Catastrophic Happenings

Between Ben’s move to college and Azalea’s new hectic schedule, the couple didn’t see each other hardly as much as they needed to. They weren’t used to being apart. And even though Ben’s dorm was less than an hour away from Azalea, the two were lucky if they saw each other once every two weeks. Thankfully, they managed to work out a sleepover at Ben’s dorm since she was off the next day because of a teacher’s retreat.

“Don’t take me home tomorrow morning,” she whispered to Ben, trying not to disrupt his roommate’s snoring.

The small width of Ben’s bed caused Azalea to be sandwiched between the wall and Ben’s chest, but she was by no means complaining. They both liked the close contact.

“But I have three classes tomorrow starting at nine, and you know you need all of tomorrow to do the homework that you didn’t do today.”

“Homework, shmome-work,” Azalea said defiantly.

“Well,” Ben began while propping up his elbow, “I can skip Marketing tomorrow, and then-”

“No,” she cut him off. “Don’t skip class for me.” She sighed, “I’m just being over-dramatic.”

When Azalea didn’t say anymore, Ben gazed down at the side of her face. “It’s been hard for me too,” he told her, “missing you so much.”

Azalea gulped at his words. She reflected on the last few months, and all the loneliness she had had to swallow now that Ben had started college. They were used to seeing each other almost every day, and now, they were grateful if they could Skype every other night.

“Talk to me,” he said to her.

She shrugged and pulled her knees up as close to her chest as the space would allow. “It’s not going to fix anything, Ben. So why bother?”

Azalea was speaking out of pure bitterness, and they both knew it.

“I want to talk about it,” Ben declared.

Ben’s roommate snored twice before Azalea eventually said. “Fine. But you start.”

This was how they had always resolved issues. They’d each take a turn to say everything that they wanted to say, everything that they felt and was on their minds. No interruptions, no rebuttals, no yelling.

Ben brought his hand up from around her waist to run it down the length of her arm as he began to speak. “I think I just want to know that you’re still as committed to me as I am to you. I know it’s been hard for you to find the time for me...and I guess I just don’t want you to one day give up when you realize that it’d be easier if we broke up. And I’m not going to lie to you, there are so many temptations here. But, I know I want you. Even if it’s this hard.”

Azalea smiled when she heard the end of his speech, and a burden was lifted off of Ben’s shoulders the moment he saw that smile. He knew they were okay.

“My turn?” she asked.

“Mhm.”

“I hated walking around campus with you today.” Now that she was certain of Ben’s devotion, she didn't have to be so serious. “So many girls, with bigger boobs, that would sleep with you in an instant if you offered. And like you said, if you wanted to cheat on me it’d be so easy, especially since I’d have no way of finding out. I know that you never would, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t cross my mind. And just like you’re worried I’ll ditch you for the band, I’m worried you’re gonna realize that you've outgrown your high school girlfriend.” She stopped talking to turn on to her back. “But I’m always going to want you too, babe. You know that.”

Ben leaned down and kissed her. Then he pulled away to see if she had anymore to say before continuing.

She didn’t.

He swept away the hair covering the side of her face and placed a kiss on her temple. And then one on her cheek before returning back to her lips. She returned the kiss in full, and moved to the center of the bed as he shifted his body on top of hers. Azalea shivered as he felt his hand move upwards underneath her shirt.

The kiss was broken when she rolled her head to the left to look at the sleeping boy barely laying ten feet away from them.

“Don’t worry, Patrick’s a really heavy sleeper,” he said fervently.

Ben leaned back down to kiss her full on the mouth, and this time Azalea arched her back forward as Ben gathered up the hem of her shirt.