You stuff your luggage into the overhead locker, doing your best to simultaneously keep it from dropping back down on your head while also manoeuvring out of the way of people trying to get past you in the aisle. When it's finally in, you flop into your seat with a sigh of relief before accidentally bumping gouging Addison in the shoulder with your elbow.

"Sorry!" You apologize as she winces, rubbing her the wounded area.

"Don't worry about it," she reassures you. "Not your fault. It's pretty cosy in here."

She gestures around the economy cabin, where 20-something more of your classmates are crowded in amongst other customers, stowing their luggage and trying to get comfortable. Lisa Valentine slides into the seat on your right and makes a face.

"I'm starting to regret not taking Air Valentine. It's been a long time since I've flown coach," she grumbles, wriggling around in the cramped seat. "Remind me why we have to be stuffed in here like sardines for the next 12 hours instead of flying in style on my private jet?"

"Because Professor Hunt said this is a school trip and that means we all need to travel together, 'no exceptions'?" Addison repeats the last part in her best Hunt voice, punctuating it with the same glare he'd worn on his face when he'd made the announcement.

"Easy for him to say; he's travelling first class with the other teachers." Lisa rolls her eyes, wiggling in her seat as if that'll magically make it expand. She shoots you a look. "Hey, he's your boyfriend, couldn't you have talked some sense into him?"

You feel your cheeks start to redden. Since, thanks to Bianca, the nature of your relationship is common knowledge amongst both the faculty members and the entire student body of Hollywood U, you and Hunt quickly laid strict groundwork for your interaction inside the classroom, just to make sure neither of you get in any further trouble. And, more importantly, so that nothing gets weird.

During class hours you are 100% student and teacher (well, 100% student and smoking-hot teacher – sometimes you do catch yourself fantasizing about him. You're only human) and so whenever anyone brings up the matter that you are, in fact, more than that, it always catches you off guard.

Fortunately, Addison, true best friend that she is, comes to your rescue.

"Lisa, have you met Professor Hunt? I don't think he can even say the words 'special treatment', let alone give it." She nudges you gently. "And knowing you, you wouldn't want to put him in that position, right?"

You nod gratefully. "Right. We wouldn't have lasted this long if I tried to use our relationship as leverage to get special favours."

Lisa grins wickedly. "I dunno, I remember when you got blitzed on a bottle of vodka at that party a few weeks ago, you went into some explicit detail about the 'special favours' he did for you on his desk after hours in-"

"The key words there being 'after hours'," you hiss frantically, trying to hush her as you flush darker by the second. Addison's face has gone pretty pink as well, but she also seems to be holding back an amused laugh. "Also, can we not talk about that here? He and I do still have a couple of shreds of professional dignity left intact between us."

Lisa mimes a zipping motion across her mouth, but she looks pretty pleased with herself.

"So, which teachers are chaperoning this trip? I know Hunt's coming, obviously. Who else?" Lisa changes the subject.

You and Addison share a bemused look.

"Lisa, do you ever pay attention in class?"

Lisa snorts. "I think the question you meant to ask there was, 'Lisa, do you ever come to class'?" Addison sends her a disapproving glare, and she relents. "Kidding, kidding. I do listen, usually, but whenever Hunt goes off on those big tangents about how great he is and how much we suck, my mind starts to wander and then suddenly the lecture's over."

"I think that means 'no'," you say in an exaggeratedly loud whisper. Then before Lisa can respond, you continue, "Well, to answer your question, since the director of the movie we worked on is Hunt's friend, obviously he's coming. Then there's Professor Singh, because apparently she doesn't trust Hunt to keep us out of trouble by himself in a foreign country. And Professor Moriyama is coming as our interpreter since he's the only faculty member who can speak Japanese."

"Hey, remember that time we went to Japan on my world tour in a plane that didn't suck?" Lisa says, sounding a little forlorn. You and Addison both laugh.

