nicholas here.

[mskatrinaballerina]

adjustment || 09

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina‌:

Katrina looked at him and sighed softly before grinning. He wanted to look really nice for her and the occasion, and she appreciated that. Not to mention, she was sure that it would make her family happy that he was doing that for her sake. She knew that he really wasn’t a fan of ballet but he was a fan of her and that was what mattered. “Okay, okay,” she said before biting her lip. “I’m looking forward to seeing you in a suit. You’re gonna look really handsome.”

Having late nights meant that they wouldn’t have as much time together as usual, but she knew it would be worth it. She didn’t like to think of it as a sacrifice but she hoped that he understood. She’d make it a point to spend time with him whenever she could. When he offered to pick her up, she sighed. “Nick, it’s gonna be late. I can walk back to the dorm by myself. You need your rest too,” she pointed out. Holding his hands seemed to help and it made her happy. “Because you are the best boyfriend in the world,” she told him happily. Looking down at their locked fingers, she smiled. “I was thinking we could drop off my bag and we can pick up some snacks and a blanket for the movie, then head over? I wanna get a good spot on the lawn, and we can just hang out there for a while,” she suggested. Heading towards the dorm, she kept her hand in his. The walk wasn’t much further so she took the time to look around campus. They only had a month and a half there and she wanted to appreciate it as much as she could. 

Remembering her last performance, Katrina loved that he was in formal attire instead of his usual black tee. Although, it wasn’t a complete suit, he remembered how big her smile was when he saw him at the hotel. This time, Nick wanted to make sure that his outfit is complete. He’s the main man now and he wanted to look right for his girl. “When did I not look handsome, huh?” He asked her teasingly before chuckling at her. Plus, her entire family is gonna be there and Nick wanted to look like he’s part of their world and not just tagging along because of Katrina. Over the weeks, he’s grown to really love the art and appreciate its calm and beauty. 

It’s always been her rule for him not to interrupt her rehearsals and upto this day, Nick wanted to respect and stay true to that. If he had to sacrifice his time with her just so she can practice and really prove to those scouts that she’s the best, then that’s what Nick will do. But, he never forgets to still be her boyfriend. “I don’t mind it. I’ll be working at a bar so late isn’t really part of the vocabulary. I’ll pick you up and bring you back to your dorm. I won’t take no for an answer, baby. I want you safe, no matter what.” Nick said, chuckling as she called him the best boyfriend ever. He felt proud that Katrina thought of him that way. Nodding at her plan, Nick agreed, figuring they have some unloading to do at her dorm too. “Are your friends gonna be there?” Nick asked curiously, hoping the days that passed have helped tone down the awkward relationship that formed between Katrina and her roommates. They only have about a month and a half left and he didn’t want Kat spending those in a bad place with her best friends.

[mskatrinaballerina]

adjustment || 09

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina‌:

Between the two of them, they had a lot of backlash. Katrina had been harassed for cheating on Christian, one of the college’s most prized possessions. Nick had been beaten up for stealing Christian’s girl away and betraying his best friend. Right now, all they had was each other. In the end of it all, the rest didn’t matter to her. She had her love and her family and after graduation, she wouldn’t see the rest of the school again. When he told her he was proud of her again, she smiled. “Thank you,” she told him before kissing his lips.

He was insisting on getting a new suit and she didn’t want him to spend a lot. “Baby, it’s okay. You don’t have to be super fancy. I don’t want you overworking yourself.” Katrina smiled and laughed a little, nodding. “Well… for the next few weeks, I’m going to be staying up late practicing. Things are going to get even busier, especially with the group dances that we also have to rehearse. There’s three group dances, and then the senior performances will be after,” she explained. It was a lot but she was prepared for it. He stopped in his tracks when she mentioned her family being there and she had a feeling that would be his reaction. “Yes, everyone is going to be there, and I want you to meet them.” She took both of his hands and looked up at him. “Nick, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t love you. You’ve already met my parents which was the most important part. I want the rest of my family to see how important you are to me.” She shrugged, blushing. “You’re the real deal for me. Having you there, with them, it would mean the world to me.”

The both of them had gone through a lot to get to this stable part of their relationship. Considering their relationship started with cheating, it’s not exactly everyone’s type. Of course, they kept that part from her family when they got to Arizona but the beginning isn’t the most important thing to look at. What’s important is that they stuck by each other’s side and stayed true to their promise that they’re gonna get through it together. Kissing her back, Nick gave her a warm and assuring smile after. When she told him not to get too fancy about the suit, Nick shook his head. “No, no. It’s your special night, Katrina. I want to put all my effort in making sure I fit in.” He told her, not minding overworking at the bar. It’s his favorite place so he really doesn’t care if he spends longer time there, especially if he’s gonna get paid. 

As she explained the final performance more, Nick understood that she’ll be extremely busy. And even if she’s gonna be out later than usual, he still wants to do his job as her boyfriend. “Just let me know what time you’re going back to the dorm whenever so that I can pick you up, okay?” Meeting a girl’s family has never been his thing now the entire clan is gonna be introduced to him. How the hell would he survive that? He was clearly nervous even if he still has about a month to prepare for it. When she took both of his hands, Nick felt a lot more calm and tried to believe everything she was saying. He’s already spent time with her parents and her sister, the other relatives are just a bonus. Blushing at her final words, Nick couldn’t help but smile at her and kiss her hands. “How can I say no when you talk like I’m the best boyfriend in the world?” He teased, locking their fingers together as he nodded at her. “Come on. Are we still going back to your dorm? We still have half an hour before the movie starts.”

[mskatrinaballerina]

adjustment || 09

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina‌:

Seeing that huge grin always melted her heart. It was so infectious and adorable and lit up her mood. Thanking him when he took her bag, she stood by him. Glad that he had a pretty mellow and relaxing day, she grinned at him. “It was okay. Classes went as usual. I got a big homework assignment for my Calculus class that I’m nervous for, but it won’t kill me.” Walking out of the building with him, she felt so good to be there with him. His presence relaxed her. Hearing that he was proud of her made her so happy. He had told her that before but each time meant even more. “Maybe they’ll never really like me, but I have to focus on myself and what’s best for me,” she agreed. “You should’ve seen the look on their faces,” she added with a chuckle. 

