(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]

"Where are we?"

Guinevere set her bike down beside his, craning her neck as she looked around. Most of Sheffield was still new to her, and what she knew about it was from trips like this where Stuart showed her around town. She'd only been there for a few months now even though when she was with him it felt like forever.

"I guess no one would ever find us here."

[crossinglines]

"The old monastery."

He took her by the hand and led her closer to the ancient building. He's always more than happy to show Guinevere around town and teach her about the history.

"Probably not."

[aimlesswonder]

"Is that why you brought me here? Trying to get away?"

Guin was joking, a playful smile curling her lips. Most teenage boys would love to bring their girlfriends someplace off for a sneaky makeout session. But Stuart wasn't like that, not with her. If he took her somewhere it was because he actually wanted to show her something. Which of course only charmed her and made her want to kiss him anyway.

"So how long has this place been here?"

[crossinglines]

"A couple centuries." Stuart looked up at the large building, imagining what life must've been like in there. Natural curiosity.

The cheeky, romantic part of him did think about kissing her right here and he didn't even consider resisting the urge. He cupped her cheek and kissed her softly.

"There's something romantic about this place."

[aimlesswonder]

"Mm." She smiled as they broke the kiss. "You mean other than that there's no teachers here to look over our shoulders."

Since they'd gone public with their relationship there had been the occasional quip from a teacher about not letting herself get distracted by him or noticing the looks they would give each other. But they were both good about not letting that interfere with their studies, or their studies get in the way of their relationship.

Guin walked with him, letting him lead as she looked around and took everything in. She wanted to like this place since she had at least a few more months in Sheffield. Then it would be on to college, and possibly having to say goodbye to both the city and to Stuart. That scared her but she was too nervous to ask.

"Do you come here often?"

[crossinglines]

"Other than that, yeah," Stuart chuckled. It's always refreshing being able to do this without curious eyes staring at them. The more they walked and looked around the place, the more he started to think about things. About them.

"Whenever I need to think." He stopped for a moment and turned to face her. "Guin... What if we went to college together?"

[aimlesswonder]

"What?"

She stopped what she was looking at and turned to look at him. It wasn't the first time he'd broached the subject; he'd asked her before if she'd considered applying to Oxford. But it was the first time he'd explicitly said he wanted her to come with him.

"I...I think I'd like that," she admitted, a little bashfully. "If you'd want that with me."

[crossinglines]

"I want you in Oxford with me. I don't want to split now that we've come this far. I've fallen hard for you." Stuart smiled brightly at her response, giving her another kiss. "Let's continue our story."

[aimlesswonder]

"Maybe we'll get to that happy ending." She kissed him back gently and smiled at him, one arm sliding lovingly around his waist. "I really like you too. I mean, I don't know if I can get into Oxford, but I'd like to come with you. You're the only good thing that's come out of me moving here."

Her grades were more than good enough for Oxford if she actually looked. But she hadn't given it much thought. She had been more nervous about if Stuart wanted to be that serious with her, after she had let her walls down enough to commit to him.

[crossinglines]

"You have a great chance at getting in." Stuart wasn't only saying that, either. Guinever did really good at her exams and she studied hard. "Oxford would be lucky to have you."

And he wanted to commit to her from now on too. She was the love of his life.

[aimlesswonder]

"I guess we'll find out when I apply. I'll do it, for you," she promised. She hadn't decided what she wanted to study in college but knew she wanted to go, to get a better education and a better career.

"Maybe we can get a place together? If...you're ready to live together every day. But I won't know anyone out there other than you and your friends, and no offense but I don't want to share a room with them."

[crossinglines]

"We can get a room together. No more sneaking out at night."

He took a seat on the ruins, tugging her gently to sit next to him and wrapping an arm around her. "We'll be a college couple."

[aimlesswonder]

"Is that really any different?" she asked honestly, sitting down beside him and leaning her head on his shoulder. "I mean, everyone knows about us now. We already spend a lot of time together. I just never expected to fall for you like this."

A long sigh. "I don't even know what I want to do with my life. And then I feel bad for not knowing. But I do know I want it to be with you, Stuart."

[crossinglines]

"I'm glad they know." Stuart wrapped an arm around her shoulders, resting his head against hers. "Don't worry about it. You'll figure it out, Guin... And I want the same with you."

[aimlesswonder]

"I know you do. You've always been honest with me." She smiled at him, reaching a hand up to stroke his cheek affectionately. She appreciated that trust that they had with one another. "You know, for an 18-year-old, you're more of a man than most people I know."

[crossinglines]

"And I always will be. You deserve the absolute best in the world, Guin." He nuzzled her hand with a smile. "I am? Haven't really heard that from anyone before. But I appreciate it."

[aimlesswonder]

"Well, I don't know. Look at the teachers. Do they look like they've got their shit together any more than we do?" she commented with a laugh. "You're a good man, Stuart. I was scared as hell of letting you in the way you wanted me to...but you proved you wouldn't hurt me. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I don't ever want to lose you."

[crossinglines]

"I didn't want to pressure you, but I'm glad you let me in. I never want to lose you either, Guin." A statement that would prove bittersweet five years later, but for now they were both unaware and happy together. "I promise I'll stay by your side."

[aimlesswonder]

“I believe you. We can do all sorts of things together.” She smiled encouragingly. “We can do anything we want. Doesn’t that sound wild?”

[crossinglines]

"Anything we want. A whole new adventure together," Stuart grinned, kissing her softly a few times. The more he thought about it the more excited he got for their future.

[aimlesswonder]

"You're such a dork," she replied but she was kissing him back and wholeheartedly in agreement with his statement. Infinite possibilities. If only she knew which one she wanted.

[crossinglines]

"A dork who's finding it hard to resist kissing you right now," he murmured as he cupped her cheek. Meeting her had opened his eyes to things he could only imagine before.

[aimlesswonder]

"Notice I'm not objecting." She laughed softly before she returned his kiss. Guin wasn't one of those girls who was always trying to fool around, but if he wanted to she was almost always agreeable. Guin enjoyed their time together as much as Stuart did. "You know how special you are to me."

[crossinglines]

"You're special to me too, Guin." He smiled, caressing her cheek lovingly.

Unlike many other boys, Stuart had more than sex on his mind. But he also couldn't deny how beautiful and irresistible Guinevere was.

[aimlesswonder]

"I know. You tell me a lot, and I appreciate that." She smiled gently back at him. He wasn't shy at expressing his feelings to her, even if like most teenage boys he would resist doing so in front of his friends, so that they wouldn't make fun of him for it. But she liked hearing from him that she was valued.

"What would you want to do?" she asked, knowing they could sit and talk for hours. "If you could do anything."