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As Ben and Devi made their way to the Princeton Dinky, the school train that would get them to the New Jersey station, Ben couldn’t stop laughing.
Devi nudged him lightly, "I don"t know what you find so funny."
Ben continued laughing, and the little crinkles beside his eyes that she loved so much started to appear.
“I’m just glad that we didn’t run into anybody here, how would we explain why we came all the way to New Jersey just to turn back around and go to New York? I’d say that’s pretty funny.”
Devi rolled her eyes. "It"s the only way to efficiently measure how long you take and how long each of us take on the train!"
Ben was still smiling as he gave her a soft kiss
"I know, David, I know. Plus, you look cute when you’re irritated like that."
Devi pinched him as they walked into the station.
"Mhm, I’m sure I do. But that comment just earned you an embargo on kisses.”
"A kiss embargo? How offensive," Ben joked as he bought the tickets, their fingers still interlocked.
Devi pulled Ben in and kissed him, assuring him that there would be no embargo. The kiss was slow, sweet, and firm, the kind that made butterflies flutter through both their stomachs. It didn’t leave them feeling breathless, but rather soft and free.
As they pulled apart, they heard a voice beside them, "the train is here, lovebirds."
They turned to see a little old lady smiling at them. A blush came to both their cheeks, fueled by the embarrassment of an old lady seeing them kiss.
"Oh, uh, thank you! Sorry if we got in your way or anything-”
The old lady smiled, "Of course not, dear. It"s always so nice to see young people so in love."
Ben blushed even harder, squeezing Devi’s hand in his.
"Thanks, ma’am.”
……….
Devi gave Ben a mischievous smile and pulled on the collar of his shirt.
"So, handsome, what are we doing while we wait for the next train?"
Ben laughed a little. "I see what you’re trying, Devi, but no more kisses right now. If we’re caught kissing in public once it’s cute, if we get caught twice then we’re just that insufferable PDA couple.”
"I didn"t know you were anti PDA, I mean, given your record.”
Ben pulled Devi in by her waist and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I have no problem showing my affection, but if someone else has to tell us that the train is coming again, I"ll probably die of embarrassment."
Devi smiled and gave him a peck just before the train arrived.
"Oh, sir, the train is here! Better stop kissing your girlfriend now," Devi joked.
Ben rolled his eyes with a slight smile on his face.
.......
Devi and Ben had taken a nap from Princeton Jct to NY Penn Station which was a nice break, but now they had to navigate new stations. Devi was pretty anxious, since she was nowhere near used to all these subway lines and station stops.
"I have a feeling this will be my least favorite part, the 15 minute walk to get from one station to another. No wonder New Yorkers are so angry!"
" New Yorkers ? Are you a true Jersey girl now, David?"
Devi winked at him, "Of course, and this is a forbidden Jersey-NYC romance."
.......
When they arrived at the station, Devi beat Ben to paying.
"Love, you know you don"t have to do that."
"Relax, Gross, you"ll be able to pay me back in the pizza I plan to eat when I get there."
"Yeah, of course.”
They boarded the train, and it was jam-packed full of people.
"Look at us, together on a crammed New York City train! I feel like I’m in a rom-com."
“Oh, really? Was my big love confession at your grandmother’s wedding not rom-com-esque enough for you?”
“No, Ben, that was perfect. But it never hurts for life to be even more like a rom-com.”
………..
"Welcome back to Columbia University, my lady,” Ben said, as if imitating a Bridgerton character.
Devi lifted the sides of her coat and did a small curtsey, playing along with his goofy joke.
"Thanks for accompanying me on my journey, my lord."
"Would you like to accompany me for pizza and soda?"
Devi smiled.
"It would be my pleasure."
.......
Devi stretched out like a cat on Ben"s bed as he searched for the glasses he swore he had left on his dresser.
"I am pleased to announce that it’s 2 hours and 5 minutes from Princeton to Columbia,” Ben looked at Devi with a soft smile, "Devi, please let me buy you an Amtrak ticket."
Devi raised an eyebrow, "If you think I"m going to agree to let you buy me a $80 ticket just to get here, you"re crazy. Plus, that thing only has like 3 trains a day!."
Ben reluctantly conceded.
"Okay, can I at least pay for your return trips?, the Amtrak is faster, the trip is only an hour"
Devi pretended to consider it, but knew she would accept anyways. Ben just wanted her to be safe.
"Okay, but just because I"m planning on returning on Sundays. Or maybe on Mondays if I get my schedule right? We’ll see."
Ben laid down next to her and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.
“Why are you laying down, aren’t we gonna go get pizza?”
“Yeah, I just didn’t know-”
“Oh, and I’ll pay for all the food when you’re in New Jersey. Y’know, to make it fair.”
"But-"
"No, you have to accept."
.......
After they had gotten pizza, they were debating how they’d get back and forth.
"Okay, but if I give you a ride in my car it doesn"t count."
"Ben! I"m not going to let you make the trip back alone, what about when you"re too tired?!"
"David, it’s only like two hours, I"ll survive."
"Okay, and in the hypothetical case that you drive the deal doesn’t apply. And you have to have slept for at least 6 hours before and not have any 8am classes. And it can’t be exam season!"
"Okay, you have a deal. And if I may say, it"s kind of hot when you go full lawyer on me."
Devi kicked him gently as they ate their pizza.
Ben laughed, giving her a little kick too
"Playing footsies with me Devi? Oh, you like me."
Devi winked at him "Haven"t you heard? You"re my boyfriend."
Ben smirked and stole a bite from her pizza slice.
"Yep, and you’re my girlfriend, my beautiful girlfriend."
.......
Later that night when they were just snuggling in bed and watching How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days , the scene "and all the girls dream that they"d be Ben"s partner" came on. Devi started singing along, and Ben couldn’t help but smile.