A/N: Holly J and Sav share a webchat, talks of Yale campus, and a surprise from Sav. Holly J contemplates life at Yale.


Three: what's been hiding in your words, I'm still just guessing - the sweet hurt: where would you go?

Holly J had not expected Sav to be itching for a webcam chat so late into the night, but, she had been waiting for word from him all day, so she hurried to adjust her speakers and got into a comfortable position in bed. She squirmed in her seat, scrunching her face up as she squinted at the glaringly bright, laptop monitor before her.

"The most adorable digital imitation of your crabby expression. Ever," came Sav's voice from her speakers.

"Shut up," she snapped. "My eyes haven't adjusted yet. I've been in the dark, oh, you know, sleeping."

"Hold that pose," he pleaded. "I need a screenshot."

She rolled her eyes, and obliged. A ding from her speakers signalled that he had already shot, saved, and sent her a copy. She yelped.

"Sav!"

"Not deleting it. It's headed to the scrapbook as we speak."

"You mean the stash of evidence that you hide from your parents in a convenient photo folder on your Iphone, called 'chemistry: VSEPR theory'?" she asked innocently.

"Now, when you say it like that, it doesn't sound very romantic at all."

"I want to see it."

"I told you-"

"I know, I know. Not finished."

"Patience is a virt-"

"How's sightseeing." She knew she sounded a bit too eager, but she didn't care, and the every-growing smirk on his face made her care less to hide her irritation.

"You mean, did I happen to stop by my cousin's dormitory to, by chance, get a tour of the illustrious Yale university campus?"

"Sav…"

"It felt very…academic-y. I think I've scored a couple more IQ points since visiting."

He sniggered at her attempt at a contemptuous glare. "You keep giving me these amazing shots."

Her frown deepened, and he continued to laugh.

"Easy, Sinclair," he finally said, and cleared his throat, though it was obvious that his lips were tempting him into relapse. But, he straightened up, and continued, "everything you described about the place is exactly like you said, and more. I wish you could've come with the family. It was nice. Oh, and, I actually took some great pictures for you too."

"As long as you didn't ruin them by poking your bobble head into any of them."

Sav pulled an imaginary dagger from his chest, and sighed. "You wound me, and here I was thinking you were missing me this weekend."

She couldn't help the sudden twitch in her lips or the treacherous way her face coloured when it flushed with warmth. Her eyes flitted from Sav's oblivious expression to the internet browser page next to him, where its history showed her viewing a couple pictures of them from her online album. She thought of being snarky, but her mouth opened before her brain could catch up with it.

"Yeah," she replied lamely. "I did. I mean, I do."

He grinned widely at her, resting his chin on his palm. "You know, you're going to do amazing things there, H.J. I saw a bunch of stuff you'd totally dork out about, and then, I thought to myself, 'they're not going to know what hit them once Holly Jeanette Sinclair steps foot here.' They're going to get the wind kicked out them, just like I did. I just know it. "

She didn't answer as she was concentrating very hard to say something without sounding too affected. But, she was, and she still hadn't gotten used to feeling so flustered over his comments. She supposed she would have better luck if they weren't so constant and deeply sincere, though that's perfectly, exactly…Sav, really.

"Anyways," he started, breaking her train of thought.

"You must be tired."

"I am actually, and we have to wake up super early if we want to get back home on time tomorrow. Mind if I call it a night?"

She shook her head.

"I'll see you bright and early in Physics on Monday."

They waved to each other before he vanished in a collapsible motion on her screen. Then, before she could completely close her laptop, a ding made her jump in her sheets. A downloadable file was sent to her before Sav actually signed off. She clicked the link curiously. Then, moments later, a slideshow popped onto her screen, and images glided across it. Sav's scrapbook, the thought dawned on her.

Her body automatically reacted again, causing her to feel tiny bumps briskly trail along her arms. They were the most intimate pictures she'd ever seen of herself, ones that she laughed out loud at and ones that made her blush, wondering if he meant for them to look so flattering. She had a feeling that he waited carefully for these moments, capturing expressions that she wasn't even aware she had. Then, after a dozen or so pictures, she came to the last one, which was of Sav himself, and it had him lying in bed. Beside the pillow he was feigning sleep on was a side profile of herself with her eyes closed. In captions underneath the picture, it read: how I'd rather sleep tonight.

In her head, she had always imagined herself alone at Yale, savouring each word uttered in its lecture halls, making bee-lines through corridors, and, mostly, being the only one from Degrassi at the prestigious school. That always felt right to her. But, as she was already on a roll with unrelenting thoughts and reactions, she conceded and wondered what it would be like if Sav was still by her side by the time she graduated or have him visit her dormitory on weekends to sleep together just as his picture imitated. The idea sunk in, and though she knew how improbable it was and not part of the definite plan she had set out for herself, another traitorous reaction emerged in the form of a smile. But, the moment soon passed, and she stopped herself before the dream went further, not trusting herself or where her thoughts would lead.

to be continued...