"Alright everyone, ready to go?" Mother called from the driver's seat. "Is everyone strapped in?"

A chorus of "yes"'s met her inquiry as she started the car. I turned to look behind me at the house before the minivan took off through the neighborhood, knowing that this was the last time that I would see that house with Connor by my side.

My mother and I were driving the Hall's to the airport as the final part of their trip to Sacramento for Spring Break. My mother drove, while Aria accompanied her in the passenger seat, Mr. and Mrs. Hall sat in the middle row, and Connor and I in the back, squished together by all the luggage that surrounded us. For a family of only four, the Hall's certainly did not pack lightly; I was tempted to ask if one of them if it was moving day.

Connor's hand was in mine and I had my head resting on his shoulder as we pulled onto the main road towards the airport. I wished desperately for the Halls to stay longer, but there was simply no way; Connor and Aria had to get back to school on the other side of the country.

In my head a whirlwind of activity was taking place, reflecting on the events of the night before and wondering how in the world I had gotten so lucky. The only thing I could think of that would have made the night before better was if I hadn't been bitten by so many mosquitos.

The fact was, Connor was an incredible guy. He was an amazing, sweet, intelligent guy and I couldn't honestly believe that he was sitting next to me, of all people, letting me drift off to sleep on his shoulder and holding my hand in his.

***

Seventeen hours earlier

"This is very important, Sydney, so don't move a muscle." Aria instructed me as she stood behind me, staring in the mirror as she attempted to do my hair. "I know it's just a date, but you want to look your best. What if he takes you somewhere fancy?"

"He would have told me that, Aria." I laughed as I looked at myself in the mirror, makeup done and outfit on. "I don't think he would be so cruel as to let me walk into a fancy restaurant underdressed."

"Hmm, maybe not." Aria agreed. "So do you not want the updo, then?"

"I don't think so." I shook my head. "Just a bun or something would be fine."

"Got it." Aria nodded, taking my hair out of the pins she had put in already and letting it fall loosely around my shoulders. "High bun?"

"Yes. Otherwise, I would look bald."

Aria nodded in agreement before gathering my thick hair into a bun on the top of my head within seconds. I thanked her repeatedly as I gathered my purse, phone, and wallet, and left the room to head downstairs.

"Wow." I heard Connor's voice as I descended down the staircase. "You're breathtaking."

I blushed as I stepped down onto the floor and looked down sheepishly. "Thank you. You look very handsome." I nodded towards his plaid collared shirt and khaki shorts. "Very frat-esque."

He rolled his eyes as he took my hand.

"I guess I'll take the compliment. Are you sure you're okay with me driving your car?"

"Since I don't know where we're going, yes, that's perfectly fine." I laughed. "Just don't crash it, please."

"I'll try." Connor nodded seriously as we made our way out the door.

***

"How did you do this?" I gasped as I stepped out of the car and onto the beach. "Connor?"

Before me laid a picnic on the sand, complete with all sorts of food and drink, directly in front of the setting sun. I turned to look at Connor, who simply had a small smirk on his face and shrugged nonchalantly.

"I have my ways." He said before leading me to the blanket and sitting down with me. "I just wanted to make sure that our first date was as magical as it could be."

"You're so wonderful." I remarked as I picked up a strawberry. "How did I land a guy like you?"

"I guess we can thank Sulley and Leslay for that one." Connor laughed as he started to eat some potato salad. "They have no idea just how much they've changed our lives."

"That's for sure." I nodded in agreement. "Who would've thought that this would come out of a pen pal assignment?"

"It's the best school project I've ever had the pleasure of completing...and the only school project I actually enjoyed completing." He winked at me. "Now, before we continue, I have a very serious—what do you want?" he snarled, looking directly behind me.

I turned around to see none other than Kevin Long approaching us by himself. The cocky, self-righteous guy from the beach jam had completely vanished, to be replaced by a somber man who appeared to be deeply grieved.

"Hear me out." He mumbled as he stumbled up to us. "I have a question."

Connor and I exchanged glances, each of us clearly wondering where the actual Kevin Long had gone.

"What?" Connor spat.

Kevin gulped and took a deep breath.

"Delaney and I are over." He whispered.

I wasn't sure if I was supposed to start crying with him or if it was appropriate to do what my gut was telling me to do and start jumping up and down and screaming for joy.

"Oh." Connor said.

