Our Song- Rutger McGroarty

chapter 24

Annalei's Pov

The drive to Panera was quiet, but not awkward sort of comforting in a way, only being able to hear the brief sound of my Taylor Swift playlist that was connected to the radio. I decided to break that comforting silence by starting a conversation, "Are you happy that you start hockey in a few days?" I asked Rut. "I definitely am. I have a great feeling about our team this year" Rutger says with a smile on his face. God his smile is gorgeous, any time he talks about hockey or anything he loves he gets this huge smile on his face, it's perfect. Scratch that he's perfect. "Thats good!" I say in response to his previous statement. "Volleyball is gonna be starting pretty soon right?" Rut asks looking over at me for a split second. "Yeah! I am stoked, I think we are gonna be a pretty good team this year!" I say. "We start  practice on the first day of this semester, but we have been doing a ton of gym work and lifting to prepare" Rut adds. "Same here, tomorrow we have the combined one!" I say as I look over at Rut, he look looks back with a smile. "Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that." Rut says and that ends that conversation.

About 5 minutes after that we get to Panera. When we get there I order the Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a Bread Bowl (if you have never had or dont like this consider yourself an opp) and Rut ordered the Bacon Mac & Cheese. We got our food and sat down at a table outside. "This might sound weird but where do you see your self in like 20 years?" I ask as I look up from my food to look at Rut. "Well, I want to be happily married, living in a nice big house with enough room for maybe 2 or 3 kids to run around and play in the big backyard, I also want to be retired from the NHL or at least close to being retired." Rut says as he looks at me with a huge smile on his face. "Wow you really know what you want" I say with a giggle. "What about you? Where do you see yourself in 20 years from now Lei Lei?" Rut turns the question on me. "Erm I genuinely don't have like an exact plan but I do want my sport journalist or media plan to work out, a nice house, I definitely want to be married, and I want at least 2 kids, oh and for sure a dog." I say as I smile starting to think of the future. "You definitely have an idea of what you want and it sounds amazing! You definitely will get a job in media or journalism I have seen your work and the amount of effort you put into it you got this" Rut says to me as we grab our stuff off the table and get up to throw our trash away.

We get back to the car and on the way back to our dorms we listen to Ruts playlist which was mainly country, and a few Taylor Swift songs thanks to me. A little more than halfway through the drive Rut puts his right hand on my left knee and looks at me with a smile then looks back at the road. I feel a blush rising on my cheeks so I turn my head to look out the window. I start to hear the beat to 'Our Song' by Taylor Swift. I look over towards Rut and I am met with him looking at the road with a slight smirk on his face, he knows I love this song. When the first line starts I am already singing along word for word. Rut tunes in and we sing together until we pull into the parking lot on campus. The song is still playing in the background as Rut and I are staring at each other. Rut is the first to speak, "Annalei, can I kiss you?". I nod my head and feel his lips meet mine, I smile into the kiss. Finally I say in my head. The song ends and we both pull away, grinning like little kids. "I really like you Lei, you don't have to say anything I just wanted to tell you" he says. "Rut I really like you too" I say as our eyes meet again. "I'm glad" Rut says as we get out of the car.

Rut and I are walking back to my dorm hand in hand. We are just talking about our combined gym time tomorrow. We get back to my dorm and I unlock my door and then we both step inside. I walk to my room with Rut trailing not far behind. When we get to my room I sit at my vanity while Rut sprawls out on my bed. I grab my makeup remover and take off my makeup I then walk to my bathroom to wash my face and change into pajamas. I walk back into my room to see Rut laying in my bed watching TikTok so I get into my bed and lay next to him. He drapes his arm over my waist as I cuddle into his side drifting off to sleep. "Goodnight Lei" Rut says. "Goodnight Rut" I reply very sleepily.

LONGEST CHAPTER YET TO MAKE UP FOR MY INACTIVENESS! it finally happened yall im so happy! i am feeling much more motivated! i love you all