Ever After (The Faded Trilogy, Book 3)

THE FADED TRILOGY

EVER AFTER

CHLOE MILES

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Chloe Miles

All rights reserved.

Published by Chloe Miles Publishing

Cover design by Chloe Miles

Image Copyright Lightspring, 2014

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are acknowledged by the proper use of capitalization throughout.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Title

Copyright

Epigraph

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Fifteen Years Later

Also By Chloe Miles

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Something old,

Something new,

Something borrowed,

Something blue.

— Prologue —

It felt just like she’d always imagined. Soft as silk. Warm as a cozy fireplace on a cold winter’s night.

Standing there in front of him, his forehead resting against hers and their palms pressed gently against each other’s, it was like it had been this way forever. It was like she had felt his warm skin against hers before, forgotten what it had felt like, and only needed to feel the slightest touch to send all those memories flooding back.

She could feel his lips moving closer until they were so close that they were invading the air around her own and there was nothing left between them.

She never wanted to open her eyes. She would have lived forever in this memory if she could.

Memories—sometimes they’re real, sometimes you think they’re real, and sometimes you manage to convince yourself enough that what was once only just a dream had actually happened. The memory you have of that dream is so vivid in your mind that it becomes less of a dream and more of a blurred reality until you just don’t know whether it was real or not anymore.

And sometimes you don’t want to know, because that memory is so perfect that you can’t bear the thought that it was never real at all. And even if that memory was only just a dream, sometimes it makes no difference. Some dreams are so perfect that even though you know they could never be real, you still find yourself closing your eyes in the hope of living it all again, even if only for a second. Sometimes a second is all you need. Sometimes a second can seem to last forever. And some moments seem so perfect that time simply wouldn’t do them justice not to let them last forever.

But they never could. You always have to open your eyes at some point.

— Chapter One —

Was it about me? Hunter’s familiar dreamy tone whispered through the morning light streaming in through the curtains as it illuminated the room.

Savannah let her eyes flutter past the time displayed on her alarm as she slowly lifted her head to look over her shoulder.

Your dream? his voice continued softly from the other side of the bed, his elbow propped against the pillow and his head resting against his hand.

Savannah rolled flat onto her back and followed her gaze up to the ceiling, letting her eyes close again for that one more second she always wished could last forever, before releasing a deep breath into the silent air and welcoming the smile tugging at her lips as her head tilted sideways to meet his.

Mm hmm. She rolled onto her side as Hunter moved closer to her until his head was resting on her pillow beside hers. How did you know I was dreaming?

You didn’t wake with a start like you usually do when it’s a vision, he whispered. So I figured it was a dream.

Savannah lifted her hand as Hunter’s moved closer, and watched as his fingers curled delicately around hers.

And how did you know it was about you? she whispered, letting her own forehead brush as close to his as it could.

Lucky guess, he whispered back through the grin spreading across his face as he placed his lips against hers.

Savannah let her eyes close again, trying her hardest to remember what his lips felt like in her dream before it slipped away into nothing but a blurred memory, and then she would forget again whether the memory was real or not until she was reminded the next time she opened her eyes that this blurred reality was just a dream.

But it didn’t stop her from trying as hard as she could to hold onto that memory so it would stay with her forever, even if the only time she could live it again was in her dreams. It made no difference. The memory was still perfect whether it was real or not.

But if it was just a dream, and never real at all, then why did she always have to wake? Perfect moments can last forever as long as you don’t open your eyes.

***

It looks like a heart, Savannah said as they lay side by side on the grass staring at the clouds.

And there’s Cupid with his bow, Hunter added as his finger outlined the shape of the cloud.

Savannah laughed as she watched the cloud magically morph into Cupid and aim his bow at her heart-shaped cloud.

Hunter smiled mischievously as Cupid fired his arrow. What’s the point of having a heart unless you give it a reason to love?

Savannah smiled in agreement as she closed her eyes and rested her head back on the grass as the warm summer sun kissed her skin. There were only a few weeks left of summer, and she wanted to cherish what was left of it as much as she could.

