𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐘

NINETEEN | THE REAL YOU

After leaving what was supposed to be a therapy session, Jade called Jonathon as soon as she left the Admissions building. The instant he picked up, she let out a breath of relief.

His voice had some sort of calming effect on her, and though she was satisfied with the way she had handled herself in the face of Veronica, hearing him on the other line caused her heart to finally return to its normal pace.

"Hello, bookworm," his voice greeted happily, "Aren't you supposed to be meeting with Veronica right now?"

Jade's stomach fluttered at his dorky nickname for her, but she cut right to the chase, "Are you still here?"

"I am not," he said slowly, "Is everything alright?"

"I mean, it's not great," she answered honestly, "Are you home? Can I take a taxi over right now?"

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up. I'm walking out the door as we speak."

"You don't have to pick me up," she said while smiling to herself, "It's really not a problem for me to call a cab."

"I'm already in the car," he announced, "Now are you going to tell me where to pick you up from or are you going to make me run around campus like a mad man?"

"Can you just pick me up outside of The Bean?" Jade requested, referencing their school's own 24-hour coffeehouse.

"Sure thing, I'll be there in a bit. Wait inside, it's cold out."

Jade rolled her eyes, though the way he cared for her wellbeing meant the world to her. It wasn't often that she had someone look out for her in such a capacity.

"You're not the boss of me," she sassed.

"Hey," he warned, "If I get there and you're standing outside, I'm going to spank you into submission again."

"Don't threaten me with a good time," she joked, and she heard Jonathon's hearty laugh on the other line.

"I'll call you when I get there. Wait inside," he repeated before hanging up.

Jade made her way over to The Bean, and when she got inside, she walked up to the front counter to order tea for both her and Jonathon to go. It didn't take long before the barista handed her two cups of the coffeehouse's signature tea, and Jade took a seat by the fireplace. She set the drinks beside her and pulled her current book for British Literature out from her backpack.

She immediately lost herself in the story, taking an occasional sip of her hot beverage until the sound of her phone snapped her back to reality. Jonathon had arrived, so she shoved the book back into her bag before grabbing the teas and finding her way to Jonathon's car. When she opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat, she handed her lovely professor his tea.

"You got me a drink," he observed outloud, and a wide smile took over his face as he grabbed it out of her hands.

"Yes I did. Thank you for picking me up."

Jonathon leaned in and gave Jade a quick kiss. She watched as he took a careful sip, then he lifted the cup towards her as if raising a toast, "Thank you for The Bean, bean."

Jade buckled her seatbelt as he set the drink down in his cupholder, then he started the drive back to his place.

"What's with all the nicknames today?" Jade asked with a soft chuckle.

"Did any of them make you smile?"

"Sure," she answered casually, not wanting to admit how much she actually adored them.

"That's why," he said while turning his head to glance at her, flashing a boyish grin.

Jade felt her cheeks heat up at his gaze, so she playfully smacked his bicep as to not draw attention to her blush, "Eyes on the road, you dingbat."