three months later
"Good morning, my love" was the first thing I heard when I opened my eyes that morning, finding Sam's blue eyes right in front of me, as my head was resting on the edge of her pillow.
"Morning" I mumbled, snuggling closer to her, surprised she was still in bed and hadn't gotten up earlier.
"Happy anniversary" she said, kissing the top of my head.
"Happy anniversary" I smiled and pecked her lips.
"Your eyes look so pretty" she also smiled.
"Did you stay in bed just for me?"
"Yeah. My classes are all later in the morning and no one will notice if I don't show up earlier than that"
"You didn't have to, but I appreciate it a lot"
"I wanted this to be the first thing you heard today" she said, wrapping an arm around my body. "I can't believe it's really been a whole year"
"I know, me neither" I agreed, realizing how much had happened and changed in one year.
"It seems like yesterday when I bumped into you for the first time. But I also feel like I've known you my whole life. So weird. In a good way"
"Well, this has probably been the best year of my life"
"You're just saying that because you just woke up and you're not lucid"
"I'm not. I'll tell you again later on so you're sure I'm lucid" I insisted, resting my head on her chest.
"Okay" she chuckled. "I still have to get up soon. I'll make us breakfast"
"Let's stay here just another while" I wrapped my legs around hers as if to block her movements.
"Gladly" she said with a weirdly loud sigh.
"Was that loud breath meant in a good way?" I asked with a giggle.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm just trying to realize we've actually been together for one year" she pulled me even closer to her. "You've really changed my life"
"You too" I said. Even after a year, hearing her say anything like that always gave me butterflies in my stomach.
"We were here in bed when we made it official. Who would have thought"
"I know, I remember. You'd just taken me out to dinner for the first time" I said, feeling slightly nostalgic. "I was on the verge of an anxiety attack that whole meal, honestly"
"I could tell" she chuckled. "I tried my best to make you feel at ease"
"You did pretty good, I'd say" I pressed a kiss on her cheek. "We should go out for dinner this weekend. I don't even have work on Saturday"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Why so surprised?"
"You're usually the one who wants to stay in to celebrate stuff"
"Well, maybe I've changed. Or maybe this is just a very special occasion, don't you think? Or both, actually"
"Hm, I guess so. It's more than fine for me"
"Deal" I laughed. "I really wish we didn't have to get up. It's so nice and warm here. Maybe I should just skip class today"
"You've got an exam in a week, that's not a good idea"
"No need to remind me" I sighed. "And I work until eight today, just to make things worse"
"At least it just takes you five minutes to get back here"
"Yeah. And I kind of enjoy it anyway" I said.
"Exactly, you'll be fine. We really should get up"
"I don't want to" I clinged to her.
"I'll make pancakes"
"Oh. Really?"
"Yeah. You just said today is a special occasion"
"Okay, then. Thank you" I smiled, moving so I could properly kiss her. "Call me when they're ready"
"You sure you won't fall asleep again in the meantime?"
"I'll try not to"
"Fine" she laughed, kissing me again before she got up.
Even when she'd walked out of the room, the smile on my lips never faded. I was feeling extremely grateful for Sam, and for how my life had been turning out in general.
I was really enjoying college, all my new classes were topics I was actually interested in and I was eager to learn about. Me and Mei had also gotten to know a bunch of new people in the course and we actually started to hang out with them outside class too, which was great.
I'd been lucky with my new job too, and it turned out working in a bookshop was less stressful than in a cafè. A job where I barely had to interact with people was more ideal for someone as introverted as me. And the staff was made of really nice and kind people. They'd all been working there for a long time but everyone was welcoming and taught me everything I needed to know with great enthusiasm.
I hadn't heard from my parents ever since I'd left in August, but I didn't even feel sad about it. I felt relieved, more than anything. Which I knew wasn't probably a good thing, but I couldn't really blame myself. As much as I sometimes wished I could have a normal family I could count on, I felt loved and peaceful enough in my life at that moment.
I got up once I heard Sam calling me from the other room, and it'd been a few weeks since I couldn't help but feel happy as I walked through the apartment, realizing how much it had started to look like somewhere we were both living in, instead of Sam's place where I just spent lots of time in.
Among some technicalities like getting a larger wardrobe, I'd somehow convinced her to cover at least some of the walls with something to make it all look less boring.
There was a spot in the corridor where three pictures of us were framed next to each other. One of them was from when we'd just started dating and went to Central Park. One from when I tried to take a selfie as she struggled to make pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving a month earlier, because, being English, she'd never really done anything to celebrate the holiday, but she also wanted to make sure I was able to even without having to go to my family. The last one was from London in the summer, maybe the first time we were actually able to live openly as a couple.
