Rae woke Saturday morning with a colossal ache in her head and a heaviness in her stomach. Wait, no. Not in her stomach, on her stomach.

What is that? Oh my god. That's not my arm!

Her eyes flashed open and she immediately regretted this decision as the sun coming through the window sent an extreme wave of nausea over her already insulted tummy.

Hold on. This isn't my room.

She ever so carefully turned her face to the left to take in a breathtaking, sound asleep Finn.

What the actual fuck! How did I? When did I? Oh, shit. We didn't…

Rae carefully picked up Finn's navy blue comforter to make sure she was still wearing clothes.

Phew.

It didn't take long for Rae to remember the events that went on the night before.

I tried to leave. Finn wouldn't let me. Told me to sleep in his bed. With him. He really opened up to me. He cried. He cuddled me in his sleep. And I think my ovaries exploded at some point…

Rae cautiously tried to get out from underneath Finn's arm without waking him but to no avail. The last time she tried to wriggle away from him, he cuddled closer and she started to wonder why she was trying to so hard to get away in the first place. She turned from her back to her side to get a better look at him.

God damn. This man hit the fuckin' jackpot in the looks department. He is so beautiful, inside and out, with one of those faces that was just made to be looked at and a heart that was meant for nothin' but to give and receive love.

Rae watched him sleep for what felt like hours but knew it was probably only 10 minutes. She felt his chest rise and fall next to hers and watched his eyes twitch slightly as he watched the movie of his dreams. She watched as his luscious lips curled in a small smile at what he was imagining.

What I wouldn't give to feel those lips on mine.

She went to move the fringe on his forehead out of his eyes when he suddenly inhaled deeply and stuttered awake. Rae quickly pretended like she was just waking up herself.

"Oh, shit." Finn said as he quickly removed his arm from around her stomach. "I'm so sorry." He looked deeply apologetic, like it must have been the worst thing in Rae's life to be under his most sincere embrace.

As if. What? Note to self: Tell Chloe to stop watching that goddam Clueless movie.

"Did you sleep alright?" He asked stretching his arms up.

"Yeah. Best night's sleep I've had in a while, actually." She said with a grin that he couldn't see.

He brought his arms down and turned back to her.

"Good."

She smiled at him before they both went back to looking at his ceiling. After a few minutes of content silence, Finn grumbled.

"Wonder how fucked up the house is. After the Halloween party, it took all day to fuckin' clean."

"Sounds rough, really wish I could stay and help clean, but you know, I might break a nail." She grinned at him.

"Oh, you think you're so funny, Rae." He said as he started poking at her sides, trying to tickle her.

"Oi, Finn!" She laughed.

Suddenly they were in an extreme tickle fight and through it all he somehow managed to hover over her. Slightly out of breath, he looked down at her face, moving his eyes from hers to her lips and then up again.

Jesus. This is it!

Rae could have sworn he was starting to move in when there was a knock on the door.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FUCKIN' KIDDIN' ME.

Finn lowered his head with a sigh as he moved from over Rae back to his side of bed.

"Who is it?" He asked with a slight annoyance to his voice.

"We have to clean this fuckin' house, ya knobhead. So get the fuck up!" It was Chop's voice and even though she couldn't see his face, she knew the exact expression he wore: it was a look that tried too hard to be intimating so he just ended up looking like a school boy trying to play bad cop. It was actually pretty adorable.

"Ugh! Alright, we'll be right there!"

"We?! Finnley Daniel Nelson… Do you have a bird in there?" Rae could hear his smile through the door.

"Uhhh…" Finn mouthed an "I'm so sorry" to Rae but she just laughed.

"Hiya, Chop!" She shouted.

"Rae?"

"The one and only."

Chop slowly opened the door, peeked inside, and took in the scene in front of him. Rae's face was slightly flushed from the tickle fight and the almost kiss and Finn sat cross-legged, his hands folded in his lap, with an annoyed sulk on his face.

"You didn't let him touch your lady parts did ya, Raemundo?"