"Let's check out the movie selection," you suggest. "That should distract you for a while."

The three of you turn your attention to your entertainment systems.

One in-flight meal and three movies later, you doze off halfway through the 1971 version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The next thing you know, you're jolted awake by a voice speaking directly into your ears.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We will soon be commencing our in-flight meal service…"

You pull off the complimentary headphones that you must've fallen asleep wearing, and look around. Lisa is already wide awake, and Addison is blinking blearily, obviously having just been roused from sleep herself.

"Is it time for breakfast already?" You ask, hoisting yourself up straight and trying to stretch a crick out of your neck.

"Yup. You sleeping beauties were out for like, 4 hours. I don't know how you do it. I can't sleep sitting up unless I've been awake partying for 24 hours straight." Lisa says.

A couple of rows ahead you can hear Bianca voicing similar frustrations in much less pleasant words.

"These chairs are hardly even big enough for a half a person. Anyone who managed to sleep soundly in these must be really used to slumming it." Her grating whine in your ears was hardly the first thing you wanted to wake up to in the morning, and you find yourself subconsciously gritting your teeth.

"How long until we land?" Addison taps on her in-flight entertainment screen, checking the flight details. "Wow, just over two hours. We really did sleep right through a third of the flight."

"Jealous…" Lisa mutters.

You lean over Addison to look out the window. It's grown light outside, but all you can see below is an expanse of blue ocean dotted with the occasional fluffy white cloud. Still not a trace of land in sight. At least it looks like it's going to be a fine day.

Breakfast is served shortly thereafter and you munch on scrambled eggs and a roll as you excitedly discuss the trip ahead with your classmates.

"It's going to be the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival, so hopefully this year will really be something special," says a girl from the makeup department. "Either way, I'm excited to see my work come to life on the big screen."

"Same. I feel so indebted to Professor Hunt's director friend for letting us work on this movie." The composer sitting next to her agrees. "I know she said she was interested in showcasing fresh talent, but I'm still humbled she took a chance on a bunch of university students."

"A bunch of university students that got her film nominated to the TIFF," Lisa reminds them, smirking. "I still think it's unfair that there's no award for best theme song, because I would've won it for us, hands down."

"I'm sure we'll win something," you say. "I mean, Hunt described the final product as 'more than adequate'. I've never heard him say something like that about anything we've worked on. That's as close to a 5-star review from him as anyone ever gets."

"Unless he's reviewing himself," Lisa says, and Addison snorts.

The plane touches down a couple of hours later. You're glad to stretch your legs after a straight half-a-day of sitting down, save for the occasional toilet break. Professor Moriyama guides your group through customs and out of the airport, and it's not long before you all find yourselves on a bus headed for Shinjuku.

Hunt sits at the front of the vehicle with the other professors, but you make eye contact with him as you board, and he actually affords you a small smile instead of the usual curt nod he reserves for you during class time. He must be in a good mood, you think. Or, maybe he's just happy to see me after 12 hours apart. The latter idea makes your heart tingle a little and you smile back before brushing past and taking your seat.

Traffic is pretty bad, but a little over an hour later, the bus drops you at the Keio Plaza, one of Tokyo's top hotels.

"Well, they may have skimped on the plane, but at least they're not skimping on the accommodation," Addison muses. "Looks like we're staying in the Plaza Superior Room."

"I dunno, I would definitely call three-to-a-room 'skimping'," Lisa says. "But if I'm sharing with you guys, I have no complaints."

"Ugh, tragic." You instantly feel your body tense at the sound of Bianca's voice coming from behind you. "The three of you together in one room? They must have decided to confine all the losers to one place."

"I'm pretty sure I remember us specifically being able to choose who we roomed with on this trip," you reply coolly, not taking her bait. "But I understand if your memory doesn't span back more than two weeks."

"Whatever." The elevator dings and Bianca barges past you, Jenni in tow. "You guys may have to wait to take the next one. People of my calibre don't ride with people of yours."

