(lauryn's outfit for this chapter)

Lauryn and Conrad went back to college which made them sad since they weren't in the same college, but they called and texted and facetimed all the time. They visited each other whenever they could, getting a lot of surprise visits as well. It was hard going back to college after being gone for the summer, but they both slowly got back into routine. Lauryn was currently at the library, working on her homework when she heard her phone buzzed. She grabbed her phone, smiling at the picture on her lock screen. It was a selfie Conrad took with her during spring break, his arms around her and her smiling brightly. Her background was a picture of the sunset over the ocean. She smiled at seeing Conrad calling her. 

"Hey, Coco!" She said excitedly. Since they didn't go to the same college, their phone calls were a precious way for Lauryn to feel connected to Conrad.

"Hey, Lulu!" Conrad's voice came through the phone, warm and familiar. His voice still gave her butterflies. "How's the studying going?"

Lauryn leans back in her chair, relief washing over her at the sound of his voice. Just the sound of his voice could brighten her day. "It's going okay," She replies, adjusting her glasses as she glanced at her scattered notes. "I'm making progress, slowly but surely. How about you? How's everything on your end?"

Conrad chuckles lightly. "Oh, you know, same old same old. Just trying to survive the chaos of college life," He said, his voice tinged with humor. "But seriously, I miss you, gorgeous. It feels like forever since we last hung out."

Lauryn nods, even though Conrad couldn't see her. Her heart flutters at what he calls her. He always calls her that and it always makes her flustered. "I know what you mean, Coco. Sometimes it feels like time just flies by, and other times, it feels like it's dragging its feet." She admitted, tapping her pencil against her notebook absentmindedly. Since she started college, she had become more fidgety, a habit she developed whenever she was deep in thought or feeling anxious.

Lauryn's words resonate deeply with Conrad, and he can almost feel her presence across the phone line. "Yeah, time's a funny thing," He agrees, leaning back against his dorm room wall. "But hey, at least we have these calls and visits to keep us connected, right?"

A soft smile tugs at Lauryn's lips as she nods, even though Conrad can't see her. "Definitely," she agrees. "I don't know what I'd do without our chats. They keep me sane amidst all the craziness of college."

Conrad chuckles softly. "Likewise, baby. Likewise." There's a brief pause before he continues, his tone growing more serious. "Hey, um, how have you been holding up since...You know..."

Lauryn's heart skips a beat at Conrad's mention of Susannah. It's still a fresh wound for both of them. "It's been tough," She confesses softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "But having you to talk to helps. And I've been leaning on our memories a lot lately."

Conrad's voice softens. "Yeah, me too," He murmurs. "But hey, we'll get through this together, okay? We're a team."

A small smile graces Lauryn's lips at Conrad's words. "Yeah, baby," She agrees, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. "We're a team."

As they continue their conversation, Lauryn feels a sense of comfort wash over her, knowing that no matter what challenges life throws their way, she and Conrad will always have each other. As Lauryn and Conrad continue their conversation, their words flow effortlessly, carrying with them a sense of companionship and understanding that only deepens their bond. They hadn't realized how late it had been and Lauryn realized she needed to keep working on her homework before the library closed. She really didn't want to end their call, but duty called. So, reluctantly, Lauryn brought the conversation to a close.

"Hey, Coco, as much as I'd love to keep chatting, I really should get back to my homework before the library kicks me out." Lauryn said, her tone apologetic.

Conrad lets out a soft chuckle. "No worries, sweetheart. I understand. Homework calls. Just promise me you'll take breaks and take care of yourself, okay?"

Lauryn smiles warmly, feeling grateful for Conrad's concern. "I promise, Coco. And you take care too, alright? Don't overwork yourself."

"I won't," Conrad assures her. "And hey, let's plan a visit soon, okay? I miss seeing your beautiful face in person."

Lauryn's cheeks grow warm at Conrad's compliment and her heart flutters at the thought of seeing him again. "Sounds like a plan," She agrees, her tone full of affection. "I'll check my schedule and let you know when I'm free."

"Perfect," Conrad says. "Alright, sweetheart, I'll let you go. Talk to you soon, okay? I love you."

