A/N: I was listening to Lea Michele's album to get inspiration and Getaway Car really struck me. Katie and Ned spent a lot of time in the car in their relationship. So here are some various times of them together throughout their relationship :) I hope you enjoy xx Mariah
The first time Ned was in the car with Katie alone, she was fourteen. It was after her dance rehearsal. She hadn't been expecting her mother's text explaining that her father had gotten stuck at work and she was still at the store, so Ned was picking her up and bringing her to Delia's.
She was excited. It had been a while since she'd seen Ned. Not that she didn't see him in the halls at school every day because she did, but it was different to see him alone.
Katie packed her dance bag up quickly, pulling on her coat and pulling the ponytail out of her hair as she walked outside.
"See you tomorrow, Han." Katie hugged her friend before she ran off toward her nanny's car.
"See you, Katie." Hannah tossed back with a smile. "Don't forget to wear your hair up with the dance team bow tomorrow."
"I won't," she called back and looked around for her ride. She knew Ned had gotten a white truck from the junkyard with Tim and fixed it up with him and her father. Ned's truck stood out to her and she ran to the passenger door, hopping up and buckling herself in. "Hey, Ned. It's been a while."
"Hey. I guess it has been a minute or two since we last talked," the blond haired teen smiled at her as he put his truck into drive and started to creep away from the curb. "How was dance rehearsal?"
"It was good. I worked on my footwork a lot," she said softly, relaxing into the seat as she placed her bag on the floor. "How was football practice?"
"Tiring and long," he tapped his hands on the steering wheel as he waited at the stop sign. "I heard you're dating someone on the Freshman team. Henry?"
"You did? Word travels fast, I guess..." She looked over at him, her eyes widening. She hadn't expected anyone to know so quickly. Henry had only asked her out to the Homecoming dance at lunch and then proposed a study date at his house during the sixth period. Was that considered dating? "Please don't tell my parents. I haven't told them."
"My lips are sealed," Ned chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not going to nark on you, but if you need a ride. Just know you can always ask."
"That would be awesome," she smiled at him, her heart fluttering. No matter how nice it was to be going on a date with someone like Henry, Ned always held a place in her heart. He was her first crush.
"I can even talk to him if you'd like," he said, turning on the road. "Just to make sure his intentions are right. I just overheard him talking to his buddy in the locker room."
"Would you? It's not that I'm scared or anything, but he's on the football team and I'm a nobody." She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at him. She always loved looking at him. He was always looked so good. He slicked his hair back in the morning, but it always ended up messed up by the end of the day and in his eyes.
"Katie, you're not a nobody." Ned smiled, stopping at the stoplight and looking over at her. "You're special, at least to me."
"That's different, Ned," she sighed, turning and looking out the window. "You're like my brother. You have to say that."
Ned didn't say anything after that for a while. He just drove quietly toward his mother's house. He even turned the radio on.
Once he was off the main road, he pulled off on the side. He parked and turned to look at her. "But I'm not your brother, Katie," Ned said softly. "And I didn't have to say it. Or that's not why I said it. I said it because it's true."
Katie felt her heart flutter but she didn't know how to react. Was she special to him? How? She wondered if that was something she could ask or if that would be too awkward for words.
"I don't know," she whispered.
"Don't think just because you're a freshman you're nobody," he smiled, leaning to give her a hug.
She wrapped her arms around him slowly, smelling his cologne as they pulled apart. She didn't know what to say or how to feel.
"Thanks, I guess," she smiled. "I'm glad to have someone like you on my side, Ned."
"You'll always have me in your court," he said as his phone vibrated on the seat.
She saw the caller ID before he could decline it.
Samantha
She knew who Samantha was. There was only one in their entire school and she happened to be on the dance team. She'd overheard her talking about hooking up with someone new. It must be Ned. He was fit her type.
Katie pulled away and looked out the window. She wished that her heartbeat hadn't sped up. She wished that he didn't smell so good when they hugged.
Why did he make her feel like she was the smallest person on earth?
She wished that this moment didn't mean so much to her when it meant so little to him. She always gets
too carried away with him.
"Can we go?" She said softly when he hadn't moved after five minutes.
"Of course, Katie." He said and pulled back onto the road.