"Funny, I could've sworn we just arrived her on the same bus," you bite back. She just sends you a malicious smirk as she hits the close button and the elevator doors shut in your face. You try your best not to grind your teeth together.

"She is the absolute worst," Addison seethes. "But I guess if the alternative to this was sharing a confined space with her for even 30 seconds, we got the better outcome."

"Forget her!" Lisa waves the key card to your room. "We don't have anything on our schedule until 10:00 tomorrow morning. I say we get to our room, shower, get changed and then get ready to take Tokyo by storm!"

"As long as taking Tokyo by storm involves lunch, because I'm pretty sure in about an hour I'm going to be ravenous," you say. "And don't you want a nap or something? You didn't even sleep on the flight."

"Are you kidding?" Lisa stares at you as if you've sprouted hands from your head. "Why would I waste time sleeping when I could be out having the time of my life in Tokyo?"

"I'll make you a coffee," Addison offers. "If you won't get some sleep, at least get some caffeine. I'm pretty sure I saw something about complimentary tea and coffee in the rooms."

The three of you ride the next elevator up to your floor and search for your room number. Lisa presses the card to the sensor lock, opening the door, and you all pile inside.

"Wow, look at this mirror," Addison calls from the bathroom. "This is going to be amazing for doing makeup. I think I can see all my pores and… ugh, I think I need to exfoliate."

"Check out the view. This is going to look awesome at night." Lisa stares out the window. "I can't wait to throw the TV out of here."

You shoot her a startled look and she grins back with a 'gotcha' expression. "Just kidding. I've moved past that stage of the rock star life. Mostly."

Addison emerges from the bathroom and taps you on the shoulder. "You can take the first shower. I'm going to make Lisa that coffee I promised her."

"Thanks."

You slip into the bathroom, shutting the door behind you, and turn the shower knobs. Hot water gushes from the head and you shed your clothes, stepping under the flow.

The hot water feels good on your body. There's a certain kind of grime that seems to collect on human skin during long-haul flights and you're glad to finally be rid of it. You vaguely find yourself wondering what Thomas is doing right now, if maybe he's showering too. It seems entirely likely. He can't stand not being clean for very long.

You stop that line of thought. Even after making it through a school-wide scandal, attending his sister's wedding and countless other insane escapades together, imagining him naked still makes you blush.

Not wanting to force Lisa and Addison to wait too long for their turn, you quickly soap yourself up, finish up your shower and dry off. You emerge from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, your hair still wet.

"Whoever wants the shower next, it's all your…" You trail off.

Professor Hunt is sitting on the loveseat in your room, while Lisa and Addison perch on the ends of their respective beds. No one is speaking, and you're pretty sure the awkward silence in the room was there before you walked back in.

Hunt clears his throat, purposefully diverting his gaze from where the towel is barely covering your cleavage. "Ah. There you are." He coughs, then clears his throat again. "I was hoping to speak with you." His eyes skim over Lisa and Addison. "…privately."

"Oh, well then," Addison says, her voice bright. "Great timing! We were just leaving, right Lisa?"

Lisa stares at her. "We were?" Then, "Oh, right! Yeah, that's what we were about to do. Leave."

Hunt stands, brushing imaginary dust off the lapel of his suit jacket. "No, that won't be necessary. I have my own private room where we can talk. Don't let me keep you two from your showers. You look like you need them."

You notice a vein near Lisa's eye twitch a little. "Wow, thank you, professor."

If he notices her sarcasm (and it's Hunt, so he most likely does), he doesn't show it. "You're welcome."

He re-focuses his attention on you. "I'll wait outside while you get changed," he says, then walks briskly towards the door and shuts it behind him.

Lisa scowls after him. "Well, if you don't mind, Addi, I think I'll take the shower first since I apparently 'need' it so badly."

Addison lets out a good-humoured chuckle. "Be my guest."