"I love you too, Coco," Lauryn replies, feeling her heart swell with love and affection for Conrad. "Bye." As they end the call, Lauryn felt a surge of energy flowing through her, spurring her on to finish her homework so she can plan a visit with Conrad soon. As she gets back to work, her thoughts drift to the boy who's captured her heart and she can't help but feel grateful for the gift of his love and support. No matter what the future holds, Lauryn knows that with Conrad by her side, she can face any challenge and emerge stronger than ever.  

****

(lauryn's outfit for this chapter)

It was the next day at night time when Lauryn decided to call Conrad again. They always either called or text each other good morning and good night. But it was a routine that the two have grown to cherish, knowing that no matter what, they would always have each other to lean on and turn to. She was currently heading to the laundry mat the college had as she called him. Her heart skipped a beat at the pet name he used when he answered. He had been trying out new pet names to use on her and she was loving them. He had told her once he had found an article about what pet names you should call your lover and that was what inspired him to use them.

"Hey, cutie," Conrad's warm voice greets her. Her heart flutters at the nickname. "How's my favorite girl doing?"

"Hey, babe," Lauryn replies, unable to stop the smile from spreading across her face. "I'm doing okay. Just getting ready to do some laundry. You know, the usual." She added with a playful edge.

"Ah, yes, the glamorous life of a college student," Conrad jokes, earning a laugh from Lauryn which caused him to smile. "But seriously, I hope you're taking care of yourself, okay?"

"I am, Coco," Lauryn reassures him, her tone growing soft and tender. "And how about you? Are you taking care of yourself?" She answered, balancing her laundry basket against her hip as she stepped into the laundry mat. The smell of detergent and fabric softener filled her nose as she entered, causing her to wrinkle her nose. She had never been a fan of that smell, finding it too overpowering.

"I'm doing my best," Conrad replies, a hint of humor in his voice. "College life is definitely not easy, but I'm managing. Wish you were here all the time, would make things a lot easier and less boring. Like doing laundry right now."

She pauses when she heard that and raised an eyebrow at that. "Wait, you're doing laundry right now?" She found it ironic how they happened to be doing the same thing, at the same time, despite being in different colleges.

"Uh huh," Conrad replies, a teasing note in his voice. "What, are you saying we're on the same wavelength or something?"

Lauryn lets out a laugh, shaking her head in amusement. "Maybe we are," She replies, her tone matching Conrad's teasing one. "I mean, what are the odds that we'd be doing laundry at the same time, despite being in different colleges? Sounds like fate to me."

Conrad laughs softly, her heart warming at the sound. "Maybe it is fate," He muses, a hint of affection in his voice. "I think that's pretty awesome."

"Me too," Lauryn agrees, her heart fluttering. She walks over to an empty washing machine, setting down her basket. She was glad the place was deserted, it meant no one could hear her gushing over her boyfriend. That momentary feeling of privacy made the conversation feel even more intimate. "Well, since we're both stuck doing laundry, might as well make the most of it and keep each other company, right?"

"Absolutely," Conrad agrees, his voice warm and full of affection. "I wouldn't want to spend my laundry night with anyone else but you, cutie."

Lauryn feels her cheeks flush at Conrad's words, a delighted smile tugging at her lips. "Same here, babe," She murmurs, feeling a rush of warmth spreading through her chest. "So, what else is new on your end?"

As Lauryn and Conrad continue their conversation, the sound of laundry machines humming in the background providing a soothing backdrop, they lose track of time, immersed in each other's company. For Lauryn, talking to Conrad feels like coming home, like she's found her safe haven amidst the chaos of college life. And as they finally bid each other goodnight, promising to talk again soon, Lauryn can't help but feel grateful for the simple joys of love and companionship, even in the most mundane of moments. With Conrad by her side, she knows she can weather any storm that comes her way.

****

It was now Friday and Lauryn had finished with her last class of the day. Her day didn't start out good. She didn't wake up to her alarm and was late to her first class. She barely had any time to grab lunch between classes. But thankfully, she now didn't have anything else to do and she could relax. She currently was curled up in bed, her floral bed spread wrapped around her and her mug covered in stickers full of Coca Cola in her hands. She had her headphones on, watching a movie on her laptop. She was currently watching a Disney movie since she was a big Disney lover.

