AN: As you'll see after this chapter, the school year is coming to an end. I'm not making any promises on how many chapters are left or how long it will take to get them out because, as you may know, I have a real problem with closure. That's not to say I don't know where this is going or how it will end, but just that I'm not making ANY promises.
So, as this story begins to end, I want to thank you again. Do you have any idea how long this story is? LONG. Like, really long. And that's all thanks to you guys. I could have ended this thing after like 10 chapters, but you wanted more and I wanted to give it to you! So, thanks. It's been a blast and there's still more to come!
She was used to running on campus. She'd spent the entire first semester doing it three times a week. What she wasn't used to, though, was running on campus with a backpack full of books weighing her down.
Her last class of the day ran long and she had her first study group of her finals preparation to get to. She couldn't believe that finals started in less than a week and that she'd be leaving—heading back for Toronto—in less than two. But, alas, that was life.
It made sense, didn't it? She'd found a rhythm with classes and homework. Her friends were all happy with each other and their significant others. She and Sam were on track—no unreciprocated declarations of love, no running away, no babies—and they were happy. Like, blissfully so, if she were being honest. Everyone and everything had finally fallen together seamlessly and they were all happier for it. Now, or in no time at all, they were being ripped apart for a summer and they'd have to figure out a new rhythm and a new routine.
Andy couldn't worry about that, though, not while she was running through campus in skinny jeans with a backpack that weighed twenty pounds. When she finally got to the library, she ran right in, bouncing on one foot while the other ankle cramped and she rolled it in her hand. Books, mixed with her basic clumsiness, made it near impossible and she felt herself falling forward. When she tried to right herself, things got worse and she fell faster.
Then, by some miracle—or strong pair of hands—she was standing tall again, catching her breath. Her hands wrapped around forearms and she looked up to see Sam smirking down at her and a smile spread across her face. Her shoulders fell as the tension left her body and she settled deeper against him.
"Thank god that was you," she said and he laughed, moving his hands to her waist. "That could have been really embarrassing."
"Thank god it was me or you'd be face down on the floor right now," he told her and she nodded.
"Are you on your way out?" Andy asked, fingering the hem of his waffle knit shirt. She heard him swallow and felt his thumbs brush over her ribs.
"Yeah," he said and she smiled sadly. "I have to get home, feed Boo, study. All that fun stuff."
"Well, I've got to get to a study room upstairs. My psych group is meeting tonight," she told him and he slowly removed his hands from her—one finger at a time. "I guess I'll see you next time I fall into a building?"
"Hopefully I'll be there to catch you," he said, smiling tightly. "But, seriously, do you think you could take a break tomorrow and come out with me and Boo after class? Walk in the woods to clear your mind, maybe?"
"I can't really afford to clear my mind," she laughed and he nodded. "But I think I can afford a walk in the woods with you guys."
"Good," he smiled and she stood tall to kiss him slowly—savoring it enough to get her through the next twenty hours or so. "Get upstairs, you're late."
"Go feed Boo, he's hungry," she challenged and he shook his head with a smile before kissing her quickly and walking outside.
Andy watched him walk to the parking lot and get into his truck, suddenly not caring that she was late to her study group. That feeling of dread came back to her and she remembered just how long a summer break was.
Boo was restless, hopping over the seat to pace in short, tight circles on the back seat of the truck. Andy was quiet, pretending not to be studying even though Sam could clearly see the book open on her lap. He just wanted an hour or two where he wasn't stressing about his last two finals, where Andy wasn't stressing about the four she'd be taking the next week, where the two of them could pretend she wasn't leaving in two weeks, and where Boo could have some of the attention he deserved—and had been missing lately.
Maybe it was a lot to ask for, but that didn't stop him. Since the night in Andy's dorm room—a night he wouldn't soon forget—they had one week of seeing each other regularly. They were currently in the middle of his finals week and they'd only seen each other once in the library the night before. Sam knew that Andy was already deep into studying even though she wasn't sure of all the material she needed to focus on—a bad habit that came back to bite her during her last finals and midterms. He wanted her to breathe, for just a little while, and to relax.
When he pulled into the dirt parking lot, it had a few cars scattered around it and a few groups of people walking in and out of the path in the woods. When he pulled into a spot, Andy finally shut her book and slid it under her seat. She was smiling and he could actually hear her taking deep, cleansing breaths. She was ready for some fresh air—something she reveled in far more than he did—and he was happy to help her get it.
As soon as she was out of the truck, Boo was jumping back over the seat to go out after her. It took Sam a couple of seconds longer to get out and round the truck, but by the time he was at Andy's side, Boo was running back and forth waiting for them to follow him onto the path. Sam tucked his leash into his pocket and wrapped his hand around Andy's and then they were on their way.