"Sorry to hear that." I managed to get out before whipping around and covering my mouth with my hand to keep from laughing.

"Whoa, man, what are you doing?" Connor asked as I felt Kevin moving towards us again. Out of nowhere, I felt the blanket ripped out from under me and the food went flying in the air. I heard Connor screaming bloody murder at Kevin as the latter started laughing hysterically.

"Gotcha!" Kevin screamed, continuing to laugh like a hyena.

"You and Delaney didn't break up?"

"Oh, we did, but I just don't care." Kevin smirked. "I just was driving back from a friend's house after she texted me and saw you guys out here, so I decided to give you one last thing to remember me by, Hall!" he ran off, screaming wildly and jumping in the air like a toddler.

"He's probably drunk." I shook my head, turning back to face Connor.

"I'm so sorry, Syd." Connor whispered. "This is totally ruined, our first and only date, ruined, I'm so sorry—"

"Don't be sorry!" I cried. "Connor, remember what you said to me when we were hiding in Kevin's bushes? How when you're doing something with me, you're happy? Well, the only thing that I care about right now is you. I loved the picnic and everything you did for me, but when it comes down to it, you're the only important thing here. I don't care about all the stuff, I care about you."

Connor looked at me for a long time before taking a deep breath and speaking.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

The question took me by such surprise that I could actually feel my eyes bug out of my head.

"What?"

"Oh gosh. I'm sorry. It's too soon. But I just figured, you know because you're so great and then Kevin pulled such a crap move and you're still in good spirits and I mean I wanted to ask you anyways, and then you said that you cared about me and I figured that it was okay to ask you now, but I mean I understand that you don't want to and everything and that's okay, it's just that I don't want to leave here with things still left unsaid and everything, so I just wanted to ask and I understand if you don't want to—"

I grabbed the front of his shirt in my hand and pulled him towards me, knocking over what was left of the picnic as I pressed my lips against his, silencing his admittedly adorable rambling.

"Yes." I whispered as we broke apart. "Took you long enough to ask."

Connor's eyes grew wide and his smile grew wider as he embraced me again.

"Sydney, I hope you know that I'll never let you go."

I felt as if my heart was going to explode with a level of happiness I had never felt before.

"I know."

***

"Okay guys, only ten more minutes until the airport!" my mother's voice woke me up as we went around a sharp left turn. "Everybody wake up!"

"We're awake." I groaned groggily. "What time is it?"

My mom shrugged.

"Aria, can you check your phone? The clock on the car broke about a month ago."

"It's in the back, sorry." Aria replied, her voice clearly signaling that she had just woken up. "Where's yours?"

"In my pocket. Hang on." My mom fished around in her pocket for her phone as we neared a stoplight, closing in on the airport.

"It is...12:03. We have plenty of time before your flight!"

There was no way to prevent the following events, and there was nothing anyone could have done in any situation. My head seemed to move in slow motion, the only real thing being Connor's presence beside me.

My mom went to put her phone back in her pocket and looked up at the light. The light turned green and she stepped on the gas, going out into the intersection. A loud honk sounded from beside us, on the left, right next to the window by my head, but the other car was way too close for either driver to do anything about it.

I felt the car screech to a stop and the window next to me shattered instantly. I saw Mr. Hall cover Mrs. Hall's head with his arm and pull her closer to him. I felt Connor pull me towards him and felt his arm wrap around me, but that was the last thing I felt. My eyes closed and my head banged into the window, while everything around me went totally and completely dark.

A/N: Happy Wednesday update! Just so you know, that very artsy picture that Connor posted of Sydney is actually me. I try to be creative.

So there are only a few chapters left of Dear Sydney! (probably like 2-3 more chapters, I'm not sure yet) SOOOO if you guys have any ideas at all about a sequel/spin-off just comment them below, because I don't have any.

What did you think of their date? Was it alright? What about the ending? Ahhh! That actually wasn't in the original plan but I mean let's just go with it.

Thank you all for your support and love! Dear Sydney was #37 in Teen Fiction this past week, which was AWESOME! And it's approaching 50k reads! Whaaaaaaat? (Again, Daveed Diggs)

Remember to check out Recalling Lincoln Carter! Things are starting to heat up in that one too, so check it out! It just recently hit 1k reads!

Also, I'm seriously considering publishing Dear Sydney in print form, so I hope that's something you all would be interested in!

-Katherine