Ned approached Katie at the cabin slowly, watching her as she wrote delicate words into her newest journal quickly. She looked up as he came closer, shoving his hands in his pockets with a smile on his face.
"Happy Birthday," he said.
"Thanks, Ned," she laughed, closing her journal as she laid her head back on the tree. "Did you come all the way out here just to wish me a happy birthday? I'm seventeen you know. Not five."
"I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go for a ride," he suggested. "Get some air. It's cramped inside."
"I'd love to," she said, standing up. She pulled on her romper and picked up her pen.
Ned watched as the fabric of her shorts rode up her legs, exposing her ass just enough to him. He smiled smugly, wishing he could reach out and pull her close. If only that weren't illegal and he wasn't twenty-one.
She turned around and he smiled at her. "Maybe we could get some ice cream," he replied.
"Just let me grab my wallet and jacket," she nodded. "Good idea."
"My treat, Katie. It is your birthday after all," he nudged her side. "I'll waiting be in the car."
She nodded, walking inside. She wanted to tell him she was independent and could buy her own ice cream, but she rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs. That wasn't worth it. Ned would probably still end up paying for her ice cream before she had the chance to.
She went into her and Mackenzie's room, grabbing her sweater off her bed. She buttoned it and pulled her hair out, running her hands through it before grabbing her lipstick from the pocket and reapplying it.
"Ooh, lipstick. Where are you off to?" Her mother poked her head into the room as she came out of the bathroom with Mackenzie, who was wrapped in a towel in front of her. "Get dress Kenz. I'll read you a book and tuck you in."
"A car ride with Ned," she said softly. "Maybe ice cream."
"Nice," Melinda smiled. "Don't be out too late." She nodded and hugged her, feeling her lips touch her cheek. "Keep in touch."
"I will, mom." She reassured her, pulling her phone off the charger. She waved to Mackenzie. "Night Kenz. I'll be back soon and I'll tuck you in before I go to bed."
"Okay," the seven-year-old pulled on her pajama top and ran over for a hug. "Happy Birthday, Katie."
"Thanks, little fish," she hugged her, rubbing her back. "Sleep tight." She turned after that and headed out quickly. She got into Ned's truck and buckled in. "Ready to go?"
He nodded and back out. "So, how would you rate your birthday this year?"
"It was okay," she laughed. "Not the best."
"What would make it the best?" He asked, smiling at her.
She licked her lips, pondering her answer.
A kiss from you.
She laughed to herself, looking out the window. She could never tell him that. "Nothing," she said.
"Nothing? There has to be something," he nudged her, touching her leg. He shook it a little, squeezing it and pulling her gaze back. "That smile tells me there's something."
Her lips turned up and her teeth showed as she laughed. "It's silly," she whispered.
He stopped at the stop sign at the end of the driveway and parked. "I'm not going until you tell me," he said.
She blushed and rolled her eyes. "Fine. I guess… my answer would have to be a kiss. A kiss from you would make this day better," she said.
"A kiss? That's simple," he smiled, leaning in. He pressed a kiss to her cheek, the warmth making her blush a crimson red. "How was that?"
"Perfect," she smiled.
The movie was not all that interesting. But, even if it had been, the drama and angst of teenage vampires were no match for the delectable distraction seated next to him.
Katie and Ned sat in the very last row of the theatre, away from everyone else. They rarely had time alone, so quiet movie theaters were preferable to all the other places they could have been. Her apartment was no good, as it was constantly occupied by Brendon and Hannah and their wedding planner. Brandon's mother.
So for now, they would have to make do.
This particular movie, a popular one, had been out a few weeks so it wasn't as crowded as it would normally have been. Sometimes the crappier movies provided a little more solitude. The couple typically arrived early so that they could claim the top row and watch the others arrive. Then they'd leave before the credits started rolling. Predicting the end of the movie was the trickiest part, but they'd made a game of it.
She lifted the adjustable armrest that was situated between them to form a little loveseat of sorts and snuggled close to him. He wrapped his arm around her and went in for a kiss; the first of the night. He noted the sweet softness of her lips from the slushie she's gotten tonight as he pulled it between his own two.
"I've been waiting all night to do that," he whispered.
"Well, Ned. You can just do that again." She replied.
Their physical relationship was growing and they were becoming less shy with each other. The problem was and has always been finding ample time alone to explore each other. But, they didn't mind.
