My Favourite Part

65(d): here's to us

Nothing sobers you up like future talk. It seems like the older I get, the more of those conversations I find myself in. Although, in fairness to Evangeline, I think this one's my fault.

I mentioned in passing that my reason for applying to one of my university choices was just that the grounds were beautiful. Now, we've been looking at photos of the campus in all its greenery and glory online for the past half hour.

"Shit," Evangeline marvels, her pink lips parted. I've had a hard time focusing on anything but them since the kiss. "It's gorgeous."

For once, though, there's a bright side to all this 'future talk'. Evangeline has the cutest kid-in-a-candy-store face I've ever seen.

The longer I watch her watching the screen, the more beautiful the random Ohio school seems to me – Oberlin, I think it's called. But I'm tipsy on Evangeline and Heineken – I'll have to take another look tomorrow.

"What did you apply for?" She asks, still studying the screen.

"English."

"Hm. I can see that for you."

I laugh. "Thanks, I guess. You applying for English anywhere?"

"A few places, yeah. And a couple of English and Anthropology-slash-Language sort of courses too."

"Ah, very cool."

"Nowhere near as cool as going to flipping Oberlin!" She effuses.

She seems so genuinely happy for me, and I kind of wish I was as enthusiastic about my own future as she is. "Ohio! Scott, that's so exciting! Everywhere I applied is in the UK."

"I guess," I half-smile. "How come? You don't fancy leaving the UK?"

Evangeline shrugs. "Honestly, until not long ago, I couldn't even see myself leaving London. I've just always loved what I have here."

Something tells me she's more reflective than she gives herself credit for. Even with everything she's said tonight about wanting to be an adult sooner, I can see it, hear it, that she sees how valuable it is to live in the present; to embrace adolescence in all its ups and downs.

"You can't see yourself being away from your family?" I hazard a guess.

She purses her lips.

"Something like that," she sighs. "But I'm starting to see things differently now."

She doesn't go on, and I won't push, even though I don't totally know what she means. But I get the sense it's a good thing, so that's what I say.

"Thanks. Hey, did you apply for English at all your choices?" She asks. I happily oblige her redirection of the conversation.

"Oh, no," I exhale frankly. "I wish it were that straightforward. I applied for, uh, English, Econ, Physics, and then a joint Film Studies and Econ programme. Spoilt for choice, heh."

"But you don't know which one to choose?"

She blinks like it's a plain truth, and I feel exposed, like she's seen right through my skull.

"Christ, is it that obvious?" I laugh.

"No, no! You just... you do that thing you just did with your lip when you're not sure about something. Like, in class and stuff."

She breaks our eye contact when she looks at her lap to hide her hot blush, but I keep looking because Evangeline's blush has quickly become my favourite sight, second to her adorable smile, and there's something just so fucking endearing about the fact that she noticed that.