clumsy | l.h.

epilogue

one year later...

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-Violet-

An entire year of San Diego sun, and I still wasn't quite used to just how hot it could get outside. Every time I thought I had seen the highest temperature possible, it just got hotter. It didn't help that the air conditioning in our apartment was spotty at best, and Luke was constantly having to call the landlord to ask him to fix it.

Regardless, anything would feel better after the walk from the office to the apartment. I was keeping a steady pace to get home faster, when a newsstand caught my attention. I picked up the recent issue of San Diego Magazine, smiling to myself. Even though this wasn't the first time one of my photos had made the cover, it still felt amazing every time.

I quickly took a picture on my phone, sending it to Sydney with some excited emojis. I wasn't surprised when she answered right away, congratulating me. She also decided to take the opportunity to complain again about the lack of cleanliness in her apartment, which just made me laugh under my breath.

After barely a month of living at home with her dad, Sydney got tired of it. She was already spending so much time at the boys' apartment to get some space that after Luke left, it just made the most sense for her to move in there. Despite the issues she had with their living style every once in a while, things seemed to be going well from what her and the boys told Luke and I.

I did, however, feel bad for Calum. Michael and Sydney were constantly going through phases of being an item, and then seeing other people, and then ending up in each other's beds again. I'm sure it was hard for him to keep up with their relationship, because I knew it was hard enough for me. I was rooting for them, though. Despite how ridiculous they both were, they seemed to make a good pair.

I tried to get back on track, continuing walking down the sidewalk as my phone vibrated again, this time with a message from Ashton in our group chat with Sydney. It was just a picture of him and the girl he had started seeing after he moved. He seemed much happier now than he had when he left Boston. Even though he hadn't quite landed on his feet yet career-wise, he was finally trying to do what he had always wanted. And that was what really mattered.

I finally made my way to the apartment building, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button for my floor. I quickly took out my phone to put a meeting in my calendar, one that was supposed to happen after work today. My boss had to reschedule, so I was able to get out earlier than I thought I would. I was completely ready to just lounge on the couch with a glass of wine until Luke got home.

When I got to our door, I was surprised to find it unlocked, and pushed it open hesitantly. Instead of an intruder, I saw Luke struggling to arrange a bouquet of flowers in a vase on our small dining table. He was wearing a nice dress shirt with his skinny jeans, which caught me off guard. When he heard the door open, he looked up at me and his eyes widened, "Shit, what are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting!"

I scanned the fully-set table, eyebrows furrowed, "It got rescheduled. What about you? You told me you were going to be at the vet's office late tonight."

After Luke had left Boston in such a hurry, he had contacted the vet from Boston and explained everything, apologizing for sacrificing the opportunity. The vet was completely understanding, and actually supportive, and helped Luke get in touch with one of his contacts in San Diego from med school. He had started registering for some classes a few months after he moved here, and was already back on track to where he had been when he left Boston. For now, he was actually working at the desk at the vet's office, and shadowing him whenever he had a chance.