Lisa grabs an oversized bag of toiletries, then heads into the bathroom, and Addison immediately whirls around to interrogate you, blonde hair flipping over her shoulder.

"Sooo…" She says slowly, drawing the word out. Her eyes glint playfully. "What do you think he wants to talk about?"

You swallow, remembering the conversation you had with him after his sister's wedding, when he presented you with a spare house key and asked you to move in. You remember how you asked him for some time to think about it.

You remember how you still haven't answered him.

"I have my suspicions," you say, keeping it vague. "I'll let you know if they play out."

She raises an eyebrow at you but doesn't push. "Okay. But only because I know for a fact that you're going to tell me everything after you come back, right?"

"Like I've ever kept anything Hunt-related from you for more than an hour after it happens," you say, and she grins. "Okay, I'd better get changed. We both know he doesn't like to be kept waiting."

You grab a simple blouse and skirt from your luggage and pull them on while Addison lounges on her bed behind you.

"So, it's just going to be you and Hunt, alone in a fancy hotel room…" She says, and you snort as you do up the buttons of your blouse.

"He doesn't play coy, and you know it. If he says there's something he wants to talk about, he definitely wants to talk," you insist.

"I know… but after you've finished talking, you're still going to be alone with him in a fancy hotel room…" She says innocently.

"Hmm, you do make a fair point there." You smooth out your clothes. Your hair is still wet, but you don't have time to dry it. "But I'll try not to be too long. Lisa did promise us lunch. And a multitude of other adventures."

You pad across the plush carpet to the door and give Addison a smile over your shoulder.

"Wish me luck."

"Be good," she answers cheerily, and you wink back.

"I'll try. But no promises."

Hunt is waiting in the hall, as promised. He smiles when he sees you and it's funny, even after all this time, how the sight of a simple smile on his face still makes your heart do somersaults. He doesn't even bother to double-check if anyone is around before he takes your hand, and you once again find yourself grateful that, no matter how awkward it is that everyone knows you're dating your professor, you don't have to hide your relationship in public anymore.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" You ask as he leads you down the hall towards to elevators.

"Are you sure you don't know?" He asks, and you avert your eyes. "I've been wanting to speak with you about it for some time, but what with having to coordinate you lot for the movie on top of my usual schedule… and then having to plan this trip to the screening here, we really haven't had much time alone."

The elevator arrives with a ding and you step inside. As soon as the doors close, he steals a kiss. You grasp gently as the tails of his suit coat and his arms circle your waist, drawing you close and deepening the kiss for a brief moment before the elevator slows to a stop at his floor. It's all too brief, especially after being denied so much time together over the last couple of months, but you're sure there's more of the same waiting for you behind closed doors.

You wait for him to open his room and follow him in. It's about the same size as yours, except that it's only housing one occupant. Usually you'd tease him about privilege and living in the lap of luxury, but he looks like he's in single-minded mode right now.

He sits on the end of the bed and pats the spot beside him, but the look on his face says it's more an order than an invitation.

You lower yourself down next to him, and he immediately puts an arm around you, drawing you close once more.

"So…" You begin.

"So." He repeats. "Do you have any idea why I've brought you here?"

You try not to laugh at the incredibly teacher-esque wording. "Oh, my. Am I in trouble, professor?"

He rolls his eyes.

"That depends. If you keep beating around the bush like this, perhaps maybe you will be." Then he looks you at you dead on, expression serious. "Have you thought about it at all? My proposal, I mean."

You shrug, scuffing your shoes against the carpet. "Well… yeah. How could I not? It's all I have been thinking about, really."

He raises an eyebrow. "All thinking and no action? That's very unlike you."

You're both silent for a moment and then you sigh. "Okay. Okay, so I guess I have been stalling."

Hunt's brow furrows and he takes one of your hands in his own. "I'm not expecting you to say yes. You do realize that, don't you? I am expecting an answer of some sort, though. Not…" He waves his free hand around helplessly. "Well, not this. Not being stuck in limbo."