When he spoke about getting a suit for that night, she nodded. “It’s in a month. May 14th. It’s my final performance, and it’s actually graded. Not to mention, there’s going to be scouts there from dance companies looking to recruit, so I have to do my absolute best. It’s nerve-wracking but it’s exciting.” Walking through campus, they were heading to the big lawn. There was a movie-night tonight with a big projector. Everyone would be laying out on the grass and watching. “Everyone does dress up, though,” she agreed. “A ton of my family is coming. My parents, sister, aunts, uncles, grandparents, a few cousins..” she trailed. “We’re all planning on going out for dinner after, which of course you’re invited to join.”

They both have these contagious smiles that seem to light each other up no matter what the situation is. It just goes to show how they impact each other’s lives in a good way and Nick hopes to keep that part of their relationship in the long run. Apart from her family, Nick is confident to say that he’s her best supporter and the proudest guy in the crowd whenever she performs. After what Katrina went through after the revelation, she was slowly climbing back to the top and it was because of mixed good karma plus all her hard work. “I think we both learned that pleasing anyone shouldn’t be our goal. And I’m glad that you’re putting all your energy in being better than thinking about what they say. I’m really proud of you, baby.” Chuckling, Nick nodded, hoping he could’ve seen everyone’s faces when the coach told them Katrina is gonna be the final performer.

“Okay. One month. I’ll make sure to work extra at Rob’s bar to rent the best suit there is.” He assured her, wanting to look the part in her special night. Nick wasn’t worried at all. She’d been through this and since she’s just getting better and better at what she does, it’ll just get easier for her to perform and the scouts would have no choice but to offer her a spot. “Just tell me what I can do to help. If I have to rent an entire studio for a week just so you can practice without distraction, then we’ll do that.” He joked with her as they spotted the big movie night in campus. When she mentioned having her entire family with relatives coming over, Nick stopped walking and looked at her. “Okay, so the pressure is gonna be higher for me than you? I’m not the ballerina here.” He joked, chuckling nervously as he wasn’t sure if he was prepared for that. “Is that for real? I’m gonna meet everyone? What if they don’t like me?”

[mskatrinaballerina]

adjustment || 09

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina‌:

Katrina was feeling so great about her spot during the show. She had been choreographing her dance for months now, trying to perfect it. It had gone through a lot of changes but she was slowly beginning to get the final set down. It would be the most important performance she’s ever put on and she hoped that it would land her the job. She wasn’t sure where that would take her but she knew no matter what, there were important people she wanted to keep in her life.

Picking up her bag, she went out to the lobby. When her eyes landed on Nick, she felt instantly relaxed. She walked to him and leaned down to kiss his lips. “Hey baby,” she said with a smile. It felt so good to do that and not have to worry about being caught. “How was your day?” she asked him, wanting to know what he had been up to. She took his hands and brought him up before wrapping her arms around his waist gently. “So… rehearsal today was.. a little tense, but,” she said, a grin spread on her face, “coach gave us the lineup for our senior performances. And I got the final spot,” she told hime excitedly. “I’ll be the last one of the night, sort of like a grand finale if I do it right. You should’ve seen how jealous the other girls were.”

Nick knew how hard Katrina had been working on her dance and as much as he can, he wanted to support her by stepping aside for her rehearsals. If she needed to cancel dates to rehearse and prepare, he’d understand that. Although, he couldn’t help but feel like he’s being left behind. Katrina was moving forward with her career but what would Nick be doing after college? Where would he be? Is he smart enough to be an educator as planned? His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Katrina come up to him.

It felt good to kiss her publicly now and even hearing her call him baby, Nick had a huge grin on his face like all his worries are now gone. “Hi.” He said, getting a hold of her bag so she wouldn’t have to carry it. Getting up, Nick shrugged his shoulders at her question. “Chill...just a chill day. How was your day?” He asked with a light chuckle, wondering how she’d been until she proceeded to tell the story about rehearsals. Putting an arm around her, Nick led her to walk out of the building. He listened to her story and he felt a big relief, hearing that Katrina got some good news. She looked so excited and that made him really happy. “I’m so proud of you. And hey, that’s what they get for bullying.” He said, remembering what they did to Katrina before they left for Arizona. “Is that for your final performance? The grand one? When’s that gonna be?” He asked, feeling the cool breeze hit his face once they got out. Again, it felt great to be publicly in a relationship with her now. “I probably need to get a better suit for that night if it’s that special.”

[mskatrinaballerina]

adjustment || 09

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina‌:

Katrina had a feeling that her first night back at rehearsals was going to be an eventful and awkward one. The last time she had gone, she had left crying. She had felt so awful and unwanted there that it had sent her back to her apartment sobbing and feeling so alone. That is, until her boyfriend showed up and comforted her. Not only that, but he took her home, the place she felt most comfortable. It was the best thing he could’ve given her. But they couldn’t run away from their problems anymore. Coming back was inevitable. That included going back to dance rehearsals.

Arriving at the studio, she walked inside. Dressed in her leotard with her hair up, she carried her shoes in with her. Most of the girls looked at her but made no remarks. It was almost as if the coach had noticed the tension before and warned them to not continue the drama. Putting her shoes on quickly, she stood in line with the other dancers to begin warm-ups. She kept quiet and followed instructions the whole time, not wanting to say a word to anyone unless prompted. Katrina enjoyed how she could just get lost in the music like before, and it liberated her. It felt like she was returning to herself. 

At the end of rehearsal, everyone began packing their things before the coach got their attention. “Alright, ladies. As you know, the senior performances are coming up. For those of you who are graduating this year, your final dances are extremely important. Preparations are being made for the show, and we made a list of the senior performances in order.” The girls perked up, eager to know. You either wanted to be first, or last. Those two spots were the ones that people would remember the most and pay the most attention to. “First, we’ll have Karen.” Karen looked excited and the rest of the girls just looked forward to who else would be named. After three other seniors were listed off, it was only Katrina and Lacy who hadn’t been named yet. “Next, we’ll have…” The tension in the room was thick as people waited. “Lacy. Then Katrina will have the last spot,” the coach finished. Katrina felt so happy she felt like she could burst. Going last was a big responsibility but it also meant that she could make a big lasting impression on people. Lacy didn’t look too pleased at all, and the rest of the girls looked like they were trying to hold their anger and jealousy. “There’s a few scouts coming in from dance companies, so make sure to do your best and make an impression,” the coach noted. “I’ll see you all tomorrow,” she told them before leaving. Katrina stood, so happy but didn’t make any comment out of fear that she’d be ridiculed. Instead, she just changed her shoes and bit her lip to hold back her proud grin. She couldn’t want to tell Nick about the news, feeling so proud that her efforts were being appreciated despite the other girl’s bitter feelings.