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Chop!" Finn yelled, throwing his pillow at him.

"What? Just gotta look out for my girl, mate. Wanna make sure she wasn't disappointed by your tiny knob." He said with a wink to Rae which made Finn lunge out of bed and play wrestle his friend.

The three of them were laughing when mountains of curly ginger hair appeared at the door wearing a shirt that was about three times too big for her small frame.

"What are the two of you doin' in here?" Izzy yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Oh, nothin'. Just tellin' Finn here he has a tiny dick." Chop said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Izzy looked between the two of them incredulously, shaking her head. "Boys."

"Right," Finn said with one last punch to Chop's arm. "We should get cleanin'. Ya comin', Rae?"

"Rae?" Izzy questioned.

"Yeah, Rae and Finn had a bit of a sexy party last night." Chop answered pushing the door open so Izzy could see Rae still lying back on Finn's bed. Her eyes went so far up that Rae couldn't tell where her eyebrows ended and her hair started. The two girls exchanged an entire conversation with one look.

Did something happen last night?!

NO!

Damn.

Tell me about it.

The four of them left Finn's room and Chop went to bang on Archie and Peter's doors to wake them up to help clean. When they got downstairs, they noticed most of the other guests had left sometime in the early morning as the only people left were Chloe, Shannon, and Paul. The three of them were cuddling together on the couch, drinking coffee and watching Saturday morning cartoons.

"Mornin'," Chloe lazily offered as she sipped her coffee. "Made some for everyone," she added raising her mug.

"Brilliant." Archie chimed in. "Anyone else's head bangin'? It feels like someone's taken a piss on my soul."

A few "here's" and "mine" were announced but all Rae could focus on was the look of wistful comprehension on Paul's face as he watched Rae follow Finn down the stairs. She offered him a sunny smile, which he immediately returned with a small nod.

Maybe in a different life, my friend, since in this life, my heart irrevocably belongs to that idiot over there.

With all the helping hands, it didn't take but an hour to clean the whole house, top to bottom. When they were finished, Finn suggested getting food and everyone immediately cried their concurrence. As they were getting ready to leave Finn pulled Rae aside and asked if she wanted to study with him after lunch.

"I think everyone is too knackered to go to the pub later. Do you wanna go to the café with me after lunch to study? I have an exam on Monday that I am not ready for."

"Yeah, I actually have a lot of readin' to catch up on myself. Fuckin' Dickens."

Rae felt like they were at the chippy for only five minutes before everyone started saying their good-byes. She couldn't tell if her nerves were shot because she was genuinely exhausted from her hangover or if it was because she nervous to study with Finn.

Why am I so fuckin' nervous? How often do we hang out, just the two of us? Every bloody day, Rae. Last night was one of the most intimate nights of my life, though. He was vulnerable and he opened up to me so much. And what was with this morning? I could have sworn he would have tried to kiss me if Chop hadn't knocked on the door. What is with his fuckin' roommates and havin' the absolute worst timin' on the face of the planet? Still, somethin's changed. We're closer than we've ever been. What if I fuck this up? What if I've read all the signs wrong? What if he really is just my best friend.

"It was lovely meetin' you, Rae," Paul said, his emerald green eyes shining in the November sun.

"You as well," she beamed up to him. "Hopefully you and Shannon can come for another visit soon. You don't just have to wait for Chlo's birthday, ya know?"

"Yeah!" Chloe shouted behind them, her arms tightly wrapped around Shannon.

Paul turned to smile at Chloe and caught Finn's gaze in the process.

"Look, uh, if it doesn't work out between the two you," he added, motioning his head towards Finn. "You can always give me a ring. I'd love to hear from ya."

Bloody hell.

"What? Me and Finn? Nah. We're just best friends."

Aren't we?

Paul leaned in to give Rae a kiss on the cheek when he whispered, "Friends don't look at situations like this, with faces like that, Rae."

Rae looked over his shoulder to see a string of different emotions flash across Finn's face: Confusion, then jealousy, then anger, then back to confusion.