They'd been friends since forever and just enjoyed being together. A little making out here and some heavy petting there kept the raging fires going.
But, he'd be lying if he said that sex with her didn't invade his thoughts 101% of the time. There was only so much he could do besides think of her when he goes home.
They had only been together in the physical sense about a dozen times since the first time, thanks to the distance, but they had only been together six months.
In some ways, he supposed, this was a good thing. It forced them to focus on each other and to talk rather than making out every chance they got but the chemistry between them was mind-boggling. He took special care in letting her know that his feelings for her had little to do with what lay behind his zipper. Still, it was hard in more ways than one to be around her without catching wood in a major way.
She was gorgeous and sexy in a very unassuming way. She wasn't showy and overdone like most girls, and he loved it. Katie had the kind of sex appeal that wasn't on display for everyone to see. Her charms were reserved for the special guy in her life…
For him.
He kept his desires in check most of the time, but tonight was proving to be particularly difficult. He wanted her. In a big way.
His lips on hers left her breathless, as usual. His mint-coated tongue combined with the ever-present strawberry lip balm was a familiar and welcomed sensation in her mouth. Her skin had been craving his touch for weeks now.
Spring break had flown by way too fast. The end of the term was close, but still two weeks away.
She couldn't wait to go back home and be with him for a whole four months. Each break which brought her back home felt like starting all over again…in a good way.
Ned had come to visit her because he couldn't wait another two weeks until she came home. He hadn't seen her since Easter in early April.
The more they kissed, the more the details of the movie faded in importance. The more the movie faded, the more they kissed until they just didn't care about the damn thing anymore. She had both her legs thrown over his lap and her hand nestled deep within the bed of blonde locks on his head.
When she tugged on them lightly, he let out a soft "Hhmmhh…" against her mouth. When his lips traveled along her jaw and neck, she returned the sentiment. She'd left her thick, curly hair down tonight instead of in its usual braid. He loved it that way and was showing his appreciation by bunching it between his fingers as he probed her mouth. He then ran one hand along her shoulder and down the length of her arm as the other encircled her waist. He felt the goose bumps pebbling her soft skin.
"Cold?" He asked.
"Just keep warming me up," she replied.
He struggled to keep his strokes along her summer-bare legs respectable in such a public place, but she was doing such things to him! The pressure between his thighs was building and he kept clenching them together to offer some friction. She noticed this and shifted her leg a little higher on his lap to relieve some of the pressure. Misreading this as her granting access to what lies beneath her cotton mini skirt, he glanced around before ghosting a finger over the crotch of her underwear.
The contact made her gasp aloud causing the stern looking woman in front of them to turn around.
"Shhhh!" They jumped apart quickly as if doused with cold water. They giggled quietly as the woman turned back around and muttered something that sounded like, "Manners!"
"Dear, God!" he whispered as he pulled away. "We need to stop before we get thrown out of here." But, he didn't come to his senses soon enough before noticing that her panties were soaked at the center. How he longed to stroke his fingers along her skin, but he knew he had to be good.
"Yeah, I know," she agreed. As they looked up at the screen, they made note of the tell-tale signs of the dramatic score indicating that a final scene was soon to come.
"Want to get out of here now?" he asked.
"Yes, may as well. I don't even remember the plot." He smiled cockily at knowing that he caused her short-term amnesia. "Not that I was really paying any attention."
The ride home was silent but the desire between them was palpable. They held hands the entire way back into Manhattan and exchanged looks mixed with shyness and lust. When they pulled up at a stoplight, his hand slid from holding hers on her knee, to squeezing her thigh.
"Sorry if I ruined the movie for you." He wasn't, really.
"You didn't," she said. "I missed you." She scooted closer to his side of the truck.
"Me, too." He whispered, wrapping his arm around her as she laid her head on his shoulder. "Should I park somewhere?"
"Yes, please." She whispered.
He parked near Central Park and killed the engine. The kissing resumed.
He pulled her forward and wrapped his hand around the back of her head. She probed his mouth with her tongue and sought out the hem of his t-shirt. She just needed to touch some part of him, any part of him. She wanted to feel his warm skin underneath her hands. Running her fingers along his muscular chest, she hoped, would ease the ache of not touching him on a regular basis; but, it didn't and the fire that was started on the back row of the movie theater was reignited right there.
