Amelia POV
I stood in front of his door, heart thudding like I'd just run up the stairs - even though I'd taken the elevator.
I took a breath. Then another.
Okay. You look fine. You're not nervous. Just breathe.
I smoothed the front of my dress, fixed a strand of hair that had gone rogue in the breeze, and checked my reflection in the dark screen of my phone one last time. There was no reason to feel this jittery. We'd studied together. Talked. Laughed. Shared silence. I'd seen him at his worst - sleep-deprived and half-eating a granola bar at 9 AM in the class.
But this... this felt different.
I raised my hand to press the doorbell - then paused. For half a second, I looked up and smiled to myself. God, he better not be watching through the peephole or I'll die.
Just before I rang the bell, I took one last breath, straightened my shoulders, and gave myself the smallest smile of encouragement. Not for him. For me.
Then - ding.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
And there he was.
Justin. Standing there in a white shirt, sleeves casually rolled up, like he hadn't tried - but everything about him looked warm and put together. His hair was slightly tousled like he'd run his fingers through it too many times. And the way he looked at me... I swear he forgot to blink.
Neither of us said anything for a beat.
Then he stepped aside, voice calm but eyes anything but:
"Please come in."
And I did.
The moment I stepped in, I stopped.
The room wasn't just clean - it felt prepared. There was soft amber light spilling from a lamp in the corner, casting warm shadows on the wall. A small candle flickered on the windowsill, its vanilla scent gentle but noticeable. A tiny vase of daisies stood by the open window, catching the breeze like something out of a photo.
I turned slowly, eyes taking it all in.
A tray on the table - iced lemon tea, some snacks, everything placed like it had been thought through. The cushions were arranged neatly, and there was a playlist playing low in the background - guitar strings and soft vocals wrapping the air in comfort.
It wasn't fancy.
It was intentional.
Every small thing felt like it had quietly whispered, she's coming over.
I looked at him.
He was watching me carefully, hands in his pockets, waiting to read my reaction.
I smiled - and it wasn't just appreciation. It was the kind of smile you give someone who just made you feel seen in a way words couldn't quite explain.
"Wow," I said softly, meeting his eyes.
"You really didn't have to do all this."
But I was already so glad he did.
Justin POV
I can't stop myself to admit that she's the purest soul I have ever met on earth.
I already heard her footsteps while I was having a final look on the whole room. I know I shouldn't have gone to the door and looked through the peephole. But I did.
She looked ETHEREAL.
And the next moment I saw her fixing the delicate strands of her hair and smoothening the front of her dress. She took out her phone and glanced at her reflection on the screen.
I never knew she would be so invested in herself for just coming over to my apartment. Well, I myself was 10 times more invested in arranging everything since 4 PM.
Then she looked up, took a deep breath and smiled to herself.
I would hate to admit- her smile- did something to me. It made me forget everything-what time is it- why we were here- and who am I- EVERYTHING.
I was never affected by any girl before, in such a way. I never believed Ryan or Liam when they used to go on and on about how their girlfriends lit up the whole room with just a glance, how everything paused for a moment when they smiled-like some movie scene. I used to roll my eyes, mock them even. But now?
Now I get it.
Now I understand that strange silence they always talked about-the one that takes over your mind when someone just... looks at you like that.
Because here I am, standing in front of her, completely disarmed by a curve of her lips.
And God... I didn't even know I could feel this way. And that too about Amelia...
Wait. Amelia? No no no, stop this, Justin! She isn't your girlfriend! Stop thinking about her in that way.
Amelia POV
"I can't believe you did all this," I said gently, eyes falling to the little tray he'd arranged: lemon tea, snacks, a book under a coaster like it had just been there for ambiance.
Justin rubbed the back of his neck, smiling. "It's not much."
"It's everything."
He paused, that crooked smile deepening. "You always do that."
I turned to him. "Do what?"
"Say exactly the right thing, but not in the way most people do. Like it's not rehearsed - it's just... you."
My cheeks warmed and a small smile crept on my face.
He let out a short laugh and moved to sit on the couch, patting the spot beside him. "Come on, I don't bite. Unless you diss my playlist - then we might have a problem."
I sat beside him, close enough to feel the warmth from his side, but not touching. The music played low - something acoustic and moody, the kind you could talk over or get lost in.
"Well, where are the boys?" I asked looking at him.
"Oh, they've got some 'last exam' parties to attend."
I nodded in understanding.
"So," I said, picking up a glass, "we're done. Exams over. What now?"
Justin leaned back, arms stretched across the back of the couch, fingers tapping the cushion behind me slowly, like he hadn't even realized it. "Honestly? I have no idea. Sleep for three days straight. Eat actual food. Maybe... figure out what life looks like without an exam schedule hanging over my head."
