"Are your nervous?" Noelle asked Mallory who paced around the living room. "Can you tell?" Mallory asked.
Noelle nodded, "I could tell he was nervous too, when was the last time you spoke to him?" Noelle asked.
"The day he moved back to Seattle" Mallory said. "Sounds like you guys have to catch up" Noelle smiled.
A few minutes later they heard a knock on the door and Mallory went to get it. She opened the door and outside was standing Noah and a friend. She let them and they began helping them.
Once they were done Noah's friend excused himself when he got a phone call. "How much do I owe you?" Mallory asked Noah who smiled. "Nothing" he said.
Noelle walked by and looked at Mallory encouraging her to talk to him when they stayed in silence.
"It was nice seeing you, I should go" Noah said. "Are you busy?" Mallory asked.
Noah shook his head no. "Do you think we can go for a walk, there's a park two streets away" Mallory smiled. "Sure" Noah nodded.
"Do you want to come with us?" Mallory asked Noelle. "No I'm good you two go ahead I have to fold my clothes" Noelle smiled.
"Call me if you need me" Mallory said to Noelle before grabbing her coat and leaving.
"It's cold" Noah said as soon as they stepped out of the building. "How are you?" He added.
"I'm doing fine, it's really great to see you. I mean it's the last place where I ever thought I would come across you" Mallo said as she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her coat.
"I'm glad we across each other" Noah smiled. "So are you here on vacation?" Mallory asked.
"No, I'm actually here because I'll attending Oxford" Noah smiled. Mallory turned to look at him, "Really? That's amazing, I'm actually going to be attending Oxford too" Mallory smiled.
"That's crazy, I hope to see you around campus or we can even get together to study or just hang out" Noah blushed. "I'd like that, so what made you want to attend? I thought you said you had no idea of what you wanted to do?" Mallory asked.
"Elijah, he wanted to attend here and I wanted to see why he wanted to come here so badly. I still don't know what I'll be majoring in but I'm here and time will tell"
"I miss him, he's actually the reason I'm here too" Mallory nodded. Noah smiled and chuckled before turning to look at her, "he wanted me to marry you" Noah smiled.
"I supposed that we didn't bump into each other just because of a coincidence, maybe it was Elijah" Mallory said. "What about Ezekiel? Where is he attending?" Noah asked.
"I have no idea nor am I interested, we didn't speak anymore" Mallory shrugged. "Are you still trying to get over him?" Noah asked.
"I got over him" she lied. "You don't have to lie to me" Noah shook his head.
"I'm not." Mallory answered. "What makes you think I'm lying?" She added.
"It just seems to me that you aren't so thrilled to be here, it seems like you're only here to be far away from him"
"What makes it seem like that?" Mallory raised her brow. "You don't seem as happy as your cousin" Noah shrugged.
"I don't know what I'm doing with my life at this point" Mallory said. "That's good, it's not always about having everything planned out. It would lose the point in tomorrow" Noah said.
"I'm really glad you're here but this isn't the place for you and you know that" Noah looked at Mallory. "What if it is? What if Elijah did bring us together so that you and I can end up together or simply be friends" Mallory responded.
"As much as I'd love being with you, I know it's not what is meant to happen. I think you should definitely stay here a few days and see if it works out for you but it's more than obvious that it won't. You should be where you want to be, I believe that's in Chicago?"
"I really wish you and I had worked, I mean it" Mallory said. Noah smiled and pulled her in for a hug.
~
The following weeks Mallory attended her classes in which she had one class with Noelle. They were enjoying being roommates and going out every night for drinks and in the mornings for coffee and croissants.
They hung out with new friends and with Noah. Mallory liked that things weren't awkward between Noah and her. However whenever they were having a good time she couldn't help but watch as Noah smiled. She sometimes wanted to kiss him but knew that it would only end up bad.
Mallory walked towards the library to study for an exam. She considered going to her apartment but only had an hour free before she had to attend her following class.
"Mallory"
She recognized the voice and stopped walking. She waited a few seconds before turning. "I thought it was you"
Mallory looked at Scott but didn't say a word. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "I attend here" Mallory answered.
"I had no idea" Scott said. "Well know you do" Mallory said before turning away but Scott stopped her. "Can we talk?" He asked.
"I have to study" Mallory pulled her arm away. "Mal I'm sorry, for everything." Scott said. Mallory turned to look at him. "I mean it. I'm sorry for not stopping Dimitri from hurting Zeke, for helping them cover up his supposed murder, and for everything else"
"You didn't do anything wrong" Mallory shrugged and walked away.
~
Noelle stepped into the apartment and laid on the couch. "It's only the second week and I have two upcoming exams by the end of this week" Noelle said.
"Does that mean you'll be free next weekend?" Mallory asked. "as long as my psychology professor doesn't give us another pop quiz on Stress I think I'll be free" Noelle nodded.
"A pop quiz on stress? Doesn't a pop quiz cause you stress?" Mallory frowned. "Exactly!" Noelle said.
"I'm flying home for the weekend, the annual ball is happening and my parents want me to be there" Mallory said. "It's still happening?" Noelle asked.
"Yeah, grandmother is in charge now so I hope things will be different. No more stealing money from people who actually need it" Mallory shrugged. "Grandmother actually asked me to bring you with"
"My father will probably be there" Noelle shook her head no. "I think grandmother didn't invite him with everything that's going on, please come with me I don't want to be alone" Mallory looked at Noelle. "I don't know" Noelle shrugged.
"Please. We'll have fun, besides you cant say no to grandma" Mallory said. "Fine, I'll see if my schedule isn't so busy" Noelle smiled.
"Chicago here we come!" Mallory hugged Noelle.
