Chapter VII: The Trip Home
Story’s timeline: 17/05/2023 late at night
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The students were walking and Adelle worriedly looked around for Nick. Nick was way behind with another group of students. Adelle kept thinking about what would happen if Nick forgot to sit next to her. She knew he wouldn’t forget but there was an aching worry that it would happen. The bus had already arrived. Adelle started overthinking about what would happen. She knew she’d better ask Shanice what to do.
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Adelle: Shanice? Nick is all the way behind. How will I ask Nick to sit next to me again? Go up to him and ask him.
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Shanice: Just do that.
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Adelle: Alright then.. I hope this goes well.
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Adelle walked up close to Nick.
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Nick: So we’re sitting next to each other again?
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Adelle: Yes. (said as she smiled)
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Nick smiled back at her and let Adelle walk up the bus first. Adelle felt so lucky to know this gentleman as her crush. Like earlier, she rushed into the seat and got the window seat again. She looked at Nick and smiled at him again. Adelle couldn’t help but smile. Nick just made her too happy. She even took out her phone for a little bit to banter on text with Shanice.
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Adelle sat awkwardly next to Nick.
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Nick: We’ve met again.
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Adelle: Yes we have. Ooo there’s a paper in this compartment. (a paper stuck in between the hook of the bus seat)
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Adelle: Mirror mirror on the wall. Your birthday is on 2nd May.
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Nick: What? That’s my birthday!
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Adelle: Wait really?
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Nick: Yes!
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Adelle: Are you joking..?
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Nick: No.
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Adelle: The paper was empty. I just said whatever that was on my mind.
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Nick then stared at Adelle like she was some sort of psychic. Adelle just smiled at him and turned to the window to overreact.
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Adelle: Do you ever use photoshop for anything? Have you ever used it for anything?
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Nick: No but I’d use it to edit my pimples.
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Adelle’s POV:
To be honest, I never noticed Nick had pimples. He’s just so perfect in my eyes.
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Adelle: Speaking of pimples, when I care about my face, I get pimples, but when I don’t care the pimples disappear.
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Nick: You don’t have to care about them then.
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Adelle: Well, if I really don’t care, my face would look like pepperoni pizza. Or like my face now.
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Nick: Pepperoni pizza is still nice you know?
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Adelle was speechless and just smiled at him again. She looked in front and blushed a little. She had more small talk with Nick and it just made Adelle so happy. However, her happiness started fading away as she took a look at the familiar highway. The same highway the bus travelled across at the start of the trip. They were coming back on campus soon. Adelle knew she had to talk as much as she could.
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Adelle: Do teachers use you as a good example during attire checks?
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Nick: Yes. I even conduct the attire check sometimes.
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Adelle: WHAT HOW?
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Adelle: Isn’t it annoying to cut your nails? (as Adelle stared at her long nails)
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Nick: I don’t like cutting my nails.
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Adelle: Would you report my nails to the teacher? (Adelle showed Nick her nails)
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Nick: No.
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Nick: Actually, your nails look quite nice.
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Nick’s POV:
Her nails look so nice. It looks so solid, Her fingernails are natural, slick and glossy. Such nice nails. Now why didn’t I notice it earlier?
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Adelle: Oh thank you. (she said as she smiled)
Nick started staring at Adelle with his huge, deep eyes without blinking. Adelle chuckled a little and stared back while staring away to keep her composure. Her gaze kept turning back to meet Nick’s eyes as Nick continued staring. “Is this a staring competition?” asked Adelle. “Yes, and you’ve already lost,” replied Nick. Adelle then gave Nick a little jump scare and he got a little scared. Nick blinked and Adelle laughed. Her laughter seized when she noticed the even more familiar road.
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“We’ve arrived,” Adelle said with a sad tone in her voice. She didn’t want to say goodbye to Nick. Nick stared at Adelle longingly.
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Nick’s POV:
We’ve arrived… I don’t want to go. I really don’t want to leave her. If only I could just give her a hug before we leave... I know what to do now.
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Adelle and Nick alighted the bus together and stood by the school. The moon glowed brightly and beamed radiantly on the trees and ground. There, Nick and Adelle were standing. Dead in the night with absolute silence, besides the students rushing for the last train in the subway and the crickets chirping. They stared into each other’s eyes. Nick reached out his arms and wrapped his arms around Adelle’s waist. Adelle squealed a little but quickly loosened up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Their bodies touched each other and they both stood there in an embrace.
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Adelle’s POV:
OH MY GOODNESS I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M HUGGING NICK RIGHT NOW. He is so huggable like my teddy bear. Oh if only he could replace the teddy bear on my bed. I just feel so loved right now. I think he loves me. He really does.. I love him so much.
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Nick’s POV:
Adelle is so cute and pretty especially when I hug her. I love her. To be honest, when I first saw her sleeping in class, I thought she was really cute. I know she’s been watching me every recess. It’s so cute. Now I realised... I already fell in love with her the first time I met her but she kept running away and I thought she disliked me. So I gave up on chasing her. But now, I get my true love’s hug from her!
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After their long embrace, Nick and Adelle stared at each other in awkward silence. Adelle broke the silence with a shaky voice, still in shock from what had just happened.
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Adelle: Why did you hug me?
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Nick: It felt right. I thought you’d want one.
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Adelle: You’re right. That felt great actually. I needed that.
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Nick: I’m glad you liked it.
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<awkward silence>
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Nick: Shall I send you home?
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Adelle: Oh you don’t have to.
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Nick: It’s already 11 pm... It’s late. I want to make sure you’re safe.
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Adelle: Only if you insist.
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They started walking towards the subway together. Adelle stared down at her feet, amazed at what had just happened. It took a while for Adelle to make sense of what had just happened. Then when she did. She started blushing heavily. She grabbed Nick by the shoulder and dug her face into his chest.
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Nick’s POV:
OH MY OH MY OH MY I CAN’T BELIEVE SHE’S ACTUALLY DOING THIS. SHE’S SO ADORABLE WHEN SHE’S EMBARRASSED. I DON’T THINK SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE JUST DID...
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Adelle: I can’t stop thinking about what you did just now.
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Nick: Oh I’m sorry, did I scare you? I know this may come off as creepy but I think I caught a little something from me earlier.
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Adelle: Caught what?
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Adelle’s POV:
Did I really just bury my face into his chest? I can’t believe I did that. It’s so embarrassing.. And now he said I caught something from him. I think I know what it is. I caught his heart, didn’t I? Okay Adelle, don’t go feral now, and don’t do what you just did. Maybe he meant something else. He means something else doesn’t he?
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Nick: You caught my heart.
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Adelle gasped. Her jaw dropped in shock. She felt a surge of euphoria run through her veins as she rejoiced internally. She smiled once again.
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Adelle: OH MY GOODNESS I CAN’T BELIEVE IT.
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Adelle: Well.. you caught my heart too.
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Nick said nothing and looked over at Adelle. It felt as if time stopped just for him to look at his beloved Adelle. He was thinking of his future with Adelle when the train arrived. Adelle’s train was going in a different direction from where he was supposed to go but he didn’t mind and just went in with Adelle.
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When Adelle alighted at her stop, they waved each other goodbye and walked away. After walking a reasonable distance away from Nick, Adelle started covering her face and silently screeching.
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Adelle’s POV:
How sweet of him to follow me to my stop. He really is the one.. And that hug? I could dream about it all day. I just... miss him already. I wish he and I could just remain in that position forever. If only I could just take him home. Maybe I could give him a gift. I know I don’t typically do gifts but... he’s worthy so I don’t mind.
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