"So are you going anywhere tonight?" Her roommate, Kassidy asked curiously, pulling her blonde hair into a pony tail. She was currently getting ready which got Lauryn's attention and made her curious. Lauryn now had her headphones around her neck and had paused her movie when Kassidy spoke to her.

"Nowhere, why?" She questioned, raising her eyebrows. Ever since she was roomed with Kassidy, the two got along really well and became fast friends. Kassidy was also dating someone named Ethan and he was a total sweetheart. She met him a few times and was glad that her friend had found a good guy.

"Because you've been in a good mood the whole week." Kassidy chuckles. She grins, turning to face her and sitting crisscross on her bed. "It's 'cause of Conrad isn't it?"

"No..." Lauryn mumbled, a light blush dusting her cheeks as she looked away from Kassidy.

"Yeah, right." She laughs, shaking her head. "It's cute. You guys are like a married couple already. I love it." She tilts her head to the side, looking curious. "Didn't you say you were going to meet up with him this weekend?"

"Yeah, that's the plan." Lauryn nodded, smiling shyly.

"Awesome! I hope you have fun!" Kassidy replied, smiling brightly.

"Thanks. I'm sure we will. I can't wait. It's been a long week." She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Aww. Well, at least you have this weekend to look forward to. And hey, it's Friday, too!" Kassidy adds. "There a party happening tonight, we should go!" She encouraged her friend. 

"But I just got my comfy clothes on." Lauryn complained, flopping back down on her bed with a frown.

"So change." Kassidy laughs. She smiles and walks over to Lauryn's side of the dorm. "Come on, it'll be fun! Let loose for the night. You barely ever go to any parties." She sighs. "You're always studying. Have some fun. It'll be good for you."

"I think I'm good here." Lauryn admitted, curling up in her bed under the covers.

"Laur, come on." Kassidy narrows her eyes at her. "Don't make me drag you there."

"You wouldn't dare." Lauryn shakes her head with a small scoff while she sat up. She pauses as she remembered the time Kassidy dragged her out of bed when she wouldn't get up one morning. "Okay, you really would." She realizes. She groans and reluctantly gets up out of bed. "Okay, okay, fine. But I'm not drinking. I don't like drinking anyway."

"That's fine, you can be the designated driver!" Kassidy's eyes lit up and her lips curled up into a smile, happy that Lauryn agrees to go. "Okay, we gotta pick you out an outfit!" She said excitedly, getting up and heading over to Lauryn's side of the room to her closet. Lauryn laughed at her excitement and rolled her eyes at the red head. But she couldn't stop the smile tugging at her lips. She had a great roommate.

(lauryn's outfit for the party)

(kassidy's outfit for the party)

The two of them decided on an outfit, Kassidy helping her. Kassidy was a fashion major, so she knew a lot about fashion. After Lauryn was done changing, the two of them headed out. Lauryn didn't feel comfortable wearing the outfit she had on, but Kassidy assured her that she looked amazing and had nothing to worry about. Kassidy wore a cute red dress with spaghetti straps and black high heels. Lauryn wore a red over the shoulder blouse, a black skirt, and she wore lace leggings and black boots. She also wore a necklace and some rings. But she felt like the skirt was too short though and she felt like she needed to keep pulling it down.

"Why did I let you talk me into this?" Lauryn complained.

"Because I'm awesome and you need to have fun. Come on, you look hot. Conrad would flip if he saw you like that." Kassidy grinned as they entered the party.

"Yeah, well, he's not here and I'm not drinking so I don't understand why I'm here." Lauryn whined.

"You're here because you need to have fun and have a social life." Kassidy stated.

"I have a social life." Lauryn mumbled, glancing around at the amount of people.

Kassidy shoots her a look. "You spend most of your time in the dorm room or at the library and I'm your only friend here after going to college here for a year."

Lauryn huffs. "Okay, maybe you have a point."

"See?" Kassidy nudges her with a smile. "Just trust me."  