She kept tapping her fingers against the back of his hand. Not to any beat in particular, but it was soothing, nonetheless. Boo was so excited—he hadn't put his tongue back in his mouth since he jumped out of the truck. And Sam started to realize what made Andy like the outdoors so much. As long as she was there, as long as they were there together with Boo, it all made sense.
"Thanks," Andy said, letting go of his hand so she could lace her arm through his and squeeze his bicep. "I think I did need this."
"See, I knew it," he said smugly and she laughed. The laugh caught Boo's attention and he trotted toward them to walk next to Andy. He was taking on his usual role of her shadow; a role that Sam found both entertaining and endearing. He knew that Andy liked it, too, and it made him wonder for the first time how she'd manage, not only missing Sam, but also missing Boo. Would she adapt to not seeing the both of them on a regular basis? Would Boo be okay?
"I know we're pretending I'm not going anywhere and I'll be seeing you everyday over the next three or four months, but how are we going to handle this summer break thing?" Andy asked suddenly—like she was reading his mind—making a very pointed effort not to look at him.
Sam took a deep breath and rolled his neck. "We'll both be working, we'll be so busy that when we can actually get to see each other, it will feel like nothing is different," he lied and she laughed. He couldn't help but notice the sound of panic in her laugh. "Whatever happens, McNally, we'll be fine."
"Fine is not good," she reminded him, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "We're good now. I'm afraid to lose that."
"Okay, then, we'll be good," he insisted and she shook her head, finally looking up at him.
They'd reached the spot on the path where it broke off and there was a bank of benches to the side—the same benches where they'd kissed on Halloween and decided to start taking the next step from friends to what they were. He saw a ghost of a smile playing on her lips, even though she was worried, and followed her and Boo to the open bench waiting for them.
Andy sat first and Boo hopped on next to her, sitting up straight and looking from one end of the trail to the other—his ears perked waiting for something to grab his attention—and Sam sat on the other side of her, dragging her legs to hang across his.
"McNally, it's going to suck," he said honestly and she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "And work is probably going to suck, too. It will for me. But, we'll be good and things will be normal in September. Don't worry about it now. You've got finals."
"Believe it or not," she laughed, running her hand down his chest inside his sweatshirt. "I care more about you than my finals."
"I don't believe that for a second," he laughed and she swung her legs off of him and settled against his side. He rubbed his hand over her shoulder and kissed her temple, watching Boo over her head as he jumped down. "No," he said sharply and Boo stopped heading toward the squirrel he saw and laid down.
"Maybe it's him I care more about," Andy said sadly and Sam nipped on the top of her ear until she laughed and Boo jumped up next to her again.
"Where are you going?" Sam asked as he aimlessly grabbed for her arm, trying to pull her back to bed.
"Home," she laughed, dodging his grasp. She knew she'd let him convince her to stay if he ever got a hold of her. "You have a final in an hour and a half. I have class in two hours. I wasn't supposed to stay here last night, remember?"
Sam pushed himself to sit up and smirked—at the memory of the night before, Andy was sure. "You seduced me," he shrugged and she rolled her eyes before pulling her shirt over her head.
"I don't think so," she laughed, tossing his jeans across the room to unearth hers. "You seduced me."
"Oh, please," he scoffed, getting out of bed as he pulled on a fresh pair of boxers. "We came back from our walk with Boo and you assailed me, just like the first time."
"Okay, that may be true," she conceded with her hands on her hips and he mocked her, waiting for her to continue. She twisted her mouth every which way to keep from smiling or laughing and he continued to silently challenge her. "But that was hours before I needed to be home. You're the one who kissed me later," she reminded him, walking closer with narrow, accusatory eyes. "Right here."
Andy kissed him on the neck, right below his ear and she could feel his deep breath against her chest. "And you know it affects me way more than it does you," she whispered in his ear and he shuttered another breath against the bare skin of her neck. "Although, clearly you're not immune to it, either."
"You're the devil," he hissed as she turned away from him to pick up her sweatshirt from the floor next to Boo's still sleeping form.
"You love it," she said over her shoulder and he just smiled. "I've got to go, do you want me to take him out, though?"
"No, I've got it," he promised and she nodded before turning around and pushing him onto the bed.
"Bye," she said once she was on top of him, kissing him quickly over and over again.
"Bye," he laughed and she crawled off of him.
She walked back to campus quickly so she could get changed and get to class in a timely manner. Gail, Chris, and Dov were in her room when she got there and she was happy to see them all without books in front of their faces.
"Hey," she smiled and they all nodded at her from where they were on the floor. "What's up?"
