(no subject)

[crossinglines]

After school ended that day, Stuart surprised Guinevere by taking her to see the old monastery a few miles away. It had always been one of his favourite places in Sheffield, a nice piece of history to look at and touch. He hoped she could appreciate it too.

"So... Here we are," he grinned, leaving his bicycle by the tree.

Comments

[aimlesswonder]

"Didn't think I was that smart." Guin chuckled softly, resting her head against his shoulder as he held her against him. "Mm but yeah. Warmer would be nice. Where do you want to go?"

[crossinglines]

He kissed her softly. "We could go get some coffee or another warm drink."

[aimlesswonder]

"We could go to that sandwich place we like. Get some soup, sandwiches, just relax for a while." Guin suggested. They knew a nice place that had sandwiches, soups, pastries and comfortable chairs; it was a place they could spend an hour or two just relaxing and working on homework. "What time are you supposed to be home tonight?"

She just had the dorm to go back to, but she didn't want his family looking for him or worried about him.

[crossinglines]

"Brilliant idea, Guin. I could go for the soup special right about now," Stuart grinned, poking her side playfully. It had become their go-to place when they wanted a more relaxed study environment, along with the delicious smells and good food.

He stood up, his hand in hers. It wasn't a long walk from where they were.

[aimlesswonder]

Guin grabbed their bikes anyway; they could lock them up outside, and not leave them here on the off chance someone else wandered through. She nudged him back as they walked.

"You still didn't answer my question," she replied. "Or are you skipping out on home for a little while?"

[crossinglines]

He walked his bike with his free hand, shrugging slightly. "I feel like there's this certain kind of atmosphere there lately. I'd much rather be with you, Guin." Stuart's parents expected him to be this great, successful person and it didn't really help with the stress he was under. Guinevere was the one thing keeping him sane right now.

[aimlesswonder]

"You know if it ever gets to be too much you can always stay with me." She nodded. "I mean it's just one bed, a tiny bathroom and a fridge, but hey. Everyone knows now you sneak out of there sometimes."

[crossinglines]

"Cheers, Guin. I might take you up on that offer tonight." He smiled at her. "Yeah, it's not really a secret anymore."

[aimlesswonder]

"Think it stopped being a secret when we told everyone we were dating." Guin chuckled softly. "I appreciate you saying something, too. I know most guys wouldn't want to put it out there like that. Especially not with me."

[crossinglines]

"I had no hesitation whatsoever. I'd shout it from a rooftop, if possible," Stuart said, nudging her side gently. "Those guys are twats, Guin."

[aimlesswonder]

"Well it doesn't matter anymore because I'm with you." She smiled back at him. "So what are you going to study at college?"

[crossinglines]

"I'm a lucky lad." Stuart gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Good question. I've been thinking about it a lot lately. Business maybe.. Or law. What about you?"

[aimlesswonder]

"I don't know. Guess I'll have to see what they offer." She shrugged as they arrived, locking up their bikes before stepping into the cafe. "Maybe literature. Or political science. Why don't you snag us a couple of chairs? Dinner is on me, just tell me what you want."

[crossinglines]

"The special looks nice." Stuart replied, going off to find them a good spot. "A soda to go with it, of course."

[aimlesswonder]

“Your tastes never change.” She laughed and went to fetch their food, coming back balancing a full tray that would keep them busy a while.

[crossinglines]

"Suppose they don't," Stuart smiled sheepishly. He helped her place the tray down. "We won't need to eat anything later, that's for sure."

[aimlesswonder]

“You wanted dessert.” She giggled as she sat down and helped him lay everything out. “What should we talk about?”

[crossinglines]

"Oh yes," he chuckled. "We've talked about school quite a bit, so... I want to hear more about you, baby."

[aimlesswonder]

"What do you wanna know? You've been here for most of it," she pointed out. Guin spent most of her time with Stuart, unless he was off with his friends. "Not much you haven't known about. Aside from stupid stuff with my dad."

[crossinglines]

"If you could do anything right now, what would you choose?"

Stuart's curiosity only grew the more time he spent with her.

[aimlesswonder]

"I don't know, honestly," Guin admitted. She had no idea what form she wanted her life to take just yet. "I think something where I could travel. And not a stuffy office job. I'm not that uptight. But I don't know what that looks like. Maybe I could be a photographer. A travel writer."

[crossinglines]

"A travel writer? That sounds brilliant. I'd be your most faithful reader." Stuart couldn't really see her spending all day at some stuffy office either. She had that certain adventurous side to her which he really loved. "I could help you out too."

[aimlesswonder]

"Maybe. I mean, I'm not the world's best writer but it'd allow me to travel the world, see new things. That'd be interesting at least." She shrugged a bit, the question bothered her more than she let on. "I guess I'm still trying to sort it all out. I don't have myself together like you do."

[crossinglines]

Stuart noticed it with a longer glance, feeling a little bad for asking such a big question. "I'm sorry, Guin. I didn't mean to put you on the spot or put that pressure on you. The school already does that enough." He reached for her hand, squeezing it lightly.

[aimlesswonder]

"I just don't know," she admitted, looking down for a moment before she met his eyes. "And it scares me that I don't know. What if we get out of college and I don't know what to do with my life?"