I sipped my drink and smiled. "You ever think about that? The day after the chaos ends? How weird the quiet feels?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It's like you've been sprinting for so long, you forget how to just... walk."
We were quiet for a few seconds. Not uncomfortably. Just letting the words land.
Then he glanced at me. "What about you? What's your 'after exams' plan?"
I thought for a moment. "Sleep. Read something that isn't a textbook. And... maybe take a little more time to figure out what actually makes me happy. Not what I'm supposed to chase. Just... what I want."
He tilted his head a bit, eyes on me in that soft, observant way that always made me feel more seen than I was ready for. "You know, you talk about yourself like you're still figuring out who you are, but from where I'm sitting... you're pretty solid."
"Solid," I repeated, raising a brow. "That's the word you're going with?"
He laughed. "Fine. Ethereal. Graceful. Occasionally terrifying when you're focused."
I grinned. "That's better."
We both laughed, and for the first time in weeks, it didn't feel like I was carrying anything heavy. It felt easy.
He leaned a little closer, voice lower now. "I missed this."
I turned to him, heart skipping a beat. "This?"
"Talking to you without pages and deadlines in the way. Just you. Just me."
There was a pause. A beat where everything could have tipped in any direction.
But instead, we both leaned back, side by side, a little closer now. His shoulder brushed mine.
And we just... talked. About everything and nothing. About that one time we both fell asleep during a study session and the security guard thought we were trespassing. About childhood dreams we never told anyone. About songs we liked for no reason. About people we missed. About everything in between.
The time slipped by gently - not loud, not dramatic. Just soft, warm, real.
And somewhere in the quiet between our laughter and the mellow guitar strings, I realized:
This is what peace feels like.
Not silence - just the right kind of company.
Author POV
The moment hung sweet and slow - quiet conversation, low music, soft laughter. Outside the window, the evening sky was melting into that perfect indigo hue, the kind that made streetlights blink awake one by one.
Then, without warning, both of their phones lit up on the table, buzzing in unison.
Ping. Ping.
They glanced at each other, amused at the timing. Justin reached for his phone lazily, Amelia a bit quicker.
Professor Watson 💬:
"Dear Students,
We're excited to announce a four-day university retreat to Hudson Valley, New York a beautiful escape surrounded by rolling hills, forest trails, and peaceful riverside cabins. All enrolled students are warmly invited to join us for this special getaway to relax, reconnect, and celebrate the end of exams.
Don't miss out on this chance to unwind and make lasting memories!"
Details and sign-up form below.
"Wait-what?" Amelia's eyes widened, and before Justin could even respond, she gasped and sat up straighter. "Oh my God. This place looks amazing! Look at this! And those cabins!"
She turned the phone toward him, practically bouncing now. Her enthusiasm lit up the room more than the lamp ever could.
Justin leaned in to see. Sure, the photos looked beautiful - mist-covered forests, boats on glassy water, bonfires at night, groups of students laughing beneath strings of lights.
But all he could think about was: cabins full of people, loud laughter, no quiet corners to escape to, forced group activities, nonstop socializing. A trip like that wasn't just outside his comfort zone - it felt like someone had drawn a dotted red line around his comfort zone and dropped a pin miles away from it.
Amelia looked at him with bright eyes, clearly expecting him to match her energy. "You're coming, right?"
He blinked. "Uh..."
There was a pause. One beat too long.
She tilted her head. "Justin?"
He sat up, ran a hand through his hair, and gave a tight-lipped smile. "I mean... it does look cool."
She nodded eagerly. "Exactly! We never really got a proper break through all the semesters. We need this."
Justin nodded slowly, fingers tapping against the side of his glass.
In truth, the idea of being surrounded by people 24/7, constantly "on," made his stomach twist a little. He liked stillness. Small spaces. One-on-one talks. This night - this moment - was more his kind of retreat than any valley in New York could be.
But he saw the way her face lit up, how her voice rose just a little when she was excited, how her cheeks flushed the same way they did when she talked about something she loved. And he couldn't bring himself to dim that.
So he nodded and said, with a soft smile that didn't quite reach his eyes,
"I'll see... I'll let you know, yeah?"
Amelia didn't press. She just smiled back and took another sip of her drink, already scrolling through the photos again, dreamy and full of plans.
Justin leaned back into the couch cushion, watching her - and quietly bracing for the choice he knew he'd have to make soon.
And outside, the sky deepened to navy, stars just starting to blink awake - as if the universe had begun listening in. The soft light of the room wrapped around them like a hush - golden, warm, gentle. Outside, the city breathed slowly, distant and muffled. But inside Justin's apartment, the world had shrunk to a kind of peace neither of them had felt in months.