"Fine." Lauryn grumbled.

The two of them went further inside the house, grabbing a drink and talking. They mingled and talked to a few people, getting introduced to others and making new friends. Lauryn still felt uncomfortable and she was just glad she convinced Kassidy to let her wear shoes and not heels with the outfit. Lauryn had to admit that it wasn't all bad and she was actually having a little fun. She had even met some of Kassidy's friends from her fashion classes and they were all really nice. She was glad she didn't stay in her dorm.

A while later, Kassidy and Lauryn were on the dance floor dancing with each other and a few others. The two girls were having fun and letting loose, enjoying their time together. She has gotten a lot better with her anxiety and she knows Kassidy is one of the reasons why. She helps encourages her but knows not to push her to her limit. Just like what Conrad does and she appreciated both of them.

Lauryn needed a break from everything for awhile so now she was in the kitchen by herself. She was leaning against the counter, a bottle of water in her hands. She wasn't a fan of parties, but Kassidy was right. She does need to loosen up and have a social life and get out of her dorm more. She just hopes her roommate doesn't drag her out of the dorm every weekend, otherwise she might not be able to keep up with her social life. It was already overwhelming being here.

She decided to go to an empty room and facetime Conrad, hoping that he will answer. He answered on the first ring and she was so relieved. She had been missing him a lot and she was so glad that she could see him. She didn't realize how much she would miss him and his adorable smile.

"Hey, Lu. Wow, you look stunning." Conrad breathes out, his eyes widening slightly. Lauryn giggles shyly, her face heating up as he said that. Conrad smiles at him and tilts his head to the side. "So, what's up? How are you doing? I miss you." Conrad smiled, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.

"I'm fine, Coco, just been a long week. I miss you too. I'm glad you picked up." She admitted, sitting down on the bed.

"Why wouldn't I? You're my favorite girl. I'm always happy to talk to you." Conrad grins. She giggles again and shakes her head as butterflies swarm in her stomach. He always made her feel special. "Seriously, babe, you look gorgeous. Where are you at all dressed up?" Conrad asked curiously, noticing what she was wearing. He meant what he said, she looked so beautiful. She always did, but now, she looked breathtaking. He wished he was there with her so he could kiss her and hold her.

Lauryn's face turns more red and she ducks her head, feeling shy but also giddy as well because of his compliments and the way he stares at her with love and adoration. "Um, I'm at a party. My roommate wanted me to go." She shrugs. "She convinced me to go and I'm kinda having fun, but you know me. I don't really like parties."

"I know, but it's good that you're trying to step out of your comfort zone. You deserve it." Conrad smiled softly, admiring the girl. He still couldn't believe how lucky he was to have her. She was one of the best things that had happened to him and he didn't regret a single thing.

"Thank you." Lauryn blushed. She was about to reply, but was cut off by another voice.

"Lauryn, come on! I want to introduce you to a few more people." Kassidy says, walking in the room. She smiles at Conrad and gives Lauryn a knowing look, smirking. "Sorry, was I interrupting anything?"

"Shut up, Kass." Lauryn laughs, her face heating up as she got off the bed. "I'll call you later, babe. Apparently I gotta go."

Conrad chuckles. "It's okay. I love you, Lu."

"I love you too, Coco." Lauryn smiled softly, her heart fluttering.

"Great seeing you Kassidy." Conrad added, giving her a small smile.

"You too. Have a good night!" Kassidy smiles as Lauryn ended the call with a wave and a smile. "You better tell me what happened." She whispered, giggling as the two left the room.

"Literally all we did was talk." Lauryn chuckled as she followed Kassidy.

"But the way you two look at each other. So cute." Kassidy grinned and hugged on her arm.

Lauryn laughs, a light blush appearing on her cheeks as her heart raced. She couldn't deny it, Kassidy was right. She found it cute how Conrad looked at her like she was his world. When he looked at her, he made her feel like the only girl in the world. And when he smiles at her, it made her heart race. She loved the feeling and she loved him.

"Hey, what's with the face? Are you okay?" Kassidy questions, snapping Lauryn out of her thoughts. Then she smiles widely and nudges her. "You were thinking about Conrad, weren't you?"