"Oh, Katie," he hissed when her short fingernails grazed over his nipple. "I want you too much, baby…"
"I want you too," she whispered and then started to lie down on her back.
They settled themselves, barely, in the cocoon of the cab of Ned's truck before resuming their kisses with a little more tenderness. He thought to himself, 'Slow down, Ned.'
He took a couple of deep breaths and searched her face for understanding. "Can you forgive me for missing you so much?"
"Always," she whispered.
His hand resumed its survey of her sleek, smooth legs. He kissed the soft planes of her face before moving back to her lips. By the time his lips reached her neck, it was obvious to the both of them that they wanted more than mere kissing. This would do little to provide them with the closeness that they craved. She needed to feel the heat of his skin beneath her hands. He craved the hum of her flesh beneath his lips when he kissed her breasts. She grabbed his large hand and placed it on her breast which he pushed and kneaded, causing her womanly parts to tingle.
All sense and sensibilities began to slip away with each turn as they probed each other's mouths further. The funny thing about tight spaces and short skirts was that they were not very accommodating to each other. His fingers traveled up her thigh and once again grazed the outside of her undergarment and he wondered if there was any possible forethought on her part in wearing this item of clothing. How she ended up straddling his lap, she'll never know…or care to know. But, she did.
She found it interesting that straddling her boyfriend while wearing a short skirt lent itself to all sorts of amazing possibilities. And Ned knew how to navigate this situation for the both of them. He positioned himself by sitting closer to the edge of the seat to allow her more depth to place her knees behind him; thereby bringing her closer to right where he wanted her to be…flush against his zipper. It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but it was something.
She smiled deviously against his mouth and planted soft kisses on his plump lips. He could feel the flutter of her eyelashes as she covered his face with soft pecks of her lips. When he began to rock his hips forward, her gasps registered along his jaw as she cupped his face in her hands. She could feel his hands grip her hips to hold her steady as his khaki shorts got acquainted with her blue cotton panties.
"I need more," she whispered, kissing his neck. She pulled back and licked her lips. "Did you bring a condom?"
He pulled his wallet from his back pocket and found it empty. He checked in his glove compartment too, but both places were empty. "Fuck," he muttered. "I think we used the last one when I saw you last."
She laughed and moved back to the seat. "Well, we could just be careful." She suggested. "I am on the pill."
"That is true," he said, turning to smile at her. "Unless you want to just go back to your room."
"No," she shook her head. "Too far away."
"Is there...ah...anyone else out here?" He asked.
She heard the question but cursed the need to think of a reply as her oxygen-starved brain was otherwise occupied by lust for him. She swept the fog aside and slid toward him, pressing a kiss firmly on his neck.
"I think we're alone. Besides..." She leaned back to lock eyes with him. "...we would've seen headlights by now if anyone parked nearby."
He squinted his eyes and scanned the landscape around them for other vehicles. Nothing but trees and darkness. He returned his gaze to his girlfriend, his expression full of mirth and longing, just before her hands encircled his neck and pulled his face down for a kiss.
She released him only long enough to lie on her back and grab his hands and pull him forward. His hands moved from her hips to her ribcage. He gently stroked the sides of her bra beneath her underarms with his forefingers. Before long, his hungry thumbs made their way to the budding peaks beneath her top, circling them gently and bringing them to life. She whimpered and scooted closer to him, creating more contact between her pleasure center and his building arousal. A soft, guttural moan from him coincided with him circling his hips slightly, causing the front of his pants to rub against her.
Keeping the friction on her nipples, he left her lips to suck gently on the side of her neck. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"
"Ned," she writhed and panted beneath him. "Hhhhhhh..."
The breath that left her resonated in his ear and sent a jolt of satisfaction to his groin. She drew away, panting for breath and locked gazes with him. Without breaking the stare, she slid her hand in between them and used the leverage to pull his zipper open. Once she had given him a head start, she slid her panties off as Ned looked around.
His last act before turning his full attention to her was to scan the perimeter one last time. He slid his pants down enough before smiling at her.
She was looking up at him, eyes anticipating. He leaned down and held her cheeks, "Come closer."
She skidded forward on her bottom, never more happy to comply with an order. She wasn't the order-taking type, but she'd do just about anything for Ned.
