“Shit!” She dropped the clippers to the floor and stared at the mess that was now the haircut she had to live with for the next few months. “I fucked up I fucked up I fucked up!!!”
“What are you yelling about?” Her tired roommate yawned, walking into the bathroom and seeing the mess. “Oh, honey...”
“My hair....” she whimpered, looking at the cascade of blue on one side of her face, and the lack of hair on the other...well, close to lack of hair. There was a little, but only like an eighth of an inch.
“Your hair looks fine. You whine too much.” Her roomate said, observing the damage.
“This...this is why no one wants me. I look idiotic....I look crazy...like someone who broke out of an insane asylum.”
“That wasn't what you were always going for?” Her roommate teased.
She whimpered, touching her shaved side. She meant for there to be at least an inch of hair there, but there was so much less than that.
“Too soon, I guess. Hey, look at me.” Her roomate turned her around, so she was facing her.
“You look amazing. You pull everything off.” Her roommate smiled at her.
She blushed, looking down. Why was it Em always knew what to say?
“Now, I want you to clean up after yourself, shower off the extra hair, and get ready. We're going out to coffee.”
“Yeah, the best time to get coffee because no one's going to bother us. Plus it'll be a stepping stone for class tomorrow.” Em walked out, being careful to step away from the small chunks of hair on the ground.
“I'm not going to thank you for this.” She called after Em.
“You never do, Ava. You never do.” Em called back.
After cleaning everything up, Ava got dressed in her normal hoodie and jeans, trying to let her hair curl naturally...well the remainder of it, anyways. Em came out in her hoodie, her short blond hair perfectly curling around her face as usual.
Ava sighed. “You always look great.”
Em laughed. “That's not even close to true. Actually, now that I think about it, it's always true. I'm always perfect. Glad you finally recognized it.” She smirked.
Ava groaned and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Are we going to go now, or not?”
“We're going, we're going.” Em laughed, walking out the door. Ava followed and they walked down the dark and abandoned streets. Well, mostly abandoned. There were small clusters of students walking quickly down the streets here and there. Since this was a college town, no one really understood what a regular sleeping schedule was.
“I don't get it. Why is everyone so obsessed with going places late at night? Don't they know sleep is important?” Ava asked.
Em snorted. “You're one to talk.”
Ava laughed and shrugged as they reached the 24 Hour Breakfast Diner. Surprisingly, there were only two tables occupied as they found a spot by the window to sit.
“Small crowd today.” Ava said, looking around. There was a group of four sitting at a table near the back, all huddled around a giant stack of books, murmuring to each other and looking like sad study zombies. The other table only had a boy sitting at it. He must have also been the nerdy hoodie type, because he was sitting there, looking like his glasses were about to fall off his nose, his long brown hair hiding the majority of his facial features, either fast asleep reading his books or about to.
“Well, it's a Monday night. The pop quizzes are over and exams aren't till next month. There's a lull.” Em commented, ordering two coffees from an overly perky waitress.
“You think she got a job to flirt with 'hot' college students?” Ava asked as the waitress left.
“If she did she's probably sorely disappointed.” Em answered.
Ava laughed a little too loudly and the boy at the table jumped, apparently waking up. Ava blushed slightly, watching as he looked around. His face was soft and round. Not rough and square like most of the boys in her classes. He looked so gentle and innocent. His cheeks were covered in freckles and slightly pink from realizing he fell asleep in the middle of a diner. He looked down at his book lazily then looked around. Ava quickly looked away before he could catch her staring.
“I dunno about that...” Ava said quietly.
“Oh come on, don't tell me you're going to try to hit on someone in the middle of the night.” Em said, rolling her eyes.
“Of course not. Have you seen how I look today?” She touched the shaved side of her head subconsciously again.
“Stop that. You look great. Just don't hit on people. Let them admire you from afar and drink your coffee.” Em pointed at the steaming cup in front of Ava. The coffee must have come while Ava was staring at the student. Ava grinned and doctored her coffee, then lightly sipped it.
“Mmmm...I really needed this.” She said, looking back up at Em.
“Of coruse you did. That's why I brought you out here. I knew not only would you do anything for coffee, but you'd feel better as soon as you had it.”
“It's like you know me or something.”
“My God, you may be onto something.”
Ava laughed and sipped on her coffee more, looking back over to the boy's table. The boy was gathering his books and searching for something. He looked super embarrassed, growing pinker and pinker.
“I don't think he remembered his wallet...”Ava said.
“Oh my God, what was the one rule?” Em asked.
“I'm just going to do him a kindness. I get paid tomorrow anyways.” Ava got up, pulling out her wallet, getting out a ten dollar bill.
“You're a saint.” Em said sarcastically.
“Thank you. I know.” Ava smirked and walked over to the boy.
