It's Always Been You

A Remote Campus

Wes and I sat in my dorm room with boxes of pizza and bread sticks spread out in front of us. We had made a little bed/fort on the ground in the middle of the room as we watched stupid youtube videos on the projector screen in front of us while we ate.

There was nobody else on campus so we were left with each other's company which I personally had no problem with.

Expect for the fact that I was falling for him hard and had no idea how to stop it.

Ha.

"So," Wes brushed the crumbs off his hands, leaning back and turning to look at me. "What are your plans for the rest of the break? We still have days before the chaos of classes start."

I shrugged as I sipped on my cola. "I don't know, I just want to catch up with all my reading. I much rather be ahead of the class. It'll give me less to stress about."

Wes rolled his eyes, making a distraught face. "Loosen up, sweetheart. You work crazy hard. Just relax while you can."

I laughed softly as I stood and started gathering the mess of boxes to clean up the room. "I can't relax when these courses are kicking my ass. Even if I'm ahead, I'll still be stressing out."

Wes groaned softly. "How about we don't talk about school and courses for now. I don't want to think about my classes until I'm forced to."

"That's a privilege not all of us have the facilities for," I shot him a cheeky look as I stepped out of the room to chuck out the boxes in the garbage room that was a few doors down.

When I returned, Wes was sprawled out on the ground on our makeshift little bed fort. He stared at the ceiling with his hands folded on top of his chest.

"What are you thinking about?" I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest as I looked down at him. He looked adorable and I hated it.

He grinned softly, glancing at me for a moment before looking back at the ceiling. "High school feels like a faint memory that didn't even happen and it wasn't even that long ago. Imagine how quickly all of this will go by and be over one day."

I paused for a moment, sucking in my bottom lip in thought. I walked over to Wes, lying down on the ground beside him with our shoulders touching. "It's not days we remember, it's moments."

Wes nodded his head thoughtfully. "What's a specific moment you remember?"

I thought for a second. A small smile spread across my face as I spoke, "I remember... sitting in your dorm room, reading a book. I was reading 'The Alchemist' when you ran into the room like your tail was on fire, not to mention without a shirt on. You were so frantic that you thought you were in the wrong room."

Wes turned his head to look at me, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's a moment for you?"

I laughed, turning my head to look at him myself. "Are you kidding? Of course it is. That was the great moment I met Wes Hamilton. I have to think, it will forever be one of the most bizarre introductions I've ever had."

He grinned at me, his nose scrunching lightly. "I do make a great entrance, what can I say?"

I breathed out a small laugh, turning to look at the ceiling again. "I suppose you do."

Wes exhaled deeply, looking away from me. "I had met up with a girl a friend set me up with. She was okay at first, the conversation was the same old boring bullshit that I can't be bothered to remember. I don't even remember what drove me away from her but as soon as I ran into my room, I saw this girl sitting on my roommates bed."

Wes's lip tugged up in a grin, his eyes lit up like the memory was playing out in them.

"She was reading a book. I had no idea what book but the cover was orange. I was confused but then I thought I had set up another date that I completely forgot about. When I realized she wasn't a girl I had invited over, I remember thinking she was absolutely crazy for wanting to stay in her three year long, very committed relationship."

I let out a series of chuckles, swatting his shoulder gently. "Come on, I wasn't crazy."

Wes grinned, shrugging nonchalantly. "Either way, I wanted to believe this girl when she made it seem like commitment could make you happy. Or... maybe I was just using that as an excuse to hang out with her. Thus, the match making begun."

Wes turned his head over to look at me. His eyes fluttered with warmth and serenity as he peered at me thoughtfully.

My face heated up, the blush creeping up my neck. "I guess my match making attempts were a failure." I croaked out the words, feeling like I couldn't speak because of how close our faces with along with the fluttering feeling in my stomach that was driving me crazy.

Wes shrugged cheekily. "Maybe I had my sights set so there was no chance in hell I would put in a decent consideration to any girl you set me up with."

My eyebrows pulled together, not understanding what he meant. "Sights set? I'm pretty sure I gathered that you were quite picky."

Wes shook his head softly. "I'm not talking about my standards. Or what I thought I was looking for in the 'perfect' girl."

I had a perplexed expression on my face as I looked at him. My heart was fluttering in my chest although I didn't understand why. "What do you mean then?"

Wes only smiled faintly before he sat up. "It's getting really late. I should head back to my room."

I quickly sat up, reaching out to grab his wrist before he could get up. "Why don't you stay?"

Wes raised his eyebrows, surprised by my question. "You want me to stay?"

I shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed for how eager I sounded. Jesus, I am pathetic and clearly more enamoured than I realized. "We can have a... sleep over, slumber party thing. I mean, the pizza party part has already happened."

Wes quirked an eyebrow at me smugly, a twinkle of amusement setting in his eyes. "Sleepover, huh?"

I shrugged again, avoiding his gaze as I let go of his wrist. I looked down at my fingers as I fiddled with them. "I just mean, we are alone on this large and kind of scarily remote campus. What's the point of you going all the way out to the other end of the building to your dorm?"

Wes tilted his head as he looked at me like he was analyzing me. I felt myself shrink under his gaze, wishing I could take back my stupid suggestion.

"Or not," I quickly shook my head, laughing as I tried to brush off the idea. "I mean we're stuck together all day as is. I can just see you tomorrow or whenever."

An amused grin played on his lips as he turned to fully face me, taking my hands in his. "I am honoured that you enjoy my company, Fia. There's nobody else I would want to be stuck with on this large and scarily remote campus. Just promise me you won't make me do manicures and makeovers during this sleepover?"

I tried to bite back a smile, my whole body warming up from the perfection that was Wes Hamilton. I nodded my head. "Promise."

He wrapped his pinky around mine to seal the promise.

"Come on," Wes scooted back, stretching out one arm to me, while he grabbed the laptop with his other hand. "Let's find a movie to fall asleep to."

I moved back and leaned into Wes's side as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

However this time, I didn't bother trying to fight the smile that had etched it's way onto my face.