This had been her favorite summer so far, and she was relishing the opportunity she and Hunter had to be blissfully young. They still had the constant threat of The Forces in the back of their minds, but they had somehow learned to remain oblivious enough to not let it take over their lives.

They had spent the entire summer taking every chance they could to laugh and live in the moment, although eternity waited. Hunter had brought her right out of her shell since he had come into her life, and she was nowhere near as reserved as she used to be. She was into taking spontaneous risks now just for the fun of it, and laughing at absolutely nothing just because she could.

Hunter had brought out so much confidence in her. She was certainly no longer unsure of her power anymore. Give her a battle with The Forces and she would be as strong, brutal and unforgiving as they were, and her stance and aim would be so controlled and precise and unwavering.

She knew they would be watching her every move; judging her strengths and her weaknesses—yet she could stare them down with a burning glare without even flinching.

She had come to the realization that some things that scare you—really, really scare you—are the ones that give you that famous fight or flight response. It’s as if the more fear you have over something, the braver you’ll be in facing it. It’s like the more fear there is, the adrenaline will kick in, and your brain will be too busy using that adrenaline to plan your attack that it forgets to remind you that you’re supposed to be scared.

But she was still yet to find that same adrenaline when it came to answering a question in a lecture. She could deal with the stares of The Forces, but not of a room full of college students.

It felt like only yesterday that she was starting her first day of college, and now she’d just finished her second year and was about to start her junior year clinical experience after the summer.

Abigail had scored a job with the local newspaper The Fort Everwick Chronicle once a week, as well as still working casually at Logan’s Café on her lecture-free days.

She and Logan had been living together for almost two years now. Madison and Jackson had both gotten part-time jobs between classes, and had managed to save enough money to move in together over the last year, too.

As much as she would have given anything for her and Hunter to be able to have the same opportunities that her friends had, it didn’t change how Savannah felt about him. She tried not to think about what they couldn’t have and instead about what they could have. She loved Hunter. The fact that he was a ghost was a part of who he was.

What you and Hunter have is special, Abigail had reminded her. It’s special because it’s rare. Anybody can have a relationship the way it’s supposed to be, but not many people get what you have with Hunter. I’ve never known anyone to love someone the way he loves you.

And she was right.

Savannah could see how much all of her friends had grown up over the last year and a half, and so much had changed for her, too.

Now that she was twenty, she was officially a year older than Hunter, and she knew that with every passing year, she would only get older while Hunter stayed the same. But she tried not to dwell on it, and instead laughed whenever she thought of Hunter’s promise that he would still think she’s cute when she’s old and wrinkly.

One thing that certainly hadn’t changed was how much she loved studying medicine. She was still fascinated by it. If anything, the further into her studies she got, the more determined she was to become a doctor.

But as much as she loved every little detail of her lectures, there was something about them that wasn’t the same anymore. There was something missing.

Ryan had spent the past semester studying in Canada. His dad’s furniture manufacturing company was expanding operations, and the family had already been in Canada when a study opportunity came up that was affiliated with a cancer research program. He would have been hanging out with the pediatric patients and getting to observe advances in research, and had told her it was such an amazing, eye-opening opportunity that was simply too good to turn down.

He was lucky enough to be accepted even though he applied quite late into the application process, and had remained there ever since, updating her with the occasional text message.

He had stayed on over the summer, and was considering extending his studies for another semester.

Ryan had become such a great friend to her throughout her freshman year that classes seemed a little lonely now without him. The Outcasts were no more. It looked like she was reserved to being the sole outcast from now on and left to carry the name for them.

But she couldn’t help but feel extremely proud. Ryan was the only person she had ever met who cared as much about medicine as she did. It meant everything to him, and this incredible opportunity had been another step closer.

She was also somewhat relieved that he wouldn’t be a possible target for The Forces anymore since he was no longer a part of her daily life. That was the consequence she paid for getting close to anyone these days.

The Forces hadn’t changed their ways, although they had changed the way they manipulated. Over the last year and a half, a rift had slowly formed between Gwen and Griffin for a battle of ultimate power. It had been slowly building and growing more powerful, yet they also remembered that they both had the same goal. They were on the same team, and, although they each had ulterior motives to overpower the other, they knew they couldn’t do it without using the other’s help first.