The boy looked up from his hurried searching, starting at her with even more embarrassment.
“Hey, do you need someone to spot you some money?” Ava asked.
“No....Well...yeah...but I couldn't ask...” his voice slurred slightly from just waking up, and he looked at her dazedly.
“Don't worry about it.” She said, handing him her ten dollar bill.
“I said don't worry about it. If you don't take it I'll pay your bill myself.” Ava quickly picked up his bill off the table.
“N-No! I'll pay....thank you...” He said, his tone sheepish.
“Glad to help out. I hope you get some good sleep. You're going to need it for class tomorrow.” She smiled at him encouragingly as he took her money.
“Yeah...thank you...” He said softly, looking away from her.
“I'm Ava by the way.” She said, holding out her hand.
“Miles...” he answered, still not making eye contact, shaking her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Miles.” She said softly, letting his hand go.
“Y-Yeah...” He looked up at her hesitantly and she she smiled at him again. She thought she saw him blush one more time before he left. She smiled to herself as she sat down.
“You broke the rule.” Em grumbled.
“Worth it.” Ava laughed as she drank her coffee.
The semester passed and while Ava caught glimpses of Miles, she never got another chance to talk to him. They were always rushing in the opposite directions. He went to the tech building and she left towards the book building. Either way it seemed like that night was the only encounter they would have, and Ava was a little disappointed, because he looked like a very interesting person, but she was just satisfied to have helped him some.
One Monday morning she was walking out of the cafeteria when she saw him, walking in circles around a tree in the courtyard. He looked like he was talking to himself, and Ava wondered if he was practicing for a play or something. She considered approaching him, but then he saw her, and he stopped in his tracks. They looked at each other for a moment, and his cheeks went slightly pink again. Ava smiled instantly and he looked away. She frowned confused and started to walk away. She didn't mean to embarrass him. Maybe he didn't like her at all and was hoping she would leave him alone. If that were the case he could most certainly do that for him.
“W-Wait! Ava!” Miles chased after her, catching up with her and walking beside her. “I'm sorry about that.”
“It's fine. Did you want something?” She stopped by the side of one of the buildings, leaning against it.
“Y-Yeah, actually.” Miles rubbed his neck looking down.
“What is it?” She asked, calmly, curiously.
“Well, I wanted to pay you back for that one night...” he said, hurriedly reaching for his wallet.
“Hey, I told you it's fine. Don't worry about it. I was paid the next day anyways.” She said, shaking her head quickly.
“I want to thank you somehow...” He said, looking up at her.
“You don't have to thank me at all.” She said, laughing softly.
“Wh-why are you laughing at me?” He asked, looking slightly startled.
“It's nothing. You're just really nice.” she smiled at him.
“I...I feel like I owe you...and I...uh..” He looked at her then looked away. “I wanted to ask if you....you wanted to...to go get coffee with me.”
“You did? So this wasn't just a visit to repay me.” She smirked playfully.
“W-Well I wasn't sure if you'd even consider going out....t-to coffee with me...” He said.
“I'd like that. Let's meet at the Diner at...say...eight?” She asked.
“We might as well eat then, too.” He said.
“We could even catch a movie afterward, if the coffee's hyped you up enough.” She laughed.
“So I'll see you at eight?” He asked, grinning.
“It's a date.” She smiled at him.
“Should I even try telling you not to fall in love with this guy?” Em asked as Ava pulled on a fluffy blue dress, pulling on her striped black and white leggings.
“You can try. But the heart will do what it wants. If it works, I'll probably end up marrying him.” Ava said teasingly.
“Ugh you're too ridiculous sometimes.” Em teased.
“I know. It's one of my most adorable qualities.” Ava laughed as she pulled on her coat and boots, grabbing her bag.
“You forgot something.” Em said as Ava walked to the door.
“What?” Ava asked, turning back, checking her bag and clothes quickly.
“Your common sense.” Em smirked.
“Oh hush.” Ava laughed and walked out, walking to the diner.
When she got there, Miles was sitting nervously at the table she met him, checking his watch. She walked up behind and tapped his shoulder. He jumped and turned, looking up at her.
“H-Hey!” He got up quickly, pulling out the chair across from him quickly.
“Well, aren't you a gentleman?” she smirked and sat down.
He blushed as the waitress set two cups of coffee down in front of them.
She grinned at him. “This is already going amazing.”
“No way! He totally would have been ten times cooler if he had a dinosaur!” Ava laughed as they walked out of the theater.
“I told you, he needed ninja powers.” Miles groaned.
“Ninja clan. An entire ninja clan.” Ava amended.
“Oh ha. Ha.” Miles smiled and took her hand in his as they walked down the street. This was their fourteen-hundreth date or so and even though he knew which dorm she lived in, he walked her to the courtyard of the college, sitting down on a bench. She sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. He looked down at her hand.
