AN: I apologise for such a delay in updating this story. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter in any case; thank you for sticking with me through the hopelessly irregular updating! I am going to try and be more punctual with future chapters.

21st March - 20th May 2005

21st March 2005

Dear Diary,

The anniversary of Sam's and my first date! We were super-busy with work so we couldn't do anything huge. Sam suggested it and it was perfect... We packed up some sandwiches and fled the library at 12, heading down to the park together, before our lectures started again at 2. We found the very same spot where we'd had our first date, the picnic which Sam put together. I couldn't have asked for a better celebration.

A whole year! I can't believe how much has changed in the past year: I'm so happy I can't even say! If you asked me this time last year if I would imagine myself living with Sam, head over heels in love with him, I wouldn't have believed you! But I am, and I'm exactly where I want to be. At Sam's side, for always.

Maybe we could back here next year, make it a tradition, celebrate all our anniversaries here. I would love that. I think Sam would like that too. Maybe in fifty years time we'll be the old couple everyone thinks is so sweet, holding hands and feeding the ducks together!

I'm cooking Sam's favorite meal tonight (chicken's in the oven right now…I should probably go and check on it…) and then we're giving ourselves a night off from work to just spend some quality time together.

A whole year with Sam! I love him so much; I couldn't have asked for a better year!

Jess

31st March 2005

Dear Diary,

I'm really worried about Sam. Finals are a week away and it's getting insane. Sam's barely getting any sleep, nose buried in his books the whole time, making endless notes, muttering to himself as he works. I barely see him; when he's not engrossed in revision here, he's out at course study groups or down the library. He's up before I am, even when I go out for morning training, and I'm always in bed before him. Sometimes I don't think he comes to bed at all!

We got into a fight about it; he says I'm fussing, but he's going to make himself sick if he carries on like this! He's thinner even though I keep making him food to make sure he eats and he's got these huge smudges under his eyes. I can't just stand by and watch that happen without saying something. I've been making him healthier energy drinks – the kind with added vitamins I use when I've got a gala coming up or college work gets too intense; the store bought stuff can do more damage than good! He hasn't left the apartment for a couple of days, (I think the study groups have finished), and I thought he'd benefit from some fresh air. It's a gorgeous day, sunny and bright but not too hot since there's a nice breeze. I tried to persuade him to come out for a walk with me, not for long, just down to the park or something, to give him a change of scenery, recharge his batteries. But he refused, and got angry, saying I needed to back off and let him be. He said I didn't understand.

I know how important his work is to him, I do, and I know how much is riding on these tests, of course I do. And I've known him long enough to know how he gets when he's stressed and puts himself under so much pressure, he's relentless; doesn't mean I have to like it though. And of course I want him to do well, but he's going to do great; he doesn't need to practically kill himself like this. He needs to trust more in himself and his abilities.

Can't wait for his tests to be over and Sam can rest. I hate seeing him like this.

Jess

28th April 2005

Dear Diary,

Sam sure knows how to treat a girl right. His exams ended last week; I bundled him into bed to recuperate. He slept for 28 hours straight! I'm not surprised with the way he was burning the candle at both ends. So, now Sam is relaxed and it's my turn to be a tangled ball of stress. I've got my final teaching observation coming up and my research proposal essay and pitch to present. I'm kind of freaking out! But Sam is a life-saver! He's been testing me, giving me feedback on my presentation when I practise with him, making me meals and clearing everything up so I don't have to worry about any of that. He even gets up early with me to make me breakfast, and when he can't he makes sure to put something together the night before and leave it in the fridge for me. He's so sweet! I don't deserve him! He even ran me the most relaxing bath ever the other night, with bubbles and candles and everything. We've always laughed since we hardly ever use our bath since it's so tiny and neither of us is lacking in the height department, but the fact that Sam had made the effort to do that for me made being slightly squashed well worth it. I didn't come out til I was like a prune and so relaxed I felt half-asleep!

Anyway, I'd better get back to work; this essay isn't going to finish itself (unfortunately!). I tried to bribe Sam to write it for me, but he just laughed and threw a pen at me. I was actually being serious!

No rest for the wicked!

Jess

2nd May 2005

Dear Diary,

Sam's birthday today. I wanted to do something a bit special for him and since the weather was nice I suggested we go down the bay and go boating. For all the time we've been here we've never actually been out on the water, and I figured it was time for the first time. Sam was up for it so we packed up our things and headed over.

It was beautiful; the sun shining on the water, the soft wind blowing in the trees. But, (and I know this is sappy to say!) but Sam was the most stunning thing there. Wind messing up his hair, smile on his face, sun tanning his skin, water trickling down his neck from where I'd splashed him, head thrown back in laughter, enjoying himself – I swear, it's the best sight on Earth! We took turns rowing around, although Sam did most of the work. He kept claiming I was a 'weakling', so he needed to row if we wanted to get anywhere. He didn't mean it though, just trying to wind me up. He keeps doing that more and more lately, the little devil! I challenged him to a row boat race after that, which he accepted. After swapping our double boat for two singles we agreed on a route and set off. Sam will deny it, but I totally won! You don't train five times a week in the pool and come out of it with no upper body strength, thank you very much! To give Sam his due, it was something of a photo-finish, even given his dirty tactics of using his paddle to tip water into my boat and our impromptu water fight halfway round the track.

We were pretty drenched by the time we got back; well, Sam was anyway. Sam clearly thought I wasn't nearly wet enough and capsized my boat just as I was getting out. Needless to say I went in with the biggest squeal and splash. By the time I'd surfaced and dragged myself out of the pool, Sam was literally on the floor, doubled up in laughter. He only got worse as I spat the water from my mouth and wrung out my braid as I gave him my best disapproving look. I couldn't feign anger for long though and was soon laughing along with him. It was pretty funny, I've got to admit. I'm just so glad Sam had so much fun!

Once we lounged around in the sun long enough to dry off, we had food in the café and I presented him with the homemade birthday cake I'd managed to smuggle out of the house this morning! It had gotten a little battered, and the icing was kind of smudged, but it tasted good, even if I do say so myself! Sam managed to get some icing on his nose; he looked so cute! He startled a bit when I leant across the table to kiss it away, glancing around at the other patrons. No-one seemed to mind, and hey, if I want to kiss my perfect boyfriend on his birthday then I will!

We strolled around the trails for the rest of the afternoon, watching the wildlife and just enjoying being together. We got back about an hour or so ago; Sam's in the shower. We're meeting up with the guys tonight for drinks to celebrate. Nicolai challenged Sam to a pool game, so that should get interesting!

Should probably go and start getting ready myself…

Jess

20th May 2005

Dear Diary,

Finals are over! Essay's handed in and my presentation went really well. My lesson observation could have been better but whilst my grade wasn't great I got some really helpful feedback so hopefully I can work on that and improve things after the summer.

And speaking of the summer… Sam and I have decided to go away together for a while. Zach said we could borrow his truck so we're going to go on a road trip somewhere. I can't wait. It's like our very own adventure! Sam's busy packing, and that only takes him a minute, so I'd better get going and start getting my stuff organised or he'll be whining at me to hurry up!

Summertime, here we come!

Jess

PS. I've decided to leave my journal behind. It's just one more thing to carry around when we don't have that much space as it is, and I've got the feeling I won't have much time to write in it anyway! Too busy enjoying the sights and scenery with Sam, and enjoying getting him all to myself! I'm so excited for our trip! I'll be sure to take photos and jot some things down when we get back…

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed it. Reviews are much appreciated :) I'll try to make my next update sooner rather than later!