Going back to reality was inevitable. Their time in Arizona was well spent and Nick could tell it helped Katrina get her focus back. Still, it was nerve wracking to go back to campus. Another thing that Nick needed to get used to again was with his new roommate and ex almost hook up, Rachel. He’d definitely rather be rooming with Katrina for his last months in college but out of respect to her roommates, Nick stayed in his lane.

They’ve been back for a few days and Christian was nowhere in sight. Another surprising thing was that the murmurs around had slowed down and at some parts of campus had quieted down. What was happening? Did staying away got them to shut up or did they have new rumors to talk about other than him and Katrina? Nick went on with his day, hoping it would be a good one but then, he remembered Katrina had rehearsals today. It’s gonna be her first day back in the studio and he wanted to so bad to make sure she’s gonna be okay. He had been holding back the urges to send her multiple texts about going back but he didn’t want to pressure her so he just saved his 8th drafted text to her instead of sending it.

So far, it’s been a chill day. He attended his classes as promised and even got to answer one of the professor’s question correctly. Nick was so proud of himself but now, it was time to be a boyfriend and pick up his girlfriend to make sure rehearsals went well. On the way there, the guy he had been avoiding was in front of him. Putting his glasses on to make sure he was looking at it correctly, he was surprised that Christian had a new girl in his arm with his boys behind him as always. When Christian noticed him, he paused and Nick did the same. Were they gonna beat him up again? It was a 30 second tension build up before Christian made a move. “Welcome back, asshole! Give this to your girlfriend for me!” He said before giving Nick a finger. He was about to attack him but then Nick tried to remind himself, he can’t get in trouble and arrested again so he just tried to keep his cool, turning to the other way to the arts building. Going inside, Nick stayed at the lobby bench, waiting for Katrina. He wasn’t sure if he should let Katrina know what happened but hopefully, she had a better time. Closing his denim jacket in, Nick just laid back and tried to distract his thoughts with a game on his phone.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

Katrina knew well that Nick was super attractive. To her, he was the perfect guy. Maybe no one was really perfect, but in her eyes, he was everything she could want. He was both adorable and sexy, and his smile sent her to heaven. Not to mention, his humor and his loving personality made her heart spin. She wasn’t going to deny it. She shrugged and laughed a little, her hands on his neck. Calling her the luckiest in the galaxy, she grinned and kissed him. Listening to him about his trip, she was excited for him. But when he mentioned them watching girls in bikinis, her grin fell and she glared at him. “Very funny,” she said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes and chuckled a little. “What about Chuck?” she asked. “I’ve seen you two hanging out on campus before.”

She might have still been a little scared about going back to school, she was confident that she would have him at her side. Whatever came towards them, they could face it, and it definitely wasn’t going to keep her from him. No one was going to tear them apart. Her family liked him, so that’s all that mattered to her. Still, even if her family didn’t like him, she wasn’t going to break up with him anyways. Hearing that he was proud of her, she grinned at him. His words were so genuine and loving and it made her feel so happy inside. I just fell in love with you all over again and even more with this trip. She looked at him lovingly with a sweet smile, knowing that she felt the same. “I never thought I could be so in love,” she said, stroking his face. “I have felt love before in my life but… nothing like this.” She was sure that no one else could ever make her feel this amazing and loved. When he pulled her back into his arms, she laughed but didn’t protest too much. Leaning back against him, she then spun around in his arms. Wrapping her arms back around him, she hugged him and rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. Gently her hand played with his hair on the back of his head, feeling so happy. Staying there for a while, she swam with him, loving the warm weather. When she felt like a prune, she pulled back. “Want to dry off for a little?” she asked. “Besides, you need more sunscreen. Your cheeks are getting a little red.” Getting out of the water, she took out one of the towels and laid it down.

As Nick joked about the girls in bikinis, he laughed out loud when she glared at him, finding that face very adorable even if she was looking mad at him already. Wanting to pinch her nose lightly, Nick settled for a kiss instead. “Would you rather have me watch girls in bikinis or guys in trunks?” He joked, laughing even more. When she suggested Chuck, Nick nodded his head. “Yeah, I’ll probably be hanging out with him, playing ball. That wouldn’t stop him from inviting me to another party, though. Should we go?” He asked, curious if Katrina would still let him go to parties like that even if he was already off the market. 

It was still unknown what kind of welcome they’re going to get when they go back to school. He wondered if her roommates would still be mad at her or if Christian was still on the hunt for him. Whatever it may be, he was a lot more confident now to fight for his girl. With the support of her family, he was all the more encouraged to be brave enough to tell the entire world that Katrina Maher is his girlfriend. “Yeah? Best boyfriend ever? Shall we have my coronation night later or what?” He joked, kissing her and nodding. “Thank you. You’re the best.” As they swam as one, Nick planted soft kisses on Katrina’s neck. He loves being lazily intimate with her. They stayed like that for a little while before she suggested to dry off. Touching his face, he could feel like his skin was going to break any moment. “Yeah, its starting to hurt a little.” He said, letting her go first before following Katrina off the water. Getting a towel, he wiped himself clean, knowing he’d need some aloe vera for his face soon. Drying himself off, he sat by the rock and smiled, watching Katrina dry herself too.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

Seeing him smirk and rub his chin, she knew she shouldn’t be boosting his ego. “Yeah, you are,” she said, not being able to help it. He was gorgeous and made her head spin. Not to mention, one look from those eyes and she was a goner. “I’m a lucky lady,” she added with a little laugh and smirk. Stroking his face while they kissed, she pulled back with a smile. “Still… I think it would be good for us, you know, to have some space. We could never get bored with each other, but I think having some alone time once in a while is good for any relationship,” she said, hoping he understood. It would get them out of their honeymoon phase.

Wrapping her legs around him, she smiled and kissed him. Her arms went around his neck, holding him close. At first she was expecting quick kisses but they were deep and she even felt his tongue. As he moved them around, she hung onto him and felt so happy. All of the pain they had gone through was finally so worth it. “Me too,” she agreed. “Bringing me here was the best thing you could’ve given me. Seeing my family, showing you the place I grew up, sharing this time with you… it’s really put everything into perspective.” She licked her lips for a second. “There’s no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision. And when we go back to school, we’re gonna be stronger than ever.” Kissing him again, she stayed there for a few seconds before kissing him again deeply. Then, she tugged on him so they’d both fall back into the water. When she came up, she laughed out loud, trying to swim away from him if he came after her. 