It had only made the job harder of trying to keep up with The Forces’ doings. Was their latest storm or attack to spite them ... or only to spite each other?

Gwen had made it quite obvious that her priority as always was luring Savannah. It had been killing Griffin not to be able to use his powers the way he wanted, and resented Gwen for it. Griffin wanted Savannah dead; Gwen just wanted Savannah.

He had caused most of the storms over the past few months just to spite Gwen and to let her know that she no longer had the upper hand she always thought she did. And he had made no secret of the fact that he would kill her too if she got in his way. Little did he know that Gwen’s plan was mutual.

Savannah squinted her eyes as she opened them again to the bright sunlight and was met with the most beautiful image of heavenly rays shining down on them from behind the clouds.

It looks like Heaven, she said softly as Hunter lay beside her just as mesmerized by its beauty.

It is, he whispered back. He pried his eyes away for a moment and glanced down at his pale hand holding hers on the grass between them before he looked back up into her eyes. But so is this.

Savannah smiled like-mindedly as her eyes peered into his before she looked down at their contrasting hands.

Her eyes stopped at the willow tree as her gaze moved further down the grass, and she noticed a pure white feather lying on the ground in front of it.

She couldn’t help herself, and pushed her overly relaxed body up off the ground to retrieve it.

It felt soft against her skin as she held it in her hand, and she curiously took it back over to Hunter.

She lay back down beside him and rested her head back on the grass.

Maybe it’s from an angel’s wing, she said as she held it up in front of them and then passed it to Hunter for a closer look.

Hunter smiled to himself as he looked up at the soft feather held delicately between his pale fingers. He gently glided it down her arm, and she wrinkled her nose as he tickled it with the feather before gliding it tenderly down the side of her face.

Savannah closed her eyes again as the feather glided delicately over her skin, imagining that she could feel the soft touch of his fingertips. It felt just like her dream.

She knew she would inevitably have to open her eyes at some point, but she wasn’t ready to open them just yet. This was the closest to reality that her blurred reality had ever seemed, and she wanted to savor that precious, fleeting moment in her mind as yet another perfect memory that she could close her eyes and live all over again, if only for a second.

***

With the summer break well and truly coming to an end, and only a few days left before classes resumed, Savannah had imprisoned herself in her room and stayed there for most of the night going over last semester’s study notes before the new one began.

I thought you were supposed to be helping me study, she said as Hunter’s delicate fingertips circled adoringly around her back.

I am, he pointed out.

Savannah tried her hardest not to laugh as he gently kissed her shoulder. You’re determined for me not to get any study done, aren’t you?

Hunter brushed it aside as though he was completely and innocently minding his own business, but the mischievous grin on his face showed otherwise.

What? he asked as though he wasn’t doing anything remotely distracting. You can’t feel it.

Savannah laughed as he continued undeterred to kiss her shoulder. It’s still distracting!

The pieces of hair that had fallen over her shoulder as she lay on her stomach across her bed started blowing in a gentle breeze, and she lifted her eyes to her closed window to see her curtains doing the same.

Hunter!

He had helped Annabelle build a fort in her room out of pillows and sheets, and they’d spent most of the night in there reading stories by flashlight. Savannah had promised them earlier that she would join them, but she had forgotten just how many notes she had from last semester, and had gotten a little carried away and lost track of time.

Hunter, however, hadn’t, and was determined to remind her of her earlier promise.

I give up! she finally admitted after trying to resist his relentless distractions for long enough, and ended up laughing as he covered her with victory kisses.

He might have been distracting, but he was the best distraction she could think of.

Once upon a time there was a frog and a swan, Hunter began of his reworked fairytale once she had joined them in Annabelle’s room under their fort.

Savannah tried not to laugh at Hunter’s storytelling prowess, and she heard Annabelle stifle a giggle from beside her.

I’m pretty sure they’re two different fairytales, Savannah pointed out.

Ah, but you didn’t let me finish. Hunter comically held a finger up as she interrupted. So, anyway, the frog and the swan were friends with a princess. She had incredibly long hair, a magic mirror on her wall, and a pair of glass slippers. And she wasn’t allowed to stay out past midnight.

