, but with all our roommates around, it's not a possibility. I've let go of that idea and just want a relaxed and easy night. "I'm good," I sigh, and she nods with a simple shrug. "Thanks a lot for everything; this night was so, so fun!" "I'm thrilled you enjoyed it!" She insists, giving me a hug, and I grin. Kent retrieves our coats, and I sigh, not looking forward to facing the cold a
It was nice to feel noticed by him, nice to know that he always seemed to care about what I was up to. I'd never felt attractive before I started dating Kent. We all round up the last of our coats and shoes while the Uber's on its way. I get my coat on, and I feel Kent slide his hand along the small of my back. I gasp a bit quietly and look up, seeing his cocky grin. "You look nice," he whispers, and I chuckle, feeling his fingertips slide around the edge of my waistband. Soon we're all piling into an Uber, and I hear Abby chatting up the driver in the front seat. I'll always be envious of her confidence and how she talks to people like she's known them forever. We grab a quick dinner at a pizza place around the corner. Everyone pushed that we should go somewhere nicer, but I didn't want to. I just wanted to go out and have fun with my friends. I hadn't gone out in a long time, not really since before Christmas, and I'd spent way too much time feeling lonely, buried in work and ove
"Did you want to stay longer?" Kent asks as we step into his car, and I smile, closing the door and putting my seatbelt on. "No, we've been there for hours," I mumble, safely tucking my birthday card into my coat's inner pocket. "If we stay longer, we're staying for dinner." Time with my family was amazing, it meant the world to me, and I was thankful I had it so close to my birthday. "Your parents are really cool," he admits, turning on the car and shifting it into drive. "No, they really aren't," I snort. "Did you miss the part where mom pulled out my baby album and sang my favorite lullaby? To all of us?" I ask, and he chuckles. "Or my dad talking about his Master's thesis? His theoretical chemistry Master's thesis?" "You know what I mean," he defends. "They're...people. Like real, normal, kind people who care about everyone." "I guess they have that going for them, huh?" I laugh, and he smiles. "I can't believe that check, that's not like them. They don't just hand out money
We head inside, and I take a deep breath, walking into our house. My family's house always makes me feel happy, like I'm somewhere safe and full of love. Mom's burning some cinnamon candle, and I can hear noise from the kitchen. "What's that smell?" Kent asks, and I laugh. "Mom loves scented candles, it's probably some clearance one that she picked up from somewhere," I explain, unsure where the nearly offensive candle was. Kent hated strong scents; he claimed they gave him headaches. "Sorry." "It's okay, just... don't go burning anything like that at our place," he says, and I chuckle, reaching for his hand. "Hello?" I call, bringing Kent to the kitchen, and mom gasps, hopping up from the stove and running over. "Juls," she whispers, squeezing the life out of me. "I'm so glad you could come." "Me too, I missed you," I whisper, and she pulls back, rubbing my arms in that aggressive mom-like way. "And I missed you, oh! You're so beautiful and smart-" "Okay, mom," I mumble, and s