Part 5

                                    

                                          
Sarah grabbed my hand and turned me around. "Do you live on campus?"
I shook my head no. "I have an apartment not far from here."
"Very nice. I'm a junior education major. I live in the Hitch Suites."
I stopped. "You're an education major? Me too!"
Sarah smiled. "That means we'll have a lot of classes together." I was trying to ignore my phone that was ringing in my pocket, but it had been two minutes and it just wouldn't stop. "You gonna get that?" she asked. 
I looked at my lock screen. Two texts from Kio, a missed FaceTime from both Dixie and Mads, two more texts from Quinton, a missed call from Nessa, and a text each from Noah and Josh. 
"Is everything okay?" Sarah asked. 
"Yeah, just some Sway stuff," I replied, putting my phone away without bothering to read the messages. 
Sarah nodded and continued giving me a quick tour. 
"I'll see you tomorrow! It was really nice to meet you!" she said, waving as I pulled out of the parking lot. My phone rang again. Cynthia this time. 

                          
"Hello?" I answered. 
"Hey, girlie, we've all been worried about you! Is everything okay?" 
I was completely lost. "Why have y'all been worried about me?"
"You left and didn't say goodbye to any of us after Addison got here."
Oh, yeah. "Yeah, sorry, I was already leaving, and I was going to put my bag in the car and come see all of you when Addison walked in. Bryce and I had kind of argued about her just before that so I just left."
"What are you doing now? You should come back! Bryce cancelled the party so we're back to the original movie night plan. I know Bryce would be really happy to see you. He's been sulking in the kitchen since you left."
What did I have to lose? "You know what? Okay. I haven't been home yet. Let me go change, and I'll be there, okay?"
Cynthia let out a squeal of happiness and hung up the phone. 
I quickly changed into a crewneck and joggers and made my way back to the Sway house. 
                          
"Knock, knock," I said, opening the unlocked door. "I'm back, and that's not safe."
Dixie and Nessa ran up to me. "Welcome back, babes!" I could tell we were going to be good friends. As we walked through the house to the living room, Addison stopped me. 
"I'm sorry about earlier. I never even planned on getting back with Bryce because we're better off as friends. I don't know why I came in here and acted like that."
"Hey, it's okay! I get it. I hope we can be friends. I've always really looked up to you."
We walked into the living room together and found Bryce sitting on the couch, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. I walked up and wrapped my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his cheek. 
                          
"Stop it, Addison. I told you that I don't want to be together."
"Ouch. Kind of hurts that you think I'm Addison, although I should probably be flattered."
"Oh my god! Kate! You came back!" He jumped over the couch to wrap me in his warm embrace that I was beginning to love.
"When you look like you do, you just can't keep me away," I joked, ruffling his hair. 
"I dig the PAU representation going on here," he joked back, tugging gently on the crewneck I was wearing. 
"Oh, this? Thanks! I'm a huge fan of the guy whose merch it is. He seems super sweet, and, don't tell him that I said this, but he's super hot, too."
He wrapped me back in his arms again and whispered in my ear. "Cuddle with me?" He lifted me over the couch and plopped down next to me. 
                          
I made myself comfortable in his arms. I knew it had only been two days but I knew that this was something I loved and could get used to. Griffin dimmed the lights and we all settled in to watch the movie. As the movie played, I looked up at Bryce to see him already staring at me. 
                          
He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Sorry if this is too fast, but I think I'm falling in love with you."
I kissed him gently. "Maybe we're both crazy, because I think I'm falling in love with you, too."
"Stay here with me tonight. I don't want you to leave again."
My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't felt so loved in a long time. Maybe it was superficial because it was so new. Maybe I was looking for someone to replace the love that my parents hadn't given me that caused me to leave Ohio in the first place. "I'm not ready to be away from you either."
                          
With those words, it was like Bryce didn't care who saw us. He moved me from the couch to his lap, kissing me softly. He stood up, and I wrapped my legs around him. I deepened the kiss as he ascended the stairs.
As he kicked open his bedroom door, the reality of who I was with and where I was set in. "I. Need. To. Tell. You. Something," I said, in between kisses. 
He hovered over me on his bed, his frame filling up the space as the mere sight of him left me breathless. 
"I'm a virgin, Bryce," I said, nervous. 
He leaned in and kissed me again. "That's okay. Only what you're ready for. If at any point, you want to stop, give me the word, and we will."
"Promise me something?"
"Of course, beautiful," he replied. 
"Promise me that you're not going to leave me and break my heart."
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
His lips found their way to my neck as he traced my collarbone with a fingertip. My fingers dug into his back, willing him closer to me. 
"I want you, Bryce. Screw that. I need you. Now."
He looked at me for one more confirmation before removing my clothing with nimble fingers. 
                          
As we lay entangled in each other's bodies and his sheets, I whispered softly. "I love you, Bryce."
I was startled when he replied. "I love you too, Kate."