I often found myself stopping there to just look at the photos for a while, which also resulted in me getting completely lost in thoughts because I still sometimes couldn't believe I got so lucky.
"Don't tell me you're falling asleep again" Sam said after a while.
"Nope, sorry, I'm coming" I said, walking to the kitchen. "These pancakes smell amazing"
"Hopefully they taste as good" she chuckled, placing a plate with a stack of pancakes on the table.
"Yeah, I definitely can confirm" I nodded as I took a bite of one. "Thank you for this" I added with a smile.
"No problem, I think we deserve a treat" she shrugged, taking my hand into hers.
"I'm starting to wish you'd go out later in the morning more often now"
"Well, it wouldn't be a treat anymore, wouldn't it?"
"I guess so. But I'd still appreciate it. I hate that we've been spending less time together because of work"
"I know baby" she sighed. "But the winter holidays are in two weeks, at least"
"True. I can't wait" I smiled at being reminded of that.
Since Sam would be going back to her family for the holidays and I wasn't really planning on going to mine, I was going to go with her. Not only I felt grateful for still having someone to celebrate with, but I was also really curious and excited to see the town I'd been to in the summer with a Christmas and wintery atmosphere.
"Same, I'm really excited" she also smiled, squeezing my hand a little tighter. "Also, I kind of wanted to surprise you with something but I'll just tell you now"
"What is it?" I asked, moving from my chair to her lap. "I thought we'd decided to wait for Christmas to give each other any kind of gift"
"No, it's nothing like that, it's silly" she said. "Your American literature professor isn't able to come to class this whole week, so I'm gonna be substituting her"
"What??? Really?" I exclaimed, maybe too loudly. But I didn't really realize how much I missed having Sam as a professor until the possibility of it happening again was real.
"Yeah" she chuckled. "We're gonna have to be extra careful. But I have to admit I missed seeing your face among the people I'm teaching to"
"And I missed your lessons. Maybe I'm happier than what's considered normal about this. But I'm really happy. Best gift ever, honestly" I said as I pecked her lips.
"I'm happy too. A little return to the past" she said with a laugh. "You've got sugar on your nose" she added, and before I could do anything about it she kissed the tip of my nose.
"Thanks" I giggled.
"No problem" she said. "We'd better get ready to head out now"
"I'm tempted to actually skip class"
"No you're not. Just because I stayed in bed with you made you pancakes that doesn't mean we should stay in"
"Well, I'm not talking about you. You have to do all of your adult work things in any case. No one will notice if I don't attend"
"I know I'm just your girlfriend and I don't get to tell you what to do, but I think you should go. You really want to miss me teaching your class?"
"Okay, you're right. Only because you're driving me and you'll be teaching my first class of the day" I sighed, getting up from her lap.
"Good girl" she said, patting my butt as I got up.
"Don't" I laughed, hitting her arm.
"Don't what?"
"Let's get ready" I jokingly shook my head.
I'd usually always been one of the first people to get to class because it only took a few minutes to get there from Sam's office, so it was strange to walk into a room full of people that day. Luckily me and Mei would always save each other a spot.
"You're late for your own standard" my friend chuckled as she saw me.
"Yeah, thank you for saving me a spot" I said as I sat down next to her.
"Got carried away in your girlfriend's office, huh?"
"Not really" I laughed. "It's, uhm, it's our one year anniversary today so she stayed home longer" I said, not wanting to make a big deal about it.
I'd been avoiding talking about relationship related stuff to Mei because I didn't really know how she'd react to it, given her circumstances. She and Sarah had broken up just a few weeks before, and my friend was very sad about it for a while. She didn't even come to class for a few days, and I knew that wasn't a good sign.
I did my best to spend a lot of time with her, hopefully I was able to make her feel a little better. It was strange to see someone who was always radiant in such a sad mood, and I couldn't help but feel sad about it too. But she seemed to be feeling slightly better everyday, which was good.
"Oh, that's great, congrats! Is that the right thing to say?"
"I guess so" I shrugged. "Thanks, Mei"
"Are you doing anything to celebrate?"
"We're going out to dinner during the weekend, I think. But nothing too celebratory. I mean, winter holidays are in two weeks so there'll be enough to celebrate then"
"True. So you're really going back to England with her for Christmas?"
"Yeah" I nodded. "I can't believe it either"
"It's really nice of her. I'm happy for you" she nodded with a smile. "You still haven't heard from your family then?"
"No, I don't think I'll be hearing from them in the near future. It's okay, though. I feel better without them"
"I get what you mean" she sighed. "On a lighter note, you'll be missing my New Year's party"
"I promise I'll make up for it another year" I said. "You know, Vic is going back home and she'll probably start saying she's bored without me. Maybe you can reach out to her, she likes a party"
"Oh, true. I like Vic, she's fun. I'll definitely invite her"
"She is" I said with a laugh. "Uhm, also, speaking of my girlfriend..." I started to say as the noise of everyone in the room talking suddenly turned into silence. Once I turned around, I saw Sam walking towards the desk.
