The Boy Who Lives In My Garage > jariana (COMPLETED)

twenty-five

It's a Friday afternoon in late February, and I have a whole new understanding of the phrase "bursting with excitement." The minute hand has never moved around the clock so slowly. My teachers have never been so boring. But finally, finally, the last bell rings. I rush out of the classroom and run out the front door, searching the parking lot. Justin is there, leaning against his car.

I can't help but squeal and run toward him at full speed, not caring who sees or hears me. I don't slow down when I reach him, slamming him against the car with a hug.

"Oof," he says, wrapping his arms around me and squeezing tight. I pull back long enough to kiss him, and it's just as good as the first time I kissed him and every time after that. He brushes my hair back from my face, smiling that cheeky smile I've missed so much. "Hi."

"Hi."

"I missed you."

"Missed you, too."

We stand like that for a while as other students flow out of school and into the parking lot, getting into their cars and driving home for the weekend. I can't stop looking at Justin. Can't stop touching him. Can't stop kissing him. Can't believe he's really here.

"Should we go?"

The only reason I agree to separate is because it's winter and cold, and I can enjoy Justin much more when I'm not shivering to death. "Yeah." I get in the passenger seat. His car is neat and smells like clean boy. Once he's in the driver's seat and pulling out of the parking lot, he takes my hand in his, like he can't get enough of my touch, which is fine with me because I can't get enough of his.

"How was school?"

I groan. "Longest. Day. Ever. How was your drive?"

He rubs his thumb over the back of my hand. The sleeve of a sweater pokes out from his jacket, and I remember that he must have a whole wardrobe of clothes to choose from again, not just a backpack with a few shirts. "Longest. Drive. Ever."

I smile. "How's it going with your parents?"

"We're working things out." I point to the street on our right that leads to my house, and he makes the turn. "It's kind of hard being in that house, though, you know? Everything I see reminds me of Jason. Not just the pictures, but seeing the spot on the couch that was always his. Remembering when he cracked his chin open on the edge of the fireplace while we wrestled." He shakes his head. "It kills me every time I have to walk by his room."

Considering that it used to kill me just to drive past Kayla's street, I can't imagine how much worse it must be to be in the same house as all of those memories. "Sounds rough." I squeeze his hand.

"My parents might have a solution."

"Yeah?"

"They can't really handle being around all those memories, either. They want to move."

"Move?" I echo, dreading the thought of Justin being so far away that he can't drive over for the weekend. "Where?"

"Troy," Justin says, and launches into some explanation about how his dad's company has a branch there where he can relocate.

But all I hear is the name of the city that's only fifteen minutes away from mine.

"Ariana?" he asks.

"Sorry. What?"

"I asked what you think."

A grin spreads across my face, so fast and wide it hurts. "I think it's amazing. But only on one condition."

Justin looks over at me. "What condition?"

"That your family looks for a house with a three-car garage. You never know when we might need it."

A/N:

OMG Y'ALL THIS IS IT :(((

I can't believe it's over omg this journey has been so amazing like wow 22.2K reads and 2.2K votes... I'm so grateful THANK YOU SO MUCH.

y'all have been so supportive and funny and ugh lemme hug you <333333

((I'm sorry there won't be an epilogue, I just don't know what to put in it and don't make it cliche so pls don't kill me ily))

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