Nick is used to being complimented for his looks but he likes being humble when it comes to Katrina. Unfortunately, right now, she was just boosting his ego more than she should and it was making Nick laugh out loud. “Babe, you’re supposed to say my head’s getting so big.” He joked, laughing even more as she said she’s a lucky lady. Since she was just going with it, Nick nodded at her. “Yes, you are. The luckiest in the entire galaxy.” When she suggested giving space and having alone time every once in a while, Nick smiled at her. “I couldn’t agree more. You see, there’s this getaway trip my friends are inviting me to. They said it could help me building some alone time and I wouldn’t be always just hanging out with you. It’s like a bay watch experience where we watch all these girls in their bikinis. Such a great bonding moment for me and my friends.” He joked, teasing her with a little more laugh. “I’m just kidding, babe. I don’t have friends.” He added, laughing even more.

As their game ended up with just them making out, Nick didn’t want to let go anymore. He loved being intimate and having her this close all the time. It makes him feel so loved, something he never thought would actually happen at this extent. Listening to her, he was glad that he was seeing a braver and stronger Katrina in front of him. Everything they’ve gone through before going there was finally removed and she’s no longer afraid of all the criticism. “I’m so proud of you. I saw what you went through and I can definitely say that this woman I’m holding in my arms... Everything that happened just made you even better. I can’t believe I’m gonna say this because I didn’t think it was possible but... I just fell in love with you all over again and even more with this trip.” They kissed and Nick was brought down in the water. Having his lips still on hers, he wasn’t able to laugh but in his mind, he was cracking up. As they got up, Nick chased her, trying to swim after her and wrap his arms around her again. “No, no, no. We have the entire day together. We can swim first.” He suggested, pulling Katrina back to the middle.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

Spending all of this time with him felt like a dream and she never wanted to wake up. But unfortunately, she knew that they would have to return to school and continue their work. They wouldn’t get to spend as much time together as they had this weekend, but she was going to make sure that they still had quality time together. Things were for sure going to be hard when they got back, facing everyone again, but a part of her hoped that most people would get over it. For Katrina, she would just have to deal with the girls in the dance program. After they found out that their precious Katrina wasn’t so perfect, they seemed to turn for the worst. As he joked, she pouted. “Never,” she told him. “You’re just lucky that that face is nice to look at,” she teased before being serious. She was going to say that she’d never get sick of him for the rest of her life, but the promise ring on her finger said that enough. “I could never get sick of you.”

When he teased her, she still pouted, swimming towards him. She might have been fit but she wasn’t the fastest swimmer. But soon enough, she whined and got what she wanted which made her smile. She really had him wrapped around her finger and she used it. When he approached her, she leaned forward and kissed his lips, preparing to move away and swim her fastest. 

It can’t just all be a vacation for them. As fun as all of this was, they would have to go back to reality soon but Nick was excited for it. They have formed a stronger bond now and less care in the world with more care for each other. It’s going to be a blast showing her off as his girlfriend when they get back. As she complimented his face, Nick gave Katrina a smirk while rubbing his chin. “I know, right? Fuck, I’m so handsome.” He joked, laughing a little before pressing his lips onto hers. Nodding, he gave her a smile. “Nope, never.”

Katrina has Nick wrapped around his little finger and Nick could admit that. As much as he didn’t want that to be much of the case, he couldn’t help it. He could easily melt into her requests and desires and he would be okay with that. And so, when his girlfriend whined about not catching up, he had to swim closer to her to give her what she wants. As he wrapped his arms around her and gave her the kiss, Nick locked her closer, wrapping her legs around him a little and pressing his lips against hers. “Oops, you’re it again.” He said, kissing her again. “Okay, I’m it.” He added another kiss but this time, it became more of a make out session than small kisses. Nick even pushing his tongue inside her mouth before pulling back. “Okay, who’s the it now?” He joked, swimming the two of them in place as he appreciated the most amazing view. Katrina, that is. Not the view of the place. “I love you. I’m gonna remember this trip forever. One of the best.”

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

She raised her eyebrows with a smile, remembering pretty well how cheesy they were. “No, they were so corny. It was unbearable,” she told him, even though they’d made her laugh so hard her stomach hurt. But that was mostly because of the way he told them, with that big smile on his face. Back then, she didn’t know it, but she was falling in love with him. Things were complicated and messy, but in moments like that, her heartstrings had been pulled. By the day, he was slowly taking pieces of her heart. Right now, he had the whole damn thing, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. That did mean that he had the ability to break her heart so badly, but she couldn’t think about that. She knew he loved her and that no matter what happened, they’d work through it. “Then let’s hang out like that when we get back. Unless you’re sick of me after spending so much time with me this weekend,” she said with a grin.

Katrina blushed, hoping that no one would hear them. There were other people at the sight but not near them, so for that she was thankful. Besides being heard, she just wanted some privacy with him. His wink made her smile, loving how cute and playful he could be. “Looking forward to it,” she told him in a soft and hinting voice, kissing him one more time on the lips. 

Swimming away from him, she had a huge smile on her face. He caught up to her and kissed her cheek before doing the same and she pouted. Scrunching up her face, she tried to swim towards him but he was faster. Splashing him, she kept swimming. “You’re too fast,” she protested. Still, she didn’t give up, still swimming to him. “Nick,” she whined, laughing and splashing him again.

Groaning playfully, Nick shook his head and laughed. He knew how lame his jokes were but he hoped Katrina appreciated how hard he tried to make those jokes funny and laughable. She laughed anyway, right? And her laugh made him smile big and laugh hard so that was funny enough. It was a fun night either way. Nick likes to think it was moments like that were the ones that he got her to fall for him. She looked so happy and he’s never seen her that happy with Christian. Rolling his eyes at her playfully, Nick shrugged his shoulder. “Yeah, kinda getting tired of your face already. I might need like a week or two without you first.” He joked, giving her a quick kiss on the head. “Just kidding, baby. I’ll never get tired of you. What about you? Have you been getting sick of this face yet?”

As the couple jumped in the water, things started feeling cooler now than it did earlier. The water from the river was really refreshing and Nick could swim all night if he could just to keep him cool later when they rest. Figuring they could play for a while, Nick started a tag game, kissing her on the cheek and then swimming away. He couldn’t help but laugh out loud, shaking his head as Katrina tried to catch him. “Oh, come on, babe. You’re better than that. Catch me if you can!” He teased with a laugh, before hearing her whine like his little princess. “Okay, okay. Fine.” He said, swimming near her so she can tag him, asking for a kiss on the lips. Nick had his hands prepared under water that when she tags him, he’ll just pull her closer and kiss her again to give the tag back. Although, he wasn’t sure if he’ll be satisfied with just one kiss. “Tag me, babe.”

