Goin' Viral (Kleinsen)

Chapter 25

Jared and I had been engaged for three months. I transferred to his college so it would be easier on both of us. We shared a small apartment in the city. It wasn't much, but it was perfect because Jared was there. We walked together to get coffee in the morning, tea for me(Jared says coffee makes me hyper and gives me more anxiety - which to be fair, is true. so he begs me not to get it. it took convincing, but i gave in eventually.)

Hand in hand we walk down the sidewalk to our classes. Everything just feels so easy now. I still think back to the year we lost in sadness. What I wouldn't give to take back the mistake I made. But, now we are stronger than we were before. We are in a much healthier place and everything is good. I don't have nightmares or episodes nearly as often. In fact I haven't had one in a few weeks. Jared is healthy in every aspect of himself. My mom comes down for visits every once in a while(Our college is close to home). 

I waited for Jared outside of my classroom, but he never came. I texted him, and got an immediate response. 

my favorite tree <3

i'm at home already, had to leave early. get home safe, 'kay?

acorn <3

okay...

i didn't know why he would have had to go home. he hadn't mentioned anything throughout the day. i quickly walked home, curious and a bit worried about Jared. I knocked on the door and then slowly opened it. "Jare?" I asked, entering our home. I put my bag down next to the door.

"Evy!" He ran up to me, picked me up and spun me around. I giggled and hugged him. "I missed you, Ev!" 

"Jare, honey, we saw each other an hour ago," I said, chuckling as he put me down once more. 

"That doesn't mean I can't miss you. Does that mean you didn't miss me?" He said with sad puppy dog eyes. 

"Of course I missed you Jare-bear," I smiled and kissed him gently. "Why did you have to come home early?" He smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. 

"I have a surprise for you!" He smiled and jumped a little in place, excited. 

"Oh god," Jared's "surprises" were almost always trouble. One time I came home to a turkey in our living room. A live turkey. There was poop everywhere. It was terrible. 

"You'll like it, Evy. I promise," 

"That's what you said about the-" 

"HUSH AND LET ME SHOW YOU" 

"okay, jeez..." 

He smiled and ran over to our bedroom door. "Oh god, Jared why is it in the bedroom? What did you do?" 

"Oh calm down, it's nothing like that. That's for later," He whispered the last part. I felt my cheeks turn red. 

"JARED-" 

"SURPRISE!" He opened the door and the cutest, tiniest little puppy came running out. 

"OHMYGODIT'SADORABLEWHEREDIDYOUFINDITOHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD" I dropped to my knees and instantly picked the little thing up. It had big, brown eyes, long flappy ears, and he was brown, black and white. It was easy to tell it was a baby basset hound. 

"Isn't he cute?" Jared said sitting on his knees next to us. 

"HES ADORABLE JARE!" I smiled and leaned over to kiss Jared excitedly. He blushed and looked down at his hands. 

"What should we name him?" He asked smiling at me as I tangled with the excited, squirming puppy who probably didn't like me holding him up. 

"hmmmm, i dont know. What about Jared?" I smiled goofily at him. 

"Don't you think that would be confusing?" 

"You're right. If I said 'Jared peed on the floor again, nobody would know which one of you I was referring to." Jared slapped my arm playfully and I giggled. 

"You're a dick," He laughed at me 

"Okay, okay, fine. What about Jeremy?" 

"Jeremy... yeah I like that. Jeremy it is." 

I smiled lovingly and Jared and we both sat down completely,  removing our knees from underneath ourselves. I got closer to him and laid my head on his shoulder with Jared in our laps. We sat there and played with him for a long time. Just Jared, Jeremy and I.