"Am I hallucinating or is that-"
"It's her" I said as I couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Good morning class" Sam said, and that was honestly enough to make my heart race. "Most of you are probably familiar with my face, but just in case, I'm Samantha Collins. I don't usually teach American literature but your professor isn't going to be able to come here for the following week, and she asked if I could fill in for her. Hopefully I'll live up to her teaching. Is anyone here willing to tell me what the last topic you discussed in this class was?"
I tried not to laugh as I noticed her eyes kept skimming through the rows of students as she talked, and they stopped once they locked with mine. Which led me to also try to contain the huge smile that was about to break on my lips.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you started drooling right now" Mei whispered, interrupting my daydream.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Yeah"
"Can't help it" I shrugged, feeling a strange sense of pride as I watched my girlfriend go on with the class.
You could see how much she enjoyed her job, and it always made me incredibly happy to see her talking about things she was passionate about. Needless to say, but I wasn't really able to focus on the actual class rather than on looking at Sam.
"You need me to send you my notes?" Mei asked after two hours had gone by and everyone started leaving.
"No...why?"
"Did you take any?"
"I- Of course"
"Doesn't look like it" she looked at my still on laptop which only had one sentence written in a document.
"Okay, yeah. I'd appreciate it" I said, slightly embarrassed.
"No problem" she patted my shoulder. "We should get going"
"I think I'll just go and very discreetly say hi to her since she's still at the desk" I looked at Sam, who was just sitting on her chair looking at her laptop. "I'll catch up with you"
"Okay, then. Don't end up making out forgetting that there's still a few people in here" she said as we walked away from our seats. "See you later"
"See you" I laughed as I checked my surroundings, most people exiting the room, and went to Sam.
"Hi" I said at the lowest possible volume. "You did great" I added once she looked up and saw me.
"Did I?" she smiled, also looking around.
"Yeah. As always"
"Well, thank you"
"You must hate the fact that you have to share the presentation slides because that's what the professor in this class usually does"
"And you must be happy about it because you were absolutely not listening to the class"
"I have my reasons" I tried to once again defend myself.
"Yeah, sure" she chuckled. "Don't you have another class now?"
"I do, but I just wanted to say hi first"
"Well, you'd better go before I end up kissing you right here"
"No one's in the room anymore"
"Someone could walk in" she said with a chuckle. "See you after work?"
"Yeah. I love you" I almost whispered.
"I love you too" she smiled, matching my volume.
The rest of the day went really well. Nothing good in particular happened, but I was just in a really good mood the whole time. And more than one person at work even pointed it out, making it hard for me to not start gushing about my girlfriend of one year and how happy she made me.
I really couldn't wait to go back home to her, that day more than any day I'd been working there. I didn't even know what was making me so happy and wanting to be with Sam, but just the thought of officially having been with her for a year made me smile like a complete idiot. Although we'd agreed on no gifts, I couldn't help but buy her a flower bouquet on the way home.
"I'm home" I said as I entered the apartment.
"Hi baby" Sam said from the bedroom.
"Happy anniversary" I smiled as I walked into the room and handed her the flowers.
"No way! Wait" she said as she quickly got up from the bed she was sitting on, leaving me confused for a few seconds. "Happy anniversary. And thank you for the beautiful flowers" she said as she came back with a bouquet herself.
"Oh my god" I laughed. "Thank you, really" I added as I took the flowers.
"I'm glad you like them. I saw this really cute flower shop as I was getting back from where I got my nails done and I really couldn't help myself"
"Same, when I was coming back from work" I said, admiring how pretty the flowers actually were. "You got your nails done for the occasion, huh?" I joked.
"You know I hate it when they get all ruined after a while" she laughed. "But yeah, kinda"
"Guess we read each other's minds" I shrugged, wrapping my arms around her waist.
"Understandable after a year of being together" she said, gently kissing my lips. "I really don't know what my life would be like if I hadn't met you. Maybe I don't want to know"
"You did meet me, so you don't have to think about that" I said right before she basically dragged me on the bed with her.
"True" she smiled, pecking my lips again. "I love you so so so much. I really do"
"I love you too" I smiled back, kissing her and wishing we could just stay like that.
"Happy one year. Here's to many more" she said.
a/n: i always find everyone panicking about foreshadowing whenever I write about one of the characters talking positively about the future pretty funny because do y'all really not trust me at all😭 (wouldn't entirely blame you lol)
but. there is one single thing i actually foreshadowed a few times since the early chapters of this story and it might be happening soon. i wonder if anyone will get it hehe