Agree to keep it casual

You take a deep breath and let out a shaky sigh of relief at her surprisingly calm response. “Thank... thank you,” you manage to **** out. “I really thought you would hate me.”

“Oh, come on, John,” she reassures you with a soft chuckle. “After everything we’ve been through? I think we can handle this little bump in the road. Plus, it might even make things more interesting,” she adds teasingly.

You smile tentatively, your shoulders slowly starting to relax. “Okay... if that’s what you want,” you agree, still a bit unsure of how this new dynamic will play out.

“It’s not about what I want, silly,” she says affectionately, leaning in to press a gentle kiss onto your forehead. “We agreed on open communication and compromise, right? So let’s give it a chance and see where things go.”

You nod in agreement, grateful for her understanding. “Yeah... we do,” you murmur softly, still processing the surprising turn of events.

“Great!” She claps her hands together excitedly. “So, let’s get ready then! I only have a few hours before I need to get on the road.”

You nod again in agreement, still a bit dazed by how well things have gone considering the bombshell you just dropped on her. But, you remind yourself, you knew that Jennifer was strong and adaptable - she always had been. And if anyone could handle this new development with grace and maturity, it would be her.

“Any chance I’ll be able to meet her before I leave?” Jennifer asks.

“Umm... sure,” you stammer, realizing that you hadn’t even thought about introducing them properly yet. “I mean, yeah, of course! Um... let me just text her and see if she’s free.” You quickly grab your phone from the nightstand and send a message to Mandy.

After a few tense seconds, you breathe a silent sigh of relief when you receive a cheerful affirmative. “She says yes!” You grin triumphantly at Jennifer. “She suggested that we meet for lunch.”

“Sounds good,” she says with a small smile.

After a quick shower and some hurried packing, you and Jennifer head out towards a quaint little café that’s only a short walk away from campus.

You arrive to find Mandy already sitting on the patio. You and Jennifer quickly join her, and you introduce them to each other. Turns out they had some AP classes together last year and were even lab partners, so they knew each other fairly well.

At lunch, Mandy and Jennifer are getting along great and are having quite an animated conversation about something. You’ve been so distracted just thinking about the events of last night, that you don’t pay them much attention. Every now and then they’ll sneak a glance your way. You catch snippets of their conversation: “... never thought he was into that kind of stuff...” “Yeah, but it totally makes sense now when you think about it...”

You’ve been so distracted all morning that it takes Mandy tapping on your arm twice before you snap out of your daydream. “Earth to John, Earth to John,” she teases with a giggle, her glasses sliding down the nose bridge just slightly.

“Oh, sorry, what’s up?” you ask sheepishly, meeting her blue eyes and flashing an embarrassed grin.

“Uh, it’s time to go,” Mandy tells you snapping you back into reality.

You both walk Jennifer to her car and after saying goodbye Mandy walks away to give you some privacy.

“I had wonderful weekend…” Jennifer starts with a tear in her eye. “It’s a shame I’m 3 hours away, so every weekend couldn’t be like this.”

“Me too,” you echo softly, your voice cracking slightly from nerves and desire. “I wish it didn’t have to end either.” You lean in close, tilting her chin up so that your eyes are locked on hers, your heart thudding wildly against your ribcage.

Then, like the proverbial matchstick striking a gasoline barrel, you crash your lips against hers in a hungry, **** kiss that leaves no doubt as to what either of you want or need. Her lips are pillowy soft beneath yours, warm and inviting, as her hands snake around your waist, pulling you even closer.

Jennifer moans into the kiss, practically melting against you. Her tongue darts out to tease at your own, and you eagerly reciprocate, her taste electric on your tongue. The world fades away until there is only this moment, this perfect, achingly intense connection between her and you.

Eventually, panting heavily, you reluctantly pull apart from the kiss, foreheads resting against each other’s as you catch your breath. “I need to go,” Jennifer gasps out, a hand lifting up to brush away the moisture that still lingers on her cheeks. “Don’t get into too much trouble,” she adds while climbing into the driver’s seat.

“No promises,” you murmur huskily, giving her one last chaste peck on the lips before reluctantly letting go of her hand and closing the car door.

You can hear her engine revving as she slowly pulls out of the parking lot, waving wildly until she disappears around the corner. With a low groan of frustration, you turn to head back towards your dorm room.