She trusted him. She wanted him. She loved him, more than anything. And that was all they needed.
"Thank you for coming to get me," Katie said for the eighth time since he'd picked her up outside her apartment. "I know you had a long day."
Ned smiled at her as they drove past Grandview's town sign. "It's not a big deal, Katie. I enjoy our car rides," he smiled. "You excited to see my new place?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed. "I'm so excited to have our own space for a little while, you know?"
He squeezed her hand as he pulled into the parking ramp, shutting his truck off. "We're here. Let's get your things.
Ten minutes later, Ned fumbled with the lock on the door of his apartment as Katie impatiently tapped out a tune with her sneaker behind him. He kept jiggling it but just couldn't get the door open. She slid her duffle bag off her shoulder and set it near her suitcase.
"Lemme see," Katie reached around him to grab the key and jimmied it in the lock. One twist and a bump of her hip freed the door from its spot. "Got it."
Ned looked at her with raised brows, "Impressive."
"Comes from living in an old house like my parents. Wood probably needs to be shaved. Complain to the landlord." She said softly. "If he doesn't do anything you can always talk to my dad. He knows how to do that sort of thing."
She tossed him the keys as he nodded and followed her into the apartment, grabbing her suitcase. She set her duffle bag on the couch and turned around to walk back toward him.
He winded his arm around her waist and set her suitcase down, shutting the door behind him. He realized that each day brought another thing about his girlfriend that impressed him even more. She was beautiful, smart, witty, self-sacrificing, strong and sexy as hell.
The apartment was a modest one, understandably since Ned was a cheapskate. But, the inside was decked out with a plush brown leather sofa, a flat screen TV that would be the envy of any bachelor and artifacts strewn throughout that gave it a warm, homey feel. The colors were rich and inviting: soft browns and tans, delicate oranges, Ned's favorite color, and reds dotted throughout.
"My mom helped with some of the furniture. I certainly couldn't have afforded this on my own." But, she was sure Ned had something to do with the selections.
On the wall were several paintings, large and small, that Katie recognized as Hannah's work. She'd always loved to paint. She wanted to be an art teacher.
"Are these Hannah's paintings?" She asked, looking up at the one that hung in the living room.
"Yeah. She gave me a few the last time I was in the city. She ran out of space." He chuckled. "Do you like them?"
"I love them," she nodded.
He stuck his elbow out, "Let me give you the grand tour, milady."
She took his arm as he showed her the kitchen which looked out over the living-room. The first thing she saw was a red tea kettle.
She knew Ned wasn't the biggest fan of tea, but she was. She loved tea in the morning and wondered if he had her in mind when they purchased it. There were beautiful, shiny canisters filled with flour, rice, beans, sugars, various tea bags, and pasta. This was surely not a bachelor's kitchen. But, Ned was not your typical guy. He enjoyed cooking.
With a final wave of his arm towards the kitchen, he turned and ushered her back towards the living-room. Also off the living-room was a nicely decorated and, apparently, freshly painted hallway. He laced his fingers through hers and walked her toward his room.
In the center of the room was a platform bed, which was neatly made. His palm grew sweaty against hers as they both eyed the bed at the same time. She glanced at him shyly in time to catch the darkening in his eyes and dry clicking in his throat as he swallowed.
"This is my room." He said.
The color scheme echoed that of the living-room, confirming her suspicions that it was Ned who was responsible for the decor. His shoes were neatly lined up inside of his open closet as his shirts and pants hung above on hangers. Pants on one side. Shirts on the other. He even had his dress shirts and polo shirts separated. There were stacks of various colored t-shirts and sweaters on the shelf above alongside what appeared to be boxes of art supplies. The dresser top was clear of any clutter except for an alarm clock, which she knew he purposefully kept on the other side of the room to force himself out of bed in the mornings.
"Wow. You really are this neat. And all these years, I thought it was your mother's doing." She laughed.
"Well, I guess she's rubbed off on me in some ways. Plus I did just move in. Give me a chance to mess it up a bit," he turned her to face him and planted a feather-light kiss to her lips as his thumb raked gently along her jaw.
