t h e o *
I'm going to surprise my best friend, Lucas. We're both in our first year of college, but I chose to go out of state. As this first semester comes to a close, I've realized that I don't like being so far away from home, and my family. I got accepted at one of my top choices of colleges, which is where Lucas goes, as well. I'm moving home this weekend and starting school on Monday. Of course, I'm not waiting until Monday to surprise him.
My phone rings.
"Hello?" I say.
"Hey," It's Lucas. His voice comes through the speaker of my phone like a breath of home.
"What's up?"
"When are you coming home next?"
"A few weeks, probably, for spring break, why?"
"We need to talk about something."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just...I've been thinking about this for a while, and I'm ready to get it off of my chest."
"Well if you wanna talk about it now--?"
"No, I want to tell you in person."
We talk for a little while longer and then hang up; I continue to start packing again.
✾
I've been messaging Lucas's sister, Bailee, about where his dorm is. His family, and obviously mine, know about my moving home and transferring colleges.
On Friday morning, my mom, sister, Georgia, and older brother, Nate, drive down to help me move some of my stuff. Nate rides back up with me so he's A) not stuck with a bunch of girls and B) squished in the backseat. We (somehow) manage to get everything in just two cars, but I did live in a dorm so I couldn't really have that much stuff, I guess.
✾
As of right now, I've moved back home just until I can get an apartment and talk Lucas into moving in with me. After we've unpacked the cars, I take off again towards Lucas. As I get closer and closer to the school, my heart starts to pound more and more. Since Bailee also goes here, she's meeting me out front to take me to where Lucas's dorm is.
"Hey!" She says, hugging me as I approach her. I lock my car and then I hug her back.
"Hey!" I reply.
"I can literally feel your heart pounding. Why are you so nervous?"
"You know I like him, right?" I ask her.
She nods. "Well, I always had a feeling, anyway, but yeah?"
"Well, I think I want to kiss him... he said he has to tell me something the next time we see each other, so if that goes well, I might kiss him,"
"Aww!!"
Bailee pulls her phone out and starts recording. I walk down the hallway beside her.
She pans her camera to show me. "I've got him, we're going to go surprise my brother, Lucas!" she says to the camera. Bailee also has a youtube channel.
"Guys, we're getting closer to his dorm, and I can tell you're so nervous Theo," She says.
"I'm really nervous," I admit.
We stop in front of a door.
"Is this it?" I ask.
"Yep," Bailee says. "You wanna knock, or do you want me to?"
"If you do, I can hide behind the corner," I say.
She nods. "Alright,"
She steps up to the door and knocks as I hide around the corner. Footsteps approach on the other side of the door and I hear the door creak open.
"Yeah?" I hear Lucas say and my heart jumps.
"I have a surprise for you," Bailee says.
"You do?"
Bailee nods. "Yeah, it's right around the corner. Do you wanna go get it? Or I can bring it to you,"
"Is it heavy?"
"I mean— a little bit." I flatten myself against the wall.
"I'll get it,"
I hear Lucas step out of his dorm and come around the corner.
"It's right there," Bailee says, pointing at me before Lucas fully comes around the corner.
"Okay," Lucas says. "But why did you even get me anything? It's not a special occasion,"
"Well, I know you've been having a hard time lately, and I thought maybe this would cheer you up,"
Lucas clears his throat and steps around the corner, nearly stepping into me and looks up into my face.
"Th-Theo?" He asks softly.
"H-hi," I say nervously.
Lucas comes towards me, wrapping me in his arms and burying his head in my shoulder.
"I c-c-c-can't believe you're h-h-h-h-h-here," he stutters.
"Did I make you cry?" I ask him, squeezing tighter.
He sniffles. "Yeah,"
I pull out of the hug, looking into his face and using my thumbs to wipe his tears away.
"Come here, I need to tell you something," I say, grabbing his wrist and pulling him into his dorm. He shuts the door in Bailee's face.
"I'm moving back home," I tell him. "And I'm transferring here,"
He looks at me. "Really?!" He asks excitedly.
I nod. "Yeah... does that make you happy?"
"I— It makes me—" he starts, but can't find the words to say it. I sit down on his bed and grab his hands, pulling him down on top of me, putting a hand on his neck and guiding his face closer to mine.
"I hope this makes you happy," I whisper, rubbing my nose against his. He makes the move and presses his lips against mine. I tug him closer, putting a hand on his lower back, touching his skin where his shirt has come up. He gasps when I nip at his bottom lip and causes me to smile.
When he pulls back, he looks at me.
"That's what I wanted to tell you the next time I saw you," he begins. "I wanted to tell you that I like you,"
I smile at him. "You don't have to, now," I say.
He laughs. "I know,"
He kisses me again before saying, "Hey I wanna take you to meet some of my friends, and then we can go to dinner, okay?"
I nod. "Sounds good,"
✾
Lucas drags me down the hallway.
"They're probably in here," he says as he walks into a classroom. And there is a group of people sitting there.
"Hey Lucas," a girl says. "Ooh, who's this cutie?" She asks when she sees me.
"Hands off, Rosie, he's mine," Lucas says.
"Is this him?" a couple of them ask.
"This is him!!" Lucas says smiling. "Guys, this is Theo. Theo, this is Veronica, Caroline, Rose, Hunter, Izzy, and Nathan,"
They all wave when their names are said.
"I just wanted to bring him by to meet y'all," Lucas says.
"Did you tell him?" The girl named Veronica asks.
"Not exactly, no— it kinda just worked out," he admits.
✾
For dinner, he takes me to a popular diner by campus.
"So, if I bought or rented an apartment, would you want to move in with me?" I ask him, looking up at him.
"Yes!" Lucas says. "I don't have a roommate, he never showed up, so it's been a little lonely."
"Yeah, I didn't have a roommate either, but mine just got kicked out, within the first day, so,"
"The first day??"
"Yeah...it was not a good situation,"
"I've missed you," he says, grabbing my hand.
"I've missed you too," I tell him.
"Do you wanna stay with me tonight? In my dorm?"
"Yeah, that'd be fun."
✾
That night, I'm cuddled up with Lucas under his blankets, our bodies pressed together as we watch Disney+ on his laptop. The fairy lights strung above his bed were on, but we turned them off a little bit ago. He looks at me and smiles.
"I'm so glad you're here," he whispers.
"Me too," I tell him, kissing him softly.
I feel him smile against my lips.
"Goodnight, Theo," Lucas whispers before we fall asleep.
"Goodnight, babe," I whisper, kissing him.
Original: 3/30/2020
Re-edit- 6/9/2020