Amelia sat back into the cushions with a content sigh, her fingers trailing idly along the rim of her glass. The music still played - something soft, with strings and rhythm, not too loud, just enough to be felt in the chest if you sat still.
She looked around again. The cozy setup. The low lighting. The candles flickering gently in the corner. The playlist shuffling as if it, too, understood the mood.
Her smile deepened - not out of politeness now, but out of something quieter, fuller. Hope, maybe.
She glanced at Justin, who was focused on untangling a stubborn thread on the edge of a throw pillow. And that's when it struck her.
Why not?
Why not give this night a little more magic?
"Justin," she said, standing up slowly.
He looked up, alert. "Yeah?"
She extended a hand toward him with deliberate poise, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"May I have this dance, with you?"
Justin blinked. "Wait-seriously?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice light but formal, half-mocking and half-genuine. "One dance. No flash mobs. No lifts. Just... you and me."
Justin stared at her hand for a moment, trying to figure out if she was joking. But her eyes were steady, amused but sincere.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable."
"And yet here you are," she teased, wiggling her fingers toward him.
He stood up, still slightly hesitant, but there was already a faint smile playing on his lips. "Fair warning," he said, taking her hand, "Any specific choice?"
"Yes, Harleys in Hawaii, from the second half, please."
Justin chuckled a little before playing the song.
And the moment begins! 💖
🎵 "Let me run my fingers through your salty hair"
Amelia lifts her hand slightly and playfully combing her fingers through Justin's messy hair as they sway. He leans into her touch with a sheepish smile.
🎵 "Go ahead, explore the island"
She twirls under his arm, letting her fingertips trail across his chest and shoulders, as if tracing out a map. Justin catches her waist when she returns, steadying her with a light grip.
🎵 "Vibes so real that you can feel it in the air"
They slow down, moving closer - their foreheads almost touching now. The rhythm fades around them; they're breathing in sync, reading each other without a word.
🎵 "I'm revvin' up your engine"
Justin smirks, then gently pulls her toward him with a teasing spin, dipping her slightly as she laughs breathlessly, eyes locked on his.
🎵 "I'll be your baby, on a Sunday"
Amelia slides her arms around his neck, holding on loosely, like the moment is suspended. He rests one hand on her back, the other trailing along her arm.
🎵 "Oh, why don't we get out of town?" (Why don't we get out of town?)
They shift across the room now, like they're tracing the idea of an escape - each step deliberate, dreamlike, their bodies swaying with easy rhythm.
🎵 "Call me your baby, catch the same wave"
Justin raises her hand again, but this time their fingers interlace. They spin together in sync, ending chest to chest, smiling like a secret's just been shared.
🎵 "Oh, no, no, there's no slowin' down (let's go)"
He picks up the tempo just slightly - a playful sway of hips, a small dip, like he's daring her to keep up. She matches him with a flirty twirl.
🎵 "You and I, I"
They stop for a second - frozen - just holding each other in stillness. A look passes between them. It says everything.
🎵 "Ridin' Harleys in Hawaii-i-i"
They sway again, bodies pressed slightly close, as if riding the same rhythm. Her head dips to his shoulder briefly, then lifts with a soft laugh.
🎵 "I'm on the back, I'm holdin' tight, I"
Amelia playfully mimics holding onto his waist like she's on a bike, resting her chin near his shoulder. Justin gently rocks with her, enjoying the roleplay.
🎵 "Want you to take me for a ri-ide, ride"
Justin spins her away and pulls her back, quicker this time - she lets out a quiet gasp and meets his chest again with a smile that says do that again.
🎵 "When I hula-hula, hula"
She rolls her hips a bit and subtly in rhythm, eyes locked on his. Justin chuckles, hands still steady on her waist, caught somewhere between flustered and hypnotized.
🎵 "So good, you'll take me to the jeweler-jeweler, jeweler"
He lifts her hand and kisses her knuckles dramatically, playing into the lyric. Amelia, surprised a bit but still bursts out laughing, eyes glinting.
🎵 "There's pink and purple in the sky-y-y"
They slow again, the music drawing them into a gentle sway. Amelia glances toward the window where the faint colors of dusk still linger. It feels like the song painted the sky.
🎵 "We're ridin' Harleys in Hawaii-i-i"
They fall into the rhythm one last time - holding each other softly, dancing not for the steps, but for the feeling. Time is gone. It's just them now. The music. The quiet thrill of almost something.
Oh my, oh my! That was so peaceful. I never wanted this scene to end ❤ First ever dance of Amelia and Justin y'all! Let's look into the upcoming chapter for the next scenes to unfold!
Please vote and comment if you liked this chapter. The next chapter will be updated soon. Take care, cuties 💙
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