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

His high-pitched voice made her burst out in laughter, covering her mouth. “Oh, come on. You look so cute when you’re sleeping!” she said in defense. Looking back down at the picture, she smiled. “It was.. a few weeks ago,” she started. They had only been officially together for almost two weeks now so it was before that. “We were just hanging out at my place and… you kept telling me all of these super corny jokes and funny stories,” she said, laughing a little as she remembered. “It was a great night.. just laying there with you without a care in the world,” she drifted off with a grin. Katrina looked up at him with a big smile. She was so happy that she made him happy. That’s all she wanted for him - to be happy and to know that he had someone there for him. 

There was no point in denying it anymore. He knew it well too that she loved having sex with him. When it came to reattempting their night under the stars, she didn’t want to pass that up. She blushed at what he said, her cheeks getting pink. “I’m holding you to that,” she noted, kissing him a few times on the lips. “As long as we don’t tire each other out.” Katrina pulled on his hand when he whined about stretching, but she wasn’t going to back down. She didn’t want him getting hurt and complaining about it later.

As he put the sunscreen on her back, she stood and waited, looking out in front of her. Hearing about the beach, she grinned, turning her head to the side a little. “That would be pretty fun,” she agreed, but was confused when he didn’t finish his sentence. Before she knew it, a splash of water hit her. Standing there with her mouth open, she scoffed. Rolling her eyes, she took off her shoes, socks, and shirt, leaving her in her sports-bra and shorts. Putting her toes in the water, she tested the temperature and it felt pretty nice. Going to him in the water, came from behind and wrapped her arms around his front, kissing his cheek quickly before letting go and swimming. 

As she teased him about looking cute when asleep, Nick squinted his face and shook his head with a laugh. He knew that as she was too but if she has a picture of him drooling in his sleep, that doesn’t really seem so appealing. When she mentioned when the picture was taken, Nick had to think back to those times. They still weren’t together but they’ve been spending more time with each other than anyone else. It was one of the most memorable nights in their relationship, for sure. “I remember. I can also remember how good my jokes were. You just won’t admit it.” He teased, smiling as he remembered how they didn’t care about anything and anyone outside that room. It was just the two of them being so happy and Nick would want to say in love. “And from now on, we’ll be having more nights like that. And even better.” He assured her, still wanting to prove that she made the right choice with him. 

Smirking, Nick knew so well that they’d be having a great night. Staying under the stars and with a less public camp site, he knew he’d be able to talk Katrina into having sex in their tent tonight, something he was looking forward for. They kissed like they can’t get enough of each other and Nick kept her a little close. He really is the happiest man alive with her. “It’s okay to get tired. No one’s gonna see us so we can just stay in there as long as we want. As naked as we want.” He teased, giving her a playful wink. 

The moment he laid his eyes on the river, Nick knew he wanted to jump in. He’s been needing something refreshing since they started hiking. Not wanting to finish all their water in an instant, he knew he had to swim. Surprising Katrina was part of the deal, wanting to play around with her. Soon enough, she joined him in the water, feeling her arms around him before getting kissed on the cheek. He was about to kiss her head but she quickly swam away. “Really? Are you suggesting we play tag here?” He said, swimming closer to her and kissing her cheek. “Tag. You’re it.” He joked, swimming away so that she wouldn’t catch her.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

When he hinted that he had his own photos of her, she smiled wide. “Can’t wait,” she told him, excited to see which ones he liked and how he saw her. Thinking about her favorite picture of him, she bit her lip and blushed. “No, not the drooling one,” she said with a little laugh. At first she didn’t show him but went through her phone to find it. “This one,” she said, still holding it away from him. “Definitely this one.” Just looking at it made her smile big. Showing him the picture, she leaned against him as they stood. It was a candid of him that she had taken before they were officially together. They had been hanging out in her room watching movies and joking around and he was making her laugh so hard. She had snuck the photo while he wasn’t looking, but still she could see how bright his eyes were shining. Seeing how big he was smiling and laughing in the photo made her fall in love every time. “You just look so happy and adorable. You look so cute when you smile big like that,” she told him, tilting her head up towards him. “Just looking at this one… it makes me really happy.”

His cheesy comment earned him a kiss on the lips. “Good answer.” Eating more of her apple and making sure to stay hydrated, she was glad to rest her legs for a little bit. Working out and going for the hike might have hurt in the moment but it felt good and rewarding. Katrina playfully glared at him and sighed. “….You might be right about that,” she said softly. He really was her kryptonite when it came to that. Katrina looked at him and listened as he thanked her. She knew that he hadn’t had a lot of support in his life, so she wanted to make sure that he felt like he had someone who would be there for him, outside of his mother. Kissing his forehead again, she rubbed his thigh gently in comfort before finishing her apple. “Alright, come on. We need to do some stretches or our legs are going to tense up,” she told him. Patting his thigh, she stood up and took his hand. “And then we can rest and enjoy the view for a little bit, okay?” Standing up, she began to stretch her legs to wind out her muscles from the workout. 

Once they were done, she walked to the river and dipped her fingers in to feel the water. She splashed some on her face to cool off, as it was getting pretty warm. Feeling her skin tingle from the warmth, she figured that they should put more sunscreen on. Going into her bag, she took out the cream. Rubbing some on her arms, she then turned to him. “Baby, can you put some on my back and my shoulders?” she asked, not wanting to get weird tan-lines from her sports-bra and tank-top.

For someone who had been in love with her for a while that needed a distance, Nick wouldn’t miss capturing moments of her being close to him. Knowing that the space between them have been shortened, he likes a little bit of reminder of that every now and then. That’s why he makes sure to sneak pictures of his girlfriend too from time to time. When she said her favorite was not the drooling one, his eyes went wide as he glared at Katrina playfully. “You have a drooling picture of me?” He asked, a little high pitched before laughing out loud. With how in love they are with each other, he shouldn’t be surprised if he had a picture of him sleeping on her phone. He has one of her in his phone. Finally, she showed him the picture and Nick looked at it carefully. He wasn’t looking at the camera but he was smiling wide. It was hard to remember when that was but he could exactly tell how he was feeling in that moment. “When was this? I don’t remember.” He said, chuckling and smiling as she explained why it’s her favorite. Nodding, Nick gave her a quick kiss. “I looked so happy and everything about that smile is real. I could tell because it’s the same feeling I have when I’m with you.” 