The girls burst into a fit of giggles over his slightly mixed-up fairytale.

Let me guess, Savannah added, she also had skin as white as snow?

No, Hunter said as he rolled his eyes at her ridiculous assumption. That was the prince.

Duh! Annabelle nudged Savannah playfully with her shoulder, and Savannah tickled her relentlessly in retaliation until she dropped her flashlight.

She couldn’t believe how much Annabelle had grown up right before her eyes over the last year and a half. She was eleven now, and about to start middle school after the summer. But while she might have been growing up, she was still just as refreshingly innocent as ever.

Chelsea had been allowed to go to summer camp, and Savannah knew that Annabelle had wished she had been allowed to go too. But there was no way she could have spent weeks on her own at camp like any other normal kid when they all knew that she wasn’t. It would have been far too dangerous to let her out of their sight for that long without protection from The Forces.

Annabelle had accepted that it was a minor price to pay. Being able to talk to ghosts and having cool powers was better than being normal any day.

I’d rather be me, she concluded.

She looked back up at Hunter, and he pulled a silly face with the flashlight to make her laugh.

Savannah happily watched him laugh with Annabelle. She couldn’t have possibly loved him any more than she already did, yet each and every day she managed to prove herself wrong.

She loved that he was a part of her family, as unique as he was. And Hunter adored being with the Frasers.

Since he was a part of the Fraser household, he liked to always help out whenever he could, and pull his weight among the family, so to speak.

Having been a farm hand before he died, Hunter had never been one to stand back or shy away from hard work, especially considering that it was no longer hard work for him.

Rob had made himself a list of jobs to do around the yard over the summer, and Hunter had completed the list for him without him knowing to save him the trouble so he could relax and enjoy his well-deserved break.

He had cleaned out the stable, fixed the fallen down paling on the fence and given it a fresh coat of paint, cleaned out the gutters on the roof, and fixed the loose number on the mailbox.

Rob could hardly believe his eyes when he saw what he had done, and couldn’t thank him enough. Savannah couldn’t either. He was one of a kind. But what he had done for her dad wasn’t the only reason. There was no comparison. Having Hunter in her life completely outweighed having a so-called normal life any day.

— Chapter Two —

It was like nothing had changed. The beautiful old buildings still somehow took her breath away, and they still often used their study breaks in the library as impromptu meetings to discuss The Forces, albeit with hushed voices.

The only thing that had changed over the first few weeks back into junior year was her free time. Or lack thereof.

Since her junior year class schedule was so full, she was starting to find that there were less and less days that she was actually getting her own lunch break at the same time as everybody else. She could count on one hand the amount of times she had managed to actually spend more than five minutes with her friends for lunch since they started back for the semester, and since Ryan was still in Canada indefinitely, she was starting to get used to spending most of her lunch breaks on her own.

But she had noticed that she wasn’t the only one.

Savannah looked up as a lone figure made her way past the rows of tables, and she let her eyes follow her as she stopped a few tables away.

It was Lily Carson. Savannah had noticed her over the last few weeks, and how she would deliberately wait until after the lunchtime rush was over and there were only a handful of people left in the dining hall before she slipped in unnoticed to eat her lunch alone.

Savannah had seen her around the campus a few times but had never really spoken to her before. She wasn’t in any of her classes, and seemed to keep to herself. Savannah had heard that she had moved there from Arizona—Tucson, to be exact—but other than that, no one really knew much about Lily, and she seemed to want to keep it that way.

She had dark, messy hair and was always wearing long coats, even when it wasn’t cold. She appeared to be an individual, independent kind of girl, but a little rough around the edges as though she had lived a tough life so far. Yet there also seemed to be an element of loneliness about her. It wasn’t as though she seemed like she didn’t want any friends, it just seemed like she was too scared to let anyone in. She wanted to go unnoticed and, for the most part, she usually did.

But there was something slightly more noticeable about Lily this semester that the coats were struggling to conceal for much longer—her growing bump that was refusing to stay hidden.

