You know what's the best thing of having a good friend on a hot day? They bring ice cream to your date. And not any ice cream, no. Oreo ice cream, the best kind in the world. It's the best flavor, I swear. It combines my two favorite things, oreos and vanilla ice cream. Sorry, am I day dreaming about food again? Ah crap!

"So what do you think of Ashley and James' situation?" I ask Shawn, taking a spoonful of pure happiness.

He made a big deal out of looking at his spoon. "So?" He looked up from the ground with sad eyes. "I don't know what I think about them. Although I'll admit it's pretty weird seeing him so fallen for a girl. I've never seen him go crazy over someone, I can't decide whether it's scary or funny." We both laugh. "It's the truth! If you knew him, you'd understand what I mean."

I thought about it for a few seconds and smiled. "Jokes aside, I really want to get to know him better." The color on Shawn's face decided to go on a run that moment. I playfully hit his head. "Not like that dummy. I want to get to know all of your friends and the rest of people I don't know. It'd be fun, I think. I would be getting out of my comfort zone." Shawn laughed slightly. "I think you're forgetting that the last time you went out of your comfort zone you ended up in the police station, grounded and with a broken wrist."

I put my hand to my heart in fake pain. "You hurt me Mr. Becker. Not as much as I hurt my wrist, but close." Shawn rolled his eyes and handed me what was left of the ice cream, a clever way to make me shut up.

After we were done eating we walked around the park. We talked and laughed until when we both got a text. My mom had given me back my phone when I went out to eat with my friends and surprisingly I didn't have my face in it, enjoying every second of it until my mom took it away again.

The text message came from a group chat that included both of us, which was weird since we weren't in any group chats together.

What was even weirder was the other people in it. The Witches and the Idiots of Town High in one group chat, that was definitely bound to end up wrong.

Or so I thought. Instead a single message had arrived from Ashley. James and I talked. We're on good terms and together. Now please, stay out of it. Also, girls, say goodbye to your hair.

Shit.

"Looks like it turned out right after all." Shawn gave me a smile and reciprocated it with not so much enthusiasm.

I wish to say that my sudden lack of energy came from eating too much ice cream and my soon-to-be short hair, but no. It came from the fact that I was thinking of something I was too afraid to ask.

Shawn noticed my change of attitude and stopped walking. He looked down at me and frowned. "What's wrong Emma?" I led him to the nearest bench and looked down at my hands.

"I'm pregnant." Nah, I'm just kidding. I just wanted to make sure you were still paying attention.

Now back to the story.

I looked down at my hands and searched for the proper words to say what I was about to say next. Shawn picked up on my nervousness and lifted my chin to look at him. He gave me a small peck on the lips and said, "Whatever it is that you're thinking, you can tell me. Don't be so shy." I laughed and shook my head. "I think you're forgetting that one of the highlights of my personality is shyness."

He smiled and took my hand in his. He kissed my hand and held on to it. He was sure making this hard for me.

"What are we going to do when I leave?" I blurted. I can swear I could see his heart skip a beat, he was certainly not expecting this.

"What do you mean?" I sighed and fought back the tears that were threatening to once again come out. I sure was crying a lot lately.

"I mean, if we're going to try for a long distance relationship or..." I didn't have to finish that sentence. We both knew what I meant, either we went through the trouble or we broke up. If only it were as simple as saying it.

"Oh... I hadn't really thought about it. What do you want?" I smiled. Shawn, always the selfless hero. "I don't know what I want. I want us to stay together forever, but I know that life isn't some fairy tale book where no matter what you do, you get a happy ending. I also know that these relationships take a lot of time and commitment and when I'm gone we'll be seniors and we won't have a lot of time. Like seriously, I don't know how the characters in Wattpad books have so much fricking time in their senior year, it's amazing."

Shawn frowned and then gave me a sad smiled. "It sounds to me like you've given it some thought, and that you know exactly what you want. So it's decided then? When you leave, we'll break up but remain friends against all odds. Deal?" I hugged him tightly, as if he were going to evaporate out of thin air and out of my arms.

When he let go I wiped a small tear running down his cheek. "And what do you know?" He said as he put his hand around my shoulders in a side hug. "Maybe we'll meet again in college, fall in love and live happily ever after like in those sappy Wattpad novels you like to read like in The Yellow Note where Shay and Sam somehow end up together when we all thought that things were over when they broke up in college."

I stared at my boyfriend in awe. "You actually read a Wattpad novel?" His face turned red but then he smiled with pride. "Technically, it's not a Wattpad novel anymore, the author published it. But yes, I do read books online. Just because I'm jock and a guy it doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good book. Remember I love reading." I laughed out loud at this side of Shawn I didn't know.

"I thought you only read adventure books. I didn't know you were into books about a high school girl with a secret admirer."

"I read anything I can get my hands on."

"Yeah sure."

"Please don't tell anyone about this."

"Your wish is my command Mr. Becker."

We sat on the bench for a while, looking at the playground. No, it wasn't as creepy as it sounds.

We were both in complete silence until Shawn spoke.

"What college do you want to go to?" I stood up from my sitting position and decided to lie down, using his legs as a pillow. I looked up to him and tried to think.

"I'm not sure. I want to go to NYU, but mostly because Logan's there and I've always wanted to go to New York. But I don't really know. How about you?"

He looked down at me and started stroking my hair. "I'm still not sure what I'll do. I was looking at a few art universities and The Art Institute of Chicago sounds cool." I nodded.

I always knew time would separate us eventually, but that time had never seemed so close, so real. But it's part of growing up, I guess. Learning to drift apart from the people you love and thought you'd always be with.

"It's funny isn't it?" He frowned at me and smiled in confusion.

"What is?"

"That it took us so long to get together again and when we're finally in a good place we are so close from leaving our separate ways."

He sighed. "It doesn't matter, okay? Yes, our dreams are leading us to different places. Not even our dreams, just, life in general is leading us to different places. But right now we're together. And right now that's all that matters."

And it's true. Sometimes all that matters is right now.     

Fun fact: The Yellow Note is actually one of my favorite books! The author published it and it's on the Barnes & Noble website though it's on Wattpad again so that kinda ruined the scene where I mentioned it, but who cares?😂

Now, I know I just wanted to apologize for the short chapter but I just couldn't write anymore.

And it's almost the end of the book and it makes me so sad, this is my baby😭

Please, I beg you, give me your thoughts on the book. I love constructive criticism.

Don't forget to vote if you enjoyed this chapter❤