"Good luck," Paul added with a wink.

Rae felt dizzy.

I thought I was the only who caught those looks. If an almost complete stranger catches them, too, they must actually mean something.

"You ready?" Finn asked, heaving his bag over his shoulder.

Rae felt like there were so many deviations of that same question and she wasn't sure how to answer any of them.

It was probably one of the last clear days before the cold rain of winter started, so the pair of them decided to walk. First stop was Rae's suite so she could grab her things and shower. Knowing there was just a thin curtain and a door separating Finn and her naked body sent ice cold shivers down her spine, regardless of the piping hot shower.

He could come in here at any minute and see me. I'd crush him if we ever had sex. Liam was bigger than me, but only slightly, and even he was repulsed by me. What makes me think Finn could ever be any different? How could I ever think he'd want this? This fat, grotesque–

"NO!" She screamed at herself as she slammed her fists against the ceramic tiles of their shower.

Knock. Knock.

"Rae? Are you okay?" Finn hollered through the door. Rae could hear him start to turn the handle.

Oh, shit. Don't come in!

"Uh, yeah, just dropped the shampoo bottle. Sorry! I'm almost done."

"Okay, just makin' sure. I'll be out here. Take your time."

"Thanks!" She hollered back, slapping her hands over her face as the water flowed down her body, mortified at the thought of what could have just happened.

You see where bad thoughts get you, Rae? Liam was a twat and Finn is the farthest thing from one. You. Are. Perfect. Finn's not the kind of guy who would care about your naked body, he'd care about your naked soul.

Rae got out of the shower and really looked at herself in the mirror for the first time in a long time.

Right, now say three things you like about yourself. I like my hair. It's long and beautiful and looks really good when it's slightly curled. Good, next. I like my lips. I'd like them better if Finn's were constantly attached them, but I digress. Perfect! And finally… I like my legs. They're long, strong and look fantastic in leggings.

Rae smiled to herself and her mind instantly eased from all tension and embarrassment she felt before.

See, not too hard, is it?

Rae toweled off and went to grab her clothes from the top of the toilet when she realized they weren't there.

What the fuck? Where are my clothes… On top of your dresser, you numpty!

"Fuck."

Rae wrapped her towel around her body and poked her head out the door.

"Uh, Finn?" She could see he was sitting on her bed reading Oliver Twist, her latest novel for Victorian Lit.

"Yeah?" He asked, leaning over the side of her bed to look at her.

"Uh, so, aha, I kind of left my clothes on my dresser and–"

"Oh, do you want me to bring them to you?" He asked, sliding off her bed and making his way towards her dresser.

"Would you mind?"

"Not at all."

Finn crossed the room to grab the clothes and when he turned to make his way back to her, Rae could see the smallest smile on his face.

"Just, uh, don't look."

Finn immediately clamped his hand over his eyes and slowly walked towards the bathroom door. When he got there, he took his hand off his still tightly shut eyes, stuck it out and started feeling the air.

"Rae? Rae?! Oh my gosh, I'm blind! Rae!" His hand found her face and he started moving it around. "Rae, is that you?"

Rae was laughing so hard that she forgot she was totally naked except for the towel.

"Oi, you cheeky bastard, just give me my clothes."

He handed off her clothes and deviously opened one eye.

"Finn!" She shouted closing the door quickly.

"I like the pink towel!" He hollered, glee lacing his silky voice.

"You're such a dickhead!"

"You're the dickhead, dickhead!"

"Okay, child." Rae could hear him snort on the opposite side of the door and she felt nothing but the most sincere form of elation.

Time seems to stand still whenever it's just her and Finn. She loved when they were together as a gang but she lived for the moments it was just the two of them. And even though she got almost an hour and a half alone with him every day during the week it was never enough. She wanted all of him, all the time and she didn't care how selfish it was of her.