Katrina didn’t even fight him when he exposed her to the birds around them that she likes having sex with him. She was his weakness too and in his mind, he can fully admit that he’d probably do most things she would ask of him. He was in that stage of surrender to his girlfriend, trusting that she would want the best for him. “Tons of sex tonight, I promise. Anything for my girl.” He assured her, teasing that she wants it more than he does. Nick finds it romantic every time she would kiss him on the forehead. It was an overrated kiss among most couples and honestly, it’s the kiss that gets him giddy the most. As she invited him to stretch, Nick whined and pouted at her, not really in the mood to move anymore after being seated for a few minutes. Still, they had to stretch if they don’t want to be in pain all night.

Once they were done, Nick could really tell how sweaty he is. It was a good workout for him since he wasn’t able to do push ups earlier. Seeing the river just made him want to jump and remembering that Katrina had a suggestion for them to swim, he got excited and took off his shoes and his shirt. Hearing his girlfriend’s request, Nick walked over to her and put some sun screen on her back. “Mhmm. I just realized we’ve never gone to the beach before. We could do it one day and I’d be happy to rub your back with sun screen.” He said, getting up and stepping back. “But for now...” He said before running to jump in the water, causing a big splash that reached Katrina. Lifting his head up off the water, he laughed out loud and looked at her. “Baby, come on. The water’s so good!”

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

Katrina grinned and shrugged a little when he called her sneaky. “And I’m not sorry about it,” she pointed out. If she had tons of photos of her boyfriend on her phone, she wasn’t going to do anything about it. Katrina looked at her phone again and bit her lip. “Well.. then I guess I’ll just have to get multiple frames and put them all over,” she exaggerated with a smile. “Though, I do have a favorite one of you,” she hinted. After the kiss, she looked back up at him. His words made her sigh in content, glad that no matter what, they were lucky to have each other. 

When he joked about the hotel, she scoffed. “Whose idea was this anyway?” she teased. “Besides, that’s not as fun as doing something like this. I promise, seeing the night sky here will make it worth it.” Drinking more water, she swallowed before he answered her and would’ve spit out her water otherwise. Giving him a look, she rolled her eyes and smirked. Handing him another apple, she bit on her own while looking out in front of her at the river. Katrina shrugged a little, still looking ahead. “You get used to it after a while. You focus on the goal and it makes it all worth it.” She chuckled a little, swallowing her bite of food. “If you’re too exhausted, I guess we’ll have to skip out on tonight,” she hinted and teased in a quiet voice. Kissing his forehead quickly, she rested her hand on his thigh. “I’m proud of you,” she told him with a grin, knowing this wasn’t exactly the level of activity he was used to.

Nick found it really cute to hear that Katrina had tons of pictures of him. He could only imagine how sneaky she had been for a long time now and he wasn’t going to complain about it. He’s taken a few pictures of her too when she wasn’t looking and catching her in the most candid moments is always when she’s most beautiful. So raw and pure and he just falls even more and more in love with Katrina. “We’ll buy frames when we get back. I...might have my own pictures to put up as well.” He smirked, teasing her that she’s not the only one who can be sneaky. When she mentioned about having a favorite picture of him, Nick furrowed his eyebrow in curiosity. “What’s that? Show me! It better not be one of me drooling on the pillow.” He joked, chuckling at her even if he was so eager and curious to see it.

Pouting, Katrina knew well enough that this was all her idea. He was up for camping but to hike so long to get to their camping site, it’s not exactly his thing. But of course, as the good and loving boyfriend he is, he’s gonna give it a try for her. Rolling his eyes playfully, Nick let out a chuckle at her. “I’m with you so I’m sure anything is worth it.” He said, feeling so cheesy as a boyfriend. He had been dropping these lines since they got to Arizona and he’s not regretting them, especially whenever he sees Katrina blush about it. Chuckling, Nick caught the apple she gave him as he moved closer to her. Taking bites, he listened to her answers, always feeling impressed with how determined and passionate she is with the things she does. Nick hissed a little before leaning his head on his girlfriend’s shoulder. “You? Missing out on having sex with me under the stars? I doubt!” He teased, looking around to check if people heard him as he knew how she gets embarrassed when he speaks out loud like that. As she kissed his forehead, he smiled hearing her say that she was proud of him. Even in the simplest things he does, he was glad that she’s proud of him, considering he doesn’t hear much of it his life. “Thank you, babe. I appreciate it.” He said with a genuine smile and a warm heart. 

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

His compliment made her grin and blush. It was cheesy but it still made her feel so good. Katrina always loved how the simplest things he said could make her feel like the luckiest girl on the planet. His response to her plan made her roll her eyes and smirk at him. It definitely made her think of what could happen tonight, and she blushed because of it. “Come on. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can rest.”

She giggled at his reaction, scampering off. She enjoyed being playful with him and it made their time together even more fun. As they appreciated the view together, she smiled, feeling so happy to share this with him. Taking more pictures with him, she smiled wide when he suggested taking another picture an they kissed. Taking multiple, she pulled back and went through her phone to look at them. The one where they kissed was her favorite and it made her so happy. They looked so happy and in love. “I love this one,” she said with a wide grin. Katrina shrugged a little, thinking about the photos that she had. She had to hesitate though when she felt him squeeze and slap her butt. Smirking up at him, she continued. “Well… this weekend, I wanted to have a lot of photos to look back and remember the great time we had. I… may or may not have a few candids of you,” she said with a blush. She couldn’t help but get some of him when he looked so damn cute. “And, I have some of the two of us. I’ll pick my favorite one and put it in my room,” she told him. She shrugged, thinking about it. “It makes me feel better.. just looking at those photos. Reminds me of how lucky I am to have you.”

Heading on down the path, they walked a little farther until they reached the river and the safe zone. Wanting to have their own space, she walked with him to a spot that no one else was. “Alright. Let’s set up here,” she said. Helping him put down the heavy backpack, she then stretched out her limbs. Setting up the tent, they made sure that it was secure and was in a good spot. It took longer than she expected but she wanted to make sure it was really secure and set up properly. Once they were done, she took a deep breath. Sitting down on a rock nearby, she took out an apple and ate it. “Snack?” she asked him, going through her bag. 

