FALLING IN LOVE AT A COFFEE SHOP | D.H [✓]

Forty Two

(Aria's POV)

a few years later

Only a few years ago, I didn't think I'd be accepted into uni and I'd work at the bookstore forever. Now I'm graduating. These past years have been overwhelming with school work but, I've worked my ass off and I'm beyond proud of where I am right now. In only a few moments I'd be walking across that stage to get my degree. Who would have thought?

My parents flew down to watch the ceremony and so did Grace. She had moved to London last year after she got a job as a manager for some company that I couldn't remember the name of. Turns out she was doing online classes in business but never told me because she was scared of the possibility of leaving. I was proud of her and I was glad I'd be able to see her again today.

Dan and Phil wouldn't be able to show up because of a YouTube convention they had to attend but they had both called this morning saying they were proud and how they wish they could have been there. As much as I wanted them there, I understood events clashed and they didn't have a time turner.

As hard as the whole long distance thing was, Dan and I were still going strong. For a while I believed we wouldn't make it since we almost went a month with only short conversations through text. At the time it seemed as if he was always busy when I wasn't and vice versa. We made it through that rough patch thankfully.

I had been writing a lot through the past few years in between assignments and exams, and I think I've finally begun to write something that could quite possibly be put together into something substantial. It had slowly become into something bigger as I thought I was writing smaller entries. Turns out, it began to fit together.

The ceremony would be beginning at any moment and I take a second to look around me at the sea of graduation caps and smiling faces of both students and family members. I can't find my parents or Grace in the crowd but, I know they're there somewhere.

Before I know it, the ceremony is over and I have officially graduated from university. I make my way through the crowd of family's hugging their accomplished son or daughter and spot my family and Grace. I run towards them and crash into their open arms. It felt nice to be here with them again, no words could describe how much I missed them.

They each say how proud they are along with some other words that all blur in my head due to the fact that I was just overwhelmed by happiness. A part of me still knew people were missing but, I was still grateful for who was here now.

As I'm about to mention going out to eat somewhere I feel someone come up from behind me and my eyesight is blocked when two hands cover my eyes. My heart starts to thump wildly and a grin spreads across my face.

"Guess who?" a voice that I haven't heard in quite some time but would never forget says into my ear.

I pry their hands off of my face and quickly turn around to face the man that I've missed terribly standing in front of me for the first time in a year. Just a glimpse of his smile is enough to bring happy tears to my eyes and fill my heart with happiness. Phil stands behind him and waves before making his way over to Grace. I throw my arms around Dan's neck as his wind around my waist, lifting me slightly and spinning.

The moment my feet touch the ground my lips are on his in a passionate embrace. God, I missed this. I missed everything about him and I'm amazed how I managed to survive this long without him.

"I've missed you so much." I whisper once we pull away from each other.

"I've missed you too, more than anything."

"I thought you had a convention to go to?"

He blushes and looks down at his feet, "I may have fibbed about that, I wanted to surprise you."