Yes, Sweetheart

Chapter 9

Well, fuck.

Three days after Levi helped me review physics for the last time, I sat in class taking the test. It was long, and boring, torturous to say the least, but I finally finished it up just fifteen minutes ago.

Driving away from campus, I stopped at Josh and Levi's house.

I had gotten a text from my mom yesterday, right before bed, after classes were over today, if the three of us wanted to join our parents at the beach house they rented together.

I told her I would love to, and had come to the Pinchola's house for two reasons, one of which being: make sure they're both packed and ready to go.

Bounding up to the front step in my light blue sweater and jeans, my boots clacked against the ground.

I rang the doorbell, and gently rapped on the door.

Fidgeting anxiously, I watched the door open.

It was Josh, but nothing could possibly kill my current mood.

"What in the world do you - "

Pushing past him, I interrupted, "Where's Levi?"

Josh looked dumbfounded. I had never interrupted him like that before.

"Here, Aria."

Levi's voice called to me from the kitchen, and I smiled the whole way into the doorway of the room.

He had a dark green sweatshirt on, matching the duffel bag at his feet. He turned from grabbing snacks, shoved them in the duffel, and faced me, grinning when he saw my smile.

He walked around the duffel, and simply opened his arms, gesticulated expectantly, and asked, "So?"

Lacking the words, for once I followed my instincts. I launched myself at him, squealing.

"I passed! Levi, I passed! I have no idea how I did it, but I did!"

His arms had wrapped around me after a few seconds, surprised by my outburst.

He chuckled, a dark, warm sound, and crushed me tighter to him.

"I'm so happy for you. I knew you could do it."

I pulled back a bit, hands resting on his shoulders. His arms still rested lightly on my waist.

Looking into his eyes, I noted the sincerity. They shone with a fierce pride there, and I smiled, confused.

"You did?"

"Of course I did. I had faith in you, I knew you could. You just needed to have faith in yourself."

He grinned even wider.

"You never really needed my help, you know. I just refined some techniques. You already could've done it all without me."

I shook my head, but he simply smiled, and allowed me to step back.

"I see you got our parents' message. Did Josh?"

He nodded.

"I know it doesn't look like he did, since he literally just rolled out of bed half an hour ago, but yes."

"I left my bag in the car," I stated, "I need to bring it in, I guess."

Levi waved a hand dismissively.

"Nah, just put it in my car. I'm driving." He cut a glance at me. "If that's alright with you? I figured you could sit up front with me so you didn't have to deal with him the whole ride."