"Shut up." Lauryn grumbled, feeling her face get warmer as the blush darkened.

"You totally were!" Kassidy teases, giggling. "You are so adorable." She smiled while they went out to where the party kept going. "Come on, I'll buy you a drink."

"You're a terrible influence." Lauryn shook her head, sighing as she reluctantly followed her, but she had a smile on her face.

"But you still love me." Kassidy smirked, nudging her playfully.

"Yes, unfortunately, I do." Lauryn chuckled.

"I'll take it." Kassidy grinned and began leading her to the drinks. Lauryn didn't have any alcohol because se just didn't like drinking and plus it reminded her of how her parents died because of a drunk driver. It was a good thing that Kassidy understood and never pushed her to drink.

Lauryn and Kassidy talked and hung out with other people for the rest of the night. Lauryn was actually having a lot more fun than she had before and she was thankful to have such an awesome roommate. When she first went to college, she had been so scared and nervous about who her roommate would be. She had heard horror stories of having a bad college roommate and she definitely didn't want that. But not only did she get a roommate, she also got a best friend and she was glad.

Lauryn was about to leave and head back to the dorms since it was getting late, but she didn't want to leave Kassidy there. Sure, Kassidy wasn't alone because she has her other friends and her boyfriend, Ethan, was with her so she knew Kassidy would be in good hands. She had met Kassidy's boyfriend a few times and he was very sweet. He was the type of guy that she knew would treat her friend right. Lauryn remember when Kassidy and Ethan were first talking, Kassidy always had a big smile on her face and was often giggling while talking with him. She and Ethan had been dating for only a few weeks now, but they were still going strong and Lauryn was happy for them.

"Are you sure you don't wanna stay a little longer?" Kassidy asks, her lips forming into a pout after Lauryn had told her she was going back to her dorms. "The night is still young. We could have a lot more fun."

"I would, but I'm kinda tired." Lauryn sighs, giving her an apologetic look. She was tired. Her feet was killing her and she was ready to get out of the outfit she had on. Comfy clothes, curling up with a blanket and binge watching Disney movies sounded so nice. She couldn't wait. "Maybe another time?"

"Ugh, fine." Kassidy rolls her eyes, but she still had a smile on her face, showing that she was joking. "You go enjoy your night, have fun." She grinned and pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks, you too." Lauryn replies, smiling as she hugs her back. She glances at Ethan with a smile. "Take good care of her."

"You know I will." Ethan smiled softly, wrapping his arm around Kassidy's shoulder and kissing her cheek which caused Kassidy to grin at him, her face turning a little red.

Lauryn watches them with a soft smile. She was glad her roommate had a good guy in her life. She deserved it. After a few minutes of talking, she finally managed to convince them that she would be fine by herself. Kassidy reluctantly let her go and Lauryn left the party, making her way back to the dorms. On the way, she decided to call Conrad. She honestly didn't like walking alone at night, so she needed a distraction.

"Hi, Lulu. You okay? It's kinda late, you usually never call this late. I don't mind at all though. You know I would never complain about talking to you. No matter the time of day." Conrad said softly, his words making her heart flutter. She could hear the concern and love in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Coco. I'm leaving the party so I figured I'd call you and talk." Lauryn admits. "I'm almost to the dorms, so you don't have to worry."

"You left? Alone? At night?" Conrad asks, concern lacing his voice. He didn't like the thought of her walking alone at night. He knew how dangerous it was. It could be scary, especially when you were alone. "Why didn't Kassidy or someone else go with you?"

"I didn't wanna end their night, they were still having fun, but I just wanted to go back. I'm fine though, Coco." Lauryn assures him. "I'll be safe and I'll call you when I'm inside."

"Okay. I'll hold you to that." Conrad sighed. He didn't like it, but he trusted her and he would always support her decisions.

"So, uh, what are you up to?" Lauryn asked curiously as she got closer to the dorms.