"Traci just left," Gail said and Andy nodded. "She got the RA position."
"That's great!" Andy said before going through her drawers for an outfit. "Have we heard back on where we'll be living next year?"
"Not yet," Chris said and Andy nodded. "We should all be hearing back by the end of the week."
"Does Traci know where she'll be an RA?" Andy asked, turning around with a pile of folded clothes against her chest.
"Simmons," Dov said and Andy nodded. "So, there's a chance we can all be in the same building again."
Andy smiled because, even though the year was ending, they had things to look forward to when it came to the next year. Traci would be an RA. Andy and Gail were going to be living together. Chris and Dov would also be living together again. If only they were lucky enough to all live in the same building and things wouldn't need to change too much. Sam wasn't leaving his apartment. Jerry wasn't leaving his house, just getting a new roommate because Mike was graduating and leaving for the city. Oliver was staying in his new apartment and Celery was moving in with him. Things would be the same, but they'd also be different.
Next year would be Jerry and Oliver's last year of grad school and only Sam's second. Traci being an RA would keep her in on most nights and weekends. Andy and Gail would need to adjust to living without her. Chances were that they wouldn't live next door to Chris and Dov, so they'd all have to get used to that. They would all make the effort to see each other over the summer, but they wouldn't as much as they were used to.
Andy was working all summer at the sporting goods store she worked at in high school. Sam was working for Boyko on some research, plus he was working at a garage in town. Chris was going back to Timmins to work construction. Dov was going home to find a job wherever he could. Gail was planning on sitting at home all summer pretending to look for work while she annoyed her older brother into buying her anything she needed that her parents wouldn't get her. Traci had a job lined up in a daycare for the first half of the summer, but she was spending the second half on campus for RA training. Everyone was going to be busy. They'd try to see each other, but they couldn't make any promises.
When Andy got back from showering and changing, her friends were all ready to go to class and the four of them all walked out together. Chloe met them on the way, falling directly in step next to Dov, and the five of them made their wait to the farther side of campus. She, Chris, and Gail had class together where they were playing some kind of game to get them ready for their final.
Sam ambled home from studying for his last final, cracking his neck as he walked up the steps to his building. He walked straight to his apartment door with his head down, trying not to fall asleep before he could get to his bed. He and Andy had stayed up much later than they should have. And she was right that morning, she wasn't supposed to stay over. But she was also right about him seducing her into staying. He just couldn't work up the strength to drive her back to campus. He had to get used to her being gone, though. And he'd have to be strong enough to not ruin things.
His apartment was warm and he could smell something cooking when he finally got inside. He carefully rested his backpack against the wall that separated the hallway from the kitchen. He listened for Boo, but heard nothing, and he closed the door slowly so he wouldn't make any more sound as he rounded the wall into the kitchen.
"What the hell, McNally?" He asked, gripping the counter and she raised an amused eyebrow. "How did you get in here?"
"Your neighbor was coming back with Boo and she recognized me and let me in," she shrugged, walking toward him with a toothy smile. "Did I scare you?" She asked, lacing her arms around his neck.
"Yeah," he said, clasping his hands at the small of her back. "You did, actually."
She nodded and ran a hand down the back of his head. "Sorry," she said and he shrugged under the weight of her arms. "I thought you'd be home after your final."
"I wanted to go to the library and study for my last one tomorrow," he explained and she nodded in understanding. "What are you making?"
"Dinner," she smiled, tapping her open palms over his back.
"Why?" He asked skeptically and she shrugged, feigning innocence. "McNally?"
"It's April 30," she said and he nodded with narrow eyes, not quite understanding the significance of the date. "Which just so happens to be as close to six months after Halloween as we get," she explained and he nodded slowly, letting a smile spread over his features.
"Wow," he said and she nodded with wide eyes as she stood tall to press a kiss against his lips. His hands flattened against her back and she tightened her arms around his neck.
"With finals and me leaving soon, I just wanted to do something for the two of us," she said, settling back onto the floor. "And six months is kind of a big deal."
"Kind of," he agreed with a laugh and her hands slid down his front before going around his waist she hugged him. He situated his arms around her shoulders and ran one of his hands over her hair, taking the scent of her in.
He rested his chin on her shoulder before burying his face in her neck and squeezing her tighter. Sam wasn't a hugger, not really, but at that moment, he couldn't envision himself anywhere else with anyone else. Six months with her, eight months knowing her, and he felt like she'd been around forever. He couldn't imagine his sad life without her, other than the fact that would most definitely be just that—sad.
AN: I fixed the date of the anniversary. Because I am an idiot and a nice reviewer pointed out my mistake. Thanks!