You squeeze his hand back, resting a head against his shoulder and inhaling the scent of his cologne. The smell has grown familiar over the months, so much so that it's almost comforting.

"It's rather funny," he speaks again, stroking your fingers with the pad of his thumb. "I led you on a merry dance for so many months, pushing you away enough to keep you at a distance, but giving you enough hope that you continued to pursue me. Feels like the tables have turned."

"Hey." It's your turn to be serious now. You slide your hand out of his and cup his face, the skin of his cheeks soft under your palms. "I'm not pushing you away, okay? I'm just… hesitating. I just feel like…"

You sigh, not really knowing how to express what you feel. The problem in your head is abstract, not fully formed, but you know there's something there that's keeping you from making up your mind.

"I dunno. It's just difficult. It feels like there's more to this relationship than just us."

"The same is true of any relationship. Nothing exists in a vacuum," he counters. "The question is, do you want this or not? If it's too soon, that's alright. We don't have to live together just yet, though I will admit that the idea is... pleasing."

You ignore the typical emotionally-stunted Hunt-style wording.

"That's just it, though. I do want it, it's just… I'm not sure I'm allowed to have it." You shrug. "I know it sounds weird."

"You're right. It does." He sighs, patting you on the thigh. "I'm not exactly sure what's holding you back from giving me a clear answer. But I'm not going to push you. You aren't the kind to mull over things for long, so I suppose I'll have my answer eventually."

He looks slightly disappointed, and not in the usual Thomas Hunt way of 'This work is subpar and I expected much better from you'. It breaks your heart a little.

"I apologise if I moved too fast," he continues, voice forlorn. "We spent so much time dancing around each other that I often forget our first date was barely more than several months ago."

"You're just making up for lost time," you tease him. "All that time you wasted pretending there was nothing between us."

"Or perhaps I'm feeling my age. 34 this year and only getting older." He strokes your hair and pulls you in for a kiss. "If you wait too long I may just jump straight to the wedding."

You ignore the flutter in your chest at the image his words invoke; a pure white dress. Him in a tuxedo, promising to love you forever… you mentally shake yourself out of it.

"Thomas Hunt doesn't get old. He merely ages. Like a fine wine," you say between kisses. You're too close to see his eyes, but you can practically feel them rolling.

"Wines also have a peak age before they begin to deteriorate," he tells you. "So make sure you don't miss mine."

You pull back and look into his eyes, seeing longing and affection, but with a tinge of resignation. You realize that you can't keep putting this off, hoping a resolution will pop out of nowhere. You need to face your worries head on before you can settle them.

"Don't worry," you assure him. "You'll have your answer soon."

You make out on the bed for a while, but between your promise to have lunch with Addison and Lisa, and Hunt's plans to go out to eat with the other Professors (apparently there's a restaurant that Professor Moriyama absolutely has to introduce them to), you stop it before it goes too far. Bidding Hunt farewell, you head back to your room to find Addison still waiting and the sound of Lisa singing at the top of her voice over the sound of running water.

"Is she still in there?" You ask, incredulous. You've been gone for like, 30 minutes.

"To be fair, I should've seen it coming," Addison shrugs. "Lisa does seem like the sort of person who spends an hour in the shower."

Then, her expression goes devious. "So… how'd it go?"

You shrug. "It… it went."

Addison's face immediately changes from devious to worried. "Is something wrong?"

You shoot a look at the bathroom door. It doesn't seem like Lisa's coming out any time soon. You take a deep breath.

"Can I… can I ask for your advice on something?"

She nods. "Sure. Anything, any time. What's up? You're making me nervous."

You take a seat on your bed, across from her. "Okay… so… you know how I told you that Hunt asked me to move in with him."

Addison nods. "Like, what, a month and a half ago?" Then she pauses. "Actually, come to think of it, you're still living in the dorms…" She gasps. "Wait, did you say no? But this is all you've ever wanted, ever since that charity masquerade ball!"