They got to the café around 3:30, ordered their drinks, and sat a small table in the corner by a large wooden window. Finn was the kind of studier that needed to take breaks at least every 15 minutes or he would go stir crazy so sitting in a place that would allow him to occasionally watch the passerby on the busy street was perfect for him. Rae didn't care where they sat as long as they were away from the prying eyes of the two girls who sat at the counter. She was used to the looks she got from girls whenever she was around Finn but that doesn't mean she could tolerate them for too long.

And the table was small, that was for sure. There was barely enough room for Finn's text book, let alone his text book and his notebook. Luckily Rae just had her novel so Finn could occupy all the space of the miniscule table he needed. Their knees were permanently pressed together and whether that was Finn's personal doing or just a matter of how small the table was, Rae wasn't sure, but it seemed that every time she moved hers away from his, he'd move his to wherever hers was.

This table is just really small… Okay, Rae. Whatever you say.

They spent the first hour of their "studying" not really studying. Instead, they were playing the "What's Their Story" game with the people on the street.

"Oh, you see that girl there?" Finn asked.

"Yeah, the surly lookin' one?"

"Yeah, her name is Candi, with an 'i,' and she just found out the cotton candy lip gloss isn't actually made from cotton candy." To which he pulled an appalled face and Rae was in stitches.

The chime on the door dinged, signaling someone was entering, and with them came a burst of cold air causing Rae to shiver.

Gah, really wish I would have brought my jacket. Why ever did I think I could make it through a November day with just a flannel shirt?

"Hey, do you want my jacket?" Finn asked, turning around in his chair to grab his leather jacket.

"Oh, no. I'll be fine. It's just a bit brisk when the door opens." And as if on cue, the door opens again and the same blast of cold air comes through, causing her to shiver again.

"Rae, just take my jacket. I don't need it. I'm actually kind of hot."

Yeah, you are. I mean, what?

"I'm fine, Finn. Honestly."

"Just take the fuckin' jacket, Rae." He said, practically throwing it across the table.

What if it doesn't fit? What if I rip it? What if I can't even fit my hand through it?

Rae ever so carefully put her arms through the sleeves and nothing happened. She heard no tearing sound and there was actually a little room to move around comfortably.

Thank god.

"Better?"

"Much. Thanks." And the two exchanged smiles.

"Now I've got to study. So stop distractin' me."

"Me?! You're the one who wanted to play 'What's Their Story,' Finnley."

"I do not recall." He countered to which she just shook her head and laughed.

It was about an hour into their actual studying when Rae could feel Finn's piercing honey eyes on her as she read and it made her extremely self-conscious.

Do I have a double chin? Do I have somethin' on my face? Is my face turnin' read? Can he tell I'm too distracted by his gaze to pay attention to what I'm actually readin'?

The sixth time she read the same sentence, she finally spoke up: "Will ya stop starin' at me? It freaks me out."

He laughed. "I'm not starin'."

"Right."

"I like watchin' you read." He admitted quietly after a few minutes.

Huh?

"Sorry?" Asking as if she hadn't heard exactly what he said because she was too emotionally invested in the same sentence she's read for the twentieth time.

"I like watchin' you read." He repeated looking up to meet her eyes.

"Why? Jealous you can't do it yourself?" She said with a smirk.

"Ha! Funny," he casually chuckled. "No. I, uh, I like the way your eyes dance around the page, like you want to read fast so you know what happens, but slow so you don't miss anythin'. And when you think somethin's clever, you smile to yourself. And when you think somethin's truly funny, you laugh. It's just a tiny laugh though, so no one asks you why you're laughin' because you want it to be yours and only yours. Like you don't want to share that moment with anyone, it's just between you and the book. I think it's brilliant."

Rae was stunned. Never, in all her life, has someone described to her the feelings she has when she reads. They're the roots to the deepest part of her soul. But, if Rae was being honest with herself, Finn wasn't only in her soul, but the very core of it. It was in this very moment she realized that things such as "soul mates" actually exist.

How do I even come back from that? Will words even come out of mouth if I try to open it? Better yet, will they come out properly? Do I make a joke? Do I keep it serious? What do I do?!

