New Girl

Epilogue: My Favorite Freeloader

Y/N's POV:

The birds are chirping and the sun is shining on my face. It's a beautiful day on its own already, but the people I'm spending it with make it even more beautiful. 

Sophia's laying out the blanket for our picnic on the hill where Sophia confessed that she wanted more than friendship. That was several months ago, and I never would have guessed how happy I'd be now. In fact, I think I would have slapped everyone that told me that it was going to be okay. That's how frustrated, sad and lonely I felt during my first months here. I'm so glad I've overcome it.

Sophia and I have both been healing. I can see it in her smile. It's brighter than it was when I first met her, even brighter than it was when we first started dating. As her lips part into one of her dazzling smiles now, I don't even need to think; my lips immediately curl up to mirror her smile. It's probably just as bright as hers now too.

"Are you coming?", she shouts and crouches down to smooth out the edges of the blanket. 

I nod and throw one last glance at the city beneath us before joining her on the blanket and naturally wrapping my arms around her to pull her on my lap.

"And what about you? I'm hungry!", she shouts in Laura's direction, who's still at her boyfriend's car doing who-knows-what. I can't see either of them and maybe that's for the better. You never know with those two.

"You're hungry most of the time", I mumble but with an affectionate smile on my face.

"At least I brought my own food today", Sophia replies.

"You mean the food we prepared together? In that case, yes, you freeloader." Sophia turns around as much as my embrace allows her to protest the obvious fact but I pull her closer and add a little quieter: "My favorite freeloader."

"What a great title. I feel so honored", Sophia scoffs but her voice has no bite.

"I knew you would!"

A few seconds pass before Sophia speaks again, her voice is softer this time. "You know, you're my favorite too."

"I'm not a freeloader!", I protest even though I know exactly what she means.

"But I am - apparently - and I'd still let you steal my food." As silly as that sounds - it's practically an I love you when Sophia says it; she never lets anyone take her food, especially not when she "worked hard" to get it from someone else.

"I love you too", I mumble. Accidentally. The sudden confession, let alone the "too" probably, doesn't make a lot of sense without knowing my thought process. But as Sophia suddenly twists around to face me, there's no confusion at all on her face.

"Y/N ..." Her words are broken up by a huge smile. "And I love you."

By now, my heart is beating so fast that I'm scared it might leap out of my chest. This is really happening!

"Oh my god, I can't believe you got to say it first!", Sophia exclaims. "But I definitely thought it first!"

"Are you sure about that?"

She nods in response. And she really seems sure.

"Okay, let's check! When did you first think it?"

"Shortly before I asked you to be my partner", Sophia replies confidently.

I slightly lift my hands in mock surrender. "Looks like you were one step ahead of me once again. At least I said it first."

Sophia shrugs. "That's okay. I'm gonna say it the longest."

I raise my eyebrows. "That's quite a commitment."

"So what? I'm confident I can stick to it."

Oh, she definitely will. Sophia doesn't do things by halves. And this time, I'm very, very glad to be on the receiving end of it.

"I'll watch closely", I promise. "You're not getting out of this!"

"I wouldn't even think of that", Sophia assures. 

I almost wish it would've been just the two of us today because Laura and her boyfriend decide way too soon to finally join us with the food. Even Sophia doesn't seem so desperate for food anymore. But that's fine, we've got plenty of time to spend with each other, just each other. Especially now, that school is over. I really can't wait to see what this summer has in store for us. Actually, I can't wait to see what my future has to offer. Because it's looking really bright right now.