You shake your head, damp hair flying about your face from the force. "I didn't say no, I just… I didn't really say anything."

Addison's eyes go wide and her mouth drops open. "Wait, so you left him hanging? You left the Thomas Hunt hanging?"

"Um…" Suddenly the ground seems very interesting. You stare at it intently. "Maybe something like that."

"But why?" You can hear the confusion in her voice. "This isn't like you. You're usually so sure of yourself. You usually come to decisions before you even realise you need to make them!"

"I know… and I want this more than anything, but…" You look up to meet her eyes. "But Hollywood U has been my home for almost a year now. I've made so many memories, and I can't imagine being anywhere other than on campus. I'm surrounded by my friends. You and Ethan and Lisa… Crash, Holly… and it means I can always be there for you guys when you need me too. I don't want to be that girl who abandons her friends just because she's fallen in love."

Addison is watching you carefully as you flounder for words. Her face is sympathetic but other than that, her expression is carefully blank.

"I don't know…" You finally finish, "It doesn't feel to me as if I'm choosing between moving in with him or staying in the dorms. I feel like I'm choosing between him and my friends."

"Oh honey…" Addison reaches over to give you a friendly pat on the knee. "You're so silly."

"…hey!" You protest, but she's having none of it.

"Look, I'm flattered that you care about us so much, but you know it doesn't matter where you live, right? It's not like you're leaving Hollywood U. Professor Hunt barely lives more than a hop and a skip away." She shakes her head. "Don't let us stand in the way of something you really want. You're always doing so much for other people. It's time you do something for yourself."

"But…" You start to say, but Addison shushes you.

"But what? If you were quitting school and moving half-way across the country for him then that'd be different. But it's literally, what… a 5 to 10 minute drive from campus, depending on how many red lights you hit on the way?"

You're silent for a moment. "You're right. I… I was worried about you guys feeling like I was abandoning you. You all worked so hard to help me stay in school when I was on probation that even going to live off campus felt like it'd be a big betrayal."

Addison gives an exasperated sigh, but she's smiling. "After listening to you lament over Professor Hunt for so long and helping you out with the whole Bianca blackmail fiasco, I would feel more like you were betraying me if you didn't take this offer… when you so obviously want to." She gives you a pointed look. "I didn't help you work through all that drama for nothing."

You break out into a grin and lean over to hug her. Your heart feels lighter all of a sudden, as the burden you'd only half realised you'd been carrying is lifted from your shoulders.

"Addi, have I mentioned that you're pretty much the best friend ever?"

"You could mention it more if you like." She hugs you back. "And the fashionista dorm is always open for you to visit. Promise to come sleep over sometimes. Don't lock yourself up in your love nest and never come out, you hear me?"

"Please don't call it a love nest," you say through laughter. "You've been to his house and you've seen enough to know it should never be called a love nest."

Addison giggles. "Well, you know what you need to do now, right?"

You stare blankly. "What?"

"You have to tell him!" She says incredulously. "Let him know you've made up your mind!"

You pause for a second, and an evil smile crosses your face. "You know… I think I'll make him wait just that tiny bit longer. See how he likes it."

Addison visibly shivers a little. "Yikes. Remind me never to string you along lest you try to get revenge on me too."

You flutter your eyelashes at her, then go to grab the hair dryer. "Oh, I won't make him wait long. But first, I have a lunch date with our names on it."

The three of you meet up with Ethan and Crash and go to grab a bite, before Lisa takes the wheel and leads you all over Tokyo, going to as many tourist destinations as you can fit in before ending your night at a giant club called, "Ageha".

You decide to head home at about 1:00am, much to Lisa's protests that things are 'just heating up!'. But there's still the matter of the film festival in the morning, and you all need to get at least 5 or 6 hours to sleep off the alcohol.

