Love Letters, Unwritten

01

Lara Jean could feel her feet buzzing. She'd never been this excited before, she thought while she shuffled around her room, last-minute packing.

"Lara Jean, you don't need to pack your entire closet" Margot commented, sitting on her bed and flipping through a magazine. "You're only going to be gone a week" she said, looking up at her.

"I know you're going to miss me Margot," Lara Jean grinned, "but I've never been so far from Virginia before! I have to pack my best outfits. You never know, what if there's a super important tech person there that wants to hire me"

"You mean a cute boy you want to talk to? We both know you hate science" Margot laughed, flipping another page.

"People change, and hate is a strong word" Lara Jean nodded snarkily, picking up one of her favorite skirts and stuffing it in her suitcase. She had no idea how she was going to fit everything.

Margot sighed, setting aside the magazine and rolling over on the bed, "I am going to miss you, and I hope you have fun. It's not everyday you go to New York"

***

The plane ride was shorter than she expected. It was equal parts exciting and terrifying. She couldn't tell if the butterflies in her stomach were bubbling from the turbulence or her excitement.

Her and Chris were rooming together, and the entire process felt like a fever dream. Her teachers kept trying to round everybody up, making sure not to lose anyone in the crowds.

"At this rate they might as well get us a connecting rope to keep us together" Chris groaned, letting her bags drop onto the bed adjacent to Lara Jeans.

"Im glad we finally get a minute to ourselves, it's been hectic" Lara jean responded, and thought back on her morning. It was only mid day and she felt like she had already done so much. From a drive to the airport at 5am to a flight and a drive to the city, it had been kind of crazy. The teachers all seemed incredibly stressed, and it was affecting the students.

"They said we have until 5 to get ready for dinner" Chris sighed, plopping on her bed, "im taking a nap. Wake me when its time"

Lara Jean nodded, and decided to start unpacking, she might as well make use of her time. If she finished unpacking and getting ready early, she might even have time to finish the book she was reading on the plane.

***

Dinner, aparently– was at a pizza place. Very typical for New York, and Lara Jean appreciated the vibes. Cozy, and very Italian.

She dressed in one of her favorite dresses, pink and lacey. She thought it complimented her skin well, and like she told Margot, she wanted to look her best. Her matching headband completed the look, and she felt just a little more confident.

She had already lost Chris in the sea of students and customers. Having gotten separated Lara Jean awkwardly stood near the counter, pretending to look at the menu.

She did her best to look nonchalant, but she had an inkling she was failing at it.

"First time here?" She heard a voice say from next to her, and she looked over to find a boy close to her age staring at her.

She felt her face redden, and she nodded, "is it that obvious?"

"A little" he laughed, and she could hear his accent poke through, "the look on your face and the fact that you're holding up the line kind of gave it away"

She looked over and realized she was —in fact— holding up the line.

Face flaming she moved to the side, 'so much for nonchalaunt' she thought to herself.