The kiss surprised Katie but was no less welcomed as she braced herself on her tiptoes to meet it easier. She allowed her tongue to play along his bottom lip, giving the signal that she wanted to deepen the kiss. He parted his lips to let her sweep her tongue along the inside of his mouth and gave her a low moan of approval from the back of his throat.
Without realizing she was doing so, she began backing him up until his back was against the wall just inside the entrance to his room. His hands glided down her sides to find her hips and pull her forward, flush against his stomach. Her small hands gripped the back of his neck, alternating between twirling the hairs at his nape and tugging on the collar of his flour-covered T-shirt. Their noses bumped against each other as they alternate angles, trying to find the deepest connection. The soft sighs that fell from her mouth caused his jeans to tighten unmercifully.
No matter how many times he'd had her, being with her never got old. It always filled him with excitement and anticipation, with each time being better than the last. He was certain that tonight would be no different, but…that's not all he wanted out of the night.
It was their first night together in their own space. He wanted to make the most out of it.
"If we don't stop, I'll never get to make you that dinner," he said as he detached himself from her lips to lean his forehead against hers.
Their hearts raced in tandem against each other as she nodded against his forehead. By the time he and Katie had admitted that their feelings for each other went beyond friendship, she was preparing to leave for college. Since being together, their private times were usually so rushed, they scarcely had time for anything except for a little conversation and some quick sex.
He wanted desperately to show her that his feelings for her extended far beyond the physical. In spite of how horny he was for her, he would not let tonight be just about sex. He wanted to do something nice for her, so he'd spent the previous evening shopping for ingredients for her favorite meal: her father's chili.
It was expensive and time-consuming, but Katie was worth it. He'd chopped all of the vegetables, herbs, and meat the night before, ignoring the fatigue that was already upon him from a long day at work and unpacking a new apartment.
He tucked a dark, curly tendril behind her ear and planted a kiss on her forehead, "Wanna help?"
"Ew, I'm disgusting. I packed all those clothes and sweat like a money carrying them down the stairs." She laughed. "I should probably shower."
"Well, I'm not exactly clean," he said. "I'm gonna just change my shirt and wash up before I start."
"Well, at least you earned your sweat fighting crime." She shrugged.
"Okay, well. You can shower in my bathroom. Throw on some of my stuff and toss your clothes out so I can put them to wash."
Katie hesitated just slightly as she eyed him with what seemed to be a question behind her eyes. He was always doing nice things for her. She felt like she'd never been able to do enough in return to show her appreciation.
"What?" He asked.
"Nothing. You're just really sweet to me is all. Picking me up. Making dinner. Now doing my laundry." She laughed. "I don't deserve you."
"I told you, babe. I enjoy doing things for you. I mean that." Katie sucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she studied the face of the boy she thought she knew so well, but who was constantly surprising her.
"I know," she blushed. "I love you."
"I love you," he winked and then kissed her, tapping her rear lightly as he pulled back. "Now go on."
"Yes, sir," she said jokingly and kissing him again before sliding out of his embrace.
Katie spent a majority of her winter vacation in the library. It's not unusual. With the amount of work that she had to do before the end of the year, with her deadline to declare her major near.
She hadn't seen Ned yet, since her arrival. They'd texted because he was busy working on a case and she understood that, to a point. She missed her boyfriend.
It wasn't a secret about that either – about how little they see each other because of not only the long drive but Ned's long work hours and Katie's jam-packed schedule.
She leaned back in her chair, glancing at the clock, she realized that he was still at work, so she had a good hour before he made it home.
She wrote another pro in the column under an English major as her phone vibrated and she grabbed it to read it, certain it's going to be her mother again. She's texted her at least a thousand times today asking her when she'd be home. But it wasn't her mother. Instead, it's Ned.
Babe [Sent December 21, 9:17pm]: Hey are you still at the library? I'm getting off early. Maybe I could swing by and pick you up?
Babe [Sent December 21, 9:17pm]: I miss you and we need to talk. About us.
She frowned.
What did that mean?
She set her pen down and held her phone with both hands.
I am in the middle of a mental breakdown over deciding my major. And what's there to talk about us? Is there something wrong? [Delivered 10:18pm]
The little bubble popped up, indicating that he's typing, but then it disappeared. She kept watching, getting more confused as his typing bubble kept popping up and disappearing.
That should be an easy question to answer. Shouldn't it?