"Well, that's quite the observation, Finnley. How ever did you become so astute?"

"I'm always watchin', Rae. Always watchin'." He explained with a smile as he went back to his own work.

And what I wouldn't give to hear the thoughts that cross your mind when you watch me.

Another two hours passed and Rae was starting to feel tension in her shoulders. She leaned back in her chair and stretched her arms over her head, Finn's eyes coolly watching her as she did so, playing with the pen in his mouth. When she caught him staring, he quickly averted his eyes and coughed.

"Uh, are you ready to head out soon? My brain is fried and this chair has made my bum numb." He asked, awkwardly repositioning himself.

"Yeah, I'm good whenever you are." She responded going to take his jacket off.

"Oh, keep it on, Rae. It's cold out there." He said pointing outside.

"But what about you?"

"I'll be grand. Besides, your suite isn't that far away."

"Oh, you're gunna walk me home?"

How sweet!

"Don't be daft. Of course I'm walkin' ya home."

They left the café and walked the still streets in a comfortable silence.

"I really like this place, ya know?" Finn offered after a few minutes.

"Yeah, it's got somethin', doesn't it?"

"It's crazy to think how different my life is now because I chose to come here. Like my life could have gone in a completely different direction had I gone somewhere else, ya know? My friends would be different. Who knows, maybe even my future wife." He looked at her and smiled.

Sweet Jesus.

"I know exactly what you mean. I almost didn't come here but then I came for a tour and it just felt right, like I could imagine my life here. Is that weird?"

"Not at all. I know exactly what you mean. Arch and I came for a tour when we were in college and we felt the same way."

"Did you two always know you wanted to go to university together?"

"I don't think it was somethin' we ever actively thought about. I just think we knew it would be weird if we weren't constantly around each other. I mean, I've seen him every day of my life since I was 6. I think we'd fall apart without each other, actually." He smiled admiringly and Rae knew he was thinking about Archie.

"I think it's great that you two have each other like that." She matched his smile.

"Do you have a friend like that?"

"Nah, not really." A pang of the deepest sadness filled her heart.

God, that's tomorrow isn't it?

"Well, you have Chloe and Izzy and they're pretty close, yeah?" He beamed at her, unaware of the thoughts that crept into her mind.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Before she knew it, they were outside her building and Finn was nervously kicking the rocks around his feet.

"Rae. I want to talk to you about last night-"

"Finn, you don't have to say anything." She said turning to meet his earnest gaze.

"I know I don't have to, but I want to. I know I told you a few weeks ago how pleased I am that I met ya, but I don't think you truly understand what that means to me. The only other person I've ever been able to talk about my mum to, besides Ms. Pam and my dad, is Archie. And he's my best mate and I guess, in a way, you've also become my best mate. And I – I really value our friendship and that I know I can talk to you like that, ya know? I trust you so much, Rae, and trust is a hard thing for me to give. And Jesus, you make me laugh so fuckin' hard. Harder than any person I've ever met. And there's – there's somethin' I've been wantin' to tell ya for a while now and I know if I don't say it now, I feel like I never will."

Rae took a deep breath as he finished speaking, not realizing she was holding her breath. She had never seen Finn this exposed before, last night was a good example of his vulnerability, but this was a whole different kind of vulnerability, a kind she's never even seen in herself.

"What?" Her voice echoed through the night even though it was barely above a whisper.

"Rae… I – I think I'm in love with you."

If Rae could imagine what a heart attack felt like, she'd imagine it'd feel something like this. It felt like her heart leapt out of her chest, ran around the block a few dozen times while hula hooping to a mariachi band. And it felt sensational. She didn't know whether to jump for joy, to shout from the roof tops that she loved Finn as well, or to just grab his face and smash their lips together until they both turned blue.

She decided using her words was probably her best option.

"Finn, I-"

"Rae?" She and Finn turned to see a tall figure emerge from the shadows of the car park, holding what looked like a bouquet of flowers.

Oh, fuck.

"Liam?"