2 7 1 |Noorhelm|

DAY 8: JUNE 12TH

The next few days flew by faster than ever. Noora and the rest of the girls passed their last exams - even Eva, and Noora and William decided that the last apartment they'd looked at was the one. Finally. They had signed the papers, laid out a budget and were now ready to move into their new home. Eskild and Linn had known for while that Noora was moving out, but it didn't hurt any less to see her carry out the last box of things.

"Was that the last one?" Eskild leaned against the door to the apartment block, looking after her as she placed the box in a almost full trunk. Everything she brought with her was mostly clothes, books and other smaller things. The furniture was staying at Kollektivet for the next roommate, whoever that'd be.

"Yes," just barely tall enough, she closed the trunk, dusting off her hands as she turned back to the two redheads.

Silence fell over them. William was fixing something inside the car, but climbed out as the three roommates were about to say their - temporary - goodbyes.

"Oh, you guys," her arms wrapped around the two others, burying her face in their shoulders. "Thank you taking so good care of me for all those years. I know I haven't always been easy to deal with, but you've done it anyways. You always been so good to me. Thank you," as she said this, she felt herself tear up a bit. Few seconds later, a small tear was rolling down her cheek. "I love you."

"You've always been our sunshine, Noora. Even during the bad times. Being your guru and favorite roommate," Eskild was momentarily interrupted by Linn scoffing, "has been an absolute honor. Please always feel free to come crash with us. You know, whenever Willy becomes totally uncontrollable and insanely annoying."

William walked up to the three, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend's waist.
"Have a bit of faith in me, Eskild."

"I have plenty of faith. But I'm also realistic."

William rolled his eyes at the come back, "Whatever you say, but I'll try to keep her off your couch for as long as possible. Cool?" He finished his sentence by pecking her blushing cheeks.

"Very cool," Noora laughed, stroking his arms.

"Unfair." Eskild crossed his arms in displeasure, looking betrayed as he leaned in closer to whisper something into Linn's ear. "We can't compete with William's pikk. We're never seeing her again, oh my god."

"Eskild!" Noora laughed, hugging both him and Linn again. "I'll be back. Don't worry. I'm just moving 15 minutes away. Not to another country. Try and keep me away from game night on Sundays!"

"Oh yesss," Eskild suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree. "Promise you'll come?"

With eyes like a puppy, Eskild looked at his blonde friend, who could only smiled and nod. "Of course. I can't stay away from you guys for too long anyways. Who knows what kind of mess you'll get into."

With a relieved smile, Eskild shifted his attention to the brunette guy, still holding onto his friend.

"... And Willy, you're welcome too. Of course." His momentary spite seemed to have gone away. "You're a part of Kollektivet too."

William smiled back, calm but genuine, nodding. "I'll make sure she shows up on time."

"Good." There was short silence. "Now get out of here before we start crying!"

"Okay okay," Noora laughed, as they all hugged one last time. "See you around, you two."

With that said, William and Noora headed back to the van that they'd borrowed for the purpose of moving. Otherwise, they would've had to fit all of Noora's stuff into William's luxurious, but also tiny, sports car. No way. After getting in and closing the door behind him, William put his hand on the key, but hesitated to turn it. Noora was getting in her seat, and he couldn't help but stare at her, smiling to himself. Responsible as always, she twisted her petite torso, to fix her seatbelt, allowing her beautiful hair to cascade to the side, down her shoulder. God dammit, he loved her so fucking much. Noticing that the engine didn't turn on, she looked up and caught him smiling at her. They didn't say anything, either of them. She simply reached her hand across the gear shift, grabbing his jaw with it. All smiles.

"Ready?" Her thumb slid across his bottom lip, allowing him to peck it, before he replied with a small nod. Smoothly, she let her hand slide off his face, leaving his lips feeling empty, and leaned her upper body across the gap between the two front seat. Instead of doing what he'd expect, kiss him, she calmly grabbed his seatbelt, dragged it across his torso and clicked it in. A chuckle escaped his lips, as he leaned in and managed to steal a kiss, before she leaned back into her own seat.

"Now I'm ready," the engine started rumbling as he turned the key.

"Yeah well, I have to take care of you. It's my job," she joked, but then again not. They both didn't like to admit it, very often, but both needed care. Even if it came in the form of small things, like clicking the other's seatbelt or offering the other a glass of water, it was always well-received.

He smiled, placing one hand on the steering wheel, the other on her left thigh as the van started moving. "And mine is to take care of you, so stop being so damn beautiful, so I can focus on the road."

She managed to force her eyes away from him, turning her head to look straight ahead, out through the windshield and right into her future. She could see it, right there in the middle of the road and she couldn't wait to reach it. But for now, right in that moment with him, she couldn't help but smile at the fact that she was right where she wanted to be: Done with school and by his side.