Savannah watched as she sat her messenger bag down beside her and balanced her lunch tray on the edge as she slid it further onto the table.

A bunch of guys at the table near her had been talking and laughing among themselves as she got closer, and she tried to avoid uncomfortable eye contact as they stood up and headed her way, convinced she had been the subject of their immature discussions.

They were still laughing as they passed her table, none of them barely even noticing her there. As one of the guys jokingly tried to push another over, he unintentionally hit into the end of Lily’s table, flipping the end of the tray and inevitably knocking her entire lunch to the floor. Macaroni and cheese splattered everywhere.

He didn’t even notice what happened.

Lily watched them over her shoulder as they continued obliviously on their way, and she instinctively placed a protective hand over her growing bump for a fleeting second before her eyes slowly moved back around to the mess of mac and cheese covering the floor beside her feet. She knew it would be too awkward for her to bend down to clean it up, and she didn’t know if she should attempt to or whether she should just save herself the embarrassment.

Savannah slid her chair back from her own table as Lily picked her bag back up, and quickly made her way over before she had a chance to walk away.

Here, let me help you with that, she offered as she bent down and lifted the tray back onto the table.

Thanks.

It’s Lily, right? Savannah asked as she passed her the slightly cheese-covered container of yogurt she had managed to salvage.

Yeah.

Savannah watched as Lily mindlessly tried to distract herself with the label on her yogurt so she didn’t have to look at her.

Hey, do you want to join me? she suggested casually, trying to make her feel at ease. I promise the floor underneath my table is a little less cheesy than it is here.

Thanks, but I think I might just go, Lily mumbled as she slung her bag further onto her shoulder, her eyes still hesitant to meet Savannah’s. She nodded in the direction of the tray sitting on the table, acknowledging Savannah’s gesture, before she turned around and started to walk away. Thanks again.

You still have to eat something, Savannah reminded her.

I will.

Lily plucked a plastic-wrapped sandwich from her bag and held it up alongside the yogurt to prove it and then continued on her way.

Savannah watched as she walked out of sight and then she headed back over to her own table to finish her pasta before it got cold, if it hadn’t already.

She picked her fork back up and looked mindlessly around at the mostly empty tables as she continued her lunch. Her eyes darted past someone seemingly familiar standing at the food counter, and her eyebrows narrowed into a frown as she watched him step back from the counter with his tray and start to head down past the other end of the tables.

Surely it couldn’t be.

But it was.

Ryan?

Hey! Ryan’s face lit up as he heard Savannah’s familiar voice calling out his name, and he instantly headed straight for her table.

What are you doing back here? she asked him as he pulled out a seat across from her and placed his lunch down in front of him. I thought you were in Canada.

I was, Ryan stated blankly before a grin sprung to his face. But what can I say? I missed this place too much. And I couldn’t abandon my fellow outcast forever, could I?

Savannah put her fork down beside her plate of pasta. She was past caring whether it went cold or not.

Since when have you been back?

I got back about a week ago, he said as he stuck his fork into his lasagna. I had to finalize a few things this morning, but I’m all yours for this afternoon’s lectures. Anyway, enough about me. What about you? Pre-med still treating you well? You haven’t gone and gotten all popular since I’ve been gone and left me as the only outcast, have you?

Savannah turned her head to either side of the almost empty dining hall before raising her eyebrows at Ryan. What do you think?

Well, you should never be too quick to jump to any assumptions. For all I knew, lesser important people could’ve been intimidated by your presence, or that you had so much power over everyone that you only had to snap your fingers and you could demand the dining hall to yourself to eat your lunch in peace without the hassle of lowly peasants interrupting you.

Yeah. Something like that. Savannah laughed as she picked her fork back up. I think the explanation you’re searching for is called a jam-packed junior year pre-med class schedule.

So, I was a little far off. The main thing is that you’re still an outcast. Not so good for you, probably, since you can’t snap your fingers and send peasants running. But great for me. He reached his hand across the table to Savannah’s to welcome back The Outcasts with some ridiculously random handshake. One of the kids in oncology at the hospital I was volunteering at taught me this handshake. The Outcasts could totally use it. It’ll make us seem even more awesome than we are. He looked back up at Savannah’s face and noticed the blank look she was giving him before they both burst into laughter. He was only five, so it might’ve worked better for him. For me, it was just lame, wasn’t it?

