Stay Gold {O2L}

10 Days

MELINDA SMITH

"I don't know what I am supposed to do" Candace sighed. It was Amber, Katie, Candace and I, all in our apartment that we only had for 10 more days before they went home.

"This isn't how I wanted the best summer of our lives to end" Amber said and looked at her sister who had tear marks permanently stained on her cheeks from the amount of crying going on the last five days.

"Then it isn't" I said and stood up, "I didn't know either of you before this summer, but now I don't know what I would do without you. I don't know when we will see each other again guys, and I'm not going to end this summer with tissue boxes and tubs of ice cream surrounding me"

"I second that. Guys, who knows what direction our lives will take us in after this summer, but I do know that we are the best of friends who deserve the best ending to the best summer, idiotic boys can be pushed aside" Katie said as she walked over and wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

"Who needs boys anyways? I'm in" Amber said.

"Let's make this the best end to the summer ever to exist. Connor doesn't deserve all of this anyway" Candace choked out a laugh and struggled to stop the tears from falling.

"So here's to the best summer ever?" I said and put my hand out for some crazy cheesy team ritual.

The three of them piled their hands on top of mine, and for the first time in a while I saw Candace genuinely smile.

"Alright let's get Candace cleaned up, she looks like the raccoon my mom found rummaging through the trash last December" Katie said and Candace shoved her in the side, the harmony of our friend group once again restored.

***

"So what do you want to do Candace?" Amber said as the four of us walked out of our apartment, Katie stopping to lock the door.

"All I know is I deeply miss sunlight" She said and we laughed.

"To the bea-" I was trying to get out my sentence when I smacked into a body.

"Well, well if it isn't Samantha" I said as I saw the undeniably adorable face of my school girl crush.

"Hey Mel, what are you guys up to? Glad to see you up Candace, again I am really sorry about Connor" He said and Candace nodded in gratitude.

"We're actually on a girl's day out to the beach, I believe" Katie said.

"Ah too bad, I was hoping I could steal away Melinda to talk" He said and looked at me.

Candace gave me a look that said go ahead before saying "Hey we have to go rent out beach chairs anyways, so we will meet you in the lobby Melinda?" I mouthed thank you and the three of them headed to the elevator.

"So what's up pretty boy?" I said, joking to masked the fact that I was terrified of what he wanted to talk about.

"Way to undermine my masculinity babe" He said, "and I just wanted to ask a quick question" I could visibly see him begin to sweat, signaling that this was something hard for him to say.

"Shoot" I said, trying to act cool although I felt two seconds away from exploding.

"Well, I, um, don't know how to say this, oh God I'm totally embarrassing myself" He said, his cheeks turning a darker shade of pink than usual, "will you, okay I can do this, will you, um, possibly be my girlfriend?" I've never seen Sam so flustered, it was the most adorably sweet thing that my eyes ever saw.

"Of course" I smiled and looked up at him, his smile as wide as a small child who downed a dozen pixie sticks.

"Well alright then, girlfriend" He said and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a quick kiss on the lips before saying, "I will leave you to your girl's day, but you're all mine tomorrow" before disappearing back into his apartment.

Walking towards the elevator I realized that I had never been happier than I was in this very moment.