Please Remember Me Like This

You and Me Can't Hardly Wait

Please Remember Me Like This

Chapter 6: "You and Me Can't Hardly Wait"

Kind of poetic that the deadline for early admission to Willowdale coincided with the last day of school before winter break. Ian and Aeric sat in Ms. Sparkleshaw's office, asking to come in together during their last study hall. But couldn't it be the end of the day already, so he could take Ian out, and spend the majority of the next three weeks in holiday bliss without a care in the world now that their applications were in?

"Hmm..." She flew while reading, moving from one side of the screen of Aeric's laptop to the other as she took the final steps in looking over their applications. Aeric's first, with Ian right after. They spent the past few months perfecting their essays (with Ian completely rewriting his to be more about the relationship he developed with his dad through magic), and seemed satisfied with their ORC scores, scoring nearly perfectly in the math section, and still rather well in the literature and language sections. They each meticulously crafted how to boast all their accolades: Ian in math and academics, Aeric's with sports, and used those strengths in all the scholarships they'd applied for, too. They had to make it in together. They just had to. If Aeric made it and Ian didn't, he already committed to just following wherever his boyfriend ended up going. Was it kind of dumb and reckless? Sure. But he couldn't see Willowdale without Ian, not when his boyfriend deserved it far more than he did.

"You've really put a lot into these applications," she complimented. "Your GPAs are excellent, and Aeric, it looks like you're going to make it to Salutatorian without a problem. Not to mention you spoke up about how the Willowdale sports recruiter was very vocal about your skills and want to keep an eye on you for the rest of the season. But it's competitive out there—so we can only hope you both get the best outcome. I can't see Willowdale denying either of you, though."

Ian squeezed his hand tighter in anticipation as Aeric used his free one to click the button to send his application out into the void. It was in the hands of the application offices now, and Ian followed suit soon after, this giant weight of the first semester finally lifting. Not that Aeric thought it'd be the easiest sailing for them for the rest of the year, but at least all that stress seemed to carry right off in an instant.

Aeric treated Ian to dinner that night, only because he needed a breather. First semester of senior year done, the season well under way and doing well, and only a matter of time before they got their acceptance letters from Willowdale... and their first Winter Solstice together, his and Ian's favorite holiday!

"I love this time of year," Ian sighed, grinning at all the winter decorations Corey added to the Tavern. "I love snuggling up in blankets and peppermint hot cocoa, warm fires..."

"I want to do all that with you," Aeric replied with a smile, adjusting the collar of his turtleneck. Ian still had yet to find his winter style, so for now it was just warm boots and puffy jackets in a variety of colors. It never snowed in New Mushroomton—it was too warm a climate for that—but Ian bundled up like at any moment, it just might. Aeric, on the other hand, still worked out during this time. "You still doing your meetings?"

"I skipped out today because I kind of needed a break," Ian said with a blush. "But we've been learning so much—here, look!" He pulled out his phone and showed Aeric a group picture, the little band of wizards holding up their staffs proudly, giant smiles on their faces. "Morgana—" He pointed to the stylish elf in the center— "she learned how to take photos from a distance using magic so we could all get in!"