Yeah. Savannah shook her head at him and couldn’t help but laugh again. Her lectures had become a little too straight-laced lately without Ryan’s comedic presence. It’s great to have you back, Ryan.

Ryan flashed another smile at her and picked his fork back up to finish his lasagna.

It’s great to be back!

***

So, you haven’t told me yet what it was like in Canada, Savannah reminded Ryan as they made their way to the two empty seats in the back row of Human Physiology. I didn’t think you’d want to talk about anything but Canada, but you’ve hardly said a word about it.

I didn’t want to bore you, Ryan said as he sat his notebook down in front of him. What do you want to know?

Everything, Savannah replied. And don’t leave anything out!

Ryan couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm. It was great. I got to be a part of a research program and observe advances in cancer research. And I got to hang out with some of the kids in oncology. They’ve got to be some of the bravest kids I’ve ever met.

I can only imagine, Savannah said softly.

I guess I really needed this opportunity to remind me again why I’m doing this. It was life-changing. It really was.

I’m really happy for you, Savannah said genuinely. It was an amazing opportunity. I’m glad that it was you who got it. I don’t know anyone who is more passionate about oncology than you are, Ryan. And the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was like everything just fell into place for you.

Huh? he asked half-distractedly, his attention now focused on the professor who had turned the projector on at the front of the lecture.

Your dad’s company, Savannah answered. Your family was already in Canada when the opportunity came up.

Yeah. We were, Ryan agreed, his thoughts seeming a little distant as he opened his notebook and interrupted the conversation. Hey, is it okay if I borrow some of your notes from these past few weeks that I’ve missed? I intended to be back sooner, but it didn’t work out that way, so I’m guessing there’s going to be a lot to catch up on.

No problem, Savannah replied as she tried to prevent the emerging grin from spreading across her face. I honestly never thought I’d live to see the day when Ryan Landon had to borrow my notes. That’s usually my forte.

You might have to get used to it for a while, Ryan laughed as he relaxed back in his seat. But I don’t know where that leaves either of us if you ever have one of your random Savannah-related emergencies that often leave you walking in halfway through the lecture.

True, Savannah agreed, trying to stifle a laugh as she turned her attention to the professor. And I can’t guarantee that I won’t!

***

Savannah noticed Lily sitting alone outside in the grounds as she headed toward the dining hall for lunch the next day. She had managed to miss the usual lunch break again, and Ryan had to finalize some paperwork regarding his semester in Canada and planned to eat on the run. Figuring she would only be sitting on her own in the dining hall anyway, she instead took her chances and made her way over to Lily.

Lily was eating an apple, sitting on a low brick wall with her toes resting on the ground. She had taken her coat off outside in the warm sunshine and thrown it over her bag she had sat beside her on the wall. She looked up when she noticed Savannah had stopped in front of her and realized she wasn’t just passing through.

Mind if I sit down?

Sorry, Lily apologized as she scrambled to collect her belongings, somehow afraid that she had taken her seat. I was just about to leave.

Why? You don’t have to leave, Savannah said as she sat down beside her on the wall. As long as you don’t mind some company. It just seems too nice outside today to be stuck in the dining hall, so I thought I’d follow your lead and enjoy the sun.

Lily hesitantly put her bag and coat back down on the other side of her.

The sun must remind you of home, Savannah said as she stretched her legs out in front of her so she could feel the warm rays of the sun on her shins. I think I heard you’re from Tucson, right?

Yeah.

Lily looked up, and Savannah simply smiled at her as she continued the conversation without once mentioning the obvious topic that Lily was always worried people would ask her about.

So, what brought you to Fort Everwick?

My grandma, Lily replied. I came to live with her. She lives just outside of town.

You’re close to your grandma?

Mm hmm.

Savannah noticed the textbook half-hidden under the flap of Lily’s messenger bag.

What are you studying? she asked her.

Social work.