“Ava...are you staying at the college after graduation?” He asked her.
“Getting my Masters would be pretty convenient in my degree...”
“We've had this conversation before.” She said, looking up at him curiously.
“I know. I wanted to know...How you felt about this...this college...if you were planning on staying or transferring or leaving somewhere...”
“I told you. I want to get a good career, just like you do. Remember?”
“Y-Yeah...” Miles felt for something in his pocket. “You know, Ava...it was here everything started. It took me weeks to build up the courage to talk to you again.”
Ava chuckled softly. “I can be pretty intimidating, can't I?”
“N-No...well, yeah...but no. I'm just shy.” Miles said.
Ava giggled. “And it's always been adorable.”
Miles pushed her off of him, getting up. “Ava...I wanted to know...about after graduation...”
“What is it, Miles?” She asked him, looking up at him from the bench worriedly.
“I wanted to know...if maybe you wanted to spend after graduation with me...in fact more than after graduation...I wanted to know if you might...want to spend forever with me.” He got on one knee in front of her, pulling out the ring from his pocket, his cheeks almost bright red from blushing.
Ava's cheeks matched Miles's. “A-Are you asking m-me...?
“To marry you? Yes...Ava...I want to spend forever...and then some with you. Will you marry me?”
“Y-Yes!” Ava said, grinning.
Miles slipped the ring onto her finger, standing back up and leaning in, kissing Ava deeply. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her up with him, their mouths working together in the way only they knew how to. Then, when they had to pull away to breathe, Ava laughed.
“Em's going to hate me.” She said.
“Why's that?” Miles asked.
“She told me not to fall in love and marry you before I left for our first date. I broke yet another rule.” Ava said.
“You're my little rebel.” Miles laughed.
“Well, of course. In fact, had I not broken her rules before, we wouldn't have ever met.”
“Then I'm glad you didn't listen. Just this once.”
“Yeah most of her other rules are good. Like don't eat the green wrap in the cafeteria.”
“And research before buying trimming adjustments.” Miles' ruffled her hair.
“Of course. We'll have to make our own rules now.” Ava blushed and laughed.
“I look forward to that.”
“I look forward to everything with you.”
“Mom! Mom! Dad's home!” the little boy bounced happily around Ava's feet.
“Good. I just finished dinner.” Ava grinned, wiping her hands on her apron and picking the boy up.
Miles suddenly rushed in with a small girl in his arms, the girl squealing and laughing as he flew her around the dining room.
“Watch out for the table!” Ava called.
“Fly me, Daddy!” the boy reached from Ava's arms.
“Noooo! Daddy fly me!” the girl yelled.
“There'll be plenty of flying after your mother's wonderful dinner.” Miles laughed, setting the little girl on the ground. The two children whined.
“Maybe we'll just skip dinner and you two can take a bath while Daddy and I eat all the ice cream.” Ava smirked down at them.
“Noooooo!” they chorused together and sat down at the table quickly.
“That's what I thought.” Ava laughed.
“You and your silver tongue.” Miles rolled his eyes at her, smiling.
“Mmm but you love it.” She answered, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“I do. Maybe you should give me a taste of your medicine.” He whispered softly as the children fought over which placemat they wanted.
“Only if you're a good boy.” She whispered back and they kissed, long and deep.
“Ewwwww!!!!” the children chorused.
Ava and Miles pulled away, laughing.
“Couldn't have said it better myself.” Ava answered and they both sat down.
After dinner the family went to the living room and watched a movie together. The kids laughed and played on the floor while Ava and Miles cuddled on the couch. After the movie, Ava and Miles carried their sleeping children to their rooms and walked quietly back to their own room.
“It's almost been fifteen years since I asked you to marry me in that college courtyard.” Miles said, pulling off his shirt and pants.
“It has. And I have loved every minute of it.” Ava answered, sliding into her nightdress.
“I've loved every minute of you.” Miles answered.
Ava laughed. “You're still as awkward as the day I met you.”
“I don't plan on changing you know.”
They got into bed together, and Miles pulled Ava close, pressing her body against his as kissed once more goodnight.
“Miles...Everything I've done in my life...has led me to this happiness. I would never give up anything about it.” Ava said softly, rubbing her nose gently against his.
He rubbed his nose back. “You never will.”
“Do you have any regrets?” Ava asked Miles quietly.
“Not one. Ever since I met you my only regret wasn't making you mine sooner.” He said, caressing her cheek gently.
Ava giggled softly, blushing. They lay like that for a little while, just staring into each other's eyes, bodies relaxed, expressions full of love.
“Ava...” Miles said, suppressing a yawn as he did.
“What is it, my love?” Ava asked, voice slurring slightly from sleepiness.
“I love you.” He said, softly.
“I love you too.” She answered.
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