Or at least, that's your excuse. You don't let the others know, but through the tipsy haze of one too many cocktails the desire to see Professor Hunt and give him your answer suddenly becomes too much to bear.

Ethan hails a cab and you take it back to the hotel, splitting the cost of the right between you.

Lisa and Addison head back to your room first, Addison giving your shoulder a tiny squeeze and winking at you when you say something about "going to check on Hunt".

"Good luck," she mouths as the elevator doors close between you and you ride up a couple more floors.

"I really hope I remember his room number right," you mumble to yourself, walking down the hall before coming to a stop outside the door you're pretty sure is the correct one and knocking.

You're rewarded when a bleary-eyed Hunt, wearing his usual night time outfit of only a pair of flannel pyjama pants, opens the door.

"This had better be good," he mutters tersely. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

You shoot him a cheeky smile. "Oh, trust me. You're going to want to hear this."

You back him up into his room, letting the door swing closed behind you, immediately closing the gap between you and letting your hands go to his bare chest.

"You've been drinking," he murmurs, sounding somewhat disapproving. "You know what a big day we have ahead of us tomorrow."

"Mmm…" You pay his criticism no heed. "I'll leave any regret until morning."

You move in closer, lips brushing his neck, and he shivers, inhaling sharply.

"Not that I don't appreciate the direction this is going in, but it is about 1:30 in the morning," he chides you. "What's so important that it can't wait until tomorrow?"

You nuzzle his jaw line, then whisper in his ear, "I think… I think I've kept us both waiting long enough."

His hand, which until now had been loosely encircling your wrist, suddenly grips tighter, and you feel his Adam's apple bob in his throat.

"Is this, uh… would this happen to be about the issue we discussed this afternoon?"

You run a finger down his chest, then lower still, letting your hand come to rest at his hip.

"Thomas." You kiss along his cheek, then down his neck. His arms loop around your waist and he pulls you to him in an almost crushing grip.

"Please don't make any drunk promises," he whispers to you, and there's a vulnerability in his voice that you rarely ever hear. "I'm not sure that's what's best for either of us."

"Does it count if it's a decision I made before I had anything to drink?" You laugh softly, resting your cheek against his. "Because I had a heart-to-heart with Addison after you and I had our discussion this afternoon."

"I see. And what did she say?"

You hug Thomas tight and you're pretty sure you've never felt as much love for another individual as you do for him right now. You stare up into his eyes, feeling your pulse quickening. He brushes a lock of hair from your forehead, and in that moment, with a startling clarity, you know for certain that your mind is made up.

"She said to make sure I come back to the dorms to visit her sometimes."

Hunt shakes his head and laughs, then kisses you until you're dizzy, and you know in your heart that you've made the right choice.

"I suppose I can let her borrow you occasionally," he whispers against your lips. "When I'm feeling generous."

"Uh oh," you say. "You're never feeling generous. Should I tell her I'm never going to see her outside class again?"

"No," Hunt says. "But you can tell her… tell her, 'thank you'."

He sighs, the sigh of a man who's just been freed of a huge burden and you feel a string of guilt for being the one to cause it. But right now seems like an opportune time to make up for it.

"I'll tell her tomorrow," you say, pushing him back towards his bed. "I don't think I'll be sleeping there tonight."

"Keep this up and you won't be sleeping at all." He raises an eyebrow as you climb atop his knees the second he sinks backwards onto the fluffed duvet.

"And here I thought you were the responsible one." You start to kiss down his shoulder.

"You do make a habit of bringing the irresponsible side out of me," he replies, and in an instant he flips you over so he's on top and you're pinned down to the bed. "Now, what shall I do with you…"

You grin up at him, not resisting in the slightest. "I can think of several things…"

As predicted, you don't get much sleep that night. But, you think, as you do your best to keep your eyes open during the screening of your film at the festival the next day, Addison and Lisa shooting you knowing looks all the while, it was all totally worth it.