Lily felt her baby move, and instantly placed her hand over her stomach, feeling Savannah’s eyes watching her. She looked back up and caught her eye and then quickly reached for her bag.

I should go. I’m sure you probably have a million things to do and a million places to be that are way more interesting than sitting here with me.

No, stay. Savannah placed her hand on Lily’s arm as she tried to stand up, attempting to persuade her not to leave. I won’t have anyone to talk to otherwise.

Lily slowly sat back down again, sensing what Savannah was trying to do.

I’m sure we don’t exactly have anything in common to talk about, she said quietly, her hand mindlessly rubbing her bump.

We seem to be doing well so far, Savannah pointed out. So what if you’re from the sunshine and I’m from the freak storm capital of the world, or if you’re new to town and I’ve lived here my whole life? We’ve still managed to find something to talk about. You don’t always have to be able to relate to someone just to listen.

She caught Lily’s eye again before she looked away, and watched as she let both hands rest protectively around her bump.

I’ve seen you around a few times, Lily said, her hand moving gently over her swollen belly. I’m sure you’ve noticed me, too. I’m kind of hard to miss.

Savannah watched her for a moment as she kept her eyes down, hesitant to look up at her. She didn’t want to pressure her into talking if she didn’t want to, but she took the opportunity to ask since she had brought it up.

When are you due?

December, she replied. Only three months to go until I meet this little one.

You must be excited, Savannah said quietly.

Yeah. Lily’s eyes moved up to meet Savannah’s. It was mostly shock at first, but I’m excited now.

I think the fact that you’re still studying is something to be proud of, Savannah said to her. You could just as easily have given up.

I know. Lily looked back down at her bump again, a smile springing to her face the more at ease she became talking to her. But I wanted to set a good example for my kid. I plan on studying right up until I’m due. I have a few classes the week before. I just hope that this little one will last that long! Then I plan on taking a few months off before I come back. It might take me a little longer to graduate than everyone else, but I’ll get there eventually.

Of course you will, Savannah encouraged her.

Lily looked back up and gave her a half-smile. She was a little surprised yet also touched that Savannah was genuinely interested and not just talking to her out of obligation or pity, and appreciative that she didn’t bring the conversation up until she knew she was ready.

You know what? she said in a break between conversations. I’m starving!

That makes two of us, Savannah replied. I haven’t even eaten yet.

I was going to go get some pasta or something before the dining hall closes, Lily said with a smile, but then you came and sat down and wouldn’t stop talking.

Sorry, Savannah apologized, trying her best not to laugh. Do you want to go see if there’s still anything left?

I thought you’d never ask! Lily said as they stood up. And … thanks for what you said.

About what?

Nothing in particular, Lily said as she collected her belongings from the wall. Just everything, really.

Well, if you ever need anyone to talk about nothing in particular with, you know where I am, Savannah offered. I’m around here all the time.

Thanks for the offer, Lily said appreciatively. What are you studying?

I’m pre-med, Savannah replied. I want to be a doctor.

A doctor? Lily repeated with a hint of a laugh behind her voice as she ran her hand over her bump again. You might actually be useful to know. I think I might take you up on that offer sometime.

***

Talking to yourself, Fraser? Logan teased her from the other side of the library desk as she mumbled to herself while she sorted through the dozens of bookmarks she’d used to mark the pages in her textbook. I think you’ve been in this place for too long.

Don’t listen to him, Abigail told her as she playfully elbowed him in the ribs.

Savannah laughed as she closed her textbook and checked her watch. No, I think he’s right. Study break’s almost over anyway.

She noticed Lily walking by one of the nearby desks as she stood up to gather her belongings. She had seen her a few more times around campus throughout the week, and she could tell that she was slowly but surely letting her guard down enough to let someone in the more often she stopped to acknowledge her, even if only for a minute. She could tell it was appreciated.

Lily saw her standing there and gave her a slightly timid smile, and Savannah excused herself from her friends for a moment to go talk to her.

Great minds think alike, Lily said as she shoved her textbook back into her bag. Study break, too?

Yeah, Savannah said. Almost over. Then I have two hours full of Human Physiology discussing the function of the respiratory system before a late lunch.