Babe [Sent 10:20pm]: Alright. Leaving the station now. And nothing too drastic. Just want to chat with you about something.
She rolled her eyes. Of course, Ned was cocky enough to give her a vague answer.
Okay. See you when you get here [Delivered 10:20pm]
This time, his typing bubble popped up and didn't go away. He sent it within a few seconds.
Babe [Sent 10:21pm]: Be there soon. Ten minutes tops.
She went back to staring at her list of pros and cons of an English major compared to a creative writing major. She added a little sketch of a rainbow behind the creative writing column. It was a dream.
After she put finished her doodle, she closed her notebook and packed up her laptop into her laptop case. She tucked her pencil into the spiral of the notebook and slid it into her purse as she stood up from the table.
She grabbed her empty water bottle and lunch bag and brought it to the trashcan nearby before grabbing her laptop case, purse and phone. She swiped over to snapchat and posed for a selfie, asking Ned if they could pick up some ice cream on their way home.
Can we pick up some mint chip ice cream? [Snap delivered 10:30]
Sure. You look good babe. Here. [Snap delivered 10:31pm]
Her eyes narrowed at the picture of his face. He looked bored as he looked at the camera with a smile at, still in uniform and looking sharp. He had a bit of facial hair that was well groomed, but she hadn't known about that.
She shook her head. She opened it but didn't reply and she sulked, having tucked her phone away as she walked toward the exit.
About a minute later, she's pulling her hat on as she walked out into the night of Grandview. She could hear an ambulance nearby, speeding down the street as she walked down the tall steps that lead to the library. Ned was the only car parked on the street, Katie was the only person at the library at this time of night besides the librarian who parked in the back.
The door swung open and Ned smiled as he leaned back into his seat, having opened to the door.
"Hey!" She said, smiling as she stepped up into his truck. "I was beginning to think the library was going to take me, prisoner."
He shook his head. "Not if I have a say in it," he winked, leaning in to kiss her briefly before she pulled the door shut. "Did you research all the majors you were thinking about today?"
"Yeah. I have a lot on my mind," she sighed, leaning back into her seat. "Hoping to have a chill night, I guess." She set her purse down on the floor by her feet before touching his face and rubbing her thumb through his beard. "I missed you. I like the beard."
"I missed you too," he hugged her, tucking his face into her neck and kissing it as his arms wrapped around her waist. He pulled back and then smiled at her. "That's what I wanted to talk about."
"What?" she said, her face softening.
"Have you ever thought about transferring to Rockland?" Ned asked. "Like maybe for spring semester?"
She leaned back against the counter and sighed. She felt like there were a ton of bricks that had been dropped on her chest.
She had barely picked her major yet, even though it seemed like it should be so easy. Did she want to be an English teacher or did she want to write novels?
She knew Ned wouldn't break up with her because of the distance if she said she didn't want to leave the city just yet. Even if the long distance hurt her too. She missed him and loved him and her family so much that she didn't know why she hadn't come home yet.
Granted, she did love the city, but what was keeping her there? She couldn't possibly pick her life in New York over Ned, right?
"This distance situation is terrible," he continued. "I hate how little we see each other." She felt his hand on her hip, gently rubbing in a comforting motion. "I know how tough deciding my major was and I know how terrible of timing it is, but I just wanted to get it out there. I"' not saying you have to move back here or anything. Just that I simply wish you were here."
She pulled out her phone. Her lock screen was still a picture of her and Ned making goofy faces from Halloween. There were times when she just looked at her screen and got lost. She might as well admit that too.
Ned didn't push. He just sat there, rubbing her side and waiting. He'd probably wait a lifetime if she asked.
"I don't know what I want to do anymore," she sighed, looking over at him. "I'd love to move home, but I'm worried I'll get bored one day. I love the fast pace of the city." She didn't know why she started crying, only that the tears that were running down her face were landing on her phone. "But some days I just want to come home. And I don't want to be away from you anymore."
He took her in his arms and let her cry for a while, just the soft radio in the background as his hands both rubbed her back.
"One more semester," she said softly. "Let me just finish out my grants at NYU. Then I'll come home."
"Okay," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I think I can handle one more semester if you could handle me when I was a bratty teen and still like me."
"Okay," she smiled, turning her face to meet his lips with a proper kiss.