They sooner they get there, the sooner they can rest. That’s just Nick’s biggest motivation to keep moving no matter how tired and lazy he is. Having a positive attitude would help too but the biggest help for him is seeing his girl smile big about all these. It’s what makes her happy so he’s just gonna participate in it as much as he can to make her even more happy. It’s all he wants after all. Whenever Katrina would get playful with him, Nick always finds it amusing. It’s not like her to be smacking butts in public but she seemed so happy to be doing it to him. So, he was just returning the favor but with a little more spice. He wasn’t one to take pictures but if it’ll give him a reminder of who she’s with now, then he’s all up for it, even making a statement with one of the pictures by kissing her. “Yeah, I love that too.” He smiled, figuring they should keep having pictures of them kissing from now on. 

Nick smirked at Katrina when she revealed about having pictures of him just from this trip alone. “You sneaky little girlfriend.” He teased, finding it romantic that she wanted their pictures up everywhere. It was adorable and he was up for it. “How can you pick when every picture is your favorite?” He joked, shrugging his shoulders with a laugh. “I guess you’ll just have to get a bigger room to put all our pictures there.” Pulling her closer, Nick nodded at her before giving her a kiss on the lips. “I like it. It’s sweet and I appreciate that. Although, I want you to remember with pictures or no pictures, I am luckier to have you in my life.” He smiled, giving her one last kiss.

Soon enough, they finally reached the safe zone she was talking about and Nick was just out of breath. He feels like they should have bought 10 gallons of water for this trip and it still wouldn’t be enough to take away his heavy breathing. Seeing the river got him excited to take a dip though so that was something he couldn’t wait for. Setting up the tent, he remember her father’s warning of being careful with the tent. Katrina did most of the securing though as she knew this better than he did. Finally, after finishing, Nick sat on the ground to rest. “Please, let’s just get a motel next time.” He joked, taking a drink of his water before walking to where she was seated. “Were you offering the apple or you? Both are a snack to me.” He teased, sitting beside her and wrapping his arms around to rest his face on her arm. “Baby, I’m so tired. How do you find the energy to enjoy these adventures so much?” He asked, more curiously than complaining.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

She laughed a little and nodded. “Of course,” she told him. “Anything to keep you safe.” Even if they were just joking around, she did mean that. While she liked how she felt safe and protected with him, she hoped that he felt the same way. Maybe she couldn’t take down a bear for him, but she would sure as hell try.  Once he was seated, she felt a little better. His eyes went wide when she told him how much further they had, and it made her laugh a little. “Oh, come on. It’s gonna be such a great view,” she assured him. “It’ll be so worth it. We can hang out, get wet to cool ourselves off, and once we’re freshened up, we can walk around more. There’s this really awesome point we can go to and it has one of the best views in the whole park,” she said excitedly. She wasn’t so sure if he was enjoying this but she’d make sure that this was a trip he’d never forget.

Getting up, she gave him a quick kiss before smacking his butt quickly and going ahead of him. Walking along the path, they reached an area that wasn’t treacherous per se, but she knew they needed to be extra careful. Reaching for his hand, she wanted to stay grounded. Maneuvering, she stayed with him until they had cleared it. Stopping to take a few pictures of the view, she found a spot that she really liked. “C’mere,” she said, wanting to take a photo. She remembered how she wanted to have more photos of them, so she figured this was a good time. Not really caring that they were sweaty, she stayed close to him and took a picture of them with the canyon in the back. “Now I can add that to the collection,” she added with a smile. 

As they joked around, Nick nodded, knowing there were some truths to her response. He felt the safest when he’s with her and Nick is sure even if they get attacked by a bear tonight, Katrina would do anything to protect him. Of course, he’d do the same, as long as he doesn’t shit his pants. Rolling his eyes at her, he didn’t need to walk around and exhaust himself if he needed a great view. “I have the best view in the world right here. I don’t need to see the rest of Arizona.” He teased, nodding still as he knew Katrina would appreciate it if he really took the time to enjoy her hometown from a distance. Smiling as she explained the rest of her plans, Nick couldn’t help but feel happy enough with how happy she is. “Yes, wet. I like wet.” He teased her as if it’s the only thing he heard from her.

When she smacked his butt, Nick’s eyes went wide before laughing out loud. “Oh, you like that?” He joked, walking to the same direction but keeping in mind to get back at her from slapping his butt. As she reached for his hand, Nick figured it was a dangerous path so he kept her on the safer side and held her hand tightly. Pulling out his phone, he took a good picture of the view and sent it to his mom. Even if he wasn’t sure where he stood with his mom, he knew she’d appreciate getting an update from his trip. When they found a spot, Katrina pulled him closer for a picture. Keeping her closed, he asked her to do one more and they time, they were kissing with a view on the back. Once they’re done, he took a look at it and smiled. “That’s amazing.” He chuckled, looking at her when she spoke. “Collection? You have a collection? How do I not know this?” He asked curiously, taking the opportunity to smack her butt gently and squeezing it since no one’s around anyway.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

Hearing his words, she smirked back and shook her head. “We’ll see, Langford,” she said before heading off. It felt really nice, walking with him within the landscape. It was one thing to hang around at home, but doing something fun like this reminded her that they really were together and that they could do things like this whenever they wanted. She wasn’t sure if he’d like doing this a lot, but she wanted to encourage him to stay active with her. After a while, she was able to focus on the benefits of it instead of the pain that came with it. Once he had spotted the falcon too, she looked back at it. “Mhm. From what I’ve heard, handsome men like you are at the top of the menu,” she joked.

When they stopped, she heard his heavy breathing and grinned. After he wiped her face she thanked him before drinking her water. “Come on, babe, sit down. You have to rest your legs,” she asked him. Taking out the map, she looked it over and marked where they were. “A little farther than that,” she said honestly. “We need to get to this point if we’re gonna be in a safe zone,” she reminded him. There were designated areas where it was safe to camp so it would be away from any major wildlife. “Looks like we have another half and hour,” she told him. “But, once we get there, we can set up the tent, hang out a little, and then explore some more? There’s a river that we can cool off in.” Drinking more, she folded the map and put it back in the pocket. She tightened her ponytail and looked out at the view and grinned. 

Participating in activities like this, Nick felt more and more involved with Katrina’s world and as tiring as it was, he really loves getting to know more about his girl. It was challenging but lucky her, he loves her so much that it wasn’t an issue for him to go through this. When she joked about the falcon eating handsome men first, Nick shook his head and chuckled. “Luckily, I have a very protective girlfriend who would rather be eaten by a bird than let her handsome boyfriend get attacked, right?” He joke, taking the opportunity to kiss her on the cheek. He wasn’t sure if she was entirely joke so he was grateful that they just started moving along.