Me too, Lily said mindlessly. I mean, without the Human Physiology part.

Savannah smiled to herself as Lily shook her head at her obvious stupidity. Hey, do you want to come say hi to my friends?

Um ... Lily pulled her coat around her to cover her noticeable bump as she surveyed the desk full of Savannah’s friends. Of course Savannah had to be popular. I don’t know.

You don’t have to hide anything, you know? Savannah said encouragingly.

I know, Lily said as her eyes drifted to the floor. But it’s just easier than having to talk about it.

Nobody is judging you, Lily, Savannah assured her. And if anybody cared to, then they’re not worth it.

Lily gave her an appreciative smile as she slowly lifted her eyes back up.

I can assure you that my friends are the nicest, most non-judgemental people you could ever meet, Savannah told her honestly. You know, just in case you were wondering.

Lily smiled. Okay.

Savannah gave her a reassuring wink as she led her over to her friends.

Everyone, this is Lily, she said as the others stood up from their chairs to gather their own textbooks.

Hi Lily.

Hey, she said quietly, still a little apprehensive.

I like your shoes, Madison commented on her purple sneakers.

Really? Lily asked. Thanks.

So, Lily? Ryan asked as he walked around the side of the desk. Didn’t I see you in the garden earlier with your relatives, daisy and daffodil?

Lily glanced sideways at Savannah. Um ...

Savannah laughed off his comment.

You’ll get used to his sense of humor, she told her.

So, we’ll see you at lunch, hopefully, Abigail said to Savannah as she checked her watch and bundled her books into her arms. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.

Savannah shook her head apologetically. I think tomorrow is probably more likely.

Abigail pulled a dejected face as she hugged her goodbye.

Bye, Lily, she said to her as she turned to leave, and the others said the same.

Bye, Lily replied.

Ryan had waited for Savannah to walk to their Human Physiology class together, and the three of them slowly headed toward the door to make their way to their lectures.

Told you they were nice, Savannah said to Lily. I’m sure most people here are if you give them a chance.

Lily nodded with genuine appreciation. Thanks.

Savannah smiled at her. Don’t mention it.

Lily parted ways with them once they were back outside in the grounds, and Savannah and Ryan headed further along to the Biology Department.

Her favorite lecture by far was Human Physiology. She was fascinated by all the inner workings of the human body, and Professor Hargraves was awesome. He was easygoing and approachable, and really took an interest in everyone’s individual paths. He was one of those lecturers who really got you excited about your future and your ambitions and really inspired you.

The respiratory system, Ryan said as they reached the door to the class, and he let her go first before he followed her into the lecture hall.

Savannah got her notebook out as she took her seat, and Ryan suddenly caught a fit of coughing as he sat down beside her.

Are you okay? she asked him.

Yeah, Ryan brushed it aside as he opened his notebook. I must have developed an allergy to FESU since I’ve been away.

Savannah laughed as she turned her attention to the projector at the front of the lecture hall.

Irritation of nerves within the nasal passages or airways can result in coughing or sneezing, she read out loud from the projector screen, and they both laughed at the coincidental relevance of the lecture. How appropriate!

***

It’s a double helix.

That’s not a double helix. It looks nothing like one. It’s fettuccine and meat sauce.

It’s a double helix, Ryan insisted. Can’t you see it?

You’re such a nerd, Ryan.

Savannah didn’t know whether to laugh and admit that she found it funny, or to just roll her eyes at him. She ended up doing both, and adding a disapproving shake of her head for good measure like a mother would to a young child. Clearly, Ryan hadn’t outgrown playing with his food like everybody else had by the time they were three.

As she looked up from Ryan’s apparently fascinating fettuccine, Savannah saw Lily lingering around a nearby table with her lunch tray, clearly trying in a subtle way to catch her eye.

Savannah slid the chair out beside her from the table and called her over to sit with them. Hey, Lily.

Hey, she said as she set her tray down on the table. I can sit somewhere else if you guys are busy.

Don’t be silly, Savannah said to her. We’re not busy. We’re eating … well, at least one of us is. I don’t exactly call playing with your food eating.

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