When We Were Young

"My God, this reminds me..."

Present Day: December 27th, 2015

"Chris?" My voice cracked as I opened my eyes to the overwhelming sunlight that lit up the room.

"I was trying not to wake you." He sounded defeated, sitting at my feet.

"No worries, I suppose I should be getting up now, anyways."

"Not necessarily." He shrugged, tucking a loose blonde curl behind his ear.

"What are the plans for today, my love?" I asked, pushing myself up to seated position, grabbing the Starbucks drink he bought me and taking a sip.

"I'm going to work on the bike." He divulged and immediately I became sad.

"Oh."

"You can come, I mean I know its not really your thing but you can come and keep me company." He shrugged, making adorable efforts.

"No, you go do your thing." I assured, pulling my covers off and standing before him, kissing him and holding him for a long moment.

"Grey."

I hummed while his lips were pressed against my neck. "Chris." I whispered.

"I have something to tell you." He started, letting me adjust to the tone.

"Yes." I pulled my face to be level with his.

"Ya know when I studied abroad, right before I attend Yale."

"I am aware that that was a real thing, yes." I nodded, smiling as he looked at me. Something I couldn't stop myself from doing, it was a reflex: to smile in his presence.

"Well, Cambridge invited me back to co- teach the linguistics class next semester."

Wait- what the fuck just happened?

"Baby!" I acted on my immediate, appropriate reaction: to lunge forward and embrace him affectionately. "Congratulations."

"Thanks, Grey-"

"But like- Cambridge? Like the school in England?" I tried to clear the air, although the message was 100% crystal clear.

"Yeah, but-"

"I mean this is an amazing opportunity." I encouraged, trying not to show the fact that I'm internally freaking out.

"Babe." He put his hand over my mouth, stopping me. "Next semester starts like, in 3 weeks."

"Even better." I mumbled beneath his hand before wrapping myself around him again, my heart breaking. I snuggled my face into the crook of his neck in hopes to cope with this situation.

"Grey, they're offering an apartment near campus, all expenses paid, and a ticket for you as well." He finally finished without me nervously interrupting.

"Chris-" My heart sank to my stomach, knowing this was about to spark something.

"I know its short notice, but we've both been so nonstop, and I have all the information! Come on, Grey, its like a second honeymoon." He ran his hands up and down the sides of my arms rhythmically.

"Babe, I really don't know..." I trailed, removing myself from his lap and going into the bathroom.

"I have the ticket printed out-" He coaxed, as I began to run cold water over my face.

"Cayci would probably consider my death." I pointed out, shoving my toothbrush in my mouth as I pondered what he had just said-

No...

"You already accepted?!" I barked, ripping my toothbrush out of my mouth as I stood in the bathroom doorway, looking absolutely rabid.

"You said it yourself, its an amazing opportunity."