When she asked him to sit down, Nick got tempted and sat on the rock beside her. They were sweaty already so he didn’t make any close contact with her, knowing they both need air. Seeing how far they still got, his eyes went wide and he could feel himself get even more tired. It was still a long hike and he really underestimate this adventure she planned for them. Nick thought it was just a quick walk but it looks like they’ll be hiking more than they’ll be sleeping tonight. “Babe, anywhere’s a safe zone. I brought repellent stickers for us.” He told her, remembering the cartoon designed ones he got from the convenient store. He wanted to groan hearing how long they still have but this is what makes Katrina happy. So, no matter how tired they are, Nick nodded at her with an awkward smile. She had a lot planned for them and seeing her happy was enough for him to move forward. “Cooling off sounds good. Let’s go so we can get to the river sooner.” He said, wiping her face again with his towel before getting up to show his enthusiasm. Walking up the trail again, Nick could feel himself sweat some more, letting Katrina lead the way as she knows this better than him.

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

Once they were both lathered up with sunscreen, she smiled at him. She took the map and was so excited for their adventure together. He was carrying the bigger bag which she was appreciative of and knew she wouldn’t go too fast so he could take his time with it. She looked down at his shoes and grinned. “Sounds perfect,” she said to him. After he told her what had happened with her dad, it made her so happy that they were getting along. But it was another level that he was giving him shoes so he would be comfortable and safe on their hike. “They look great,” she added before pecking his lips. “Just let me know when you want to take a break and we can stop and enjoy the view, okay?”

Starting on the path, she was glad that it was starting off pretty flat so they could appreciate the area. They were at the bottom of the canyon and she smiled, loving the warmth on her skin. She stayed close to him and took her time. There were a few areas where they had to watch their step so they wouldn’t trip, but she knew Nick was agile enough to evade it. From a distance, she spotted an animal and her eyes were wide. “Look!” she said. Narrowing her eyes, there was a falcon rested on a rock. She took out her phone and snapped a picture, wanting to document every part of this trip. 

Once the path became an incline, she was beginning to sweat a little. It was a good workout and great to look at the views. Thinking it was a good time to rest, she took her bag off and sat on a rock, looking at the view. They weren’t too high up yet but it was gorgeous nonetheless. She went through her bag and took out two of their water bottles. Before drinking hers, she handed him one, wanting to make sure he’d stay hydrated and wouldn’t pass out on her.

Nick smiled, knowing how Katrina appreciated his surprising interaction with her father. He could really tell that it was a good trip for the both of them and he was glad he stayed until the end. She looked so excited and he wished he wasn’t the lazy ass that he is to be as excited as she was. It’s not that he didn’t like hiking, it was just in his nature to be more of a bum than take adventures such as this. Rolling his eyes playfully, Nick let out a laugh when she told him to tell her if he needed a break. “Babe, I’ve been doing push ups every morning since we got here. Hiking is just a blink of an eye for me.” He teased, giving his girlfriend a cute wink.

As they started of a flat path, Nick just took his time to enjoy the walk. It was warm and even though there were other people hiking too, it was good to have some alone time with his girlfriend doing what she loves. He wanted to hold her hand but figured that’s not what hikers do so he just kept a good hold onto the bag as they walked. When Katrina pointed at a distance, Nick tried to see what it was and he found it so cool to see a real falcon in person. “That’s so cool.” Watching as Katrina took a picture, Nick looked at it from the screen with a smile. “Is it not gonna come here and...eat us alive or something?”

Soon during their hike, the path was beginning to feel harder to walk on. Nick could feel his breathing go heavy as well as his heart beat. This would’ve felt better if they were just having sex instead. Suddenly, Katrina stopped and took a seat on a rock. “What, babe? Tired already?” He asked, breathing heavily before laughing. Walking closer to her, Nick remained standing knowing he wouldn’t be able to get up once he sits. Seeing her sweat, Nick grabbed his hand towel from his pocket and wiped her face a little before taking the bottle and drinking to re hydrate. “How far is our base camp, anyway? Like 5, 10 minute walk from here?”

[mskatrinaballerina]

grand canyon | 08

[nicklangford]

mskatrinaballerina:

They were leaving tomorrow night, and she wanted to make the most of their time together. She had promised him a trip to the Grand Canyon, so that’s exactly where they were going to go. After some convincing, her parents had allowed them to stay out over-night, as long as they took the necessary precautions. Her father was slowly beginning to trust Nick, which sent Katrina over the moon. She just hoped that everything went smoothly so that her dad didn’t change his mind. It meant a lot to her that they were there and she wanted to have a good time before they went back to school. Who knew what would be waiting for them when they returned. 

Once they parked the car at the visitor’s center at the Grand Canyon, she got out of the car to get their bags out in her workout shorts, sneakers, and top. They had a larger backpack that held the contents of the tent that they could set up for tonight, with another one that held anything else they would need. She was all set for the hike and she put her hair up in a ponytail, rubbing sunscreen on her body so she wouldn’t burn. It wasn’t super hot out but the sun was bright. Going to her boyfriend, she put some sunscreen on her fingers before rubbing his face. “Alright. I’ve got the map in the front pocket. We should be all set to go,” she said with a smile. 

Thankfully, Katrina’s parents had allowed them to stay overnight for their hike. Not being the most athletic kid in the world, Nick knew he’d pass out as soon as they find ground there. He couldn’t say that to her parents but apparently, his stay at the Mahers was a good foundation for them to build a trust on him as their daughter’s boyfriend. Not only that but the morning before the hike, Katrina’s dad saw that Nick had only packed sneakers. He was surprised when he got a knock on his bedroom door and Katrina’s dad gave Nick the proper shoes for hiking. “You’re gonna need good shoes if you don’t want to drop your bags. Carry the tent, don’t let Katrina carry it. It’s expensive.” He warned Nick and Nick thanked him with a big smile on his face. 

As they got out of the car, Nick grabbed all their bags to make sure he’d be carrying the heavier ones. He could tell that the sun would burn their skin even if it wasn’t the hottest weather in Arizona. Katrina started rubbing some sunscreen on his face and he just grinned wide at his girlfriend. Reaching for the front pocket, Nick gave her the map. “Okay, babe. Lead the way. I’m just...gonna follow you wherever you’d go with my new extra comfy shoes.” He smirked, showing off the shoes her dad gave her. He was really proud of it because it felt like a big step with his relationship with her family.