"Not much. My roommate is asleep and he snores so loud. I couldn't really sleep so I'm glad you called. I'm just walking around campus right now. It's kinda nice. The night is so beautiful. I wish you were here though. We could go star gazing. Or just cuddle. Either would be great." Conrad said wistfully, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Lauryn smiles softly, her heart skipping a beat. She pauses with walking, glancing up at the night sky with a soft smile. "Me too. Stargazing with you is almost as great as cuddling. It's amazing and I love it." She sighed happily, remembering the last time they were able to go stargazing together.

"Hey, are you looking up at the stars right now?" Conrad questioned, a smile growing on his face as he could imagine her doing so.

"Of course. I couldn't resist." Lauryn chuckled quietly, her face turning pink as her heart raced.

"That's cute." Conrad chuckles softly, causing her heart to flutter. He sighs and sits down on a bench. "I wish you were here. I really miss you."

"I miss you too." Lauryn sighs. She makes it into the dorm building and heads to the floor she's on. "I miss seeing you in person and not just through a screen. I can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"Me too. I miss you a lot." Conrad replies, a sad smile tugging at his lips as his chest tightens. It wasn't the same, talking to her over the phone and seeing her through a screen. It was nothing compared to actually being there with her and holding her and kissing her.

"I missed you too, I can't wait." Lauryn smiles, her heart racing at the thought of seeing him tomorrow. She gets to her dorm room, using her key card to open the door. "Okay, I just made it to my dorm, you can stop worrying about me." She chuckled lightly, closing the door behind her.

Conrad uses another pet name to try it out. "Are you sure you're okay, honey?" He asked softly, a smile appearing on his face. He likes the way it sounds. It's adorable and fits her perfectly.

Lauryn pauses, her heart skipping a beat, her stomach doing flips. Honey. She really liked that. She felt her face heat up and her knees go weak. She sat down on her bed, a lovesick smile tugging at her lips. It was such a simple word, yet it made her feel so many emotions. Butterflies. Warmth. Giddiness. "Mhmm." She hummed quietly, not trusting her own voice.

"Oh, I think you liked that one." Conrad grins, a smug look crossing his face. He was definitely gonna use that a lot. He could picture her blushing and getting flustered. She was adorable. "Did it make your heart flutter?"

Lauryn's face gets warmer, a giggle escaping her lips. "Shut up."

"Nope. I wanna hear that adorable giggle again." Conrad replies, his heart swelling at the sound of her giggle. He loved it so much. He then tries another pet name. "You know I love that giggle, honey."

Lauryn lets out another giggle, her face warming even more. "Coco." She whines, her face a bright red as her heart raced. It wasn't fair that he could make her feel this way and do this with just words. "I can't wait to see you and smack you."

"Hey, no hitting the love of your life." Conrad gasps, but he was grinning. "Don't worry, Lulu, I can't wait to see you too."

"You're the worst." Lauryn sighs, flopping back onto the bed, a smile on her face. She could feel butterflies swarming her stomach as she listened to his voice. "I'll talk to you tomorrow. I love you."

"I'm the worst? Rude. You're lucky I love you." Conrad says teasingly. "I love you too, my love. Sleep well."

"Night, Coco." Lauryn grinned as she hung up, a lovesick smile tugging at her lips. Her heart was still racing, a warm feeling filling her chest. She pulled her phone away from her ear, smiling at the picture that was her wallpaper. It was of her and Conrad on Halloween. Lauryn had convinced him to dress up with her and do couples costumes. She had been so excited, she had gone all out with their costumes. Conrad had went along with it because he couldn't deny her of anything.

They had ended up matching, Lauryn dressing as Tiana and him as Naveen. She thought he looked great and she had taken plenty of pictures, some of her favorites being the ones where she could see him blushing. They had a lot of fun that Halloween. They went trick or treating together, took a bunch of pictures together and ended the night at the park, stargazing together. It was definitely one of her favorite Halloweens.

After changing and getting ready for bed, Lauryn fell asleep with a smile on her face. Tomorrow, she would finally get to see Conrad in person. She couldn't wait. She could hardly sleep because of how excited she was. But soon, she did fall asleep, her dreams filled with happy thoughts and the next day couldn't come fast enough. 

A/N lauryn & conrad >>>>